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“Murmur… ugh… Murmur… I don’t like it…”

Murmur let out a painful groan and kicked the pink blanket with her feet.

Vesta, who had been quietly watching this, gave a small smirk.

“How adorable.”

Vesta blinked her red eyes as she covered Murmur again with the blanket that had flown far away.

She gently stroked Murmur’s hair as if handling a doll.

“Murmur… ugh… ugh… Nicasia… I don’t want to eat that…”

As Murmur groaned again, Vesta let out a small laugh.

Whether she was having a nightmare or a happy dream, Vesta couldn’t tell, but she simply smiled with overflowing maternal affection.

‘To think someone like her has to bear such a fate…’

Vesta rubbed her chest with her right hand and let out a small sigh.

The eternal sinner.

The guide of the demon race.

Vergilia.

Known by many names and titles, she couldn’t help but feel pity for Murmur.

‘When she said my name so easily, I was honestly surprised…’

Vesta tidied up Murmur’s hair with her small hands.

‘She knows my name, knows my identity, yet she doesn’t try to exploit it…’

When Murmur even fixed Vesta’s body, Vesta felt a bit tense.

To be more precise, she had been keeping her distance ever since Murmur mentioned her true name, “Vergilia.”

The abuse from Clotilde was nothing to Vesta, but Murmur’s “kindness” was more concerning.

‘She truly saved me with a pure heart, and then treated me as just another resident of Maghauscia…’

In front of Vesta, who was pretending to be bedridden with broken limbs, Murmur opened up her heart.

From Vesta’s perspective, that conversation was incredibly cute and endearing.

Wanting to repay a favor after receiving help is something even adults struggle with.

For Murmur, a mere 5th grader in the elementary section, to be so deeply troubled about whether to accept Dorothea’s help… From Vesta’s perspective, it was so adorable that she wanted to get up and hug her, even bite her cheeks.

‘Murmur…’

Vesta pinched Murmur’s small, mochi-like cheeks and smiled.

What a kind and adorable child.

‘Despite being born in such a cruel form, she strives to live a good life.’

Murmur’s existence cannot be acknowledged.

Murmur is an unforgivable being.

Vesta knew this fact clearer than anyone, which is why she kept her distance when Murmur mentioned her name.

‘With all the torment and scorn she’s endured… even though the power for revenge is right before her…’

Murmur said she was tired and wanted to sleep.

She pouted, complaining that her horns had become too smooth.

But she also said she was happy to have spent a good time with Nicasia and Citrine.

Right before falling asleep, she said there was no need to read her a fairy tale.

“…What a strange person.”

Vesta poked Murmur’s cheek with the hand she thought would be stained with blood today.

“Ugh… Vesta… Esme is bullying me…”

Why is her whining so lovable?

Vesta, without realizing it, smiled with overflowing maternal affection and kissed Murmur’s cheek.

‘I will do my best to assist Murmur from now on.’

Murmur is just a cute child.

Yet, she clearly sees through the identity of “Vergilia.”

In this strange irony, Vesta felt immense gratitude toward Murmur.

* * *

I, Murmur, was changing into my gym clothes to attend Professor Marea’s class.

In games, the outfit changes automatically, but in reality, that doesn’t happen.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to go all the way up to my room on the top floor; I could change in Nicasia’s room on the first floor.

“Let me help you.”

“Murmur can change by herself…”

Super maid Vesta, despite being smaller than me, moved her hands quickly.

Before I knew it, my uniform was off, and Bianca brought my gym clothes to help me change.

“It’s a bit disappointing that I can’t help you like I used to.”

“I think Murmur changed by herself back then too.”

Nicasia smiled slightly.

“That’s right. Murmur can change her clothes by herself, despite my worries.”

“What do you mean by that, Nicasia?”

How much of a helpless softy do they think I am?

Citrine does the same thing; sometimes they have such outrageous imaginations.

Even a 5th grader in elementary school can change clothes by herself, right?

“Were you worried because of Murmur’s horns?”

“Yes, that’s right. Murmur’s horns aren’t small; they’re huge, aren’t they?”

“They’re bigger than her body!”

Esme said as she pulled on her gym clothes.

“So I was really curious how she puts on and takes off her clothes.”

“You saw her putting on that wool pajama last time, didn’t you?”

“That was a button-up outfit, though.”

Ah, so that’s what it was.

“Murmur can’t just put on clothes normally, of course.”

With such large horns on her head, it’s obvious what kind of disaster would happen if she tried to pull her face through a neckline.

