Chapter 278
It turns out there are several obstacles to fighting Azhdaha. Seriously, preparations went so much smoother when we were defeating the Rainy Devil, but the moment people get involved, it becomes this.
In the game , gathering characters and forming a party, no matter how strong or powerful the members were, never drew complaints.
The troubles that arose then were just spices to liven up the story developments set for each character.
At the very least, there was never a situation where 'gathering people' was denied permission. Or rather, not being able to gather characters would be a fatal flaw for FBO's progression.
To have this kind of messy, dragging-each-other-down trouble, typical of human conflicts, occur at the character assembly stage... the noble society is truly a hassle!!
"Hey, Liberta-kun, are you perhaps nervous?""So even Liberta gets nervous."
That's what I was thinking, but I also believe it's precisely because of such troublesome events that this 'reward' is happening. Well, maybe it's only a reward because it's me, but the fact that I'm extremely nervous, wondering if this is really okay, remains unchanged.
The reason for this nervousness is that I'm about to have a tea party with my favorite character!!!
Iris Edelgard.She's a character competing for the top spot among my favorites in FBO.
Frankly, even among many other great characters, I can assert she'd definitely be in the top five, no, the top three. Depending on the situation, that number might shrink even further.
The reason I hadn't met such a character until now, despite chances, was partly because I was busy, but also, I think, because I subconsciously avoided it, feeling it was too presumptuous to meet my favorite. And then, in such a circumstance...
*'It's a good opportunity. My daughter wants to meet you too. I'll arrange a tea party tomorrow; it would be good to meet before the soirée.'*
It was less an order and more a gesture of goodwill from the Duke, arranging a meeting. The intention was probably for me to also attend the soirée and guard Lady Iris and Lady Esmeralda. Whether Lady Esmeralda in her current state needs a guard is another matter.
"O-Of course!! After all, I'm attending a tea party with noble young ladies!"
The biggest problem is that I'm nervous about meeting my favorite character now. Emotionally, it's probably the same feeling as an average person going out to eat with their favorite idol.
"Lady Esmeralda is also a noble lady, you know?"
If I were asked right now which would make me more nervous: challenging the Rainy Devil solo at my current level, or having a tea party with Lady Iris... well, I might say fighting the Rainy Devil would be more relaxing. I couldn't honestly say that, so I used her nobility as an excuse, but Claudia pointed out the difference between her and Lady Esmeralda.
"You were also fidgeting like a cat on hot bricks when you first met me."
But well, I did act suspiciously when I met Lady Esmeralda too, since she's Lady Iris's sister, so it's not a problem.
"Is that so. So even Liberta has feelings like nervousness.""First the Duke, now you, Claudia-san... what do you people take me for?""Let me see... Lately, I've been trying to think of you not as a person, but as a creature called Liberta.""Am I some new species of monster or something?"
I'm grateful they're joking to help me relax, but I can't help feeling those jokes might be their genuine opinion.
Leaving a wry smile, when Lady Esmeralda asked if I was okay, I checked my clothes again. At their earnest request, everyone here is clad in Sunlight series equipment. Legendary-grade armor. To us, it feels like our usual work clothes, but the fact she wanted to see it reminds me of Lady Iris from the game era.
*'I must make a name for myself, for my sister's share as well.'*
She protected her position as a noble lady while continuously seeking strength. Raising her affinity wasn't done with pretty jewels, enjoyable theater trips, or cute small animals.
What made the original her happy were legendary holy swords, dragon scales, and rare scrolls.
Choosing a town shopping date would *lower* her affinity, while taking her to a dungeon where you could get stronger or obtain rare materials would earn a passing grade and an appropriately condescending evaluation, *raising* her affinity.
A young girl who vowed to become a legend to rebuild the crumbling Ducal house after losing her sister and the beginning of her family's collapse, a vow made to her sister who gave her life to save hers.
She always carried a tense air, composed yet not trusting of others. A girl sharp yet fragile, like a needle. But in truth, she was a girl lonelier than anyone else. A girl who had to be strong because she lost her sister, lost her mother, and her father had changed.
That girl, putting on a brave front, would show her weakness and rely on you once her affinity increased.
Countless players were taken in by that gap, and I am one of them.
In the game, she could only follow set behavior patterns, but the one I'm about to meet is a living person. I'll be careful not to confuse the game with reality, but I can't help having preconceptions as prior knowledge.
"She is not such a sweet existence, you know.""I wonder, it feels like I'm being complimented, but also not.""You two, that's enough. If you talk any longer, we'll be late for the tea party."
Just as my nervousness subsided, Lady Esmeralda spoke to us, and we set off for the tea party. Even if we had time before the appointed hour, endless chatter would make us late, so following Lady Esmeralda's urging to clap our hands and move, we walked through the Duke's mansion.
Nell and the others had walked this path many times, so they had no hesitation, but I, who usually just went to the Duke's office and then headed home, was unfamiliar with this route.
A maid was waiting in front of a room. Lady Esmeralda stopped and nodded, and the maid knocked on the door.
"Young Lady Iris, Lady Esmeralda and her party have arrived."*'Please, come in.'*
A reply came from inside, the same voice I heard when we met before fighting the Jinkonju. Following the voice, the maid opened the door, revealing a girl in a blue dress standing there.
