This dungeon expedition was proving far too cruel for Lefiya.
With Loki Familia's main force present, their advance was swift. Even so, Riveria was clearly dissatisfied.
"Lefiya, fix your grip on the wand."
"Y-yes!"
As a Mage, Lefiya wasn't chanting Magic. Instead, she raised her wand to block the Minotaur's attacks.
"I heard the seventeenth floor has a Floor Boss. Could it be these bull-headed guys?"
Bell glanced at the golden-haired elf who looked ready to cry and spoke softly.
"Of course not. The Monster Rex of the Labyrinth was defeated. That's why this big chamber ended up occupied by Minotaurs."
Tiona explained while knocking a monster away with a punch.
"I see."
Bell observed the Minotaur's movements. Its style resembled that mercenary's, but without armor restricting it, it moved far more freely. The most dangerous part was those solid horns. Without experience, a surprise strike from them could kill instantly. Bell quietly committed all of this to memory. One day, he would be standing on this battlefield too.
"..."
Lefiya felt like crying. Riveria had always taught her that, at critical moments, a wand was her last line of survival. She had done this kind of ill-suited training many times in the past. But under the boy's gaze, she felt unbearably embarrassed.
"Lefiya, think of your wand as a sword. Don't shrink back just because you're scared."
Riveria's instruction was as strict as ever.
"A sword?! O-okay!"
Terrified, Lefiya shut her eyes and swung the wand with all her strength.
"Don't close your eyes! Look at your enemy!"
Riveria scolded sharply.
"Ah..."
Feeling Bell watching her, tears gathered at the corners of Lefiya's eyes. Bell wasn't the type to laugh at others. He wasn't even looking at her—his attention was on the Minotaur fighting her.
These monsters were newly spawned after being cleared by the Sword Princess and the others, and under Tiona's slender arms they couldn't withstand even one strike. To the Amazoness sisters, they were probably no different from straw dummies.
Bell, naturally, had no chance to see what attacks Minotaurs normally used, nor their strength or speed. Only Lefiya, who'd been forced to train in close-quarters combat, had one standing in front of her that hadn't been taken down instantly. Being able to study every movement so clearly was, to Bell, a joyful treasure. With Riveria and the others nearby, Lefiya's safety wasn't an issue. Watching even one more technique was valuable.
But the golden-haired elf thought something entirely different.
He's definitely watching me!
Lefiya kept swinging her wand, as if trying to blow away her embarrassment, stirring the air in front of her.
"Focus! You've mis-chanted before because you were scared of monsters. Swordplay and Magic are the same—you must read your opponent's movements and strike at the right moment to make it effective."
Riveria stood by her side, mercilessly pointing out her wounds.
"I… I know!"
As a mage, she could even mess up her Magic—that was how scared she was. She wanted to argue that this was just how weak she was. But Lefiya also understood she couldn't stay like this.
If she couldn't overcome this, she would never see the world from Ais's eyes.
Lefiya took a deep breath and locked her gaze on the Minotaur before her.
So scary.
I want to run.
But I can't.
To catch up to the one she admired—
To honor the promise she'd made with that boy—
She had to push herself.
Come on… try harder…
Lefiya's legs trembled, and the wand in her hands shook.
You have to push yourself harder!
Lefiya gripped her wand, treating it like a slender sword, and thrust straight ahead. But it wasn't a real blade, and the Minotaur knocked it aside with ease.
"Eh?!"
Terrified by the monster closing in, Lefiya stumbled back several steps.
"Are you trying to run away, Lefiya? Do you want to wait for Ais to save you like last time?"
Riveria completely cut off the golden-haired elf's retreat. She was clearly determined to correct Lefiya's cowardice here and now.
Finn and the others cooperated by clearing out the remaining monsters, silently waiting for this training to end.
Lefiya pressed her lips together. She had always known she would be a burden. No matter how hard she tried, what awaited her was the same warm rescue and protection again and again. But to Lefiya, that warmth felt unbearably bitter.
She couldn't reach their side. She couldn't keep up with their steps. Her weak self would always be the one who needed saving.
The memory of those distant backs flashed in her mind, lighting a fierce flame in her eyes.
Even if it's just one step—she would chase after them!
If she didn't start now, what right would she have to even speak to them?
A cold wind brushed past.
In the next instant, the Minotaur's horn came straight for her.
