Chapter 102: In the Name of the Goddess 3
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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The group stepped down from the carriage and were deciding on rooms to rest for the night.
Sneakily, Kaiden grabbed my sleeve, leading me to the bushes next to the building.
"How much do you know, Roland?"
Her tone and voice were gentler than usual.
If I'd closed my eyes, I'd have thought it wasn't Kaiden speaking.
A magical artifact bestowed by the Royal family was in effect right before my eyes, yet I couldn't feel any fluctuation of magic from it.
Its actual purpose must've been to hide the Royal family.
Perhaps it's for scenarios like when the kingdom is under attack, or when assassins are on the hunt, allowing the Royals to disguise as servants and escape?
Using such a precious and remarkable magical artifact to run away explains why Arthur Wesley seemed so exasperated.
"Arthur Wesley's daughter, Katie Wesley. The rebellious girl who, right after her coming-of-age ceremony, wanted to see her family's treasury, stole a magic artifact and her ancestor's armor, and ran away... Am I close?"
"Hmm, rebellious, you say? Did my father describe me that way?"
"He didn't say it outright, but seeing the concern and worry etched on his face, wouldn't anyone think the same?"
"Ah, father really..."
With a hint of annoyance, she brushed her hair back.
Still, no magical fluctuations were felt, but her appearance gradually changed before my eyes.
The brown curly-haired man was gone, replaced by a typical Northern beauty.
Her silky silver hair, reminiscent of Northern icefalls, cascaded down, and her once plain eyes transformed into a clear, beautiful blue, reminiscent of a serene lake or a sapphire.
The impression she gave was so sharp and regal that the term Princess Knight fit her perfectly.
"So, what will you do next?"
"What do you mean?"
"While Hanna may be the party's leader, in the end, you set the party's direction, right? Will you kick out someone who hid their identity from you?"
"Why would I? Whether you're the mercenary-born Kaiden or the daughter of the Northern Duke, Katie Wesley, you're still an invaluable swordswoman filling the gaps in our party."
Kick out a 4 damage dealer from our party?
Unless a 5 damage dealer suddenly joins, that's unlikely.
Her tone warmed up a bit when she realized I had no intentions of kicking her out.
She was concerned not about her hidden identity but about staying with the party.
"Right? And now that I've even heard the voice of the Goddess, my sister won't be stubborn anymore."
Kaiden's expression was as bright as ever.
Going on an adventure was one thing, but hearing the voice of the Goddess during that journey?
No wonder she couldn't help but smile.
Given the fiery clash of the two Northern sisters, it seems the younger one, Katie, came out on top this time.
"There's no need to hide your identity from the group anymore then?"
Given the beauty hidden behind the silver hair, there wouldnt be any embarrassment in revealing her face.
And it's not like she has a chest that would hinder her swordsmanship should she stop dressing as a man.
If Grace and Irene have the figures of gravure idols, Katie could be likened to a slender runway model.
"So, what are you planning to do?"
"For now, since I haven't accomplished much, I'm thinking of climbing the tower some more first. I heard the voice of the Goddess, and I intend to show my sister how outstanding I can be as an adventurer. Demonstrating my abilities would be more convincing than just claiming I heard the Goddess's voice without evidence."
"No, I'm not talking about that. I'm asking if you plan to continue pretending to be a man in front of our party."
"Ah..."
Kaiden hurriedly speaks as if shes rapping, her face flushed with excitement.
How much did she dislike inheriting the heir position?
Realizing she might have overreacted to my words, she clears her throat with a couple of coughs.
Should she reveal her male disguise to the party and start adventuring as a female, or continue as she is?
Contrary to my expectations, she chose the latter.
"Hmm, if you, Roland, promise to keep my secret, Id like to continue as I am."
"Why do you insist on adventuring in a male disguise?"
She doesnt answer my question.
Instead, she simply offers a soft smile and reverts from Katie to Kaiden.
She might see this as some mysterious charm, but as someone deeply influenced by modern culture, it just feels different to me.
Is she just indulging in some adolescent fantasy?
