After updating his ability scores, Keare didn't waste the remaining time, heading towards the bustling district after leaving the abandoned church base on South Street.
After all, Lily only needed to consider grabbing the future.
As the Healer Legendary Hero, Keare had many things to consider, first and foremost being solving the Soma Familia's problem.
Is the Soma Familia strong?
In Orario, they could only be considered a low-level Adventurer group.
But for him now, just facing those few Lv2 Adventurers individually, he had no chance of winning at all.
"To get something."
"You have to give something."
Walking through Orario's bustling streets at night, Keare's goal was very clear: heading towards the collective dormitory where the Take Mikazuchi Familia was located.
His economic situation had improved appropriately.
For Takemikazuchi and Mikoto, who had helped him in the beginner stage, it was essential to maintain social etiquette.
The souvenir he prepared wasn't expensive, just fresh fruit bought from a roadside stall, the main point being the thought was there, everything else was secondary.
What's more, he had his own plans for seeking out Yamato Mikoto, which was to join the Take Mikazuchi Familia's team for Dungeon exploration.
Compared to exploring alone, the benefits of teaming up could significantly increase, encountering more powerful monsters in deeper levels, and improving combat skills and ability scores in life-or-death situations.
Furthermore, there were also conditions to use 'Imitation' and 'Plunder'!
"The time left for me doesn't seem so ample…"
"Hestia has been in Orario for three months, and there isn't much time left until the white-haired, red-eyed rabbit appears, and the Black Dragon subjugation quest…"
"At most, there are still two years."
Putting aside long-term problems for now, if Keare really wanted to seize the future, the most pressing matter was to improve his own strength in a short time.
Relying solely on talent, whether it was the foolish elf girl or the Sword Princess.
As Orario's top-tier Adventurers in terms of talent, they had put in long hours and sweat to reach their current level.
Even if the 'Vessel' he possessed could compare to theirs, this speed was completely insufficient; he had to quietly use skills like 'Plunder' and 'Imitation' to maximize his growth.
...
Arriving at the collective dormitory again, Keare didn't hesitate.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw the self-training black-haired, beautiful young woman, using the faint light to pour out sweat from her efforts and struggles.
With every full-force sword swing, her long hair, tied into a high ponytail, swayed with her movements.
As footsteps approached, Yamato Mikoto finished her sword move, and with a calm expression, she turned her head to look, recognizing the visitor's face.
There was a momentary surprise in the girl's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by delight.
She nodded softly: "It seems your Dungeon explorations these past two days have gone quite smoothly."
"If I hadn't seen you in a while, I would have assumed you died in the Dungeon." After Mikoto finished speaking, she didn't wait for Keare's consent.
She threw another training wooden sword to the brown-haired young man.
She said concisely: "Training alone is boring, want to practice?"
"I have no objections."
Keare did not refuse Mikoto's spontaneous invitation for a sparring match.
To be precise—
He was also curious now, after these days of Dungeon exploration, with his ability scores fully improved, how much of a gap still remained between him and Mikoto, who was a Lv2 Adventurer?
"Why don't you find a place to put the fruit first? You've been very troublesome taking care of me these past few days, I can't afford anything too expensive, so I just brought a small gift."
...
"You're still playing this game."
Mikoto shook her head slightly; she found this behavior somewhat unnecessary, but she did not refuse Keare's kind gesture, accepting the gift.
She continuously adjusted her breathing, full of anticipation for the upcoming sparring match.
Continuing to train with Kashima Sakura had basically no effect; having grown up in an orphanage together, they were too familiar with each other's fighting styles.
But when facing Keare, Mikoto could feel improvement during their sparring.
"Full power?"
"Yes."
Keare nodded seriously.
His mental and physical energy were both at their peak, so the sparring could be divided into two parts.
First, basic combat relying only on ability scores.
Then, using the 'Optimization' skill to temporarily boost his ability scores, to what extent could he fight against a Lv2 Adventurer?
He held the training wooden sword with both hands.
The sword sense he had gained through continuous practice wouldn't disappear just by changing weapons; instead, he quickly adapted within a very short time.
"Then I'll… begin!"
—
When one first becomes an Adventurer and ventures into the Dungeon, their ability scores increase rapidly.
Mikoto had the same experience, but to reach an average H-rank in such a short time, she believed he already possessed extremely strong talent.
Having interacted with Keare, she was aware of his proficiency in swordsmanship and his sturdy physique.
Her strength assessment was based on the highest G-rank, but when they truly began sparring, the pressure he exerted filled Mikoto with surprise.
"This speed…"
"And this strength, is this really the level a new Adventurer can have?!"
Through the crucible of Dungeon combat, Keare's swordsmanship had become even more formidable, allowing him to precisely seize the unavoidable openings created after an attack.
Mikoto did not rashly initiate an offense; she focused more on probing counterattacks while defending.
But she quickly discovered the problem:
Keare's basic swordsmanship was taught by Takemikazuchi, and his practical combat skills were entirely taught by her; their styles were simply too similar!
Taught by the same master, there was no way to break his moves!
The offensive methods she excelled at, Keare also mastered, but the openings she had previously found, this guy was constantly patching up through practical training.
"He really is… a monster."
As a Lv2 Adventurer, relying on the difference in ability scores with Keare, Mikoto still held the initiative.
Although the match was stalemated, with her stamina advantage, she could drag it out until he tired and an attack opening appeared.
But continuing the sparring, there was no longer a need for this aspect.
It had to be admitted that in terms of swordsmanship, Keare had already surpassed her, lacking perhaps only the experience that could be accumulated over time, and continuously improving ability scores!
"Our combat styles are very similar. Relying on a stamina advantage, I might be able to find your openings, but what's the point of a victory achieved that way?"
After creating some distance, the girl decisively stopped.
Her frank and sincere personality meant she didn't hide her true thoughts; only by recognizing one's shortcomings could one find the direction for improvement.
There was no doubt that the resolute quality Keare possessed was something she had to learn!
"Actually, if you really want to spar, fighting Kashima Sakura, whose combat style is completely different, would yield much more in terms of practical skill improvement for you."
When fighting monsters, Keare only needed to find weak points and openings to quickly secure victory.
But this didn't give him the exhilarating feeling of combat; instead, when sparring with Mikoto, he could experience the satisfaction of clashing moves.
"Is that all?"
"How else do you want to spar?!"
Noticing the regret in Keare's tone, the girl frowned slightly.
Having finally found a whetstone to test his vision, Keare naturally didn't want to miss it.
He smiled easily, but his tone was exceptionally serious:
"How about a no-rules match?"