The alchemist watched everything he had conjured crumble away.
The various potions he scattered were dispersed by the divine power, burned away by the magic wielded by the mage.
The many creations he summoned were torn apart by the weapons before them.
The tentacles he extended burst under the blow of a blunt weapon.
The alchemist couldn’t believe the reality he was facing.
It had been less than two years. Since he had missed that damn little brat, only this much time had passed.
But to think that in such a short time, they could have become this strong—was that even possible?
This couldn’t be described simply with the word talent!
How could the dumb little brat, who couldn’t even wield their own weapon properly, become like this?!
Amidst the approaching group, the alchemist saw the divine power that guarded Lucy.
Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.
A light warmer than the sun.
Now that he thought about it, the reason he hadn’t captured that brat that day must have been due to divine intervention.
Because of the miracle, he had been forced to spare that brat and preserve his life.
So, is it true? Was that brat chosen by the gods? Was she chosen to oppose the power of the evil god?
It wasn’t just a whim. Was it a divine selection?
Damn it.
Yeah. I should have noticed then.
When someone who had lost most of their power intervened before the evil god, I should have sensed it.
Ah.
No.
No.
Great god, please don’t abandon me.
Please. Don’t leave me, this ignorant and foolish one, behind.
I dedicated my life to you. I gave you everything I had.
I devoted my life to you! Agra!
Pay the price for my devotion!
Help me so that my life, my research can continue!
As the alchemist desperately flailed against the approaching figures, he felt a gaze from the darkness ahead.
Great god.
Foolish thing.
...What?
Do you still not realize you’ve outlived your usefulness?
Outlived my usefulness? How can that be? I still have so much left to do. I have so many things left to create.
How?
How?
How?!
Disappear. You are useless.
The alchemist stared blankly at the darkness where the gaze had vanished, letting out a hollow laugh.
"Heh."
I’ll curse you.
"Hahahaha."
I’ll curse you even if I fall into hell.
"Hahahahahaha!"
I’ll wait for you to fall again, deep, deep into the abyss.
Definitely. Definitely!
"Ugh ♡ Why are you laughing? ♡ Are you excited about getting hit? ♡ I really don’t want to touch you, you’re disgusting ♡."
Startled, the alchemist lowered his head and met the mocking face of the young girl, focusing more intensely on his eyes.
"...I’ll make sure to kill you myself!"
"Puhahaha ♡ You’re mad ♡ You’re mad ♡ You’re old enough to be mature but still so impatient ♡ Wasn’t it always a short fuse before you got your junk to rot? ♡ I wonder if you could even last 3 seconds ♡."
After all the futile struggling, as the alchemist’s body crumbled and scattered, I stretched.
Ah.
I feel a little better after venting all that frustration on this jerk. It really is the best to hit a punching bag when you're angry.
<...The vocabulary used during the fight wasn’t something a noble lady would normally say.>
‘I didn’t mean it! It’s because of the blessing, I had no choice.’
<Is it me who misunderstood when you said you felt better after venting your frustrations?>
‘...Well, at least it worked, so it’s fine!’
The enemies who took the bait were all focused on me!
I was just doing my job as a tank! I never did anything weird!
<Are you sure it's fine to leave it at that?>
I tried hard to ignore my grandfather’s voice filled with genuine concern and turned to check the two forest guardians lying on the ground.
"Useless saint."
"You’re wondering if you can heal these two, right? It’s totally possible. Most of the evil god's power was removed in the previous battle, so it’s not a difficult task at all."
Fabius smiled, now able to handle the divine power of the god, and started heading toward the trees.
As I watched him, the words I had thrown at the giant tree earlier came rushing back into my mind.
"Smelly virgin ♡"
"That’s why you’ll be alone forever ♡"
"Wouldn’t it be better to just rot away? ♡"
I bet... she won’t remember it, right?
Of course not.
She was out of her mind at the time.
She can’t remember the things I said.
Yeah. As long as I don’t bring it up, everything will be fine.
No problem.
Yeah.
"Lady Yuria."
"Ugh?!"
Startled by the cold voice coming from behind, I jumped and cautiously turned my head.
There stood Joey, holding a fan to cover her face.
Usually, when Joey uses a fan, it’s to hide her disheveled appearance, but this time was different.
Her cold eyes were unlike anything I’d seen before.
From behind the fan, her eyes, which looked down at me, were shadowed, making me unintentionally swallow.
"I have a few things I want to say."
"Eh? What is it, idiot?"
I tried to act confident using my Mesugaki skill, but cold sweat dripped down my back as I faced Joey’s aristocratic tone.
What’s going on? Why is Joey angry?
What did I do?
I helped her, I didn’t do anything wrong to her, right?
"First of all, thank you. If it wasn’t for you, not only me but the prince, Lady Kent, and even Fabius would have been in danger."
