Melina

In the Church of Elleh, ruined until only crumbling walls remained, the campfire glowed dimly, and the soft strains of music drifted through the air, filled with desolation and sorrow.

When the tune ended, the old merchant looked out of the church by the firelight.

Beneath the gloomy sky, only the patchy shadows of bushes swayed faintly.

"...So he really isn't coming back?" Kale sighed and withdrew his gaze, preparing to rest.

Suddenly, the bushes rustled, and a familiar voice rang out. "Hey, hey, hey, old Kale! Don't go cursing people to death! Is this Tarnished really that useless in your eyes?"

"Hm!" Kale looked mildly surprised.

I grinned and held up a rabbit I had hunted. "Had dinner yet?"

"Ahh, that's better! So much better! My stomach started growling the moment I got out of those catacombs." After wolfing down a hearty meal, I sprawled on the ground and burped. "Now I finally feel alive again."

"Catacombs? The ones at Stormfoot?" old Kale asked, sounding a little puzzled.

"Oh? You've been there?" I asked curiously.

Kale shook his head and idly stirred the campfire with a stick. "I've only heard of them. Apparently, there's treasure hidden in that graveyard. It lured in quite a few people, but not a single one came back alive..."

Well, with those five "newbie killers" lurking inside, even I had nearly bitten the dust despite knowing the map. Other people hardly stood a chance.

And the real experts probably wouldn't bother exploring a graveyard like that for treasure.

"Still, I certainly didn't expect you to return without a scratch." That old man Kale had once again underestimated me without the slightest hesitation.

"I wouldn't say without a scratch. Here." I tossed over the Large Leather Shield, now full of holes thanks to the Imps.

After examining it for a while, Kale held out his hand to me.

"What?"

"Large Leather Shield. Six hundred runes. Thank you for your business."

"Hey, you swindler! Didn't you say that shield was a gift?"

"I don't recall ever saying anything of the sort."

Tch. So much for wriggling out of paying.

Still, I hadn't really intended to dodge the bill. It was just...

"Um, how do I use runes? All I know is that they whooshed straight into my body. I can't even see how many I have."

After all, the real world of Elden Ring had no game UI. I even had to estimate boss health and my own stamina.

At my explanation, Kale's eyes widened, and he stared at me in speechless disbelief for quite a while.

Finally, he sighed. "Never mind. After grace abandoned you Tarnished, you were cast out into the wilderness beyond these lands. It's only natural that you'd forget these little things. Hold out your hand."

I obediently complied. "Then what?"

"Try channeling your strength into your palm."

I exerted a little force, and faint golden wisps actually rose from my arm, gathering into a golden ball of runes in my palm-oh, it looked much like the Golden Runes I often picked up. A string of numbers was faintly visible on it, too.

"1954?" I read softly.

"That's the total number of runes you currently possess." Kale reached out a finger and lightly swept it through the golden light in my palm.

"Hey!"

"Six hundred for the Large Leather Shield. Payment received."

Just as Kale said, the number in the golden light decreased by six hundred.

"A built-in wallet! That's way too convenient!" I exclaimed. "Is this grace, too?"

"Who knows? But..." Kale swept his arm, and a whole assortment of glittering items suddenly appeared before him.

When did this guy lay all that stuff out?!

Kale smiled. "Well, my dear customer? Care to browse my treasures?"

"Uh..." I was still a little hesitant.

But Kale had already launched into a smooth sales pitch. "Of course, my first recommendation is this Crafting Kit. With it, you can make all sorts of simple items. Such things are quite necessary if you want to make your way in these lands."

"All right, I'll take it!" I declared with a grand sweep of my hand.

"Next is this set of Chainmail. Its fine craftsmanship offers excellent protection against blades, swords, and arrows."

"All right, I'll take it!"

"...But, dear customer, you don't have enough runes for the entire set..."

"Then pick something for me."

"No problem."

After sweeping the runes from my hand, Kale handed me the Crafting Kit and a Chainmail Hood.

Uh, why does this hood feel so weird?

I glanced at Kale, and he hurriedly said, "Your head is the most important part. This is the best choice."

"But..." I took the Chainmail Hood and pulled it on. "Doesn't this make me look like a robber?"

"Pfft!"

"Old man, you just laughed, didn't you!"

It really did look weird!

In the darkness, the Chainmail Hood looked like a stocking pulled over my head. And with my body bare apart from a loincloth and a cloak, I looked exactly like some perverted bandit!

"N-no, nothing of the sort, dear customer! Pfft-" He burst out laughing again. Couldn't this guy even pretend anymore?

Feeling my face grow warm, I lunged at Kale and reached for his bundles. "Exchange it! Exchange it! This hood is hideous!"

But Kale had been ready. He dodged my lunge and scrambled onto his horse in a flash. "All sales are final, dear customer!"

Without a spectral steed of my own yet, I could only rage helplessly where I stood. "Y-you old swindler! I'll wait right here! Let's see whether you come back!"

