Volume 7 Chapter 412 - Home
Ais, Riveria, Sona, Aika, and Koneko reached the 6th Floor after two days of traveling and ignoring the monsters that got in their way.
Since they can't reveal the real size of their backpacks, Aika had to carry the drop item of the Udaeus which is a 5-meter tall black sword. The same sword that Udaeus used. Since it's a very heavy sword, Aika had to use constant body strengthening during these two days. Even with Koneko's help, she is about to deplete her Reiatsu-Ki reserves, which wasn't very much to begin with. Sona also wanted to help but she's extremely lacking in the physical department even after her level up compared to before her Falna and could only watch them.
The reason she was carrying it at all is because she heard that Ais didn't have a use for this drop item. Ais asked her if she wanted to buy it, as Aika wanted to have it as a souvenir for Kisuke, but Riveria only told them to take it as a deposit for Ais's upcoming debt.
Ais looked at Riveria and wondered about the debt she'll incur as Riveria explained to her the deal she signed with Kisuke that included the check-up he'll do on her.
When the trio heard them talk about it, they had complicated expressions and thought, 'Another set of victims?'
While they were walking through the 6th Floor they suddenly came across an unconscious Adventurer, lying on the floor of the Dungeon face down, when they turned a corner. And due to his white hair, the trio immediately guessed who this young Adventurer is, "Cranel-san?" Sona muttered as the group approached him.
Koneko turned him over and let the others inspect him. Riveria immediately diagnosed him and said, "Mind Zero."
Sona nodded at her words, "What a reckless guy."
"It's a common story. New Adventurers getting excited when they've just awakened their magic and would immediately trying it in the Dungeon without any regard to the consequences it may bring. This child is pretty lucky that we came across him before the monsters cut him limb to limb." Riveria added.
Ais only looked at the white-haired Adventurer with curiosity and wondered why no one had warned him.
Sona guessed what she was thinking and said, "It's probably because he came from a very small Familia. It's already pretty late in the evening outside the Dungeon, this guy probably couldn't wait to try his magic and came down here in secret when everyone was already asleep, so nobody was able to warn him."
After noting that nothing else is wrong with him aside from 'Mind Zero' and without waiting for anyone's instruction, Koneko grabbed Bell's right arm and started dragging him without any mercy, "…Let's go."
Everyone was a bit dumbfounded at her actions but immediately followed her thinking that this was also fine.
Once they reached the top, the giant sword that Aika is dragging caught a lot of attention, despite not having many people there. Riveria had to explain that Ais got it after defeating the Monster Rex of the 37th Floor. The Guild then offered help to deliver it for them and the group accepted it to be delivered to the Candy Shop beside the Abandoned Church.
The Guild staff became confused about why they wanted to bring it there but they still followed their instructions and worked on it properly. Koneko left the unconscious Bell to the Guild employees who're doing the night shift. They then said goodbye with each other under the lights of evening stars and moon, "Riveria-san, Ais-san. Thank you for accepting our selfishness." Sona started.
"We learned a lot during this exploration. Thank you." Aika added.
"My Ki control became a lot better after going against those monsters." Koneko also added.
Riveria shook her head, "No. It should be us that is thankful. I learned a lot and anticipate more about what Kisuke will teach me."
Ais nodded, "After some thinking, I figured that my wind really does have the freedom that I just ignored all this time because it's enchantment magic. Thank you."
Sone smiled, "Is that so? Well then. Goodnight." "Goodnight~." "…Goodnight."
"Goodnight. See you tomorrow." Riveria said.
"Goodnight…" Ais also bid her farewell.
They then separated and started walking towards opposite directions. But after just a few steps, Aika suddenly remembered something and turned around, "Ah, Ais-san. A moment please."
Riveria and Ais turned around curiously and looked towards Aika.
"I don't know what you're going through and why you're rushing things. I also don't know whether this will help you or not, but I want to pass you what Kisuke told me last time when he was training me." Aika then cleared her throat before continuing, "He said when I thought that my progress was getting slower, 'Stagnation is part of getting stronger. If your strength is stagnating, it means it's time for you to refine and understand your current strength. Just going forward forcefully will only stagnate you more in the future because of your lack of understanding.' That's all~."
Aika then turned around and tried to catch up to the still walking Sona and Koneko, "Hey! Wait for me!"
On the other hand, Riveria and Ais were frozen on the spot and had their eyes widened after hearing Aika's words, "Stagnating is part of getting stronger?" Ais muttered.
Riveria recovered and sighed, "That's the exact opposite of every Adventurers' goal. Once your basic abilities start stagnating, you should level. However, thinking about her words again, she indeed makes sense…"
Ais then turned around and started walking towards the Twilight Manor without uttering a word.
.
.
Sona, Aika, and Koneko came back to the underground hideout and saw that aside from Hestia, everyone is still awake and is chilling in the living room, "We're back~." Aika greeted everyone with a smile.
"Welcome back." Yoruichi stood up from her seat and gave each one of them a hug, "How was it?"
"It was fun~." Aika answered.
"I learned a lot." Koneko also responded.
"I also learned a lot and understood Loki Familia… Well at least, the members that came with us." Sona added.
"I see. What do you think of them?" Yoruichi asked.
"Tiona is just a simple-minded girl. Tione, on the other hand, is also the same as long as it's about their Captain, Finn. Riveria is just like an adult looking out for everyone's well being while Ais is like a child that only knows a few things in the world… Her mindset is strange."
"Lastly, Finn Deimne. It's hard to trust him. Although he's a good person, he looks like the type of person that would only care about certain individuals. I don't like him."
Yoruichi laughed and patted her head, "That's good."
Garan
28th00
Editors and Author's Corner:
28th00: I'm gonna find a way to hurt you if you keep messing up In/On and 's. I edit the edits so I can edit while I edit. Bell's plot armour is so thick it's scary, he's gonna get absolutely destroyed by Eina, while in immense pain from being dragged up 6 floors. Some might call that, Karma.
Goyya: Please forgive me for those mistakes! It's not much of an excuse, but I can only write these days before I sleep and that's around 11 PM to 1 AM and I have to get up around 5 AM. And Bell… His plot armor is truly OP but he won't be making much sound as he did in the canon. He'll be drowned by the Trio and Kisuke.
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