Chapter 21

A little away from the summer festival grounds stood a shrine.

Sitting on its steps, I lowered my head and shed tears of frustration.

Is something wrong with the world of Japanese summer festivals? Don't blame me. I think it's weird too, but this is a crazy world of a dating sim game. It's the fault of those who think it's normal.

"Damn... I really wanted it."

I was driven by the urge to chase after them and buy everything right now. But Ange and Olivia were the ones who wouldn't allow it.

They were watching me.

Seeing how depressed I was, they were taken aback instead.

"Did you really want it that much?"

Ange peered at my face.

It seemed she had escaped from her entourage. Without me around, they must be trying to recover the points they lost by abandoning her during the duel chaos.

"I was really looking forward to this day. I couldn't sleep last night."

I wiped away my tears.

You think I'm acting? I'm really crying because I'm so frustrated!

Olivia spoke to me, but very awkwardly.

"But, I don't think that's right. Buying everything with money..."

I understand what you're saying, but I don't think it's right to completely deny buying things with money.

"It's fine as long as I pay. I would have paid ten times the price."

I'm not sure if it's really worth that much, but if it really works, I would buy it even at a hundred times the price. The charm I wanted to collect on this floating island was the one that man was selling.

I don't know what's inside.

In the game, it's completely random, and even if you lose, you get a "Luck" charm.

The next best is the "Warrior's Luck" charm, which improves close combat abilities and physical status growth rates.

The grand prize is the "Attribute Blessing" for magic, which increases aptitude for magic in the game.

It's an excellent item that boosts magical growth rates and aptitude for attributes.

That's why I chose this floating island for the school trip in my first year. I bribed the teacher to come here, but it's sad that I couldn't get it.

It comes with a growth bonus, so I only challenged the dungeon minimally as a precaution...

All my plans for the ultimate cultivation method have been ruined.

Ange and Olivia looked very troubled.

They probably didn't expect me to cry.

As I sobbed, the summer festival was nearing its end, and a man returned.

It seemed that most of the items he had were sold.

"Ah, you're here. My lord, I have two left, so please take these."

I stood up and bought the two charms.

"Let it be a hit!"

"No, well, there's no such thing as a hit or a miss. They're all charms, just different types."

I paid and slowly peeled off the white paper from the two bags.

My face turned red with tension.

Under the slowly peeled paper was a white ball about the size of a marble, with metal and a red string attached to it.

...It's no good. I don't have the talent for white... healing magic.

It's meaningless to have it.

I roughly peeled the second one, and this time a red ball appeared. Both were very beautiful, but they looked like keychains.

Do they have any divine benefits?

"Red... I don't have the talent for red."

Ange tilted her head.

"What are you talking about? But, that's good, isn't it?"

Seeing Ange's relief, the man climbed the stairs and left.

"Well, I'll be going back. Please take good care of them. But... they seem more suitable for you two than for my lord."

More suitable for Ange and Olivia than for me? Yeah, that's right.

What I wanted were yellow or blue.

I didn't aim for red.

To put it bluntly, it's a miss for me.

With my shoulders slumped, I handed the charms to each of them. The man had already disappeared up the stairs.

"Y-You're giving them to us?"

Ange was a bit taken aback. She looked like she was wondering if it was okay to take something I had cried so much for.

"It's not what I aimed for."

"O-Oh, I see."

When I gave one to Olivia, she hesitated and refused.

"I-I can't accept it."

"Please take it. It's meaningless for me. It's not that expensive anyway."

I threw it to her, and she took it with a troubled look.

I sat on the steps and sighed deeply, holding my head.

"Leone... a-are you..."

Olivia was about to say something, but Ange's entourage arrived at the scene.

"Ah, Miss!"

Hearing the voice, Ange hurriedly ran away.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm going."

Chasing after the fleeing Ange, the girls followed her. But there was no sign of their personal servants.

As I watched Ange and the others run off, the boys from her entourage surrounded me.

There were three of them.

"Baltfalt, it's you again."

"Don't get too cocky just because you've been promoted a little."

"Poor noble who's trying to curry favor with the young lady."

I looked up and saw the faces of the incompetent boys. That's why you're no good. And it's about time you realized it. Once you've betrayed me in an important situation, your credibility can't be restored, no matter how hard you try.

It's negative now, and it might take a lifetime to get to zero... It's too late to try to curry favor now.

