Promise (1)
Promise (1)
"You okay?"
I extended my hand toward Raize. I figured this kid, who had scarfed down a hefty dose of fear, wouldn't be able to stand up on his own.
Raize ignored the hand I offered and hauled herself up. Once on her feet, she brushed the mud off her robe, sending a cloud of dirt flying.
"......Who're you calling a kid?"
'Not a kid?'
Even among the party, Raize looked smaller than Eunha, so she came off as nothing but a young boy. Still, I didn't say it out loud.
Kids working at this age usually have a complex about it.
Poking at his complex wouldn't be a good move. I steered the conversation elsewhere, careful not to touch on it.
"So, you were gonna show me some magic or whatever?"
"...That was just me letting my guard down. Now that I know, it'll be different next time."
"Yeah, yeah, do better next time."
No sooner had I said it than wolves started charging from way off in the distance. Their fur, adapted to the pitch-black darkness, stood out awkwardly now that light was flooding everywhere.
I glanced down at Raize, and she'd spotted them too—she gripped her staff and immediately started chanting in some incomprehensible language.
It wasn't until the wolves were close enough that I could make out their expressions that the spell finally completed.
"Lightning Spear."
I'd seen circus mages putting on magic shows with their spells before. Nothing impressive—just basic stuff.
So I figured even the best magic couldn't hold a candle to Seoyun's ability, or at best match it.
But real magic from a proper mage was way more than that.
"Go."
With Raize's command, the spear shot forward.
In that instant, lightning and thunder filled the dungeon.
Mages are like cannons. Gods of the battlefield, packing lethal power into a single shot.
That's why it was only natural they didn't challenge dungeons.
Just like firing a cannon takes time to load, mages need prep time too.
Which made a dungeon full of darkness a rotten place for mages to shine.
You can't wander around with a loaded cannon any more than a mage can stroll with a spell at the ready.
But with the dark curtains gone from floor 1 all the way to 10...
A mage became the most threatening artillery around.
"Whew......."
Crackle—sparks flew all over Raize's body. Her immense magic resistance channeled the current straight into the ground.
After a deep breath, Raize shot Dojin a cocky grin. So full of himself, Dojin wanted to pinch those cheeks without mercy.
"Impressive. So that's magic? Then everything I've seen before was..."
"...A true mage doesn't flash their spells around lightly. Only half-baked posers sling magic willy-nilly."
Raize shrugged as she said it. She stayed mum on the fact that she'd used magic to take down a monster Dojin could've handled with a sword.
Well, she'd come here to test magic resistance in the first place... Dojin picked up the Magic Stone and stashed it in his bag.
Raize's eyes sparkled at the sight.
"That's a Magic Stone?"
"Yeah, why? Never seen one?"
"I've handled plenty. But one fresh off the monster like this? First time."
"Wanna take a look?"
Dojin held out the Magic Stone. Raize took it, held it up to the ceiling lantern, sniffed it, even licked and bit it to check the taste.
Once she'd run through her inspection and realized it was no different, she spat out the blood and dirt from her lips.
"Nothing special."
"Well, yeah, all Magic Stones are the same."
Dojin tucked the handed-back stone into his bag and set off for the next monster. Luckily, they respawned after a while, and unlike floor 1, floor 5 had way more monsters than people.
"Oh, yeah."
Raize, mid-chant for her next spell, suddenly stopped and looked at Dojin. He peered down at her with a what's-up expression.
"To test magic resistance, we need hide."
"Hide? Oh, right. How do you get monster hide anyway?"
"You don't know? And you're a high-rank adventurer?"
"......Nah, I know. Yeah."
Truth was, Dojin had no clue. But he lied without thinking. He might've just hit adulthood, but he couldn't admit "I don't know" or "I can't" in front of a kid.
It didn't take long for Dojin to figure it out. Monsters turn to Magic Stones when they die, so skin one alive and it won't die, right?
Whether feasible or not, the moment he voiced it, ways to make it happen popped into his head.
'Probably don't need a ton.'
Dojin's sword sliced the throat of the charging Shadow Wolf. Then the next, and the next—his strikes flowed endlessly.
Like brushstrokes painting a picture, his sword path never wasted an inch, achieving exactly what he wanted. The realm of the sword.
But Raize, no sword expert, just thought, High-rank adventurers must all be this good.