And unlike modern clothes, the materials aren’t stretchy either.

“That’s why demons learn magic to change clothes from a young age.”

“Because you can’t just wear button-up clothes all the time, right?”

“Right, so Murmur can change by herself. She doesn’t need anyone to help her.”

Nicasia chuckled and nodded.

“Are you all changed, Murmur?”

Citrine naturally took my hand and asked.

“Yeah, Murmur is all changed.”

“If you need to go to the bathroom, I can go with you.”

“Murmur is fine.”

Citrine nodded and looked at Nicasia, Esme, and Monica.

This clingy Citrine kept fidgeting with my hand at least until we entered the classroom.

It’s so obvious she likes this, so I gave up on pushing her away long ago.

“Aren’t you monopolizing Murmur too much?”

“If Nicasia thinks so, we can go to the bathroom together.”

Nicasia chuckled and took my hand.

“Shall we go to the bathroom, Murmur?”

Why do you want to go to the bathroom together?!

“Murmur thinks Citrine and Nicasia can go together.”

“I don’t want that.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Then why do you want to go with me?!

“By the way, Murmur, you seem more energetic than usual today.”

Esme, thankfully, became my lifeline.

“Murmur usually hates martial arts class!”

“Even Monica knows how much Murmur dislikes Professor Marea’s class, right?”

Looking back, I could see Vesta’s red eyes sparkling.

“Yeah, but now it’s fine.”

To be precise, I’ve reached a state where it doesn’t matter anymore.

“Professor Marea doesn’t dislike Murmur anymore. The class has become fun.”

“Ah… It’s true she didn’t teach you anything before, right?”

Nicasia stroked my head and opened the door to the room.

“But now, she loves Murmur more than anyone.”

“Murmur finds that… burdensome.”

“Hey, but that’s a good thing, right? Professor Marea is incredibly skilled, isn’t she?”

That’s true, but I don’t particularly want to attend her class.

I’d rather spend that time attending Professor Aiaie’s class or skip it altogether for self-study.

“Professor Marea will always be on Murmur’s side, no matter what happens!”

“I think so too. Sometimes she asks me questions, like how Murmur behaves in other classes.”

I had planned to completely avoid Professor Marea, as her teaching direction was the opposite of what I wanted…

But before I knew it, I had become so beloved by both professors that my friends were talking about it.

In a way, my plan had completely fallen apart.

Unwanted stats started rising, and while I needed to learn more magic, I ended up learning various martial arts.

“…Murmur still dislikes exercise, but she’s trying her best.”

“Oh my, are you serious?”

“Yeah, Professor Marea is teaching so diligently. Murmur thinks she shouldn’t reject that effort.”

Nicasia and Esme smiled and playfully clapped.

“Doing something you dislike is a huge achievement, Murmur!”

“Now you can even run with me!”

…It’s not that big of a deal, you know?

Anyway! Even though my growth direction has been completely messed up, there are ways to overcome it.

Among the martial arts I’ll learn, there are some sweet skills that aren’t affected by stats.

In fact, I’ve become more capable of handling various situations proactively.

And the reason I wanted to avoid Professor Marea was because my growth path got tangled, but now that the water’s already spilled, the story changes.

In the upcoming super event caused by “Vice Principal Dorothea,” Professor Marea will be a huge help if her favorability is high.

In fact, the current situation is a boon for me, Murmur.

“Murmur will work hard in martial arts class from now on.”

“That’s an excellent decision.”

Even Vesta is clapping and praising me!

“So Murmur has a request for her friends and Vesta.”

The water’s already spilled.

Since a pure mage build is no longer possible, let’s use the given situation wisely.

Who knows? Maybe I can complete the hybrid build, often treated as a meme in the community, with real-life power!

“Murmur wants to get a good grade in Professor Marea’s test.”

“You mean that three consecutive physical challenges, right?”

“Definitely, if you show improvement there, Professor Marea will love you even more.”

A test that raises Professor Marea’s favorability and lets me learn the martial arts I want.

The so-called Softy Triple Test!

Vesta will make me exercise hard anyway, and Professor Marea will keep talking about the test!

So if I, Murmur, make the first move, that’s all I need.

I’ll maximize the efficiency of the rewards and martial skills I have to receive by 200%! 300%! 500%!

“That’s an excellent thought, Murmur.”

Seeing Vesta smile brightly and clap made me feel even more strongly that this was the right choice.

 

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