Fun Training

"...Why's Evan humming like that?"

Near the capital, at the western goblin colony. Haring tilted her head in disbelief, sitting atop the corpse of a goblin great warrior she'd just slain. She'd already explained the situation to Evan, but he hadn't responded. If anything, his calm demeanor felt more ominous.

Anyway, over the past week, Haring and NyaNya had cleared over a hundred quests. Picking them up was fine, but she had no idea why they were suddenly getting dumped in bulk like this.

It was only at the beginning.

Simple, easy quests used to grow Lea's low-level disciples back then. They were sweet and comfy in the past, but now as a top ranker, things were different.

"...About 20% up?"

Low-level quests didn't give much EXP. A week's worth of over a hundred cleared, and all she got was 20% toward her next level. Lucky she hadn't gotten banned or perma-locked, but she couldn't keep this up forever.

"...But complaining feels awkward too."

Already hated from the Red Pill event. Whining here for better quests instead of these small fries?

"That'd be..."

Basically begging to get killed. Haring shook her head.

"Ugh... But keepin' this up is risky."

Leaving the capital wasted too much time, so she'd been sweeping nearby hunting grounds. Few newbies around made quests easy, but as the gallery showed, people were starting to notice. Plus, even with the secret passage, popping in and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out of the palace too much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would raise flags.

"Alright. Okay!"

Haring checked the whisper, dusted her hands, and stood. Leaving the goblin colony without a second thought, she mused that maybe—just maybe—she could ask for something to cheer Lea up besides goblin hunts.

"Sorry."

Haring shook her head. ...Sorry Yugi, but she still couldn't tell him. Lea didn't like him much.

"Call 'em."

"Huh?"

"Pardon?"

"I said ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠call 'em."

Back at the palace, Haring and NyaNya stared blankly at Lea. Call who? The dragon who'd fled to the palace to avoid heroes was suddenly calling them? She'd summoned Haring and NyaNya because she hated seeing them wander uselessly—but not Yugi.

They eyed her suspiciously, but Lea crossed her arms casually.

"Call everyone who's coming. Evan too. Disciples only if you want."

"Uh... Won't that risk getting caught?"

"Don't care."

"For real?"

"Yup."

Lea nodded.

"They cause a fuss, toss 'em in the palace dungeon. Easy."

"Ah."

"Got it."

This wasn't Lea's nest—it was Legion Palace. Unlike home where they wouldn't die, swarming here meant straight to the underground cells. Screw up in the palace, and months locked up was guaranteed.

Haring nodded in understanding.

"And you two stay put and train here."

"Huh?"

"Barely earning QP anywayyy. Better to get strong and clear harder quests, right?"

"Ooh... Yeah! Spot on!"

"Master's the best!"

"Back to your usual training spots. I'll hand out quests there."

"Yessir!"

Haring and NyaNya high-fived leaving Lea's room. NyaNya sighed in relief.

"Phew. Glad. Another subjugation quest would've sucked."

"Totally. Almost branded evil player..."

"Hehe. Cool. I'm off to my magic master's room."

"How we linking up?"

"Tell the disciple group chat first. Anyone who wants to come, cool."

"Mm... Kinda annoying, but okay."

Haring nodded and messaged the 6-person chat with Lea's location and news. NyaNya added hers too, then skipped to her magic training room.

Inside, Heris Roen in priestess robes smiled by the central table.

"Ho ho ho. Week later, eh, Hero NyaNya?"

"Heris! Good to see you?"

"Of course. You look well too—nice."

"Back to training. Please take g—"

Thud!

"He, Heris?"

"Flame Dragon asked—no, ordered me. Ho ho ho."

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Magic tomes piled on the table. Thicker than before. NyaNya's eyes shook as she backed away, but the door was shut tight. A new quest popped up.

"Y-Yes...?"

"No worries. I'll teach you ve~ry. Tho~roughly. Ho ho ho."

"...I'd rather hunt goblins."

"No can do, Hero NyaNya."

"What?"

Training grounds. Arriving later than NyaNya, Haring frowned at the weird whisper.

Run? From what?

"Something up?"

She pondered briefly, figured it was nothing, and waited at the sparring area. If serious, NyaNya would've spammed or freaked out.

How long later...

"Here?"

"Sis~"

"The Knight Captain is not your sister."

"Aww~"

Adella Measis appeared after a week. Haring grinned playfully, but Adella drew her real sword with dead seriousness.

"Huh. Real sword?"

"Obviously."

"We always used wooden ones."

"Flame Dragon's will. Draw yours."

"...Lea?"

"Yes."

Ding! Haring glanced up.

"I'll kill you."

"...Huh?"

"No worries. I'll match your level."

"W-Wait, sis? This quest makes no sense..."

Adella took stance. Haring scrambled for her sword and mirrored.

And.

"Ah."

Haring's head flew toward the sky.