Additional Episode - Fate Story
Lulu and Mother’s Promise
Lulu is Lulu.
It’s the cute name Mother gave her.
And Lulu knows—she’s cherished and adored by her family.
One day, that very Mother, with a serious look on her face, taught her something important.
It was just a few days before she was to leave for the Academy.
"Listen carefully, Lulu. To be adored, one must appeal their cuteness."
Mother called it the Viscount family’s truth.
"Lulu is cute. So dazzlingly cute that instead of being painful to look at, she’s so bright she could blind villains. But cuteness can be ruined by careless words and actions. So I shall pass down to you the secret arts of cuteness that the daughters of the viscount house polish day and night."
Even when told that so suddenly, Lulu could only feel troubled. What’s gotten into Mother, all of a sudden?
When she voiced that doubt, Mother pressed one hand to her cheek and, with an air of deep worry, continued:
"I worry, Lulu. My so-very-cute Lulu will be living in the Academy dorms. Will you really get by peacefully without incident? No, that’s impossible. The boys at the Academy—no, let’s broaden that. All men. It would not be strange if men were to go mad from Lulu’s overwhelming cuteness."
"Is… that so?"
It was a bit too difficult for Lulu to grasp. But from Mother’s tone, Lulu at least understood that bad people might try to attack her.
But it’s fine! Once Lulu gets to the Academy, she will become a 【Lolita Hero】! Any villain who dares attack will be righteously punished!
So she thought, but then Mother looked down at her again, eyes clouded with sorrow.
"Ah, my dear Lulu. Why must you be so adorable? Forget the Academy, I wish you would just stay with Mother forever."
"That’s not possible. Lulu has to become a 【Lolita Hero】."
"Oh, what a tragedy… If this adorable Lulu is unleashed into the world, men will surely make a move on her. But I can’t even assign her a bodyguard. And Sierra, who is close with Lulu, will be too busy with her own matters. Which means Lulu will have no choice but to protect herself."
"Aye."
I don’t think a bodyguard is necessary, though. I heard the Academy has excellent security.
After all, it’s where the children of nobles and royalty study. Naturally, the peace is maintained. And Mother was the one who told me that! So why is she suddenly so worried now?
But still, Lulu could feel how much she was being cared for, so she nodded earnestly to her Mother’s words.
"And so, let us return to the beginning. Once you arrive at the Academy, Lulu, the first thing you must do is find allies."
"Allies?"
"Yes. Allies who will protect Lulu."
Hearing that, Lulu was troubled again.
Of course, it would be nice to be protected—but Lulu doesn’t want to be a burden.
But Mother understood exactly what she was thinking.
"I know what you want to say, Lulu. A proper adult avoids being a burden on others. But relying on someone is different from being a burden."
"Relying…?"
"Yes. In short, it’s fine if they want to protect Lulu. If they protect you of their own will, that isn’t a burden at all."
"Nyuu?"
It felt like she understood… but also didn’t. Would there really be a student out there who wants to protect Lulu?
"Of course, all students are at the Academy for their studies. Normally, someone like that won’t appear. So this is only in the best-case scenario. If not, then the next best way is to join an organization that will protect you."
"That Lulu understands."
It seemed her Mother had wanted to lead into this point, which was why she went around in such a roundabout way earlier.
When Lulu enters the Academy, she’ll join a guild. To graduate with good marks, joining a guild is essential.
And joining a good guild naturally makes it easier to achieve good grades.
But—this "good guild" is where the problem lies. Just because a guild is high-ranked doesn’t mean it’s a good one.
Some may look good on the surface, but are bound by politics and end up exploiting their members.
Mother, Lulu realized, was worried that Lulu might accidentally join a bad guild.
That she might fall prey to shady recruiters and wind up in a terrible guild—that’s what Mother feared.
"It’ll be fine. Lulu will rely on Sierra. If Sierra recommends a guild, then it must be safe."
"That’s true. I’m relieved to see you’ve understood what I meant earlier, Lulu. But that alone is only half of it."
"Nyuu?"
"Remember, I also told you to be protected. Ideally, you should join a guild where they’ll protect you willingly."
"That is, of course, true… but it also sounds difficult."
Guild members naturally protect each other. But to expect special treatment, to be singled out—that seems unrealistic. That’s what she thought, but her Mother only gave her a reassuring smile.
