Volume 4 - Ch 3.18
See, Roxanne seems to be pretty delighted that I managed t do this properly this time, because she smiled happily when I put my hand on her head and started petting it. Such a cute reaction! And that smile of hers. . . .! Ahh, if only I knew that being careful would give me such magnificent rewards, I would have done that way sooner!
While stroking Roxannes doggy ears with my right hand, I used my left to caress Sherrys head. Since she is so small, then stroking it is pretty easy because I do not even need to be stretching myself out to do it. And I have to say, Roxanne was right in what she said. In comparison to yesterdays Sherrys hair really did seem to be fluffier and softer to the touch than usual. Could it be that this is a difference that just a single bath and washing of the hair can bring?
Wow, your hair really soft and fluffy, Sherry. This is such a nice sensation.
T-Thank you very much.
But really now, if that is how soft her hair really are, then how much dust did she have in them? Or maybe. . . . . maybe Sherry was actually one of those people who have never washed their hair since they were born until yesterday? If that would be tha case, then that would be. . . . . a pretty terrifying concept, I am not going to lie. And thinking about that made me all the more appreciative of how fluffy-wuffy and puffy Roxannes doggy ears are. They are really good, and feel nice to the touch no matter when I am trying to pet them. Hooray for doggy ears, may they continue to reign supreme until the end of time! And just like that, I got to enjoy both Roxannes fluffy ears and Sherrys fluffy hair before we get to eat breakfast, and since I am the girls owner, then I get to enjoy this wondrous sensation whenever I want.
By the way. . . . . .
I started the conversation during breakfast.
. . . . . there is such a Job as Shrine Maiden, right? What does it do?
I had no idea that such a Job even existed, so I was genuinely curious if it was even remotely similar to the kind of shrine maidens that existed on earth, and now that we are back home and we do not need to hurry anywhere else or be on the lookout for being attacked by monsters, we might have some time to actually talk about this. . . . . . or at least that was what I thought, but for some reason, Sherry looked like she got incredibly depressed as soon as the words Shrine Maiden left my mouth. I thought that if I give this subject some time then it would be safe to talk about it, but apparently that is such a sore subject for Sherry that simply hearing those words triggered such a negative reaction in her.
Uhm, well if. . . if you do not want to talk about it, Sherry, then that is perfectly fine, I simply wanted to. . . . . .
Did. . . . . . . . . did you hear about my past from somewhere?
Huh? Her past? What is she talking about?
Eh? No no no no, it is nothing like that.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Oh no. . . . . . . no, no, no no, no, no, no, no! No, God, please, no!)
Please, do not tell me that the deal with the Shrine Maiden Job is serious to such an extent! Have I done it again? Have I stepped on yet another landmine without meaning to?! Sherry, please, I beg you! Start talking! It does not matter what you are going to say, just go and say it! Right now, everything is going to be better than that dreadful silence!
. . . . . . . I. . . . . . . when I failed to become a Master Smith. . . . . . . . . . I tried to become a Shrine Maiden instead.
Sherry explained that with a voice so quiet and trembling that I could barely make out what she was saying. She then raised her face up, but whenever Roxanne or I tried to establish eye contact with her, she tried to avoid us, as If she was embarrassed about the words that she barely managed to squeeze out of her throat.
I see. So that is how it is. I cannot say that with one hundred percent certainty, but I think I know what she was trying to say by that, or at least what her words were implying.
Based on her words, I can deduce that she did not have the Shrine Maiden Job before now, so that must mean that not only did she fail to become a Master Smith, but the same story must have happened when she wanted to become a Shrine Maiden as well. I cannot even imagine how big of a shock it must have been to her, but the closest equivalent that I am capable of thinking of would be like getting rejected by both your first and second-choice university once you have graduated high school. If that is really how it was for her, then I can definitely see it doing a real number on her confidence.
W-Well, that might not mean much right now, but. . . . . try not to beat yourself up over it too much, okay? I know how easy it is to remain pessimistic when life kicks you bellow the belt, but you cannot allow this pessimism to rule over you.
Fuck, this is just like that previous time where I have inadvertently commented that her level as a Villager was not high enough. I t seems like no matter what I say around Sherry or what I am trying to talk about with her, literally everything is turning into a conversational landmine. . . . . . no, not landmine, a conversational atomic bomb sooner or later.
Yes, you are right master! I am going to work hard as an Explorer to make up for my many shortcomings, so please do not worry! I should be okay from now on!
Sherry says so while raising her face even higher while the sad look in her eyes got blown away as if it was never there in the first place, replaced by the one filled with strong determination. Well, she is not an Explorer right now, but nevertheless, I appreciate her enthusiasm and readiness to continue giving it her best all the same. If she is really going to maintain such a positive attitude at all times, that would be great, because that would be one less thing for me to worry about.
That is right! That is the spirit, Sherry! Never give up!
Yes, Miss Roxanne!
Now that she decided that she will not allow her past failures to drag her down in the present, should I change her active Job to Shrine Maiden? Yeah, I think I can do that for a bit, even if only to see what Skills and Bonuses it has to offer. Party Job Settings = = > Sherry = = > Jobs = = > Shrine Maiden = = > Set. Okay, let me see what we are working with here.
Shrine Maiden Lv.1
Effects: Increase MP (Small), Increase INT (Tiny)
Skills: Group Medical Treatment
Huh? The Skill of the Shrine Maiden Job. . . . . . . .
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