[System]
The size of offerings received from devotees will now be complete!
Until now, the size of offerings sent by devotees had been transmitted in a reduced form compared to their actual size.
Although the size of the offerings increased as the Creator Level rose, it was still far from enough.
How can I describe the bitter, disheartening feeling of receiving a robust watermelon in the size of a tiny cherry tomato?
‘…But now, does this mean I can receive the full-sized offerings?!’
However, it was only then that I noticed a separate note written at the bottom of the system window.
[System]
- The size of offerings received from devotees will now be complete!
- Applies to: Ingredients, Food
- Creator, are you excited? But think carefully! Receiving food intact is already a tremendous blessing. Why? Because even now, half of the world is starving…
—Whoosh!
I quickly closed the system window, annoyed by the cheeky comment.
To summarize, from now on, the ingredients and food offerings sent by devotees will be transmitted at 100% of their original size.
However, valuable items like gold and jewels will still be transmitted smaller than their actual size.
…That’s so stingy. If you’re going to do it, why not do it all?
Still, I took comfort in the fact that from now on, I could fully enjoy the food offerings sent by the devotees.
I let out a small sigh and looked down.
Jan d’Arc, who had already descended from the platform, was talking with Shylock.
“Lord! And Saintess! I am truly, sincerely grateful for saving my daughter. Ah, I am at a loss for words to repay such great kindness you show us every time.”
Shylock’s eyes shone with devout faith.
Then, he smiled broadly and pointed toward the village.
All across Rivera, colorful stalls were set up, and many people were moving busily.
“To honor the devotion of the Lord and Saintess, we have prepared a grand festival! All supplies and funds are provided by our Rivera Merchants’ Guild, so please enjoy yourselves without hesitation! We would be most grateful!”
Shylock bowed respectfully and then disappeared into the bustling preparations.
Meanwhile, Shylock’s daughter, Lily, gazed at Jan with bright, sparkling eyes.
“Indeed, Saintess, you are amazing. Stronger and more beautiful than any woman I have ever seen or heard of.”
Jan d’Arc smiled gently and spoke to Lily.
“I heard you protected my little sister from the goblin arrows. Thank you so much.”
“No, it was the Lord who saved us, so nothing bad happened. And your family is like my family. Sometimes, I wish you really were my older sister.”
Lily’s shining eyes held pure admiration.
Jan d’Arc scratched her cheek shyly and smiled awkwardly.
But it wasn’t just Lily who was captivated by Jan d’Arc’s presence.
“There’s the Saintess!”
“So cool… she’s more gallant than most young men in the village.”
“How can she be so handsome? She looks like a sculpture.”
“Look at her smile! Ugh, what do I do… my heart’s pounding.”
“I wish she were my older sister…”
At the same time, nearby, some villagers were squealing in high-pitched voices.
“If I had a sister like the Saintess, I’d gladly be her little sister forever~”
“Yeah, me too. I think I get how that feels.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. You being the Saintess’s little sister? Absolutely impossible.”
“Why not? Why do you have to be so harsh? What’s wrong with me?!”
“Yeah! What’s wrong with us?! This is ridiculous.”
“…Well, you’re all men, forty this year, bearded, and you each have two kids!”
“Oh my gosh, look! The Saintess turned around! She smiled at us!”
“And she waved! So cool, eeeeek~!”
[…]
Jan d’Arc waved lightly, causing the village girls and men to blush and squeal with excitement.
‘Hmm, what is this? There’s something strange mixed in here…’
Anyway, it was only natural that Jan d’Arc was popular among the girls.
Golden short hair, chiseled facial features like a sculpture, and a noble figure clad in pristine white armor.
She was the very image of a handsome young nobleman.
At that moment, the village girls approached Jan d’Arc with bright smiles.
“Saintess, the music troupe has come to the village square! Let’s go dance together!”
“Armor must be uncomfortable, so we’ll lend you clothes! It will definitely suit you!”
“Ahhh~ Saintess~ Pleaseee~”
The girls’ carefree, lively charm caught Jan d’Arc off guard.
“Ah, no. I mean… w-wait a moment…!”
In the end, Jan d’Arc, clearly flustered, was ‘captured’ by the girls.
A short while later, Jan returned with them.
Instead of the pure white armor that had covered her entire body, she now wore traditional Rivera attire borrowed from the girls.
Unused to the clothes, she bowed her head deeply, her face flushed bright red.
Her disheveled hair was neatly arranged, and wearing a black blouse and a red plaid skirt, she looked dazzling.