"It’s fine. I’ll pass down to Lulu a secret technique that will make this easy. And that is…"
It was something very simple.
Lulu couldn’t help but doubt whether such a thing would really make allies appear.
But her Mother had spoken so earnestly, with so many words, all to guide Lulu.
Surely, it must be important.
And so, when Lulu joined a guild, she followed her Mother’s instructions.
Which was—
"Zephyrus Onii-sama! Please take care of me!"
"Guhhh—! Of course! You got it, Lulu. I’ll be counting on you, too!"
The secret technique was to address special people with "Onii-sama" or "Onee-sama."
To Lulu, Zephyrus Onii-sama was her hero—the one who helped her become a 【Lolita Hero】.
And since Sierra trusted him deeply too, he couldn’t possibly be a bad guy.
Thus, Zephyrus Onii-sama was officially recognized by Lulu as someone precious.
And whenever Lulu called him "Onii-sama," he would look back at her with eyes that seemed to beg her to say it again.
But, Mother… in the guild, Lulu was treated the same as everyone else, you know?
Lulu even served as the tank sometimes. She even got bitten by a doggy once—but it was actually kind of fun!
The Spirits That Only Kacheria Can See, Dwelling Within the <Spirit Garden>.
My name is Kacheria. Among elves, I’ve earned the coveted position of 【Elementalist】. I’ve safely been recruited into <Eden>, and have now formally joined.
When <Eden> was promoted to an E-rank guild and assigned an E-rank room, it was time to move.
But among all the luggage, there were three items I absolutely insisted on carrying with my own hands.
"Cheria, are you… planning to bring those along just like that?"
The one asking was none other than Lord Zephyrus, <Eden>’s guildmaster, and a 【Hero】.
By the way, "Cheria" is more like a nickname for me. Everyone calls me that freely, and honestly, it’s easier to say—and cuter—than "Kacheria," don’t you think?
Oops, my thoughts wandered. I should answer Lord Zephyrus’s question properly.
I can’t afford to let my guard down now, not after finally earning a place here. I’ve always had a habit of getting too relaxed too easily, so I remind myself to stay sharp.
He must be referring to the three items I’m holding directly in my hands: the <Yggdrasil's Sapling>, the <Red Fruit>, and the <Houseplant Set>.
Normally, when moving, one would use a <Item Bag>.
That makes moving so much easier. Of course, that’s the standard way—just one bag for everything.
So why am I carrying these by hand? A fair question.
I hesitated a little, but decided to be honest. I’d promised Lord Zephyrus before that I would explain these items to him, so this was the perfect opportunity. Time to keep that promise.
"The truth is… these items have spirits residing within them."
"What!?"
Lord Zephyrus’s eyes widened in shock, staring intently at what I held.
I was surprised. He believed me so straightforwardly.
You see, spirits usually live within nature, invisible to anyone except elves.
I can see them thanks to years of training.
And right now, within this three-item set—known as the <Spirit Garden>—I can see six spirits quietly living. Of course, Lord Zephyrus shouldn’t be able to see them at all.
"Yes. But if I put them into a <Item Bag>, the spirits would be forced out. Losing their home, they’d have no choice but to move elsewhere. That would be disastrous for us elves."
"What!? This is the first I’ve ever heard of such a thing! Where exactly are they living!?"
Lord Zephyrus’s reaction was excellent.
His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the items. Yet, as expected, he still couldn’t see them.
To me, though, they were clear—tiny, finger-sized humanoid spirits floating about, watching the move and peeking curiously at Lord Zephyrus.
A tiny swell of pride rose in me, but I quickly straightened my expression. Careful, careful… I almost got carried away again.
I set the items gently on the table to prioritize explaining.
"Ahem. Allow me to explain. This <Yggdrasil's Sapling>, <Red Fruit>, and <Houseplant Set> together are known as the <Spirit Garden>."
Seeing Lord Zephyrus nod, I continued.
"It’s an item that provides an environment for spirits to dwell in, allowing elves to live comfortably anywhere."
"An environment… for spirits… to dwell in!"
He repeated the words with dramatic pauses. Perhaps a little exaggerated, but his curiosity was genuine, so I pressed on.
"Elves prefer environments where spirits are present. Without them, our health deteriorates. Especially for young elves, who grow up surrounded by spirits in the forest—sudden absence can make them sick immediately."
