Amelia Rainwales.
A top-tier talent who can use Aura and even possesses the ‘Guide’ talent.
Her class is probably…
‘Something like a Doppelganger Rogue.’
Anyway, her current level is 8, and she has one empty essence slot. Originally, it was full, but she erased one just before coming down to the first basement level.
[Affinity] An essence of a 5th-grade monster, Capybara, which has a passive that prevents preemptive attacks from monsters.
It was quite useful when she was moving alone, but now that she’s with us, it’s an unnecessary essence.
Well, there was one more essence with a similar feel.
“Emily, when we return to the city, erase Esgen’s essence too.”
“Esgen’s essence…?”
“Why the surprised look? I told you last time, your solo days are over.”
“…I’ll think about it.”
‘Think about it,’ my foot.
With [Fountain of Immortality], even if we bring a priest, they can’t even give a proper heal.
‘Why is she so reluctant to erase it?’
If you have companions, Esgen’s essence can be easily replaced with potions or other things.
But why is she so attached to this essence?
‘…Does she still not fully trust us?’
Well, maybe that’s it.
When she was alone, she must have overcome many life-threatening situations with that skill.
She’ll need more time to adjust.
“…Okay, think about it. It’s not like we have a priest in our clan yet.”
I ended the conversation, deciding to persuade her later.
And just as I was about to move on to the topic of the boss.
“It seems… it’s been resolved well?”
Amelia throws out a random remark.
I give her a look that asks what she’s talking about, and Amelia clears her throat and continues in a small voice.
“I’m talking about Misha Kalstein.”
Ah, that’s what she meant.
I hadn’t properly talked about it since then, so from her perspective, she must have been curious about the inside story.
“Thanks to you, it was resolved well. I also confirmed that there’s nothing more to hide—.”
“…Confession.”
“…Huh?”
“There was a rumor that… you received one. From Kalstein.”
Uh….
I was genuinely taken aback.
“Judging by your expression, that rumor must be true.”
“True or not, how do you even know about that?”
“I heard it from Tersia.”
“From Erwen…?”
“She said she was looking for you that day and overheard you talking in the room.”
“Ah….”
As I stood there dumbfounded, Amelia cautiously asked.
“So… what did you answer?”
Is it right to talk about that day without Misha’s permission? While pondering that, I decided to be honest about what happened that day.
After all, I received Amelia’s help in this matter.
“Just friends….”
“Yeah, it was resolved pretty cleanly in that way. So you don’t have to worry—.”
“It’s going to be a messy fight.”
“…Huh?”
“No, it’s just a soliloquy.”
I couldn’t get an answer even when I asked what she meant by that very meaningful statement.
Amelia changed the subject as if avoiding the conversation.
“Yandel, I’m asking just in case.”
Her voice changed to a serious tone, and I already felt uneasy about what she was going to say—.
“Do you perhaps like men?”
“…What?”
“Don’t worry. I have no prejudice against that. I’ve met people with such preferences several times in Noark—.”
What is she even saying?
“Watch your words, Amelia Rainwales.”
I barely manage to speak, suppressing the bubbling anger from my core.
“I like women. A lot.”
“…Oh, is that so? Ah… I didn’t know it was that much—.”
“So don’t ever say that in front of me again. It was even more humiliating than when you mistakenly called me ‘Hans’.”
“…I’m sorry. I’ll be careful. It won’t happen again. I swear on my sister’s name.”
Amelia’s quick and sincere apology made me sigh and suppress my anger.
“Haa….”
It’s a strange thing.
It’s not like I hate homosexuals or anything, so why am I so angry?
I don’t know, but Amelia, while watching my reaction, continued what she was about to say.
“Anyway… it’s a relief then.”
“A relief?”
“You’re a noble in this world, aren’t you?”
“Huh?”
As I tilted my head, Amelia somehow avoided my gaze.
“I… I don’t know what your original world is like… but… it’s okay here.”
“….”
“Even if you like women a lot.”
How did the conversation even get here?
I couldn’t understand it at all, but I pulled up a voice from my core.
