Inside the horse-drawn wagon, jostled around as we went, I was tormented by the sheer exhaustion in my body.
I'm pretty sure my face had gone green.
In truth, as I stared at the scenery outside, all I could think about was whether we'd reach the city of Darion anytime soon.
The rough road had finally ended, and the shaking had dulled somewhat, but the jostling in the wagon's cargo bed was still brutal.
The wagon itself was sturdily built, and since the Guild owned it, it was well-maintained.
"I really don't want to ride in a wagon ever again..."
Whether it was the exhaustion talking or not, the return trip was harder on me than the ride there had been.
Watching me with an exasperated expression was Aria.
Everyone was feeling the fatigue, but I was by far the worst off.
"Novem is riding in the other wagon for treatment purposes, so I was put in charge of looking after you... but you really do look terrible. Could you try to pull yourself together a little?"
I shot back at Aria's tone.
Too exhausted to come up with anything clever to say.
"On the way there, you were the one who had it worse, Aria. You looked like you were going to throw up more than once."
"T-Th-That was because the shaking was awful! I'm used to it now, so I'm perfectly fine!"
Watching Aria get all flustered, the only member who still had any energy—Ralf—gave a wry smile.
"You two sure are close, huh."
His comment drew a simultaneous retort from both Aria and me.
"We're not."
"We're definitely not!"
Feeling envious of how energetic Aria was, I shifted my gaze toward Rondo, who was sitting beside Rachel as she lay resting.
Even though he looked exhausted himself, he was still worrying about Rachel.
Seeing that, Fourth Generation started nagging away—
"Lyle, couldn't you be a little more considerate? You've got to treat girls properly, you know. Actually, if you took that attitude toward Novem, you'd definitely get dragged over the coals at the meeting."
Fourth Generation was always annoyingly fussy about how to treat women, but right now I was genuinely exhausted. It was a kind of fatigue I'd never experienced before, and I simply had no energy to spare.
The driver of the horse-drawn cart wasn't Zelphy — it was someone from the support team.
Zelphy was busy driving the cart carrying the wounded.
Novem was looking after five patients and, despite being tired herself, she was putting on a brave face.
Rondo said with a tired but smiling expression:
"Maybe... this is really going to happen."
What is? I wondered, and then Second Generation elaborated.
"Lyle, there are times when this kind of exhaustion — or rather, this subtle feeling — is a precursor to growth. It mainly happens when you've gained a massive amount of experience. During those times, the physical changes are much greater than when you grow through ordinary daily life, so you end up feeling completely drained."
In other words, after everything I'd been through here, I was finally showing the first signs of "growth."
I wanted to be happy about it, but I just didn't have the energy for that right now.
Rahf looked a little disappointed.
"I wish I could've joined in too. Maybe I would've felt the growth for myself... But still, it's pretty rare for everyone to show signs of it all at once, isn't it?"
It was only natural for there to be individual differences, to a greater or lesser degree — that was just how people were.
And yet, every single member who had participated was showing signs of growth.
Rondo was tired, but his smile never faded. The thought that he could actually feel himself growing probably made him happy.
"I guess all we can do is rest for a while when we get back. Besides, we did have the reward waived on behalf of Laiel and the others, so I'd like to do something to thank them."
The innermost chamber of the Dungeon.
The rare metal found there — iron infused with magical power — was what we yielded to Rondo and his group.
Zelphy accepted the valuables seized from the adventurers as her share of the reward, and in exchange for giving up the rare metal, we agreed to take the reward money instead.
Between the Guild's emergency commission and the report on our investigation findings, we'd be receiving a not-insignificant sum.
I had considered having weapons and armor forged from the rare metal, but it wasn't something we needed right now.
The reason being that Aria and I both already possessed Jewels. Even if we had weapons that could be imbued with Skills, there was a chance they'd interfere with each other and prove unusable.
Once she got used to it, Aria would probably manage, but in my case the Jewel was far too powerful, making it impossible under the current circumstances.
