They intervened in monster attacks, natural disasters, and even regional conflicts from time to time. On his many missions, Luke had surely seen tragedy play out time and time again across the world.
“Do you know how many people are crying out? Can you imagine the people weeping for joy just because we came? We aren’t adventurers from Orario! We’re just a bunch of students!”
His eyes were burning with anger, but sadness and a deep sense of powerlessness were behind it.
Luke had been shaken by the things he had seen.
“The world has always been waiting for adventurers…for you!”
The Three Great Quests.
The wish of everyone in the mortal realm.
The final one, slaying the black dragon, was the duty the Labyrinth City was expected to fulfill.
His heart ached after seeing the tragic state of the world.
He felt the danger more clearly and intimately than Lefiya or any of the adventurers in Orario.
Lefiya finally understood the source of his discontent.
He was angry at all the adventurers in Orario who still could not save the world.
“Something that we teachers would ordinarily praise.”
She also understood what Leon had meant.
Luke’s righteous anger was just and noble.
“If you are going to waste time, then I’ll become a hero! We’ll get stronger and save all the people suffering even now! So don’t get in my way!”
Luke Fowl was surely a kind boy.
His heroic ambition was not for his own sake or out of a desire for fame and fortune. It was selflessness, a desire to wipe away the sadness of others.
Lefiya thought it noble even.
But…
“In that case, all the more reason I cannot allow you to do that.”
“What?!”
“I think it is wonderful that you care about others like that. But you are rushing to your own grave for the sake of the people you want to save.”
She did not change her stance.
The difference between his resolve and suicidal self-sacrifice was paper-thin. Though she did not think of herself as an adult, Lefiya could see it clearly. Luke was hurrying to his death.
It was a safe bet that if he became an adventurer at this rate, he would absolutely lose his life. People like him were the most likely to die. It had been only a few years since she had become an adventurer, but Lefiya knew that much.
With all the questions she had felt about the 7th Squad answered, her eyes flared.
“Even if, just for the sake of argument, I accept the proposition that it would be fine for you to die, given that you have made up your mind, I cannot allow you to bring your comrades down with you in your self-righteousness.”
Luke stopped moving, taken aback.
“I thought it strange. How did Nano, who isn’t especially enthusiastic about fighting, reach Level Three? The answer is because she was dragged along in your rashness.”
The rebuke in her eyes shook not only Luke but also Nano standing beside him.
Her shoulders and strawberry blond hair trembled.
Because she loved the boy who was her childhood friend, she had desperately chased after him as he fought for the sake of the helpless and suffering masses, supporting him throughout. Her magic had undoubtedly saved Luke countless times, and she had surely put herself in harm’s way. If not, there was no way a backline mage, who would struggle to get excelia as easily as a vanguard, could have gotten to Level 3. Even in ways that Luke had never realized, Nano had continued to cover for him and sacrifice herself for him.
Even if they did not acknowledge what she said, the way Miliria and Cole pursed their lips said all that needed to be said.
Luke was speechless as he turned to Nano, and she immediately looked down at the ground.
“Others will die because of you. Have you ever once considered that possibility?”
“…Gh! I can do it alone! I don’t need them; I’ll do it myself!”
“That is out of the question. The Dungeon is not something that can be faced alone.”
Desperation crept into his voice as Lefiya calmly rejected him, but Nano raised her voice, unable to bear what he was saying.
“Just stop it, Luke! Lefiya is saying she’s worried about you, too! I don’t want you to become an adventurer all by yourself, either!”
“Gh…!”
“Let’s calm down. If we work together, all of us, without getting flustered…with Mimi and Cole, I’m sure we can realize your dream, Luke!”
It was not hard to imagine that the rest of the squad had long since realized that Luke was rushing and were worried about him.
A faint sheen of tears filled her eyes as Nano clung tightly to his sleeve.
Luke, who had been at a loss for words, jerked his hand away.
“Stop it! No one told you to chase after me! You’re just a clumsy screwup, so leave me alone! You don’t have to get dragged along behind me!”
Nano winced in obvious pain at the rejection.
Milly raised her eyebrows, and Cole’s expression sank, too.
As they tried to draw closer to Luke—Lefiya glimpsed an old memory as she watched Luke and Nano.
…Did she feel that way, too?
Lefiya was trying to do something rash, and Filvis was trying to stop her.
The failures of her past and forlorn regret transformed into a pale mist eating away at her heart.
“—You should listen to your comrade’s advice. Especially when you’re mistaking childish selfishness for independence.”
“What’d you say?!”
So she became aggressive.
Her voice was so cold and overbearing. She could hardly believe it had come from her. She shot back before Milly and the others, stunned by the sudden change, could reach Luke.
“You are pathetic, whining like a child. You cannot see yourself objectively because of your stubborn determination. Don’t speak of heroes while demonstrating such unsightly behavior.”
Lefiya’s anger at her past self seeped in, and then she caught her breath.
“Gh…!!!”
Luke’s face was redder than she had ever seen it.
His eyes stared at her with open animosity.
It was too late, even as she realized what had happened. The antagonism had become decisive.
Lefiya had gotten worked up and added a new regret to her growing collection.
And there was also that to consider.
She had, somewhat intentionally, tried not to think about it, but…Luke’s hair color resembled that of a particular rabbit.