"I-I see~… so that’s why elves—! I can feel my brain rejoicing at this new piece of <DanKatsu> knowledge! So then, Cheria—what exactly is a spirit!?"
Muttering something odd to himself, Lord Zephyrus snapped his gaze to me, hand raised in question. A difficult one.
"In simplest terms, spirits are the manifestation of nature itself. That’s not far off. Which is why they’re abundant in forests, but scarce in lands filled with human structures."
"Just about what I imagined! I get it now. So in order for elves like you to live here, you need an item that houses spirits, huh!?"
"Exactly. The <Yggdrasil's Sapling> calls them forth, they feed on the <Red Fruit>, and they live within the <Houseplant Set>. Think of it like that."
"They eat the <Red Fruit>!? But it doesn’t look like it’s been diminishing at all…"
"When I say ‘eat,’ it’s not like how we eat with our mouths. To be precise, I don’t fully understand either—but it seems they absorb some kind of natural nourishment waves radiating from the fruit."
"I see, I see. So it’s food, but inexhaustible! Who would’ve thought the <Red Fruit> had such a hidden ability… But wait, why doesn’t 『Appraisal』 show anything?"
As expected of Lord Zephyrus—quick to grasp the idea, and overflowing with new questions.
"So, spirits—are they the same ones summoned through a 【Elementalist】’s 『Spirit Summoning』?"
"That’s correct. Normally, they lack the power to manifest, so people can’t see them. I’ve heard that 『Spirit Summoning』 is the magic that provides spirits with enough energy to appear."
"Ah, I get it! Normally too weak to manifest, but by supplying power, a 【Elementalist】 gives them form in exchange for their aid. Makes sense—if they’re that weak, they can’t do anything otherwise. You can’t even touch them normally, right?"
"Exactly."
Lord Zephyrus’s comprehension was truly impressive.
Before I knew it, I’d been swept into a lively discussion about spirits with him, enjoying it more than I realized.
Before long, Estr scolded us for holding up the move.
I must have let my guard down again. Staying focused all the time really is difficult.
Shizu’s Work as a Maid
My name is Shizu. I serve as a maid to the honorable Princess of the Kingdom of Shiyatna.
I began serving Lady Lana when I was seven years old. At that time, Ester was already her guard-in-training.
My role was that of a maid-in-training assigned exclusively to Lady Lana, tending to her needs and looking after her.
Back then, Lady Lana was so adorable—like a true angel. When she would fall asleep from exhaustion during her studies, Ester and I would often talk about which of Lady Lana’s sleeping expressions was the most angelic. Of course, Lady Lana is still just as adorable even now.
Nowadays, I can finally carry myself in a manner befitting a royal maid. But naturally, I wasn’t able to do so from the start.
I made plenty of mistakes. Once, I even dropped and broke one of Lady Lana’s favorite cups.
And it happened right before her very eyes.
I was so shaken that all I could do was cry and apologize.
But I remember Lady Lana’s words from that moment as clearly as if they were spoken yesterday:
"It’s alright, Shizu. There are still plenty of cups left. More importantly, I’m just glad you weren’t hurt. I was worried about you."
How precious those words were.
For her to say such things to me—a mere maid who had broken something she cherished—was beyond generous.
Instead of anger, she gave me words of concern.
How much those words saved me.
From that day on, I swore in my heart: Lady Lana is the mistress I will serve, and I shall devote my life to protecting her.
From then forward, I redoubled my efforts so as not to add to her burdens.
Eventually, I grew into a proper maid, even taking on a secretary-like role to support Lady Lana in all her endeavors.
Because when I did, she would sometimes say things like:
"Thank you for everything, Shizu. You’re my pride and joy as a maid."
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you—!
Those words alone were the greatest reward I could ever hope for.
Every praise she gave me, I engraved word for word into my heart, able to recall them as vividly as if it were yesterday.
Even now, whenever I remember them, I can’t help but smile.
My daily life was to assist Lady Lana, support her in her routines, and watch over her growth.
But of course, life cannot remain unchanging forever.
The first turning point was when Crown Prince Yuri departed for the Dungeon Academy’s main campus.
From then on, Lady Lana changed somewhat.
Her kind heart remained the same, but she began to voice her selfish desires from time to time.
I thought that was a good thing—it meant she was growing.
The next turning point came when Lady Lana turned sixteen and was set to attend the Academy herself.
