Chapter 63

63 – Consultation of the Four (2)

After discussing regarding Xenovia’s guidance, Rosetta asked Arti .

「Speaking of which, under what circumstances did Arti become President-sensei’s disciple?」

「As for me, the conditions were unique」

「Unique?」

「From the start, my father was a disciple of Master」

「I see, did Arti become a disciple on your father’s recommendation?」

「No, my father passed away when I was five . Since then, Master has been my foster parent」

「Ah, sorry… for reminding you of something sad…」

「Please don’t worry about it」

In order to assert what she said, Arti smiled .

It seemed that, Arti lost her mother at the age of three, and her father at the age of five .

After that, Xenovia looked after Arti as she had no relatives .

Rosetta looked like it was difficult for her to ask any more questions, so I asked instead .

「Arti, at what age did you become a disciple?」

「At ten years old」

Arti said she loved practicing the sword by nature, and had always done it on her own .

And Xenovia also taught her at times .

Xenovia probably taught Arti in place of her father, rather than a guidance from master to disciple .

「I was adopted as a disciple after measuring the guardian deity love value」

In accordance with present-day custom, Arti had measured her guardian deity love value at the age of ten .

Thereupon, found out that the love value of Sword God was uncommonly high .

「At that moment, Master asked me if I wanted to become her disciple, for the very first time」

「Hee–… so that’s how it happened」

「Say… Arti, did anything change after becoming a disciple?」

「I started receiving guidance from Master every day」

Until that point, Xenovia had seldom taught Arti, and Arti had constantly trained independently .

After becoming a disciple, Arti was trained to her limits every single day .

As she had become a disciple, naturally there would be instances where she has to fight the Cult .

Arti was likely to lose her life if she were to stay weak . Thus, Xenovia had started teaching proactively .

I decided to tell Rosetta regarding the risks involved in becoming a disciple .

「Rosetta, you said that you wanted to fight the Beast of Calamity together with us right」

「Yeah」

「But, you can still turn back now . I can understand if you feel it is impossible」

「But that is…」

「No, please listen . Rosetta and Tina still haven’t met a real formidable enemy」

It is a question of whether your spirit would break when you meet an enemy that is far superior to yourself .

That is something you wouldn’t know until you’re in that situation .

If your spirit is broken, then it will be extremely difficult to fight against the Demon King Beast of Calamity, Tenebris .

「Once you become a disciple, it will be difficult to turn back」

「That… may be true」

「Even if you become a disciple, if your spirit is broken, it would still be difficult to fight in future battles…」

Even if you force a person with a broken spirit to fight, they wouldn’t be a decent fighting force .

Be that as it may, if you become a disciple, you can’t easily turn your back on the battles .

Even if you aren’t included in the fight against the Beast of Calamity, you would still have to fight against other enemies .

Besides the Demon King, there are many demons and formidable monsters within the Cult .

You would have to continue fighting against them with a broken spirit .

「Honestly, the likelihood of losing your life isn’t exactly low either」I said .

「Of course, the family members who are left behind will be looked after by the Salvation Organization…」

Arti supplemented while bearing Rose in mind .

「That is reassuring!」

Rosetta cheerfully smiled .

「What do you think, Tina? Aren’t you scared?」

「Of course I am scared . I even doubt if I will be helpful」

「Even someone as talented as Tina has such thoughts」

Rosetta was probably implying the fact that Tina has seven gods as her guardian deity .

Even Tina was aware of Rosetta’s implication .

「The number of divine blessings is not equal to talent」Tina said .

「That might be true…」

And then, Rosetta slowly began to open up .

「To be honest, dying in the fight against the Demon King and the Cult is not actually what scares me」

「……… . 」

As everyone listened quietly, Rosetta smiled embarrassed .

「…No, sorry . I lied . Actually, I am frightened」

「Yes, I understand」Tina said .

「But, the thing I am most afraid of is being a burden to everyone else」

「That too is understandable」

「I feel afraid when I think about how you all might die due to me holding back everyone else」

Thereafter, Rosetta thought a little more, and quietly muttered .

「…No, perhaps the thing I am most afraid of might be betraying everyone’s expectations」

「…That is not hard to imagine」

Even though I thought Rosetta had more potential, she is actually useless . Truly, Rosetta is a disappointment – Rosetta was afraid of Regina and Xenovia thinking as such about her .

And finally, she was also afraid of us thinking the same about her .

Such thoughts are understandable .

I would have stopped her from becoming a disciple if she absolutely didn’t want to be in the face of danger or if she never wants to fight formidable enemies .

Conversely, if she had declared that she didn’t fear death from the bottom of her heart, I still would have stopped her .

Rather, I am more afraid of including someone who doesn’t fear death into the party .

To Rosetta who was thinking seriously,

「I don’t think that is the case though」

Although Tina said that, Rosetta’s insecurity does not reduce .

「Rosetta, listen carefully」

「Yeah」

「I will be frank . Neither I nor Regina-sama, have as much expectation that Rosetta imagine we do」

As I said so, Rosetta looked at me with a little hint of sadness on her face .