Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

"I always have this feeling that I have to have a sparring match with you on the 'city wall'."

“──!!”

"I must ask you for advice, and I must teach you."

It was as if she had finally released the longing in her heart.

It was as if I had collected fragments of a dream that I had long forgotten.

Golden Dream expressed her feelings.

"I feel like... someone made a promise to me... saying 'I really want to become stronger'."

This sentence—

It is the heartfelt words spoken by someone under the setting sun after encountering a heretic and being defeated by a formidable opponent.

It was a promise and vow that Bell Crane made to Ais Wallenstein.

So, at that time, I started my Mercedes again—

(────Ahhh...)

My legs went weak and I collapsed to my knees.

It's not because of succumbing to despair.

Rather, it was the release of hope that could no longer be suppressed.

"...!"

I knelt down, grasped Miss Ais's right hand tightly with both hands, and pressed my forehead against it, trembling all over.

A gasp came from above. The commotion, fueled by curiosity, grew louder and louder. Even so, I remained deaf to it.

Water droplets kept falling from my eyes, which were hidden by my bangs, soaking my legs.

This is not some romantic scene where a princess and a knight are exchanging vows.

Instead, it's a boy crying like a child in front of the person he admires—at the same time reaffirming his resolve.

It was just such a simple scene.

“…………”

"……How are you?"

I don't know how much time has passed.

I forced back the sobs from my convulsing chest, wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes with my arm, and slowly stood up from the ground.

Miss Ais seemed quite confused.

Perhaps she was wondering why she had said those things.

But even so, it doesn't matter.

Under the bewildered gazes of Miss Tiona and the others, I spoke my longing into those golden eyes.

"I'm so glad... that the person I admire is you."

Despite the tear stains on my face, I still managed a genuine smile.

"My encounter with you was definitely not a mistake on my part."

Miss Ais opened her eyes wide in surprise and placed her delicate hand on her chest.

Finally, I smiled brightly once more, surrendering myself to the burning, pure white will.

"I have to go now."

I said this brief goodbye and started my car.

He walked past Miss Ais and the others with firm steps.

My body kept accelerating, overtaking many people at a speed no one could match, letting the scenery flow past from both ends of my field of vision.

This is the moment I was reborn.

This is the moment I roar in anger.

Bearing the rekindled sacred flame, and with the "miracle" they yearn for in their hearts, they set out to confirm the "trajectory" left behind to this day.

I headed straight for the "battlefield" where the brave warriors were.

—I seem to see the spirit who stood guard and witnessed the whole thing, also turning away at the same time.

*

Slash.

A loud clanging sound of metal colliding.

I swung my double-edged short sword with all my might, aiming it at the longsword that was about to tear me apart.

Holding onto the pure white longing that still burns brightly at this moment, they stage a fierce battle of offense and defense.

"Drink—!!"

My master, who was confronting me, showed a look of surprise after witnessing the slash that sparked intense sparks.

The "battlefield" was shrouded in the setting sun.

I returned to this battlefield where the dead warriors danced, and once again plunged into the vortex of "slaughter".

I've lost count of how many times I've fallen, how many injuries I've sustained, and how many times I've troubled therapists to help me. Even so, the only thing that has never faltered is my will.

I let out a roar that resounded through the heavens, not out of fear of death, but because I used my vow to surpass my limits as fuel, transforming it into a fire of fighting spirit within me.

"Drink! Aa ...

I swung the dagger in my right hand upwards, and then used the double-edged short sword in my left hand to perform a horizontal slash.

Even though all the attacks were blocked by the longsword that returned to defense at lightning speed, I still did not stop moving.

The deafening sounds of fighting, the endless melody woven from swords, the fierce battles that once raged across the plains, had somehow dwindled to just the two of us.

The members of the Freya Familia who had been fighting on the sidelines all stopped fighting, put down their weapons, and focused their attention on this.

Miss Haici and the others in charge of the treatment also put aside their work and stared in surprise.

Mr. Hegny, who had been swinging his sword at me, also stepped back and watched the battle unfold.

I let countless gazes pierce through my body, focusing all my consciousness on the opponent before me.

"hiss!"

