The last couple of weeks had been the most stressful time of Amelia’s life.
First, her husband was bitten by a snake, which made him sick. Then her son got a Red Class.
Just when she thought things would get better after the [Healer] finally showed up, the [Healer] told them to give up and let him spend the remainder of his life with the one he loved.
“Asher, I think we should tell Norm the truth.”
They had been hiding Asher’s true condition from their son, not out of malice; they had simply thought the [Healer] could heal him. They didn’t want to worry their son.
When they found out that the [Healer] couldn’t do anything, they… still hadn’t told their son.
Her husband told her they didn’t have to tell him right away. Norm was the happiest they had ever seen him; they didn’t have to rain on his parade. She agreed with him, yet she knew her cowardice played a huge part in her decision.
“I guess we should, huh.”
Asher’s face twisted with pain. He hadn’t shown signs of suffering ever since he got sick. If Amelia didn’t know any better, she would have thought her husband didn’t feel pain at all. However, Asher was her husband; she knew him better than she knew herself.
You always try to put on a brave face. Probably got a Skill to help with that. I guess that Skill isn’t perfect, huh.
“I’ll tell him.”
“Dear, I should be the one—”
“No, this will be a long conversation, and I don’t think you’re up for that. For our son, please.”
Amelia knew if she hadn't included that last bit, her husband would have insisted. If she could take away even a little of the pain her husband was feeling, she would do it.
“Thank you—”
The door slammed open, revealing their pride and joy.
“Dad! I got a milestone Skill! Even got a Class consolidation. With this, I don’t think we even need the [Healer]; I think I can heal you myself.”
Her son was smiling brightly, holding a glowing glass of milk in each hand.
She should have been happy seeing her son’s smile, yet the only thing she felt was dread.
Closing her eyes, she activated [Deep Focus].
We messed up! A Red Class fusing with a normal Class would make it harder to get rid of. Also, milestones?! It already reached level 10!? I thought the Class was at best level 4. It’s only been a month since he imagined being bonded to a spirit.
Her face was calm, but Amelia was panicking inside. If not for [Unflappable Expression], she’d be freaking out right now, maybe even screaming.
How is this happening? I never validated his delusion, only acknowledged what he was feeling. I already explained to him that it was impossible for him to bond with a spirit, and there was no such thing as a milk spirit. Every time he tried to talk about the spirit, I distracted him by shifting his attention elsewhere.
Maybe, at the end of the day, she was only a mother—a [Hardworking Mother], but a mother all the same.
She was not a [Thought Healer], and trying to fix a situation she was clearly out of her depth in was a bad idea.
Let the professional handle it, not her.
However, there is no [Thought Healer] in this village! How am I supposed to let the professionals handle it when they don’t exist?!
A depressing idea came to her mind.
When Asher passes away, I should take Norm to a city.
Having resolved herself, Amelia opened her eyes.
Norm… was gone. She had spent so long thinking about what to do that she ended up doing nothing.
“Hey.”
Her husband greeted her with a soft smile. In the past, her heart would have skipped a beat.
“Hello. What happens when I, you know…?”
Asher let out a chuckle.
“I guess your habits never die, huh? When I confessed my love to you, you also closed your eyes, for five minutes, no less. I was so stressed waiting for your answer that I cried like a baby.”
It was one of her fondest memories. Even so, rather than feeling happy or sad, she felt nothing.
She hated it.
Everything felt… numb.
“Yeah.”
Not the best reply, but it was the only thing she could think to say. She was just so tired.
“Norm’s [Dairyman] Class consolidated with [Spirit Contractor], creating [Milk Saint]. At least, that’s what Norm told me. His new Skill is apparently called [Bless Milk]; he can make milk glow, though he doesn’t know what it does other than that.”
[Milk Saint]? Did he get the idea from [Sword Saint]?
“I feel better when I drink the milk, though. It also tastes really delicious.”
Norm's new Skill likely made anyone who drank the milk feel healthier without actually doing anything. It fit his new Class.
