Opening his eyes, he saw a worried Raven.
– Well, fine, I'll help you, – he said, getting up and getting dressed.
– Really, Kopii? I'm so glad, I knew you were a good friend.
He had nothing to do, so why should he refuse?
He did not intend to descend below the fifth floor; he would simply help him, but he would not kill. He thought this would at least somewhat dispel his boredom.
Descending to the first floor.
– Raven, I wanted to ask, why the sword? – he asked, looking at Raven's back.
– Well, the sword is the easiest weapon to learn. – He could not disagree with this argument; he knew that the sword was the most popular weapon in the dungeon because of its simplicity. But Kopii's thoughts were interrupted by Raven: – And also because, according to legends, the king of mercenaries used it.
«Why am I not surprised.»
– Do you understand, Raven, if you always look at others, you will never develop your own style, your own tactics. Do you want to be just a copy of a hero? – Kopii said, preparing for monsters to appear. But he was met only by silence from the dungeon and from Raven. – Raven? – He could not see Raven's face, so he did not know what he was thinking right now.
– This fate is beyond even fate's control. To forever be only a pitiful copy of someone... But not oneself. – But before Kopii could ask what that meant, he heard the sound of monsters being born.
– Ooooh, this is my first monster! – Raven exclaimed.
– Be careful, – Kopii said, remembering his first descent into the dungeon, when he had almost died because of ordinary goblins.
– Oh, it's a goblin, I read that it's the weakest monster in the dungeon. Is that true, Kopii?
– Yes, Raven, that's true. There are only two of them, but still, don't relax. – After his words, Raven rushed forward to meet the goblins and killed both with one strike.
Kopii's eyebrows rose in shock.
«So fast…» – Flashed through his head. Compared to him on his first descent, Raven was already stronger than him.
– Have you been practicing swordsmanship for a long time, Raven? – he asked, watching as Raven collected the magic stones.
– What? No, Kopii, you could say I've only recently picked up a sword.
– ... I see. Then you're quite talented, – Kopii praised Raven.
– Yes, I suppose you could say that. How much will I get for them? – He asked, turning the magic stones in his hand.
– Very little. Really very little. – After Kopii's words, Raven's face did not change at all.
– They're so weak, so it's not surprising.
So time passed; he simply watched Raven and understood more and more that his swordsmanship was very good. Especially for someone who had only recently picked up a sword.
– We spent a whole day in the dungeon. I'm so glad.
– I see you're not the least bit tired, Raven.
Looking into Kopii's eyes, he smiled.
– A hero must not show fatigue and weakness. Do you think this will be enough for us to eat at the Benevolent Mistress? Prices go up there at night.
– I hope it's enough. – Entering the "Benevolent Mistress" and scanning the pub, it was, as always, full.
«Does it ever empty out?» – he thought, approaching a free table.
– How lucky we are that there's a free table at this hour, – Raven said, sitting down opposite him.
They did not have to wait long before a waitress came to them. Kopii tensed a little, watching as Syr approached them. He hoped that she had forgotten him, but the following words completely destroyed those hopes.
– Hi, Kopii, long time no see. – Syr smiled with her bright smile.
– Hi, Syr, indeed, long time no see, – he said, averting his gaze from Syr, trying with all his might to hide that he was not glad to see her.
– And, yes, congratulations on leveling up, – she said, not taking her gaze off him. Under her gaze, Kopii felt uncomfortable. It was as if she saw him as a toy.
– I'll have noodles. – He immediately got to the point, not wishing to continue the dialogue with her.
– Alright, Kopii. And what will you have, Raven? – looking at Raven, she said.
– I'll also have noodles.
– Alright, two noodles, – she said, leaving.
– You'd better not trust her, – Raven said seriously, looking at Kopii. Kopii was surprised by such a change in Raven's mood.
– What? Why? Weren't you the one praising her, saying she was an angel in the flesh, weren't you?
– Just don't trust her. Well, Kopii, I don't want to talk about it anymore, – averting his gaze, he said, looking at the others.
