Show Me Your Stats!-Chapter 134

‘But Janus... he’s not the kind of card you can actually play.’

Every time he saw Ayra, a warning window popped up saying he harbored murderous intent, and he was constantly throwing out bad ending choices like candy. Even if he didn’t, there was no way Janus would just move as Ayra wanted.

And even if Janus did agree to help, Ayra wouldn’t use him. Regardless of her feelings for him or his overwhelming strength, the simple fact was that Janus was uncontrollable. That’s why it was best not to involve him from the start.

"I wonder what Janus is doing right now..."

Thanks to the daily delivery of high-quality meat brought in by the dragon, Ayra's skin had recently gained a radiant glow. She opened the map interface. Janus was currently loafing around his old, shabby house with the convict. Tapping at the blinking crimson marker, Ayra sighed.

"Well, I guess failing a quest once in a while is just part of life."

What worried her, though, was that a drop in Commerce Level would probably lead to a drop in public support. The support rate Pebble required to unlock new stats kept increasing. Currently, the still-locked stats included: Magic Attack, Profession, Related Characters, and Current Thoughts—a total of four. Just doing the math, she’d need to push support up to at least 60%...

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As Ayra pondered all this, her eyes caught a single dot approaching the Lord’s Castle. A rare welcome guest in times like these brought a gentle smile to her lips. She pulled the summoning cord and ordered the servant to prepare tea and refreshments for two.

She waited a few minutes with the tea set arranged on the table, and finally, the person she’d been expecting opened the study door. A young man with striking pink hair—Ran Gretel, the new administrative officer who’d once fled in fear of the dragon. Swallowing hard, Gretel spoke with a voice that trembled like a goat.

"Y-Your Lordship..."

"It’s really good to see you again, Sir Gretel. You’re back earlier than I thought."

Ayra smiled genuinely, grateful that from now on she could get a full four hours of sleep each night again.

"I’ve been gazing out the window every day, waiting for your return. It’s cold out—have some tea and warm yourself up."

The unexpected kindness from the Lord nearly brought tears to Gretel’s eyes. Honestly, he’d looked ready to cry before even entering the study—his face was pale and watery-eyed. Just as Ayra had predicted.

When Ayra sat down on the sofa, Gretel took the seat across from her and only managed a bite or two of the refreshments before nervously wringing his hands. Ayra pretended not to notice and gently spoke.

"You don’t look well. I suppose it’s because it’s your first time being away from your family. Let’s talk more tomorrow. Just rest for today."

"N-No, thank you for your concern, but... My Lord. I have something to tell you..."

After hesitating and mouthing words for a while, he finally spoke—with a near-crying face. Gretel now brought up the real reason he’d rushed back to the Lord’s Castle.

"The ceremonial village by the lake... What happened to it? How could it end up like that?"

At those words—long awaited—Ayra smiled inwardly. It felt like watching Gretel step right into the trap she'd laid. Outwardly, though, she sighed and set her teacup down with a troubled expression.

"The ceremonial village by the lake, built around the 127th year of the Ugolovro Dynasty."

"Y-Yes! That lake village. It was perfectly fine just last month...!"

The Ugolovro Dynasty referred to the kingdom established after Dragon King Eorga's ascension. The village had been built roughly 600 years ago. Even Ayra hadn’t realized how historically significant it was. She reopened Gretel’s trait window—an overwhelming list:

[Bookworm, Print Addict, Ancient Text Enthusiast, Ruins Enthusiast, History Lover, Instrument Fanatic, Animal Lover, Plant Lover, Gourmet]

No wonder she’d recommended the path near the lake. She’d purposely shown him the wreckage left from her and Janus’s fight, knowing it would strike a nerve. Just having one piece of her precious collection destroyed had left her heart aching—how much worse must it have been for a history lover to see a major cultural heritage site in ruins? Ayra felt a flicker of guilt, but justified it as being for the greater good.

"There was no other choice. It was hard enough dealing with the dragon—I couldn’t possibly protect the site too."

"Y-Yes, of course. You were fighting a dragon..."

Gretel’s voice shrank to a whisper. Clearly, he wasn’t trying to blame Ayra—he just looked crushed after seeing the ruins in person. His trembling hand lifted the teacup, only to set it back down untouched. Then, suddenly, he dropped to his knees at Ayra’s feet, tears welling in his eyes.