Even if they were precious companions, it couldn’t be helped.
When it’s time to scold, you have to scold.
The spirit of Hongik Ingan [a Korean ideal of benefiting humanity] and Confucianism.
A person who inherited both at the same time.
Also, a pure-blooded Korean born with the Lee surname of the Joseon [Korean dynasty] royal family.
Knowing only Korea, Korea, and more Korea.
Known as the KKK-Barbarian.
“Gaaal—!!!!”
This was an unacceptable statement.
***
“Gaaal…?”
It was a Confucian shout that Amelia had probably never heard before.
I, who had the duty to benefit the world, quickly explained the meaning of that cry.
“It’s a common saying in our world when scolding someone.”
“…Are you saying I said something that deserves to be scolded?”
Heh, she still hasn’t grasped the principle.
I should have done a triple ‘Gaaal’ right away, but since she’s a companion, I calmly opened my mouth.
“Of course. Our royal family doesn’t have such a promiscuous culture.”
Amelia was momentarily taken aback by my words.
“Our royal family…?”
“I didn’t tell you because I was worried you’d feel burdened, but my surname ‘Lee’ means I’m a descendant of the Joseon royal family.”
“Are you… saying you’re royalty?”
“…Yes, a distant relative though.”
My conscience pricked me, but it wasn’t a lie, was it?
There was room for interpretation like that on paper.
Due to the nature of a single ethnic group, there was a high possibility that our blood was mixed a little.
“…Royalty, huh? That’s surprising.”
Surprisingly, Amelia readily accepted it.
However, there was one question.
“But didn’t you say the country you lived in was Korea?”
“Joseon is… an ancient kingdom that has already fallen.”
“I see… so you were a descendant of an ancient fallen kingdom.”
Uh….
“Yes.”
There was room for interpretation like that too.
It was also a slightly cooler identity than a commoner A with the surname Lee.
“Now I understand. Why you were so obsessed with survival… You must have been in an environment where you had no choice since you were young. You must have also had a sense of duty.”
“….”
I decided to keep my mouth shut.
However, did revealing my identity pique her curiosity?
Amelia started asking all sorts of questions.
“Joseon is a very unique country. Even royalty can’t have multiple wives.”
I had nothing to say this time either.
In fact, Joseon was a polygamous society.
They even had concubines, not just wives.
…A lot of them.
‘Is polygamy… perhaps a very fundamental social system?’
I suddenly had that thought, but I shook my head.
No, that can’t be.
The current royal family, the K-government, which inherited the Confucian spirit, is implementing monogamy.
‘…But this is a different world, isn’t it?’
Come to think of it, even murder is treated as a heinous crime in Korea, which is governed by the K-government.
And now I’m a murderer who has killed hundreds of people.
‘But is there any reason to be bound by it?’
Suddenly, the demon dwelling in my left arm whispered, but I covered my ears and eyes.
There was no need to make excuses like Confucianism or social systems. I was simply born and raised in such a world, so a physiological aversion to such stories arises first.
But did she notice that?
“…It seems like it was a sensitive topic for you. I’m sorry.”
Amelia apologized again, and I accepted the apology since I felt like I had reacted a bit sharply.
Of course, accepting the apology was separate from the question.
“It’s okay. But why did you suddenly bring up that topic?”
When I asked for the reason, Amelia replied that she just thought I needed advice, and then she muttered in a small voice.
“I never thought it wouldn’t be a messy fight.”
A voice that sounded somewhat solemn.
“In the end… there will be a bloodbath.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Ah, it’s just a soliloquy. Don’t mind it.”
No, even if you say that, I can’t help but mind it.
***
What is more suitable for the KKK spirit?
After the conversation with Amelia, which made me ponder such things, I was able to finally discuss the boss strategy in earnest.
And….
“Are we really just supposed to jump down?”
That’s how we finally arrived at the boss room….
No, to be precise, the entrance to the boss room.
Shwaaaaaaa-!
A cliff that emits a chilling cold.
Below, there was only darkness like an abyss.