I had considered whether to have a staff made for Novem, but she refused, so we settled it by taking the reward ourselves.
"Well... once this fatigue wears off, I'll hold you to that."
When I mustered the best response I could manage, Rondo let out a wry smile.
"That sounds good."
Meanwhile, Ralph was cheerfully contemplating what kind of weapon he'd have made, and what Skills to set on it.
(If only we could arrive in Darion sooner.)
Gritting my teeth at the swaying of the supply wagon, I decided to lie down until we reached our destination.
Aria draped a blanket over me.
The Fourth Generation let out a click of the tongue when I failed to say thank you.
*Tch!!*
Upon arriving in Darion, our party was to report the details to the Guild.
However, there was no need for everyone to speak, so having collected our reward, we headed back home.
It seemed Zelphy, this chapter's leader, was the one making the report at the Guild.
Up on the second floor where the reception desk was, I was leaning on Raff's shoulder while answering the adventurers who called out to us upon seeing us return.
"You went and got your revenge? Nice work, you lot!"
"Young ones really put in the effort, huh."
"Well, now we can rest easy."
Some adventurers even applauded, and we got to savor a small taste of a hero's triumphant return.
"This isn't bad at all. One of the good things about Darion."
When Raff said that, I asked whether other Guilds were different.
"Are other Guilds different?"
"It really does depend on the region. The temperament, or maybe just the local character... But I have to say, this kind of atmosphere isn't bad either. If I could make it work here, it's a town I'd want to stay in."
From the way he spoke, he would likely leave the city of Darion someday.
The thought made me a bit sad, but someday I too would leave Darion.
As I looked around, I noticed the usual receptionist lineup at the counter had changed.
The beautiful receptionist was gone.
A middle-aged female staff member was explaining various things to a young male staff member.
(Something about the atmosphere feels off. Come to think of it, some of the younger adventurers look a bit uncomfortable.)
After handing the deceased adventurer's Guild Card to Hawkins, Zelphy came over to us.
"Quite the commotion. Well, I suppose it is rare for Darion... We'll call it a day for now, but if you haven't shaken off your fatigue yet, Lyael and the others should take two or three days off. At this rate, it'd be dangerous to take on jobs."
I certainly didn't want to work in my current state either, so I nodded at Zelphy in agreement.
Novem felt the same way.
Only Aria was looking down, avoiding Zelphy's gaze.
Rondo and the others thanked Zelphy.
"It was quite the experience. We survived, after all. Feel free to call on us again sometime."
Zelphy nodded at the refreshed-looking Rondo despite her exhaustion.
"I'd rather not go through something like that again, but I'll remember you three."
With that, the trio left the Guild.
"Come on, you lot, get moving too. You all look terrible."
After Ralf, I borrowed Novem's shoulder and took my leave of the Guild.
——The Guild's private room.
Hawkins sat across the table, facing Zelphy.
Perhaps because of Hawkins's large build, the room felt narrower than usual and the table looked smaller.
"...Good work out there. I'll be reporting this matter to the higher-ups at the Guild as well."
Having finished taking statements, Hawkins picked up the documents, held them upright on the table, and tapped them twice with a clean snap, neatly gathering the papers together.
"It was exhausting. There was nothing good about it — it just showed us all the ugly parts and that was that. I really never want to do that again."
Hawkins gave a wry smile.
Zelphy had said she wanted the deceased adventurer's personal belongings as her reward, so he more or less understood the situation.
"...Do you know where his family lives?"
Hawkins asked whether Zelphy knew the home of the deceased adventurer.
"I do. A wife and two children. It's just... really makes you sick. I'd rather not have to do things like this."
Learning that she even knew the family composition, Hawkins's expression turned somewhat sorrowful.
"You're going out of your way to take on the unpleasant job? And without saying a word to Lyle and the others?"
"I'm doing my job as an instructor. This one's outside the scope of our agreement."
Hawkins could easily imagine what Zelphy intended to do with the valuables she had requested as payment.
