"Captain, what should we do?"
Kaguya looked at Elise with a serious expression.
Since she had already decided to join the Astraea Familia, she would never go back on her word.
She had resolved to devote her life to fighting for justice. Even death could not make her afraid.
Besides, she had long since stopped fearing death.
"Mm, just like we discussed yesterday. Today we'll prepare to raise your ability scores a little. If we can push all of them to S, that would be even better."
Elise's answer surprised Kaguya greatly. Didn't adventurers normally raise their ability scores by going into the Dungeon to kill monsters?
Why had Elise called her here instead? Did she have some secret method for increasing ability values?
No matter what, this was a kindness.
Kaguya silently engraved it in her heart. If there ever came a chance in the future, she would certainly repay this captain properly.
After all, judging by her appearance, Elise looked much like Astraea—someone gentle and considerate at first glance. She had even used healing magic on Kaguya before.
Completely different from Alise, that violent woman who solved everything with her fists!
Someone like this truly made a fine captain. As the face of the Familia, she could lead them to greater heights.
"Then my role will be to handle the dirty work the captain can't deal with... that's my specialty anyway."
As someone who had seen the world, Kaguya knew very well that idealized justice could never truly exist. Justice needed its shadow.
And that was what she excelled at.
But before that, she needed to properly discuss with this captain how to raise her ability scores.
Soon after, Kaguya followed Elise to the Astraea Familia's training room.
Before entering, Elise glanced over at Alise.
"Alise, while I'm gone, you need to work hard to improve yourself. Understood?"
"If I find out you've been slacking, your training will be doubled..."
Though her tone was gentle, in Alise's ears it sounded like the tolling of a funeral bell—like a grim reaper standing behind her, hook in hand.
"Yes! Mission guaranteed!"
"I absolutely won't slack off! I'll head to the Dungeon and fight with everything I've got every day!"
Alise stood up straight and shouted her response.
"No need to fight with your life on the line. I just want you to come back alive and in one piece."
Elise's words made Kaguya glance at her again. Just as she had expected, this captain really was a good person. She absolutely could not disappoint her.
She secretly made a vow in her heart. No matter what difficulties lay ahead, she would not be afraid. She would face them with a smile.
Only by persevering could she achieve victory!
Go, Kaguya!
You can do this!
Under Alise's pitying gaze, Elise led Kaguya into the training room.
"I guess for a long time to come, we won't be seeing much of Kaguya, huh?"
"Under that kind of terrifying training, how long will she be able to endure?"
But...
"No matter what, as long as Kaguya walks out of there alive, her ability scores will skyrocket! And I can barely tie with her as she is now—maybe I'm even slightly weaker..."
Alise shook her head, forcefully throwing all those chaotic thoughts out of her mind.
"No! I absolutely can't let Kaguya catch up to me!"
"Otherwise, wouldn't I be an unworthy beautiful senior?"
"Dungeon, go! Go! Go!"
If Kaguya overtook her, with that personality of hers, she would definitely mock her mercilessly.
"From today on, I'm really going to risk my life in the Dungeon!"
...
Huff... huff...
Even though there wasn't a single person in sight, Kaguya ran as if she were fleeing for her life, glancing left and right from time to time. Yet she still saw no one.
"Damn it, how did things turn out like this?"
She recalled the Elise from her memories.
"Kaguya, let me help you!"
"If you don't treat your wounds properly, they might get infected."
"You have to keep staying just like you are now, okay?"
None of those words had sounded wrong. They all sounded like something a good person would say.
So why did they feel so strange when coming from Elise?
Had she ever seen someone beat you senseless and then heal you afterward?
This wasn't training. This was outright torment.
And when Elise beat her, that pure, radiant smile blooming on her face made Kaguya begin doubting her own judgment again.
Why had she mistaken a monster like this for a good person? And those rumors about her outside...
The Saintess of Scales?
She's clearly a sadist, damn it!
Kaguya wanted to spit out every curse in her mouth. She had even shouted them aloud—but Elise's response was simply an even more intense beating.
Beat her, heal her.
Heal her, beat her.
Without healing, this wasn't training a human could endure.
Even with healing, her spirit might not hold out.
Had this monster never considered that?
To that question, Elise had given her answer.
"For someone who pursues justice, isn't having a strong will only natural? Didn't Alise endure it back then?"
But a strong will doesn't mean the will to endure being beaten!
And Alise endured it back then...
So that red-haired violent woman was trained by you?
No wonder the places she punched felt strangely identical. So she came from your school!
"What are you thinking about?"
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind her.
Startled, Kaguya immediately unleashed a turning draw slash.
But she cut nothing but air. The culprit casually tapped her shoulder from behind.
"Losing focus in battle is a fatal mistake."
Kaguya suddenly felt a fierce strike to her calf. Her balance collapsed, and she fell flat onto the ground.
For some reason, that posture triggered a terrifying sense of déjà vu. She immediately tried to get up.
Unfortunately...
A golden-haired girl was already seated firmly atop her.
"Hey, Kaguya-chan!"
"You haven't exhausted your stamina yet, have you? Your ability scores won't increase significantly like this."
"So let me help you!"
What filled her vision was a small, fair fist. It looked so weak and delicate—but the pain it delivered was unimaginable.
"If you keep this up for a month, Kaguya, your Endurance will definitely reach S!"
Damn it... I'm an assassin!
What use do I have for Endurance?
"You monster of a captain!!!"
Congratulations to Elise—she had successfully earned a new affectionate nickname from her subordinate.