I Became a Raid Boss

I ran over to a woman who looked like a nun and shook my tail at Joanie, who I found pitiful.

Shiver shiver…

When it’s time to fight, you act all scared, but now you’re being reckless. It’s a bit contradictory, isn’t it?

Hmm…

So you only react strongly to direct threats?

With this observation, I almost felt like a behavioral psychologist.

Ha!

But in reality, I’m not even close to being an expert; I’ve never learned any of this.

By the way, is there even such a profession in this world?

I haven’t seen anyone who specializes in counseling.

Here, when people have a problem, they quickly rush to the priest.

Ding ding!

“You got attacked by a monster? Oh my! Quick, go see the priest for a healing!”

“A plague is spreading? Quick, contact the clergy!”

“Father, I have sinned…”

This is the vibe here; priests of the Edel Church are treated as panaceas.

Anyway, I wonder if they don’t realize that in the wild, there are dangers other than monsters or beasts.

If that nun hadn’t been from the Edel Church, we could have ended up in a horrible situation with a bad bunch.

While tying the horse to a nearby tree and preparing to camp, Joanie was chatting amiably with the nun.

Chit-chat, chit-chat…

“Sorry for the late introduction. My name is Selin. I’m a nun serving Edel. Please just call me Selin.”

Zing!

“I’m Joanie! You can call me whatever you like!”

“Okay, Joanie. …Did you receive guidance from Edel?”

“Guidance from Edel…? Ah, yes! That’s right! How did you know? Some people don’t recognize me sometimes….”

Whoa!

“Hmm, if you didn’t recognize Edel’s grace so deeply, you wouldn’t be able to call yourself one of her servants. And….”

Selin’s gentle gaze fell upon me.

Glimmer…

“Your girl here has also received a lot of grace, just like Joanie!”

“E-eh? You mean Kana?”

“Is the girl’s name Kana? What a lovely name.”

“Ah…”

Hearing my name mentioned, I tilted my head.

While they were chatting, Joanie turned to me.

“Kana. This is Selin. She’s a nun of the Edel Church.”

Well, that was obvious enough.

I couldn’t act totally clueless after being introduced, so I gave Selin a light nod.

Not that it applies to everyone, but every clergyman I’ve met has been a good person or sage in their own way.

Selin seemed no different in that respect.

Of course, we had only met for less than an hour, so I’d need to see more, but she didn’t seem malicious as far as I could tell.

Maybe it’s okay to let my guard down a little.

Hmm…

“But aren’t you scared camping out here alone? I’d be terrified I wouldn’t be able to sleep…”

Giggling…

“Joanie, you’re so kind. Don’t worry. Like this—”

“Wow…!”

“If I borrow Edel’s strength, there’s no problem at all.”

Whoosh!

A golden light began to radiate from Selin’s hand, lighting up the darkness around us.

The light shimmered like fireflies, spreading out and wrapping the clearing in a glow.

“Is this a barrier?”

“Well, it’s not exactly a barrier but a sacred spell. Its function is similar, so you can see it that way. I’ll keep watch tonight, so you all can sleep soundly.”

“Uh… Are you sure that’s not hard on you…?”

“I’m blessed beyond measure, so this much is easy.”

Hmm…

I looked around at the light surrounding us.

It wasn’t as bright as when it first came from Selin’s hand, but it was a gentle glow that surrounded us like a wall.

When I touched it, my finger passed through the barrier without any resistance.

I had seen other priests create safe zones like this before, but they usually completely separated the inside from the outside, preventing anyone from getting in or out.

However, Selin’s barrier didn’t seem to block me from leaving.

It probably doesn’t have any meaning if it doesn’t. I guess going in from the outside would be blocked?

This is quite interesting.

“Kana, are you amazed?”

Fidget fidget…

“….”

Joanie was watching me with warm eyes while I poked and prodded at the barrier.

…That gaze is creeping me out.

*

“I guess Selin’s sacred spell is fascinating.”

“Others would probably find it remarkable.”

Smirk…

Joanie said with a happy smile.

After hearing her, Kana had been gazing at the campfire as if nothing were wrong, but Joanie clearly saw her like a child with a new toy, poking the barrier.

Peh!

‘Children will be children.’

Joanie thought Kana was cute, but at the same time felt a bit guilty for having interrupted her.

But it couldn’t be helped.

Why, don’t uncles poke their little nephews just because they’re cute until they cry?

It was exactly like that…!

Joanie justified her actions in her mind.

Just then, Selin, who had been happily smiling with Joanie, suddenly asked her.

“Are you two also going to the Holy Kingdom?”

“Yeah! When you say ‘you two,’ do you mean you too, Selin…?”

“Yes. I’m also on my way back to the Holy Kingdom.”

“Oh, what great fortune! Since we’ve met like this, would you like to travel together to the Holy Kingdom?”

Joanie fully exercised her natural charm and suggested this to Selin, but Selin laughed awkwardly and hesitated to answer.

“Of course, I appreciate the kind offer, but I think we should also hear Kana’s opinion.”

“Oh, right.”

Joanie suddenly realized she had gotten too excited and calmed down a bit.

She did just meet a perfect nun who looked like she jumped out of a comic book…

Joanie cleared her throat.

“I bet Kana will just say she doesn’t really care and say, ‘Do what you want.’”

“But asking for permission and assuming is different, right?”

Hmm…

Even though there’s a saying that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, she knew well that repeating such things would erode trust.

She didn’t want to jeopardize the relationship she had worked hard to build with Kana.

“Kana, Kana.”

“…Why do you always call me twice?”

“But, doesn’t it sound more endearing that way? If I just call your name, it feels so cold.”

Hmm…

“Not really…”

“Really? Anyway, Kana, Selin said she’s also heading to the Holy Kingdom. Is it okay if we join her? Having more travel companions is fun, right?”

