Volume 8 Chapter 454 - Before Descending
Almost everyone was already resting when Gareth saw that Tiona was still practicing with her claymore, "Hmm, as expected. It just feels off when it isn't my Urga."
Gareth approached her and said, "Didn't I tell everyone to have a proper rest?"
"Ah, Gareth." Tiona turned to him with a smile, "But then, I just can't keep still… My body's too restless."
"Is it because of that young Adventurer we met on the way down? Or is it those three, in particular, that sword that you held earlier?"
"Yup~! That white-haired boy is awesome! He was taking risks like the heroes found in fairy tales! Even though he knew he was fighting an opponent stronger than himself, he fought and won! Tomorrow, I want to fight just as that boy did! And in doing so, protect Ais and Lefiya!" Tiona excitedly said while swinging her weapon.
"Are you saying that you're not impressed by those three? They did something even more amazing than that boy, you know, and you should have witnessed it." Gareth asked in confusion.
"Of course I am! They're amazing! And more amazing than that boy! However…" Tiona then stopped moving.
"Hmm?"
"They're amazing… However, I can't see myself in them. They're amazing, but I can't put myself in their shoes, unlike that young Adventurer. That boy is an Adventurer which you can find and easily imagine. On the other hand, those three… It's as if they're following entirely different rules. You can't judge them through normal means."
"Hmm… I see." Gareth nodded.
"You agree?"
"I haven't seen how they fight for real so I can't really make an accurate judgment, however, both Finn and I asked Riveria, who's close with them about the Hestia Familia. Although she can't tell any concrete information due to agreements between Loki and Hestia, she told us one thing which I couldn't understand until I talked to you."
"What is it?"
"She said, 'In the near future, we might have to change the way we fight and use our strength. I think it won't be an exaggeration to say that a new era is upon us.' I've also seen her using chantless magic a few times so it's safe to assume that her words might be correct."
Tiona stopped for a moment before looking up to the 50th Floor's ceiling, "I guess we have to prepare ourselves to adapt later on."
Gareth, while combing his beard, replied, "True. That Elf is already ahead of us. We can't be left behind too much."
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In another part of the camp, Lefiya was mumbling to herself, "I won't be a burden to Ais and the others… I can't be a burden to them… I can't fail… I can't fail tomorrow." When someone suddenly patted her shoulder from behind, "Hyaaa!?"
"You're too tense, you know?" Tione smiled wryly at the panicking Elf.
"Tione-san!? When did you…!?"
"Erm… Please be more aware of your surroundings." Tione then sighed while scratching her head, "I guess it was good that the Captain told me to come and look for you."
"Eh… The Captain did…?"
"It's nothing." Tione shook her head, "It's nothing. More importantly, what were you doing?"
With swimming eyes, Lefiya replied with her soft voice, "Ah… Erm… To make sure I don't fail tomorrow, I was meditating."
Tione then suddenly grabbed her head and turned it to her, "Lefiya."
"Y… Yesh!"
"Don't you remember what Ais said on the 51st Floor? We will protect you, Lefiya, so take it easy and relax. And in return, what will protect us is…" Tione didn't continue and let Lefiya finish the sentence.
"…My… magic…!" Lefiya's expression then became serious and nodded.
With a smile, Tione let go of her head, "If you're still worried, shall I sleep together with you?
"Err… Erm… Ah… Is that alright?"
"Of course! If you're alright with that, shall we sneak into the Captain's tent?" Tione then suddenly began her sales talk, "By using the Captain as a hugging pillow, I feel that I'll definitely be able to fight in top form tomorrow!"
"Erm… That's a bit…"
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In another part, someone similar to Lefiya was having a nervous breakdown, "This is bad… This is bad…" Raul was muttering in the corner of the storage tent where he was preparing for tomorrow.
"Hey, Raul… Get it together." A black-haired cat person called out to him from behind.
"A-Aki…"
"This isn't the first time you're going beyond the 51st Floor, right? You've been able to return alive several times, so have some confidence in yourself." Anakitty Autumn, a Level 4 of the Loki Familia reprimanded him.
However, it wasn't effective on Raul, "Ugh… But if those new types attack us again, I'll probably die this time around… Aki… If I don't return, I'd like you to send the savings I've hidden in my room back to my family in my hometown."
Sighing, Aki muttered, "Jeez… Not this again."
Line, who was preparing together with them, suddenly asked, "Erm… Are the floors below 51 really that dangerous?"
Answering to that, Raul started muttering, "Regardless of how many lives I have, it wouldn't be enough. Below the 52nd Floor of the Dungeon is hell. All the experience you may have had above the 50th Floor does not apply there."
Thanks to that, everyone from the supporting group became nervous and scared.
However, a voice from the outside suddenly resounded, "Raul. Don't scare the people around you any more than necessary, or you'll be a failure as a superior." Riveria said as she entered the tent.
"R-Riveria-san… I'm sorry."
Ignoring him, Riveria faced everyone else, "The rest of you don't have to be so tense either. Even if the new types in question show up. It'll be alright as long as you shoot them before they get close. Please don't say that you can't even do something like that, okay? Please wait patiently until we return. That's right, I'll bring some souvenirs from the 59th Floor. Look forward to it."
"We'll be looking forward to it, then!" One of them shouted.
"Please bring back the bones of some large monster if you don't mind!"
"Idiot, how do you expect them to carry that back!"
Riveria smiled at their interaction, however, one of them approached them and asked in concerned, "But are you sure you're going to bring Aika-san, Koneko-san, and Sona-san with you?"
"Hmm? Line, huh. Can't do anything about that. It's their Captain's request."
Even though Riveria reassured them, Line couldn't help but worry about them.
"Right. I'm not saying that they're weak, but aren't they going to mess up the group synergy?" Aki asked.
"It'll be fine. If it's versatility we're talking about, they have an edge over anyone else in the party."
"Huh?" Everyone from the supporting group, except for Line, were shocked.
"I know it's hard to believe, but you can't judge them through normal means. I know their abilities and honestly speaking, each one of them can defeat Lefiya easily."
The supporting group started barraging her with questions, but Riveria only answered them vaguely at best.
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Editor Corner:
28th00: So, this will be an interesting trip. Shock & Awe is an effective strategy that has yet to wear off on this Familia, let alone the city itself.
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