“That suits you well…”
Before I knew it, the thought escaped my lips.
Jan d’Arc twitched her shoulders but then smiled and lifted her head.
“The Lord’s praise comforts me greatly. Thank you!”
It was the fresh, innocent smile of a girl her age.
Jan d’Arc, who always showed a resolute front as an apostle, saintess, and knight, had this side too.
Then, the girls linked arms with her, beaming.
“Saintess, you’re really so pretty! We told you it would look good on you, didn’t we?”
“Well then, let’s hurry to the square! Let’s dance together!”
“We want everyone in Rivera to see the Saintess’s lovely figure!”
“Please, Lord, watch too! We’re the best dancers in Rivera!”
The mention of dancing visibly flustered Jan d’Arc, who waved her hands in denial.
“D-dancing? It’s been so long since I last danced…”
“Nonsense! We’ll teach you!”
“That’s right, Saintess! Rivera’s traditional dances can be learned by anyone.”
“You’re so athletic, you’ll pick it up easily!”
Even the hero who protected Rivera, Jan d’Arc, couldn’t resist the cheerful, bold energy of the girls.
Finally, Jan d’Arc stood in the Rivera square with the girls.
“Spin once like this and clap twice!”
“Then gently spin twice the other way and clap twice again! Clap clap~!”
The girls demonstrated the dance with bright smiles.
As they softly spun in place, the red hem of their skirts blossomed like roses.
Jan hesitated at first but soon began dancing along with the girls.
“Is… this how it’s done?”
“Wow, Saintess! You dance so well!”
“Really! Your movements are so graceful!”
“Okay, now for the next step! Raise your arms as you spin like this…”
Before long, villagers gathered around in groups at the square.
The music troupe beat castanets and drums, raising the excitement, and the villagers clapped along to the rhythm.
Jan d’Arc danced along with the village girls as if she had done it countless times before.
By the time the music reached its climax, Jan’s dancing shone the brightest of all.
Unconsciously, I was recording the beautiful dance on video.
If I posted this on Creator TV, it would surely go viral without a doubt…
‘…But this is too precious to show others.’
I decided to keep this video as my personal treasure alone.
Tat-tat-tak-tak~5
The lively sound of castanets marked the end of the short performance.
Then, thunderous applause erupted from all around.
“Wooooah~! So cool! So pretty! The best!”
“Saintess, is this really your first time dancing? You’re better than me!”
“I think you’re the best dancer in all of Rivera!”
The village girls swarmed around Jan d’Arc, chattering nonstop.
Just then, Anna ran up to Jan d’Arc.
Jan’s father, wearing a gentle smile, followed behind.
“Onii-chan! That was absolutely amazing!”
“Anna, you were watching? …Ah, Father was watching too. Ugh, I’m a bit embarrassed.”
“Your dancing is just like your mother’s. Truly… you’ve grown up so well. I’m proud of you.”
Jan’s father gently wiped the tears from his eyes.
Then, Jan d’Arc hugged her father and little sister tightly.
“Father, and Anna. Thank you. From now on, I will work even harder for the family I love.”
“Janet…”
“Hehe! I love Dad and Onii-chan the most in the world too!”
Jan d’Arc tenderly stroked her sister’s hair and spoke in a bright voice.
“The festival has just begun. Let’s go explore! Anna, you have to hold my hand tight.”
“…Okay! I’ll hold on tight!”
Together with her family, Jan d’Arc began strolling through the village, fully enjoying the festival.
Delicious food, fragrant drinks, and sweet treats overflowed everywhere, and lively music never ceased.
Whenever Jan d’Arc or her family ate or drank anything, they never forgot to offer a portion as an offering first.
Ding!
[Baguette Sandwich]
- A sandwich with freshly baked baguette filled with fresh tomato, cheese, and lettuce.
The crispy texture of the baguette blends perfectly with the crunchiness of the filling.
[Green Grape Fresh Juice]
- A drink made by finely grinding green grapes grown in the Sanctuary.
Sweet and refreshing, it quenches thirst with just one sip.
[Wild Strawberry Honey Preserved Pie]
- A crispy pie filled with wild strawberries preserved in natural honey.
When you bite into the golden-baked pie, the sweet and moist flavor of the strawberries spreads in your mouth.
Sandwich, grape juice, and strawberry pie.
Because the food offerings now transmitted at 100% accuracy, the food sent by Jan d’Arc’s family made for an excellent meal.
I handed a piece of strawberry pie to Afungi.
Lick lick lick lick—!
