All four of us entered the restaurant, and since it was not rush hour, we were easily able to get a good seat near the window, giving us a beautiful view of the main street.
"So, you used a new magic to defeat that Troll?" Asfi opened the conversation as we all waited for our food to arrive.
"Yes, it was a mighty one," Ryuu answered on my behalf, her eyes closed, most likely remembering the magic I used.
"It is powerful for sure, but I can't use it in succession yet. This was the first time I used it in a fight, even, and I already noticed a large reserve of my mind was being wasted during the charge."
"So, it's like a trump card?" Asfi asked again, even if she was not a mage, it was natural for her to be interested in a magic never seen before. Even Ryuu and Ais, who had seen the attack, were leaning forward.
"Yup, we can say that—oh—our food is here as well. Now let's leave all the talk, serious talk behind and have a hearty meal, I am really hungry."
Ryuu and Asfi put the food on Ais' and mine plates, and we started eating. Our conversation is turning more lively than serious now. We spent some time at the restaurant before deciding to go back home.
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The days passed quickly, and before I knew it, there were only about ten days remaining until the major dungeon expedition. I found myself once again lying on my stomach while Loki climbed up my back for a status update, her familiar weight settling as she began her work.
This time, like always, Loki scribbled something extra on the status sheet before handing it to me with a knowing grin. I grabbed the paper and looked over my status, which made my heart sink a little.
____________________________________________________________________________
STATUS
Lv. 4
STRENGTH C670
DEFENSE C601
DEXTERITY D598
AGILITY C688
MAGIC B702
ABNORMAL RESISTANCE E
LUCK F
MYSTERY E
MAGE I
MAGIC
MAGIC
MAKES THE USER CAPABLE OF WIELDING MAGIC
ASTRUM CORDIS
STRENGTH-ENHANCEMENT MAGICSTAR ELEMENT
SKILL
EXTREME ADAPTABILITY
RAPIDLY IMPROVES ADAPTABILITY IN ANY ENGAGED FIELD
SLIGHTLY BOOSTS AGILITY AND DEXTERITY DURING SUSTAINED FIGHTS
EXTREME GROWTH
ENHANCED COMPREHENSION AND PROGRESSION IN FOCUSED FIELDS
AMORIS PULSE
STRENGTHENS THOSE BOUND THROUGH EMOTIONAL TIESGROWTH RATE DOUBLES FOR TARGETS LOVED BY USERIF FEELING IS MUTUAL, EFFECT QUADRUPLES AND GRANT HIGH HUMAN CHARACTERISTICSEFFECT VARIES BY EMOTIONAL INTENSITY AND BOND TYPESTRONGER BONDS YIELD FASTER GROWTHWORK IN TENDEM WITH DEIDICE AND GRANT PROTECTION AGAINST DIVINE POWERS
DEICIDE
INCREASE ALL STATS WHEN FIGHTING BEINGS OF DIVINE NATUREGRANT RESISTANCE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT AGAINST THEIR POWER
Wealth→ -445,000,000
____________________________________________________________________________
The speed at which my statue usually grew has slowed, which is kind of obvious. Since the higher the level, the more difficult it became to grow stronger, but I was still expecting a little more, especially after the fight with that Troll.
"You don't have to look so down, you know, you are still growing faster than any other person in the entire history of the world." Loki petted my head, maybe trying to cheer me up.
"It's fine, Loki, I understand," I replied, since like I understand it, and so I decided to quickly rummaged through the status sheet to see any new changes that might have happened, but found none—or—I would say if I hadn't noticed the debt section, to see that huge amount I paid.
At last, I am getting closer to becoming a person with no debt on his head. I thought of remembering how a good chunk of the money came from the feathered pen, and Asfi developed together.
"Anyways, thanks for the status update, I will get going now,"
"Sure…" Loki slumped on the bed where I was lying moments before. Since it will be the first dungeon expedition where all three of our familia will go together, it has kept our respective patron gods busy as well. I could see that Loki was also very tired, since she had already gone back to sleep.
Before heading out of the room, I decided to cover her up with the blanket properly and closed the curtains to block the sunlight from entering the room. After doing that, did I leave the room?
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I was walking down the stairs when I stumbled upon Ais and Lefiya talking about something. Ais wore a guilty expression as she conversed with Lefiya.
