Fulfilling Promises - *First Part from Milia's Perspective*
Translated by GXYRU
Edited by GXYRU
*Milia’s Perspective*
Huh… Why is Sophia bowing her head to me? As I bravely face off against Sophia and her group, Erik comes to my rescue, and our affinity for each other increases. This should have been the event where Sophia becomes jealous and starts walking the path of the villainess… But things are different.
Contrary to the game, Sophia helped me. And why are Arius and Burn here, even though they shouldn’t be involved in this event? It’s so different from my memories.
Arius, wearing a cunning smile that makes him seem like a completely different person from the game. He didn’t even use the Light attribute magic “Heal.” Maybe my memories of my past life are just my imagination? Or perhaps, this is a real world, different from the game?
I don’t know what’s right anymore. As I’m lost in confusion… Arius speaks when we’re leaving the courtyard.
“Milia. People might say that you’re too quick to jump to conclusions. But since the other person is also human, it’s natural for you to act in unexpected ways.”
His ice-blue eyes, as if seeing through me, and his composed smile. This expression… I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before, but I can’t remember who…
“Don’t label someone based on assumptions. If you don’t think about why the other person acted that way, you won’t be able to understand them.”
That might be true. But these words… I feel like someone told me the same thing a long time ago.
Even though it shouldn’t be possible, the faint memories of someone… and Arius’s figure overlap in my mind.
“T-Thank you for your advice! And thank you for earlier! I’ll take my leave now!”
“Hey, wait a minute…”
What is this feeling… I rush away from the scene as if escaping.
***
In my second week at the Royal Magic Academy, I got to know the hot-blooded Burn and had various events with Milia and Sophia. After school, I ate meals with Jessica and Marcia every day, and Gale and others would sometimes annoy us. Well, the progress in conquering “Dragon’s Palace” is going smoothly, so there’s no problem there.
Today, as well, I endlessly respawned monster monsters on the lowest floor of “Dragon’s Palace” and challenged the final boss. The dungeon mechanics are the same as in the game.
The reason I don’t just repeat the final boss battle is that the final boss in “Dragon’s Palace” appears alone.
My immediate goal is to conquer the top-tier dungeon solo.
Since monsters never appear alone in the top-tier dungeons, it wouldn’t be effective to only fight one-on-one battles.
Continuously respawning monsters is necessary because top-tier dungeons require the ability to engage in prolonged battles.
Well, that’s how the week ended. This weekend, I made a promise with Jessica to form a party for two days only.
On Saturday morning, when I headed to the Kernel Adventurers Guild, Jessica and Marcia, who arrived earlier, were talking to other adventurers. But something seems strange.
“Sorry, Arius. My party members insist on coming along together. Is it alright if all six members of ‘Silver Wings’ join?”
The adventurers with Jessica and Marcia were three boys and one girl. And among them, there are people I know.
“I don’t mind if the number of people increases, but I won’t be responsible for taking care of everyone.”
Teaching others is not my strong suit. It’s easy to protect, but that’s about it.
“Sure, that’s fine. Thank you
, Arius. Now let me introduce you to my party members.”
The S-rank adventurer party “Silver Wings” consisted of Jessica, a physical attacker, Marcia, a scout, Alan, another physical attacker, Jake, a tank, Mike, a magic attacker, and Sarah, a healer.
In this world, individuals learn magic and skills separately, so there is no concept of a job class. However, adventurers usually form parties and divide roles among themselves.
By the way, Jessica’s party has undergone quite a few changes in members since five years ago. The only people I know are Mike and Sarah. Marcia wasn’t even here five years ago.
Well, everyone has different growth rates and different goals. It’s not uncommon for adventurer party members to change. Jessica must have had her own thoughts about it. Well, it doesn’t concern me, though.
“Wow… So you’re Arius, the SSS-ranked adventurer. It’s famous that you became SSS-ranked thanks to the favor of the renowned Grey and Serena.”
Alan suddenly bites back. There are still people who say things like that, huh?
“Hey, Alan! Don’t say disrespectful things about Arius. We asked him to join our party!”