Bad for most situations, but it could be useful.
There was a reason someone sick wasn’t allowed to do heavy tasks. However, for someone whose death was all but guaranteed? It was useful—if the person who drank it knew it wasn’t real and didn’t get their hopes up.
“You didn’t tell him that, did you? You should know what you’re feeling isn’t real.”
“I didn’t. You don’t have to worry.”
Validating Norm’s delusion would be disastrous. It was already bad before; who knew what would happen if they went along with it.
Ten levels in one month was just ridiculous. What caused it? Wait, maybe…
“Do you think Norm knows the truth? Is that why he’s leveling so fast?”
“Maybe. He could also just be imagining he reached level ten.”
That possibility hadn’t crossed her mind.
It made a lot of sense, actually.
The stress was getting to her. How else could she have missed such an obvious answer?
“Hey, dear, is there a possibility Norm was telling the truth?”
Amelia sighed.
“Norm probably wasn’t lying, and I’m sure he really believes a spirit made a contract with him. Still, it’s just impossible.”
She had already asked Eldran, a gold-rank adventurer, everything he knew about spirits. Of course, she also asked everybody she knew; however, no one except Eldran knew anything about spirits.
I didn’t ask the other gold-rank adventurer, but it’s not like I could just ask them. Our relationship is… bad, to say the least.
But what she had heard made Norm’s claim all but impossible.
“A spirit usually makes a contract with someone who has a lot of mana. Meanwhile, Norm’s mana was basically nonexistent. Norm is also a human, a race famous for being rejected by spirits. Not to mention that Norm is a man; only one percent of [Spirit Contractor] are men.”
“Maybe the spirit thought Norm was a good person and just wanted to be friends with him?”
“Not 'it.' Spirits can be men or women. Besides, there’s no such thing as a milk spirit.”
Her husband thought for a moment, though she knew he didn’t really believe Norm either.
From what she knew of her husband, he just wanted to make sure there wasn’t a single possibility their son was telling the truth. Norm was their only son, after all.
I guess I’m no better. Even though I know deep in my heart it’s impossible, I still try to find an explanation where it might be possible.
“Honey, it’s impossible. Our son didn’t have enough mana to make a contract with a spirit, not to mention he probably didn’t know how.”
“Maybe the spirit is the one who initiated the contract?”
It was the same argument she’d had with Eldran.
“Only an ancient spirit could do that. Our son clearly said he was bonded with a lesser spirit.”
She had tried so hard to argue her son wasn't imagining things, but she ultimately had to accept the truth.
“Honey, you don't have to worry about our son. Just leave it to me, okay?”
There was no confidence to be found in her voice, yet her husband didn’t call her out on it.
“You should sleep. I know talking tires you out.”
Asher's eyelids were already threatening to close, and the warmth of his wife's hand on his hand was the final nail in the coffin.
Before he fell asleep, three words slipped out.
“I’m sorry.”
Norm was having a good day.
There was finally light at the end of the dungeon.
It could take weeks for his dad to finally heal, or maybe months with his effort alone. However, he didn’t have to do that. Norm just had to make sure his dad was still alive until the healer arrived.
Leaving his house, Norm felt the sun greet him with its warmth, the birds with their singing, and the wind with its cool breeze. Even the flowers seemed to say hello with their dancing.
Everything around him felt like it was celebrating with him.
“Look out! It’s the legendary poo spirit!”
“He’s the crybaby spirit, not the poo spirit, you dumb dumb.”
“I’m not a dumb dumb! My big brother said—”
Norm tuned it all out. Kids would always be kids, and there was no reason to listen to what they were saying.
It’s only 6 a.m. How are kids already up and about?
When his dad was healthy, he always went out at 3:30 a.m., but Norm was not an early riser, so he usually went out at 6 a.m.
Well, before all of this, he usually went out way later than 6 a.m., but the teasing and staring made him change that bad habit.
