Proofreader: Me!

Before I was scheduled to meet with Uriel, I happened to find Julia being mocked. The fan within me was justifiably infuriated, leading me to rush in without thinking. Honestly, I had no idea what went through my mind at the time. It seemed that even if this world was a game I found myself becoming attached to the characters in it.

I thought it would also be the perfect time to talk.

Unfortunately, I somehow triggered a trauma response, she cried and hit me, and then after I explained to her what I meant, she used her noble facade to get out of admitting it. I wanted to bang my head against the wall, I understood that these girls liked me, but not remotely close as to why they did.

Of course, I didn’t let any of that slip through while I detailed my past few days.

“And yeah, that was about it,” I put my hands down on the bench.

“Truly, as expected of my future subordinate, spectacular,” Julia nodded. “Although, I have one request!”

I gave her a strange look, “Sure?”

“My father has requested that you visit my territory in the next month, after the first round of tests for a weekend,” Julia sputtered out of her mouth.

Surprisingly, she invited me out to her territory. Not that I’d complain since their ancestor mentioned a reward in his pension. If anything, I was thankful she kept her facade up this time.

Julia glanced at me with expecting eyes, breaking character, “What do you think?”

“It’s a plan,” I nodded.

From one perspective, it was crazy to think about how she went from being rejected to inviting me to her house… unfortunately, this is what I signed up for by dying.

“Great, I’ll see you later!” She cheered, dropping her facade completely, and without embarrassment either.

After waving goodbye, she stumbled a bit, glanced backwards, and ran off in a daze.

‘How formidable…’ If I were rejected the same way, I don’t know if I’d be able to take it in stride like this.

Yet… Uriel was also in the same boat.

Today, we’re supposed to go ‘shopping.’ It was clearly a date, but due to my circumstances and her wishes, I refused to acknowledge it as such.

The path to the garden was still empty as it was morning, but it seemed like fate had decided to bestow me upon misfortune once again…

Uriel sat beside a small patch of flowers deep within the flower labyrinth, while Fen and Luna were happily chatting away at the main area’s bench. If the front side was meant for viewing, the side entrances were like mazes toward the centre.

I took a weird path to avoid the latter two, cutting myself on the razor-sharp edges of the otherworldly flora.

[Hey! Don’t injure the plants!]

Fjleora shouted in my ear.

‘Do you think I could help it if I wanted to?’ I grumbled.

[Hmph, master, don’t expect me to help if you can’t even protect our future spirits!]

I paused my steps, ‘Future spirits, you say?’

[You don’t know? Every living breathing thing that isn’t sentient eventually becomes a low-ranking spirit.]

In the game, it was simply stated that spirits have existed from the beginning of creation, with nothing on their spawning. Rather it was stated that spirits had a limited population that never decreased or increased, and only reincarnated once they ‘died.’

‘That’s interesting, why isn’t more widespread?’

[Master, I’m the only Royal Rank Spirit left, it’d take thousands if not hundreds of thousands before another one sprouts.]

I continued my steps, with a small hypothesis brewing. If spirits were not limited, but continuously were born, through an item that could be obtained at the end of the first year… theoretically, I could accelerate their growth and artificially create high-ranking ones.

‘We can talk later, I have an appointment.’

[Eh! Wait-]

I cut off the connection with my newly learned mana manipulation. Since she taught me how to cut off the summoning, I assumed I could do the same with telepathy.

“Uriel, I’m here,” I waved as I pushed through a block of well-trimmed plants.

“You’re early,” She looked up with a gentle smile. “Sh- should we go now?”

Even though she seemed so confident with that greeting, the moment she mentioned the date she faltered.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” I nodded.

Taking my affirmation, Uriel tugged my arm and took me out of the garden, the proper way.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Didn’t you see the princess and Fen?” I asked. “I’d rather not disturb them.”

Uriel put a finger to her lip, “You make a good point!”

Despite saying that, she happily hummed and made a point to walk past Fen and Luna very visibly.

I wanted to cower away from Luna’s glaring, but Fen’s eye contact told me an entire story.

‘Hoh… after that night you took a step forward?’ He seemed to convey.

I tried to respond with my own version of raising my eyebrows. ‘Dude! I rejected them!’

“Hahahah!” Fen laughed seemingly out of nowhere, surprising Luna and Uriel.

“Fen? Are you alright?” Luna grabbed his hand with a concerned frown.

Uriel caught my attention with another tug, “Luke, we should hurry, the cake restaurant might close!”

“I thought you said you needed essentials?” I questioned her morality.

“Hehe,” She ignored my question and pushed forward.

