Volume 5, Chapter 33 – Inner Conflict

We escaped the cave containing the mysterious facility and returned to the bottom of the valley.

The curtain of night had already fallen, and a sky full of stars twinkled above the cliffs that framed it.

“We were underground much longer than I thought.”

“I feel so much better now that I can see the sky! Onee-sama, the stars are so beautiful!”

“However, the sun has already set. This is quite a predicament.”

“That’s right. Fiene-sama, it is dangerous to move at this hour, so we should set up camp somewh—”

“Hey! What are you idling around for?! Let’s get back, now!”

The General was as unreasonable as ever.

I could completely understand why his subordinates in Chi Tien always looked so resigned, as if thinking, Good grief, here he goes again.

“General, how do you intend to get back? Surely you aren’t suggesting we climb the cliffs in this darkness?”

The General gave me a puzzled look, then asked me with a perfectly serious expression:

“How else do you intend to return without climbing?”

“That’s why I’m saying it’s dangerous to climb right now.”

“Why?”

“…Because you’re probably the only one capable of doing it. Also, please stop carrying me around.”

“…Then what would you have us do?”

“Isn’t camping our only option?”

“…Isn’t that because all of your attendants are incompetent?”

“…Sigh.”

I let out a deep sigh and turned back to Chris-san.

“Chris-san, is there anywhere suitable for camping?”

“Let me see. Normally, the bottom of a valley is where water collects when it rains, so not many places are ideal for camping, but…”

As Chris-san spoke, she carefully scouted the area.

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Of course, I used Purification Magic instead of a light.

“Hmph, I cannot waste my time with this. I shall return first.”

Leaving those words behind, the General effortlessly climbed the cliff and headed back to the base alone.

Left behind, we were speechless, and simply looked at one another.

…

…

…

“Ah, er, right. Let’s… let’s camp.”

“Y-yes, Fiene-sama. Um…”

“Chris-dono, how about that alcove over there? It is a step higher, so there is less worry about water, and there is no risk of falling rocks.”

“Y-you’re right. Let’s do that. Um, as for firewood…”

“I shall go gather some!”

Having finally recovered from our collective freeze, we began preparing the camp.

“Lumia-dono? Lumia-dono? I’m going to gather firewood! We have to prepare the meal!”

“Hah! Food!”

Shizuku-san managed to reboot Lu-chan, who had remained frozen until the very end, and the two of them went off to gather firewood together.

Shizuku-san seemed able to see well enough in the starlight, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

Chris-san inspected the alcove Shizuku-san had found.

“It’s not very deep, but it’s plenty of room for four people to sleep. There are no traces of animals inside, so this should be fine.”

“Thank you, Chris-san. Sleeping bags will be enough, right?”

“Yes. We can’t pitch a tent here.”

I took four sleeping bags out of Storage and laid them in the alcove, proceeding with the camp preparations.

Suddenly, Chris-san apologized with a deeply solemn expression.

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“Fiene-sama, I’m sorry that I couldn’t be of any help.”

“Eh?”

“If I had strength like the General’s, I could have prevented you from going through something like that.”

“Were you bothered by what the General said?”

“General Lu Fei’s words—that we are incompetent and are holding you back—really stung after seeing that kind of power. Even if we actually sparred, I couldn’t envision a single scenario where I would win. To him, I must be nothing more than a small fry. Truly…”

“Chris-san…”

Chris-san murmured this with downcast eyes and a self-deprecating tone. Then, looking down, she uttered words I couldn’t just ignore.

“If he were the one chosen by the Holy Sword… it might be better for Fiene-sama to travel with him…”

“Chris-san? That’s going too far. I’m really going to get angry.”

I lowered my tone a notch as I spoke to her.

“I’m not with you because you’re the Holy Knight chosen by the Holy Sword.”

“Eh?”

Chris-san snapped her head up. I wasn’t sure if she could see my face clearly in the dark, but she looked a mix of surprised and frightened.

“I acknowledge the General’s strength. But I have absolutely no desire to be with someone who is only strong but doesn’t care about others.”

“Fiene-sama…”

“Chris-san, you’ve stayed by my side even after learning I’m a Vampire, haven’t you? But what about that General? I’m sure he’d just kill me. He’d call me a monster.”

“Fiene-sama, that’s…”

“Even if the General were chosen by the Holy Sword, I intend to refuse to travel with him. I’ve seen enough of what kind of person he is.”

“…But…”

“Besides, you might not be able to beat the General right now. But you won’t stay the same a year, two years, or three years from now, will you? Even if you can’t win now, you can just get stronger from here. Just as you helped me before, this time I’ll help you get stronger!”

I didn’t know if Chris-san could see me, but I told her this with a smile, trying to be as encouraging as possible.

“…Fiene-sama.”

As she murmured my name, I noticed her eyes were slightly moist.

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“And look! My level went up and I’ve gotten stronger again. This is all thanks to you helping me until now, Chris-san.”

With that, I showed my Status to Chris-san.

▽ ▽ ▽

【Name: Fiene Argentata

【Race: Vampire (LOL)

【Gender: Female

【Class】: Healer, Enchanter

【Level】: 16 → 20

【HP】: 378 → 470

【MP】: 325 → 405

【STR】: 389 → 485

【INT】: 309 → 385

【AGI】: 293 → 365

【DEX】: 341 → 425

【VIT】: 357 → 445

【MND】: 325 → 405

【LUC】: 325 → 405

【Exp】: 134,980 → 698,141

【SP】: 40 → 100

【Unique Skill (13)】: ▼

【Skill (23)】: ▼

▽ ▽ ▽

Yes, since I was credited with defeating almost all of those Undying Beasts, I had gained a staggering amount of EXP.

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“Wh… Fiene-sama, congratulations! With this, you can finally perform a Class Change!”

Chris-san was shocked when she saw my Status, but she immediately beamed and congratulated me.

“Thank you.”

However, despite her smile, she still didn’t look completely cheerful.

“Chris-san! Why are you still looking so gloomy? If you’re going to be like that… I’ll do this!”

I moved behind Chris-san and tickled her sides, where her armor didn’t protect her.

“Eh? Ah, wait? Fiene-sama? Ah, what are you—? Ah, ah!”

Oh, she’s surprisingly weak to tickle attacks. Having discovered this unexpected weakness, I got carried away and tickled her even more.

Just as I was trying to get her to take off her armor so I could tickle her underarms, someone spoke to us.

“You two, what are you doing?”

“Onee-sama! Let me join in too!”

Shizuku-san and Lu-chan, clutching the branches they had gathered, were looking at us with expressions that were respectively puzzled and excited.

“Eh? Ah, this is…”

“Onee-samaaa!”

Lu-chan pounced on me. She began stimulating my underarms and sides, trying to tickle me.

“Ah, wait! Lu-chan? Ah, stop, aha, ahahaha!”

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Fiene-sama, please let me thank you as well.”

“Eh? Chris-san too? Wa-wait, ahahaha!”

Lu-chan tickled me with glee, and Chris-san, seemingly having cheered up, joined in with a smile.

And so, I was left helpless, laughing as the two of them tickled me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Shizuku-san standing there with an indescribable expression.