Could it be that Beiren’s massage has the same beautifying effect as Sanji’s cosmetic kick?
It’s not that there were any marks on my face like I’d gone under the knife—my skin just looked better, and my eyes were clearer and more pitiful, with an innate UPUP of cuteness.
“Gah! At this point, do I have to give up on my goal of being a Star Warrior…? Where did all my muscles go? Why am I so cute?!”
A fist slammed against the glass with a muffled “kng” sound.
In short, extremely cute.
Siloque let out a long sigh.
Overthinking wouldn’t help.
Might as well….
The panel stats had indeed increased, and the Saint Sword was as strong as ever, but the appearance had become more feminine…
…I’ll just have to accept it.
He persuaded himself, picking up a small booklet.
According to Hill, it was a gift from Bried, hoping he could recover his strength faster after getting better.
As he flipped through Bried’s handwriting and drawings, a warm feeling welled up inside him.
Having so many people care about you when you’re sick is, in a way, recognition from those around you.
Apparently, Cass had come too, but he brought a set of very expensive “supplements” that scared Hill quite a bit, seeing just how big the gap between people could be….
With a mindset of “balancing the wealth gap and protecting world peace,” Shilock generously added the items to his ring inventory as reserve supplies.
He sent messages of thanks to Beiren, Bried, and Cass, just in case.
Beiren left the most messages.
Starting with idle chatter, then shifting to questioning why he hadn’t replied for a long time, getting angry, and finally turning to indirect inquiries about what had happened.
She was pretty worried.
–I’ve fully recovered.
Thank you.
Come by whenever you can.
This time, I’ll let you in through the front door–
Siloque didn’t expect her to reply right away; at this time, she was probably still sleeping.
Bried had only two messages.
April 24, 6:12: -Why didn’t you come today?-
April 24, 7:23: –If you overslept, I understand. Training has been exhausting lately. Take your time–
No, I wasn’t tired.
Actually, your training is more about reinforcing the basics for me—it’s not that hard anymore.
–Sorry for missing yesterday. I’ll definitely come today–
–You’re still recovering. Intense exercise isn’t suitable for you–
She replied in less than five seconds. Bried happened to be on LINE as well.
–Thanks for the leave, Sensei. I’ll go tomorrow and bring that thing from the Aason Shop. I can’t remember the long name, but it’s bread with figs in it–
–(Ecstatic rabbit emoji) It’s Fig Walnut Frost Bread (15R payment)–
–It’s on me. The Rehabilitation Handbook you gave me was really useful–
I haven’t used it yet, but I plan to try it later.
For the giver, seeing your gift used is always more satisfying.
With that thought, Shilock replied.
This time, he took a little longer.
Shilock casually opened an N-site video and glanced at it, then checked Cass’s chat and responded:
–Thanks. But I don’t like being treated. If you want something, you should pay the proper price. Please accept the money–
As straightforward as ever.
There was no helping it; knowing her personality, Shilock just accepted it, treating it as a free errand run for her.
If it took her this long to reply, she was either agonizing over the message content or actively working out.
Shilock leaned toward the latter.
As for the message Cass sent yesterday: –Shilock, how did you get sick? Do you need me to bring the rescue team?–
–Shilock, you bastard. You said your family divorced, and now you’re lying to me again–
A little too much concern.
The earlier messages were random anime and merch info.
If he really brought that massive rescue team over, the neighbors would probably think the Darswell family had been through a murder case.
–Woke up refreshed, full HP restored–
–I didn’t lie to you. I said it was a friend’s story–
–@ (referring to the scattered info above) I’ll check it out when I have time–
After a while, Cass replied:
–As long as you’re fine. Fine, let’s just say I misunderstood (chibi magical girl Airulu lying on the floor emoji)–
Why did he get up so early, anyway?
But Siloque didn’t bother to ask, assuming Cass just saw the message while in the bathroom and replied on impulse.
Having finished all this, Siloque took out a hair tie from his pocket, tied up his ponytail, and began flipping through the booklet Bried had given him.
“Heave-ho—”
Mimicking the hand-drawn instructions, he started muscle-stretching recovery exercises.
It wasn’t too tough.
