As a child, Noelle lived in an impoverished city in one of the numerous kingdoms in the World of Systems.
With the Systems being granted by 'The World' and not a birthright of every denizen, her parents were ordinary civilians working as a peasant couple. Her father was a farmer and her mother, a baker.
Before the arrival of the foreign invaders three years ago, she was on the path of inheriting her mother's bakery and marrying a local man around the same age as her.
Naturally, that didn't happen. Their city was among the first cities to be invaded by the Dark Soldiers after they razed numerous villages to the ground.
With only one Adept-class as the Captain of the City Guards, their city instantly fell against a swarm of Dark Soldiers aiming to establish a base in that city.
Retreating from that city, they took refuge in a bigger city further inside the kingdom. However, the Noble House in control of that city didn't look too kindly to the refugees, letting them fend off for themselves.
In time, the city was once again besieged by an army of Dark Soldiers. With the City Lord enlisting all able-bodied refugees just for the sake of protecting his treasury, Noelle's parents were enlisted despite not having the training nor the strength to fight back against the foreign invaders who were all at least Rank 1 Mortal in strength and were able to make use of their Source Energy.
At that time, she was finally granted a System by 'The World'. Using her meager control of energy that had the property of healing an injury due to her System's category, she helped heal the injured defenders.
Being spotted by the Priests of the local World Church, she was recruited into their fold becoming an official Priest by getting a Blessing from them.
Perhaps around a month of defending that city, the City Lord decided to abandon it, taking only his treasures and his family.
At that time, the citizens lost all hope, among those, even the Bishop stationed at the World Church or the Great Knight at the leading the Knight Order gave up defending the city and urged everyone to retreat.
However, with the chaos that ensued, Noelle stayed behind along with many others who were trying to look for their loved ones or just gave up hope on living, in her case, she's looking for her parents.
She did successfully reunite with them but it was at the same moment when the gates were finally breached, leading the Dark Soldiers to massacre everyone in the city.
When all hopes were lost and they already accepted their fates of dying under the foreign invaders' sharp and blood-stained blades, the Hero in the form of Yuko arrived along with Reinys and the retinue following them. With her overwhelming strength despite being only an Adept-class at that time, Yuko single-handedly fought against a score of enemies along with the Rank 3 Mortal commanders of the invading armies.
Upon seeing that the hero arrived, Noelle, instead of retreating along with many others, stood up and helped their savior after convincing her parents to retreat.
With Yuko's cheat-like ability that baffled a lot of the Dark Soldiers, she managed to defeat the commanders along with the others that ganged up against her which resulted in the enemies retreating in fear.
On that same day, Yuko, who noticed the certain local Priest who barely had energy in her body, asked the girl to join her in her quest to save the World.
Well perhaps, at that time, Yuko already recognized Noelle's face as one of the people in her vision of that future.
Noelle agreed after Reinys promised her that she would arrange a new place for her parents. And before she officially joined Yuko and Reinys in their quest, Reinys sent her to their Kingdom's main World Church branch to train.
Only after reaching Adept-class did she get sent back to the Hero's side as a representative of the World Church as well as the newest Hero's party member after Reinys.
Well, it's a story I heard from her through one of my Incarnation's memories. It was at that time when I saw her with her parents who never stopped worrying about her well-being.
"It works…" With awe in her voice, Caila exclaimed before she got pushed back by the enormous surge of energy that raised Noelle's Universal Power Level, exceeding a Mortal Body's capacity.
As soon as the surge of energy that covered Noelle's whole figure subsided, Noelle's figure became even more holistic when the excess UPL that couldn't be contained by her Mortal Body started leaking out, giving the illusion of a Holy Aura surrounding her body.
"I'll take care of you from now on, Noelle," I whispered while gently patting her head.
Although I felt the convergence of destiny, I still think of her as a little sister as if nothing really changed as to how I view her.
Well, perhaps there's no change for now but as I continue to spend more time with her and know her better, that might gradually change.
A few minutes later, Noelle released her arms that were circled to my back. She then turned to Yuko and did the same to her which the latter welcomed openly. "Dai-kun, you're not done yet, right?" While patting Noelle's head, Yuko reminded me.
"Right. Well then, what about you, Caila?"
