We changed locations to the outer wall of Orario.
Here, we decided to properly test Bell boy's level as an adventurer.
For that, we needed someone for him to spar against.
Let's see. Tiona was obviously out; the gap in our levels was way too big.
The Moon Spirit Slime was also out, since it still didn't have any way to control its power output.
Hestia and Lili were obviously impossible too.
Then that left...
Yep. Yours truly, of course.
"We're just going to do a simple spar, nothing fancy. So don't get too tense."
"Ah, yes!"
At my words, Bell boy took up a stance with his weapon in both hands.
I also wrapped my body in mana and smoothly settled into position.
First, a light jab.
"Gandr."
Bang!
"Ugh!"
""Bell-sama (kun)!""
The boy went down in one hit.
"Hmm. His durability is a total bust. Come to think of it, his main combat style was said to be the typical hit-and-run type. In that case, he probably doesn't need much in the way of defense."
"What are you doing! You were acting all serious like you were really going to spar, and then you do that! That's so unfair!"
"Being able to accurately grasp an opponent's intentions is an essential skill for a proper adventurer. If you can't tell just by looking, then you should at least try to figure it out."
"Ah, I can accept that."
"Really? Hmm..."
"But that last one was definitely unfair."
"Huh? You noticed?"
"As expected, you degenerate!"
In the end, Hestia-sama exploded and started making a huge fuss.
But I coolly ignored her complaints and continued Bell's test.
"Needless to say, you're also lacking in experience against feints and mages. In cases like this, since you're clearly the weaker side, you should focus on completely avoiding the first strike by any means necessary. My recommended method is rolling. It's a dodge technique that gets used a lot, both by beginners and by experts, so practice it whenever you get the chance. Of course, for safety's sake, you should train against people weaker than you."
"Yes, sir!"
"And from what I saw earlier, you were trying to dodge only after seeing the attack with your eyes. That's too late. Against someone around your level or weaker, that might be fine, but if the opponent is clearly stronger than you, then you'll always be late. And then you'll just repeat what happened a moment ago."
"Then, what should I do...?"
"The best thing would be to train your senses other than sight so you can read your opponent's intent and presence in advance, but that's hard even for experts, so we'll skip that for now."
Honestly, that was beyond me too.
If it were possible, I wouldn't have needed to build a detection function into the Moon Spirit Slime.
Neither [Inner Eye] nor Observation Haki are easy abilities.
The fact that they can do it is what makes them superhuman. Heroes.
"What you need to do at your level is roughly scan the situation and make a quick judgment. Don't think too deeply, and don't make too many judgments. If the opponent's shoulder, hands, or feet show even the slightest movement or tremor, then just dodge first. That way, at the very least, you can survive the opening strike and seize the next chance."
With that, no matter what kind of feint the opponent used, or even if it was another long-range attack like before, he should be able to avoid the first hit safely and take the next move for himself.
It was a rather defensive strategy, but for a boy whose durability was already weak, I couldn't think of anything better.
There was a reason the old hands in Monster Hunter and Dark Souls always emphasized rolling.
"Of course, there will be opponents this won't work on. But if the gap in power is that overwhelming, then it's fair to say you never had a chance to win in the first place. In that case, don't even look back. Run. Use whatever means you have and focus only on escape."
There's nothing shameful or cowardly about avoiding danger you can't handle.
At my words, Tiona, who had been listening from behind, nodded as well, saying that was right.
Sun Tzu's Thirty-Six Stratagems work properly in any world.
But.
"Life in the Dungeon isn't going to go so neatly and correctly, no matter how nicely you put it."
That would be true in ordinary society too, and even more so for the always-dangerous life of an adventurer.
Even if I didn't know when or in what form it would come.
One day, without fail, an unbearable crisis would come for the boy.
"If you can at least escape safely there, then that alone is already the best outcome."
But if.
What if he were cornered into a situation where escape was absolutely impossible?
What if he were placed in a situation where he must not run?
"When that happens, boy, remember these words."
In the frigid northern countries, there is a saying.
"The north wind made the Viking warrior."
For the record, Vikings exist in this world too.
Roughly speaking, they're the male version of Amazons.
"What does that... mean?"
At Bell boy's question, I simply shrugged.
I hadn't meant anything all that important by it.
Yeah.
I just wanted to say it once, okay!
"You don't need to think too deeply about it. 'Courage' is knowing 'fear.' Courage that doesn't know fear isn't courage. It's just foolish recklessness."
