Reincarnated With A Glitched System: Why Is My MP Not Running Out?

Chapter 1951: Thats What Heroes Do

-----

”Before the accident that took my mother’s life, my father was a bright man. He always laughed, happily taught me so many things, and brought me along with Mom to the park. Sometimes we even visited the elven capital to gather materials. It was... such a wonderful trip, and I will never forget that day. My childhood before the accident was good... I... my dad fell into a terrible depression after Mom died. And because the accident was provoked by me... well, I blamed myself,” Ruby said.

”You blamed yourself?” Celica asked gently.

”At first my father didn’t hate me for it. He said it wasn’t my fault, but I was the one who insisted, and then... our relationship slowly worsened. We grew distant without Mom to hold us together,” Ruby continued. ”My dad became depressed and alcoholic. He would always end up beaten in bar fights... Sometimes I had to drag him back home because he wouldn’t return on his own.”

”Oh...” Lara murmured. ”That doesn’t sound nice at all... I’m so sorry, Ruby.”

”It’s... it’s fine,” Ruby let out a heavy sigh. ”After those times, I started to dress the way I truly wanted, began using makeup, and dyed my hair blonde because... I wanted to be a girl. No, I felt like I was one. And before the accident, Mom always told me to believe in my true self and embrace who I was, no matter what others said. So, in her honor, I decided to be myself. I stopped restricting myself, stopped... shackling who I really was. But that... it only brought more drama. My father disagreed, and we fought... and fought... for years. Our relationship only grew worse. At one point he started blaming me for what happened to Mom, and... well, not long after that, you girls found me. When you did, I had already hit rock bottom. I was... even considering... taking my life.”

”Ruby...! Don’t say that... don’t ever consider that!” I said, pulling her into a tight hug.

”Yeah... what the hell, that’s heavy stuff, girl. Don’t ever think that again,” Aquarina said firmly. ”Damn it, I wish I could’ve been here earlier. I had no idea the new Hero was going through so much... I’m sorry. I know words alone can’t make up for everything you’ve endured, but... if you ever need someone to lean on, someone to trust, someone to talk to, I’m here too. We all are, right?”

”That’s right...!” Lara nodded. ”Your story really moved me, Ruby... Luck and I went through something similar, mostly because of our status as heroes. We lost our village, our families... we were alone. If we hadn’t had each other, I don’t know where I would be now... I’m so sorry. I’ll do everything I can to be a good friend. The Spirits... they love you and feel the same. You’ve never been alone, even before you met Sylphy and the rest of us. The Spirits have been watching over you all along!”

”I’m here too if you want to talk. Between two demons... we can share a lot of stories. Life’s never been kind to us, right? Hahah...” Mist giggled awkwardly. ”I’m not great with this stuff, but... yeah, I want to be your friend too, Ruby! I think you’re cool.”

”We’re already friends!” Celica smiled warmly, opening her arms and hugging Ruby with genuine affection.

”Yeah...” Celeste scratched her head. ”Um... sorry... I didn’t know... yeah, sorry. I always screw things up. I’m really the worst.”

”Everyone...” Ruby’s eyes filled with tears. ”Thank you... I always dreamed of having friends like you... it feels like a dream to have all of you here... I... for most of my life, I hated my own Divine Blessing. I considered it a curse rather than a blessing. But now I see that it has helped bring us together... I... I know it sounds cringe, but I want to become everyone’s friend...”

”Sure, why not?” my brother nodded. ”I’m not a hero, but yeah, we have to stick together.”

”Yeah... thanks...” Ruby started crying again, weeping not from sorrow but from overwhelming happiness. ”I was so stupid... I’m sorry...”

”It’s fine,” I said softly. ”It’s fine, Ruby... We’ll help your dad and everyone else, right?”

”Yeah!”

”For sure.”

”That’s what heroes do, right?”

”We aren’t leaving until this issue is solved.”

Hearing everyone’s responses, Ruby felt even more deeply moved. Celeste looked at her and nodded. ”And once he recovers, we’ll have a chat with him, alright? I mean, you... you talk with him. As you said, that’s not my business. I was just worried about you. I tend to become overprotective with the people I care about... sorry again.”

”It’s... it’s fine,” Ruby nodded. ”And you’re right, Celeste. I have to do that... We’ll heal Dad, and then I’ll talk to him. I’ll tell him everything I feel, and I’ll make sure he listens. After that, if he’s still stubborn... that’s fine too. I’ll have spoken my mind and been honest with my heart, and I’ll be able to move on.”

”That’s good,” I said with a nod. ”Alright, girl, let me tell you—your nails? Spectacular. How do you even do them? They’re so pretty!”

”T-These?” she chuckled, a little embarrassed. ”Well, I apply a lot of products, so they look shiny.”

”They’re so pretty!” Lara said. ”I want nails like that too... can you help me get them like that, Ruby?”

”O-Of course!” Ruby smiled.

”How do you add those tiny paintings on them?” Celica asked.

”Ahh, these are called...”

For a couple of hours, we all talked with Ruby to cheer her up. She became the center of our world for those few precious hours, just to make her feel truly loved and that she mattered deeply to every one of us.

Before dinner, I pulled Aquarina aside for a private talk, and... well, I decided to try convincing her again to use the Cultivation Method.

”Aquarina, please use this,” I said, showing her a scroll I had created myself—a refined, upgraded version of Armageddon’s cultivation method, with my own unique adaptations added.

Yes, I had improved the method behind the goddess’s back, just to reassure Aquarina it would not harm her.

”W-What’s this?” she asked, surprised. ”Wait, is this the Cultivation Method Formula again?”

”No, it’s not the same scroll. I read the method myself, then modified it, improved it, and rewrote it,” I said with a smile. ”Read it, learn it, and then tell me how it feels.”

”...?” She looked genuinely surprised. ”W-Well, if you wrote it, then I don’t have anything against it... okay, but why go so far?”

”Because it could help you, that’s all,” I said. ”But yeah, maybe I am a little too obsessed with it.”

”...Hm,” she nodded. ”Okay, fine, I’ll get to it... Wait, what’s this other thing at the end?”

”I added something related to the heart,” I explained. ”You may not be able to gain a Spiritual Heart, but it could help you enhance your ability to see through people’s intentions.”

”Huh, okay!” she nodded. ”Thank you.” She kissed my lips and then hugged me tightly with her strong arms.

”Shall we go have dinner then?” I asked. ”I think Mom might be almost ready. Let’s go help her out.”

”Sure!” she agreed with a bright nod.

-----