Chapter 33: Cassia’s Resolve

“Siloque…..if Bried wasn’t lying, you were only Lv2 when you entered, right?”

Siloque returned the well-maintained straight sword to Cass.

Cass still looked utterly incredulous.

Cass had turned from an amateur into a professional explorer, and knew how hard the process was.

Between each Lv, there was a bottomless chasm.

“That’s because your previous training method was wrong. As long as you master the right method, you can level up this fast too.”

“Is it, like, going deep into the Dungeon at night to farm levels now?”

Siloque smiled.

Cass nervously swallowed.

I get it.

Siloque was the type who walked the edge of a blade, fighting monsters to the death, earning massive growth through mortal struggle.

People really can’t be judged by appearances. Such a delicate-looking person, battling monsters every night with their life on the line.

With this much strength, yet still hiding quietly in class, never arrogant.

Looking at it this way, my so-called dream of becoming the strongest is just daily basic training.

Such half-hearted effort can’t buy ‘the strongest’ power…..

“?”

Siloque didn’t understand why Cass wore an expression like he was about to kneel in worship.

Lv10 and below is still considered the Newbie Period.

Isn’t it normal for leveling up to be easy early on?

Apart from receiving Bried’s training at the start, and nearly dying to Goblins on his first Dungeon run, Siloque hadn’t had many brushes with death.

Usually, he’d just block monsters at the Revival Spring, farming for experience.

Recently, even the efficiency of absorbing Experience Points was dropping.

The battle mechanics of this world still fundamentally operated on a level system, not dynamic difficulty.

So, as long as you find a spot to efficiently farm Experience Points, rapid leveling is inevitable.

In the end, it’s a Game.

“Cass, let me ask you—do you want to become the strongest?”

“Of course.”

“That goal hasn’t changed, has it?”

“I…”

“Don’t answer so quickly. Slow down. Think carefully. Is this truly your goal?”

The first thing Siloque did was to solidify Cass’s will.

The leveling-up plan to come followed a second-playthrough route.

The current Cass of this first playthrough still lacked mental fortitude.

Responsibility lies with me.

He’d avoided the damn Minotaur Incident that could have delivered a real mental blow.

He hadn’t suffered real hardship.

Now, just talking to Vitoris made him easily agitated, unable to stay calm.

At the very least, he needed to learn not to let emotions control him in battle, to separate fighting from daily life.

Cass—or more precisely, Cassia—lowered her head.

She pondered Siloque’s words.

Becoming the strongest was the wish of her brother Cass.

She had imitated him, saying the same words, wanting to be more like him.

So, why did I become an explorer?

Cassia, for what reason did you give up an ordinary life and set foot on this bloodstained road?

For the Game mother Vitoris spoke of?

So brother could survive?

All of these, but not the whole truth.

She recalled days spent with teammates.

The bitter sweat of training.

The moments of life-and-death struggle with monsters.

The wretched scenes of defeated enemies.

Finally, she pictured her mother Vitoris kneeling and begging for mercy.

Ahh, what an ugly true self.

The answer had always been buried deep in my heart.

“I see……..”

Cassia’s vision suddenly cleared.

“I quite like it. Fighting with everything, defeating strong foes, seeing the humiliation and unwillingness on their faces—I’m very, very eager to witness that scene. For that, I need the power to be the strongest.”

Cassia fidgeted, her cheeks flushed, exhaling excited white mist.

At this moment, her eyes held no confusion, as if she had attained enlightenment.

Eh?

A sadistic statement?

The look of humiliation and unwillingness?

…Cass in the Game would never say such lines.

Siloque was a bit shocked.

If not “To protect what must be protected, whether light or dark, I’ll use whatever I can,” then at least “For the sake of the one I protect, I must become the strongest”—shouldn’t that be the case?

And yet, the answer is “Fighting is awesome!”??

……Well, whatever. The main thing is to strengthen Cass’s resolve.