“That’s right, Alan. You shouldn’t say things like that about Arius and Jessica’s relationship just because you’re curious.”
“Hey, Marcia! What the hell are you talking about? It’s not about that. I want to expose this guy’s true colors!”
Huh… Are they serious about this? Bringing the world of “Romance Academy” into the dungeon is really killing my enthusiasm. Are they planning to waste these two days of mine?
“I also have my doubts about Arius’s abilities. It’s unlikely for someone his age to be SSS-ranked.”
“That’s why I said, Jake, don’t say disrespectful things about Arius!”
Jake, the tank, joins in, and an argument ensues between Alan and Jake against Jessica and Marcia.
Well, I’m not interested in other people’s opinions. Let them argue without me.
“Um… I’m sorry, Arius-san.”
Sarah, the healer, says apologetically. But she has a record of not stopping Jessica’s rampage five years ago, so I can’t overlook that.
“Yeah, it’s true that I’m getting tired of this. I’m younger than them, so they don’t have to use honorifics with me.”
The youngest member of “Silver Wings” is Jessica, and everyone is in their twenties.
“I’m afraid that’s impossible. We know Arius-san’s abilities.”
Mike, the magic attacker, smiles wryly. He also has a record from five years ago.
Since the argument seems like it will continue for a while, I have some free time, so I “appraise” these guys. Well, their levels and stats do seem to be S-rank class.
“Arius, sorry for the wait.”
Finally finished talking, huh? In the end, Alan and Jake will also come along.
“Don’t let them complain anymore. Can you bear with it, Arius?”
Well, judging from Alan and Jake’s attitude, I doubt they’ll just behave themselves.
“So, which dungeon are we going to? I’ll go along with Jessica and the others.”
“Since we’re teaming up with Arius, it’s definitely going to be the ‘Gynei Great Labyrinth,’ right? Arius, you’re soloing it, aren’t you?”
Well, I’m actually conquering the “Dragon’s Palace,” but if I mention the even more challenging “Dragon’s Palace,” it’ll just cause more trouble, so I won’t deny it.
“If you guys have conquered the high-difficulty, high-class dungeon ‘Bistelta Gate,’ then let’s go to around the 150th floor for now.”
I’ve already cleared the “Bistelta Gate” and have a grasp of its difficulty.
The “Gynei Great Labyrinth” is one of the higher-difficulty dungeons, and if they’ve only conquered the “Bistelta Gate,” the lower floors of the “Gynei Great Labyrinth” will be tough.
“Hey, hey, with SSS-ranked Arius, there should be no problem going to the lowest floor. If you
really have the SSS-ranked skills.”
“That’s why, Alan! If you start picking a fight with Arius again…”
“Jessica, let him say what he wants.”
“Arius, but…”
“On the other hand, I’m the type who fights back when provoked. Alan, be prepared.”
“Wow… This is getting interesting!”
Alan gets ready to draw his sword at any moment.
“Hey, you… Aren’t you being foolish, drawing your sword in the guild? I don’t mind being your opponent, but we’re going to the dungeon now. You can settle things there.”
Nobody here is going to support Alan in this situation. With everyone’s condemning gaze on him, Alan backs down.
“Tch… Can’t be helped.”
“Also, about going to the lowest floor. If you write a pledge saying that you’re willing to die, I’ll take you with me. Oh, but only Alan and Jake need to write it. I’ll take responsibility for protecting the other four.”
“Fine! Hey, Mike, give me a pen and parchment! Jake, you write too!”
“Alan… Got it.”
In this world, they have ordinary paper, and typography has also developed. However, for contracts and magic scrolls, traditional parchment and a pen are used.
“Hey, Alan, please stop. It will be fine if you apologize to Arius.”
“Shut up, Jessica. Can a man back down in a situation like this?”
Well, if Jessica says anything, it’ll just add fuel to the fire.
In the end, we decided to head to the 200th floor, the lowest floor of the “Gynei Great Labyrinth.”
※※※※
Arius Gilbert, 15 years old
Level: ????
HP: ????
MP: ????
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