While Qianshuo advanced steadily—cutting down monsters one after another—another "new" adventurer party caught up from behind at a distance.
It was a team of two elf girls.
If Qianshuo had been looking back, he would have recognized one of them immediately: Lefiya, the elf he'd met earlier at the Adventurers' Guild registration hall.
Beside her was an older, more mature elf with long orange-gold hair strikingly similar to Lefiya's.
But unlike Lefiya's lively, girlish aura, this elf carried herself with faultless elegance—the kind of perfect poise people imagined when they thought of elves.
Every gesture was refined, as if each movement had been polished and carved with care.
Her presence was cool and aloof, naturally creating a distance that made her hard to approach.
"Senior Alicia, did you hear? That Hedin-senpai—someone as strong as Lady Riveria—took a new disciple. His name is Qianshuo."
As they moved through the Dungeon, Lefiya chatted with the elf who was leading her today: Alicia.
Remembering her brief encounter with Qianshuo, Lefiya couldn't help feeling surprised all over again.
Later, after asking around, she'd learned just how terrifying Hedin's strength was—to the point that he could match Lady Riveria.
"Mm. I've heard," Alicia replied.
"Then all the more reason you have to work harder, Lefiya. You must be better than Hedin's disciple—otherwise you'll shame the familia and Lady Riveria."
Alicia nodded gently, but her tone was firm—unquestionable. A faint spark of competitiveness flickered in her eyes.
As Riveria's number-one admirer, Alicia would never allow the woman she respected most to lose face.
Even if she hated admitting it, Alicia knew the truth:
Hedin was, in some ways, stronger than Lady Riveria.
Riveria herself had told her in casual conversation—Hedin possessed greater spirit capacity, superior magic control, and longer casting range.
In a certain sense, he was the strongest mage in Orario.
Even as a back-line magic caster, he had combat technique fit for the front line.
With rare short-chant magic and parallel chanting, he was practically an all-rounder—a "magic swordsman" in the truest sense.
Now that the two strongest mages in Orario had both taken disciples…
Alicia naturally wanted Lefiya to "win one back" for Lady Riveria.
That was why she'd insisted on bringing Lefiya into the Dungeon to familiarize her with it and train her—passing on her experience, sharpening her into something stronger.
"I… I'll work twice as hard, Senior Alicia!"
Lefiya clenched a small fist, her face full of determination.
She hadn't expected to be carrying something like this on her shoulders.
Looks like she couldn't slack off and daydream in the School District anymore.
"Keep moving. You're Level 2 now—monsters on these early floors don't have much meaning for you. Today we go straight to the tenth floor to begin real training."
Alicia spoke softly.
"Okay!"
Lefiya nodded, but her eyes flashed with nervousness.
Her breathing tightened.
She gripped her staff hard—
Almost… trembling?
Alicia didn't notice. She only looked ahead, searching for the route to the next floor.
Once they reached the fifth floor, the field of view opened up.
And what greeted them was a small-scale battle.
Lefiya had been following Alicia's pace, but she instinctively glanced toward the fighting.
The moment she saw the familiar figure in the middle of it, she froze—eyes wide.
"Eh…?"
She stopped without thinking.
"What is it, Lefiya?" Alicia turned back, puzzled.
Lefiya raised a small hand and pointed at the combat zone.
"Senior Alicia—that's Qianshuo. I… I didn't expect to run into him here."
"He's training in the Dungeon too. What a coincidence."
Lefiya stared at the fight, unconsciously holding her breath.
That boy—Qianshuo—was surrounded by three monsters.
Based on the tactical theory she'd learned in the School District, the correct move should've been to create distance, find a breakthrough angle, and take them down one by one.
But Qianshuo didn't retreat.
He didn't even take a defensive stance.
Lefiya didn't even see how the blade moved—only a silver arc—
And the nearest goblin's head flew off.
Then the second.
Then the third.
In less than two breaths, all three monsters were down.
Lefiya swallowed.
This boy her age…
He didn't look like someone who was experiencing his first Dungeon monster kill.
"So strong…"
The words slipped out instinctively.
And the moment she realized what she'd said, her cheeks turned bright red.
No—no!
She was Lady Riveria's disciple!
How could she call someone from an "enemy familia" strong?!
"Hm? Qianshuo? Hedin's disciple?"
Alicia's brows lifted slightly—interest sparked immediately as she looked forward.
And then she noticed someone nearby, calmly observing the fight:
Heith.
"Heith is here too? That makes sense—first time in the Dungeon, you should have a high-level adventurer accompanying you."
Alicia murmured.
She and Heith knew each other.
During the Great Feud, they'd fought alongside one another. Not close friends, but acquainted.
"That swordsmanship is impressive… Lady Riveria was right. If Hedin-senpai accepted him as a disciple… then he really is extraordinary."
As Qianshuo cleanly cut down another monster—a clown-like cat creature—Alicia couldn't help voicing her admiration.
She continued observing the boy's cold, efficient killing rhythm, and silently nodded.
Then a faint doubt surfaced in her eyes.
Was it her imagination…?
Why did Qianshuo's sword style seem to carry the flavor of elven technique within it?
After watching for a while, Alicia's lips curved into a gentle smile.
A thought formed, clear and sharp.
Since they were disciples of the two strongest mages…
Wouldn't it be fine to let Lefiya and that boy have a "match"?
Not a direct duel.
A team challenge:
Who can kill more monsters.
Lefiya might be Level 2, but both were still Dungeon "newcomers," both carrying the disadvantage of unfamiliarity.
And Loki Familia and Freya Familia had always been in a state of rivalry.
Letting two members of the new generation test each other wasn't a bad thing.
If Lefiya won…
Then, at least in "teaching the next generation," she could claim victory over Hedin.
A very interesting comparison.
The idea crystallized fully in Alicia's mind.
"Lefiya," Alicia suddenly said, her voice carrying a trace of amusement.
"Yes?"
"Do you want to know… which of you is stronger?"
"Eh?"
Lefiya blinked.
"Let's go."
Even though Lefiya looked a little slow to react, the moment she heard Alicia's words, she quickly followed after her.
On Qianshuo's side, the fight ended.
The last goblin—wielding a stone club—died with its chest pierced through.
Qianshuo exhaled softly and slid his katana back into its sheath.
Before he could fully catch his breath, he heard a young, clear voice calling his name:
"Qianshuo!"
-------
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