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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Hmm.”
Johann picked up the sword handed to him by Renny and examined it closely.
It was a longsword about 120 cm in total length, made of high-quality Damascus steel.
The weapon commonly known as a longsword was the most commonly adopted sword by knights in this world.
Of course, those who used shields had a higher adoption rate of arming swords… but since knights were a group specialized in combat, it wasn’t uncommon to see people wielding longswords with shields.
Of course, being a game world, there were swordsmen who used unrealistically large weapons that made one wonder if it was even possible.
However, despite her terrifying strength, Renny didn’t prefer greatswords.
More precisely, she couldn’t use them due to the nature of her job as an escort knight.
Given her characteristic of escorting Karina, a weapon with some degree of portability was advantageous.
Johann ran his finger along the flat of the blade, feeling the texture of the well-maintained longsword.
The density seemed good enough to say it was made by a master craftsman, and the sound when he flicked it with his finger was clear.
…Maybe it was time to coat it.
Johann looked at the liquid that was melted mithril next to the furnace.
Melting mithril required a complex process.
It was necessary to raise the temperature as high as possible using expensive firewood, spray special chemicals to make it easier to melt, and crucially, use expensive magic adhesive to ensure the mithril coated well.
…If he were a dwarf craftsman, he might be able to coat it raw, but at his current level, he needed to make it easier to coat using various chemicals before he could even attempt coating.
Whether it was due to his lack of ability or because it was mithril, his skill didn’t work properly.
“…Looks like I’ll have to go make money again.”
“Here’s a towel!”
“Thanks, Millia.”
It was indeed convenient to have someone looking after him.
Johann wiped his sweat-soaked upper body with the towel while examining the condition of the longsword that had been coated with mithril.
It hadn’t properly adhered yet, so he would have to wait until time passed.
He handed the instantly soaked towel back to Millia and sat down in a chair to rest.
“Johann, what are you going to do now?”
“Well…”
Millia sat down next to Johann, swinging her legs while trying to hide her obvious anticipation.
For some reason, she seemed to be in a good mood.
Johann absentmindedly watched Millia’s swinging calves, then looked at her head that had rolled onto his lap.
“Let’s go on a picnic! I’ve always wanted to go on a picnic! Pack a lunch box, look at flowers…”
Millia began to list all the things she wanted to do.
This was typical of the red-haired dullahan whenever she got bored.
What was with all these things she wanted to do?
Johann ignored Millia’s voice and checked the tasks he needed to do.
1. Prepare for the incident that would occur during the final exams.
2. Gather capital to enhance combat power.
3. Secure holy relics to completely cure Karina’s body.
4. Find Elena’s earrings.
These four were the priority goals he needed to achieve.
Chronologically, the final exams in about a month were the closest, but the most urgent were securing holy relics and finding Elena’s earrings.
As for capital, it would be easiest to embezzle from somewhere again, but for now, he’d have to supplement it by raiding some dungeons while searching for holy relics.
He wished someone would give him about 1 ton of mithril.
He’d cover everything with mithril.
Mithril armor, mithril underwear, mithril hat, everything made of mithril to put on Karina, wouldn’t that ensure at least minimal safety?
Of course, the items Karina currently had were all expensive magical items, but…
“…han? Johann!”
“…Ah. Sorry. I had a lot to think about.”
“Really?”
Seemingly upset that he had ignored her words, Millia puffed up her cheeks like a child and glared at him, but that look was more cute than scary.
Johann stroked Millia’s hair as he always did to soothe her anger.
Her hair, smooth as silk, slid through his hand.
Was all women’s hair like this?
He remembered Elisa’s being similar.
“Johann, you’re thinking about someone else right now, aren’t you?”
“…I was thinking about Elisa.”
“Why Elisa? Is that Johann’s type?”
Millia’s expression was one of genuine curiosity.
Johann continued stroking her hair as he gave an appropriate answer.
“I’m a bit worried about her.”
Although there had been some minimal improvement, her shocking level of social awkwardness, or rather asocial tendencies, was still concerning.
It was like the feeling of parents watching their child left by the riverside.
Thinking about it this way, it seemed like he was acting as a parent substitute.
It would be interesting to be called “dad” by someone the same physical age as him.
The thought of Elisa calling him “dad” sent chills down his spine.
This was truly pleasure without responsibility, or rather, responsibility without pleasure.
He didn’t want such a development without dreams or hope.
He wasn’t a monk, he wanted to date, marry, and live normally.
But since he was the only one who knew this world could end at any time, he had no choice but to work frantically.
After struggling to survive for 10 years on a deserted island, he couldn’t die now.
