"Oooooh…that one looked like it hurt." (Mizuki)
I grimace secondhand while watching Levi's last moments as a conscious man. Zara falls to her knees holding her side for a moment, then stands back up and starts limping towards us. She's in rough shape, but she'll make it.
"Fufufu…yes, but I think the other two had it much worse. That lightning from Zara's sword is quite nasty." (Nina)
"Tch…nothing is as painful as losing consciousness before the fight even starts. At least they got to see part of it." (Leo)
A bitter Leo is sitting on the ground next to me. I've been teleporting Levi's party members to safety and healing them as they were incapacitated, and he woke up a minute ago.
I teleport the unconscious Levi over to us, and I begin healing him as I give Leo a reassuring smile.
"Hey, take it as a compliment! She considered you such a threat that she expended her only surprise attack on you." (Mizuki)
Leo sighs deeply in response, but he doesn't say anything. As I finish healing Levi, Zara arrives in front of me.
She's covered in her own blood and sweat, has multiple gashes that are still partially bleeding, and she looks like she's so tired that she can barely stand. She gives me a weak smile, then pulls the remaining dagger out of her side with a pained groan and collapses into a seated position on the ground.
I sit down beside her and begin healing her injuries. After a couple of minutes, she's physically fine but still seems exhausted. I infuse her with some of my own magic like I did to Alara once upon a time, and that seems to perk her up. She nods gratefully to me.
"Thank you, Mizuki, that feels much better. Levi's party…they were remarkably strong. I barely managed that one. Honestly, if I had to do it again with them knowing all my abilities...I doubt I'd win." (Zara)
Leo snorts and shakes his head in exasperation.
"We're the strongest adventuring party in Elmesia and possibly the world – not counting the obvious farce that is Mizuki's party. The fact that we were overpowered by a single fifteen-year-old wolf-kin girl is beyond embarrassing. Us probably being able to beat you once we've fully prepared for all your skills and abilities…that's hardly a consolation." (Leo)
What does he mean, farce?
"Actually, I'm sixteen." (Zara)
Leo stares back at Zara blankly, like he's waiting for her to crack a smile over a joke. However, she just maintains eye contact seriously. He obviously doesn't know how to respond to her treating that like it's a relevant difference.
Before they can continue their discussion, Sylvia starts to groan and stir, then Rikard follows closely behind. As Sylvia sits up and takes in her surroundings, she glances at Levi lying unconscious on the floor, then the alert and conscious Zara, and she sighs dejectedly.
"Tch… Levi's involuntary nap must mean that our entire party was defeated by a wolf-kin child. Zara, was it? I can't even begin to tell you how unfair it is that you can use physical enhancement, invisibility, minor healing, and even lightning. Your sword skills are first rate, too. Honestly, it's hard to feel bad about losing to such a monster. You're not seriously the weakest party member, are you? I'm hoping that was a joke." (Sylvia)
"Sylvia, don't call her such names! She's still a young lady! Zara, I'm sorry, please don't take that personally. I thought you fought quite admirably, and while your abilities are certainly unfair, it's obvious that wasn't the only reason you beat us. You clearly put in many hours honing your skills to a masterful level. Uhm…I must say though, I also want to know if you being the weakest party member was a joke." (Rikard)
I suppress my urge to laugh at Rikard…he's obviously a total teddy bear. Zara just finished beating the absolute stuffing out of him and his friends, rather ruthlessly, and he's worried about her being treated like a young lady.
I notice Levi regaining consciousness next to me, but I seem to be the only one.
"Fufufu…I am not offended. Thank you both for your kind words. Truthfully, I learned a lot from this fight with adventurers as skilled as yourselves. I'm grateful I got this opportunity to see your experience firsthand. As for your question…yes, it's true. That is not a joke I would make. I am now incapable of besting Alto in our sparring matches, and the gap in our abilities only continues to widen sadly." (Zara)
"HAHAHAHA! Dear friends, since we're joining Mizuki's party now, I suppose that makes us the weakest party members! How shameful...we must strive to improve." (Rikard)
While Rikard continues laughing in a good natured tone, Sylvia's staring at me nervously.
"Zara…what you're saying…can I assume that Alto, who you can't even beat, is still the second weakest in your party?" (Sylvia)
Zara nods matter-of-factly, and Alto backs her up.
"Your inference is correct, Sylvia. I stand zero chance of besting Nina or Mizuki in a fight." (Alto)
Sylvia goes pale and falls silent. However, Leo nods confidently.