The belongings of a deceased adventurer were typically claimed by the adventurer dispatched to investigate or by their companions.
However, when the deceased was an adventurer well-regarded by those around them, it was not uncommon for an adventurer who had been close to them to deliver those belongings to the family.
"Why don't you tell them? Given what lies ahead, it's important."
Either unwilling or reluctant, Zelphy averted her gaze from Hawkins.
"My job is to turn them into full-fledged adventurers. I've already taught them the work, and through this job I've covered travel, camping, and even dungeon exploration. There's no need for anything more."
She had taught them the fundamentals.
So there was no problem.
Zelphy stated this as though it were settled.
Hawkins was exasperated, but he had nothing to say regarding Zelphy's work as an instructor.
She was, without question, doing her job.
Since she was fulfilling the duties she was paid for, even the Guild had no grounds to interfere in the finer details.
"That's just like you. This time around, you're working for free, aren't you?"
She had handed over the payment to Lyle and the others, and even the rare metals found in the Dungeon she had given to Rondo and his group.
Zelphy had received the valuables the deceased adventurer possessed, but she intended to return them to his family.
She was working for free.
One could call her unfit to be an adventurer.
"...It's a bit rich hearing that from someone who's about to retire. I'm done with this. I've got a fiancée waiting, and I'd rather not end up dead like him."
Zelphy's final job was to instruct Lyaer and the others.
She had achieved a certain degree of success as an adventurer and earned the lord's recognition.
Zelphy had been the one who skillfully navigated the work between the Guild and the lord.
But the incident with Aria had thrown all of that into disarray.
"You really went overboard with the Aria affair, didn't you? Pushing it onto Lyaer... You were secretly planning to step in and handle things yourself if Lyaer got in over his head, weren't you?"
Zelphy let out a deep sigh.
"Ugh, honestly... I was going to lecture him with a 'If you're going to help her, commit to seeing it through to the end!' and make him feel bad about it. I figured he was just some sheltered rich kid, but he sailed through every difficulty without breaking a sweat. He's going to go way beyond someone like me."
Zelphy grumbled that there was hardly anything left she could teach.
Hawkins listened to her complaints without interrupting.
"That's right. I've seen plenty of adventurers over the years, but I think Lyaer and his friends are destined to go far. They might even become adventurers known throughout the entire kingdom."
When Hawkins said this half-jokingly, Zelphy laughed.
She clearly didn't think they would go that far, though.
"Now that would be something. If that happens, I'll be the woman who trained one of the kingdom's top adventurers! That's quite the impressive credential, isn't it?"
Then, the conversation shifted to the matter of the beautiful staff member.
"Oh, right. What happened with that beautiful one, boss?"
Zelphy's gaze turned sharp.
"...You made arrangements before we left, didn't you? I received an order from the lord to explain the situation. In Darion, the Guild ranks below the lord, so when given an order, we have no choice but to comply."
Hawkins recalled the beautiful staff member with the pale face.
At the same time, her father had also been forced out of the Darion adventurer's guild.
The official story was that he was being promoted to branch master of a new guild they were setting up.
But that location was the very village where a new settlement was planned to be built.
It amounted to exile from the city of Darion.
"As expected of the Lord. He moved quickly, didn't he? As a citizen, I can rest easy knowing that."
Zelphy was a member of the adventurer's guild.
However, at the same time, she was also a citizen of Darion.
For her, who was considering retirement, which side offered more benefit? There was no need to even ask — it was the Lord.
The guild, for its part, had no intention of interfering in the matter.
"It's going to be tough for a while thanks to that."
This time it was Hawkins who grumbled. But Zelphy was smiling.
"That's the best part. We had a rough time of it too. The guild should have to suffer a little as well."
"Indeed," Hawkins muttered. He carefully picked up the documents, stood up, and left the room.
It was the morning of the second day after returning.
I was in high spirits.
"What a refreshing morning... I feel like I've been reborn. So this is what growth feels like!"