Lefiya instinctively looked away, failing to guard. The heavy impact sent her flying.
"Guh…"
In the end, nothing changed…
Lefiya had always known she wasn't good at close combat. She had worked so hard to overcome it. She had repeated that resolve in her heart countless times. And yet her fear never changed.
Instead, guilt toward Ais and the others kept piling up, forming a mountain she could never move, weighing down on her chest.
Riveria watched the golden-haired elf with concern, relieved to see no bones were broken.
"Stand up, Lefiya. Monsters on the battlefield won't wait for you. Even Bell Cranel, just Level 1, wouldn't look as disheveled as you do."
Riveria could see that Lefiya truly had resolve. But this training had been repeated so many times it had become exhausting. Trying to overturn her fear in such a short time was simply too difficult.
Was this really all they could do…?
Riveria lifted her staff and stepped forward.
"...?"
Not far away, Lefiya—who had been lying motionless on the ground—suddenly stood up. Violent black winds seemed to coil around her body.
Riveria frowned. She had thought that mentioning Ais would be enough to draw out Lefiya's full potential. Yet now, the golden-haired elf's fighting spirit was even fiercer.
Where was this overwhelming aura coming from?
"Unforgivable… unforgivable…" Lefiya muttered.
?
During the earlier training, everyone's eyes had been fixed on Lefiya. Because of that, no one noticed the boy's expression. But Lefiya, turning her head out of fear, had seen it.
In the very moment she was sent flying—Bell Cranel's eyes were shining.
"Unforgivable… unforgivable…"
He saw everything. Not only did he show no worry for her, he even looked pleased.
When the captain was angry, she had spoken up for Bell Cranel. And this was how he repaid her? He must still resent me for chasing him before. He said we would work hard together, but seeing a rival collapse must make him happy.
Damn it!
My cowardice, my pathetic self, my humiliation—all completely exposed before this boy. Was she supposed to let it end like this? Crying and waiting for others to comfort her? How could she accept such a conclusion?
She'd already embarrassed herself enough. Was she going to let Bell Cranel laugh at her on top of that?
No. This boy—he was the one she absolutely could not forgive.
A surge of killing intent erupted. Thick, murky miasma seemed to wrap around Lefiya's entire body. Even Riveria, who knew her better than anyone, froze in shock at this sudden ferocity. Lefiya tightened her grip on her wand, the trembling from before vanished completely.
What was so frightening about a Minotaur? She had seen much worse in the Deep Floors. Bell Cranel wants to watch me get beaten? Then watch how I take it down!
And after that—
I'm going to grab that infuriating boy and teach him a proper lesson!
Lefiya's usually blue eyes now shone with an eerie and terrifying glow. Under her overwhelming presence, the much larger Minotaur lost all of its earlier aggression.
"...She's overwhelming the monster through sheer presence?"
Riveria was stunned. The always-timid Lefiya was actually accomplishing something like this. Under Riveria's astonished gaze, the golden-haired elf didn't retreat—instead, she charged straight at the Minotaur.
Her wand clashed violently against its horns. The next instant, the Minotaur, suffocated by the killing intent, faltered and stumbled backward.
"Amazing! Lefiya!"
Tiona laughed as she finished off the retreating Minotaur.
"Well done," Riveria added.
The members of Loki Familia all smiled proudly as they continued toward the entrance of the eighteenth floor.
Lefiya, at the center of all the praise, cast a glance at the boy. No one heard her whisper. But Bell, reading her lips and feeling the sting of her glare, understood her words clearly.
"Unforgivable… unforgivable…"
...
The perceptive boy immediately understood Lefiya's intention. He had felt this same atmosphere from her before.
She must have misunderstood something.
Did Lefiya think he was mocking her efforts?
Bell could swear to the gods that he had only been excited to see the Minotaur's horn charge. His instincts told him the creature's deadliest weapon was the impact behind those horns. Having that theory confirmed—seeing firsthand its speed and destructive power—any adventurer would feel a spark of excitement.
But… would Lefiya believe that explanation?
No monsters spawned on the eighteenth floor, so adventurers settled there as a relay point, earning profit. But as far as Bell knew, gods couldn't enter the Dungeon. Without someone capable of discerning truth, would the golden-haired elf ever believe him…?
Bell gave a bitter smile and walked forward. The entrance to the safe floor was finally in sight.
But somehow… it didn't feel quite so safe.
...
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