-x-

“I wasn’t lying, while I do need to buy some items, eating is very important!” Uriel continued to look away.

“You still hiding something?” I crossed my arms.

“Err…” She pushed the tips of her index fingers together, “The archbishop messaged me concerning receiving some kind of important relic.”

In an attempt to hide my tension, my eyebrows trembled. Her bad end, it seemed the world wanted to start it in earnest now.

“You should’ve told me sooner,” I crudely smiled. “And, is that where we’re supposed to be?”

I pointed at the hot spot for visitors in front of us. Within the academy there was a facility purely for travelling to other places, whether it be the Empire, one of the religious factions, or a dungeon, they had it. It basically acted as fast travel within the game.

“Ye- yes, and Luke, could you go ask for me?” Uriel backed behind me.

“Excuse me, we would like to use the portal service,” I asked for her.

“Of course,” The receptionist bowed in front of a large glowing portal. “Where would you two like to go?”

“Eternum,” Uriel whispered.

I answered their question, “The capital of the Holy Lands, Eternum.”

The receptionist walked in front of the Portal, raising their hands. With my special eyes, I could see his mana directly interfering with the symbols on the portal.

“Alright, it’s ready.”

We walked side by side into the portal, and unlike the other teleportation experiences I’ve had so far, it was simply instant.

A temple, adorned with statues and imagery of Eien and angels became my surroundings. It reminded me of the bad ending where she decided humanity was unfit to continue and went on a rampage to destroy it.

“Do you like it?” Uriel looked at me expectantly.

“Uh… yeah,” I halfheartedly answered.

Her smile dampened, “If you don’t like it… it’s okay to be honest.”

“Not at all!” I quickly refuted. “I just remembered something unpleasant.”

“If that’s the case, why don’t we go eat breakfast to cleanse it?” She offered.

Without a second thought, I agreed, “Lead the way.”

We ventured out of the temple, receiving looks of reverence from the civilians here. It was morning, but the streets were bustling with peddlers, priests and common folk.

“You’re universally recognised, it seems,” I was astonished by the amount of people who waved.

“Hehe, everyone here is like family to me,” She giggled. “All the civilians prayed to Eien for me to ascend to the first candidate.”

Were prayers necessary from the people related to one’s holy power, or was it solely innate? I’d probably find out if we continued to adventure together.

“It’s very lively, unlike the academy,” I commented as we walked past a fountain.

“Mmm, in the teachings it is said to always wake up as the Sun rises from the east,” She explained.

It hammered in the fact that this was a religious state.

“Are we close yet?”

“No, it’s right here.”

Uriel turned toward a small building with a cutesy-esque aesthetic. Certainly, it would appeal to girls of our age.

“Come in!” Uriel inadvertently grabbed my hand in excitement.

“If it isn’t our number one patron, what do you want today?” A middle-aged lady at the counter called out. “Oh, it seems she’s brought a partner as well.”

“Cut it out Barbara, it’s not like that,” She refuted it heavily, giving the opposite effect.

“Mhmm, if that’s what you believe…” The Barbara lady eyed me up and down, “But still, I don’t get it, what’s so special about this one?”

I stood in silence, unable to grasp her blatant whisperings.

Uriel exclaimed in both embarrassment and slight horror, “Auntie, I’ll exclude you from my prayers if you continue this rudeness!”

Receiving smacks from her, Barbara backed down, “Alright, alright, sorry. What’s your name?”

“Luke, I’m here today since Uriel said she wanted to buy essentials,” I answered with my name and purpose.

“Essentials?” Barbara repeated. “Are you sure she didn’t mean sweets?”

“He- hey! I haven’t eaten yet!” Uriel sat down with a red face.

“So you went to a sweet shop?” I retorted.

“...”

“Haha, you two match well,” Barbara chuckled.

“I want the newest item, Lemon Tarts two for me,” Uriel ordered with an upset tone.

She cutely glared at me, “Cho- choose for yourself!”

Her attempt at acting mad had the opposite effect of what she intended, as my heart warmed rather than worried.

I looked at the menu presented brightly on the counter, “Is it alright if I just have a cream crepe and a sandwich?”

“Got it, I’ll be back in a moment,” Barbara disappeared into the kitchen behind.

I looked down at our table, seeing Uriel’s mopey face. “You don’t think I’m fat, do you?”

“Where’d that come from?” I replied with another question. “And no, you’re not fat.”

If we’re not including her bountiful assets, then what I said was right.

“Hmm, okay,” Her expression gradually lightened.

My mind sighed, as I remembered having similar conversations with an ex before I died.