"So, it's as I suspected after all. Other than Nina, Mizuki is the strongest member of your party by a decent margin. Elder Dragons are viewed as gods by some races like the fey and spirits, so it's no surprise that Nina's mate would be strong. Plus, I've never even heard of most of Mizuki's spells, and he does them without incantations, just like Elder Dragons." (Leo)
Zara gives her characteristic snicker over the misunderstanding, and Leo turns to her in confusion. I'm about to send her a thought message to just play along, but another voice cuts me off.
"You're wrong, Leo. Nina may be an Elder Dragon, but I'm certain…Mizuki is easily the strongest member of their party. My instincts have been telling me as much since I first met them, and me learning Nina's identity hasn't changed that. I suspect that is the reason Zara is laughing at you." (Levi)
A now conscious Levi is sitting up, rubbing his head gingerly. However, he's also staring at me with an expression that's a mix of fear and curiosity. Hearing Levi's remark, Leo looks to Zara incredulously, like 'that true?'.
Zara just smirks and turns towards me with a questioning gaze. After a moment, I sigh and nod. If they're really joining our party and putting themselves in danger to help us, they might as well know the truth.
Zara turns back towards an expectant Leo and grins viciously.
"Fufufu…Levi is correct. He has very impressive instincts for a human." (Zara)
Leo, Sylvia, and Rikard stare at Zara dumbfounded, then glance at me in unison. I nod my acknowledgement, and they frantically turn to Nina.
"If you're expecting me to deny it, I must disappoint you. Fufufu…my mate is someone that even Elder Dragons shouldn't dare antagonize. That emperor was truly foolish to threaten Mizuki's friends – they're lucky that he didn't crush the whole country." (Nina)
At that comment, even Levi turns to me in shock.
"Mizuki, you could really do that!?" (Levi)
Levi directs the question at me with a borderline hysterical tone. I sigh deeply.
"I would never engage in such indiscriminate violence, Levi. Please don't look at me like that." (Mizuki)
Levi seems to calm down, but only slightly. However, Leo begins laughing maniacally. I turn to him in shock…I didn't know he could show emotion like that.
"Fufufufu…hey Sylvia! I bet you feel like a real moron for insulting Mizuki so aggressively in the council room earlier, huh? You should see your face right now!" (Leo)
Leo begins laughing again, and Sylvia looks at him like he's insane. Honestly…fair.
"Leo, have you completely lost it? How are you not terrified by this information!?" (Sylvia)
Leo stops laughing abruptly, and stares at Sylvia in complete confusion.
"Why would I be? When you think about it, Nina can also decimate a country, and she basically goes along with Mizuki's wishes. Did you not notice that Nina wanted to snap you in half for your rude comments towards Mizuki earlier today? If anything, Mizuki seems to be the more patient of the two, so learning that he's stronger should be reassuring. That said…" (Leo)
Leo turns to look at me thoughtfully, like he's studying a lab specimen. That's…creepy.
"…it's quite interesting how a human could be so strong. I have no shortage of questions about his abilities, origins, nature, and many other things. So, I'd say this revelation has increased my curiosity more than my anxiety." (Leo)
Rikard nods along at Leo's comments, then turns to me with a good-natured smile.
"If Leo says it's fine, I don't think we have anything to worry about! I look forward to working with you, Mizuki." (Rikard)
Oh, what the hell…might as well lean into the madness. I give Rikard a blistering grin.
"Thanks, Rikard, likewise!" (Mizuki)
I turn to Sylvia and smirk.
"Although, I'm sorry to say that your party stipulated a condition to joining my party, which I have yet to fulfill. Sylvia, you wanted to fight me alone, right? What do you say…want to have that match now?" (Mizuki)
All the color drains from Sylvia's face. Eventually, she recovers enough to speak.
"N-No, that's okay! Zara beat us fair and square, so you can consider that stipulation retracted! We're happy to be included, right Levi?" (Sylvia)
Sylvia turns to Levi with a pleading expression, and it's enough to break the remaining tension on his face. He lets out a lighthearted laugh briefly before responding.
"Fufufufu…yeah, thanks for welcoming us aboard, Mizuki. We promise to keep the true extent of your power a secret, and I think that's for the best anyway. So, now that everyone has recovered from Zara's beating, should we head back to the guild and make this official?" (Levi)
I look at each of the people around me in turn, meeting the gazes of everyone in my and Levi's parties, and they all communicate their support. I guess we're doing this then.
I turn back to Levi with a huge smile and nod approvingly.
"Sounds good to me! Well then, let's go invite some chaos into our lives." (Mizuki)