Early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking.
Standing at the entrance to the familia, Lefia was saying goodbye to her companions.
"We'll be heading out first, then."
"Okay, go on ahead!"
Watching her companions' backs gradually disappear, Lefia stood there and complained nonstop, "Why hasn't Mr. Emiya come yet?"
The girl standing at the gate had already watched several groups of companions leave.
"Sorry, Lefia. I'm late."
Speak of the devil, and he appeared. As if he had heard Lefia's complaints, Mr. Shirou's somewhat hurried voice came from beside her.
"It's nothing. I haven't been waiting that long, anyway."
The girl, who had actually been waiting for quite some time, told a well-intentioned lie so he wouldn't feel bad.
Still, it was a little strange. Why had Mr. Emiya returned from outside the Loki Familia?
Looking at the fully armed Shirou Emiya before her, Lefia thought in confusion.
"Sorry, sorry. Preparing the weapons took a little longer than expected."
Walking up to Lefia, Shirou Emiya said with a smile, "Then let's go!"
With that, the two of them headed toward the Dungeon.
"Mr. Emiya, were you up early to prepare the weapons?"
As they walked along the quiet streets, Lefia questioned Shirou Emiya, who was walking ahead of her.
"That's right. I didn't prepare beforehand, but I managed to finish them, at least."
Gently stroking the newly forged weapon on his back, Shirou Emiya couldn't help recalling the scene of his conversation with Riveria the previous night.
"You want me to help Lefia change?"
Looking at Riveria, Shirou Emiya asked in confusion. He had just finished bathing and was about to return to his room to rest.
"That's right. Although Lefia is Level 3, she had almost never fought monsters before. She had already reached Level 3 before coming to Orario. Therefore, whether in mindset or experience, she falls far behind adventurers of the same level."
"But her talent is astonishing. In terms of attack power alone, she can already rival a Level 5. That's why I've been paying special attention to her."
"Although we want to help her, the gap in levels makes it impossible to keep her by our side and influence her through observation. Among the familia members of her level, there's also no suitable candidate. But I think you can do it."
Hearing Riveria's request, Shirou Emiya agreed after a moment of thought.
Of course, Shirou Emiya, who knew how things would unfold in the future, knew how strong the reliable Lefia could become. If he could train her ahead of time, it would be a tremendous help to both the familia and himself.
Besides, she was a companion from the same familia.
After entering the Dungeon, Shirou Emiya led Lefia forward continuously. They did not stop until they reached the Tenth Floor.
Looking at the foggy terrain around them, Lefia was somewhat puzzled.
"Mr. Emiya, are we starting our exploration from the Tenth Floor?"
One of them was Level 2 and the other was Level 3. Wasn't coming to the Tenth Floor a little excessive for them?
"That's right. We're starting from the Tenth Floor, but you won't be acting as a mage. You'll be acting as a warrior."
"As a warrior?"
Completely confused by now, Lefia stared at Shirou Emiya bewilderedly. Then she saw him draw the long staff she had been watching all the way there from behind his back.
After tearing off the cloth wrapped around it, Lefia discovered that it was actually a spear.
"Lefia, I've heard about your problems from Riveria. Your biggest problem is still one of trust. As the mage in a party, everyone will protect you, and all you need to do is chant and use your magic to finish off every enemy."
As he spoke, Shirou Emiya tossed the spear in his hand to Lefia. In her panic, Lefia dropped her staff while trying to catch it.
Seeing that Lefia had caught the spear, Shirou Emiya continued, "But trust requires gradual adjustment. As for your problem, I have another idea."
"What should I do?"
Lefia stared intently at Shirou Emiya. As someone who had always been protected, she had always wanted to change.
"Start as a warrior!"
"A warrior?"
Looking at the spear in her hands, Lefia kept mulling over the word.
"You're unable to chant because you're afraid of monsters. In the end, that's simply an expression of cowardice and a lack of confidence. When faced with an approaching monster, you don't have the confidence to hold it off with close-quarters combat while waiting for your teammates to rescue you. You don't even have the confidence to dodge its attacks."
"That's because you have no close-combat ability at all. You should know that many elves are skilled in magical combat. They fight their opponents in close quarters while chanting their magic. Therefore, I think it's completely necessary for you to train in close combat. That can strengthen your confidence."
As a magus from the Type-Moon world, Shirou Emiya had grasped the essence of magi deeply. Not only could he fight Servants in close combat, even Rin Tohsaka was highly skilled in Baji Quan.
They didn't call her "Demon Muscle Rin" for nothing.
In the UBW route, Rin Tohsaka had used Baji Quan to teach Medea, a mage from the Age of Gods, a lesson.
In the Type-Moon world, self-defense techniques were standard equipment for modern magi.
Taking off the backpack from his back, Shirou Emiya pulled out a set of Light Armor.
"I modified this from one of my previous test pieces. It would be better if you wore it, since you don't have any combat experience."
With that, Shirou Emiya helped Lefia put on the Light Armor.
Looking at the Light Armor she wore and the spear in her hand, Lefia immediately understood why Shirou Emiya had been late. He had gone to prepare equipment for her.
For a moment, various feelings of gratitude welled up in her heart.
"Thank you, Mr. Emiya!"
"Since you're thanking me, don't be so formal. Just call me Shirou."
Standing to the side and admiring Lefia's heroic appearance in her armor, Shirou Emiya replied with a smile.
There was no denying that beautiful people looked good in anything. She truly was an elf renowned for her beauty and magic.
"Thank you, Shi-Shi... Mr. Shirou!"
"Do you really have to add 'Mr.'?"
Looking at Lefia's flushed cheeks, Shirou Emiya couldn't help teasing her.
She's really cute!
"All right, Lefia. The enemies are coming."
Seeing the Half-Orc and Little Devil approaching from a distance, Shirou Emiya hurriedly warned her.
"Huh?"
Looking at the monsters gradually drawing closer, Lefia's hands and legs began trembling involuntarily.
Although she had barely encountered any problems when fighting in the Upper and Middle Floors before, she had been acting as a mage then—the rear guard of the party, safely positioned away from danger.
But now, she was a warrior!
Lefia, who had never been so close to a monster before, instantly grew tense.
Her hands and feet refused to obey her.
"What should I do?"
Just as Lefia became so nervous that she could barely breathe, a flash of silver passed by and cleaved the Half-Orc in front of her in two.
"Mr. Shirou!"
Lefia, who had been saved, shouted excitedly. Then she saw Shirou Emiya's figure darting left and right among the monsters, until the many monsters were reduced to just one.
"Raise the weapon in your hands, Lefia!"
"The enemy is only Level 1, while you're a Level 3 of the Loki Familia! Believe in your abilities. Even if you have no combat experience, the overwhelming difference in stats can't be erased. Victory is inevitable."
Hearing Shirou Emiya's encouragement, Lefia's resolve gradually grew firm.
Raising the spear in her hands, Lefia charged at the remaining Half-Orc.
"Ahhh!!!"
Using her own shout to work up her courage, Lefia had closed her eyes in nervousness by the time she reached the monster.
She felt the sensation of something being pierced. Hearing the monster's wail beside her, the nervous Lefia finally opened her eyes.
She then saw the Half-Orc she had impaled with a single thrust gradually turn to ash.
"I did it, Mr. Shirou! I did it!"
Overcome with excitement, Lefia dropped the spear in her hands and jumped up and down on the spot.
"Mm. Well done."
As Lefia blushed, Shirou Emiya gently patted her on the head.
Looking at her, Shirou Emiya felt as if he were seeing his own little sister.
This is nice.
Before you continue