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The redhead melted out of the shadows, her lips pressed into a very grim line.
"This is bad, Godou."
"I agree."
"You never told me that you met Freya."
Of course, she'd be more concerned over that. "Why would I tell you?"
"Or that she invited you to join her Familia."
"Well, I didn't join, so it doesn't matter."
Loki was suddenly next to him, a very sly smile on her face. "Was there a particular reason you didn't join?"
"Yeah," he said. "Hanging around with Gods only brings trouble." Then he started walking towards the direction the rest of Loki's Familia had gone.
"You're an idiot, Godou," Loki said, following him.
XxXxXxXxX
"Levels. Are just. A number!"
Those words continued to echo in Finn's mind as he watched the boy who had defiantly roared them fight the Minotaur.
Bell Cranel was the only adventurer in the cavern who could not kill the Minotaur in a single strike. And it was because of this, Finn knew, that the fight was important only to him.
"A Level 1, trying to fight a Minotaur?" Tione said, shaking her head. "Too foolhardy."
"There's no helping it, is there?" Bete said derisively. "I'd be sick and tired of being saved by Aiz too, if I were him."
A small grunt came from the Sword Princess. A swing of the Minotaur's arm and Bell Cranel was sent flying. A hand reached for her sword protectively, but Finn saw Aiz relax slightly when Bell stood back up.
"He's like the Argonaut," Tiona said. "He keeps getting back up."
"That's what heroes do."
A new voice emerged, but Finn, unlike the others, didn't turn behind to see who it was. He recognized Godou's voice by now.
Kusanagi Godou came to a stop next to him, a grumbling Loki at his side.
"Ottar?" he asked.
"He left," Godou said.
Finn felt relief. He had been slightly worried about leaving Godou alone with the King, but he supposed if anyone would be alright with the Strongest Adventurer, it would be Kusanagi Godou. He wouldn't admit this to anyone, but he wished to watch the two of them fight someday.
"We're not helping him?" Godou asked, pointing to Bell Cranel.
The rookie adventurer expertly rolled away from a slash, and the Minotaur's Landform sword sliced through hard rock cleanly.
"He doesn't want it," Riveria said, setting Bell's unconscious Supporter to the ground.
Finn saw Godou's face, normally calm, twitch for a moment. Then it relaxed again.
"He doesn't need it," Godou said.
Loki calmly looked up. "What makes you say that, Godou?"
"He's got that look."
Everybody in the Familia suddenly turned to look at Godou, who continued to observe the battle as if nothing was amiss. Finn was quite aware that his desire for further clarification was mirrored by everyone else.
"That look?" Loki asked.
"Just watch," Godou instructed, and just like that, they turned back to Bell Cranel and the Minotaur.
And just in time, too, because the boy twisted and spun in the air before managing to sink his dagger into the forearm of his bovine foe, eliciting a roar that caused the whole room to shudder.
"Wait a minute," Bete said in disbelief. "Isn't he just a Level 1 that started a few weeks ago?"
"Levels are just a number."
Finn felt his thumb twitch.
His eyes widened as he looked up at Godou, who was still transfixed on the battle. But something had changed.
Kusanagi Godou was smiling.
"That fool!" Bete suddenly yelled.
Finn turned back and understood why everyone was suddenly alarmed.
Bell Cranel was now charging headlong towards the Minotaur.
He had claimed the Landform sword as his own, wielding it with his right hand, while his left continued to grip the dagger that Finn knew just by looking had been crafted by a master.
But more weapons did not mean more power. The Minotaur had strength that surpassed a Level 2's. Taking advantage of it
s stupidity and clumsiness was how lower-leveled adventurers were supposed to tackle it.
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Want to read more?
The next 10+ chapters are already available on my Patreon!
By joining, you'll get:
📖 Early access to future chapters
🗳️ Polls to shape the story
🎁 Exclusive content for Patrons
🔥 Bonus scenes & content you won't find anywhere else
👀 Don't fall behind—others are already ahead!
👉 patreon.com/FanfictionTakashi
(If link doesn't show, just search on Google: FanfictionTakashi Patreon)