173. Childhood Friend – Middle-aged Woman

[ You have died. 4/5 ]

[ Achievement: Fourth Death – The speed at which the player assimilates into Leo decreases. ]

[ Thank you for playing Lena Raising. ]

[ Lena de Yeriel ]

[ Final Class: Actress ]

[ Marriage Partner: Santian Rauno ]

[ Leo de Yeriel ]

[ Final Class: Royal Knight ]

[ Marriage Partner: In a relationship with Ksenia ]

[ Beggar Siblings Ending: Dark Star ]

– Lena, born in Rutina Castle… (skip) …ran out of the Orange Theater. Searching for her older brother, she wandered Orville all night and was caught by the thugs of the Rauno Family mobilized by Oberg, returning her to the theater. After repeated persuasion from Ksenia and reading a letter left by Leo, she decided to wait for her brother’s return. Lena grew to be an actress celebrated by the Orange Theater, but she always wore a dark expression. She hardly met anyone and married late, giving birth to two sons. –

– Leo, born in Rutina Castle… (skip) …seduced a princess and was executed by Count Hermann Forte’s sword as the suspicious royal knight ‘Noel’ plotting to assassinate the king. –

[ The engagement scenario ending has been changed. ]

[ Lena Ainar ]

[ Final Class: Knight of Abrival Castle ]

[ Marriage Partner: Leo Dexter ]

[ Leo Dexter ]

[ Final Class: Knight of Abrival Castle ]

[ Marriage Partner: Lena Ainar ]

[ Engagement Ending: Peace of Abrival Castle ]

+ Lena Ainar, born in Abrival Castle, had a happy childhood… (skip) …fighting in the war between the Belita Kingdom and Austin Kingdom, Lena distinguished herself and became a knight. She returned to Abrival Castle and lived happily as a knight guarding the castle and a mother who bore three children. +

+ Leo Dexter, born in the capital Barnau, had a happy childhood but lost his mother early… (skip) …fighting in the war, Leo distinguished himself and became a knight. He returned to Abrival Castle, married Lena Ainar, and often went hunting with her and their children, building a happy family. +

From the darkness where Leo de Yeriel had died, Minseo emerged.

Reading the ending credits with a troubled heart, he found two beautiful photos contrasting Leo’s terrible fate.

One was a photo of his younger sister.

It captured Lena on stage, glowing in the spotlight, reaching out to the audience. Though her face was obscured by the shadowy backdrop, the audience was cheering.

Minseo, feeling relieved, thought that Ksenia must have taken good care of his sister, despite his earlier worries.

After all, if she just hid her face well, there shouldn’t have been too many issues. With stage makeup, it was hard to tell if someone looked pretty or not.

With his worries lifted, Minseo turned his attention to the other photo. It depicted Lena Ainar and Leo Dexter, beautiful enough to make his chest ache.

In the picture, Lena had become the knight she had always dreamed of.

Dressed in a well-fitted red uniform, she was being lifted by Leo Dexter, who wore the same uniform.

The photo taken against the brilliant twilight on top of Abrival Castle showed Lena smiling brightly down at Leo, her hair flowing, vividly portraying Leo Dexter’s joy.

It was a painful sight.

The past that trampled their dreams for a clear ending, and the harsh reality that must be faced, felt torturous.

Minseo gathered his wits.

I’m sorry, but I have to return to Chaehwa. I won’t simply run away and plunge you into tragedy…

Wait for me. Help me. He contemplated why such an ending had appeared.

Given that the war was fought, it seemed there were no monsters to catch. Since he likely repeated the actions from the previous playthrough, the outcome indicated a lack of surrounding monsters.

In the end, achieving a happy ending was a good thing for now…

‘How did I return alive?’

Having gone to war, he returned unscathed. After pondering for a moment, Leo reached an unsettling conclusion.

Count Hermann Forte must have not participated in the war. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to return alive from a battlefield where meeting a Swordmaster was an {event}.

Could it have been the sword that Leo de Yeriel had inflicted upon his thigh that influenced it? But if he received the priest’s healing, that kind of wound would have healed quickly…

It was a mystery. Setting aside this question for now, Leo turned his interest to another query: the speculation left by Leo de Yeriel.

– ‘…But Minseo, I think you’re wrong this time.’

Leo de Yeriel harbored doubts about whether the ‘true ending’ really involved making Lena a princess.

Capturing the Ashin.

As an alternative, he posed the question that this could be a condition for the true ending, which seemed quite plausible.

In a world where the Ashin, who held the thrones of various nations, secretly grew their powers, it undoubtedly stood as a potential goal of the game.

However, after a moment’s reflection, Minseo concluded that it likely wasn’t the case. There was too clear evidence to satisfy Leo’s suspicions.

This game is about ‘Raising Lena.’

It’s a game that nurtures the heroine, not a type where the protagonist gains strength to fend off crises facing the world, like ‘Final FanOsy,’ ‘AngelO Empire,’ or ‘DiabOlo.’

If defeating the Ashin was the goal, then why would the ending trigger upon Lena’s marriage, or when her class was determined? That would be a ridiculous condition.

And above all, the photo Minseo had seen just before purchasing this game from the local shop was conclusive. It was undeniably similar to ‘Princess Maker.’

The heroine Leah smiled from the front, while a status window, date window, task and choice window, and a brief note on her mood for the day were all visible, making it difficult to consider it anything but a spin-off of ‘Princess Maker.’

In the photo, even the back of a boy dressed in servant-like clothing was just barely visible, most likely Leo.

Thus, it was more appropriate to view the Ashin as a mere hindrance to clearing the game. After all, ‘Demon King’ existed in Princess Maker, so it was only natural that they followed suit.

