Chapter 14: No Permission

Dawn, 5 AM.

When Ari, who had recently become a bit closer, was sleeping soundly, snoring softly. 

When Rumi, with her fluffy fur, was sprawled out, belly exposed, sleeping deeply. 

Even the shopkeeper, Ark, was asleep, breathing faintly.

Johanna’s day begins.

Though the place is enchanted, she adds a few logs to the brazier, just in case anyone who stayed behind might feel cold.

Breathing in the chilly dawn air, she walks briskly to the sanctuary.

“Good morning, Sister Johanna!”

“Good morning, Sister Anna.”

Though their hometowns may differ, whenever she meets the saintesses gathered in the sanctuary, they exchange greetings.

The frost that settled overnight, the dust, the muddy footprints—traces left by nature and humans—are cleared away, marking the start of her day.

Prayer.

Reflection on whether she is walking the right path.

Discussion.

The saintesses gather to interpret the words of the scriptures, exchanging ideas and blooming conversations.

By the time the morning sun rises, it’s time for counseling.

Though they are heroes.

Behind their strong exteriors, they are just pure, delicate maidens.

It’s only natural for them to have worries.

Johanna listens to those worries and offers solutions.

Sometimes, just listening is enough to solve the problem.

Other times, offering a light direction helps.

And for the questions Johanna herself cannot answer, she promises to ponder together.

Today was supposed to be another routine day, but…

“Johanna, you’ve been working hard since morning.”

“……Ark?”

Though the counseling room is divided by a partition, preventing them from seeing each other, the sly yet gentle whisper alone was enough for Johanna’s ears to recognize the voice.

“Is counseling available for the shopkeeper too?”

“……Yes. And anonymity is guaranteed here.”

“Aha!”

From beyond the unseen wall, the sound of a chair creaking.

And then, a faint scent, no, a fragrance wafting through.

Something warm, something comforting, something masculine… sweat… scent…?

The unfamiliar aroma, one she had rarely encountered in her life, lightly tickled Johanna’s nose.

Feeling the air in the room grow slightly warmer, Johanna cleared her throat with a ahem.

“……By the way, Ark, where’s your hood?”

“Haha.”

Somehow, his voice sounded clearer.

Johanna furrowed her brows.

But it’s still early.

Surely, it’s nothing…?

As Johanna pondered this…

“Johanna, you’ve been having a lot of worries lately, haven’t you?”

“?”

Counseling is something she offers to the heroes.

But Ark’s sudden reversal of roles left Johanna with a question mark.

“It’s only natural to have such worries.”

……?

Worries… sure, I have them. Because of your reckless displays of affection…!

“We’re just doing what we’re supposed to do.”

Ark’s voice flowed out so calmly that Johanna felt her world momentarily crumble.

That… is what you’re supposed to do…?

Men and women, doing… that…?

Babies are made, you know?

……No.

Creating new life… is that natural?

“Those efforts, those pains, are what make us stronger.”

Pain…

At first, it hurts, right?

Ari didn’t look too good either.

But.

Putting aside strange thoughts, it’s just kissing, right?

Why is that painful?

Do lips get chapped or something…?

Johanna’s thoughts began to spiral.

But.

As Ark continued…

“Sister, you can do it too. You’re an indispensable part of our party. Even if you’re just quietly in the background now, your time will come soon.”

Johanna’s mind went *boom*!

Wh-wh-wh-what…?

Me, me too?

I…?

I’m going to kiss…? 

Have a baby…?

I’m not mentally prepared yet…

“Just think about working harder from now on, for us.”

Ugh.

Ughhh…

“I’ll leave it to you today. I’ll be going now.”

“……”

Her lips twitched.

But Johanna couldn’t say anything.

Only.

Her cheeks, now fully flushed, were cupped in her hands.

For Johanna, who truly believed that kissing led to babies, today’s conversation was far too stimulating.

***

Today is the day we officially tackle the 5th floor.

After finishing my early morning run, I headed straight to the sanctuary.

Johanna seemed a bit down yesterday.

I guess that’s understandable.

Ari and Rumi are pulling their weight both in the tower and at my shop.

But Johanna?

She’s just a buff totem who can’t contribute much.

No notable achievements.

Colorless, odorless.

But that can’t go on.

The game is starting to diverge from the original.

We don’t know how long we can keep overpowering everything with sheer damage and levels.

And besides.

Losing confidence at work is a sign of resignation…!

Resignation is not an option, resignation is out of the question!

If you’re going to resign, you need to find a replacement first!

So, to boost Johanna’s confidence, I actively applied the psychological counseling techniques I learned in my “Human Behavior and Psychology” class.

