* * *

After the celebratory banquet, a chill had settled between Jerome and me, one unlike anything before.

Sure, we still talked and occasionally spent time together, but the conversations felt oddly shallow, like skimming the surface.

Jerome’s inability to focus on our discussions got so bad that he repeated the same thing five times in one conversation.

Unbelievable as it seemed, Jerome had been deliberately keeping his distance from me ever since the banquet.

Our interactions grew sparse, and I found myself initiating conversations less often.

It felt like our relationship would collapse even before we could destroy Mephisto.

“Guess there’s no other way. I’ll have to figure out something else.”

It was ironic that while he could so easily brainwash others, he seemed immune to being influenced himself.

My plans for retiring as a noble lady had to be pushed back once again.

With a heavy sigh, I noticed the horse I was feeding snort and neigh in response.

I waved it off, signaling it to focus on its meal.

“You really are handsome. A fine horse like you even has a different sheen to its coat.”

Neigh.

Seeing the horse respond as if it understood my words brought a rare smile to my lips.

Maybe it was just a coincidence, but Jeanne seemed to have a way with animals.

Perhaps as compensation for being unpopular with people, she had been “balance-patched” to be loved by animals instead.

“Have you heard? Luke testified about the Oracle of the Divine Dragon.”

As I bonded with the nameless horse, voices trickled in through a small window near the stables.

Members of the social club were talking.

I peeked out and saw them in their riding attire, chatting animatedly.

The mention of the oracle quickly raised the energy of their conversation.

“Oh, you mean the oracle saying Jeanne will bring about a great calamity?”

“Can someone like that even be allowed to take the test?”

“Well, what choice do we have? She was personally recommended, after all.”

“Why would anyone recommend someone like her?”

I arched an eyebrow and pressed my ear against the wall to listen more closely.

“No matter how you spin it, she’s still someone involved in a murder case. It makes me uneasy.”

“They say she doesn’t even have innate magic power. Can someone like her really hunt monsters?”

“Isn’t it obvious? She’s solved all her problems with money so far. Even her academy admission was a special case thanks to Duke Michael’s influence. She supposedly used money to treat a senior like her personal servant.”

“Heh, did she threaten Jerome the same way to get engaged to him?”

The mention of Jerome sparked a burst of laughter. “Calamity-bringer,” “miser,” and “blackmailer”—the epithets were merciless.

Fortunately, I’d grown thick-skinned enough not to be deeply hurt by such remarks anymore.

I absentmindedly stroked the horse’s nose, feigning indifference, until someone finally interjected.

“That’s not true! I saw Jeanne seal a Parak in the north!”

“What? She did? You must be mistaken.”

“Come on, Karen, you probably got caught in one of your own illusions.”

“By the way, did you bring it? The scroll that shows illusions?”

Hearing a familiar name, I turned my head again.

Karen, a senior I’d seen at the guild assembly, was visibly flustered and sweating.

“I-I already told you, I can’t make something like that! Illusion-support scrolls are strictly forbidden by law, and—”

“What are you babbling about? A commoner lecturing us?”

“If we wanted, we could ensure you don’t even get to take the test. Is that what you want?”

The atmosphere grew tense, and Karen looked like she was on the verge of tears.

It seemed Karen was also here to take the test.

The snobbish social club ‘Value’ didn’t accept new members on invitation alone.

They held an initial recruitment phase, followed by a rigorous test to determine who would become official members.

“Sure, the information circulating within the club is valuable, but having to join by catering to those jerks’ whims? It’s unsettling.”

A bell tolled outside the stables, signaling the assembly.

Leaving the horse reluctantly, I stepped out.

Despite the first round of selection, the number of participants was surprisingly large.

A man, likely one of the club executives, called out in a booming voice.

“The test is simple. Behind this hill lies Corel Mountain. Your task is to hunt jewel slimes and collect as many gems as possible from them. The team that gathers the most valuable haul will earn the chance to become official members.”

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

Jewel slimes were low-tier monsters that typically lived near mines.

However, their classification as low-tier monsters was misleading.

Alone, they were laughably weak, but they had the unique ability to merge into stronger entities when grouped together.

That’s why jewel slimes needed to be dealt with individually to prevent significant damage.

And there was another peculiarity about jewel slimes.

“For those unfamiliar, let me explain. Jewel slimes each carry unique gems, depending on what they consume. The most valuable is obvious, isn’t it?”

Participants exchanged glances.

Jewel slimes took on characteristics based on their first consumed gem.

