Volume 1 - CH 19

Amethyst's "Lilac Bracelet" was B-ranked.

On the other hand, Diamond's 'Indestructible Shield', is A-ranked.

If I take that into consideration, then I can imagine the reason why Amethyst wasn't on good terms with Diamond.

"Perhaps the reason why Amethyst is bearing a huge grudge against you is because the rank of your weapon is higher than hers."

"Well, frankly speaking, that seems to be the case." Diamond, with a bitter smile, gave that vague answer in response.

If that's the case, then Diamond has done nothing wrong because a person can't choose the sacred weapon he or she is gifted with at the Blessing Ceremony. It's not her fault she got an A-Ranked weapon.

I mean more or less, it's weird that she is getting bullied for getting an A-Rank weapon. Normally, one is praised when that happens.

"But, since Amethyst is number one in everything in our village, and she is respected by everyone, getting a lower rank weapon would be particularly bothersome."

"Since the person who beat her is easily bullied and a crybaby like myself, it's natural that she'd be even more angry."

It would be better if Diamond didn't go out of her way to say such self-effacing things.

However, she continued with her self-depreciation, "Amethyst's weapon was beautiful, cool, and flashy, but even if other people told her so, she wouldn't acknowledge it...  It seemed like I had angered Amethyst considerably."

However, that doesn't mean that Diamond is a bad person.

No one other than the gods themselves know what weapon you'll be awarded with at the Blessing Ceremony.

Based on what I had heard, I only formed a negative opinion towards her aggressors, "Well, since receiving your sacred weapon it seemed like you only angered the 'great' Amethyst and bullied even more..."

"No.  That's not true.  Rather, thanks to my indestructible shield, the pain associated with physical bullying is gone.  I've even turned the tables on people who have bullied me in the past."

"...Ah.  I see."

An image of a bully fainting in agony because they had touched Diamond, who had now been strengthened immensely by the benefits of her sacred weapon floated into my mind.

Anyhow, I'm glad that the bullying of Diamond hadn't escalated, "Taking all of this into consideration, at the beginning of the Adventurer's Exam, you told her you wanted to be in her party.  Normally, you'd be afraid, and wouldn't want to approach her.  Was there a particular reason you had chosen to approach her?"

Finally, we've reached the heart of the matter; the question that had been bothering me was finally voiced out.

"Like Amethyst has said before, I have no people to rely on...no one to really talk to.  That is the main reason why.  But I was also thinking we could return to the way things were in the past."

"In the past?"

What does she mean by that?

Saying she wants to have things like they were in the past.  What does that mean?

"Even though things are like this now, in the past we were great friends, Amethyst and I." Diamond admitted.

"Huh!?"

"When we were around four years old or so, Amethyst and I used to play together.  It was just the two of us.  It was before we met Spinel and Lapis.  No matter how bad I was at doing things, Amethyst was always there to teach me how to do stuff.  I felt like Amethyst was an older sister to me."

I wasn't expecting her to say that about her past.

She said that it used to be just her and Amethyst playing together.

She also said she considered Amethyst like she was her older sister.

However, after thinking about it, I felt that their history together, strangely made sense. Saying things like 'Let me show you how to do it,' is something an older sister would say.  I could imagine Amethyst being all proud about teaching Diamond things.

"As we became older, Amethyst gathered more and more followers.  Because of that, we gradually grew apart, but even now I still respect Amethyst."

Thinking back on those pleasant memories, Diamond looked up at the sky in a daze.

It appears that Diamond respects Amethyst considerably, still.

If I think back on it, up until now even though Amethyst has insulted Diamond, Diamond hasn't said anything back to her. Diamond has never once bad-mouthed Amethyst. Diamond has always been saying she is the bad one, and has never said one thing that would degrade Amethyst's person. She truly does respect Amethyst.  She still sees her as an 'older sister' she can rely on, even until now and despite everything that has happened.

"Therefore, you wanted you and Amethyst to take the Adventurer's Exam together?"

"That's right! I thought that if Amethyst and I could be together in the Adventurer's Exam, then like in the past, she could take me along with her like she used to.  I know that I probably was relying on her too much, but I thought this was the only opportunity for us to mend our relationship."

She didn't have anyone else to rely on.

Rather, the person she wanted to rely on the most, was Amethyst.

A friend was more important than the benefits gained from her shield sacred weapon.

She didn't want to be close to Amethyst simply because she needed a companion. Diamond had requested she be in her party not because she was reliant upon Amethyst but because she respected and loved her, and wanted to be her friend once more.

"It seems like I won't be able to be friends with Amethyst anymore.  It can't be like it used to be..." Diamond's raspy voice gradually changed as she was moved to tears.

Here I was thinking the whole time that it was for a simple reason that Diamond was rejected by Amethyst which was why she felt saddened. However, going back to the way things used to be would be difficult.

Still...

"Perhaps things don't have to go back to the way they were." I told her.

"Huh?"

"Diamond, I don't think you've done anything wrong.  If you could have been together in the Adventurer's Exam with Diamond, you may have been able to reconcile your relationship. However, I don't think if that happened, things between you two will go back to the past. Now, you have the opportunity not to be led by Amethyst like before.  This time you'll stand next to her, and you'll have to fight together.  It won't be the 'big sister-little sister' relationship anymore.  This time it will be as friends."

"Fr-friends..."

A friend or maybe, they can be comrade in arms.

Not a younger sister following behind an older sister, but fighting together as equals.  It would be better to build a new type of relationship with her.

With the extent of defensive power that Diamond has, she'll most certainly make a powerful ally for Diamond.

What I'm also trying to say is that Diamond needs to have more confidence in herself.

She shouldn't be delivering the message of 'Please let me in your party,' but the message should be, 'Next time, I want to fight together with you.'

"I can't provide specific advice on how to do it.  But if Amethyst is in a tough situation, and you offer some help, then you'll be giving the image that you want to want to be friends with her.  It may be difficult to immediately make peace with her.  You'll have to move little by little towards a compromise."

Diamond kept silent, but her eyes on me were full of attention even though I didn't give specific advice. I began to be self-conscious, am I really qualified to tell her these things? I, myself, have almost no friends, so I doubt I would be a persuasive figure on something like this. Ultimately, it's hard for me to provide encouragement.

As I was filled with self-doubt, Diamond did the unexpected and nodded in a way that told me that she agreed with what I said, "You are right, Rust! I think I probably rushed it.  Like what you said, I think I want to take small steps, first. I promise, next time when we'll meet, I'll have more self-confidence, and I'll try to appeal to her that I have the power to defend her."

"That's the spirit Diamond! If there is anything I can help you with regarding this situation, tell me.  Although I say this, you should know a person like me, who doesn't have that many friends, probably won't be able to do much."

"No.  Rust, you've already helped me a lot." She reassured me, "Thank you, Rust," Diamond said with a sweet smile.

-To be continued.