Chapter 14: Sierra learns her weaknesses.

“…So, what exactly do friends do?”

“Eh, specifically?”

“Yeah.”

After the doctor returned, they were told they could head back to class.
On the way—during the walk, really—Sierra asked.
Classes had apparently been canceled for the day.
In the corridor leading back to the classroom, Sierra had posed the question.

“Even if you ask me…”

Arna looked troubled.
She seemed to be pondering how to respond.

“Is it hard?”

“It’s not particularly hard, I think.”

“What do you do with your friends, Arna?”

“Ugh…”

At Sierra’s question, Arna let out a groan.
She averted her eyes awkwardly.
Undeterred, Sierra pressed on.

“Did you not have friends either, Arna?”

“O-of course I did! It’s just that lately, with everything going on… I haven’t really thought about friendships.”

“Everything going on?”

“Everything is everything.”

Sierra nodded for now.
Everyone had their reasons, she supposed.

(Dad used to dodge questions like that too.)

Ainz would always brush her off when he was troubled.
In those moments, pressing for answers got her nowhere.

“Being friends isn’t about doing specific things, I suppose.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Don’t you have something you want to do?”

“Something I want to do…”

Sierra thought for a moment before answering.

“I’ve always wanted friends, but now that I have one, I haven’t thought about what’s next.”

“I-I see.”

“But Dad always looked so happy with his friends, so I want to do stuff like that too.”

“…Stuff like that. If you don’t have anything specific in mind, maybe going out to town for fun?”

“Then let’s go have fun.”

Sierra tugged Arna’s hand firmly.
Arna hurriedly stopped her.

“W-wait! Stop! Classes aren’t over yet!”

“Oh, right?”

“Yes! And weren’t you just told to rest?”

Sierra still had the hemostasis spell on her head.
Magic could enhance healing, but it would take some time.
To Sierra, this injury was nothing.

“I don’t mind.”

“But I do! There’s no need to rush. Goodness, and you’re so strong too… I thought I couldn’t stop you.”

“Am I?”

She didn’t lose arm-wrestles often, true.
Sierra preferred magic and sword fights; hand-to-hand was usually for subduing opponents.
So she didn’t really think of herself as “strong.”
And it wasn’t something worth worrying about anyway.

“I wish classes would end soon.”

“That’s why I said rest! Even after class, we’re not playing.”

“…Really?”

Sierra looked at Arna with a dejected expression.

“Ugh, stop with the abandoned puppy eyes!”

“What kind of face?”

“The one you’re making right now. I’m weak to that kind of emotional appeal.”

“Oh.”

Exploiting weaknesses is basic combat strategy; remember that well—Ainz had taught her that.
But Sierra wasn’t sure what expression she was making.
For now, she just kept gazing at Arna imploringly.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…No means no, okay?”

Apparently seen through, in the end—even after returning to class, Arna didn’t budge, and after school Sierra was forcibly dragged back to the dorm.

House was alone in a tavern a short distance from the academy.
After class, he’d been summoned by Headmaster Awenda and placed on suspension until his punishment was decided.
Of course, he’d expected that.
Even so, he’d planned to get revenge on Sierra.
Yet when he’d seen her expression after landing that blow to her head, he’d chickened out.
He ground his teeth in frustration.
And furthermore—

“What a pity, Instructor Magnis.”

Awenda’s sorrowful face floated in his mind.
Just remembering it made his blood boil.

“What’s so ‘pity’? Don’t act like you care…”

“—Oh my, called out after so long, and you’re already drowning your sorrows all alone?”

The one who appeared before House wasn’t a seductive woman—it was a muscular man.
But he wore an expensive dress.
His makeup was impeccable, making him stand out even in the tavern.

“Hey… Let’s start with a welcome drink.”

“I’m busy, you know. Lots of 《jobs》 piling up… Just get to the point.”

The man in drag—Lushur Elrof—plopped down and said it outright.
House pulled out a jingling pouch from his pocket.

“What’s that?”

“…An advance. I’ve got a job request for you.”

“Oh come on, you too? I came because you said it was urgent.”

“It is urgent.”

“Fine… I’ll at least hear you out.”

House immediately launched into Sierra’s story.
The girl who’d just enrolled yet wielded 《Weapon Materialization》 with ease.
After hearing it all, Lushur let out a huge sigh.

“Oh dear… So you got beaten to a pulp by some girl and now you want me to handle your revenge? You’ve become quite the small man, haven’t you?”

“Shut up! Yes or no?”

“—I judge this job not worth taking.”

“Wh-what…?”

“Of course. Just one little girl… Why not handle it yourself? Ambush or whatever.”

“She’s not on that level—that’s why I’m asking! I’ll stack more on the success fee!”

“…I said I’m busy. Even if I took it, it’d be on the back burner.”

With that, Lushur stood up abruptly.
House desperately tried to convince him.

“Wait… The student who reported me—include her too, and I’ll pay six times as much. That’s a steal for two brats, right?”

He slid over a sheet with info on another girl.

“Look… It’s not about the money—”

Lushur froze mid-sentence.
Looking at the girl’s info, a sly grin spread across his face.

“…What?”

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll take the job for both—eight times the price.”

“E-eight times…”

“A bargain, right? Just to kill two little girls, that much is nothing.”

Lushur said it casually.
House nodded at his words.