"My Lord... isn’t there... some way to stop it?"

With his family safely relocated, the pink-haired young man—though tearful—no longer looked afraid. He clung to Ayra and pleaded.

"I-If the dragon destroys not just the village but this entire city... What then? The Lord’s Castle is practically a historic site itself...!"

Of course Gretel had thought of that. But the shock of the dragon’s invasion had hit so hard that he’d focused only on escape—he likely couldn’t even picture what the aftermath might look like. So Ayra had shown him a glimpse of the ruin that could befall them. She’d forced him to face a possible future.

Now deeply shaken in a different way, Gretel asked with anguish:

"Hirurgike and Esantion... They’re extremely sensitive to the environment and only grow on the hill behind the castle—will they survive?"

The word “children” made Ayra feel unexpectedly close to him. That was a term often used by longtime labyrinth mages to refer to their flasks, research specimens, or developing magical tools. Tears welled up again in Gretel’s eyes.

"What about the Lord’s library? The traditional solo-recitation lute-playing method of Solar...?"

The administrative officer—historian, musician, and gourmet—groaned as he imagined the future devastation.

"Mister Wolf’s steamed bun shop, too... Ahhh!"

A scholar who sincerely loved everything about Solar now collapsed in tears. The fear of losing what he loved had overcome even his fear of the dragon. As a fellow scholar, Ayra completely understood his grief. She gently patted his trembling shoulders.

"There might be... a way. But in the current situation, it’s practically impossible..."

She let out another deep sigh, loud enough to be heard. Gretel lifted his head in an instant. With tear-streaked cheeks, he shouted. Ayra could practically hear the snap of the trap closing around him.

"‘Practically’?! Then you mean it’s not entirely impossible?!"

"Of course. I may not be able to kill the dragon, but I can protect the city."

Ayra declared it boldly, and it seemed credible enough that Gretel clasped his hands together desperately.

"W-What can I do, my Lord?!"

"You’ve heard how I protected the city from Bolni’s army, haven’t you?"

At her words, Gretel’s eyes widened and he nodded rapidly. Then Ayra, bathed in a faint magical glow like sunlight, spoke with the air of a savior.

"And I assume you used the tunnel I made to escort your family?"

"Yes, yes! I used it. It was an incredible path...!"

"It wasn’t perfect, but I did stop a dragon from destroying the city once already."

Gretel nodded even harder. Having personally seen and experienced Ayra’s accomplishments, his trusting gaze softened.

"Your task is simple. From today, just work hard—give me the time and space I need to prepare to defend this city."

Not a word of it was a lie or exaggeration. She truly did wish she could split herself in two—she had neither time nor stamina. Unlike Graffni, whose absence was barely noticed, Gretel was genuinely competent. His absence had hurt. And finally, the answer she’d been waiting for came out of his mouth.

"Yes, my Lord! I’ll work... I’ll work very hard!"

No matter how capable, someone who works halfheartedly is bound to flee again. Ayra had successfully instilled in her administrator a genuine passion and sense of duty.

[Ran Gretel’s Favorability has increased by 12!]

Current Favorability: 70

Satisfied by the rapidly rising favorability window, Ayra spoke with sincere warmth:

"Good. I promise I’ll do my best too."

"M-My Lord... Thank you, truly..."

Gretel choked up again, eyes brimming. Until now, he’d seen the young Lord as a distant, intimidating labyrinth mage. Now, for the first time, Ayra saw the beginnings of loyalty bloom on his face—and couldn’t help but feel proud.

After some time weeping under Ayra’s reassuring touch, the administrator rose. He washed his tear-streaked face with cold water, then returned to Ayra’s study immediately. Rolling up his sleeves, he already had a quill gripped in hand, full of determination.

"Sir Gretel, you really did return."

Jinas, who came rushing in upon hearing the news, smiled broadly despite his exhausted face. He’d been suffering from overwork just as much as Ayra.

"I’m so sorry to both of you. I’ll work hard from now on to repay this kindness."

With a determined face, Gretel swore to join Solar’s nighttime overtime crew from now on.