CH 146

The “Gray Rose”. It sounded impressive, hence why when I read it in her character profile, I thought it was very fitting for Jun with her gray hair and gorgeous looks. But it was only after I received that title in this world that Gray Rose didn’t hold such a positive meaning.

“A support mage reaching level 60… Well, it’s not like she did it with her own strength right? She was carried all the way.”

“It’s because Fabian’s kind-hearted that he kept taking an inept mage like that to dungeons.”

“She’s like a gray rose. She has no use or any impressive magic, merely looks like a mage on the outside.”

“Right! Gray rose. It’s the perfect title for that woman.”

Since then, I was given the title of Gray Rose. It was only later that I came to learn that, in this world, a gray rose symbolized a rose carved out of stone that had no color nor fragrance. That was what I was, a rose that looked like its other kind but had no scent or color. A fake. Something that wasn’t even a flower in the first place. A mage that failed to be treated as a mage…

Now that wasn’t much of a good memory. I touched my face that had hardened without my knowing.

Meanwhile, any fellspawn we encountered were annihilated. The troops cleaned up the traces of the monsters in an orderly fashion. Axion, who had dealt with most of the monsters, came up to me with an innocuous smile. “Whoo, Jun. I mean, Vice-captain. Did you see that? How my magic’s grown stronger, like oil poured onto fire?”

“Yes. It was amazing.”

“Amazing indeed, I tell you. I never imagined that there’d be another level beyond my capability. This is all thanks to you, Vice-captain.”

I smiled at Axion’s pure acknowledgment of my ability. Yes. It was different from the first playthrough now; there was no need to be depressed over the past for nothing. Comforting myself, I put on a grin and replied jokingly, “I helped a teensy bit, that’s all.”

“Ah, do away with this humility. By the way, how the heck did you train Vegan in the past half year? Hasn’t his skills improved a lot?

I couldn’t help but laugh at that, feeling awkward. It wasn’t my intention to train Vegan. While I was licking the kids of the special unit into shape, he became an example. As the highest leveled member of the party, he had to show the ropes first. “I didn’t do anything much,” I answered.

“Again, again with the humility. Vegan told me that he’ll be staying with the Red Wolves for the rest of his life now. The man was shivering. Said you were even harsher than His Excellency.” Laughter filled Axion’s voice. He nodded to himself, saying how it was his first time seeing that wily Vegan look so put off. “Then again, there’s no way you wouldn’t improve after half a year of toiling in dungeons… Honestly, I never thought there’d be an even bigger workaholic than His Excellency.”

“…You wouldn’t be talking about me, would you?” I asked with a frown. I did put a bit of effort into developing the special unit, but it still wasn’t comparable to how Mayer did things. My belief was firmly denied, however.

“Of course I’m talking about you. Being that humble is no fun, you know?”

But I wasn’t being humble… No matter how much I thought about it, it was a little too much to be treated as the same kind as Mayer. He was a dungeoniac, wasn’t he? A maniac for dungeons…