Afungi eagerly licked the honey-soaked strawberries dripping from the pie.
Seeing his tail wagging, he seemed to really like it.
Watching the festival and sharing the same food felt like I was strolling through the village festival with my own family.
‘…This is fun.’
A warm feeling blossomed in a corner of my heart.
Just then.
“W-wow! Lord! Look at this! It’s a huge candy!”
Anna pointed excitedly at a stall where a large bear-shaped candy was proudly displayed.
Anna’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the bear candy bigger than herself.
I smiled faintly.
“…That’s right. It’s so big that Anna couldn’t finish it alone.”
Anna, still pondering, looked up at the sky and smiled brightly.
“Then, then! Lord, me, Onii-chan, and Dad can all share it!”
Her cuteness made me smile like a proud father without realizing it.
The Rivera festival continued boisterously until dawn.
One by one, people fell asleep as if fainting, and even the drunken rowdies passed out in the dead of night.
Jan d’Arc climbed alone to the fortress and breathed in the dawn air.
Watching her, I yawned lazily and checked the time.
‘Yaaaawn… it’s already five a.m.? I didn’t even notice the time while enjoying the festival.’
In other words, I wanted to enter the small world myself, to eat, drink, talk, and laugh with them.
Though it was impossible.
‘…I guess I’m sleepy. That’s why I’m having unnecessary thoughts… I should go to bed.’
Just then, someone approached Jan d’Arc.
“Saintess, you’re here! We’ve been looking for you!”
It was the Commander and Deputy Commander of the Rivera Knights.
“Thank you for protecting us. Without the Creator and Saintess, Rivera would have fallen into ruin.”
“It is thanks to the Lord watching over you all more than me. And because you all followed well, we could prevent great damage.”
Jan d’Arc humbly answered, bowing her head, causing the Commander and Deputy Commander to shine with admiration.
“You truly have a commendable character. Despite accomplishing such a great feat, you remain humble, which is a model for the Knights.”
“Saintess! It was an honor to have you use your skills against the ogres. I will follow your example and broaden my knowledge and train harder to become a just and honorable knight!”
Then, the Commander explained the purpose of their visit.
“The Lord summoned the Saintess. He said, ‘There is a story to be concluded,’ and you would understand what he meant.”
“…I see. Understood.”
“The Lord awaits you in the Lord’s Office within the Rivera Inner Castle.”
Jan d’Arc headed lightly toward the Lord’s Office in the Rivera Inner Castle.
Creak—
Upon opening the office door, Baron Gilbert greeted Jan with a bright smile.
“…You’ve come, Saintess. I apologize for summoning you at such a late hour. I judged this time would have the fewest eyes and ears.”
“That’s alright. I was just strolling around the fortress. By the way, Lord, you don’t have to be so formal with me.”
“This part must be clear. The Saintess is not only an apostle of the Lord but also the hero who saved Rivera.”
Jan d’Arc quietly nodded to Baron Gilbert’s firm gaze.
Then, he handed her a small parchment.
“This is…?”
Jan d’Arc carefully unfolded the parchment Baron Gilbert gave her.
[Academy Recommendation Letter]
Name: Janet
The above individual is a talent of the Franz Kingdom, possessing steel-like stamina, tiger-like spirit, bamboo-like loyalty, and faith brighter than the sun. Therefore, by the authority of the Lord of Rivera, we recommend her admission to the Academy of Knights.
Gilbert Wald –
The promised recommendation letter to the Academy of Knights.
With this, Jan d’Arc successfully climbed the first step toward becoming a knight.
At that moment, Baron Gilbert bowed deeply with utmost respect.
“Saintess, please dispel the darkness that hangs over the Franz Kingdom. We beg you to guide us into the light.”
—Ding!
[Quest]
[Job Advancement 4] Comeback
- 1. Confirm the current situation in the Northern Region with Baron Gilbert……. [Complete (√)]
- 2. Help Jan d’Arc receive the Academy of Knights recommendation letter……. [Complete (√)]
[System]
Quest Complete!
▶ Baron Gilbert’s Academy Recommendation Letter
[Jeanne d’Arc]
- Apostle Level: 2
- Current Job: Paladin Candidate
At the same time, the Apostle system window updated her current job to ‘Paladin Candidate.’
The path to becoming a knight that she had longed for.
She had confidently taken her first step.
At that moment, beyond the horizon, a crimson glow began to rise.
Dawn was breaking over Rivera.
Jan d’Arc quietly smiled as she gazed at the radiant scene.