So now, rather than playing at romance, it was time to consider how to reach the true ending.
“Are you worried?”
“Yes. You’ve seen her a few times, so you should know.”
“That’s true. She always freaks out and runs away when I approach her.”
I hope she hasn’t vaguely noticed that Millia’s a dullahan…
It was slightly concerning.
Or it could be that she was running away in shock from Millia’s terrifying social skills.
While I could mediate when I was around, it seemed one-on-one conversations between them were still tough.
“I want to change that timid personality of hers a bit.”
Now that we had a promising witch, I wanted to nurture and use her.
Magicians were a proud bunch anyway, so it was hard to recruit capable ones as companions.
It would be easier to use all of the knowledge I had to turn her into a great witch.
Even if it would take a few years.
“Why?”
Was this why they said not to talk about other women in front of a woman?
Johann poked Millia’s cheek, who was now giving him an even more uncomfortable look, and said,
“…Is there somewhere you want to go for a picnic?”
“The market opens tomorrow! Let’s go see the market!”
“The market isn’t a place for picnics though.”
“That’s that! This is this! We’ll have a picnic later!”
Ah, so she wanted to do them separately.
Johann nodded before Millia could get upset.
“Alright!”
Look at how quickly her expression changed.
This was her goal, wasn’t it?
I didn’t think so before, but Millia had her own cunning side.
“Hehehehe…”
Johann felt conflicted as he looked at the headless body clinging to his arm.
So that was how a person’s throat moved when they laugh.
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“H-Hello…”
“Did you attend your classes well?”
“Y-Yes, thanks to you…”
Perhaps the experience in the dungeon had helped, as Elisa responded to Johann’s words with a slightly shy demeanor.
Whether it was his imagination or not, her reaction seemed quite different from before.
Johann sensed a strangely pink atmosphere flowing and looked around.
Fortunately, Millia was not nearby, having gone to study with Karina.
He had a feeling that if Millia were here, it would turn into a chaotic scene.
“It seems the results were good.”
“Th-Thanks to you, I r-received an A+… Thank you…”
An A+ meant the professor must have been overjoyed.
Well, that was good for Johann.
It meant their hard work had borne excellent fruit.
It also meant his plan for Elisa’s growth was progressing smoothly.
“Are you going straight to the office?”
“N-No. I was planning to stop by my room first…”
“I see. Then-”
It was then, as he was about to send Elisa off.
Johann felt a tug on his sleeve and looked at Elisa.
With a face as red as a tomato, Elisa looked up at him and asked,
“C-Could you come with me…?”
“Don’t you know the way to your room?”
“W-Well…”
“…Alright, don’t whimper.”
Johann escorted her to her room, feeling like a mother duck leading a baby duck.
They didn’t exchange a single word until they reached the room, but Elisa wore a strangely satisfied expression.
“P-Perhaps to the office too…”
“Alright, change your clothes and come out.”
Johann sighed as he looked at the closed door.
Why did it feel like another puppy had been added to the mansion?
And a shy puppy at that, one that couldn’t ask directly but would whine if not cared for.
But if puppies kept increasing like this, wouldn’t he be crushed by puppies before saving the world?
Though he didn’t think there would be any more additions.
As he was lost in these idle thoughts, the door opened and Elisa appeared.
Befitting a descendant of witches, her outfit was all black.
As Johann was curiously looking at the black blouse that seemed dyed with ink, Elisa covered her chest with her arms and blushed.
“I-It’s embarrassing when you stare like that…”
“I was just looking at the blouse because it’s interesting.”
Really.
He had never seen a blouse dyed such a deep black here before.
“I-Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Ah, he could hear the sound of her self-esteem plummeting like a crashing stock.
Johann quickly stroked Elisa’s head to calm her down.
As if she had learned from watching Millia, she rubbed her head against his hand, giving the impression of a second Millia.
Now both his hands were full.
After rubbing her head against Johann’s palm for a while, Elisa grabbed his sleeve and asked,
“C-Could you take me to the office?”
Johann’s answer was predetermined.
“Sure.”
“I want to go too!”
What are you doing here? When did you arrive?
Johann looked at Millia, who had naturally taken hold of his hand on the opposite side from Elisa.
“Aren’t you supposed to be studying now?”
“I just went to the bathroom!”
“Ah, I see…”
Do people usually announce that they’ve been to the bathroom so proudly?
Johann thought as he watched Millia looking at Elisa instead of him.
“Hehe. Johann, take me along too!”
Millia, where did you learn to smirk like that?
Even the god of the new world would be impressed.
Johann sighed as he watched Millia smirk the moment she turned her head away from him.
He hoped the two of them would get along.
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