Playing as a Tank

ooden shield?”

Levan continued trying to persuade Asha on my behalf.

In , characters with high favorability like this often help as Helpers during major events or quests.

The reason I grinded so much in my first playthrough was precisely to build these connections with Helpers.

While there were other purposes too, the main goal was favorability.

Anyway, I needed to get the answer I wanted from Asha while my first Helper was assisting me.

Honestly, if someone told me that a child who was lying face down covered in dirt just a day ago suddenly defeated a monster, I probably wouldn’t believe it either… but still.

A newbie might miss out. But someone who has already seen the ending once can’t let go of such a golden opportunity.

So, completely forgetting how I had whimpered in pain after being attacked by a monster and could barely speak, I proceeded with a bit of shameless confidence.

“Um, Big Sister. Can I have that wooden shield for a moment?”
“Huh? Why?”
“I want to show you something cool!”

Of course, I had considered explaining verbally.

But I thought showing the various skills directly would be more effective.

However, the guild branch interior wasn’t really suitable for using skills in many ways.

“Hmm… this won’t work here. Follow me!”

I grabbed Asha’s hand forcefully and dragged her outside the branch.

About thirty seconds later, I found a tree of suitable size.

Just to be safe, I asked Asha to stay a little distance away, then lifted the shield to make contact with the tree.

And, ding.

[Using The Outgoing Words Are Worse (A) at maximum capacity.]
[Total damage: 3033]

I amplified all the damage accumulated in the wooden shield by the maximum limit of three times and unleashed it toward the tree.

So, expecting the tree in front of me to get a massive hole just like the ant lion monster had, I gripped the shield even tighter.

-Whoosh.

“Eh?”

What actually shot out from the shield wasn’t something invisible but blazing flames.

And they were several times larger and hotter than what the shield had previously absorbed.

-BOOOM!!

“W-what is this!!!”

The tree that had been in contact with the shield had long since been completely shattered into powder.

But the tiny wooden shield’s outburst of massive flame breath showed no signs of stopping.

Finally, Asha, realizing something had gone wrong, urgently chanted spells.

Not long after, snowflakes began to form in the air, gradually clustering together before another Elemental King [Lyrie] manifested into reality.

『What must share this breath of bitter cold, Asha?』
“That shield in the girl’s hands!”
『…A shield?』

The unfocused blue gaze that turned toward me looked back and forth between me and the shield, appearing as confused as Asha.

However, soon regaining composure, with just one sweep of that slender index finger in the air, the flames in the area were instantly quelled.

『Disperse.』

Only when the cool mist flowing from Lyrie enveloped the area did the shield stop its rampage, having exhausted all its damage.

Almost simultaneously, the strength left my legs, and I collapsed to the ground.

Of course, the next natural step was being scolded severely by Asha, who had approached right behind me at some point, pinching both my cheeks.

“L-Lua, what on earth were you trying to do!”
“I wah jus twying to show you dat I can fight monstewrs, dat I can do my shawe—”
“Whether you can fight monsters or pull your own weight, tell me with words! Words!”

I knew I wasn’t in a position to feel wronged, but I still did. In many ways.

It’s not like I wanted to cause trouble.

Maybe it’s because these skills were completely different from the ones I used in the first playthrough, but I couldn’t easily gauge their effects or power.

How was I supposed to know that releasing accumulated damage meant releasing it in its original form?

But thinking about it, I did show a powerful skill that could definitely defeat monsters.

“C-can’t you accept me as a guild member…? Or at least let me get measured at your guild headquarters…”

After being dragged back to the guild branch, I desperately asked for a chance to determine whether I had the qualifications to be a hunter.

I suggested that she probably couldn’t leave me in this quiet village, if only because she would be worried in a different way now.

Rather than letting me cause trouble I couldn’t handle on my own like just now when out of Asha’s sight, wouldn’t it be better for Asha herself to keep me by her side?

“Haah… Alright, just behave until tomorrow. If you cause trouble again, I’m really going to tie you up somewhere.”

In the end, Asha, unable to resist the bright-eyed attack characteristic of children, promised to take me to the Lunatic Guild headquarters.

She did firmly warn that she wouldn’t allow dungeon observations or the like no matter what, but at this point, that wasn’t a big concern.

Well, fine. I don’t mind not being sent to dungeons right away.

Honestly, I don’t even want to enter a dungeon right now…

Still, once I get into the guild, a path will surely open eventually.

Until then, well, I’ll just have to focus on making my presence known by running minor errands at the guild headquarters.

Come to think of it, there were quite a few relationships I could form outside dungeons.

There are many connections I can build and stories I can progress through conversation alone, without fighting monsters, so I decided to change my approach until Asha recognized me as a proper combatant.

It would be even better if people’s favorability skyrocketed over trivial things like today.

Just as I was receiving congratulatory-like messages from the guild members who had been quietly listening to the conversation between Asha and me.

-Grrrumble.

“…Ah.”

Perhaps because the tension had finally eased, my stomach clock proudly demonstrated its magnificence.

My face naturally turned burning hot.

Even though I knew there was no need to be so embarrassed since I had a child’s appearance, I instinctively turned away and tried to escape.

And exactly five seconds later, I was caught by the guild members led by Levan.

“If you run like that, you’ll get hungrier. So, quickly ask your big sister to buy you something delicious~.”
“Despite appearances, she’s the master of one of the three major guilds. She’s a tr-emendous rich person who can acquire a restaurant without batting an eye.”
“I-it’s not that much!”

Voices full of the usual mischief and deep laughter followed, asking what do you mean it’s not that much.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t had a proper meal since entering this world…

But even so, acting cute like a real child seemed a bit much.

However, considering that the food in was quite high quality, maybe I could set aside my thin pride a little…?

Hmm, what to do.

“Come on, hurry. Our guild master’s wallet needs to open for us uncles to eat something delicious too.”

Ah, then I guess I have no… choice.

Yes, this is unavoidable.

I decided to endure a moment of embarrassment for the sake of the people who had suffered because of me today.

“D-d-de… Buy me something delicious, please!”
“…Pfft.”