The moment I acquired the legendary artifact 'Sacred Guardian Fortress', one dungeon immediately sprang to mind.
A dungeon named 'The Depths of Resentment', where spirit-type monsters specializing in mental attacks primarily appear.
Its difficulty level is mid-upper... but with the 'Sacred Guardian Fortress' that dramatically boosts mental resistance, it plummets to mid-lower... no, even low-mid.
Perhaps because it has such a glaring weakness, the rewards aren't all that impressive either.
It's an artifact known as the 'Absolute Ring Set'... Not bad in terms of raw performance, but with all its restrictions and limitations, it's only useful in the early game at best.
That's why it's also called the 'Commoner Slaughter Ring'.
However, this isn't a game—it's reality.
Those restrictions are likely mitigated or outright gone.
If my hunch is correct, that item's value... well, it still won't be viable into the late game.
But honestly, that makes it even more fitting.
It's not for the protagonist; it's for me. That's plenty.
"Vivian around?"
Bang!
As I flung open the door, two pairs of eyes turned my way.
Vivian, with her eyes wide open, and for some reason, Starnassila Weller, the Duke's Family's second daughter, sitting right beside her.
"Oh? What's this? What business do you have with Vivian that you're barging in here?"
I grimaced at Weller, who immediately unleashed her prickly attitude the second she saw me.
"And what are you doing here, Sis?"
"Can't you tell? I'm teaching Vivian magic."
"Magic...? Hmm."
Come to think of it, Vivian's tech tree was definitely geared toward magic swordsman.
"So she's learning swordsmanship from Brother Berga, then?"
"What nonsense is that? Our Vivian has no interest in such vulgar swordplay. Right, Vivian?"
"Um... Y-Yes, Sister."
Unable to withstand Weller's pressure, Vivian glanced around nervously with an awkward smile, and Weller pulled her into a tight hug like she was just too adorable.
I could only tilt my head in confusion.
"She's not learning swordsmanship?"
Starnassila Vivian, the basic heroine, was already a skilled magic swordsman proficient in advanced swordsmanship and magic from the moment she first met the protagonist.
Knowing her talents, potential, and allocated stats as I did, I couldn't help but feel it was a tremendous waste.
She could've ditched magic if she wanted, but abandoning swordsmanship was tantamount to squandering the character that was Vivian.
"A narrow-minded magic purist buries yet another talent."
"What? What did you just say?"
She glared at me with murderous intent, growling, but I ignored her and looked at Vivian's awkward smile.
"Hmm..."
Of course, the future could change.
With the Duke's Family not destroyed, the future had become an unpredictable kaleidoscope, so Vivian becoming a pure mage was entirely possible too.
"Hey, why are you clamming up? What did you just say?"
"Sis, just shut up for a sec. Vivian."
"Y-Yes? Yes, Brother."
I met her gaze as she fidgeted and looked up at me.
"Have you ever even touched a sword?"
"W-Well... No."
"Jeez. So you haven't even had Father or your brothers check your swordsmanship talent?"
"N-No..."
"What the hell is this... Magic purists are just so damn twisted in personality and values."
"Hey! Starnassila Alzen! What the hell have you been doing since you got here!? Picking a fight with me!? You wanna die!?"
"Eek!?"
Finally exploding from the nonstop ignoring and insults, Weller shot to her feet, whipping up a storm of mana.
Talk about vicious.
"Lady Weller, please calm down."
At that moment, Murel, who had been standing there unobtrusively, stepped in front of me and blocked the full brunt of that killing intent.
"Sigh... No one in that family is right in the head. How is there not a single normal person? Tsk tsk..."
"Wha...! You bastard! Alzeeen! You really wanna die!? Want me to kill you!? Come here! I'll kill you right nooow!"
Like a pressure cooker blowing its top, she rocketed into action, weaving a magic circle in midair. I grabbed Vivian's arm with a pathetic look on my face.
"Vivian. Wanna learn swordsmanship?"
"Huh? Uh..."
"Vivian! Don't listen to that damn wastrel! It's all nonsense and bullshit! It'll only have a bad influence on you!"
"Ugh, so noisy. Murel, cover for me while I talk to her outside."
"...Understood."
"Hey! Where do you think you're going!? Get back here!? Gah...!? Move! You damn bitch! Do you know who I am, blocking my way!?"
Ignoring Weller's shouts, I pulled Vivian out and shut the door behind us. The noise from inside cut off cleanly.
But the vibrations still came through.
The door and floor trembled like there was an earthquake... That crazy bitch really is a magic maniac.
"Vivian. Let me ask again."
I grabbed her face, which was fidgeting anxiously over the commotion inside, and turned it toward me.
"Wanna learn swordsmanship?"
"..."
I frowned at her hesitant expression.
"Be honest. No one's gonna say anything weird."
"B-But... Is it okay for me to learn swordsmanship? I'm a girl..."
"...What? What does gender have to do with it?"
"W-Well... I heard girls aren't supposed to learn things like swordsmanship."
"Who said that?"
"Father, Mother, and Sister..."
"Oh, for... Damn this medieval fantasy crap."
I'd momentarily forgotten the era's setting. This was definitely that kind of time.
A pervasive belief that women were fragile beings who needed protection.
