Chapter 38: For What Purpose Do We Move Forward

Lige may not know, but in fact, at the beginning, when Raphia learned that Loki and the heads of the Familia had assigned her a teammate and paired her with a new Familia member to explore the dungeon, she was determined to grow.

Raphia was very aware of the issues she had.

Unlike the other Familia leaders who had started as adventurers, were accustomed to battling monsters, and had even experienced more intense life-and-death struggles, Raphia had grown up in a school, essentially a top student who had grown up in an ivory tower. Her mindset and resolve were very different from those of the seasoned adventurers who faced life and death every day.

Before joining Loki's Familia, Raphia had grown up in a very stable environment, and she had already advanced to a higher-level adventurer as soon as she became one. As a result, she was not well-suited for high-intensity battles.

Additionally, as a rear guard, she had a tendency to get nervous. Once she entered a battle, it was usually fine, but if any unexpected situation arose, her heart would race, and she would struggle to calm down for a long time.

This was undoubtedly very fatal for a Mage.

After all, Mages primarily use magic as their means of combat. Chanting spells and casting magic are the only things a Mage can do.

However, chanting spells typically requires a very stable mental state and mindset. How could one chant the incantations of a spell smoothly and fluently otherwise?

When using magic, one must have a stable mindset, a calm spirit, and a composed heart. Only then can one remain unperturbed when monsters attack, continue chanting, refine their mental energy into magic power, and successfully cast spells to defeat enemies.

Therefore, Mages, who seem to just cast spells from a safe place, actually need a stronger heart than front-line and mid-line fighters.

In this regard, Raphia was undoubtedly lacking.

She had lost her composure more than once in battle, leading to failed magic usage.

Because of this, Raphia felt she did not deserve the attention of the Familia leaders and the title of genius.

Finn and others often tried to counsel Raphia, and even the first-tier adventurers of the Familia treated her with special regard, offering her help without nitpicking, inviting her to join their teams and circles, and acting together. However, Raphia still often got so nervous that she forgot to chant her spells.

Therefore, Raphia always felt she could not keep up with the first-tier adventurers and was a burden to them.

With this mindset, Raphia had no complaints when paired with a new Familia member and did not dare to consider herself a senior, even though her level was higher than Lige's. She approached the adventure with Lige with a humble and learning attitude.

Indeed, Raphia wanted to use this opportunity to train herself and correct her flaws.

She also valued this opportunity. Pairing with high-level leaders was a burden, and pairing with equal-level Familia members might trouble others. In such a situation, exploring and learning combat techniques with a lower-level new member was more suitable for Raphia.

However, the results were far from satisfactory.

No, they were not even satisfactory. Her performance was undoubtedly terrible.

Thinking about how she was repeatedly saved by Lige and how she panicked in battle, Raphia felt very ashamed.

During Lige's battle with the Crocodile Dragon, as a rear guard Mage, she should have found an opportunity to cast spells to help Lige defeat the strong enemy. However, she ended up standing aside, watching helplessly, and completely losing her composure.

In contrast, Lige, despite being weaker than the enemy and a new adventurer who had only started a week ago, never showed any fear. Instead, he faced the challenge head-on, fearless of life and death, and performed an unprecedented feat.

That posture, that demeanor, even Raphia had to admit, left an indelible impression and impact on her.

At one point, Raphia even saw the figure of the person she admired in Lige.

Those two figures had already overlapped to some extent in Raphia's heart.

In comparison, her performance was simply terrible.

Realizing this, Raphia fell into deep self-loathing after returning home, unable to pull herself out of it.

"A person like me is just a burden wherever I go," Raphia said, her head lowered, extremely dejected. "Mr. Lige should team up with more capable Familia members to avoid being held back."

By this point, Raphia's tone was not just dejected but also tinged with self-torture and inferiority.

The reception room fell into a heavy silence, making the atmosphere uncomfortable.

Just as Raphia was about to run away, Lige finally spoke.

"Raphia," Lige asked, "why did you become an adventurer?"