"Courage, fear, recklessness..."
"When there's absolutely no way to avoid it, when the moment comes that you must not avoid it. I want you to remember these words. Then the right wind will surely blow for you too. A 'golden wind' that illuminates the proper path forward."
"A golden... wind."
Haha, even I think that advice sounds like a bowl of Chinese restaurant jjamppong.
I'd thrown in every expression I could think of, and even some I couldn't, but the conclusion of what I was saying was simple.
If you can't avoid it, then enjoy it.
But don't enjoy it with your brain turned off.
Depending on how it goes, you might live. Or you might die.
What's life, really?
I'm saying this as someone who's lived three times, so it has to be right.
"All right, enough chatter. I've roughly checked your durability and reaction speed. Now let's test your strength and agility. While we're at it, go ahead and mix in that fire-arrow spell too."
"Yes! Here I go!"
And so the sparring continued.
Bell boy would charge in, and I would either evade or deflect him properly, then counter when the chance came.
When we created distance, the boy's magic would fly, and I would answer it with Gandr.
That was about the extent of it.
"Good. I've learned everything I needed to learn. This should be enough. Good work."
"Haa, haa. Thank you very much!"
After that, it became my own time to think alone.
Bell boy had gone off somewhere with Hestia and Lili tucked under both arms, at least as it looked to me, and Tiona quietly stayed beside me.
Hmm. Did she have something else she wanted to say?
"Come to think of it, Tiona, what brought you here today?"
"Huh? Ah, well..."
"Well?"
"No, it's just... I heard from Ais that you got badly hurt during the last quest. So I just thought I'd check on you... and if it came to it, maybe nurse you back to health..."
As she spoke, Tiona lowered her head, her face growing redder and redder.
Wait a second.
Could it be that I, too, had been in danger of losing my chastity without realizing it?!
No, maybe I'd stupidly kicked away a chance at fate?
No, no, but if the other party was an Amazon... then maybe it really had been dangerous?
"I'm fine. I had some pretty good potions, even if they were my own homemade ones. I wasn't hurt nearly as badly as you're imagining."
...That was a lie.
To be honest, this time's injuries had been pretty serious.
The potions I'd brought into the Dungeon had only been enough for emergency treatment.
It was the kind of injury that would have left serious aftereffects if I hadn't been admitted to the Dian Cecht Familia and treated properly as quickly as possible; that was the common opinion at the time.
Of course, I didn't get admitted anywhere and just treated myself in my own workshop.
There was no reason for me to go all the way there and bother with hospitalization when I already had a faster way to recover from injuries.
Just one special "Mayuri-style regeneration syringe," and both you and I can be cured quickly and easily, 100 percent!
Well, there were still side effects I hadn't fixed yet, like the fact that regeneration hurt like hell and cost me some lifespan afterward, but that was still manageable for now.
Ideally I should absolutely never do it... but if push came to shove, I could always just stop being human.
Then I'd definitely have to shout that line someday.
Wryyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
"By the way, how's the new Uga? Is it okay? No problems or anything?"
"Yep, it's great! I went down and used it a little while ago, and it was amazing! Tione said to thank you later too."
"That's a relief. As the maker, that's reassuring to hear."
And then I was alone with my thoughts again.
Then, looking at her, a thought suddenly came to me.
Come to think of it, I should have asked this first.
"Tiona."
"Hm? What is it, An?"
"Does your Familia have any plans to head back into the Deep Floors anytime soon?"
"Huh? How did you know? Finn did tell everyone yesterday that we'd probably be doing that soon."
"I see. So that's how it is."
I recalled the conversation between Revis and Ais from that time.
New species, monster, jewel, Deep Floors, her, Sword Princess, Aria.
As expected, I still didn't have enough information.
From Revis's reaction back then, it felt like I'd gotten close to the core of it, though.
Still, it wasn't nearly enough.
If I wanted to fully solve this mystery, I'd need more information.
After I finished Bell boy's matter quickly, I'd have to move over to this side as soon as possible.
"Tiona. Set up a meeting with your captain for me."
At that, Tiona looked at me with unexpectedly wide eyes.
"I should go too."
"An?"
Leaving her behind, I sank back into thought.
"The 59th Floor, huh."
Maybe this time I'd be able to get my hands on some pretty interesting information.
Nothing had been decided yet, of course.
"This should be pretty fun."
Man, I was getting excited like a kid the day before a field trip.
Alone, I let out a thin, sly smile.