"Maan, Takki-dono! That comrade of your Goddess is one great guy." (Fujiwara)
On our way back to the city.
Fuji-yan was really energetic.
"Now that you mention it, why did you take the finger of that giant, Goshujin-sama?" (Nina)
"Aah, that was something I am interested in as well." (Makoto)
Nina-san and I ask.
"Fufufu, this finger of the giant is a magic crystal that has unbelievable energy in it. If it is used as a weapon, it could destroy a single whole country." (Fujiwara)
"Eh? Wait! Isn't that dangerous?" (Lucy)
Lucy immediately takes distance from Fuji-yan.
"I won't use it for something like that. But man, that was a really fruitful adventure-desu zo." (Fujiwara)
"Right, I got an incredible divine protection." (Nina)
Fuji-yan and Nina-san were all smiles.
"Fufufufu!" (Lucy)
Lucy is holding the staff that the old man giant modified with real care.
She tested out her spells a number of times with it, and it seems like it has become quite the cheat weapon.
It apparently activates the spell just by putting the mana in.
It has a bad mana cost, but it works perfectly for Lucy who has mana to spare.
They are all really satisfied.
◇◇
I look at the dagger of the Goddess.
I feel like the Goddess this time around wasn't acting like herself.
There weren't short snides like usual.
And she interfered directly in a way as if she timed it.
Moreover, what was deep inside the dungeon was a comrade of the Goddess.
I felt some sort of prefabricated air from it.
I am the only believer of the Goddess.
This is something I learned not that long ago, but it seems someone that can see the figure of the God and converse with them is called an Apostle.
An Oracle is considered a sort of Apostle.
They can only hear their voice.
Apostles can see their God.
Apostles can hear their God's voice.
If the Apostle worries, the God will give them advice.
If the Apostle gets lost, the God will show them the way.
If the Apostle prays, they can obtain Divine Protection.
It is a whole bunch of good things.
But…Apostles can't go against the orders of the God.
Once an oracle comes, the Apostle cannot go against it.
They have to perform the order of the God even at the cost of their life.
That's the rule apparently.
The Goddess said:
"Get strong."
"I won't forgive you if you die."
"Devote yourself."
These are apparently 'requests'.
The current me probably cannot perform the orders of the Goddess.
I am weak.
I am an apprentice mage after all.
But…
It should be clear one day.
What is the true wish (order) of the Goddess?
I want to know.....
***
After Lucy and I finished our quest
We go to the usual place.
The skewer stand of boss.
It becomes our daily routine, after finishing the quest or training.
"Boss, 1 more ale." (Makoto)
"Got it. You drink pretty often recently, Makoto."
"I have recently learned the tastiness of it." (Makoto)
Since the time I drink it. It become my daily drinks. I order 1 or 2 daily.
It is as bitter as always though.
Ale is about the feeling when it goes down my throat.
"Haha! Now that you know the taste of ale, you are now a competent adventurer."
I must be stressed up... Because my proficiency is not raising and not only that I been relaying so much on Lucy...
"Hmm, I don't really like it." (Lucy)
Lucy is drinking a fruit cocktail.
It is actually not on the menu, but Boss made it, especially for the regular, Lucy.
"Ooi, Lucy-chan, drink over here."
"Just leave that mage apprentice. Let's party together tomorrow."
"Your magic today was amazing as well."
The adventurers around were calling Lucy.
You wouldn't believe that she was a troublemaker that couldn't join any party not that long ago.
Mages that can use powerful magic are wanted in any party after all.
"I have no intentions of being in any party aside from Makoto's!" (Lucy)
I am grateful that Lucy says this though.
"Fuuuh." (Makoto)
After drinking about half of the ale, I suddenly felt a bit lightheaded.
"Oh, drinking here."
"Lucas-san as well." (Makoto)
He apparently had gone to subjugate a water dragon that attacked a fisherman at Shimei Lake.
I still haven't seen a dragon since coming to this world.
They must be strong.
I wonder if I will be able to fight one someday.
"Oi, Makoto, even though you have the record of the fastest person to reach Iron Rank in the Adventurer Guild of Makkaren, you look pretty gloomy there." (Lucas)
Yeah.
Lucy and I are now Iron Rank.
We are now Intermediate Adventurers.
"That damn Makoto, he just leeched off Lucy-chan's magic."
"He really lucked out."
"Ssh! If you say too much, the person himself will hear you."
I already am.
I have the [Eavesdrop] skill after all.
Normally I will just disregard it... But it affects me a bit now.
"Hey! Makoto is amazing, you know! Don't say weird stuff!" (Lucy)
Lucy, who had good ears by default, got angry at the adventurers gossiping about us.
"It is okay, just leave them be." (Makoto)
It's true after all...
"But…" (Lucy)
"Those guys have been stuck in Bronze Rank for 2 years now. They must be jealous of Makoto. It is pathetic how they talk behind other people's backs."
