What Do You Move Forward For?

Riezel might not have known that, at the very beginning, when Lefiya learned that Loki and the Familia's leaders had found her a partner and arranged for her to form a party with a newcomer to the Familia to enter the Dungeon, she had resolved to grow.

Because Lefiya knew very well what problems she had.

Unlike the other Familia executives, who had started out as adventurers, were accustomed to fighting monsters, and had even experienced fiercer battles to the death, Lefiya had come from the School District. Put plainly, she had once been an honors student raised in an ivory tower, and her way of thinking and resolve were vastly different from those of senior adventurers who risked their lives every day.

Before joining the Loki Familia, Lefiya had grown up in an exceptionally sheltered environment. Moreover, by the time she became an adventurer, she was already an Upper Class Adventurer who had leveled up. As a result, Lefiya was actually very unsuited to overly intense battles.

On top of that, she was a dedicated rear guard and naturally prone to nervousness. Under normal circumstances, she was fine once battle began, but if anything unexpected happened, Lefiya's heart would leap into her throat, and she would be unable to calm down for a long while.

For a mage, that was undoubtedly fatal.

After all, mages were a class that used magic as their primary means of combat. Chanting spells and casting magic were the only things every mage could do.

Yet chanting magic generally required an exceptionally stable mind and mental state. Otherwise, how could one smoothly and fluently recite a spell's incantation?

When using magic, one had to maintain a steady state of mind, a calm spirit, and an unruffled heart. Only then could one continue chanting without panic when monsters attacked right in front of them, refine mental power into magic power, successfully cast magic, and wipe out the enemy.

Thus, although mages appeared to be merely rear guards who stayed in safe places and cast magic, in reality, they needed stronger nerves than vanguards and mid-line fighters.

In that regard, Lefiya was clearly lacking.

More than once, she had lost her composure in battle and failed to cast her magic.

That was precisely why Lefiya felt that she truly did not deserve the attention of the Familia's leaders and executives, much less the title of genius.

Finn and the others often tried to guide Lefiya, and even the Familia's First Class Adventurers regarded her highly. They readily extended a hand to her without picking at her flaws, allowing her to join the executives' teams and circles and act alongside them, yet Lefiya still often became so nervous that she forgot to chant her magic.

Therefore, Lefiya had always believed that she could not keep up with the First Class Adventurers and that being with them only held them back.

With that mindset, Lefiya had no complaints when she was paired with a Lv. 1 newcomer to the Familia. She did not dare regard herself as a senior in the slightest. Even though her level was higher than Riezel's, she had ventured with him in the spirit of seeking guidance.

That was right. Lefiya had wanted to take the opportunity of teaming up with Riezel to properly train herself and correct her flaws.

She had also valued this opportunity greatly. Teaming up with high-level executives meant holding them back, while teaming up with Familia comrades of the same level might cause trouble for others. Under those circumstances, exploring with a newcomer whose level was lower than hers and figuring out how to fight together suited Lefiya far better.

But the outcome had been far from satisfactory.

No, it had not even been remotely satisfactory. Her performance had undoubtedly been awful.

Whenever Lefiya recalled how Riezel had rescued her several times yesterday, and how panicked and helpless she had looked, she felt deeply ashamed.

And when Riezel had fought the Crocodile Dragon to the death, she, as a rear-guard mage, should have looked for an opportunity to cast magic and help Riezel defeat that powerful enemy. Yet in the end, she had remained off to the side, foolishly watching and completely unable to react.

By contrast, although Riezel had been weaker than his opponent and was a newcomer who had only debuted less than a week ago, he had never shown the slightest hint of fear. Instead, he had faced the challenge head-on, unafraid of death, and put on an unprecedented feat of defiance.

That bearing, that brilliance—Lefiya had to admit that the impression and impact he left on her at the time had been unimaginably immense.

For a moment, Lefiya had even seen the figure of the person she admired in Riezel.

Those two figures had already overlapped to some extent in Lefiya's heart.

Compared to that, her own performance had been utterly dreadful.

Once she understood that, Lefiya had fallen into deep self-loathing after returning home, unable to pull herself free.

"Someone like me only holds others back wherever I go." Lefiya lowered her head and said dejectedly, "Mister Riezel should team up with more capable Familia companions so he won't be dragged down."

By then, Lefiya's tone was no longer merely dejected. It carried a hint of self-torment and inferiority as well.

A stifling silence settled over the reception room, making the atmosphere almost unbearable.

Just as Lefiya could not help wanting to flee, Riezel finally spoke.

