“Are we… going to fight?”
“Yeah, I want to spar.”
“But what if someone gets hurt…?”
“Is that my fault?”
Seigel’s smile faded.
“Let’s use this instead of going all out.”
With that, Seigel picked up two sticks that were lying around.
“A light touch will do. If either of us says we give up, that’s the end.”
Seigel pretended to strike his own head with the stick. I was already feeling sleepy and thought it was a hassle, but the serious look on Seigel’s face made it hard to back down.
“Just a little is fine.”
“Okay, then let’s do it over there.”
We moved away from where we had been resting and faced each other, ready to begin.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
Seigel taunted me with a wave of his hand. I worried about what would happen if I accidentally went too hard. Just as I was lost in thought, Seigel charged at me. The way he wielded the stick was so intense that it felt like he was going to stab me in the chest.
I pulled back to dodge, and as I lightly deflected Seigel’s stick, I closed the distance and pointed my stick at his throat. I thought I had relaxed enough, but the wind pressure almost crushed his throat.
“Ugh… cough cough…”
“I’m so sorry!”
“Cough… no, it’s fine. I give up…”
Seigel raised both hands in surrender.
“That’s why you were able to take down that sword-wielding guy.”
Scratching his head, Seigel gazed into the darkness of the cliff.
“You’re amazing, Rua. With that level of skill, you can usually get your way. But let me give you one piece of advice.”
Seigel paused for a moment to take a deep breath.
“That’s why you should lose at least once. Those who have never faced failure often find it hard to recover when they finally do. The world is vast; there will always be someone who surpasses you. Travel and broaden your horizons.”
“Once? It’s not just once for me.”
I was surprised at how much anger was in my voice. Seigel’s thoughtless comment was infuriating. He quickly turned to face me, and I felt like there was fear in his eyes.
“I cried countless times for losing to the Cave Rabbits in the Abyss Cave. Just when I thought I had won, I lost to a bat. I lost and lost until I finally won and thought I had gained confidence, only to be wrapped up by a giant spider’s web. I somehow managed to escape. I even fled from a dog with four massive heads. I can’t even remember how many times I lost. I cried out of frustration so many times. But there was no one to comfort me. I’ve been fighting alone and losing all this time. That’s why I don’t want to lose anymore. I’ve fought to gain the strength to never lose again. Are you telling me to lose even more?”
Seigel was silent for a while. He looked away, lost in thought.
“I’m sorry.”
Seigel dramatically bowed down to the ground. I never expected him to go that far.
“Please forgive my thoughtless words. I said that because I recognize your strength. I won’t do anything to tarnish that pride in the future.”
“N-No need to go that far…”
“This is how it is.”
Seigel continued to bow down. Feeling guilty, I decided to cut it short and head back to my sleeping spot. When I looked back, Seigel was still in that position.
“Um, I’ve already forgiven you.”
“Really?”
After confirming it a second time, Seigel seemed to decide to go to sleep as well. He trusted that I would wake up if any monsters approached. With that trust, he fell into a deep sleep, snoring loudly. I kicked him lightly, but he just smiled in his sleep, looking rather unpleasant. Meanwhile, the other two were peacefully sleeping. I grumbled internally about how his snoring might attract monsters, and forced myself to sleep.
“Roel, do you want to eat this?”
“Yes, yes! Crunch crunch!”
Cynthia seemed to be enjoying feeding the animals. Perhaps it was amusing to see them gobble everything up. By now, she had nearly consumed half of her snacks.
“Here, open wide!”
“Munch munch.”
“Hey, let me have a turn too!”
“More importantly, look ahead!”
This playful banter continued. Occasionally, monsters appeared, but they were no big deal, so I found myself dozing off.
【Moonlight Monkey appeared! HP 73】
【Swooping Bird appeared! HP 49】
【Slash Cat appeared! HP 42】
The Swooping Bird flew away, and Roel, unable to hit it with her Fire Rod, started swinging her staff around in frustration. Even when I jumped in to take it down for her, she puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. The remaining two monsters were taken down by Seigel, who was eager to show off his skills, but Cynthia scolded him to focus on the carriage.
“Rua, you’re too strong!”
“Really…? Mmm!”
Every time I performed well, I was hugged like this. Roel, seeing this, countered by hugging me tightly as well.
“I healed you, so you should be fine now.”
Roel used Heal unnecessarily, even though I wasn’t injured. Maybe it was because she felt robbed of her chance to shine after I took down the bird. It’s amazing how much difference one Fire Rod can make.
“Tonight, we’ll stay at Kizel Inn, which is halfway through the canyon.”