That's why women weren't even supposed to go out carelessly, and everyone took it for granted.
Even with mana allowing women to grow strong too.
So, were nobles— who passed down secret arts for generations and consumed elixirs like water, able to become strong anytime— free from such notions?
Not at all. If anything, they were even more steeped in it.
Men were swords sharpened for the lineage; women were flowers for forging connections, alliances, and heirs.
That was the mindset.
Not everyone, but plenty of nobles thought that way in reality.
Especially since, unlike men, any scars on a woman's face or body were a huge blemish, so swordsmanship was strongly discouraged for them.
"Haa..."
I see. So in a timeline where the Duke's Family doesn't fall, Vivian naturally ends up on this path.
"Vivian. Forget everything you've heard up till now."
"Huh...?"
"Just tell me what you want. Swordsmanship— do you want to learn it?"
At my question, she clutched the hem of her dress tightly, wrestling with herself, then cautiously lifted her head.
"...Yes. I want to learn. I want to wield a sword as cool as Father does."
"I see... Alright. I'll convince Father for you."
"Really!?"
"Of course. Even if I fail, don't worry. I'll make sure you learn swordsmanship somehow."
"B-But is that okay?"
"What's not okay about it? Have some confidence. You have the talent for it."
The system-assigned basic heroines were all stacked with specs, probably to cater to players.
Vivian was guaranteed to reach Sword Master at least, if not 8th-circle archmage, by the late game.
With some investment, even Demi God was possible.
And Vivian had talent in both magic and swordsmanship.
Letting that rot would be such a shame.
"Thank you! Brother!"
"Uh? Uh-huh..."
She suddenly threw her arms around me, staring up with sparkling eyes. It was hard to meet her gaze straight-on, so I averted my eyes a bit.
An unexpected move, but if it meant I'd successfully started building rapport, it wasn't bad.
Taking her along on the dungeon raid trip like this would make her follow me even better.
I couldn't approach a pure girl with impure intentions without feeling pangs of conscience and cynicism... but for the ending, I had to.
I needed to keep the bridge to the protagonist connected somehow.
"Ahem. Anyway, Vivian. I actually came here for something else."
"Huh? What is it, Brother?"
"I'm thinking of taking a short trip. Wanna come with?"
"A trip...? Like a picnic?"
"No, a dungeon raid trip."
"Dungeon raid...!?"
Her already sparkling eyes now blazed like lasers.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Well, she's still young, so it's no surprise she'd be full of curiosity and admiration.
"You in? Oh, and I've already got Father's permission."
"Yes!"
"Good. Get ready, then. We'll head out in a few days."
"Okay!"
I headed back into the room with her bouncing around excitedly.
Weller and Murel were still at a standoff. The furnishings around them were smashed to bits, and there was a faint burnt smell.
Yet somehow, neither had a scratch on them. Incredible.
How the hell did they even fight?
"Alzen...! What did you say to Vivian?"
"Not much?"
I shrugged and winked at Vivian. She nodded vigorously and clamped both hands over her mouth.
She probably couldn't keep it secret from Weller forever... but whatever.
"Murel. Let's go."
"Yes. Master Alzen. Pardon the rudeness, Lady Starnassila Weller. Please forgive my impertinence."
"Hah! As if I'd forgive you just because— Wait! Hold on! Alzen! Don't ignore me! Hey! You punk! I said wait!?"
I quickened my pace, ignoring Weller's incessant screeching.
"She's always so damn loud, huh?"
"..."
Gulp!
"Kuhh~"
I patted Murel's shoulder after downing a swig of liquor.
"We're raiding a dungeon soon, so prep thoroughly."
"What kind of preparations should I focus on?"
"It's all spirit-type monsters spamming mental attacks nonstop, so just brace for that."
"...That doesn't sound like a 'light' trip at all. Isn't it too dangerous?"
"Nah, we're good. With this."
I lifted the 'Sacred Guardian Fortress' hanging around my neck, and she let out a sigh.
"Haa... Relying solely on that for a dungeon raid feels way too risky."
"Don't have faith?"
"It's not me I'm worried about. It's you, young master."
"I told you it's fine. It's not called a 'fortress' for nothing."
I'm not bluffing here.
This artifact is the absolute counter to the mental attack tech tree.
"...Did you successfully convince Lady Vivian?"
"Yeah. She's young, so she's got some hero worship going on. She jumped at it."
"Hmm... Is that okay?"
"I said don't worry."
I chuckled and patted Murel's back reassuringly before taking another swig.
The next day.
Starnassila Weller finally pried Vivian's mouth open and stormed in, fuming.
"Yaaah! Taking Vivian on a dungeon raid!? What the hell are you scheming!? And what did you say to make her suddenly want to learn swordsmanship!? What the fuck did you tell her!?"
"Urgh... Aigoo, my ears."
I lowered my hands from my ears and lit a cigarette, grinning slyly.
"What's with the sudden fuss, Sis?"
"Spill it! Tell me what you're up to!"
"Nah."
"You... Cut the crap. Wanna see me get serious?"
"And what can you do about it? Father's already given permission. All you can do is yell."
"Youuuu!"
An ice spear formed in an instant and hurtled toward me at invisible speed.
Whoa, this psycho.
She's actually firing it.