"Huh? Are you upset? Are you envious that I'm favored by the young lady? Too bad. If you hadn't abandoned her during the duel chaos, you would have been her favorites. You're good at reading the school's atmosphere, but you should read the nobility's and the world's atmosphere better. Isn't it embarrassing to try to curry favor now?"

I provoked them, and they seemed ready to attack.

Feeling frustrated, I stood up to pick a fight, but Livia stepped in front of me and spread her arms.

"F-Fighting is not allowed!"

One of the boys shouted.

"You started it!"

"S-Sorry, but fighting is not allowed."

"---Tch, let's go. He's a pitiful guy who hides behind a girl."

I wanted to return those words to them. They just want Ange as a shield.

As the boys left, I said to Olivia.

"You didn't have to let them go. They wouldn't have caused more trouble, so they backed off."

I provoked them, knowing they couldn't do anything.

Well, they're young, so they might resort to violence, but if they do, I plan to punish them socially. Adult fights don't end with just a beating.

Olivia looked down.

"...I'm sorry. Leone, I'm really sorry."

Faced with Olivia's crying and apologizing, I scratched my head.

"There's no need to apologize. Besides, there are people more suitable for you than me---"

As I was about to say, I noticed an old woman approaching.

When did she get here?

"...Uh, who are you?"

As I turned to the old woman, Olivia looked surprised.

The old woman with a cane was smiling.

"No, I came to talk because my son was taken care of."

I averted my gaze from the old woman. The son must be the man who sold the charms.

"I think I did a terrible thing this time---"

As I started to apologize, the old woman took a white bag from her pocket.

"I've never had someone who wanted my charms so badly that they would pay a large sum of money. But, many people enjoy them at the festival. I'm sorry, but this is all I have left. Please take it."

I took the white bag, and inside was a "Warrior's Luck" charm?

"This looks different?"

"You seem to know a lot. This is something I plan to prepare from next year. I made it as a trial, do you like it?"

It's not what I wanted, but I'm glad to have it.

"Ah, thank you. Ah, the payment---"

"It's not necessary. If you really want to, please visit the shrine. This is a shrine for matchmaking, so it has divine benefits too."

Saying that, the old woman climbed the stairs.

Is she a shrine staff member?

As Olivia looked up the stairs in surprise, I examined the charm. It wasn't the "Warrior's Luck" charm with a sword and shield, but a charm with three crossed swords, which I raised to eye level and held in my hand.

"...Well, even if it's not the grand prize, it's still a hit, right?"

I'll think it's worth the amount of money I spent.

Still, a shrine for matchmaking... It's scary at night, so I'll come in the morning.

Speaking of which, I remember a scene in the game where the protagonist and the target character went to a shrine to get closer.

Olivia asked me, looking embarrassed.

"Leone, matchmaking, you know---"

"It means just that. It has the benefit of forming a connection. I'll come in the morning. I have to wish for a good match."

I should make a big wish and offer a lot of money.

Seeing me leave, Olivia looked sad, but I ignored her.

...I shouldn't be involved with her.

◇

The next morning.

Since the airship leaves at noon, I was sightseeing on the island before that.

The floating island is a place where a unique culture can easily develop.

The reason is that there is no sea, and travel to other islands is only possible by airship. Sometimes, there are floating islands that have created their own society without airships.

Discovering such floating islands is an adventure.

...Well, bad guys sometimes invade them.

No matter how much they try to cover it up, adventurers are a rough bunch.

I actually looted ruins to get Luxion.

I climbed the stone steps.

The torii gate and shrine that came into view were very Japanese.

Since the floating island itself is Japanese-style, it feels like I've entered a different world.

I found a shrine maiden cleaning the shrine grounds.

The cute shrine maiden looked like a primary school student.

"Excuse me, is there a god of matchmaking here?"

The cute shrine maiden nodded with a smile at my question.

"Yes, there is a god of matchmaking. There are also benefits for warriors and magic users."

It seems to be a god appreciated by warriors and magic users.

After thanking her, I was about to go to the shrine when people arrived during our conversation.

"...Ah"

"...You guys"

"...Uh, well"

As I let out a surprised sound, Ange looked troubled, looking back and forth between our faces. She must have met Olivia downstairs and come up with her.

The little shrine maiden greeted us with a smile.

"Ah, you're the noble students from the academy. Uh, do you know how to pray?"

The cute shrine maiden explained it to us politely.

Ah, I feel healed.

The unfairness of the dating sim game is being purified.

So, we decided to pray, and the three of us... stood side by side in front of the offering box.

...It was awkward.

"O-Oh, we're supposed to make an offering. How much should I give?"