Lucas says exasperated.
"Maakoto-kuun~!"
Mary-san hugs me.
"Your big sis here is happy that you have been drinking together with her lately~." (Mary)
"I am a weak drinker, so only for 2-3 drinks." (Makoto)
I don't get any stronger to it no matter how much I drink.
Even though Lucy has gotten pretty resistant now.
Is your strength towards alcohol also related to your Stats?
Or more like, I don't like alcohol that much.
I am drinking despite of that…because of my mood.
"You are making the face of someone with worries. Go ahead and consult with the Guild Onee-san here." (Mary)
"Wait, Mary! I am the one who is gonna listen to the worries of my party member." (Lucy)
"Eeh? It is easier to say this kind of stuff to someone older, you know?" (Mary)
"I am older than Makoto!" (Lucy)
"Oh, really? By the way, shouldn't it be about time you go to an intermediate-level dungeon?" (Mary)
"As I said! Those kinds of things are going to be decided by the two of us!" (Lucy)
"Boss, one more ale!" (Mary)
"Me too!" (Lucy)
"Ooh, you are popular, Makoto." (Lucas)
Lucas laughs out loud as if it is none of his business.
I'm a bit tipsy here since I finished the 1 bottle of ale and drink the half of second ale.
This is also the reason why I came to like drinking the ale, because I temporary forget the problem I have.
Since I'm a bit tipsy now I asked Lucas-san a stupid question.
"Lucas-san, how can I get stronger?" (Makoto)
I whisper that to him.
It is my worry lately.
"Huh? You are plenty strong already, Makoto. What are you saying after defeating a Griffon and a chimera that has been around for more than a 1,000 years." (Lucas)
He looks at me with eyes as if saying: 'Are you an idiot?'.
"The Griffon was defeated by Jean, the Chimera was defeated by Nina-san." (Makoto)
"But they wouldn't have been able to defeat those without you there, right? I heard that." (Lucas)
"I wonder about that. I think it hinged a lot on Lucy's firepower though." (Makoto)
"That's how party's work. They are divided in the roles of supporters and attackers." (Lucas)
"That's true, but…" (Makoto)
I..... Been relaying to other people...
I don't like this...
I finish drinking the half of ale.
"Boss, one more…" (Makoto)
"Got it. Don't drink too much, okay?"
"This will be my last one today…" (Makoto)
I am actually pretty drunk.
This ain't good, I don't have self-control.
Lately, I have been leaving the attack to Lucy while I act as the bait all the time.
The last time I defeated a strong monster on my own was the Ogre.
That one I baited it into a trap though.
"What's your level right now, Makoto?" (Lucas)
"I am now 20." (Makoto)
"It hasn't been 1 year since you became an adventurer, and yet you are Iron Rank and level 20." (Lucas)
"What is he dissatisfied with."
Lucas-san and Boss were looking at each other puzzled.
"It is not that I am displeased." (Makoto)
I opened my own Soul Book.
"Oh, the Soul Book of Makoto-kun?" (Mary)
"Mary-san, it is bad manners to look without permission." (Makoto)
"I am a guild staff so it is okay~, hehehe." (Mary)
No good, she is completely drunk.
"Hmm…but a level 20 with these stats, huh. It is true that this is way too low—wait, ueeeeh?!" (Mary)
"What's the matter, Mary?" (Lucas)
"T-This here! The water magic proficiency!" (Mary)
"Hm, where…eh, 99?!" (Lucas)
"So there's people who go all the way to 99 in proficiency…"
The three look at me as if they are looking at a maniac.
"You really are amazing after all, Makoto!" (Lucy)
Lucy already knew.
But…
"This is the source of my worry." (Makoto)
"Why?" (Lucy)
"I didn't become that strong even when I got to 99." (Makoto)
Yeah, even I with low mana could increase my proficiency if I trained.
The highest level of proficiency is 99.
This is the end point.
But it simply increased the precision and activation speed of my magic, and the power is still low.
Even though I did my best to raise it, it wasn't what I hoped for.
I thought I would get a mastery bonus.
"I-I see. Then, the Spirit Magic?" (Lucas)
"I am also stuck in that." (Makoto)
I heard from the old man giant, but I can't see the Spirits at all.
Can I really do it?
Hah... I'm drunk now.
"I will be going to sleep for today. Good night, Lucy." (Makoto)
"Eh? O-Okay. Good night…" (Lucy)
"Let's take a break tomorrow. We have been earning quite a lot lately after all." (Makoto)
"I-Is that so. Then, how about going shopping together…" (Lucy)
"I will be showing up at the store of Fuji-yan tomorrow." (Makoto)
"I see, got it…" (Lucy)
I tottered my way to the guild's resting area.
"You got rejected~." (Mary)
"Shut up, Mary!" (Lucy)
"Alright, let's drink again!" (Mary)