Chapter 30: Talismans and Temptations

The Traveler’s Talisman

Late at night, I lay in bed, fiddling with the wooden plaque Bishop Dominic had brought to the dorm.

The plaque bore a wing-shaped emblem symbolizing the God of Travel, with words carved below.

“I heard you ran into bandits on your way to the academy.”

“Yes, but thanks to Orphe, I wasn’t harmed.”

“Still, it’s worrying. The world’s dangerous these days, isn’t it? As a priest of the God of Travel, I can’t let those around me go unprotected. Will you accept this?”

“What is it?”

“A talisman for safe travels. Carry it wherever you go.”

I slowly read the words on the plaque.

“O Wind, Smoke, Words, Doves, and Wanderers’ Guide, bless Isidora with safe travel.”

No wonder he roams so freely—he’s got this backing him.

Still, rushing to make this after hearing I’d faced danger?

Maybe I should upgrade my opinion of Dominic.

From totally weird to just a bit weird.

“What’re you doing?”

Lowering the plaque, I saw Fifirel fresh from a shower after five days, her massive chest impossible to ignore.

With nearly two weeks of dorm confinement, she’d stopped bothering with bandages, just lounging like that.

It’s nice, but where do I even look?

Like light sucked into a black hole, my eyes kept drifting to that massive center of gravity…

“Isidora, you’re staring too much.”

“Oh, my apologies.”
‘Never gets old.’

Was it three days before the field class?

The first time Fifirel asked me to stop staring at her chest, I was mortified.

“Isidora… sorry, but could you stop looking at my chest? It’s uncomfortable…”

Her voice screamed she’d held it in as long as she could—talk about embarrassing.

For a while, we barely spoke in the dorm.

Over time, things got back to normal, though.

Even sharing a dorm as classmates, we usually respected each other’s personal space.

Plus, I was a guy originally, right?

Living with a dreamlike blonde beauty sounded great, but in reality, it was just awkward.

“Seriously, Isidora, you like breasts that much?”

“Generous hearts are said to be blessed by the gods. Isn’t it natural for a cleric to appreciate divine blessings?”
‘How do you even get that big eating normal food?’

“That’s some talk…”

Fifirel chuckled, grabbing an artifact engraved with wind magic to dry her hair.

Whoosh!

Her delicate platinum blonde hair fluttered softly.

‘Confinement brought us closer fast.’

The worst part of isolation was the boredom.

No TV, no computer.

The only book I had was about restrictions—useless and dull.

If it wasn’t about my restrictions, I’d have tossed it long ago.

The only escape from boredom was talking to someone.

Fifirel looked just as bored, so I struck up a conversation.

“Fifirel, wanna chat?”

“Huh? Sure. About what?”

Once we started, we couldn’t stop, lost in endless chatter.

Where we grew up, favorite foods, how we ended up at the academy.

Days of talking erased the distance between us.

We got close enough to toss silly jokes.

“Hey, Isidora.”

“Yes?”
‘Yeah?’

Fifirel, hair fully dried, turned to me.

“That Orphe… what do you think of him?”

Out of nowhere?

Is she teasing?

“….”

No, her eyes were serious.

‘Oh.’

It’s happening already.

Fifirel, the novel’s sub-heroine, falls hard for Orphe after seeing his heroics, becoming his cheerleader.

This world’s timeline is faster than the novel, so it’s no surprise she’s already smitten.

“What makes you ask? Do you… like him?”
‘It’s here.’

Fifirel’s eyes widened, waving her hands in denial.

“Huh? No, no! Just curious what you think…”

Sure, with that red face.

If I badmouth Orphe, will she get mad and like me less?

But if I praise him too much, will she think I’m into him and start a catfight?

Ugh, tricky.

But a real man faces things head-on.

“Orphe’s a good person.”
‘If he wasn’t such a reckless nutcase.’

“Good person?”

“Yes, strong, reliable, undeniably cool.”
‘If he didn’t burn everything down when pissed.’