I stood up on the bed, spread both arms wide, and looked up at the ceiling.
The ceiling was so close I could clearly see the stains on it, but I didn't care.
I leaped straight down from the bed, landing in a crouch before slowly rising to my feet.
It felt as though my senses had expanded, as though I had grown larger.
"I can feel it... my magic power is greater than ever before! Not like the old me who had to scrape by with every last bit! I have... been reborn!!"
Standing there shouting in my room, I felt absolutely magnificent.
I felt like running out right now.
It was as though the utter exhaustion I'd felt just last night was nothing but a lie.
"If I really tried, I could probably even fly... Actually, no way. But maybe I could! There's nothing left to be afraid of! I could beat Ceres! Well... I wish I could beat her, anyway..."
The moment Ceres came to mind, I suddenly lost confidence.
I shook my head to drive her from my thoughts. Either way, what I really wanted to do right now was scream at the top of my lungs.
"I've grown so much!!"
Just then, I heard frantic footsteps, and the door to my room burst open with a bang.
Standing there, face bright red and eyes brimming with tears, was Aria.
"What's wrong, Aria? You look like you're about to cry... Did something sad happen? I'm always happy to listen if you want to talk!"
I spread my arms wide, but Aria covered her face with both hands.
Then, ears burning crimson, she shouted.
"Stop being so loud! You're making me remember my old self too!"
When she said "old self," I tilted my head.
And then I realized.
"Oh, right. Did I do something embarrassing the first time I leveled up? Don't worry about such a small thing. Honestly, I can't even believe I used to stress over stuff like this. I feel like punching my old self right now!"
Right there, I threw a punch into the air, vividly imagining knocking my former self out, then raised my right arm high in triumph.
"...No, that's not it. I wasn't this bad. I was a lot more normal about it."
Aria slumped to the floor, shaking her head, and I patted her on the back with a booming laugh.
"Cheer up, Aria! Oh, I know—let's go see Rondo and the others today! I still need to thank them for last time. And while we're at it, we'll celebrate with a huge feast! My treat today!"
Aria stared at me with a glazed, unfocused expression as I bounced around in high spirits.
Those eyes, stripped of all their luster, stared at me, and I blushed.
"Don't look at me like that... it's embarrassing."
When I struck a pose like I was running a hand through my hair, Aria stood up and left without a word.
*"Don't stare so hard—you're making me blush!"*
The Third Generation ran a hand through his hair and struck a smoldering pose, and the ancestors seated around the round table burst out laughing.
I buried my face in the table and slammed it with both hands over and over.
Next, the Third Generation thrust out his fist as though throwing a bare-handed punch and declared:
*"I sure would love to punch my past self right in the face!"*
The ancestors erupted in raucous laughter all over again.
The First Generation was doubled over, clutching his belly, and kicking his legs around.
*"This is the first time I've laughed this hard since coming here! My sides hurt!!"*
The Second Generation was covering his mouth, trembling in little jerks.
*"Lael can fly through the sky too, huh. Pfft!"*
—Don't you spit it out!—I thought, and the Fourth Generation had removed his glasses and was wiping away the tears that came from laughing too hard.
*"I'm always here if you need to talk. I mean... you should at least say things like that once in a while."*
The Fifth Generation was watching me with a warm look in his eyes.
*"Relax. Everyone goes through this. Your head gets big after your first real growth spurt. See, Novem watched over you without saying a word, didn't she? That's what family is supposed to do."*
I screamed.
"I want to punch my past self so bad!!!"
But the Sixth Generation delivered the killing blow.
"No, but seriously. That was quite the commotion — not something you see every day. Lael, you might just have a talent for making people laugh."
Being told that while someone was laughing at me didn't exactly carry much persuasion.
Besides, being laughed at and making people laugh were two entirely different things.
My ancestors were all teasing me, and even my grandfather — the Seventh Generation — was desperately trying to hold back his laughter.
"Ah, y-yes. It happens to everyone. There's nothing to be ashamed of, Lael— Pfft!!"
