"Ow, can somebody get the licence plate of the truck that hit me" Nero complained, waking up in a unfamiliar room with a banging headache and an aching body as he slowly brought himself up into a seated position
"Sure, it was D U M B A 5 5" joked a voice from Nero's side
Turning to his side Nero noticed Aurathia sitting on a chair peeling an apple with incredible skill, the fruit retaining almost the exact same shape due to the fluid movements of the knife even though it was missing the peel
"You're going to tell me how much of that number plate I am aren't you" Nero chuckled with a groan, his laugh causing his injuries to sting
"Yeah I am" Aurathia replied "after all, what kind of dumbass goes down to a floor where they know there is a mutant monster that is stronger than others that is pretty much immune to all types of magic"
"In my defence I was trying to be stealthy as possible, and it wouldn't have noticed me if it was on its own, I was only discovered because another monster that was commanding the main monster saw me due to it blending into the dragons crystal scales and watching the dragons blind spot, if it weren't for that I have confidence it would never have noticed me" Nero proclaimed
"In your defence doesn't work when you use the word if, as if you were a level six you wouldn't have had any trouble beating it, and if it was even stronger you wouldn't be here" Aurathia remarked, placing the apple she had been peeling on a plate with the knife next to it "ifs are not real, that's why you train so that you don't have to rely on them"
"I understand, and I also understand that it was my fault that I'm here, give me any punishment you wish" Nero surrendered, lying back down in his bed
"You want me to punish you" Aurathia replied, her eyes narrowing "alright then, your punishment is that you are forbidden from going into the dungeon until you fulfil two requirements that I have of you"
"And those are?" Nero asked
"Your first requirement is that you finish your training with your current trainer" Aurathia raised a finger before raising a second "the second is that you need to reach level 2 before you go back into the dungeon"
"Ok, so either you're even madder than I think due to the fact that trying to rank up to level 2 on the surface, meaning that even with the stats I currently have getting good enough excelia to actually rank up will be very difficult" Nero said looking at Aurathia who had an unreadable expression on her face "or I have already got enough excelia to rank up and the second requirement is basically just you saying that you get to decide when I go back into the dungeon"
"Where were these smarts when you decided to go face a high level monster" Aurathia replied with a scowl, before her face lit up showing that she was simply teasing Nero "but yeah, congratulations Nero, you have met the requirements to be able to level up, all you need is for me to seal the deal by using your current excelia to rank you up and you will be rank 2, but I will only do that after you finish your current training" she stated
"Well then, waiting till I finish my training is probably for the best, as it will get me a few more stat points and Akiza can also join in with my rank up celebration when it finally happens" Nero smiled wryly "by the way how long was I out for?"
"Only a day" Aurathia answered "meaning that if you levelled up now you would still be the second fastest adventurer to level up with it only taking you half a year"
"Maybe add a month or two to that" Nero commented "Akiza's training isn't helped by having higher stats so I feel like it will take me a bit longer to finish her training than it did for me to finish Yumi and Rias's training as it won't become easier with time"
"Good to see that you truly have learned to take things one step at a time" Aurathia smiled "as a prize you get a slice of apple" picking up one of the pieces off of the plate and holding it in front of Nero's mouth
"Thanks" Nero chuckled as he took a bite, right as Yumi and Rias opened the room door causing Nero to freeze in place, feeling like they had walked in at a time that would be perfect if he were in some kind of anime
"Are we interrupting something" Rias teased with a smile
"Nope, just feeding an idiot" Aurathia responded, unfazed by the two women's arrival as she placed the apple slice in Nero's still open mouth
"It's good to see you awake Nero" Yumi added from Rias's side holding a basket "we brought you a get well soon basket" she said placing the basket of food on the cabinet next to the apple
"Thanks you two" Nero responded with a smile "did they say how long I was going to be in here for?"
"The worst of your symptoms was mind down due to overusing your magic" Airmid informed him as she entered the room "as such with a little more rest you will be able to leave today, the cuts and bruises that you have were pretty minor with the worst injury you had being on your back due to falling from a high place"
"Note to self, when attacking from above make sure I have enough energy to properly land" Nero chuckled to himself "by the way, how did I get here?"
"The Loki familia was on there way into the dungeon and came across you, as such Tiona-san from the group carried you up a few floor until she came across me and Yumi" answered Rias
"From there we carried you out of the dungeon" Yumi continued
"Seems like I owe both of you and Tiona from the Loki familia my thanks" Nero smiled
"You can thank me by showing me around more of the secret spots around Orario" Rias smiled
"No thanks are necessary" Yumi replied calmly "although if you were to make me a special shaved ice bowl once you are better I would not refuse your kind gesture" she continued, turning her head to the side slightly to conceal her blush
"Consider it done" Nero thanked as the two women took a seat each and everyone started talking about casual topics as the day continued onwards.