“I’m not really sure about that.”

Kana responded uninterestedly.

Just as Joanie was about to speak again to persuade Kana, Kana spoke first.

“Do whatever.”

Hmm…

Joanie was taken aback; that was exactly what she had anticipated.

“Since she’s a nun, she probably knows the way to the Holy Kingdom pretty well.”

Kana sounded like she was justifying her remark for no reason.

Hmph…

As if she wanted to maintain that cynical persona.

Well, whatever!

Accepted by Kana, Joanie beamed.

“Sure! Kana said yes!”

“…I didn’t say yes.”

“Did you see that?”

Even though Kana had slightly begun to grasp Arkish, she quickly countered Joanie’s embellishment, but Joanie held her ground.

“Uh… is that so?”

Eek!

Selin, who was listening, looked bewildered enough to ask.

“Of course! Kana isn’t used to Arkish yet, so she can’t express herself properly. Just now, she meant, ‘I really love it! I won’t oppose!’”

“Is that so…? I guess it’s true she’s not used to Arkish…”

Hmm…

Selin thought she didn’t seem like the type to say those kinds of things.

While swallowing her next words, she realized how unique the combination of Joanie and Kana was.

The vibrant Joanie and the blunt Kana.

From their ages and personalities, it seemed like Joanie would take the lead, but Kana seemed to hold the actual reins.

That said, it didn’t appear that Kana dictated everything on her own either.

‘So that’s why Edel is keeping an eye on them.’

Selin’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Well then, I look forward to working with you.”

Selin spoke while avoiding the discontented gaze from Kana.

Thus, the three of us, thanks to Selin’s sacred spell, spent a comfortable night.

After cooking a simple stew with the meat from the Rain Buffalo we caught yesterday for breakfast, we cleaned up the clearing and prepared to hit the road.

Joanie stomped down on the fire to put it out, sprinkling water on it while pretending to be serious.

“Always be careful with fire. The lessons I learned since childhood shine in places like this.”

“That is true. You should always be careful with fire.”

Giggle…

“Ah, ahaha… Did you hear that…?”

“Yes, it’s a good lesson. I should teach it to the children at the temple.”

Sigh…

Suddenly, Joanie felt like she had become a honorary fireman in Silia Online and laughed awkwardly.

She wasn’t expecting anyone to have heard her muttering.

Having completed all fire safety measures, the group, equipped with their belongings for camping, attempted to set off on the journey but ran into a problem.

“Huh? Selin, where’s the horse?”

“The horse?”

“Yes. The horse we rode here.”

Uh-oh!

Joanie gasped dramatically at Selin’s shocking revelation.

“Then how did you get here?”

“By walking.”

“By walking…?”

“Yeah, thanks to Edel, it wasn’t too tiring.”

Oh dear!

“Edel must have been quite an athlete back in the day.”

“Eh?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Is there a rule against riding horses or something?”

“No, not at all. It’s just that all my travel expenses ran out. It’s embarrassing, but I miscalculated…”

Haha…

When Selin laughed, Joanie forced an awkward smile in return.

Well, that’s a big deal. If we had an extra horse, fine, but we only have two.

Hesitantly mumbling to herself, Joanie heard Selin scratching her cheek.

“Well, you can go ahead and leave me behind.”

“No! You can’t abandon a comrade!”

“C-comrade…?”

Joanie’s eyes widened.

Feeling pressured by Joanie’s energy, Selin stumbled back reflexively.

Meanwhile, Joanie swung her head around sharply, so it made a whack sound, pointing her gaze at Kana.

“Kana! I’m sorry, but can I ride with you?”

“…What?”

“We can’t very well leave Selin behind, right? So if you and I ride one horse, we can put Selin on the other one, how about that?”

“You two can just ride together.”

“That’d be too mean for the horse. Better if light little Kana rides with me.”

“Then I’ll just run while you two ride one horse and Selin on the other.”

“Aah, Kana! Are you really going to keep being so cold?”

Honk honk!

Joanie and Kana engaged in a fierce back-and-forth without giving an inch.

Even though she didn’t understand the words, Selin sensed some sort of tension and quietly observed.

“Fine. Then I’ll ride with that nun, Selin.”

“…That won’t do!”

“Why not?”

“Just, no!”

“Honestly, I’ll think about it.”

“…It’s a perfect chance to stay close to Kana! I can’t miss out on this!”

“Just drop dead.”

“Eek! You’re just pretending to think! Kana is a liar!”

Kana grabbed a stick expressionlessly and started chasing Joanie.

Eeek!

Joanie screamed and fled while Kana pursued her.

Caught in this sudden chase, Selin stood watching wide-eyed.

The frantic chase ended when Joanie tumbled to the ground, thoroughly pelted by sticks.

Thwap!

“I knew from the moment you suggested we just go together.”

“Kana, you agreed too!”

“I just figured you’d pester me if I said I didn’t.”

“Hmm, I suppose that’s true. Ow! Why are you hitting me?!”

“Because I’m annoyed.”

Kana snapped the stick she used to whack Joanie.

Without any sentimental attachment, she tossed the two broken pieces aside and gestured to Selin.

“Ride.”

“Me…?”

“Yeah. You agreed, so you should take responsibility.”

Kana muttered listlessly, tapping the saddle as if to hurry Selin.

As Selin found herself unexpectedly in the saddle, Kana kicked Joanie in the side.

“Get up quickly.”

“Uugh, everything hurts… Maybe if Kana blew on it, I’d feel better…?”

“Just lay down forever.”

“I’m up!”

Huffing…

‘What an interesting combination.’

As Selin observed their squabbling, she realized she was smiling.

‘Even if it wasn’t Edel’s will, I might have ended up with these two.’

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