The longsword transformed into a flash of light with the sharp sound of tearing silk.

I swung my dagger and deflected the blade's flash from the side.

After the longsword, which had veered off course, grazed my hair, I flipped over and launched a counterattack with a "rush" attack that prioritized speed and the number of hits.

That's right—watch me recreate the moves I stole from "her" after countless repetitions of training!

Countless flashes of swords and blades formed silver arcs in the air, etched by the attacks. I swung my dagger and double-edged short sword alternately, blocking each attack but leaving my master speechless with astonishment.

I put to full use everything I had learned from "training on the city walls," recklessly unleashing a barrage of attacks on the first-level adventurer.

I still remember.

I still remember these!

And I remember it perfectly!

The technique of Fiora is to deflect the opponent's weapon from the side or at an angle to neutralize their attack!

It was a sword technique I secretly learned from sparring in order to catch up with Miss Ais as much as possible!

Furthermore, the first-level adventurer (Miss Frini) constantly saw Miss Ais's shadow in me, and the experience and history between us!

This body has not forgotten everything that Longing had guided it!

(I... am not "Bell Crane of the Freya Familia"...!)

No matter how much the world resists "me", no matter how much all the gods and people in the world deny "me", at least the "skills and tactics" that I keep in mind will affirm "me".

The teachings I received back then proved time and again that every training session I had with [Sword Princess] on the city wall was absolutely genuine and deeply rooted within "Bell Crane".

It wasn't just Miss Ais's guidance.

Although Mr. Paine reminded me to get rid of my "bad habit of easily raising my right hand", the first person to point this out and suggest that I improve was Ms. Liu, who had gone through thick and thin with me in the "deep"!

Why didn't I notice these little details right away?

Why do I mistakenly believe that I learned everything they taught me on my own?

Even the most arrogant person should have limits.

I am weak and incapable of standing on my own, and it is thanks to many people that I have been able to get to where I am today!

(I am—Bell Crane of the Hestia Familia!!)

I came to only one answer.

That is to find and confirm the "trajectory" that fills your heart along the way, thereby building an indestructible self and making the most of all the battle experience up to this day.

Don't be afraid, don't be terrified.

It's time to stop these self-avoidance behaviors: closing your eyes and covering your ears!

I must put my idols' guidance into practice in this battle as proof, in order to reclaim "myself"!!

"[Eternal Struggle, Undying Thunder Soldiers]!"

I was sent flying by a powerful sweeping blow from the longsword, forced to create distance. The next moment—

The master wove a super-concise chant from his mouth, a fast-paced attack.

To maximize the effectiveness of the magic, the master abandoned the advantage of long-range attacks and instead unleashed a simultaneous barrage from mid-range.

Unleash a wide-area annihilation spell without mercy.

"[The Heroic and Tragic Undying Soldier]!"

My answer to this is—the sound of cannons.

"[Flame Lightning]!"

Eight streaks of crimson lightning met the spray composed of white thunder.

In principle, there is no way to completely counteract this wave of lightning strikes that resembled an undead army charging in.

Therefore, it is sufficient to block only a portion of it.

The lightning javelins fired in rapid succession collided head-on with several lightning bullets, canceling each other out.

In that instant, I took a step forward and squeezed my body into the barely cleared "way out." Even though my shoulders and thighs were scorched, I still managed to break through the barrage of bullets.

"!!"

My coral-red eyes snapped open. I charged forward with lightning speed, not giving my opponent a chance to reload their next spell.

He then thrust his double-edged dagger forward with all his might.

My deadly attack was easily deflected by the white elf.

「!?」

The double-edged dagger was swallowed by the swaying longsword and flew into the air with a piercing clang.

It's still not enough. Even though I poured a lot of mental energy into it and took advantage of the situation, I still couldn't harm a level one adventurer.

The powerful impact threw me off balance, revealing a fatal weakness.

My master's eyes widened, and he suddenly swung a silver blade at me.

(──────)

The scene in my mind was tinged with white.

His whole body burst into flames.

All I need is this scene.

Having broken free from the shackles of time, my soul roared, awakening the "memories" imprinted within me.

"It is easiest to be careless when delivering a fatal blow."