When Asfi and the others witnessed the scene, their jaws couldn't help but drop.
The terrifying Revis... a high-grade Level 6 who had defeated two first-class adventurers with ease and nearly gotten all of them killed... had been dealt with just like that.
'What the...'
There were very few individuals in the world who possessed this kind of strength.
"No way... Level 7?"
Asfi was the one to say it, though the words came out in an absentminded murmur.
Nobody spoke up to refute her.
Of course, Judas knew that this surge in strength came from his [Penitent Executioner] skill.
Back when he was only a Level 2, on top of all of his strengthening magic already giving him a massive boost in combat power, activating that skill had temporarily pushed him into the realm of Level 6.
Now that he was a Level 3, temporarily reaching Level 7 strength was not out of the question.
Which was why Revis had been so completely overpowered when they clashed just now. It was only natural.
Judas briefly stared at the crater Revis was buried in before turning around, crouching down and picking up Kaguya's severed arm from the ground.
The healers from the Hermes Familia had already begun bringing out their potions for Bete and Kaguya.
When Judas approached, Kaguya lifted her head and gave a weak smile.
"I guess that rematch of ours will have to wait."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the sharpness behind her words hadn't dulled in the slightest.
"Hey... I'm going to get you both fixed up. Don't worry."
Judas said as his gaze shifted to Bete.
Compared to Kaguya, his condition was far worse... and it was no surprise that he had already lost consciousness.
For an ordinary person, Bete's injuries would have been fatal.
It was only thanks to the enhanced vitality that came with being a first-class adventurer that he had survived this long.
Judas instructed the healers to recover the organs before the potions lost their effectiveness.
He then carefully reattached Kaguya's arm, making sure the bones were properly aligned so the healing process wouldn't cause any disfigurement.
At the same time, he directed the healers to retrieve the organs that had spilled from Bete's abdomen, instructing them to disinfect everything before placing each piece back into its original position.
Although his healing magic was capable of regrowing lost limbs and organs entirely, using the original body parts was significantly more effective.
Not only did it allow for faster recovery, but it also avoided drawing on the patient's own stamina and energy reserves.
Kaguya watched in silence as Judas worked alongside the healers.
Her gaze lingered on the side of his face longer than it probably should have.
'I already knew he was handsome... but has his face matured a little? Or am I imagining things?'
She thought to herself, her eyes growing distant as something she couldn't quite name quietly took root in her chest.
That alone was enough to make her heart beat uncontrollably.
When Judas took a brief glance in her direction, Kaguya looked away, the tips of her ears faintly warm.
'I nearly died today. I'm probably just delirious.'
She decided that was a perfectly reasonable explanation and chose not to think about it any further.
Once the preparations were finished, Judas raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
『Miracle Heal』
A green magic circle materialized beneath the collapsed bodies of Kaguya and Bete as a soft light enveloped them both.
Kaguya felt her arm knit itself back into place.
The gaping wound across Bete's stomach sealed shut.
Within seconds their bodies had been restored to peak condition, and the pain that had consumed Kaguya vanished all at once.
"Kaguya!"
Before she had even finished registering the feeling of her restored arm, Alise had already crossed the distance and swept her into a tight embrace, lifting her clean off the ground.
"Waaah! Kaguya! I thought I lost you! Waaah!"
Kaguya stiffened for half a second before letting out a tired breath, her newly restored fingers twitching as she awkwardly returned the hug.
"...You're crushing me, Captain."
"Shut up! You're alive, that's all that matters!"
Alise's voice cracked despite her usual bravado, arms tightening as if she were afraid Kaguya might vanish the moment she loosened her grip.
When she finally felt her bones beginning to creak and her lungs running short of air, Kaguya had had enough.
An angry tick mark formed on the side of her forehead.
"You stupid redhead! I said you are crushing me!"
She drove her forehead into Alise's with a sharp headbutt, sending the latter stumbling back with an 'ow!'
"Hey! That was a bit much."
Alise said with a pout, nursing the fresh bump on her head.
"I did warn you."
Kaguya rolled her restored shoulder before adding,
"Also... you look far too much like that woman who nearly killed me just now. I'm starting to wonder if she's your long lost sister or something."
"What? Are you mocking me, Kaguya? We only share the same eye and hair color, that's it... and I am clearly more beautiful than her."
Alise said with a tone of indignation before looking Kaguya up and down, checking her over for any lingering injuries.
"Still... if you're this energetic, then I'm glad."
Finding none, Alise let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Watching their exchange from the side, Asfi felt a guilty expression settle onto her face.
She took a slow breath, gathered herself, and walked over to them.
"I am sorry."
She said as she bowed her head.
Hearing her words, Kaguya and the others turned toward her.
Under the weight of their collective stares, Asfi broke into a cold sweat.
"Raise your head... seeing you like this disgusts me."
Kaguya had already pieced together what was going through Asfi's mind.
She understood that as a captain, Asfi carried the weight of her members' lives on her shoulders. Faced with the same situation, Kaguya admitted she likely would have made the same call.
"At the end of the day... we already knew the risks when we accepted this job."
"As adventurers, there is always a degree of danger in everything we do. Our lives are our own responsibility."
"And I doubt that pig-headed werewolf snoring over there would blame you for it either."
Hearing her words, Asfi smiled wryly.
"Well... if you genuinely feel bad about it, you can start by covering the repair costs for my weapon. I don't know what that red-haired woman's body is made of, but it chipped my blade."
Kaguya added flatly, showed off her katana to reveal the small notches along its edge.
"Ah... well, alright."
Some of the weight on Asfi's chest quietly lifted.
...
Inside the human-sized crater embedded into the dungeon wall...
A finger twitched.
Cracks spread through the stone as blackened rubble began to shift.
A low, ragged breath echoed from within... thick with killing intent.
"...Gh..."
Revis' eyes snapped open.
Her vision swam as the world slowly clawed its way back into focus.
Her body screamed in protest... bones fractured, organs bruised, muscles torn from the inside out.
"...You bastard..."
Everyone turned their heads.
Revis was dragging herself free from the crater, her gaze locking onto Judas with an expression of pure, undiluted hatred.
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