With that, I sat down beside the Site of Grace, sulking as I plotted how to deal with that swindler Kale.

Just then, a blue butterfly seemed to drift through the corner of my vision.

I instinctively turned to look. A familiar figure was barely visible in the shadows outside the church.

"Ah, Melina!"

It's Mel-Mel! Mel-Mel finally came back! I thought you'd given up on me completely, my beloved little blockhead!

But to my surprise, Melina hurriedly raised a hand, stopping me as I started to stand. Her cool voice seemed to carry a faint trace of distaste. "Let us speak like this, honored Tarnished."

Huh... Damn Kale! It's all his fault for not selling me clothes!

Still, I love cold Meme, too~

To keep Melina from leaving again, I held back the surging excitement in my heart.

"I'm honored that you still remember me, Tarnished." Melina slowly settled onto her knees and lowered her hood. "I would like to offer you an accord..."

Ahh, that delicate face, those exquisite contours as though traced by a master painter, that short, fluffy, curly brown hair... I can't help wanting to reach out and stroke it.

Her soft, cherry-red lips moved gently, and her words were like a light, lovely melody, utterly enchanting.

And that cool yet gentle eye... Melina's gaze is fixed right on me~

I can die without regrets now!

"...Um, honored Tarnished, are you listening?"

Ah, even that slight frown is so captivating, Meme.

Still... I hurriedly sucked back my drool and feigned composure. "Ah, yes, I'm listening. I'm listening. Meme, you want me to take you to the foot of the Erdtree, right?"

Melina froze for a moment before replying, "I... yes, that is what I wish, but I don't believe I'd mentioned that yet?"

Ah, crap.

I skipped ahead in the dialogue from memory instead of listening properly! I deserve a thousand deaths, Meme!

Under Melina's slightly puzzled gaze, I forced an awkward laugh. "I-I guessed. After all, it seems everyone in these lands wants to go beneath that great golden tree and behold its glory. Hahaha~"

"...As expected of an honored Tarnished." Melina continued, "Then, if you are willing, I shall serve in place of your Finger Maiden and turn runes into strength for you... As I said earlier, if you seek the Elden Ring, this will surely aid you. So..."

"Yes! Of course!" I readily agreed, but after thinking for a moment, I added, "But, Meme..."

"Ah, please refrain from using that name again. Simply call me Melina!"

Meme was firm about it, so I couldn't keep using the nickname. "Melina, I'm not as capable as you imagine, you know. And I already expect to be delayed quite a lot along the way... Is that still all right?"

Melina nodded. "Time is not an issue. Proceed at your own pace. I will not interfere. After all..."

"Great! Then here's to working together~" I smiled and held out my hand.

Melina moved closer quite naturally. "...Do you wish to turn your runes into strength? It will take but a moment. Let me touch you..."

Ahh, Meme's fingers are so cool. They feel as lovely as jade~

Can I hold her hand tightly and give it a knightly kiss? That should be fine, right? No, no, no. It might make Meme dislike me even more. After all, a naked guy wearing an iron stocking over his head would be a pervert anywhere.

If she gets taken advantage of while kindly helping him, Meme might never show up again!

I absolutely can't let that happen!

"...Um, honored Tarnished." Melina spoke slowly, with some puzzlement. "You don't appear to have enough runes to increase your strength..."

"Yes, I know." I gently clasped Melina's hand, then tried to give her the brightest smile I could as her eye widened slightly in surprise. "We're partners now, aren't we? This is a gesture of friendship, Melina."

"...I-is that so?"

Before Melina could grow suspicious, I hurriedly, reluctantly released her hand. If I held on any longer, I feared I wouldn't be able to restrain my wicked impulses. "Oh, right. From now on, will I be able to see you whenever I want to increase my strength?"

Melina nodded. "Simply call for me near a Site of Grace."

Wonderful!

I secretly clenched a fist. It looked like I would get to see Melina every time I leveled up from now on!

In the game, I had always regretted how rarely Little Wood appeared. Sometimes I couldn't see her even when I wanted to, and whenever she did appear, it was Mother this, Mother that, my mother has something to tell you. Just look at Ranni. Even when she went to sever the Two Fingers and seek the order of the stars, she had made a miniature Ranni to keep her Tarnished company, as though afraid of being lonely.

How could Melina compete for the heroine's spot like that?

Long live the real Elden Ring!

"Oh, there's one more thing." Melina held out a golden ring. "I entrust this ring to you. Use it when you need to travel long distances... It can summon the spirit of a steed named Torrent... Torrent has chosen you. I hope you will treat him well."

As I looked at the gleaming golden Spectral Steed Whistle, a faint stirring suddenly rose within me. An image of the ring, scorched red and burning hot, seemed to flash through my mind.

"Neigh-"

A clear whinny snapped me out of it. I couldn't help stroking the ring as I smiled. "Then here's to working together with you, too, Torrent."