After packing Hestia's and Mikoto's lunches, Ron did not linger in the restaurant. Besides bringing the food back, there was also the matter of pre-battle special training.
However, just as he returned to the communal dormitory, he ran into the black-haired, long-haired girl stepping out of her room.
"Haven't eaten lunch yet, right?"
"I packed two portions from the restaurant. Also, about the War Game—starting tomorrow, we probably… won't be able to rest for the time being."
"A few senior adventurers are willing to help us with special training."
In the face of Apollo's War Game, Mikoto still showed no trace of retreat. Having come this far, she could be said to be a companion who shared both honor and disgrace.
Ron felt there was no need to hide anything at all.
When she heard that two senior adventurers were willing to help with her special training, a flash of brightness crossed Mikoto's eyes. For her, this was indeed good news.
After advancing to Lv3, if she wanted to quickly adapt to the changes in strength brought about by the level-up, this was the fastest way.
"Thank you…"
"Ron, there's actually something I also wanted to tell you. It's just… I wanted to thank you for all the care you've given me in the Dungeon during this time."
"?"
Why does this feel like it's heading in the wrong direction?
Although Ron knew very well that, given Mikoto's character, she would absolutely never do something like running away before the War Game began,
Then, he heard the girl's matter-of-fact explanation: "I've been accumulating at Lv2 for so long, and now I've finally completed my level-up. Even the great feat… was provided by the Floor Boss behind the Fog Gate."
"Although you are the captain of the familia…"
"But when it comes to adventurer level—setting aside the future, at least for now—I feel that I absolutely can't be surpassed by you, a rookie adventurer!"
"…"
Mikoto's tone was light and casual.
Even so, Ron could still grasp her true thoughts. She probably wanted to make a bit more effort for the extremely important War Game ahead.
He was just about to say something, when he saw the girl pick up the packed lunch and return to her room. As if anticipating what he was about to ask, Mikoto softly added: "Don't worry,"
"As for my ability values, every attribute has already reached the limit of its potential…"
Compared to the speed of Mikoto's growth in the original storyline—under the oppressive pressure of the malice-filled 'Soulslike Dungeon,' she was the first to complete her level-up.
From an objective standpoint, even an adventurer who had just broken through to Lv3 would undergo a qualitative change in strength. At the very least, the Lv2 adventurers of the Apollo Familia would pose no pressure at all.
But now, Ron had no intention of popping the champagne in advance.
The rough reason was that he now had a reason why, no matter what, he absolutely could not lose.
...
[Shinobi Prosthetic]
In the narrow upper levels of the Dungeon, it was difficult to fully bring out its effect. However, the War Game venue was located at the former headquarters of Evilus on South Main Street.
The grappling hook's high mobility could be said to provide Ron's "decapitation operation" with a rapid means of movement.
Ryuu's special training was scheduled for tomorrow. Making use of the limited free time he had, he took the Valis he had accumulated during this period from Dungeon exploration and selling drop items—a total of 1.1 million—and carried out a retaliatory spending spree.
The panacea he purchased was mainly prepared for Mikoto, to prevent her from being injured during the War Game. Aside from that, there was the repair and maintenance of equipment and weapons.
With the recovery from the "Healing Gourd," Ron was not worried about injuries. Most importantly, the War Game was not aimed at slaughtering a familia.
Moreover, toward most of the Apollo Familia's adventurers—whom he had never seen before—he did not harbor as much resistance as he had when facing the Soma Familia.
If he really had to evaluate it, it was simply a difference in stance.
After enjoying a brief period of leisure time in Orario, Ron soon arrived at the day before the War Game. As usual, he set out early in the morning with his pack on his back.
This time, however, the destination was outside Orario.
The backyard of the "Hostess of Fertility" was simply unable to handle both his and Mikoto's practical combat training at the same time, so they could only temporarily relocate.
And then, Ron saw the girl who would be accompanying them.
She was still wearing the leaf-colored maid uniform of the restaurant. Her short light-brown hair and cat ears were extremely eye-catching, and her golden vertical pupils symbolized her identity as a catgirl.
Anya.
"Senior Ryuu…"
"Anya is also here to help with your special training. We've sparred many times before; even if we continue fighting, we might not gain much more."
"And the combat styles between different adventurers vary greatly."
When interacting in private, Ryuu was not as cold as usual. After briefly explaining how the sparring would be arranged, she led them outside the city of Orario, to the clearing beside the forest.
"Anya used to be a strong adventurer too, meow~"
"If it weren't for the War Game rules allowing only one outside helper, Anya definitely wouldn't miss something this interesting."
The silly catgirl made no attempt to hide the pride in her tone.
It was just past dawn, and the girl stretched lazily. Because of that movement, her originally understated figure was perfectly outlined.
She looked just like a docile kitten.
But as Anya moved, the long spear hanging behind her back quietly slid downward. Just as it was about to touch the ground—
The girl casually kicked backward, and sent the spear that was about to fall straight into her palm.
"Mm."
"Don't underestimate Anya, meow~"
After lightly loosening up, her expression gradually turned serious. Even her lazy golden vertical pupils now flowed with a fighting spirit called "wildness."
A former Freya Familia Lv4 adventurer.
At this stage, with his own ability values already close to breaking through to Lv3, Ron was also curious about where the gap lay between himself and these veteran adventurers of Orario.
After fitting the "Shinobi Prosthetic" onto his arm, he wore a relaxed smile, yet could clearly feel the fighting spirit coursing through his body. He said earnestly, "Senior Anya, then please take care of me."
"..."
But the moment his words fell, the silly catgirl, who had still been standing at a distance, shot toward him like a cannonball. The naked eye could only catch the afterimage of her movement.
Anya's speed…
Was even faster than Ryuu's—perhaps because of the unique talent of her cat-person race!
There was no time at all for Ron to think. His body almost instinctively raised his left hand toward the forest to the side, accompanied by the sound of a mechanism activating.
Click.
The "Shinobi Prosthetic" fitted on his left arm instantly fired a grappling hook. After the tip firmly embedded itself into a tree trunk, accompanied by the powerful pulling force generated by the mechanism, Ron's legs exerted force in an instant, and his figure vanished from where he stood.
Only the silly catgirl remained, having swept horizontally with the shaft of her spear, her attack completely missing. She stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. She was not annoyed in the slightest. To be precise—
The boy's suddenly vanished figure triggered the underlying hunting logic of Anya's cat-person instincts. She looked toward the patch of forest where Ron had disappeared, her eyes filled with a desire for the game.
Very interesting.
Although the girl did not know how Ron had done it, in the years since she retired from the Freya Familia, she had not experienced—
Such an interesting game!
"Hide-and-seek is Anya's favorite, meow~"
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