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Chapter 13: Alice’s Promotion

“Just?”

Roy didn’t press her, simply looking at the girl with concern, quietly waiting.

Under the young boy’s attentive gaze, Alice finally couldn’t hold back her worries any longer.

“I’m sorry, Alice didn’t perform well this time.”

“Eh?”

“Not only did I fail to kill the petrified wyvern, but I also couldn’t help the master against the aberrant ogre. I didn’t achieve anything on this adventure. As the master’s maid, I really let him down.” The girl clenched her fists, hanging her head in shame like a remorseful puppy.

Roy was taken aback for a moment, then he couldn’t help but chuckle.

He had only casually mentioned checking her training results, and he never expected Alice to take it so seriously.

In reality, she was being way too hard on herself.

Looking at the guilty-looking little maid, Roy said helplessly, “I say, are you misunderstanding something?”

“?” Alice tilted her head, confused.

“When did I say you had to kill the monsters?”

“Eh? But the master said he wanted to check Alice’s results…” Alice murmured.

“Right, I said checking your training results.” Roy nodded, then smiled, giving her affirmation. “Your bloodline power manipulation is skilled, and your combat ability is decent. Clearly, you’ve been working hard in your training. Isn’t that your achievement?”

“You’ve done great.”

Alice blinked in slight shock, her once dim gaze brightening at an observable speed.

Did he really say I did great?

Was this a compliment?

Even the simplest praise, coming from Roy, was more precious to Alice than any glory in the world.

With a slightly hurried tone, and not quite believing it, Alice confirmed, “Really? Did Alice really do well enough?”

“Of course. Do you not believe what I say?” Roy teased.

“No! Alice absolutely believes in the master!”

Receiving her master’s recognition, the little maid felt a weight lift from her chest, slowly placing a hand on her heart, gently squinting her eyes with a soft smile, as if savoring her happiness. She murmured, “As long as I can help the master, that’s enough.”

At that moment, to Roy, the girl seemed like a true angel, radiating a golden glow, making him forget all about the increasing favorability points on his interface.

This is just too cute!

So obedient, hardworking, and sensible—where could one find such a treasure of a girl?

Roy couldn’t help but feel an urge to hold the girl tightly in his arms.

But in the end, he restrained this impolite thought, reaching out instead to gently ruffle her hair.

“You’ve performed well, so there’s no need to worry.”

The sudden motion made Alice’s eyes widen a bit.

Head pats.

Alice had never quite understood why Roy did this, but she didn’t dislike it; as long as the master liked it, that was fine.

But now, under Roy’s warm words and being patted like this, she felt a warm flutter in her chest, realizing at that moment she truly belonged to him.

She suddenly quite liked this feeling.

Just as Roy was about to withdraw his hand, Alice couldn’t help but make a small request.

“Wait, please wait a moment.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Can you… please continue patting me for a little longer?” Alice asked cautiously, “Just for a bit.”

This request was exactly what Roy wanted to hear, nearly causing him to burst out laughing.

“Of course! In fact, considering how well you performed this time, it’s only right you get this reward!”

So the patting continued, Alice comfortably squinting her eyes, giving soft, contented breaths, nuzzling into Roy’s palm, utterly adorable.

Each gentle stroke made the fluttering in her chest grow more powerful, each look exchanged warming her soul even more, reinforcing that all the hardships and training she endured were worth it.

In fact, she felt like she was fighting for her master’s reward!

The instant this thought crossed her mind, the warmth in her chest finally erupted.

A surge of Holy Light burst forth from the girl, and extraordinary power radiated like waves. In the darkness, Alice shone like a miracle, exuding a dazzling yet gentle halo, looking so pure.

Meanwhile, the nearby adventurers gasped in astonishment, and Roy’s interface updated dramatically, making him finally realize what was happening.

【Name】: Alice

【Bloodline Path】: 【Angel】

【Bloodline Level】: Rank 8

The promotion of a bloodline is very complex and unique, with each bloodline having its respective conditions.

Alice was a bit flustered by the sudden promotion, and the adventurers were puzzled about how she had just promoted out of nowhere.

But the most surprised of all was Roy himself.

How can my hand be shining? Is patting her head a way to level up?!

Most importantly, Roy had previously checked the panel, and Alice’s bloodline promotion level was only 70%. Even if that was faster than the original story progression, she still had quite a ways to go to Rank 8.

After checking the panel again, Roy was even more shocked.

【Favorability +500】

What the heck, just for a head pat, that many points? Did my hand pass some kind of blessing?

Of course, joking aside, Roy actually started to piece things together.

The original story was very vague about the promotion conditions for the 【Angel】 bloodline, mentioning things like “brilliant crystalline flowers” and “raging unquenchable flames,” related to the original female protagonists, filled with beautifully elaborate rhetoric.

Previously, Roy suspected that the conditions for Alice’s promotion were linked to positive emotional fluctuations, and now it could basically be confirmed—it was related to favorability!

In the original story, Alice only promoted to Rank 8 halfway through the narrative, but here, before the story even started, the two of them had already reached this level, far exceeding Roy’s initial plans.

This left them with considerable leverage for dealing with those destined girls from the original narrative!

“Alice is amazing!” Roy couldn’t contain his excitement, and he lifted the girl high into the air.

“Um…” The sudden action startled the girl slightly.

More than the bloodline itself, what mattered to Alice was Roy’s joy; when Roy was happy, she became happy too.

From now on, she would work even harder for her master! Glancing at the smile on Roy’s face, the little maid silently vowed.

Lost in this warm atmosphere, neither of them noticed the surrounding adventurers casting looks of either envy, surprise, or the sourness of bitter lemons.

Many of the adventurers present had heard of Alice preaching to Roy and speculated on the depth of their relationship. But now witnessing it firsthand, they could truly believe how sincere their feelings were, with no room for others to interfere.

The adventurers looking at the pair divided into two groups—one like rejected lovers sipping bitter wine, while the other watched the duo’s intimate actions, ravenously eating, significantly contributing to the guild’s revenue.

Afterward, Roy realized he had inexplicably gained the strange title of 【Guild’s Daily Cash Cow】.

Once Roy’s excitement finally cooled down, and he started to enjoy his dinner again, a familiar gray-haired, burly man sat down opposite him.

“Young Master Roy, are you interested in the adventurer profession?”

 

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