“Hmm, so that’s what you think?”

Nailed it—vague enough to keep her happy without overdoing it.

My dating sim expertise shines; I could ace these choices blindfolded.

“What if you dated Orphe?”

Okay, that’s a direct hit.

How to praise him smoothly?

“Hmm, I’d probably regret it.”
‘That’d be tough, poor thing.’

“Huh?”

“Like, I’d regret not dating him sooner, you know?”
‘Poor Fifirel, stuck with the wrong guy.’

“Haha, what’s that!”

Fifirel burst into laughter, her movements making her chest bounce wildly.

Goddamn, I’m this good at winning hearts—why am I still single?

Orphe, you better thank your lucky stars for a wingman like me.

[The God of Beauty sighs.]

What now?

Can’t you see I’m busting my ass to keep the story on track?

If they don’t end up together after this, Orphe’s got serious issues.

Like erectile dysfunction or something.

I kept listing Orphe’s trivial merits until I passed out.

Morning Musings

Rustle.

Stretching, my blanket slid off.

Right on cue, 6:30 AM wakeup.

Back in the forest, checking traps every morning wired me to wake up early.

“Hmm…nya, hrr…”

Isidora was still out cold beside me.

Blanket tangled from tossing, she lay in a dynamic pose.

Her goofy sleeping grin made me smile.

Yesterday’s heated talk came to mind.

I just wanted to test if she had a crush, but she rambled about Orphe all night, making us sleep late.

‘How’d she hold that tongue so long?’

I glanced at her lips.

She was smacking them, like eating in her dream.

…Or maybe kissing the hero in her sleep?

She talked about him nonstop, so it’s plausible.

“…Orphe, so big…”

“Oh my, oh my.”

Whatever she’s dreaming, it’s not wholesome.

A woman smacking her lips and praising size? Only one scenario fits.

Maybe Isidora’s pent-up?

That’s why she keeps ogling chests and having dirty dreams?

‘Didn’t she say she’s leaving early today?’

Since we got close, I’ve missed her when she leaves for training, but today I’m relieved.

Staying in the room with her would be awkward now.

A Sweet Surprise

Heading to the private training ground.

The sun hadn’t fully risen, and the cool air felt refreshing.

Today was the last day the academy allowed special use of the training ground.

I was in a great mood.

Humming, I mumbled to myself.

“Had a nice dream today. Seeing him after so long was great.”
‘Even if it was a dream, that café’s special parfait was a treat.’

[The God of Dreams says they’re glad you had a good dream.]

What’s with the nice words for once?

Eating that giant parfait in my dream put me in a great mood.

I’ve always loved sweets, chasing them everywhere.

That small local café made the best desserts.

How’d they do it?

It got Instagram-famous, so I had to stop going, but the taste lingers.

[The God of Justice says parfaits are for girls.]

Tch.

This is why old geezers don’t get it.

Real men eat what they want without caring.

A true man lives freely, no shame.

[The God of Justice says sweets like Amatnana or Babamba are enough.]

Why leave out Bibibik?

Sounds like you’d like it too.

Chatting with the gods, I reached the training ground entrance.

‘Last day of this grind.’

I started training to avoid being held back by others, and it’s been over a week.

My stamina’s up a bit, but my mindset’s changed the most.

Didn’t Dominic say so?

Living halfheartedly as ordered is boring.

I vowed to live for myself, and now it’s time to act.

I reaffirmed my resolve and opened the door to the usual training ground.

Then froze.

“You’re here?”

She waved at me.

A small stick in her mouth.

One of the assorted-flavor candies from the shop.

Pop!

The candy left her red lips.

Light brown.

Sweet and bitter.

“First time talking since the entrance ceremony, right?”

Dominic, you bastard.

A reliable successor, huh?

“I’m here to play teacher today, so don’t be too scared, okay?”

Click, click.

Her footsteps echoed as she approached.

Erdike smiled.