As we are the same age, it was decided that I would accompany her there.
But even so…
Raised in the royal palace, sheltered from outside influence, could Lady Lana truly endure life in such a dangerous place as a dungeon?
I couldn’t help but worry.
And then I remembered—that vow I made to protect her.
So I decided. I would become the kind of maid capable of protecting her: a 【Battlefield Maid】.
The royal palace has no shortage of 【Battlefield Maids】 in service.
I sought them out for instruction, and some of them, moved by my determination, agreed to take me in as their apprentice.
From then on, it was pure Spartan training.
I was just an ordinary maid. True, as a princess’s attendant, I had learned some basic self-defense, but my combat strength barely surpassed that of an average boy. Against a Job-holder, I didn’t stand a chance.
That was why the Spartan training was welcome… though it was perhaps bad luck that Pamela, Lana’s guard-in-training, was dragged along as well.
"Sorry, Pamela. But this too is for Lady Lana’s sake."
"Shizu, sometimes you’re scary, like a total fanatic for the princess!"
What is she talking about? If anything, my devotion is still not enough.
Under our masters’ lead, we entered monster-filled forests, where we were taught the true meaning of combat through firsthand battles against monsters.
Thanks to that, I attained the Job of 【Battlefield Maid】, while Pamela advanced to the high-ranking Job of 【Kunoichi】. To make things more troublesome, it turned out I had a talent for marksmanship, which only fueled my master’s enthusiasm further.
By the time our training ended, about two weeks had already passed since the Academy’s entrance ceremony.
Pamela and I had been in training, so our enrollment was delayed.
Lady Lana had already begun her academy life, and there was a chance she was throwing herself into harsh dungeon explorations. With Ester by her side, I had some peace of mind, but still, I couldn’t help but worry.
And when I finally reunited with Lady Lana after so long…
—She had become a bright, energetic princess who absolutely loved dungeons.
"Ester. Explain this."
I immediately pressed the matter with Ester, her guard.
Such a drastic change in Lady Lana couldn’t be taken lightly.
"Everything was Lady Lana’s own decision. Right now, she is more radiant and lovely than ever before."
Oh no. Ester’s eyes were sparkling with bliss.
It was painfully clear she had been blinded by Lady Lana’s overwhelming cuteness.
No, I must admit—the change in Lady Lana was for the better.
However… when I looked into it, I learned she had been greatly influenced by a certain young man.
This is an outrageous development.
A man who could so easily alter the very nature of royalty…
That man was none other than the 【Hero】 who appeared in this age.
Even if he is a 【Hero】—Lady Lana, our 【Saint】, will not be his to claim!
Pamela’s Unexpected Duty
I am one of the clan who guards Lady Lana from the shadows. My name is Pamela desu.
One day, while throwing myself into a certain boss fight, I found myself recalling scenes from days long past desu.
I am a shadow guard desu.
A shadow guard remains unseen by the one they protect, disguises themselves as an ordinary person, and quietly handles any approaching danger before the target even realizes it. That is the duty of a shadow guard, desu.
I may be small, desu, but I was given the highest praise from my clan as one of the most capable among us. That is how I came to guard Princess Lana herself, when I was only fifteen desu.
"Are you the new guard? Compared to Ester, you’re tiny. Will you be okay?"
Those were the first words spoken to me when I met Lady Lana desu.
She was worried about me desu.
But being small isn’t necessarily a bad thing desu.
If you’re big, you stand out, and that can get in the way of shadow guarding.
But a small body is perfect for hiding and protecting from the shadows, desu.
So it’s fine. Though… I admit, sometimes I envy Ester’s height just a little desu.
From the very first day, I began my duty as a guard desu.
I was confident—among my clan, I was the best at fading into the shadows, even without a Job to my name. But then one day, Lady Lana said something that pierced my pride like an arrow desu.
"Um… ah! I remember now! You’re Pamela, right? Did you just start guarding today?"
I had devoted myself so thoroughly to remaining hidden, staying out of her awareness, that she had completely forgotten my existence. No, Lady Lana—by that point, I had already been guarding you for a whole month desu. I can still clearly recall her blank, puzzled expression.
It was a serious problem.
Being forgotten by the very one I was supposed to protect—it hurt desu. But really, I was at fault too, for never once stepping into her view for an entire month.
So I thought desu.