"Kyaaang!"
He grabbed the last Shadow Wolf by the throat and slowly sliced open its belly. The monster groaned in pain, clawing at Dojin's arm with teeth and nails, but even faintly awakened Indestructible Body held firm.
Moments later, with the hide fully peeled, Dojin handed it to Raize.
"Here, test quick. It'll vanish once it dies."
"......Got it."
She took the hide and started her experiment. Soon the wolf died from infection, turned to a Magic Stone, and she kept testing on new ones...
After gathering data from dozens like that, Raize finally got the results she wanted.
In the Elevator heading to floor 1, Raize spoke up first.
"......A week, right?"
"Huh?"
"Your companions resting. You said a week."
"Oh, yeah."
"Then—party with me for a week."
"For what?"
"Partying."
Raize looked up at me as she said it. Her face said she didn't think I'd refuse.
Kids her age figure their ideas are always right. Grow from there into a confident leader, or flop into a whiny brat.
And I'm great with kids. My dad's dojo was crawling with elementary and kindergarteners.
"Nah, pass."
"......Why?"
"Just 'cause."
Raize chewed her lip, mulling her next words. But we hit floor 1 before she could speak.
The doors opened, and we headed out of the dungeon. Even walking, she was lost in thought, trudging along dazed.
"If you party with me."
"Hm?"
"If we form a party... I'll tell you a secret."
"A secret?"
"One only I know. Never told anyone."
Raize figured that'd hook me. But sweet-talking a grown-up? You're a decade too early, kiddo.
I flicked her forehead hard. Raize clutched it instantly.
"Ow!"
Tears welling, she looked up at me. I knelt a bit to meet her eyes.
"When you want something from a grown-up, there's a magic word, right? Secret this, secret that—probably just bedwetting stories."
"W-what?! ...I've never wet the bed."
"Yeah, yeah, sure."
Raize gripped her robe tight at my words. Her fists shook with fury—or fear?
But soon, in a trembling voice, she said it.
"P-please......."
"Please?"
"H-huu. Please, form a party with me......."
Her face red, body quivering—I was loving teasing her. But instinct said push further and she'd blow, so I patted her head and nodded.
"Alright, sure."
"Th-thank you......."
"You don't need to thank me."
"Uuu...."
Watching her tremble like that oddly filled me with contentment.
Out of the dungeon, we split the loot and parted. Promised to meet tomorrow morning.
Outside, it was past lunch, sun setting. Twilight soon. Medieval-style city twilight was a stunner. Apparently gawking at the sunset looked suspicious—a Guard approached.
"Inspection time."
"Oh, sure."
High-pitched for a guy, kinda excited voice from the Guard.
I tilted my head and handed over my Guild Card. In this adventurers' city, it was basically ID.
The Guard scanned it a few times, then grabbed my arm.
"You're the thief with a warrant out."
"Huh? What're you..."
"Stole my heart."
"......?"
Grinning at his joke, the Guard flipped up his face guard. A familiar face popped out from the helmet.
"Ilone?"
"Long time no see!"
It was Ilone, the city's Guard Force captain.
"Miss me?"
"Nah, not really."
After that, I headed to the Guard Force with Ilone. Wasn't arrested for heart theft—she just needed to clock out and change.
Out in casual clothes, she shyly adjusted her outfit.
The getup was strictly for commuting, all sloppy, so yeah, embarrassing to show me.
We hit a tavern right away. Not my inn's pub—fancier joint.
"We can eat here?"
"Sure, my treat."
"Nah, but you..."
"What, even after seeing this?"
I pointed to my Guild Card. Silver-plated, owned by the city's elite—meant my income was top-tier.
Probably matched her monthly pay—didn't say it. Might bum her out.
We sat, scarfed the free snacks, ordered beer. Ice-cold lager with floating cubes, two mugs served. Cheers, down the first.
"What've you been up to?"
"Me? Thanks to you, wiped out illegal groups. Got rewards and land from the Lord for it. Just been living."
"Busy life."
"Yeah. Too busy. Couldn't even keep promises."
"Promises?"
"Forgot? We made one back then."
Over a month ago—took a bit to recall what she meant.
But I did. Post-festival date promise.
'Oh, crap.'
"Since we're meeting, let's set it now. This weekend work?"
Ilone beamed. Couldn't turn down that smile, so I nodded yes.