A slime that consumed a diamond would forever carry diamonds, while one that ate coal would only produce coal.

Diamond slimes, however, were so rare they were considered mythical among miners.

“Just capturing a lot of slimes won’t be enough. A single diamond is worth far more than multiple pieces of coal. ‘Value’ prioritizes worth above all else. Only those who can recognize and create value can become our members.”

As I scanned the crowd, my gaze locked onto Karen, who quickly averted her eyes as if hiding something.

“Jerome’s here! It’s really Jerome!”

“What? I thought he wasn’t interested in social clubs.”

The murmurs around me grew louder.

I sighed, following their gaze.

There he was, Jerome, radiant as always, standing against the sunlight like a painting come to life.

Amela, the first to notice him, blushed fiercely and ran toward him.

I clicked my tongue, turning away from the sight.

I’d warned her enough—she’d regret it when she got burned.

“Oh, and for safety, you must form teams of at least three. Corel Mountain isn’t just home to jewel slimes; there are other monsters too.”

“And make sure to return here before sunrise tomorrow!”

As people began forming teams, I found myself standing alone.

Nobody wanted to team up with Jeanne, a magicless and notoriously difficult person.

Well, nobody except one madman.

Jerome sidled up to me without a word, making me chuckle.

“Still mad at me but couldn’t leave me alone, could you?”

“I’m still mad, but your safety is a separate matter.”

“What’ll it take to make you forgive me?”

Jerome, who had been about to respond, pressed his lips together tightly and finally spoke in a stiff voice.

“Well, wouldn’t it be better to focus solely on the test for now?”

“……”

“Let’s get going. Once the sun sets, there will be more monsters around.”

His usual jokes and laughter were nowhere to be seen, and Jerome’s demeanor felt entirely foreign.

It had been like this for several days now—this awkwardness lingering in the air.

Watching him act so out of character would drive anyone nearby mad.

Still, I wanted to take this chance to apologize properly.

Choosing my words carefully, I spoke up.

“Jerome, about what I said before…”

“L-Lady!”

Just as I managed to set the mood for an apology, someone interrupted us with perfect timing.

Karen, who had appeared out of nowhere, looked like she was on the verge of tears as she called out to me.

“I-if it’s not too much trouble, could you p-please team up with me?”

“…”

“Sure!”

Since, Jerome didn’t reply, I did it on behalf of our team.

“Th-thank you so much! No one else was willing to team up with me. You’re really kind, Lady!”

“Well, technically speaking, I’m your junior in class.”

“I-I’m just more used to formal speech.”

I awkwardly smiled at Karen, who kept bowing and expressing her gratitude.

Initially, I’d planned to use the test as an excuse to chat with Jerome, but Karen’s situation was so pitiful I couldn’t turn her away.

No parties were willing to accept Karen since she wasn’t an offensive mage.

Ignoring someone left alone like that pricked at my conscience, so I agreed to let her join.

With that, we became a peculiar trio.

Jerome, climbing the slope effortlessly, was far ahead, leaving Karen and me to lag behind side by side.

Strangely, this created a sense of camaraderie between us in no time.

Perhaps tired of waiting, Jerome eventually announced that he’d find the mine on his own and told us to stay put before vanishing without a trace.

As rain began to fall, I pulled my robe over my head.

Karen hurriedly scanned our surroundings and pointed to a hollowed-out old tree.

The rain grew heavier, so we quickly took shelter there.

Breaking the silence, Karen hesitated before speaking.

“S-so, did you hear the rumors? About how there are more and more imperial citizens becoming heretics?”

“……”

“It’s so t-terrifying, isn’t it? Demons, I mean. Apparently, some demons can disguise themselves perfectly as humans. You should be c-careful too, Lady.”

I chuckled softly at the sight of Karen warning me while looking utterly terrified herself.

She had such a rare, gentle nature.

There was something calming about being around her, as though she had the ability to put others at ease.

I recalled the illusion magic she’d demonstrated during the guild assembly.

“Those illusions were so lifelike, as if divine beasts were right there in front of us…”

Even if Karen wasn’t an offensive mage, her magic had undeniable value.

I was just about to ask why she chose illusion magic when my breath caught at the sight of something moving past behind her.

“Wait… is that…?”

I abruptly stood and pointed behind Karen.

Startled, Karen jumped up as well.

A shimmering, translucent greenish-blue mass was scurrying off somewhere.

My voice trembled as I shouted, almost too stunned to speak.

“It’s a Diamond Slime!”

Things were going surprisingly well for someone like me.

* * *