If I didn’t want to be forgotten, I needed some kind of self-assertion. Something memorable. Something that would stick with her desu!
And so, I consulted Shizu the maid.
How nostalgic desu. That was the turning point.
"To make sure Lady Lana doesn’t forget you… some kind of self-assertion, is it?"
"Do you have any ideas, Shizu? You’re my only hope desu. Even Ester looks at me with that blank face sometimes."
"Well, that’s because I meet you fairly often. Pamela."
It’s true. My duty is to guard Lady Lana, but since Ester is always right beside her, she too rarely notices me. So when she looks at me, it’s with that same blank look desu. At least she recognizes me a little, even if not in battle mode. That alone is a relief desu.
But Shizu often has tasks that take her away from Lady Lana’s side, which means she’s the only one whose eyes naturally meet mine while I’m lurking in the shadows.
She was the only one who truly understood my situation desu.
And Shizu gave me this advice:
"In that case, perhaps creating a ‘character’ would help make an impression. Since Lady Lana often reads books, she would likely understand such things."
"C-creating a character, you say?"
Lady Lana loves books, desu.
Back in the royal palace, whenever she wasn’t studying, she was always reading.
"Hmm… It’s true that if I played up some distinctive trait, she’d remember me. But how exactly should I go about that, Shizu?"
"Let’s see… perhaps you could add a quirk to your way of speaking? A dialect, maybe."
"I… I can’t speak in a dialect desu yo?"
"Ah, yes. I forgot about that."
Shizu seriously pondered my silly dilemma. She really gave it thought and listened to me with care.
At that time, I rarely spoke to anyone, so having her talk with me like that made me so happy.
She kept suggesting ideas—this, that—until finally she came up with one last possibility.
"Pamela, you already use the word ‘desu’ often. So what if you deliberately altered it uniquely? Since it’s only a single word, it would be easier than adopting a whole dialect."
"I see desu. Um, like this desu? No, like this—desu?"
"Perfect. Keep talking like that for a bit. What’s your name?"
"Yes! My name is Pamela desu! Fifteen years old desu!"
"Very good. Let’s continue with another question—"
And that’s how it happened.
Looking back, it may seem like a trivial, even foolish matter. But Shizu stayed with me through it all, seriously considering every word. For that, I will always be grateful, desu.
And once I’d gotten used to this new way of speaking, I decided to try showing it to Lady Lana desu.
One morning, before starting my duty, I greeted her desu.
Would she remember me now? My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst. But I braced myself, making sure not to let Lady Lana notice desu.
"Good morning, Lady Lana desu! The weather is so nice today, desu!"
"! Good morning… um, Pamela, right? What’s with that way of ending your sentences?"
"It’s an image change desu!"
"An image change!"
She asked right away, so I gave her the surface-level answer. Of course, I couldn’t tell her, "I changed my speech so you’d remember me," that’s a no-no desu.
And Lady Lana’s reaction was… dramatic.
"Heh~, I like it. It’s such a unique way of talking."
"! I’m so glad you like it desu! From now on, I’ll keep protecting you from the shadows desu!"
"Mm, I’ll be counting on you, Pamela. Oh, how about we have tea together sometime? Lately, I’ve even been having tea with Ester and Shizu."
"Eh? I-I mean… yes, I’d be honored desu!"
Unbelievable—just like Shizu said. Changing just the way I spoke had caught Lady Lana’s interest, desu.
And so, even though I was still a shadow guard, watching from the sidelines, I was able to get a little closer to Lady Lana desu.
To be remembered at all—it felt like more than I deserved, someone who was supposed to lurk in the dark, guarding unnoticed desu.
Ahh, I’m so glad I asked Shizu for advice.
She listened so earnestly, and that alone made me happy. I can’t thank her enough desu.
Fueled by that joy, I thought to myself: even if I must devote myself to the shadows, guarding unseen, I won’t feel lonely anymore. At the time, I truly believed that desu.
And… it would have been wonderful if things had ended there.
But starting one day, my life completely changed desu. End of flashback. Or should I say… escapism desu.
"Why am I the one at the front of the party, acting as bait for the monsters desu~!? 『Drawing Attention』! I’m not in the shadows at all desu~!"
Being a shadow guard—that was before I entered the academy.
Ever since I started attending, standing out has become my role desu.
Why did it end up like this desu!?
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