The troubled Ange took out gold coins from her wallet.

Seeing this, Olivia said,

"S-So much?"

"Is that wrong? In the temple, it's normal to give this much..."

I'm glad the temple is not a monotheistic religion that excludes other religions. I don't want a religious war. I'm grateful for the loose setting of the dating sim game for the first time.

Next to them, I put in the wad of bills and gold coins I was supposed to pay yesterday. Do you think I'm crazy? No, I'm not. In the game, paying a certain amount of money significantly increases the target character's affection. I believe in the divine benefits, so I'm paying a large sum of money.

I even regretted not bringing more money last night.

As the two of them looked at me in shock, I politely made my wish.

"God, I don't ask for much. Please... please, a wife! A woman with common sense and kindness! I don't want a woman who looks down on her husband or raises someone else's child. Please grant me a good match!"

My strong wish slipped out of my mouth.

They look stunned, but it's a very important issue for me.

Please hear the wishes of this poor, hardworking, and unlucky person, God!

Beside me, Ange and Olivia seemed to start making their wishes too.

They didn't let their wishes slip out of their mouths.

What did they wish for? Well, Ange's must be about a marriage partner. Olivia, a lover? I want her to get together with one of the three, excluding Blood and Greg--- Ah, no, Zirk is no good.

Anyway, I want her to get together with either Prince Julius or Chris.

Well, I'll pray for myself.

"If possible, I want a woman with big breasts and a slim waist. It would be even better if she's a bit naughty! To be honest, I want a mature and sexy woman who will pamper me---"

Ange and Olivia pulled on my ears and dragged me away, embarrassed by my wish.

"Wait! I haven't finished my wish yet! I still have more to say!"

Ange's face was red.

"W-What are you saying in front of a child, you idiot!"

Looking at the young shrine maiden, her face was also red.

...Isn't she incredibly cute? No, not in a lolicon way, but in a way that makes you feel the purity of an untainted girl.

Olivia apologized to the shrine maiden.

"Sorry, forget about it."

"Uh, it's okay. I, I was surprised by a lot of things."

We waved to the shrine maiden, who smiled wryly, and went down the stairs.

◇

In the shrine grounds after Leone and the others left.

The girl in the shrine maiden's outfit looked at the offering box.

"Someone put so much money in the offering box. I have to tell grandpa."

The girl ran off.

In this shrine, there were only the girl and her grandfather... There were no other family members, not even the old woman or the middle-aged man.

◇

Back on the luxury liner, I was watching the floating island from the deck as we moved away.

Taking out the charm I was holding, I looked at it.

Luxion, who seemed interested, spoke up.

'How about wearing it around your neck?'

"...Do you think it has any divine benefits?"

'Spiritually, it's not a bad thing to rely on something. As long as you don't rely on it too much.'

Luxion doesn't deny praying to gods, but doesn't seem to think it will bring good luck.

Wearing it around my neck, I looked up at the sun and squinted.

"It's hot."

'Yes, by the way, I noticed something.'

"What?"

'Maybe the reason you didn't challenge the dungeon more actively is because you didn't have this charm? Were you expecting a game-like effect?'

"...B-Baka, no, that's not it."

'Is that so? I was suspicious because you haven't recovered the Holy Bracelet yet.'

"A-Are you an idiot too?"

To be honest, I didn't challenge the dungeon more because I was expecting an effect. I was hoping for a game-like effect, but I'm not sure if it works in reality.

"It's fine to go to the place where it can be recovered. But it's a place where even upperclassmen struggle. I needed to prepare to recover it safely."

'Is that so? I was worried because you weren't in a hurry. Since you're not panicking even with Marié around, I was curious.'

If Marié is also playing the game, she won't do anything foolish.

Serious dungeon exploration will start in the third term.

From there, I'll earn money in the dungeon until the middle of the second year.

'By the way, I thought we could unveil the "Schweert".'

"You named that air bike? You, it belongs to me. Well, Schweert, right? It sounds cool, so it's fine... What does it mean?"

'...Master, have you ever heard of comparing an air bike to a fish? It's smaller compared to an airship.'

"I've heard of it. What's the point?"

'No, it's nothing. Schweert means sword.'

"Sounds good! I like it. By the way, the tip is sharp, and it feels good."

'Yeah, it's actually a marlin... Never mind.'

I'm impressed by his naming sense.

Well, I brought it but didn't use it. There were guys riding it around the floating island, but I was busy looking for the charm seller.

For some reason, I couldn't find out who he was.

Even the locals