"I am sorry, Lefiya, I won't be able to help you with your training today." Anyone could tell Ais was feeling very guilty about it with the way her head hung low, her hands rubbing together.
"Hi, Ais, and… you too, I guess?" I greeted Ais and gave a half-hearted wave towards Lefiya as well.
"What do you mean, you guess?!" Lefiya said loudly, like always, but I ignored her and asked Ais what the problem was.
"Is it about your training with Lefiya?" I asked the question that mostly bothered her.
"Yes… I already promised to meet with Ryuu and others from the Astraea familia to help them around the town… so…"
"You won't be able to help Lefiya train. Right?" I summarized the situation, and as my eyes drifted to Lefiya, a wonderfully sinister plan began forming in my head. A slow grin spread across my face.
"Don't worry, you can go, Ais, I will train, Lefiya, Kukuku.." Finally, I will be able to get my revenge on this Co*kblocking Elf.
I am going to beat her into the ground! kukuku…
"Stop laughing like that, it's creepy, and I am not training with you!" Lefiya protested at my perfect plan.
"Oh? So you don't want to become useful to the Familia? Is that what you're trying to say?" I replied, my voice dripping with fake mockery that she somehow completely bought as genuine.
"Y-You!" She sputtered indignantly, but before she could finish her outburst, Ais stepped in.
"Lefiya… I think it would be a good experience for you. Arin is really good with both magic and direct combat…" Ais voiced her opinion in my support, and now, hearing the person she admired most in the world endorse the idea made it nearly impossible for Lefiya to refuse. Left with no other viable choice and not wanting to disappoint Ais, Lefiya reluctantly nodded and shot me a withering glare.
"Fine! I will go with you!" I completely ignored her death stare and put my hand around her shoulder, which she tried to shoo away, but ultimately failed. It was interesting to see how, unlike most other elves, Lefiya had no problem with human touch—she was just trying to get away because it was me specifically.
"Kukuku... you made an excellent decision, Lefiya. I'll make sure to train you properly. Kukuku..."
"I said stop laughing like that, you perv!" She continued struggling against my friendly grip as I began steering her toward the dungeon entrance.
"See you later, Ais!" I called over my shoulder.
"Yes, Lefiya, good luck," Ais replied, a beautiful, small smile gracing her lips, most likely happy to see me and Lefiya get along, even if in reality that was not the case.
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"Hmm... this place should work perfectly." I had brought Lefiya to a slightly secluded area on the fifth floor where the monster spawn rate was lower than average—making it an ideal spot for focused training without constant interruptions.
"Hehe, look, Lefiya, that's how it feels when you can use both sword and magic!" I was intentionally egging her on as I have done so every time we encounter a monster on our way down here, just a small revenge on my part for all the time she tried to get between me and the girls.
"Hic, can you stop making fun of me! hic, you sound like Bete-san! hic" Maybe I went too far, since at this point, being made fun of repeatedly, had hurt her.
"O-Oye, why are you crying!" Crap! I didn't mean to make her cry like that. "Ok-Okay, fine, I'm sorry, it was my bad, now stop crying, please."
"Hic, you are a big meanie, Arin-san… Hic. I am going to tell Lady Riveria about this. Hic…"
Wait. I blinked in surprise. I was pretty sure this was the first time she'd actually called me by my proper name instead of just 'You' or 'Perv' or some other unflattering designation. But more importantly—
"H-Hey, wait! I was just trying to break the ice between us! Why would you complain to Riveria about that? You're not a little kid, are you?"
It took several apologies, but I eventually managed to convince her not to report the incident to Riveria. Sure, the high elf would probably just sigh and shake her head if she heard about it, but I really didn't want to get a reputation as someone who made girls cry during training.
Lefiya wiped away her remaining tears with the back of her hand, taking a few deep breaths to compose herself as we prepared to begin the actual training session.
"Okay, then the training we will do is just like how you did with Ais, okay?" I said, grabbing the tree branch I had picked on our way to the dungeon, since if I used a sword, there is a high chance of Lefiay being seriously injured.
And a tree branch is perfect, it won't hit hard enough that it renders her too injured to continue, but at the same time, it won't be painless either.
"Now, should we start?" I said, with a gentle smile on my face, to show her that this time I am truly serious about training her, but for some strange reason, Lefiya started to sweat, making me tilt my head. But I pushed on, taking a slow leap in her direction.
"Then here I come!"