Chapter 40: Thus, Seele Begins Rhodes' Hero Cloud-Raising Plan! (Please Read On) (Patreon)

"So, why does Rozz have a translucent light screen floating over his head?"

She racked her brain over it. The grey-haired girl found no answer, but the novelty of the unknown always drew curiosity, and even she wasn't immune to it.

Not to mention — Rozz possessed that unprecedented radiance of the soul!

Watching the bustling Adventurers filling the restaurant, she could say for certain: the Hero Cloud-Raising Plan belonged to Rozz alone.

...

Naturally — if every Adventurer had this thing floating over their head, Syr doubted she'd feel such intense interest in Rozz.

Her gaze swept over the grimoire beside her, worth a hundred and fifty million valis.

It didn't feel expensive at all — not if it let her form a Bond and successfully unlock the Hero Cloud-Raising Plan's panel.

Everything she'd done would be worth it!

Just then, as the grey-haired girl's gaze swept toward the entrance, she spotted a black-haired young man's face — one that stood out rather conspicuously even in Orario.

"Good evening, Mr. Rozz~"

...

Noticing someone greeting him, Rozz turned toward the voice and found the grey-haired girl who felt like a familiar older sister.

Two things made her memorable.

She was one of the few pretty girls he actually knew at the restaurant, and beyond that, her personality always struck him as unusually gentle.

Completely unlike Hestia, whose gentleness leaned more toward doting.

"Miss Syr."

...

But looking into Rozz's light brown eyes, Syr found herself losing focus for a rare moment. As the Goddess of Beauty, she possessed a particular ability.

Eyes that could see through to the very nature of a soul.

Compared to yesterday, she suddenly realized Rozz's soul seemed to shine even brighter now, though that mottled layer still hadn't been washed away.

Was this the reason the young man before her held the potential to become a 'Hero'?

Syr had, naturally, looked into Rozz's basic background — and as luck would have it, this guy turned out to be a member Hestia had recruited into her Familia.

As for why his soul's base color had grown brighter...

It was probably the doing of those bottom-rung Adventurers from the Soma Familia. Thinking it through only made Syr more certain of her own conclusion.

'Through hardship and setback, Rozz would forge his own path to becoming a hero.'

Perhaps, for now, letting Rozz stay in Hestia's Familia was absolutely the best choice — quietly nurturing him into the hero he'd become.

Once he'd completely washed away the filth clinging to his soul...

...then she'd make Rozz her own 'Hero,' belonging to no one else. The thought alone left Syr in a rather pleasant mood.

...

He noticed the grey-haired girl watching him, her baby-soft, fair skin faintly flushing pink.

It couldn't possibly be because of him... could it?

Curious, Rozz asked, "Um... Miss Syr, are you feeling unwell?"

"Nope~"

"I just suddenly remembered something rather amusing. Mr. Rozz, today's Dungeon exploring must've been exhausting, huh?!"

A blossoming smile spread across her face.

She glanced around the restaurant and spotted an open table in the corner. "Come with me, there's a seat over there. What would you like to eat today?"

"Any recommendations?"

"Oh."

"There's the Sweet Flower Wine Chicken, and today's special is a jumbo charcoal-grilled pork cutlet set. Or is there something else that catches your eye?"

...

Something about that felt oddly off.

Considering Lili was just a Supporter and earning money wasn't easy for her, Rozz had no intention of mooching off her.

After weighing it over, he decided firmly, "I'll have the jumbo pork cutlet set. Just that alone should fill me right up."

"No problem~"

After taking Rozz's order, Syr turned to the Supporter girl beside him. "And what would you like?"

"The Sweet Flower Wine Chicken."

"And... I'll have a bowl of braised noodles too!"

She knew full well Rozz was trying to save her some money, but honestly, that little expense was nothing to her.

After ordering her staple, Lili also ordered a Sweet Flower Wine Chicken on the side.

After sitting down at the corner table, she looked across at the black-haired young man, seemingly unaware of anything unusual about him.

But then again, as a girl herself, Lili could sharply pick up on the unusual emotion hidden in that waitress Syr's eyes.

"Is this guy... really that easy for girls to fall for?"

