Aiz's face stretched with shock as Kopii watched. She was so surprised that she just froze, and the spoon fell from her hands. For him, it was a sign, and he bolted as fast as he could.
Bursting out of the pub, he ran with all his might. He ran through the alleys, hoping that if he was being chased, he could confuse them, for it wasn't for nothing that Raven had told him to run as fast as he could.
At that pace, he reached Raven's house. Going downstairs, he sees Raven calmly sitting at the table, leisurely sipping tea. He didn't understand why Raven was already there; had he run too? Thinking so, he sat down opposite him.
"I did it, but seeing her shocked face… who is this Aria that caused such shock to the Sword Princess?"
Putting the cup on the table and looking Kopii in the eyes, he said, "That will be my secret." Kopii frowned at Raven's answer, looking at his smiling face, and after a few minutes, he sighed and looked away.
"Fine, if you don't want to tell me, so be it. But I have another question: why didn't you say it yourself?"
"You were supposed to do it."
"What, why?"
"Just because." Kopii's fists clenched at his answer, and his smile only fueled Kopii's desire to hit him.
"Are you kidding me, Raven?"
"No, Kopii, why do you think so?" Before Kopii could open his mouth, Raven continued, "Okay, Kopii, it's late, let's go to sleep, we'll be dungeon crawling again tomorrow." He sighed annoyedly; he didn't like it when Raven changed the subject. But there was nothing he could do. He just had to agree.
Lying on the bed, Kopii wondered why Raven had been acting so strangely lately. But Kopii had also noticed something else: he had changed too. Maybe my skill worked? Because before, he would never have agreed to do this—he always found it difficult to talk to strangers and, especially, to be the center of attention.
He was starting to believe more and more that he had actually copied Raven. With such thoughts, Kopii fell asleep.
Opening his eyes, he saw Raven already ready. Quickly getting up, having breakfast, and getting dressed, they spent only half a day in the dungeon.
"Here, Kopii, your half," he said, handing over a bag of money. The bag looked quite large. He had already calculated how much they should have earned, but there was even more here. Looking up, he saw no one. He looked around—he couldn't find a familiar face.
"Where's Raven?" he thought, continuing to scan the street. Sighing, Kopii headed to the blue pharmacy—he had nothing to do anyway except descend into the dungeon with Raven or help Naaza with the pharmacy's affairs.
Entering the pharmacy, he felt the familiar atmosphere of tranquility, his nose assailed by the pungent smell of herbs. But, in principle, as always, not at all surprised, he approached Naaza. Placing the bag of money on her desk as if nothing had happened.
"Hello, Naaza. I've come to help you again today."
"Hello, Kopii… you were being looked for," she said, putting the bag away and then returning her attention to Kopii.
"Oh? And who was it?" He couldn't even guess who might be looking for him. Maybe it was Gedo come to take revenge for that day, or someone else? Maybe it's the princess? Oh, right, no.
"Aiz Wallenstein." Kopii's eyes widened in surprise. Why was she looking for him? Maybe because of yesterday's words? Maybe Aria is a very important person to her? If so, how did Raven know about it? The more Kopii thought, the more he felt that the peaceful life, which he was bored of, but even so he didn't want to give it up, was slowly crumbling.
"What, why was she looking for me?"
"I don't know, Kopii. She didn't tell me why she's looking for you. She decided to wait for you, but she didn't wait and left; she had business. She only left recently."
"Ah, well, okay, maybe it's nothing serious," he said, and that's how he helped Naaza for the rest of the day and went back to Raven's house. Going down into the basement, Kopii could already smell roasted meat. Kopii's mouth watered from the smell. But whatever he said to Raven, he cooks very well.
"Raven, what are you cooking? Oh, and by the way, where did you disappear to? Did you go to your family?" he pelted Raven with questions, opening the door.
"Oh, Kopii, you're finally back; the meat is already cooling down. You took too long."
"I was helping Naaza. You know that. Oh, and by the way, Raven, the Sword Princess was looking for me. I think what I told her then is something important. But I'm interested in something else: if it's important to her, then how do you know about it?"
Putting the book aside, Raven turned his attention to Kopii, who was devouring the roasted meat. "Well, Kopii, you know that when you eat, you should eat silently."
"Don't change the subject, Raven, I want to know what you've gotten me into," he said with a full mouth.
"Don't make a mountain out of a molehill, Kopii, just say that a friend told you, that's all… and maybe she'll calm down. So don't worry, Kopii." He looked at Raven but decided to be silent. "Maybe I really am getting worked up," Kopii thought, finishing the last piece.
"Oh, Kopii, I've always wanted to ask you something," Raven said, picking up magic stones and putting them in his backpack.
"And what did you want to ask, Raven?"
"Oh, just, I've been wondering why you don't go down into the dungeons? Looking into Kopii's black eyes, Raven asked.
"Well…" Kopii didn't know what to say to him. That he's afraid of dying due to loss of control? Kopii couldn't say that. "Just because, Raven," Kopii answered in the same way that Raven likes to answer him.
Raven's face didn't change at all; he continued to look into Kopii's eyes. Silence hung in the air; we both just kept looking at each other until someone looked away first.
Raven sighed and looked away. "Well, okay, Kopii, I understand you. But I have one more question: why don't you kill monsters? You just dodge their attacks, that's all. So why don't you attack monsters?"
"It's so that you can raise your characteristics faster and gain combat experience. Think for yourself; if I helped you, your growth would slow down, Raven." Looking at Kopii, Raven said nothing.
Some time later. "Kopii, I have one piece of advice for you," Raven said, coming out of Babel.
Looking at Raven, he didn't have his usual smile; his face became serious, indicating that he wanted to tell me something quite important. "What is it?"
"Start keeping a diary about your life, write down every day, and most importantly… your changes for better or for worse."
Kopii exhaled in disappointment; he thought that Raven wanted to tell him worthwhile advice. After all, he was convinced that Raven knows a lot. But he wanted me to keep a diary. "Are you serious right now, Raven?" Disappointment could be heard in Kopii's voice.
"Yes, Kopii, I'm very serious," he replied, returning to his former smile. Seeing this, he knew for sure that he was teasing him again.
Kopii considered that only stupid people or those with memory problems are capable of keeping a diary. He doesn't consider himself stupid, and he has no memory problems. So why does he need this diary? It's like he'll forget himself. Kopii laughed at his thoughts.
"Well, okay, Kopii, I just gave you advice. So whether to follow it or not is entirely up to you. Well, okay, Kopii, it's getting dark, let's go faster, we still need to have time to cook food for us," he shouted, starting to run. "Come on, whoever is last will cook."
"Wait for me," he yielded. "You're still level two, and I'm level one," Raven grumbled.
"I didn't start this, Raven, so perform and accept your position."
"No, I didn't lose; I just gave in to you, that's all. Heroes never lose."
"You mean a future hero?"
"That's not important." From this conversation, without realizing it, a small smile flashed across his face. Maybe this is what friendship means.