[Unleashed a mystical technique of a level suitable for the Blue Wolf Swordsmen Master [Jaosu Swordmaster Gael].]
[Mana Control Skill Experience Points +100]
[Jet Black Coating Experience Points +100]
[Smoke Experience Points +50]
[Playing Alone Experience Points +50]
[Concentration Experience Points +50]
[Focusing Experience Points +50]
[Fear Induction Experience Points +30]
[Scaring Experience Points +30]
[Hiding Experience Points +30]
[Imitation Experience Points +30]
[Super Focus Experience Points +30]
[Charging Experience Points +30]
[Throwing Experience Points +30]
[Dark Mana Veil Experience Points +30]
[Scary Child Experience Points +10]
[Jaosu Swordmaster Gael has granted your technique the name “Spirit-Devouring Sword.”]
[Accelerated Afterimage Blade Experience Points +300]
[One-hit Skill Ghost Slash Experience Points +100]
[One-hit Skill Powerful Throw Experience Points +100]
[Finishing Move Spirit-Devouring Sword Experience Points +100]
With every big incident comes a delightful reward.
Unlike the few measly stealth Experience Points you earn by hiding in Professor’s Bag or following behind instructors’ shadows, this is experience that pours in like a splash.
That’s why events are great!
Once your skill reaches a certain high level, it takes days just to find low-level targets for experience, and even more days to succeed.
But just skip one event, and you can wipe out hundreds or even years of time in one go!
‘Gathering experience points is like investing in a bank, it pays off big time!’
But just like how focusing only on money can isolate you from human relationships, focusing solely on skill experience can ruin friendships.
[People connected to you, including direct instructors from Professor Armstrong and classmates from the [Combat Skill Tech Tree] lecture, feel fear towards your talent.]
[Favorability from related individuals decreases dramatically.]
[Relationships with related individuals change to wary.]
[The wariness level among related individuals rises sharply.]
[As Hestia achieves great feats, those around you begin to feel a sense of empathy towards your past as they reject you, increasing their favorability.]
It’s too bad the favorability woefully drips like a drop drop drop.
You probably won’t be hated enough by the minimum correction to not even talk to them.
But trying to build a real relationship with NPCs who have overwhelmingly negative feelings is hard.
“Hey, Oknodie… strong, huh? Isn’t it a little scary how strong you are?”
“I can’t even believe we’re in the same grade. She feels like someone from a totally different world—seriously!”
“If she’s showcasing that insane swordsmanship at that age, I wonder if she even manages regular daily life? She’s basically a killing machine, no doubt about it.”
While I blankly listened to the NPCs express their fears, a large hand covered my ears.
As I looked up, I met the gaze of Hestia, who, despite mastering the Mana Flow Technique Manual for Maids, still had a robust physique that remained unchanged.
Don’t listen.
I realized from her lips moving.
Ah.
Hestia is protecting me.
Maternal instinct?
Close but not quite.
Yes, this is…
[Understanding level of the character Hestia has increased.]
━━━
Hestia’s Understanding Level
No Friends (Understanding 10) – Hestia, having advanced to the Berserker class, lives a life devoid of friends.
Monsters are Toys (Understanding 20) – The Berserker, who gained power inversely proportional to friendships, treats monsters that others struggle with as post-meal exercise.
Strong Person Preference (Understanding 30) – Growing up seeing weaker people display envy, jealousy, and ill will, Hestia despises the weak while being comfortable around the strong.
Protective Instinct (Understanding 45) – Hestia awakens to a desire to protect those rejected like herself. This is what we call a [Protective Instinct]. (new!)
Guardian (Understanding 60) – Who could have imagined it? Deep down in the Berserker is the inherent capacity of a guardian, of a protector. (new!)
━━━
[Understanding level of the character Hestia exceeds 40.]
[Acquired secondary privilege [Protection Designation].]
[In combat where the character Hestia is protecting something, her combat power increases.]
[Understanding level of the character Hestia exceeds 60.]
[Detect 3rd stage privilege [Strength Break].]
[Character Hestia thinks that gaining strength beyond human limits will distance her from humanity and make her lonelier.]
[Under certain conditions, Hestia’s strength will increase beyond a predetermined limit without using Berserk Rage.]
Is this perhaps…
The awakening of Hestia’s Mama mode?!
“Hestia!”
“Huh? Oh, um, why?”
Hestia was startled and questioned as I asked with considerable suspicion.
“Do you ever feel like wanting to raise a child or become a mother?”
“Suddenly? I’m not quite sure about that…”
“Then how about me?”
“Huh?”
“Do you ever feel like wanting to raise me?”