“Exactly! That’s the only reason this canyon is worth visiting!”
“What is Kizel Inn? Is there really an inn out here?”
“There is! And it has hot springs! It’s run by retired A-Rank adventurers, so it’s safe enough to keep the Floor Monsters away!”
“Even though they used to be adventurers, there are people like that… I can’t quit being an adventurer because it’s too much fun.”
I didn’t know any other enjoyable things besides being an adventurer, so I couldn’t understand that feeling. But if Roel suggested running an inn together, I would hesitate. Not just hesitate, I would really struggle with that decision.
“There are quite a few, you know. Not just Kizel Inn, but there are shops set up in the middle of dangerous areas. Of course, some of them charge exorbitant prices.”
“I heard that one of the Seven Mysteries of Adventurers is that monsters rarely attack towns. Maybe there’s a reason for that, right, Rua?”
Cynthia seemed to have come to a realization. Even when she turned to me, I was at a loss because I still had so much to learn. Monsters rarely attacked towns. Then why was my village destroyed? Every time I remembered, anger bubbled up inside me.
“The road to the Royal Capital is treacherous… I bet others have a hard time too.”
Roel seemed to sense my mood and changed the subject.
“Excluding Floor Monsters, even a C-Rank adventurer party doesn’t face too much danger. Those who are clever can even make it through alone.”
I wondered how Truppo managed to get through, especially since Gantetsu was a bit of a wild card. I wasn’t trying to speak ill of Truppo, but facing two or three monsters would surely be tough for her.
“The monsters here are susceptible to sleep magic. There are plenty of effective methods beyond that.”
Seigel’s explanation made sense. I couldn’t use any of those spells, so it was a blind spot for me.
“However, the Great Ape, which is a Floor Monster, is dangerous. If a C-Rank adventurer party encounters it, they have no choice but to run for their lives. Yet, so many foolish adventurers challenge it and lose their lives.”
Seigel’s tone dropped for a moment, revealing the grim reality of how many adventurers had perished.
“Exactly! We, the weak citizens, can only rely on adventurers to get through places like this.”
“That makes me a prince on a white horse, huh? Unfortunately, my horse is brown.”
“Look ahead.”
“Yes.”
Cynthia unleashed a merciless attack on Seigel, who turned around and flashed a bright smile. She was kind to us but seemed particularly harsh on him.
After a day of traveling by carriage, a sign appeared in the otherwise monotonous scenery.
“Ah, we finally arrived. Kizel Inn.”
Next to the sign was a stone-paved road. Beyond the space wide enough for the carriage, there stood a large wooden building with a triangular roof. There was a parking area for carriages beside the inn, and it looked like there were already a few parked there. It seemed some people had arrived before us.
“We finally made it! The food here is delicious! For example, the Teriyaki Sauce Swooping Bird! Ah, I’m already drooling just thinking about it.”
Could the Swooping Bird be the monster we defeated on the way here? It didn’t look very appetizing, but seeing Cynthia’s genuine drool made me think it must be delicious.
“Alright, you must be tired. I’ll handle the check-in, so you all go enjoy the hot springs.”
“Okay!”
Following Cynthia, Roel dashed into the inn without hesitation.
“You’re full of energy. It reminds me of my younger days.”
“If you’re envious, why not make a comeback now, Owner?”
I couldn’t sense any battle-hardened aura from the middle-aged owner. Like Kouzo, he might have been away from the front lines for quite some time.
“Honestly, just driving away the monsters around here is enough. Though, it’s gotten so quiet lately that I find it a bit lonely.”
“As expected of the ‘Firepower Artillery Bloom.’ Is that strong bow of yours still in good shape?”
“Among the younger crowd, you might be the only one who knows my name. In fact, none of the adventurers staying here even knew who I was.”
“That’s sad. Ignorance is innocence, but lack of knowledge is a crime. Knowing about great predecessors is a significant step toward becoming a proper adventurer.”
“Is that young lady over there an adventurer too? But she seems like quite a young escort for you.”
Bloom chuckled quietly as he looked at me. I wondered if he was still strong, and what exactly a firepower artillery was.
“I never touch fruits that aren’t ripe yet.”
“Alright, then the other three can stay in this room.”
“Ah, if we share a room, my life would be in danger. Hey, Lua, why don’t you go take a dip in the hot springs instead of hanging around here?”
I had been dazedly watching their exchange, but it was true that there was no point in staying here. I chased after the two of them toward the hot springs.
“Oh, the room number is 013!”
