Volume 6 Chapter 30 I Think Both Catherine and Liz Have Become Strong...
Catherine had been frustrated by Randy and Liz's uncanny ability to crush flags before they even had a chance to bloom. But by the time they set off toward Hartfield, she had managed to regain her composure—mostly.
The three of them made their way toward a tributary that fed into the great river behind the town.
It was a vital waterway, linking the town to Victor's port and serving as one of its main water sources. Over time, as the town grew, this river would only become more essential.
As they walked, Catherine turned to Randy and Ellie, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Speaking of which... Madame Valmoir! Ugh, how nice!"
Her expression was a mix of admiration and envy.
She was talking about the strongest Saint equipment—a set of armor that, despite its power, had an incredibly cute design.
"Just wearing it would make me at least thirty percent more beautiful!"
Randy and Ellie exchanged glances. There were so many things to tsukkomi about that they didn't even know where to start.
Instead, they silently agreed to ignore her.
"...Being ignored hurts more, you know."
Catherine pouted, cheeks puffed in indignation. Randy simply shook his head, thinking, That's just paranoia.
She continued complaining, but Randy let her words wash over him. Eventually, he sighed and changed the subject.
"Still... A grandma who can weave runes... I never thought I'd see someone who could still recreate them in this era."
Catherine shot him a sharp look.
"You have one right next to you."
Randy blinked.
She wasn't wrong. Both Liz and Ellie could not only weave runes but also carve and even paint them if necessary.
"...Fair point."
Randy gave a wry smile. Their abilities were rare—incredibly rare. If he wore clothing that counteracted his suppression effect, he might even be able to exceed his normal limits.
Of course, there was no way to be sure how effective Madame Valmoir's runic clothing would actually be.
Still, even a marginal power boost could make a huge difference in battle.
"I'm not sure my body can handle an extra power-up, but... in terms of raw output, it'd be a serious threat."
The more he thought about it, the clearer it became—both Madame Valmoir and Liz were cheats.
And if Madame's work was as powerful as Catherine claimed, then there was a very real possibility that someone was already targeting her.
Randy, Ellie, and Liz weren't aware of any specific threats yet, but the thought crossed all their minds at the same time:
They needed to contact Madame as soon as possible.
Not because they wanted the power of her runes—
But because they wanted the designer known as Madame Valmoir.
She wasn't just some talented artisan. She was Clarice's mentor. She was the mind behind legendary designs that had shaped history.
To Randy and the others, the runes were just a bonus.
They already had their own rune-wielding prodigies, after all.
"I don't know if she's in danger, but..." Randy crossed his arms. "If Madame comes here, you have to let me know."
Catherine stopped in front of the massive ship docked at the waterway.
"I hope she agrees easily."
Randy sighed. From everything Catherine had told him, Madame Valmoir was... difficult.
No matter how important someone was, she wouldn't lift a finger if she didn't like them. She was the very definition of an old-school artisan.
And if you failed to convince her the first time, you might never get a second chance.
"Well, I told you I'd explain the options."
Catherine crossed her arms and pouted.
"I don't need the options."
Randy shook his head.
The 'options' Catherine was talking about weren't about convincing Madame to take up her needle as a designer. They were about crafting the Saint's Dress—something completely different.
To get Madame on their side, they needed more than just good intentions. They needed to prove their passion—to make her understand why this mattered.
"That'd be ideal, yeah..."
Catherine muttered, still looking somewhat dissatisfied. Then she sighed.
"Well, fine. You guys will figure something out."
She shrugged, then murmured again, almost dreamily—
"Madame Valmoir... How nice."
Randy raised an eyebrow. "If you admire her so much, why not just place an order?"
"...If I could, I would." Catherine shot him a glare. "You said it yourself—she's impossible to reach."
If Madame ever took up her craft in this territory again, she would settle in the workshop on the hill. But getting there required a special invitation.
And only the chosen few held those.
Of course, that was just the official story.
"You do realize we're the ones handing out those invitations, right?"
Catherine blinked. Then realization hit.
"...Oh!"
She grinned. "So it's about connections."
As she rubbed her hands together, Randy glanced at Liz.
"See? She's already scheming."
Liz gave Catherine a pointed look. "Your smile is way too suspicious. That won't do."
"Hey! Wait!"
Liz smirked.
"Just kidding. But really—if you get a dress made, who's even going to see it?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Liz realized her mistake.
Catherine stiffened.
"...You don't even have a boyfriend."
"Ugh."
Catherine hunched over, visibly wounded.
Liz's eyes widened. "Ah—wait, I didn't mean—"
Randy crossed his arms, nodding sagely.
"Yep. That was Liz's fault."
Liz glared at him. "Excuse me?!"
Normally, it was Catherine who made those kinds of comments. But Liz's innocent jab had clearly hit deeper than expected.
"W-wait, don't just stand there—help me out!"
Randy smirked. "Nah, you're on your own."
Catherine straightened up, her face scrunched in irritation.
"Seriously. You guys are the worst."
But even as she grumbled, there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
Then, with a dramatic sigh, she turned toward the ship's gangway.
"I'm going to vent to Cecilia about this."
Randy chuckled. "Say hi to Luke for me."
Cecilia and Luke would probably be busy handling personnel from the Church, but they'd make time. They always did.
As Catherine disappeared onto the ship, Randy and Liz watched from the dock.
Moments later, three familiar figures—Catherine, Julius, and Livia—peeked out from the railing, waving.
Randy and Liz waved back enthusiastically.
For some reason, Catherine's voice—"See you later"—echoed louder in his mind than it should have.
"...I hope it's after spring break this time."
Liz sighed. "I have a feeling we'll see her again soon."
They stood there, watching the ship shrink into the distance, long after it had vanished from sight.
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