Ask lightly.

Empathize.

Encourage.

Reinforce purpose.

Find meaning in existence.

Judging by the increasing tremble in Johanna’s voice, my psychological counseling was a great success.

Problem solved!

Ding

By the way.

Lately, I’ve been getting these strange notifications on my smartphone.

[(SYSTEM) Insufficient permissions to view. (43/100)]

It feels like loading, but then again.

Checking previous notifications.

[(SYSTEM) Insufficient permissions to view. (65535/100)]

……There have been overflows like this before.

The numbers vary each time.

84, 36, whatever.

Are multiple “insufficient permissions” loading simultaneously?

Well, let’s assume so.

Anyway.

Time to head back to the guild house, wake up the sleepyhead puppy and our shop madam, and prepare for today’s climb.

Target: 5th floor.

Full speed ahead!

***

[5th Floor of the Tower of Wishes – Tina’s Illusion, 1st Zone]

[★☆☆ Break through the canyon.] 

[★★☆ Clear without anyone falling.] 

[★★★: Purify the zone within 10 minutes.]

Up to the 4th floor, all main missions were about defeating all enemies.

But starting from the 5th floor, various clear conditions are added, and the difficulty ramps up accordingly.

And.

Up to the 4th floor, it was all like,

“Yeah, that’s how it is. That’s how it’s supposed to be, but as the current Revelator, I can’t know for sure. Well, maybe it could turn out like that. But at this point, all I can say is…”

If the avant-garde setting and tutorial were intertwined like that, then finally, a proper story unfolds.

“Kyahaha, you’re the hero party? You look so pathetic!”

The antagonistic forces have officially appeared.

That brat floating in the air, taunting us, is the boss of the 5th floor, Tina.

A design so soft it ranked 4th in popularity polls!

From those who unconditionally chant “Nuuooong~” to the lovers of children.

For the violent ones, a punch to the gut is the cure.

Or the ones who drag her off to Pixiv for some *muhuhu*.

All those dark desires are embodied in the design before my eyes!

“Nuuooong.”

“……Ark?”

“Ah, no. Just suddenly.”

Hah.

Unknowingly, my thoughts merged with those of the extreme child lovers.

After a brief mental therapy session while looking at Rumi’s swaying, massive mounds.

“What’s this? You came all the way here without a Revelator? You’re just a bunch of pathetic fools! Try your best! Even if you break through my illusions, I doubt you can clear the zone! Kyahaha!”

Hmm.

A taunt?

Even if I’m just a pseudo-Revelator.

A naughty girl like that needs PUNISHMENT.

“Let’s break through the 5th floor today.”

“Woof!”

“Ugh! I was just getting fired up!”

“……We must make her repent.”

Our heroes, who were just mocked as “pathetic fools,” seem a bit riled up.

Everyone’s full of motivation!

“Let’s go. Follow my instructions from now on.”

First, let’s break through the canyon ahead.

“Rumi, run ahead a bit faster until I tell you to stop.”

“Woof!”

Rumi, full of energy, dashes forward! 

Thud thud thud, whoosh.

With intense shaking, she runs ahead.

“Ari, get ready to attack.”

“Got it!”

Though no enemies are in sight yet, I give Ari the order to attack in advance.

“Kyeek!”

“Kueek!”

Low-level monsters. Goblins peek out from the top of the canyon, then leap down!

“Rumi, stop! Johanna, buff Ari, and Ari, shoot!”

“Woof!”

Kyiik

Squawk

As Rumi slams on the brakes, a sacred power swirls around Ari’s body, and two arrows are fired in succession.

“Kyeek?”

The first arrow transforms into a water spirit, pulling the goblins that landed on the ground into one spot.

The second arrow lands in the center and explodes, scattering the goblins.

“Good.”

In terrains like this, mindless rushing can be dangerous.

If our heroes were to act on their own, they could get ambushed by monsters leaping down from the canyon.

Of course, if Rumi barks, she’ll draw all the aggro, but…

……I’m in danger, me.

Look at that big, beautiful club the goblin’s holding.

One full swing from that, and my head’s done for.

Unlike our sturdy heroes.

I’m cursed with the body of a lowly man, where even growth potions only activate gut bacteria.

Steady.

Step by step.

“Rumi, let’s go again!”

“Woof!”

[(SYSTEM) Insufficient permissions to view. (65534/100)]

[(SYSTEM) Insufficient permissions to view. (65535/100)]

This again.

What kind of bug is this?

Anyway.

Steady.

Step by step.

Bring it on, Mesgaki.