I almost forgot, but Seigel’s thoughtfulness was a relief for us. A few adventurers were relaxing in the rest area along the way. They were happily chatting and showing off their Adventurer Cards. I paused for a moment to observe them. One of the adventurers looked at me suspiciously. Not wanting to be questioned, I hurriedly decided to leave.
///
“Ahh~, paradise…”
“The outdoor bath feels so refreshing.”
“I took my first bath outside in Roel’s room.”
Surrounded by rocks, the hot spring offered a breathtaking view. I had never seen such a panorama of valleys and mountains before. The rising steam mingled with the outside air, creating a unique atmosphere.
“Are you living with Roel, Lua-chan?”
“Yeah, I don’t have a home.”
“Oh, I see. That sounds a bit suspicious.”
Cynthia grinned mischievously. I wondered what was so suspicious. She was comparing me and Roel back and forth.
“Roel’s development is quite impressive, while it seems all the nutrients for your chest have been converted into combat power, Lua-chan.”
“W-What do you mean by that?”
“This one right here.”
Cynthia poked Roel’s chest with her finger.
“Hyah!”
“Oh, what a nice reaction!”
Roel covered her chest with both hands. Perhaps it was from the long soak, but her face was flushed.
“Is there any benefit to having a big chest? It seems like it would just get in the way during battles.”
“Ah, yeah. Lua-chan, just stay as you are. Please.”
Both of them were certainly bigger than me. But I didn’t feel envious. I couldn’t understand why Cynthia was so fixated on chests.
“Thanks for the honey the other day. Thanks to you, the royal jelly sold like hotcakes.”
“Right, I was thinking I wanted to try some too…”
“Since it’s not a snack, you might want to reconsider if that’s your mindset. It’s technically a recovery item, and it costs 400G each.”
“Four hundred?!”
Like Roel, I stumbled over my words this time. Four hundred G for one meant it was more expensive than an Iron Sword. Did it really have that much effect?
“Just one will replenish your stamina and magic power. I want to try it too, but it’s just too expensive.”
“If it’s the two of you, I can give you one each for free. Of course, after we get to the Royal Capital.”
“Really? Let’s do our best!”
“Hey, hey, hey, you better do your best regardless. The reward for the escort request is separate, you know?”
Cynthia splashed water at me by flicking her fingers. I was starting to feel a bit lightheaded, so I thought it was about time to get out when suddenly—
【Moonlight Monkey appeared! HP 73】
“Wha—?! This guy is peeping! Kill him! Both of you, kill him!”
“B-but I left my Fire Rod behind…”
“Fight naked!”
“Okay!”
“No way! That’s indecent!”
Just as I was about to charge at the monkey standing on the rocks, Roel pulled my arm.
“Why?!”
“Lua-chan, you’re a girl!”
“Fine! I get it! Plasma Shot!”
【Lua cast Plasma Shot!
Dealt 123742 damage to the Moonlight Monkey!
Defeated the Moonlight Monkey! HP 0/73】
The monkey was engulfed in an electric blast and vanished without a trace.
“Lua-chan, you can use magic too… but that’s not the strength of a C-Rank, is it?”
“Roel, I wish you hadn’t interfered.”
“Could you at least be a little embarrassed… geez.”
Roel was being so carefree. In the Abyss Cave, such things were an everyday occurrence, and if she kept saying that, she’d end up getting killed.
///
“F- Floor Monster attacked… my comrades!”
Seigel, who had been heading to the hot springs to recover from fatigue, remained unfazed by the ominous news. When an injured adventurer rushed into the inn, Bloom quickly administered first aid. Once the resident priest healed his wounds, he was finally in a state to talk.
“Calm down, I’ll go.”
“Could it be the Dragon Hunter, Seigel?! I can’t believe I’d run into you here…”
Ignoring the astonished reactions of the spectators in the inn, Seigel dashed out, avoiding any unnecessary exchanges.
“What should I do… my comrades… they’re going to be killed… Please, help me! I’m begging you!”
“Seigel will handle it. You know his strength; he ranks among the top A-Ranks, right? He’s capable enough to defeat Floor Monsters without needing a party… that’s what the top A-Ranks are like.”
Though he managed to keep his life, the adventurer trembled, likely from fear, as Bloom tried to calm him down. Still, the adventurer’s teeth chattered uncontrollably.
Monster Compendium
【Swooping Bird HP 49】
A hyena bird from Kizel Valley. It typically doesn’t attack humans, but recently it seems to have developed a taste for flesh and now attacks those passing through the valley. Its beak is powerful enough to rip human flesh apart.
【Slash Cat HP 42】
A cat that was abandoned and evolved over time to survive in harsh conditions. It is larger than a normal cat, and its claws can easily tear through cheap armor.