Nevertheless, while it hadn’t stopped entirely, it had certainly lessened. Norm could handle a few insults from children who had no business being up this early.
It wasn’t just kids making fun of me, though.
It all started one month ago, when he told his friends a spirit wanted to make a contract with him, which he of course accepted. But no one believed him.
At first, his friends were the only ones who made fun of him. After he insisted multiple times he was telling the truth, kids picked up on it and joined in. It snowballed until everyone in the village thought he was a delusional freak.
At least Elpis didn’t make fun of me, though she did laugh at the joke. It doesn’t matter; everyone will forget about it eventually.
It had been more than a week since the insults stopped. Well, except for the kids, though even their insults weren’t as bad as before. That meant they would soon forget about this.
Or I could prove to them that I’m telling the truth. I don’t know how, though. Ver slept a lot, so I’m afraid he would sleep for a long time if I tried to prove that he was real.
Though they had stopped insulting him, they still stared. Even now, the stares followed him until he reached the other side of the wall.
Thankfully, his home was very close to the wall, so the staring never lasted long.
His body relaxed, and his good mood began to return.
When he opened the barn and stepped inside, he absentmindedly patted one of the cows.
I can’t believe I’m starting to like my job more than hanging out with my friends.
A couple of hours passed as Norm relaxed into his familiar routine: checking the cows for injury or sickness, milking them, straining the milk into a clay pot, leading them to new patches of grass to graze, cleaning up the barn, and finally, relaxing a little while watching the cows do their thing.
In the past, he’d been an idiot, trying to milk the cows while they were out grazing. He thought it would be more efficient that way, killing two birds with Mana Bolt and all that. That was clearly not the case.
He’d only made things harder for himself trying to be efficient.
“Yo.”
Turning around, he saw the face of the last person he wanted to see.
“Hey.”
Norm turned back to the cows, hoping the intruder in his safe space would just leave.
His wish went unheard when he heard footsteps approaching. Then that jerk, covered in sweat, had the audacity to sit next to him.
“You stink.”
Of course, the jerk didn’t dignify that with a response.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Norm couldn’t take it anymore.
“What do you want, Victor?”
“What? Is it wrong for a guy to visit his friend?”
Now it was Norm’s turn to ignore what the jerk was saying.
“I’m worried about you, Norm. I haven’t seen you in a month, man.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Norm, I already told them to stop with the jokes and teasing. I think they regret what they said to you.”
Now, why did he do that? And why was he even here?
The last few years, they hadn’t been close at all; some would even say they were enemies now.
Well, it was mostly just Norm ignoring Victor every chance he got, or leaving whenever Victor joined their discussions or games.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Even if his friends stopped making fun of him, Norm wouldn’t be comfortable staying in the village. It wasn’t like he minded being alone here. Sure, he got lonely sometimes, but he could endure it. Maybe that was why he didn’t just get up and leave.
“Hey, Norm. I’ve been wondering about this for a long time. Do you hate me?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
The reply came out naturally, leaving Victor shocked before his expression turned sad.
Wait, he didn’t realize I hate him? How? Is this guy actually dumb?
“Can I ask what you hate about me?”
“Everything.”
Victor's voice sounded so pathetic, his expression even more so.
Seeing Victor like that should have made him happy, yet for some reason, he hated it. It just didn’t feel right.
He didn’t want Victor to feel this way because of what he said; he wanted Victor to feel sad because Norm had left him in the dust, because Elpis chose Norm, not him.
Though, when I last saw her, I didn’t feel the overwhelming happiness I felt before; I didn’t even feel anything at all.
It didn’t really bother him as much as he’d thought. When his dad said crushes come and go, Norm felt insulted. He thought his love for her would be eternal; that clearly wasn’t the case. He didn’t even remember why he liked Elpis so much. She was pretty, but that was it. They rarely talked to each other, and even when they did, it was always awkward.
Norm glanced at Victor. He looked really pathetic.
