"An unregulated spar?"
"You can use skills and magic, and Miss Ming doesn't need to worry about getting hurt. I want to see where my current limit truly lies!"
He briefly explained the rules.
Keare looked at the long-haired black-haired girl with sincere eyes, not thinking her strength was limited to just that.
To become one of Orario's rare Lv2 Adventurers, she definitely had her outstanding qualities, which also dispelled Miss Ming's last concerns.
He decided to strike while the iron was hot and brought up his goal of visiting the Take Mikazuchi Familia:
"Actually, sparring with you at full strength is also because I have something… that might need your approval before it can proceed smoothly."
Thankfully, Keare didn't beat around the bush.
After treating her to a meal, he made a request that was hard to refuse, but instead, he frankly explained the reason, a personality that suited her taste better.
Miss Ming nodded calmly:
"Just say it."
"During these two days of Dungeon exploration, I've discovered… that relying solely on myself, the improvement gained from Dungeon exploration is limited, but my Familia's conditions are ordinary."
"With only me as a member, I simply can't find teammates."
Keare said this, then looked seriously at Yamato Mikoto, adding: "So… I wanted to ask if I could follow your Familia on explorations."
"To avoid being considered a burden."
"Therefore, I want to use this opportunity of a full-strength spar, hoping to gain Miss Ming's approval!"
"…"
She really wanted to say that she couldn't decide such a thing herself.
Facing the boy's sincere gaze, Miss Ming ultimately didn't refuse. She put away her practical training attitude: "No problem, but the outcome cannot be guaranteed."
"Adventurer levels create a very large gap in strength…"
"In the upcoming practical training, I won't use magic, but you can do as you please."
"Thank you."
After expressing his gratitude again, Keare first pulled back to a safe distance. When his hands gripped the hilt of his sword and they touched, he didn't hesitate in the slightest.
'Optimization'
His body had already adapted to the improved strength distribution.
He only felt his movements were exceptionally light, and even his thoughts gradually became clearer, knowing that in the upcoming battle, he absolutely could not focus on defense.
He had to attack, striving to find Miss Ming's weaknesses!
Keare tightened his grip on the training wooden sword in his hand, and the strength gathered in his leg muscles instantly erupted, causing his figure to rapidly charge towards Miss Ming.
A clean and decisive side-slash, accompanied by the whistling sound of cutting through the air.
"Bang!"
The thud when the solid training wooden swords collided was exceptionally muffled, and the violent recoil transferred through the hilt to her tiger's mouth, making Miss Ming's arm constantly numb.
She hadn't even had time to be surprised.
Facing Keare's continuous sword swings, she instinctively raised her sword to block.
To give an appropriate example, even Chigusa, who had been an Adventurer for some time, couldn't make herself feel pressured even when holding back.
Keare…
How did he do it!!
Having lost the initiative in this spar, Miss Ming could only passively defend, but feeling Keare's flowing, flawless offense.
Her heart was filled with sudden realization.
It was as if she was facing—an Adventurer with similar attribute values to herself, and this guy's swordsmanship was even superior to her own!
"This thing…"
"Is this really the strength a new Adventurer, who just explored the Dungeon for two days, can possess?!"
—
The result of the spar.
Of course, it ended with Yamato Mikoto's victory. After all, the 'Optimization' skill had a time limit. When his own abilities were fully enhanced.
Keare was confident he could suppress her for a short period.
But without a means to secure victory, he would only continuously deplete his stamina and couldn't use the same practical combat techniques to break through Miss Ming.
Dragged into a weakened state.
Miss Ming, who had been suppressed for a long time, launched a counterattack that he simply couldn't parry.
Feeling his body that was practically falling apart, Keare was completely unable to distinguish which areas of pain and injury should be prioritized for treatment?
But the good news was—
Body tempering could increase his endurance attribute.
Through 'Imitation,' he could also absorb lacking combat experience. Thinking that he could improve because of this, his mood was exceptionally joyful at this moment.
"Hoo…"
"Is this your magic?"
The girl, also slumped on the ground, with sweat soaking the black hair at her temples, was looking at Keare with a blank expression, but her heart remained restless.
To be able to suppress a Lv2 Adventurer for a short time.
She herself, at the same stage, wouldn't even dare to dream of such a thing, and Keare not only bravely attempted it but even achieved this level!
From an objective standpoint.
The Take Mikazuchi Familia, with its sparse members, would indeed have its exploration pressure alleviated and its gains increased with Keare's assistance.
She hadn't forgotten their previous agreement.
Using the training wooden sword to prop herself up, the black-haired girl's attitude was exceptionally serious:
"Keare, if we were sparring at the same Adventurer level, even if I used magic… you would still be the victor of this battle."
"As for your previous suggestion, I need to consult my God before I can give you an answer."
"Thank you, Miss Ming."
Watching the retreating figure of the black-haired beautiful girl, Keare, who was gradually recovering, struggled to prop himself up with his hands on the ground and slowly sat up.
The consequence of fighting without reservation was injuries all over his body. Just lifting his arm made him wince in pain.
"Hiss."
"Good thing I opened it!"
'Recovery'
Keare decisively used magic, his clothes concealing the soft light of healing, until he had absorbed all the combat experience gained from 'Imitation'.
After ending this highly beneficial spar, what he needed to do next was—
To wait quietly!
He murmured softly: "As long as forming a team goes smoothly, the speed of strength improvement will be much faster, and I can definitely shorten the time to break through to Adventurer Level 2."
—
"I need a reasonable explanation."
As the captain of the Familia, Kashima Sakura's stern and rigid face became even more serious with a frown when she heard Miss Ming's request.
Dungeon exploration was no trivial matter, otherwise, it could very likely drag down the entire team.
His tone was unequivocal:
"Takemikazuchi helped teach martial arts, and you are responsible for practical combat training. You've already done enough for someone you just met."
"We are going to explore the middle layers."
"Letting Keare, who just became an Adventurer, follow us will only make him a burden to the team. You can't possibly say that his strength has already met the exploration standard?"
"…"
"I know his strength."
Miss Ming looked up at the Familia captain, Kashima Sakura, and finally her gaze fell on the War God Takemikazuchi, who was watching with interest not far away.
Recalling the battle she had just experienced.
The pressure it brought was still intense, and her expression was quite serious: "You might not believe what I'm about to say…"
"But the truth is, during the practical spar just now, Keare, who only became an Adventurer a few days ago, was able to suppress me for a short time with his strength!"
"If he joins."
"I believe that the Familia's upcoming Dungeon exploration will definitely be much easier!"
And upon hearing these words.
The War God Takemikazuchi, who had not expressed any opinion throughout, smiled as kindly as ever and nodded gently: "Miss Ming is not wrong."
"Just hearing that…"
"It seems the Familia member my old friend recruited is not only excellent in swordsmanship talent but also very well-rounded in other talents."
The Gods came to Orario seeking "change," and Keare perfectly fit these criteria. But considering he was Hestia's Familia member.
Takemikazuchi's tone was quite emotion, and more so, he felt genuine happiness for his close friend:
"To meet such an excellent child, her luck… is truly beyond words!!"
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