Of course, the Demon King in that easy E-rated game was not dangerous at all. In fact, it was a very convenient and useful presence.

The Demon King received the heroine’s ‘morality’ stat and selectively provided stats like ‘charm’ or ‘grace,’ while the charm and grace were significantly harder to level up than morality, so exchanging it was always a profit.

In return for this exchange, the ‘karma’ stat, which was negative, would accumulate… but it was nothing serious.

Going to church to donate spare change or taking a part-time job would erase it quickly, and often Minseo intentionally accumulated karma to watch various ‘bad endings’ without resolving it.

Minseo realized he needed to convince Leo de Yeriel. And he was soon planning to find him during the upcoming childhood friend scenario.

Now there was only one way left to clear this ‘Raising Lena’…

Just as Minseo organized his thoughts, a message popped up. The ending credits and the two photos had already disappeared.

[ You did not clear Raising Lena. ]

[ Leo, you have injured the strongest swordsman on the continent. For that achievement, {Swordsmanship 5v: Forte Style} ability is granted. ]

[ It will restart. ]

As the darkness lifted, Minseo’s perspective fell from the sky.

Passing through the peaceful village of Demos headed toward the nearby mountain slopes, Minseo steeled himself.

That determination was none other than…

“Reb! Are you listening to me?”

Gulp.

It was the resolve to meet Leah again. Minseo, now Reb, swallowed hard as intense emotions filled him.

His heart felt like it was crumbling.

The image of Leah, cruelly smiling while being devoured by Barbatos, resurfaced, as her eyes, stained red, clawed at Reb’s heart.

“Reb? Why do you look like that? You! Are you playing tricks again?”

A teenage girl with distinct features. Her beautifully protruding lips and gentle eyebrows were tormenting him. The face that had partially melted in the saint’s painting blended with his sight, making it hard to breathe.

Regardless, Leah approached. She wore an innocent expression, wondering why Reb was acting like this.

“Reb? What’s wrong?”

“Uh… Hehe. Tada~ Look at this!”

Minseo acted like a clown. Pushing back tears, he smiled to reassure his childhood friend.

“Wow! That’s a sword! When did you get this? Where did it come from?”

“I got it when I went to the market last time. What do you think? Surprised, aren’t you? Look, I have a bracelet too?”

[ Achievement: 16th Leo – The speed at which the player assimilates into Leo slightly increases. ]

[ 16/22 ]

[ Condition not met. ]

While Leah was fascinatedly playing with Reb’s sword, Minseo read the message that popped up.

As always, beneath his viewpoint, ominously swayed the limit of 16/22.

Including this playthrough, seven were left.

It could be seen as a bit of leeway or close to the cliff. The death count remained precariously at 4/5.

‘But… what is this? Condition not met?’

Something he had never seen before appeared. Minseo scratched his head.

It was truly a game that offered not even a speck of kindness. He shook his head, thinking it was ridiculous, when Leah stared at him wide-eyed.

“…What?”

“Hmm… Reb, something seems weird about you.”

“What is it?”

“Somehow… it feels like something has changed from just now? Turn around and look.”

[ Quest: Noble Slayer 50/50 – {Grace} ability increases one level. ]

[ Quest: Traitor 10/10 – {Blood of the King} ability increases one level. ]

Leah moved around Reb, examining him.

Something had changed. Reb’s previous clumsiness seemed to have evaporated, and now it felt like he shouldn’t be treated lightly.

“Strange…” murmuring, just as Leah seemed to sniff for some scent,

– Snap!

“Ouch! You!”

Minseo snapped his fingers.

“What are you doing? There’s no time. Let’s hurry and pick the mountain fruit. I’m hungry. Give me that sword.”

“Huh? Hey! I haven’t checked everything yet… Geez. If you’re just going to snatch it, why did you bring it?”

Leah pouted, clearly frustrated.

With a lighter mood, Minseo quickly gathered the mountain fruits. Leah, who had been grumbling, soon shifted to cheerful chatter.

Glancing at her, Minseo sighed. He felt sorry for Leah, and also for Reb, but he was planning to leave this place as soon as possible.

He had to reach Orville before Leo de Yeriel died. Ideally, he wanted to arrive before Leo kissed the princess, but getting from here to Orville was a monumental distance.

Even on horseback, it would take two months.

And that was under the assumption he wouldn’t get stuck at the border gate, so in reality, time felt urgent.

But,

‘…I can’t just leave Leah behind. I can’t help it since my father hasn’t come back from the mountain yet, but I need to at least say goodbye to Leah before I leave.’

Leah was also a good friend to Minseo.

Even if indirectly, they had met for several years through Reb and had been a comfort during tough and tiring times.

He couldn’t just leave without saying anything. The priest, who would soon be heading to the Monastery Church, had to hear some encouraging words too…

Eventually, the two descended from the mountain, loaded with leather pouches filled with mountain fruits.

First, Reb sent the chattering Leah home. He said, “Eat well. But Leah, I have something to tell you later,” to ensure an appointment.

He planned to prepare to leave first.

Before he could soften, he would bid farewell with a strong resolve, all while he had to eat.

What should he say? As he opened the door, he stepped into the house, not knowing how long it had been since he was last here, kicking off his shoes…

Reb froze.

There was someone else in the house aside from his father. A person he had never seen, welcoming him into a home that had always been empty right after the childhood friend scenario began.

“Son. You’re home early? Did you pick a lot of mountain fruits?”

With a neatly combed white-haired head and a straight forehead, a middle-aged woman stood there.

It was Reb’s mother.