"Lefiya," Riezel asked, "what did you become an adventurer for?"

Lefiya froze slightly at those words and could not help raising her head to look at Riezel.

Before Lefiya, Riezel looked straight at her, his gaze and expression both exceptionally calm.

"I..."

Lefiya was at a loss.

What had she become an adventurer for?

"Some do it for wealth."

"Some do it for fame."

"Some do it for strength."

"Some do it to survive."

"Everyone who chooses to become an adventurer has their own reasons and wishes. Otherwise, no one would choose a job where they could lose their life at any moment."

Riezel's voice was remarkably quiet, giving off an indescribable feeling.

"What about you? What is your reason?"

That question left Lefiya speechless for a time.

"Can't answer?"

Riezel was not surprised. He merely said so.

"Yes." Lefiya involuntarily lowered her head again, her voice as soft as a mosquito's. "I-I don't know why either."

Lefiya truly could not say.

It felt like there was a reason, but that reason must have been insignificant—that was what Lefiya thought.

Perhaps—

"Perhaps you just haven't found a reason you can steadfastly tell others about—a reason that wouldn't let you down, wouldn't let anyone else down, and would make you proud of yourself." As though he had seen through Lefiya's thoughts, Riezel said, "But that's fine. Sooner or later, you'll find that reason yourself."

"And when you find that reason, you'll realize that you can do what others can do too."

"In the end, that's the only difference between you and me."

Riezel's words sounded profoundly deep to Lefiya.

Yet for some reason, she felt that she must not forget them.

Especially when Riezel wore such a calm expression as he spoke those words.

"When a reason arises that makes it necessary for you to act, the courage you lack will surely arise with it."

"You can be lost. You can be confused. But never numb yourself and drift along with the current."

"That's truly frightening."

When Riezel said those words, they carried an indescribable power of persuasion.

Unfortunately, Lefiya had no chance to delve into why.

"You're still immature—that's certainly true. But I'm not strong enough either, so we're about even." At last, a faint smile appeared on Riezel's face as he said to Lefiya, "I think we should just keep teaming up like this. Do you feel differently?"

"O-Of course not!" Lefiya hurriedly shook her head like a rattle. After hesitating for a moment, she timidly asked again, "Can I really do this?"

Riezel did not answer. He merely looked at Lefiya, his eyes conveying everything.

Seeing that, Lefiya drew a deep breath.

Right then, Lefiya made up her mind once more that she had to grow.

So as not to let herself down.

So as not to let down the Female Swordsman she admired.

And also, so as not to let down the teammate before her, who overlapped somewhat with the person she admired.

Twilight Manor, central courtyard.

After parting with Lefiya, Riezel returned to his room, brought along the shortsword he used as a secondary weapon, and came here.

However, by the time Riezel arrived, someone was already there.

Whoosh!

The golden-haired Female Swordsman held a silver longsword and swung it as though dancing, the sharp sounds of slicing wind ringing out without pause.

Riezel stood there and watched for a while before noticing that she had stopped.

Ais no longer swung her sword, but neither did she sheath it. She simply stood there, turned her head, and looked toward Riezel, who had entered the courtyard.

The two looked at each other, and for a moment, neither chose to speak.

After a long while—

"Want to spar?"

Ais abruptly made that suggestion, catching Riezel slightly off guard.

Ais's expression did not change in the slightest.

"You came here to move around, didn't you?" Ais said. "To get used to your body after your strength increased so much."

"You noticed?" Riezel fell silent for a moment before saying helplessly, "Looks like I made it pretty obvious."

"Mm." Ais nodded. "For someone else, it might not be such a big problem. But your increase in strength was a little too great. Your movements are obviously Uncoordinated enough that it could affect you in battle."

After all, Riezel had achieved an unprecedented SSS across all abilities when he Leveled Up.

Before leveling up, his highest basic ability had only reached Rank B. This time, all his abilities had surged to SSS at once, and he had advanced to Lv. 2. On top of that, he had gained the combat-type Development Ability, Light Armor, which enhanced Dexterity and Agility—and its level had been raised by the effects of Endless Path. The increase in Riezel's strength this time had truly been enormous, so great that he had no choice but to adjust to it.

"Want to spar?"

Ais made the suggestion again.

"Sure."

Naturally, Riezel had no objections. He nodded firmly.

Before long, the sound of blades clashing echoed through the central courtyard as well.

Riezel continued to grow fiercely and rapidly.

Just as his skill suggested, as though there would never be an end in sight.