Victor looked like he was about to burst into tears. His mouth quivered uncontrollably, and he stared at the ground, his hand playing with his shirt—a sign Norm knew from when they were kids meant he was close to tearing up.
Without meaning to, words poured out of him.
“I hate your eyes.”
“My eyes?”
Victor sounded disappointed, but Norm didn’t care.
“Why? Do you think my eyes are ugly?”
“Ugly?! They’re freaking beautiful! My favorite color is orange, so why do your eyes have that color while mine are brown?!”
“Oh.”
Oh, my foot.
That confirmed it for Norm—Victor was a flipping idiot. No way a normal person would think Victor’s beautiful orange eyes were ugly.
“I also hate your skin.”
“Umm, isn’t our skin tone the same?”
“Exactly! We have the same tan skin, but why in the abyss does yours look so much better?”
“I don’t know?”
Victor's expression didn’t seem sad anymore, which relieved Norm. He hated Victor, but making him cry felt like a bit much.
“Not to mention your stupid, perfect, straight, brown hair.”
“Stupid, perfect, straight, brown hair.”
“Shut up!”
When he cut his hair short and tried to copy Victor's hairstyle, rather than making him look handsome, it made him look uglier. How was that fair?!
It was one of the most annoying things Norm had ever experienced.
Thinking about the teasing he got made his blood boil.
“Is there anything else you don’t like about me?”
“There are so many things I hate about you that listing them all would take all day.”
“I’ve got all day.”
So Norm told him everything.
Starting with his ridiculously handsome face on top of how tall he was, then his talent with the sword, how good his Class was, and how unfair it was that he also had a nice voice.
The list went on and on, until Norm stopped and finally looked at Victor’s face. Victor was grinning from ear to ear.
What in the stars made him grin like an idiot? I truly will never understand him.
“Your muscles also piss me off.”
“Oh yeah? How about them?”
Victor smirked, bouncing his pecs up and down.
How does he do that?! I wish I could do that. Life is so unfair.
“Whatever. Talking to you always brings my mood down.”
“Well, talking to you always improves my mood.”
“Good for you.”
At least there was someone in this world who was happy with himself.
That someone was not Norm, of course. There were so many things he wanted to change about himself.
If he were as perfect as Victor, maybe he would always smile and be happier.
Every time I see him, he’s always so happy. It makes me mad for some reason. Even now, he seems to be enjoying himself.
However, when Norm looked at Victor, the smirk was gone. Victor was looking up at the sky, scratching the back of his head with his eyes closed.
“Norm, I think you’re the nicest person in the whole world.”
“Okay?”
That was random.
“Ah, sorry. But I mean it, though. And don’t sell yourself short. I think you’re also a good-looking guy.”
“My dad always said that handsome guys always call other people handsome or beautiful.”
“Well… you… uhh… sorry, I’m not good at giving compliments."
“What? What’s that got to do with anything?”
I seriously don’t understand him. I don’t think I even know what this conversation is about. His stupidity probably managed to infect me.
“Whatever. Just you wait. Even though I am inferior to you in every way now, it won’t always be the case.”
“Because you’ve got a spirit now?”
Norm looked at him, searching for any sign of sarcasm or mockery; he couldn’t find any.
“You believe me?”
Victor stood up and smiled at him.
“I’ve always believed you, stupid.”
“I see. But why?”
“Because you’re my friend.”
The sun was right behind Victor, which was why Norm’s eyes were wet when he looked at him.
Norm stayed silent, turning around so his back faced Victor.
“Goodbye, Norm. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Norm still didn’t reply. He couldn’t. It was hard for him to speak.
When Norm was sure Victor was gone, relief washed over him. He didn’t want his enemy—no, his rival—to see him in this state. Snot hung beneath his nose, and he looked extremely ugly right now.
[Rival Class Obtained!]
[Rival Level 1!]
[Chasing His Greatness Obtained!]
The thought of refusing the Class didn’t even cross Norm’s mind. If he wanted to beat Victor, he’d need all the help he could get.