Walls surrounded the room, and pale blue phosphorescence lit the inside of the training ground.
It was a relatively hidden room deep on the west side of the fifth floor. Criminals had once hidden here to secretly brew potions, and now it was perfect as an undisturbed training ground.
Everything in the Dungeon had been restored. Aside from the barren ground, there was nothing else around.
"I-I wasn't really trying to hit you earlier."
Lefiya insisted on her innocence.
At most, it had been a dissatisfied little threat. Even if the boy had not run away, she would only have given him a "gentle" tap with her wand.
"Then we're even. I'm not really trying to get revenge either."
Bell deliberately cracked his knuckles.
He had not brought any weapons like knives or swords, but since his opponent was a Mage who could not use Concurrent Chanting, hand chops alone would be more than enough. Rather, just like in the mock battle with the Ganesha Familia, Bell would have to carefully control his strength and hold back.
"A man who nitpicks over every little thing isn't a good man!"
Lefiya puffed out her cheeks as she answered.
It did not quite fit the boy, but she still repeated something she had heard from Tione.
"I'm not nitpicking. Let me think. When we first met, you chased me three times. After we returned to the surface, there was another time because of the clothing request, and earlier you tried to hit me with your wand..."
Bell began counting off Lefiya's acts of violence.
Ever since they first met, the two had constantly clashed. Their playing and teasing had also witnessed Bell's growth from the one being chased into an Adventurer Lefiya could no longer reach.
"You remembered all of it!"
Lefiya tightened her grip on her wand and retorted.
A boy who kept all those little games in his heart was far too strange.
And the fact that she felt happy about it was strange too...
"Ahhh, whatever! Let's face this head-on! I'll do my best!"
Lefiya's cheeks were dyed with an adorable blush.
Having someone other than a Mage teach her Concurrent Chanting was already a reckless hope to begin with. Even if the process was rough, Lefiya was prepared for it.
"Then I'll be in your care."
Bell spoke his final words before the battle began.
"Mm, I'll be in your care too... Hm?"
Before Lefiya could finish speaking, the boy stomped against the ground and charged straight at her.
His hand chop cut through the air, stirring up a gust of wind. It was an extremely simple move with no unnecessary changes, but to Lefiya, it was already a swift surprise attack.
She hurriedly raised her wand and used the staff technique Riveria had taught her to block. As a result, the arm holding the wand went slightly numb from the impact.
This had to be an attack after he held back. Otherwise, judging by the [Strength] the boy had shown when defeating the Floor Boss, she would have had no way to defend herself.
Bell Cranel had a grasp of all her stats and thoughtfully held back, making every strike just right.
That was far too unfair...
Lefiya could not help thinking that, if only to answer that warmth, she absolutely had to work hard.
"Not bad."
Bell praised her sincerely.
After exchanging a few blows, he gained an even clearer sense of Lefiya's growth. The golden-yellow-haired elf of the past would instinctively close her eyes in the face of a Minotaur's sudden attack, but now she had overcome that fear and become much calmer.
Lefiya could read the direction of an attack and respond properly. Although there were still many immature points, the most basic aptitude for Concurrent Chanting was already beginning to take shape.
"Ugh... Aim... ugh..."
Lefiya did not lose herself in the boy's praise. She tried to chant Magic in the gaps between her defenses, but her Mind only wove a few syllables before the boy's attack interrupted her.
This was no good at all...
Lefiya's Magic was different from the boy's. It was not chantless Magic, but long-form Magic that required a certain amount of time. Looking at it that way, she had not even reached the threshold of Concurrent Chanting yet.
"Don't lose heart. Grip your wand tight and keep your eyes properly on me."
Bell repeated the same simple hand chops as he comforted her.
He had never systematically studied Concurrent Chanting, but this feeling in combat was strangely familiar.
"Pro... Proud warrior, snipers of the forest...."
Light dwelled in Lefiya's eyes as she tried again and again to weave her Mind.
Without exception, the boy's attacks drew her attention, and every attempt was cut short.
"You're pouring too much Magic Power into it. For now, give up on firepower and focus on activating the Magic first. Once the foundation is solid, then you can put in more Mind."
Bell felt the drifting magic essence and reminded her softly.
For a Mage who pursued perfection, that method might be considered heretical, but Bell still shared his thoughts without hesitation. Lefiya had always perfectly woven the opening lines of her chant, and precisely because of that, she spent even more attention on them.
"Ugh... Proud warrior, snipers of the forest..."
Lefiya followed the boy's advice and reduced the Magic Power spent in the first half.
The chant advanced one step further, but she still could not cast the complete Magic.
If Bell slowed down or weakened his attacks, Lefiya would probably be able to perform Concurrent Chanting, but he had no intention of doing that.
If she could not overcome even this level of attack, Lefiya would never be able to handle real combat against monsters.
"Lefiya-san, defending seems a little hard for you. How about abandoning everything and focusing on evasion?"
Bell reminded her again.
Riveria's instruction to Lefiya was clearly based on her own standards, and she had taught Lefiya everything she knew. Even when Riveria had very little Mind left, she could still defeat monsters with staff techniques. But to Lefiya, that kind of technique, combining offense and defense, was difficult to handle.
Because she wanted to grasp every point, Lefiya's attention was scattered. Aside from her Mind, every other aspect seemed rather ordinary, and that was also why she had taken so long to learn Concurrent Chanting.
"Focus on evasion? I understand..."
Lefiya nodded thoughtfully.
The boy's suggestion had both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was that Lefiya would have more energy to weave Magic. On the other hand, even if she succeeded, that form of Concurrent Chanting would be an extremely immature technique.
To put it simply, what Riveria hoped for was elite education, letting Lefiya follow her step by step. Bell's suggestion, however, was an unorthodox shortcut. He firmly believed Lefiya would not become arrogant because of it. This kind, sensible girl would surely build her confidence and work even harder to move forward.
Phosphorescent light shimmered. White hair and long golden-yellow hair crossed and fluttered. In this unknown corner of the Dungeon, the two seemed to be dancing.
The boy guided the steps, carefully controlling his strength and timing, while the girl wove her song again and again.
Rich golden magic essence adorned that determined, beautiful face.
No one knew how much time passed.
Within the dance between them, a single arrow of light was born.