WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Irevi

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Chapter 60: Here, This Is a Mace

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When a companion joined partway through a game, it was practically a rule that they came equipped with items suited to the player's progress.

Senia and Cecilia had both been wearing Shards properly, even if their builds had been a mess.

But what the hell was this?

Alicia and I both grimaced at the sight of those completely empty sockets as though we'd been served fish head curry.

According to Mine's excuse, it wasn't as though she had never owned any Shards.

Right before becoming my Follower, she had given them all to her previous Follower, whom she owed for helping her with the Spider Dungeon.

"......I told you. I wasn't planning on entering dungeons."

Maybe she felt guilty, because she started piling on excuses.

Of course she should feel guilty.

What was she, some kind of sucker? Why would she hand every last one over?

Wasn't this basically a protest declaring that she'd never enter a dungeon, even if it killed her?

In Academy of the End, healing output was proportional to the caster's Health.

The number of Blue Shards directly determined the amount healed.

Naturally, higher-tier dungeons demanded more healing.

With her current setup, clearing the Undead Dungeon was out of the question.

"I can get you a few Shards, at least."

"N-no, it's fine! You don't need to go that far for me...!"

"No, we're not fine."

Mine fell silent at Alicia's firm response.

Of course, I could give her a few Blue Shards myself.

I still had some Tier 2 Shards left over from a month of dungeon farming and the Doll Dungeon.

If necessary, I could get some from Cecilia too.

Still, simply stuffing her pockets with them would serve no purpose in clearing the dungeon.

"Let's have you earn them by running dungeons yourself."

"Y-yeeees?!"

I looked at Mine's slender arms as she screamed.

The fundamental reason Cecilia and I worked so well together was her own combat ability.

When combat shifted into a turn-based battle, she carried out my instructions perfectly.

Even when acting solely of her own will, she tried her best to move in accordance with my intentions.

Even setting Affection aside, she was still a martial artist.

Someone who would follow orders without question.

But what about Mine?

Her body was so delicate that she looked as though she had never trained a day in her life.

Other than the huge bags of holy power beneath her shoulders, what did she have going for her?

"The junior is right. If we entered a dungeon like this, we'd most likely be wiped out."

If this were a game, it wouldn't matter.

I could control Mine directly.

Reality was different.

Mine, who had lived her whole life avoiding training, would never be able to carry out my instructions.

Even if I maxed out her Fluidity and gave her the first turn, there was a good chance she still wouldn't move as I wanted.

The Undead Dungeon wasn't something we could clear by charging in without any dungeon experience.

"She needs to get her body accustomed to it first. Giving her Shards now would only be poison."

"That's right. What meaning is there in growth handed to her for free?"

There was no helping it.

What I needed right now wasn't Tool No. 1, but a healer who could reliably respond to every dungeon mechanic.

"Um... D-don't tell me... I have to enter a dungeon alone or something...?!"

"Not that."

"Phew... That's a relief."

"You need to become strong enough to clear at least the Goblin Dungeon alone within two months."

Mine began swaying, her face turning pale.

"Mine?"

"Junior. What's wrong with her? Isn't she staggering?"

Thud.

She collapsed onto the training ground floor.

'Is this really enough to make her pass out?'

Looking down at the unconscious Mine, I had a bad feeling that the next two months would be unbearably busy.

“To think the Empire's Saintess has fainted already. At this rate, she'll never even set foot in the Abyss.”

Clicking her tongue, Alicia tried to support Mine and leave the training ground.

"Senior. Where are you going?"

"Shouldn't I escort this unfortunate Saintess, who has fainted, to the infirmary?"

"It's your turn now."

"My turn? What turn are you talking about?"

What else? Equipment inspection.

Where did she think she was sneaking off to?

"You're awfully rigid. Are you worried that my strength won't meet your standards, junior?"

"I'll just take a look and return it."

"Kuhuhut. To think you'd open an imperial princess's Core so brazenly. Be more careful around others."

"I'll keep that in mind."

I shut down Alicia's nonsense and opened her Core right away.

'Let's see.'

Thankfully, all sixteen sockets were full.

First, she passed.

Judging by the multicolored glow spilling from the sockets, she didn't seem to be a Health pig like the Ren sisters either.

But...

╔═════════╗

◈Abyss Core - Cornelia◈

╠═════════╣

▸ Equipped Shards: 16/16

□ □ ■ ■

■ ● ● ●

◎ ◎ ★ ★

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

╠═════════╣

□ = Red Shard II 2

■ = Blue Shard II 3

● = Yellow Shard II 3

◎ = Green Shard II 2

★ = Black Shard II 2

☆ = White Shard II 4

╠═════════╣

▸ Stat Bonuses

Attack Power 4

Health 6

Defense 6

Critical Hits 4

Fluidity 4

Mana 8

╚═════════╝

Um.

