"Two spells, four skills, and two S-Rank development abilities..." Aiden muttered to himself, feeling that his own starting stats were somewhat lacking compared to Jeanne's. Of course, Jeanne possessed five skills in total, but Aiden knew that the Divine Protection of the Water God was Focalors's masterpiece, meaning Jeanne's initial, inherent skillset consisted of four.
"I can only say, as expected of a Saint..." Aiden's mouth twitched slightly as he reviewed the parchment's contents. "These skills and magic are a bit ridiculously overpowered."
Jeanne's addition perfectly compensated for the Focalors Familia's final shortcoming—a shielder. Although she wasn't an orthodox heavy-armor vanguard wielding a massive shield, and her combat style could even be considered unorthodox, her utility far surpassed that role.
The highest tier of magical defense granted by Magic Resistance, the incredible endurance growth and recovery speed from the Saint skill, coupled with the magic known as Luminosité Eternelle that could continuously deploy an absolute defensive barrier... this was no longer simple defense. It was a walking "absolute safe zone"!
She wasn't a shielder, but she was better than one. She could provide more of a sense of security than any dedicated shielder in Orario. Aiden could already picture it: in a future battlefield, Jeanne casually strolling through a barrage of enemy mage bombardments, completely unfazed, before sending her terrified opponents flying with a single swing of her flag. Her entire repertoire of skills and magic was simply the ultimate bane of all mages.
"With Jeanne joining us, our party is finally complete," Robin said, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Previously, when we entered the Dungeon, you and Tifa constantly had to divide your attention to protect Hyacine and me. But with Jeanne here, the two of you are completely freed up to focus entirely on killing monsters. This will definitely lead to a massive boost in our Dungeon-clearing efficiency."
"This is amazing! I'll have a dedicated bodyguard from now on," Hyacine cheered, happily clinging to Jeanne's arm and nuzzling against her affectionately. "Jeanne-baby, I'm counting on you!"
Faced with Hyacine's enthusiasm, Jeanne nodded with a solemn expression. "Please leave it to me. I will protect everyone."
Next, Robin began to explain the specifics of the Focalors Familia and the local customs of Orario to Jeanne in detail. Although the system had granted her basic common knowledge of this world—such as language, the general worldview, and fundamental rules—that was ultimately just a "factory reset" setting. Her knowledge regarding the intimate details of their small Focalors Familia, the intricate web of relationships between Orario's various factions, and the current predicament they faced was a complete blank.
When she learned that the Focalors Familia was on the verge of a War Game against the massive Apollo Familia, Jeanne's blue eyes instantly sharpened.
"Captain, is there anything I can do to help?" she asked immediately, standing up with a resolute tone.
Aiden smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "Don't be nervous. You just got here, and you're still a rookie. Just treat this time as an observation and learning experience to get a feel for the atmosphere. Leave the battlefield to me."
"Yeah, yeah!" Hyacine quickly pulled Jeanne back down into her seat, urging, "You've only just become an adventurer, Jeanne-baby. Even though your skills and magic are outstanding, your basic stats are still sitting at absolute zero. You're far too fragile right now. Rashly participating in a War Game of this scale wouldn't be a wise move."
Jeanne had once been a charismatic leader who commanded thousands of troops into battle. Although she often relied on the intuition granted by her Revelation skill to charge forward, her fundamental tactical literacy was quite sharp. Upon learning of the hopelessly disproportionate gap in military strength between the Focalors Familia and the Apollo Familia, a deep look of concern washed over her face.
"But, Captain... Four people against over a hundred..." she started, her brow furrowed. "And the enemy is at a higher level. That's almost impossible..."
"Don't worry about it, Jeanne-baby!" Hyacine patted her shoulder, grinning mysteriously. "Once the War Game starts, just sit back in the rear, brew some black tea, get some snacks ready, and watch my precious Aiden's one-man solo show."
Compared to Jeanne, who had absolutely no understanding of Aiden's true capabilities, Robin, Tifa, Hyacine, and even Focalors off to the side, all held absolute, almost blind confidence in him. Watching her companions' relaxed and carefree demeanor, acting as if they were just going on a picnic tomorrow, Jeanne's worries were gradually replaced by curiosity.
She shifted her gaze toward the Captain upon whom everyone had placed their high hopes, silently thinking to herself: Perhaps, Master truly does possess the power to create miracles.
To celebrate the arrival of their new companion, the Focalors Familia set out in a grand procession that evening, heading toward a familiar establishment—the Hostess of Fertility. This time, the one in control of the body was Furina, who deeply loved drama and commotion.
"Everyone, follow me! Tonight, let us use fine food and joyous laughter to present our lovely new member with the most magnificent welcome party!" she declared, raising her arm high and striding at the forefront with her chest puffed out like a grand conductor.
The moment she pushed open the heavy wooden door, a wave of heat mixed with the aroma of roasted meat, the mellow scent of ale, and the sweat of adventurers washed over them.
"Welcome, meow~ Ah, it's Aiden and the rest, meow!" Anya Fromel, the Cat Person waitress, skipped over with a light step. Her signature cat ears and tail wagged excitedly as she guided the group to an empty table by the window.
Upon learning that they were here to celebrate the addition of a newcomer, Mia Grand, who was currently wiping down wine glasses behind the bar, slowly raised her head. Her eyes, which seemed capable of seeing right through a person, narrowed as her sharp gaze lingered on Jeanne for a moment.
"Oh? A rookie?" Mia's voice was slightly deep. "To dare join the Focalors Familia at a critical juncture like this... you've got a lot of courage, little girl." She set down the glass and waved her hand magnanimously. "This meal is on the house."
"Whoa! Hooray! Thank you, Mama Mia!" Furina immediately let out a cheer that echoed throughout the tavern, affectionately using the title reserved exclusively for the employees of the Hostess of Fertility.
Compared to Aiden and the others who spent most of their time diving into the Dungeon, Furina, who frequently sneaked out to play, was clearly much closer to the tavern's staff.
Soon, food and drinks were served in a flowing stream. Chloe Rollo, another Cat Person waitress, walked over carrying a massive platter of roasted meat, her emerald eyes darting around as she sized Jeanne up.
Immediately after, the human girl Lunoire approached with mugs of ale. Her movements were crisp and efficient, and her face held no extraneous expressions, but as she set the drinks down, she gave Jeanne a subtle nod. "I'm Lunoire. Welcome."
Her words were concise, yet carried a sense of reliability.
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