Renjiro (Aether) was under enormous pressure.
From Ais' side, what Lumine had said seemed, to Finn and the others, like she was teasing the girl on purpose.
Normally, this wouldn't be a problem.
But now, with Ais' mental state being off, continuing to provoke her could…
Stay calm, stay calm.
Renjiro could only smile helplessly.
He nudged his scatterbrained little sister through their mental link: Hurry up and get to the point.
"Oh~"
After a brief response, Lumine made a new move.
She… uh…
She slowly raised her right hand, reaching in front of Ais' forehead, and flicked her with her fingers at the point between Ais' brows.
Pew~
Ais flinched slightly, leaning back with an almost cute little sound.
"You sometimes overcomplicate things too much."
Seeing Ais look at her, Lumine smiled in a half-exasperated, half-casual tone:
"I… learned some ways of handling things from others. They helped me a lot. Do you want to hear them?"
"Yes."
Ais nodded.
For her now, a slight distraction could help.
Lumine wasn't trained in psychology, but she could use the famous sayings and stories from her homeworld on Earth to guide Ais.
"Ais, what do you think you're best at?"
Another question.
Straightforward Ais started thinking.
After a while…
"Hunting monsters?"
Lumine shook her head.
"I mean your specialty. Okay, I'll tell you my view."
"As an adventurer, Ais, your strongest skill is swordsmanship."
"Even the magic 'Ariel' is just a supplement to increase your combat effectiveness."
Looking at Ais' golden eyes, matching her own, Lumine continued patiently:
"Everyone has things they're best at… and things they're weak at. You can't swing a giant axe like Old Master Gareth. You can't use all elf magic like Lefiya."
"But does that make you a 'weakling'?"
Ais fell silent, reflecting.
She knew Lumine was right.
No matter how naïve she was, she understood the value of being Lv. 5 and titled 'Orario's Strongest Female Swordsman.'
But…
This is still far from enough.
To take back everything the one-eyed black dragon had stolen, her parents, Lv. 5 alone wouldn't suffice.
Just thinking of that monster, her hatred festered.
Thud~
Lumine's hand struck Ais' forehead a little harder this time. Ais instinctively raised her hand to cover it.
"See, you're overthinking again."
"Even gods have limited energy. If you focus on unrelated things, your effectiveness in important matters suffers."
"That's why I want to get stronger quickly…"
"Are you using the right method?"
Ais had no answer.
Adventurers had to figure out how to grow on their own.
Lumine's question forced her thoughts back to the root: why had Lumine and Renjiro gotten so strong in such a short time?
"You're pushing yourself too hard."
Lumine condensed a small rock-element crystal in her left palm.
"Try touching it."
Ais, trusting Lumine, reached for it without suspicion.
Lumine moved her hand slightly away just as Ais tried to touch it.
Each time Ais reached, the crystal seemed just out of reach.
Frustrated, she tried to stand…
Her shoulder was held down by Lumine's right hand.
"See, a single arm only reaches so far," Lumine said.
"Even fully extended, your reach is limited. That's why you tried to use your legs, moving closer instinctively."
"You could also draw your sword, using a 'tool' to extend your reach."
Lumine released Ais' shoulder.
The crystal, shaped like a long tube filled with sand, was moved closer to Ais.
On it, words written in the common language read: "Swordsmanship."
Lumine stretched it and then labeled other aspects: Ariel, Evasion, Favor Level… finally Coordination, with notes about companions and teamwork.
"Like a barrel of water, your overall skill is determined by the lowest part. Focusing on just one aspect won't increase your foundation."
"Today, you fought Udaeus alone. I observed, and I believe you have the potential to achieve this feat."
"What's missing is preparation for your goal."
Lumine stood and extended her hand:
"Three months remain until Udaeus hatches again. I may not have a precise answer for your earlier question, but I can help you with practical training."
"For swordsmanship, you've found your style. I can demonstrate moves for reference."
"But your Ariel is still too rough. With your talent, you can master advanced wind control techniques I learned from Renjiro and Xiao."
"In short, overstraining yourself breaks you. Only by living can you improve and reclaim what's lost. Promise me: no more reckless behavior. Don't make your companions worry, okay?"
"Yes."
Ais reflected deeply and finally nodded.
She took Lumine's hand, and Lumine helped her stand.
They smiled at each other.
"And… thank you." Ais whispered.
The scene was quiet and beautiful, though the dungeon offered no moonlight.
"Uh, I feel the atmosphere over there is off?"
Tiona peeked from the door, rubbing her eyes in confusion.
"Maybe I'm too stupid to understand this?"
"No, I agree. Though yes, you are a bit silly," Tione added.
"Hey!"
"Shh~" The irritated elder gestured for silence.
Elsewhere, Bete groaned:
"Ugh, so boring."
He walked to his assigned room.
Finn and Riveria, however, smiled quietly:
"Ais should be fine now, right?"
"For now."
Renjiro shook his head helplessly:
"To make Ais understand the nuances, she had to first open her mind in that area. She… doesn't get it yet."
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