Hearing this, Raphia was slightly taken aback and involuntarily looked up at Lige.

In front of Raphia, Lige stared directly at her, his eyes and expression very calm.

"I..."

Raphia was at a loss.

Why did she become an adventurer?

"Some people do it for wealth."

"Some for fame."

"Some for power."

"Some for survival."

"Those who choose to become adventurers all have their own reasons and desires. Otherwise, no one would choose such a dangerous profession where they could lose their life at any moment."

Lige's voice was unusually serene, giving a sense of the inexplicable.

"And you? Why did you become an adventurer?"

This question left Raphia speechless.

"Can't you answer?"

Lige was not surprised, just said this.

"Yes," Raphia involuntarily lowered her head again, speaking in a low voice, "I, I don't know why."

Raphia truly could not say.

It felt like there was a reason, but that reason must be insignificant, Raphia thought.

Perhaps—

"Perhaps, you haven't found a reason that you can firmly tell others, a reason that won't let you down, a reason that will make you proud," Lige said, as if reading Raphia's thoughts. "But that's okay. You will find your reason eventually."

"And when you find that reason, you will realize that you can do what others can do."

"Ultimately, the difference between you and me is just that."

Lige's words were profound to Raphia.

Yet, inexplicably, Raphia felt she could not forget these words.

Especially with Lige's calm expression and the words he spoke.

"When you have a reason that compels you to act, the courage you lack will surely appear."

"You can be confused and uncertain, but never let yourself be numb and go with the flow."

"That's really scary."

Lige's words had a persuasive power that was hard to describe.

Unfortunately, Raphia did not have the chance to delve deeper into the reasons.

"You are not mature, and that is a fact, but I am also not strong enough, so we are in the same boat," Lige finally smiled and said to Raphia, "I think it's good for us to continue teaming up. Do you have any objections?"

"Of course not!" Raphia shook her head vigorously, hesitated for a moment, and then asked timidly, "Can I really?"

Lige did not answer the question but looked at Raphia, his eyes saying everything.

Seeing this, Raphia took a deep breath.

Right here, Raphia made a new resolve to grow.

To not let herself down.

To not let down the female swordsman she admired.

And also, to not let down the teammate who overlapped with the person she admired.

In the courtyard of the Dusk Mansion,

After parting ways with Raphia, Lige returned to his room, picked up his short sword as a secondary weapon, and came here.

However, when Lige arrived, someone was already here.

"Whoosh!"

The blonde female swordsman wielded a silver longsword, dancing gracefully, creating sharp slicing sounds that echoed continuously.

Lige stood there, observing for a while, and then noticed that she had stopped.

Ais stopped swinging her sword but did not sheath it. She stood there, turned her head, and looked at Lige, who had appeared in the courtyard.

The two looked at each other, and for a moment, neither spoke.

After a while—

"Do you want to practice?"

Ais made this proposal out of the blue, leaving Lige slightly stunned.

Ais did not change her expression at all.

"Are you here to train?" Ais asked, "To adapt to your drastically increased strength?"

"Did you notice?" Lige was silent for a moment and then said helplessly, "I guess I was quite obvious."

"Yes," Ais nodded, "For others, it might not be a big issue, but you have gained a lot of strength. Your movements are clearly uncoordinated to the point where it could affect your combat."

After all, Lige had upgraded all his abilities to SSS for the first time.

Before the upgrade, his highest basic ability was only B. Now, all his abilities had skyrocketed to SSS, and he had also leveled up to 2. Additionally, he had obtained the "Light Armor" ability, which enhances "Dexterity" and "Agility," and this ability had been further upgraded by the "Endless" effect. The strength Lige gained from this upgrade was indeed significant, requiring some adjustment.

"Do you want to practice?"

Ais proposed again.

"Sure."

Lige had no objections and nodded firmly.

Soon, the sound of clashing blades filled the courtyard.

Lige continued to grow rapidly and intensely.

As his skills indicated, it seemed there was no end in sight.

New book, seeking support! Recommendations! Collections! (*^▽^*)

(End of Chapter)