"… I guess it's worth a try but Daisuke. But I still stand to my words, I like you as you are but not as a man. I will not be like Yuko and your earlier Companions."
"I understand that much, Caila. You're like an older sister to me whereas, Noelle is like a little sister. Perhaps there are other meanings to a Companion, we never know, right?"
Well, it's something unclear. However, since it worked with Noelle, as long as we reached a mutual understanding, it will also work with her.
Let's look at it as an extension of Hero's Party skill of Yuko.
"You're right. Apart from her increase in strength, Noelle didn't change a lot. She's still the same shy girl. Look at her hiding her embarrassment and also expressing her apology to Yuko." Caila shook her head as she pointed at the shy girl tightly embracing Yuko.
Zerina at their side was also smiling looking at that.
"Un. Well then, Caila. If you agree to it, shake my hand." Instead of beckoning towards her to hug me, I put my hand forward.
With an incredulous look, Caila almost burst into laughter upon seeing it. "Wowsers. So I couldn't hug you like Noelle, huh? Isn't that discrimination?"
"I thought you'd be uncomfortable with that. Am I wrong?"
"Not really, it is undeniably uncomfortable… and embarrassing. Like you said, you're like a little brother to me. To our Companionship." Putting on a rare embarrassed expression, Caila reached for my hand and shook it.
Feeling her rough hand on mine tells me how hard this girl is training herself to keep up and not fade into the background.
And like with Noelle, another enormous surge of energy which stirred finally stirred awake the fortress entered her body, raising her UPL past the threshold.
At the same time, the notification appeared.
[Caila Armstead has been removed from the 'Allies' List]
[Rank 5 Mortal Caila Armstead has been added as your Companion]
"This… No wonder Zerina easily passed our progress. Thank you, Daisuke. I will be your and Yuko's Sword."
"Of course, I look forward to that. Here, you might want to change your weapon into one or all of this, try all of them and use the most comfortable for you." I pulled out every heavy sword I looted from the Mortal and Transcendent Ranks, we killed.
I don't know her preference so it's better for her to pick one for herself. And after that, I also gave some staves to Noelle to pick from, she also needed a new Output Enhancing Equipment.
Yuko and Zerina's weapons were still better than what I looted so they didn't need a new one. Zerina has incredible luck after all. One time, they found a buried chest in one of their travels and as if destiny buried it right on the path they will take in the future, it contained a saber and a pair of short swords.
That's totally absurd that I know that it will not happen to me. I am more likely to run into an enemy than a lucky encounter only a main character type will have.
Looking at Caila who became busy swinging her sword, I once again felt that nothing changed between us even if she became listed as one of my Companions.
Leaving it at that, I finally turned my focus back to the thoroughly speechless Reinys. Because she couldn't decide yet, Noelle and Caila already became my Companion leading for her to become the last to decide.
"… You womanizer."
"Ah... I can't deny that. And there's no reason to. What do you think? Have you decided?"
"Do you really mean what you said to me?"
"I do. It's up to you whether you believe me or not. There's no point lying now. I like you, Reinys. Do you see the difference?"
"Idiot. Why do you like me? I mistreated you—"
Before she could continue on that same issue of how she treated me back then, I stopped her by pulling her into my arms. Covering her in my embrace, I whispered in her ear in a tone that I will most likely only use to those I truly came to like. "You're still at that, come here. Do I still need to say that I forgive you? It's not something I held against you anyway. So there's no need to do that. That's why here…I will repeat it again. Can you be my Companion, Reinys?"
"Y-yes..." Surrendering herself and finally giving her answer, Reiny's shoulders relaxed before returning my embrace. Even when the enormous surge of energy came and was completely absorbed by her body, I never let her go and she's the same.
[Reinys di Deran has been removed from the 'Allies' list.]
[Rank 5 Mortal Reinys di Deran has been added as your Companion.]
In this way, although the number of my Companions has increased by three, two of them are not being romantically involved with me.
Ah. At least that's the case. I don't know. Perhaps given time, it will also end up like that. However, the most important information I got from this is… this example… is it possible to exploit it?
Visit freewe𝑏n(o)vel.𝑐𝘰𝑚 for the best novel reading experience