As long as it leads to defeating the Minotaur, that’s enough.

It’s probably like how Cass suddenly liked watching Pretty Magical Girls, just an extra setting added when the Game turned real.

“Mm, I understand. Also, please don’t speak with your face all red. It’s disgusting.”

“Siloque, you’re the one who made me say it! Don’t look at me like that with such a disgusted face!”

Siloque rubbed his temples, adjusted his composure, and replied seriously:

“I have received your resolve. No matter when, never forget your true self.”

“Of course! Thank you, Siloque. After figuring things out, I feel much better.”

“That’s good. Then I’ll teach you how to level up quickly.”

“No problem. No matter how harsh the training, I believe I can endure it.”

Cass’s eyes burned with fighting spirit.

“Good. Then, first, take off your clothes.”

“Okay!….Wait, what?”

Cass blushed and hugged his chest.

“Wh-why take off my clothes?! Are you a pervert? Sexual harasser?”

If a beautiful little girl said this, it might be cute, but you, a guy….

Siloque’s face darkened.

He ignored this weird reaction and suddenly sensed something, turning to look behind Cass.

As a Lv8, his senses were keen enough to catch it.

The sound of metal scraping, multiple footsteps, voices chatting.

The Sixth Sense cultivated over years as a pure-hearted warrior—his Minotaur radar was sounding the alarm.

The newcomers weren’t friendly.

“Sorry, I misspoke. No need to take off your clothes.”

“Haah…I thought so. What does undressing have to do with training…”

“We’ll take them off later.”

“Eh?!”

Siloque pushed and pulled Cass behind a rock.

“Uninvited guests have arrived. Cass, listen carefully. Without my command, no matter what happens, do not come out. Absolutely.”

Cass looked puzzled, wanting to ask something, but swallowed the words.

The Lv8 pressure and undeniable aura of Siloque made Cass nod in agreement.

Just as Siloque left the hiding spot to peek at the newcomers.

They rounded the corner in a group.

At the same time, Siloque locked eyes with their leader.

“Boss, that guy with hair as long as a woman looks like the bottom of Class F.”

“I can see that.”

The leader’s red hair was cut into a sharp crewcut, his eyes narrowed to slits, lips curling downward.

He wore steel plate armor and wielded dual gauntlets.

Cliff—the Class C delinquent who challenged Cass to a duel.

Ahhhhhhhh…..

Siloque felt endless annoyance inside.

The first floor is so huge—why did you just have to appear here?!

Running into Cliff wasn’t in Siloque’s plan.

In the Game at this time, Cass and Cliff didn’t even meet.

Is it that thing?

Like how Stand Users are attracted to each other, main characters and villains draw each other in too?

Anyway, I can’t let Cass and Cliff meet.

I need to keep the main story intact as much as possible.

Siloque cast a resentful glance at Cass, who was hiding.

“Sigh……..”

Oh well.

Siloque was used to it by now.

Plans can’t keep up with changes.

Even if Cliff wasn’t in the plan, handling him wouldn’t be that hard.

Cliff stood about 10 meters away, arms crossed, sizing Siloque up.

“Siloque. The last in Class F, and the lowest in the entire school.”

“You’ve got the wrong person. I’m just a passing explorer. Name’s Wolf Gambrad.”

“My memory’s not that bad. When Norius was picking people in Class F, you were one of them.”

This guy.

He keeps his eyes narrowed all the time, yet he can recognize me.

Cliff continued on his own.

“Norius from our team got a lot of help from you. I’ll give you a choice….”

“Sorry, but there’s something that’s been bothering me.”

Siloque couldn’t help himself and pointed at Cliff’s weird scar.

“What’s with your face? Did a bear trap bite you?”

Cliff, solid as a rock, clenched his teeth so hard that Siloque could hear it from 10 meters away.

His veins bulged from his neck to his face.

Huh?

Why is this guy suddenly angry?