Thinking this, the Supporter girl didn't even notice her own eyebrows knitting slightly — she could only chalk it up to coincidence.

Soon enough, the piping hot dishes arrived at their table — a genuinely lavish celebratory dinner as far as Rozz and Lili were concerned.

"Eat up, eat up~"

"Tomorrow, we'll decide based on how things go whether to explore the Dungeon. We've been at it nonstop for a while now, so rest up if you're feeling tired."

"Then we'll figure it out tomorrow!"

...

The food tasted great.

At least, that was Rozz's take on it — though a big part of that was probably because all he'd eaten at midday during the Dungeon exploration was a handful of Tater Tots to stave off hunger.

After thoroughly cleaning his plate, he looked across at the Supporter girl, her young face full of contentment. "Well... guess it's time we each head home."

"Keep an eye out, in case anyone comes looking for trouble."

"I will."

That was, without a doubt, the most pleasing thing Lili had heard all day. After settling the bill, she prepared to leave the restaurant alongside Rozz.

With the safety reminder taken care of, Rozz watched Lili's figure disappear into the stream of Adventurers before turning back toward the communal dormitory, not intending to linger.

Just then, having finished her shift, the grey-haired girl came jogging out onto the street outside the restaurant, cradling an old, weathered book in both hands.

"Mr. Rozz~ Please wait."

...

Hearing the familiar call, Rozz stopped in his tracks. Turning around, he found the beautiful grey-haired girl bent over, catching her breath after her sprint.

Syr Flova.

Slightly puzzled, he frowned — he'd watched the bill get paid with his own eyes. "Miss Syr, did you need something from me?"

"Um..."

The girl in her leaf-green maid uniform slowly raised her head, pale cheeks tinged faintly pink, and gathered her courage to ask.

"Mr. Rozz, if I remember right, you only just became an Adventurer?"

"That's right."

"Mm... then that works."

A relieved smile crossed Syr's face as she held out the old book in her hands. "This... is a book about Dungeon exploration."

"I thought... it might help you, maybe."

...

They'd only met twice, total.

Rozz obviously felt awkward accepting a gift from her, and he waved his hands quickly to decline — but before he could get a word out, Syr cut him off.

"Mr. Rozz."

"This book about Dungeon exploration was actually given to our shop a while back, by a kind Adventurer customer."

"She hoped... it could help some newcomer who needed it!!"

...

Rozz looked into the grey-haired beauty's sincere, unyielding gaze. Honestly, at this stage, he already had Lili as his Supporter.

There were surely other Adventurers out there who needed this more than he did.

"I hope you won't refuse, Mr. Rozz... So many Adventurers die in the Dungeon every day. I want to keep seeing you around, going forward."

...

"Thank you!"

With her having said this much, refusing further would've been plain rude.

Rozz nodded seriously and took the old book from Syr with both hands. "Once I've finished reading it, I'll return it to you, Miss Syr."

"That way it can go on to help other newcomers too."

...

As a goddess, Syr could naturally tell truth from falsehood in his words, and she was certain of one thing: Rozz had no idea this thing was actually a grimoire.

Quite simply, he believed he didn't need this help right now, and was even planning to bring it back to the restaurant once he'd finished reading, so it could help some other newcomer.

How amusing!

The smile on the girl's face grew even brighter, and she murmured softly, "Mr. Rozz, you really are... quite the gentle Adventurer, aren't you~"

"Not really..."

Honestly, he wanted to give it right back to her that instant.

Because Rozz had just realized — he apparently couldn't read Orario's language at all. Even if this thing was given to him, he probably wouldn't be able to understand a word of it.

"Thanks, Miss Syr. I'll head back now, then?"

...

When Syr noticed the text surfacing on the translucent light screen above the black-haired young man's head, her smile turned even gentler.

"Welcome to the 'Hero Cloud-Raising Plan.'"

"Heh heh~"

"See you tomorrow, Mr. Rozz!"

[Author's Note: PS: Two bonus chapters for monthly tickets — I still owe one chapter, and this one is the bonus for recommendation tickets. I probably won't manage to write it until tonight. Gotta go rest and sleep now, meow~]