Isn't it just a case of 'chunibyo'?
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Raei Translations
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After savoring the stew prepared by Irene and Grace, I retreated to my bedroom.
Given that this building was owned by the Knights Division, it was surprisingly quietperfect for uninterrupted browsing.
"Damn, those Orc warriors are seriously scary! For real!"
After endless surfing, a video by the streamer Kim Seok-hyun managed to catch my interest.
On screen, a typical swordsmanpresumably Kim Seok-hyunrolled around the forest floor, amusing his chat.
'It seems he's already defeated the boss, but he's still fighting orcs to level up. His sword skills have definitely improved since his battles with the horned wolves.'
As far as I remember, all three members of his party were at the 4 rank, without a single 5 among them.
A talented streamer, hot on the heels of Han Se-ah.
Demonstrating his rank as the second-best in the world through skill, not luck.
The way his sword danced in combat was undeniably sharp.
Had he entered the game like I did, he would have made a name for himself in the kingdom.
To the viewers, it might seem amusing watching him roll around on the ground, kicking up dust, and letting out yells audible only to the viewers.
But few noticed how he dodged the furious axe swings of the orcs and occasionally landed a few strikes of his own.
-The other channels show streamers camping with beauties in the forest, while here he's tumbling with orcs.
-The vibes are different, but it's fun to watch.
-Was there a class 'beetle warrior'? (Honestly don't know)
-I'd say... it's rather... shameful for a swordsman...
-How the heck is he still alive?
I wonder what the odds are for a modern person, accustomed to a peaceful life, to survive surrounded by eight orcs wielding swords and shields and clad in armor.
Serving as the tank of the party and facing such situations is definitely rough, but the fact that hes efficiently managing the aggro and is still alive is very impressive.
To rate him... maybe a mini Rebecca?
He feels like a 3.5 lower-tier character.
This might sound like a harsh evaluation, but if you consider that this streamer Kim Seok-hyun has reached almost the level of Katie who was professionally trained in swordsmanship by her noble family it's quite a compliment.
"Damn it! When will the magic be ready?!"
"Just a bit longer, hold on!"
-Feels like our PT instructor who always says 'just a bit more' lol.
-After about three more orcs and Louis kills two with his arrows, the magic might be ready.
-Offensive mages probably die often due to casting time.
-This is why Teacher Roland emphasizes short-casting spells.
If Han Se-ahs stream is like a fantasy about leveling up in another world with beauties, then Kim Seok-hyuns stream feels more like the classic fantasy action tale of starting from the bottom.
Well, considering he has three 4 members in his team, maybe not quite the bottom.
The reason viewers were laughing at Kim Seok-hyun, who was rolling on the ground with stones wedged between his armor groaning in pain, was probably out of jealousy.
"Blaze and explode!"
"Do you really need to shout that?!"
A fireball whizzed over the head of Kim Seok-hyun, who was still sprawled on the ground.
It dove between the orcs, creating a massive explosion, far more potent than Han Se-ahs spark or magic missile.
Dust covered Kim Seok-hyun as magic stones fell with thuds around him.
After seeing this, I briefly checked other streams.
Given the universal interest in virtual reality games, there's an overwhelming number of streamers.
There are plenty of streamers with fewer than 10 viewers, and it felt like the number of these small-time streamers had exploded tenfold.
"Oh, guys! How on earth am I supposed to catch that huge wolf?"
-Did this streamer get sponsored by a dentist?
-How many times has she said shes figured out the pattern?
-She really seems to have no talent for physical activities.
-At this point, it would be easier to just grind for money and boost your damage with equipment.
-With your teammates only being 2s, there's no point in relying on them.
There were even those blatantly using their streams for donations.
As I scrolled further down the list, it seemed like everyone and their mom was streaming.
Gamers recording their combat experiences regardless of viewership, streamers throwing random comments at their handful of viewers, and even former cam-girls who complained that their robes or armors weren't pretty enough.
All sorts of things are happening outside due to Heroes Chronicle.
I busied myself exploring the virtual world until the sunlight poured in through the window.
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