As I watched Joey bow her head in gratitude, my confusion deepened.
Was I wrong? Did I misunderstand?
Maybe Joey’s face is stiff because she’s holding back embarrassment.
"But despite my gratitude, there’s something I have to ask you, Lady."
"What is it? Go ahead, as long as it’s not another stupid question."
"Why didn’t you say anything?"
"...Huh?"
"Why didn’t you explain what you were trying to do?"
It was only then that I realized what Joey was trying to say.
"Do you need to know? What would change if you all, useless ones, knew?"
I wanted to say I didn’t want to worry them, but my Mesugaki skill wouldn’t allow it.
Calling Joey’s name had been a momentary miracle, and my Mesugaki skill distorted my sincerity as it always did.
When I saw Joey’s eyebrows twitch, my heart tightened.
How do I clear up this misunderstanding?! How can I speak in a way that won’t hurt Joey?!
Pathetic god!
You’re watching, right? Help me like you did before!
Now that I’ve completed your quest, reward me with my life!
"...I see. From your point of view, maybe that’s how it seems."
Before Joey’s voice, now heavy with emotion, I felt like I was being crushed.
The words she spoke now weighed more on me than the giant tree’s punch earlier.
So I kept quiet.
I sealed my mouth to avoid any further misunderstandings and looked at Joey.
As silence hung between us, Joey spoke first.
She sighed, lowered the fan, and slightly bowed her head to meet my eyes.
"Lady. If I’m becoming a burden to you, please show me how I can stop being one. Let me help you. I know that being friends means not just receiving help, but also giving it."
"..."
"When you’re at your hardest, let me be there to support you."
As I looked at the gentle smile on Joey’s lips, I once again lost my words.
I didn’t know what to respond with.
No matter how I responded, I felt like my sincerity would be twisted, just like before.
I repeated opening and closing my mouth, and then Joey let out a playful laugh.
"Don’t worry, Lady. I’ve known for a long time that you struggle to speak properly."
"...What?"
"This guy is right. I already knew that your tone was distorted."
Joey’s words were so shocking that I blinked in confusion, and Arthur, shrugging his shoulders, spoke.
"Yeah, yeah. Lucy, we’re not idiots."
"No. You’re the idiot. Prey Kent. Don’t try to interfere between us."
"...So unfair."
You knew? That my words were distorted? Since when?
"If it was the old Lady, maybe, but the Lady now is a thoughtful person. Someone like you couldn’t have said those harsh words."
"Yeah, a girl from a noble family wouldn’t just go around saying things like ‘junk’, ‘virgin’, or ‘premature ejaculation’."
"Prince! Watch your mouth! What are you saying in front of the Lady?!"
"I’m just repeating what this guy said!"
"Prince, pervert."
"So I’m...!"
Ah.
That was my fault for getting carried away with the atmosphere.
I did need to provoke them, so I carefully chose my words.
...This will remain a secret forever.
Yeah. It’s all because of the Mesugaki skill.
I didn’t do anything wrong.
I’m not that shameless of a person.
"Anyway. No matter what the Lady says, we’ll listen and understand, so don’t worry and just speak."
I watched Joey raise the corners of her mouth.
I saw Arthur shrug with a grin.
I saw Prey fiddling with his hands, wearing his usual blank expression.
I saw Fabius, focused on healing the trees, not taking his eyes off us.
As I watched, I felt the worries in my heart dissolve, and a smile naturally escaped.
"Silly Joey."
"...I wasn’t mistaken, was I? Lady, you just called my name."
"You know, what you said earlier? You sounded like a girl confessing love? How cute ♡."
"...What?"
"It’s all because I’m just soooo cute ♡..."
"That’s not what I meant! That’s not what I meant at all! I didn’t say it like that!"
"Heh. Joey. You sly one."
"No! What nonsense are you saying, Prince?!"
"Joey. The great god does not discriminate against anyone."
"Fabius! Don’t join in on teasing me! Focus on healing!"
As I watched Joey shout, her face turning bright red, a ding sound rang, and a spear appeared in front of me.
[Quest Complete!] [You’ve solved the conspiracy that lurked in the forest!]
Huh. Finally, a reward?
I wonder what they’ll give me.
It should be something decent, after all the trouble I went through.
The pathetic god won’t give me a measly reward, right?
I waited with expectation for the blue spear to show me my reward, but the next message that followed wasn’t about the reward.
[Additional Quest Issued.] [Eliminate the remaining traces of corruption in the forest!] [Accepting this quest will grant additional rewards!] [Do you accept?!]
They want me to do more?
Pfft. Fine. I get it.
I’ll do it gladly.
But the reward better be worth it.
If it’s something weird, I’ll cover your whole body with the saliva of an idiot.