Chapter 58

A protective blessing currently in effect grants the user a defense capability nearly invincible.

Truth be told, the owner of this ability could easily be considered as having no lack of power; yet, they were deeply troubled by a problem that could not be solved by this ability alone.

This was not due to ignorance of the value of the blessing they possessed.

While they couldn’t use the blessing at will, she was very much aware of how powerful her blessing was.

Whenever lightning flashed nearby, this ability provided the power to resolve the situation causing her pain and automatically negated manipulation-type powers without her having to consciously activate it, all while being active continuously without effort.

On the downside, if she tried to use it in an aggressive manner, the ability would overload, rendering it useless for a time. However, the performance of the blessing was still unmatched by any other abilities in this world.

Even Erica, who had only experienced combat once since arriving in this world, could easily recognize the significance of this power.

“Please help.”

That said, Erica did not naively believe the blessing would affect the likes of Iska, who even extraordinary beings outside the realm of common sense took caution with.

She had never faced the truly strong of this world.

She couldn’t count on faith alone that the shield of her blessing would hold up against adversaries she had not yet encountered.

Erica realized that relying solely on her protective blessing would be unwise after observing Iska in combat.

Rather than trusting in blind luck that such enemies would not attack during the school trip, it seemed prudent to prepare for potential threats.

“Please lend me your strength.”

After concluding her meal that Yuna had prepared, Erica straightforwardly expressed this plea to Kang Yu-ri, who was waiting at home, right after their brief encounter with Iska.

This declaration came after pondering continuously throughout the meal.

“Unless you’re asking me to do the dishes for both of us. I’d kneel only if it were truly necessary~.”

The pink-haired woman, who was meticulously handling her portion of the dishes, answered without looking back at the young girl who had approached her.

The person Erica sought help from was none other than the former Queen.

Frankly speaking, her threat level was significant even now.

Despite losing the vast majority of her followers in this event, her transfer into their class had been seamless.

Moreover, it wasn’t Erica who had subdued her but Iska.

She had even rejected the offer to become allies.

In any perspective, accepting Kang Yu-ri was dangerous.

Asking or forcing her for help would only increase the risk.

“Not that—I have no intention of kneeling. I only ask that you pay for your lodging here.”

Yet, Erica boldly spoke those words to the woman diligently washing dishes.

If Kang Yu-ri were to grow irritated and strike her in the back, it would be something Erica couldn’t handle.

However, this woman, who had the ability to do as she pleased, still chose to return to this house.

There’s trust in that.

What matters is whether she remained here out of intent to betray at some point, fear of Iska’s victory over her, or a liking for Erica.

The fact that someone who could freely escape returned to her home is a significant plot point.

“I’m afraid that’s inadequate~. If that’s all, I’ll finish the dishes and leave. It’d be more convenient for both of us that way…”

“Help me this time, and I’ll grant you the right to pursue me.”

Kang Yu-ri was different from other heroines or the protagonist.

Being someone who’d initially been marked as an adversary, she would never appear on the quantifiable system window for Erica’s affection.

This offer implied a way to alter that.

Of course, Kang Yu-ri couldn’t know this part, so her reaction to Erica’s suggestion came swiftly.

“Puahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!”

Laughter.

In fact, uproarious laughter.

Even with the soapy gloves still on, Kang Yu-ri grabbed her stomach and burst into unrestrained laughter, not having finished the dishes.

“You’re offering me the right to pursue you?! That’s like our Erica, indeed! Why don’t you offer the right to greet or commend me? I’d work hard if you gave me that~.”

Kang Yu-ri’s eyes had briefly glanced at Erica’s ears, which were red.

That was evidence that Erica had belatedly realized how her words sounded embarrassing.

From Kang Yu-ri’s perspective, it was better to interact with someone who understood the embarrassment of their words over someone who remained oblivious.

Even with her initial intent to request shameful acts, her amusement at Erica’s reaction to something as simple as this was evident.

“…Don’t mock me.”

Despite her small hands trembling with embarrassment, Erica didn’t realize how this situation had lessened her leverage in asking for Kang Yu-ri’s help.

But Erica hadn’t set any absurd conditions. In her mind, an increase in affection translated to increased favorability, even though it was hard to tell which initiated the other.

Besides, even within a system window marking her as an enemy, attempting to like her could increase favorability.

[Character Scenario Queen Subjugation: A Fallback has appeared. Successfully completing this contract can either increase or decrease your favorability with the Queen.]

True enough, in Erica’s field of view, a system window appeared. It was mainly relevant to the former queen, with negligible impact on Erica herself.

Though an unexpected side story appeared, it was merely an addon, so Erica didn’t dwell on it too much.

“Are you thinking something? Do you actually consider qualifying me?”

Apparently delighted just at the thought, Kang Yu-ri abandoned the dishes and turned to Erica with an attitude far removed from her earlier plan to finish quickly.

Although she continued teasing on the subject, Kang Yu-ri seemed cooperative, so Erica decided to leave the dishes and conversation for later, turning her back and fleeing upstairs.

Her abrupt departure wasn’t viewed unfavorably by Kang Yu-ri, who glanced at Erica’s blushing ears.

“You’re rather cute. I want to tease you more.”

Given the adorable sight, Kang Yu-ri let her go.

With her hand still in the basin, she let Erica ascend to the upstairs room, where she sat on her bed and reviewed the situation.

Kang Yu-ri’s participation was uncertain, but Iska’s was almost guaranteed. With the Student Council President and Yuna supporting her unconditionally and her older sister on her side as well, any situation could be handled.

Still, why does it feel insufficient with only what I’ve prepared? The white-clothed girl fell into deep thought, questioning what she had missed.

The day of the school trip was not far off; Erica prepared and pondered for any unforeseen events.

*

“How unexpected that you’d take a direct role in this matter.”

The girl whose hair reached the ground looked down from the roof of a five-story building onto the lively streets below, despite the late hour.

The citizens, living in a world of supernatural powers, still went about their lives as if they’d never be devoured, neither possessing abilities themselves nor fearing those who did.

—People lived in ignorant bliss, unaware that powerful beings possessed the capacity to end them.

Citizens’ shadows suddenly expanded, consuming all but their ankles in an instant.

Fifty lives were extinguished in the blink of an eye. The girl who so nonchalantly committed this level of slaughter—a cruelty the school queen Erica regarded as villainous—gracefully descended the railing, using the subsequent screams as her music.

“This is what will please our Lord.”

The main heroine of a supernatural combat story, a character far beyond the usual scope of such narratives, descended the stairs with a chilling smile, having easily embraced the act of m*rder.

An association reaper even the associations should fear, her actions would prevent interference in any school trip events, as investigations now focused on the massacre.

All was for the sake of her Lord.

The sharpest blade of the protagonist of this supernatural battle tale disappeared among fleeing crowds.