– If that's so, why did you praise her to me when we were here the first time? – But Raven ignored him, continuing to examine the newcomers. He frowned at Raven's ignorance.
Kopii did not understand why Raven had changed so quickly. As he said, his views had changed. Only one thing remained unchanged – his goal to become a hero. It dawned on him. Maybe he had confessed to her, and she had rejected him; then that would explain such a change. He had never understood romance, but he had read a lot of books, including romance, and he knew that unrequited love could lead to negative emotions.
Kopii's reflections were interrupted when Syr brought both bowls of noodles. Glancing at Raven, he had his usual smile again. All that seriousness had evaporated, as if it had never been there.
– Thank you, – the two said simultaneously.
– And by the way, Kopii, greetings were passed to you from the orphanage. After all, you're now the most popular person in Orario.
– Ah, yes, then you can pass greetings back to them.
– No, you must do it yourself. They told me you promised to visit them, but you never came even once.
Hearing this, he felt a little ashamed under Syr's judgmental gaze. With all his affairs, he had completely forgotten about that promise.
– Alright, Syr, thank you for reminding me. – She was about to say something again, but she was called away, and she left to serve others in the pub, to Kopii's relief. Raven froze; he was looking towards the entrance. Kopii, surprised by Raven's reaction, also looked in that direction.
At first, he did not understand who it was, but when they sat down where they were supposed to sit. Examining the Loki Familia, he searched for the one because of whom he felt inadequate.
He knew what she looked like from the words of others. But in truth, only she had golden hair, so he found her immediately.
«So beautiful.» – he thought. Everything he had heard about her, that she was a beauty, but in real life, she was even more beautiful. But then their gazes met.
Her eyes were the same as her hair. Looking each other eye to eye. He saw what he wanted. He turned away and continued eating his noodles. But however hard he tried to distract himself, he still felt her gaze on his back. But with time, it disappeared. But before he could exhale in relief, there were more gazes. He felt how they burned through him with their stares. But with time, everything quieted. He exhaled in relief. He guessed who had stared at him so intently.
– What do you think of the Loki Familia? – he asked Raven, staring intently at him. – Well, a stupid question, you're only new here. – But before Kopii could finish, Raven interrupted him:
– If you compare them to the Freya Familia, they are much better than them. But naturally, I compare them because they are the strongest in Orario.
– Ah, I see. – He began to doubt his information-gathering abilities. It seemed to him that Raven knew more about Orario than he did, even though he had lived here less time. Or maybe he simply knew where to get information, while he had searched for it in the library. Well, in truth, it was not such rare information.
– Kopii, I have an idea! – Looking at Raven's face, he had a smile, but why did it somehow differ from the usual one.
He did not like it, he did not like it one bit.
– And what idea, Raven? – he said questioningly, fully focusing his attention on Raven.
– When we leave here. And when you pass by the Loki Familia. Just say these words.
– What words? – Seeing Raven fall into thought.
– Say "a fair wind that will bring happiness to anyone, and her name is Aria." But remember this, Kopii, when you say it, run from there as fast as you can.
– What is that supposed to mean? – He felt doubt about this idea, and especially the running away after saying it; if one needed to run, then it was dangerous, and if it was dangerous, then maybe he should send Raven to hell? Especially running from a familia bearing the name of one of the strongest.
Seeing Kopii's confusion, Raven spoke.
– Don't worry, Kopii, it's nothing special. And you know what, Kopii!!! – Raven's smile grew wider; this smile made him uneasy. – Smile when you pass by, and then say it. Come on, do it.
– Well, I'll try to do it, probably.
– Wait, Kopii! – Raven stopped him. – I'll go first. – He watched as he paid for the noodles, and when he left the pub, he followed him.
He stopped by the table where they were sitting. Deciding whether to say it or not. All their gazes were fixed on Kopii, which made him uncomfortable, but gathering all his strength into a fist, he smiled and said.
– Aah... Well... A fair wind that will bring happiness to anyone, and her name is Aria.