She gracefully performed a curtsy.
"Welcome, thank you for coming."
Her gentle smiling face. My thoughts stopped for a moment. Ah, my favorite is smiling at me!! I almost got excited, but...
"Thank you for inviting us. Let me introduce myself properly; I am Liberta.""Thank you for your politeness. I am the second daughter of House Edelgard, Iris Edelgard."
Somehow, my reason prevailed, and I greeted her. She returned the self-introduction.
"Now, everyone, please, have a seat."
We were then smoothly guided to our seats, but...
"Um...""Yes, what is it?""Is my seat correct here?""Yes!! I've been wanting to meet and talk with Liberta for a long time, so I asked my sister to prepare a seat nearby for me!!"
The seat I was guided to was, unexpectedly, right next to Lady Iris. Normally, an unmarried noblewoman wouldn't sit this close to a man. It should be across, with some distance, but there was none.
Around the round table, clockwise from me: Lady Iris, Claudia, Nell, Amina, and then Lady Esmeralda. I was sandwiched between the Edelgard sisters.
Ingrid, being a maid, was standing by behind us.
"That's an honor."
Well, she's the host, so she probably has the authority to decide the seating, but seeing Iris smiling happily, I realized she really was different from the game.
You rarely saw her smile in the game. Even if you raised her affinity and became close, she'd only smile faintly, somewhat sadly.
The only time she smiled from the bottom of her heart was the moment you helped her, supported House Edelgard, and reconciled her with her father.
It was precisely because I saw that smile, worthy of being a CG, that she ascended to become my favorite character, it's no exaggeration to say.
That said, I'm not denying the current her as a misinterpretation or anything. Rather, I'm happy thinking that by saving Lady Esmeralda, she can enjoy happiness.
The maids, including Ingrid, prepared the tea, and the tea party began.
Now then, what kind of topics will come up? Feeling flustered by the strangely close distance, I waited in a passive stance.
"Liberta, there's something I really want to ask you, if I may?"
Then the host, Lady Iris, looked at me, trying to provide a topic. She did say earlier she "wanted to ask me something."
I looked at Lady Iris, who, the moment everyone had taken a sip of tea after sitting down, seized the initiative to bring up a topic as if she couldn't wait. A woman who seemed like a strict head maid was also in the room; she twitched an eyelid but said nothing more.
"Yes, what is it?"
When she said 'something to ask,' the first thing that came to mind was the cosmetic-related items desired by Lady Iris and Lady Esmeralda's mother, Lady Catharia. I thought it might be early given her age, but since Nell and Amina were also very interested, I thought it wasn't unreasonable for her to want them too. Currently, we can mass-produce the Spirit's Blessing, which we previously couldn't make. While imagining the evil scheme of gaining the Lady's support to lay the groundwork for the noble cooperation I just discussed with the Duke, I waited for Lady Iris's question.
"I've heard from my sister and everyone here, but if I said there was something I wanted to become, would you teach me how, Liberta-sama?""Something you want to become... is this about levels and training?""Yes."
What she brought up was slightly off from my prediction. It was among the candidates, but missed the mark of my main expectation.
"Is that really alright? As a noble, I thought there was a future you *had* to become...""There certainly is, but if Liberta is the one teaching me, I believe Father would agree. Also, before, I had given up because my body was weak and I couldn't do things, but thanks to my sister, my health has improved, and then I started wanting to do various things...""Fundamentally, there's no one better at training than Liberta. Father also said it's fine if it helps Iris's strength."
But... the self that Lady Iris wants to become? In the game era, she had a strong tendency to seek power to achieve military exploits, but in this world, what kind of build would she prefer?
Lady Esmeralda loved firing off magic from the start, so she chose the magic path, but would Lady Iris also go that route? Honestly, I'm curious about what future she desires after the original story's breakdown. Her health seems to have recovered just like in the original.
Since Lady Esmeralda also said it was fine, and I decided I'd explain the training methods to the Duke later anyway, I agreed to listen.
"If that's the case, what kind of person do you want to become? It's fine if it's vague, like 'somehow like this'.""Let me see... Hearing stories from Nell and Amina, I've been thinking about various things!""Okay."
Now then, what will it be?
"I... I want to become a Hero-sama!!""A hero?""Yes!"
I had expected her to say she wanted to be a healer, because being bedridden and unable to move was painful, and she wanted to help others suffering similarly. But when the lid was opened, out came a surprisingly tomboyish idea.
"You mean, the heroic kind of hero who saves the world, like in stories?""That's right!! I want to become an amazing hero-sama, like the ones in these stories who can defeat evil dragons!!"
I almost retorted, "Your sister is the Demon King, you know!?" but managed to hold back.She probably read many stories, as reading was one of the few things she could do in bed. She brought her favorite book and looked at me with sparkling eyes.
"An evil dragon, huh?""Yes! An evil dragon!""Swinging a sword of light?""Yes! Ah! And I want to shoot beams from the sword too!!"
But... a hero, huh.Thinking from the original, it's a choice with quite a gap, I thought.