Hestia’s face went blank.
*
Upper Class Students sometimes bump into each other in the cafeteria.
The food tastes good, and they have learned that skipping meals is a foolish act when they are exerting both strength and intellect.
“I feel like I’m dying…”
“Next year, I’m definitely taking a different class with the Grand Duke… Seriously…”
The sight of Seoguyeon, flattened on her table like a limp kimchi pancake, was a common one.
“Mom… I…?”
Next to her, Hestia, with a blank expression, was aimlessly moving her hands over a bowl that was already empty—not quite a usual sight for her.
Normally, she would devour her meals and dash off to train.
Curiosity piqued within Jezel, who was stimulated by her instincts as a dark merchant and information merchant.
“Is there something troubling you?”
“Uh… troubling… me?”
“If you’re okay with it, I can be your counselor.”
Jezel prided herself secretly on being a reliable counselor.
A good information trader is an excellent listener.
Those who don’t know how to listen cannot gather information.
“Mama…”
“Yes?”
“I was asked…”
“Who asked you, and what did they say?”
“Oknodie… was asked to become a mama…”
Whatever the necessary virtue for a great listener might be, I don’t think it involves spilling water from a cup.
“Oh… I’m sorry! I was just so surprised!”
“I couldn’t answer it. So… what should I have said?”
“That sounds like a tough question.”
Jezel didn’t hastily throw out an answer she hadn’t come up with herself.
Premature answers provoke rebuttals.
The answer should come from the one seeking advice, not the advisor.
“The first thing to address is: Who was Oknodie’s real mama?”
“Uh…? I never even thought about that, but Oknodie is the director’s daughter…”
“There might have been a mother. No, if we’re talking biological, she must have existed. But we don’t know Oknodie’s birth story.”
The question itself buries another question.
As long as she can avoid finding her own answer, that’s fine.
“The foundation’s director. Is he really Oknodie’s biological papa? Is mama really his wife? Or is she just an orphan taken in?”
“I don’t know. I never heard anything about that…”
“That’s right. You, who spent a lot of time having conversations next door to Oknodie, still don’t know her family matters.”
It might seem cowardly, but it was the extent of what Jezel could say.
“Whatever changes she’s undergone, it’s best to ask her directly. Especially when it comes to family matters.”
“Yeah… I definitely have to ask Oknodie what that meant… I’m glad I consulted you.”
“On your way to ask, can I go with you?”
I was dying to know.
I want to eavesdrop on the conversation that will unfold afterward.
The curiosity was even visible in Hestia’s eyes, which were slightly squinting.
“I can trust you.”
“That’s a relief.”
Fortunately, Oknodie stayed quietly in the cafeteria today instead of sneaking off to prepare for her exam.
It wasn’t hard to find her.
“Oknodie! I have something to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Earlier, what did you mean?”
“Are you looking forward to dinner?”
“No, not that. You said something a lot more important!”
“Ah, I see.”
Oknodie nodded confidently, obviously knowing what it was about.
“Talking about Titosso taking off the cellophane? I was just as surprised! I thought it would take at least another month!”
“There was something much more important! You asked me to become a mama!”
“Huh? Me?”
“Are you playing dumb?! How long have I been pondering that because of you until just now!”
“Oh, so that’s what confused you.”
Oknodie shook her finger side to side to correct the misconception.
“I just wanted to confirm; I wanted to know if Hestia wanted to raise me.”
“What’s the difference from being a mama!”
“Uh… I guess so? Should I just go with mama then?”
Jezel let out a heavy sigh.
“Looks like the usual naughty habits of the little lady have come out. Heartlessly toying with others’ feelings without a second thought.”
“Uh! I wasn’t trying to play! I genuinely asked that!”
“In social terms, things said in passing are not considered genuine, but rather playful mischief.”
“Hmph.”
“How did you two do on the exam?”
“Not bad. Oknodie got a passing mark even against the Blue Wolf Swordsmen Master.”
That was quite surprising.
The Blue Wolf Swordsmen Master Gael ranks among the top thousand strongest in the world.
Yet, even then, Oknodie’s mama commotion left an impression that clouded the situation.
What did happen in the end?
Is Oknodie’s mama the director’s wife, or is she a different person altogether?
It’s driving me insane with curiosity.
Feeling the same way, Hestia rashly threw a bold question.
“Oknodie, but who is your mama?”
“Don’t know.”
“…Should I just be your mama?”
Ah! Oknodie pointed at Hestia with her finger.
“Things said in passing are mischievous play! Hestia has become mischievous too!”
“Good job teaching that to a kid.”
I was left speechless, no words remaining.
Jezel felt the weight of her head.