With knees straight and feet flexed forward, he walked in place in the dressing room, feeling the stretch at the back of his calves and the tension at the front.
Maintain breathing.
Keep balance.
Don’t hold your breath.
Just walk with flexed feet for 30 seconds to dynamically stretch the calves.
Then alternate leg stretches for the hamstrings.
As he exercised, Siloque reflected on the last Dungeon trap map incident.
The biggest lesson learned was: use as little as possible.
One use saps two days’ worth of action and adds a debuff state.
Your mind remains clear, your limbs barely move, but you can’t communicate properly—practically as good as being useless.
Then there was that feeling of firing it off.
He recalled both times he’d used the skill.
The second time, battling the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant, the range, thickness, and duration were far greater than the first, clearly showing that skill power scaled with his own upgrades.
At this rate, forget Earth—even shooting through the Moon might be possible at max power.
Siloque broke out in a cold sweat.
A Self-Destruct Skill this powerful wasn’t practical.
Eight million to the enemy, ten million to yourself.
Finally, the Treasure Chest.
Don’t touch them carelessly.
Luck like an emperor? He definitely didn’t have it.
“Pretty effective.”
After a set, his waist didn’t ache, his legs didn’t hurt, and a pleasant warmth flowed through his whole body.
No issues moving.
State: excellent.
Originally, the Dungeon exploration was scheduled for tomorrow, but at this rate, today was doable.
Time to find the Dungeon’s Demon Landlady.
With the money and minerals he’d prepared to exchange, he should be able to buy that skill—.
With that skill, in emergencies, he wouldn’t have to rely so much on , the so-called “Destruction Mushroom.”
Since he’d decided to go to the Dungeon, Siloque’s first task was to dye this conspicuous white hair back to black.
He picked up a new bottle of Hair Dye from behind the mirror cabinet—
“Hey! Onii-chan. Your hair-dyeing days are over.”
Hill burst through the door, wiggling her fingers.
“Hand the Hair Dye over to Hill.”
“Yo, morning. Up late again?”
“Club Activities were exhausting yesterday. Hill fell asleep early, then woke up to find you gone. I figured you’d gone to dye your hair.”
“So, you’re stopping me? I got stared at by a weird old man because of this hair yesterday. I absolutely never want that experience again. Besides, I’m heading to the Dungeon soon. I don’t want to be gawked at like a Grand Panda at the zoo.”
“Um, Onii-chan, going to the Dungeon right after recovering? Then Hill’s coming too!”
“Sure, I was planning to call you anyway.”
“But even without white hair, bad people will still target you, Onii-chan (quietly)… Onii-chan, it’s fine to wear a hat or mask outside to hide your face. If anything happens, Hill will protect you.”
As she spoke, Hill patted her chest—already more developed than Bried’s, springy even at her age, with a promising future ahead.
It was clear she liked her current look a lot.
Proof was that she couldn’t help reaching out to touch Siloque’s white ponytail, fingers running through the strands.
Without thinking, Siloque replied:
“No.”
He opened the Hair Dye, releasing its pungent smell.
“Please! Onii-chan, just for today—this is Hill’s lifelong request. Go out with me as a white-hair, okay?”
Is it really okay to use a “lifelong request” so lightly?
Hill put her hands together in a prayer gesture, teary-eyed and pitiful.
Uh…
He couldn’t resist Hill’s pure gaze.
Considering she saved him from harassment, maybe he shouldn’t be so hardheaded.
“Onii-chan, if you’re so unwilling, then answer one question for Hill, okay?”
“A question? If it’s just a question…”
School troubles, social issues, that sort of thing?
“As long as you answer Hill’s question, she won’t pester you about dyeing your hair. Dye it purple or dolphin color, whatever you want.”
Dolphin color? What the heck is that?
Black is fine.
Hill wrapped her arms around Shilock’s waist.
Her pale-gold twin tails pressed to his chest, warm as a giant hot water bottle.
For some reason, her hug felt similar to when she pinned him down last night to keep him from escaping…
“Onii-chan, have you ever heard the name ‘Beiren’?”
“?
Of course I have.”
Siloque answered without hesitation.