"What do you think? Yesterday, I used the machine named after me to put together a set of Tier 2 Shards. I believe that's more than enough to earn me a place by your side, junior."

She declared it triumphantly, but my assessment was different.

'...What a hodgepodge.'

Alicia's buffs scaled with Defense and Mana.

The standard setup was naturally focused on Yellow and White Shards, with a little Black mixed in.

I wasn't even expecting damage from her, so why had she socketed Attack Power and Critical Hits Shards? Was she planning to become a physical buffer?

'Maybe being a Health pig would have been better.'

Still, I had just seen someone with completely empty sockets, so I wasn't too disappointed.

As an imperial princess, she would have plenty of money. And she had shown enough initiative to equip herself with Tier 2 Shards without being told.

The issue was the Core she wore.

The Abyss Core, Cornelia.

Cornelia's effect was simple.

When the user took a certain amount of damage, they entered a Fluid state for five seconds.

In a Fluid state, movement speed greatly increased. Arts couldn't be used, but the user could drink potions or leave the battlefield.

Entering the Fluid state naturally had a cooldown, but the chance to escape and recover in the face of death made it worth using for Alicia.

It just left me feeling a little conflicted.

'Didn't she say she was betting on me?'

It looked far too much like she was prepared to abandon me and run if things went wrong.

Of course, she was an imperial princess. She had to prepare an escape route in case I became worthless.

Come to think of it, maybe it wasn't anything special.

"Why are you staring so intently? Is there something you don't like?"

"No."

I couldn't let it show.

It would be strange if I knew Cornelia's effect when we had yet to even work together.

I returned Cornelia to Alicia.

"You'll need to change your build."

"May I hear the reason?"

"When I saw you last time, the Mana I sensed from your fan was impressive. I think strengthening that side would help with clearing the dungeon."

"Kuhuk. I-I was thinking the same thing, actually! Perhaps the two of us work quite well together after all!"

I really didn't think so.

As Alicia headed out of the training ground, she suddenly turned back to me.

"Do you know? There are many eyes fixed on you because of this clearing operation."

I knew.

The nobles, the imperial family, or perhaps the board.

The Church of the Main Gods was probably grinding its teeth as well.

"Among those eyes, there are quite a few who don't want the Abyss to be cleared. Fools who believe eternal peace will continue forever."

When I nodded, she added with a meaningful look.

"I'm saying that some of them may try something during this special practicum. We may be given an assignment other than clearing a dungeon."

"Then what should we do?"

"What else? You don't need to worry about anything, junior. You have me."

Alicia ran a finger across her lips.

"No matter what happens, my decision won't change. We will clear the third Abyss during this practicum."

Looking at her smile, I felt certain the scales had tilted to my side.

Leaving only those words behind, Alicia dragged the unconscious Mine out of the training ground.

Mine's legs rattled pitifully across the floor.

Wouldn't it have been better if I had carried her instead?

⁎⁎⁎

After school.

I stood at the entrance to the Spider Dungeon.

Unlike before, its entrance had been neatly maintained.

It was the place I had visited most often after the Beast Dungeon, so memories came flooding back.

The nostalgia lasted only a moment before I heard someone groaning ahead of me.

"Ugh... Ngh..."

Standing before me was an armored knight slightly shorter than I was.

"How does it feel to move around? Are you okay?"

That was Mine.

With Adeline's help that morning, I had acquired a suit of armor used by female soldiers.

I could have used Valhilar's armor, but it might have triggered her trauma, so I avoided it.

"Y-yes...!"

When Mine nodded, her armor creaked awkwardly.

"Good."

Strike while the iron was hot.

Minecess Maker.

It began today.

To clear the Undead Dungeon, the first priority was helping her overcome her fear of dungeons.

You couldn't teach calculus to a child who couldn't even do basic arithmetic, so I had brought her to the easiest place possible.

I spoke as though trying to reassure her.

"We're entering the dungeon now. Don't worry. Nothing dangerous will happen. You'll be safe, and so will I. Just focus on clearing the dungeon."

"......Ngh..."

"I don't intend to lay a hand on any of the monsters. It wouldn't be training if I did."

Mine had to defeat every monster herself.

That was the goal of this training.

"Hold out your hand."

Mine held out her hand as I told her to.

I looked down at the weapon I was holding.

[Shattering Mace (II)]

[Attack Power 9 / Fluidity -9]

[Has a chance to reduce the opponent's Defense.]

Loot from the Goblin Dungeon.

It was absurdly overpowered equipment for the Spider Dungeon's difficulty.

Having defeated Varhatan without a proper weapon, I couldn't imagine Mine failing to clear this dungeon with this in hand.

I placed the mace in Mine's hand.

"Here, this is a mace."

The hand clasping mine trembled like a frightened rabbit's.

Footnotes:

- “Minecess Maker” is a play on Princess Maker, a raising-simulation game series, and Mine's name.

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