I shot a cold glare at the Seventh Generation, who had finally lost his composure and burst out laughing, and decided to just get on with asking why I'd been summoned.
"So, what's the reason you called me here today? If it's just to mock me, I'm heading home."
The moment I said that with visible irritation, the others were still laughing as they tried to keep me from leaving.
The Fourth Generation was the first to recover—.
"Wait. This is important. It's just that the impact of this growth spurt is a bit much, and… No good, just remembering it is making me want to laugh again."
Watching the Fourth Generation cover his mouth, I scratched my head with both hands in frustration.
Why on earth did I do that?
Why did I let those words slip out of my mouth?
No amount of regret could be enough.
The Third Generation took over from the Fourth with a cheerful smile.
"So, about Lael's Skills — unlike ours, they're not the type that are always active."
"Right."
When I gave the Third Generation a flat look, he continued his explanation with a resigned air.
"One of the reasons the mana consumption was so high is probably because this type of Skill consumes mana constantly once it's been manifested. The effect is powerful, but it places a limit on how much mana you can use, just like before."
For me now, having grown stronger, I had enough mana to handle the consumption. But being shackled like that hadn't changed in the slightest.
The Third Generation continued.
"At the same time, we also considered Rael's situation in our own way. So, the Second Generation had this to say—"
At that point, the Second Generation spoke up.
"She's the type who needs an absurd amount of experience. The severe symptoms before her growth are one thing, but the real issue is the rebound — you grow enormously from it. You're the type who accumulates massive amounts of experience and then surges forward all at once, but... frankly speaking, it's extreme. You're going to need several times the experience an ordinary person would."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
She grows enormously, but requires far more experience than anyone else.
And it wasn't just a little more — more than double.
"Is there... anything we can do about that? I mean, my Skills do amplify things, right?"
When I said that, the Second Generation shook her head.
"Even with Skills boosting it, in your current state you'd only get a twenty to thirty percent increase at best, wouldn't you? And when you think about the next growth phase, you'll need even more experience than now."
"Which means...?"
"Keep the option of leaving Darion in mind. Even if the next growth happens here, we're talking years at a minimum. If things go badly, it could take ten years or more."
The Second Generation's gaze was serious. There was no hint of a lie on her face.
She genuinely wanted me to move forward.
"You're still in the middle of your instructor contract, though," the Third Generation pointed out.
"It's only three months, right? Once you've learned everything you can in that time, leave Darion. It might be comfortable here, but does Rael really plan to spend her whole life here? I don't think that's realistic."
The Fifth Generation added to the conversation.
"The lord of Darion would probably want you gone too. Even if you stay here, you'd be under his influence. That won't necessarily work in your favor. When push comes to shove, that lord would discard you without a second thought. ...For both your sakes, it would be better for you to leave this place."
For Ventler, the lord of Darion, I was essentially a bomb — someone whose ties to my birth family, House Walt, made me impossible to predict.
Just having you around would make things difficult to handle.
"Once my training period is over, I'll leave Darion. I just need to decide on my next destination before then, right?"
When I said that, everyone nodded with serious expressions.
And then, at the end, the First Generation spoke.
"Also, I've got something to discuss with you. Come here tomorrow, or whenever. I think it'll take a while, so plan accordingly."
Seeing the First Generation's serious expression, I nodded in reply.
The atmosphere among the ancestors around us had also grown quiet, a stark contrast to earlier.
The Fourth Generation declared the meeting's conclusion, as usual.
"Let's call it here then. That said, the First Generation and Layel have really grown close, haven't they?"
Thinking back to how it all started, this was an absolutely impossible situation.
After all, the First Generation had once told me outright, "I hate you."
Even I hadn't expected things would turn out this way.
The First Generation probably felt the same.
"Well, I've got to acknowledge it. Layel showed me his strength. And he saved little Aria too, so I'm just returning the favor."
Strangely, the First Generation's words lingered in my mind.