“Don’t be scared. There was no fall damage.”
“Fall damage…?”
“It means there’s no damage from falling.”
I explained it in detail, but Amelia still didn’t understand me well.
She also seemed to have a bit of a negative reaction to falling.
So, I just picked up Amelia and jumped down.
“…!”
A normal person would scream, but Amelia was different. Even while grabbing my hair and holding on, she didn’t utter a single groan.
Thud-!
That’s how we arrived at the bottom of the cliff with a heavy thud.
After a slight pause, Amelia, who had regained her senses, got off my shoulder.
And she glared at me and sighed.
“You can be delicate, so why do you always….”
“What did you say?”
“….”
“Okay, Barbarian. So where’s the enemy?”
She called me Barbarian instead of Yandel, so it seems like she’s a bit sulky, but that’s a problem to solve later, so pass.
“It’ll come out soon.”
Indeed, as soon as I raised my shield to warn her, vibrations echoed throughout the entire space.
And the guy revealed himself.
Thud-!
A physique bigger than any ogre.
Three horns protruding above his forehead and a cyclopean eye.
The chest area was torn as if it had rotted, and the ribs were exposed….
Slurp. A bizarre tongue sticking out from between them licked out.
As if looking at prey. Ah, of course, that part didn’t matter.
‘…He doesn’t talk either.’
Originally, he was a guy who only ran away throughout the rift, but now he was strutting around, saying he had finally succeeded in luring us.
“Then get ready, Amelia.”
“You, you’re calling my name….”
“There are only two of us here anyway.”
“Yandel, mistakes always happen like that.”
Geez, she’s really nagging.
It’s okay to call her by her real name once in a while.
“I’m saying all this for your sake—.”
“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
Before her nagging got any longer, I activated [Giantification] and charged forward.
Then, as I collided with the guy and held him in place, Amelia also stopped talking and started doing her job.
「Amelia Rainwales has cast [Self-Replication].」
As expected of a Doppelganger Rogue, she first created a clone, and then attacked the guy from both sides as if making up for the lack of numbers.
Like twin swordsmen who have honed their swordsmanship for a long time, naturally and fluidly.
「Amelia Rainwales has cast [Asura Kick].」
She kicked the head of the monster, which was several times bigger than her.
「Amelia Rainwales has cast [Abyssal Power].」
She even used Aura to slice through the tough skin.
The difference was palpable compared to when I came with the mage, Raven.
If a mage takes a long time to unleash a big attack, Amelia, as a melee dealer, continuously produced high DPS [Damage Per Second].
And….
‘Since her value is high, her damage expectation is high.’
Even when calculated by time, Amelia can deal much more damage than Raven.
Well, that’s assuming it’s possible to deal full damage during that time.
‘The biggest problem is resources….’
Amelia’s burst damage is second only to Erwen.
However, the duration of that firepower is overwhelmingly short. Due to her essence combination, her MP is bound to run out quickly….
‘Now that she has to deal damage alone, that disadvantage seems even bigger.’
The MP consumption of [Self-Replication] is among the highest.
This is because the consumption value increases fivefold when a clone uses a skill.
Until now, she had been holding on with the MP amount boosted by [Abyssal Power]….
‘It’s a problem that should have been solved in the first place.’
The fact that such a disadvantage hasn’t surfaced yet is purely thanks to Amelia’s physical abilities.
Look at that.
「Amelia Rainwales has cast [Switch].」
She only uses the clone to draw attention and mostly attacks with her main body.
Even then, she carefully targets vital points and always maintains her own pace so that her MP doesn’t drop below a certain level.
That’s why she only uses the high-consumption Aura for a short time when necessary.
Just like this.
Slice-!
After a long battle, Amelia’s Aura sliced through the guy’s neck.
I was going to actively intervene if she seemed to be having a hard time.
‘To show such a performance with this half-baked character….’
I couldn’t help but smirk.
「You have defeated Hell Giant Herja. EXP +6」
「Guardian Kill Bonus. EXP +3」
It was always a happy thing when a companion got stronger.