Chapter 125
“We didn’t know how many tickets we’d be able to prepare, so the best course was to have Rex-sama, who bears the role of Hero, train. He may not be able to attain power like Kagami-sama’s right away, but at his core, he is a Hero. He has the potential to become stronger than anyone else.”
“So... you’re sending Rex to the place Kagami went?”
When Parna asked, David slowly nodded. Seeing that, Parna sighed.
“Why’d you keep it secret? You could’ve just told us. And what’s Tina’s deal, anyway?”
“I’m not involved in this. I just happened to be off on a training journey, you know? Before I left, David-san told me that Rex-san would be setting out to follow in Kagami-san’s footsteps today, so I came to see him off.”
Tina puffed out her chest with a proud “Ahem,” then muttered, “Ah, I’m such a thoughtful friend.”
“Oh, but if there’s another ticket, I could go too. I’ve gotten pretty strong, you know? I even do some of the crazy things Kagami-san used to do.”
With that, Tina opened her status window. The number 136 was clearly displayed as her level. Parna snorted when she saw it, then showed Tina her own status window in turn. Tina stared at it in shock.
“Guh... I thought I’d passed you! Guess I couldn’t do it in just a year or so.”
“Too bad. If we’re sending someone strong, then I guess this ticket belongs to me?”
Parna smiled triumphantly and reached for the ticket on the table. But before she could take it, Tina swiftly snatched it away, her twin tails swaying.
“Wait, wait. I think we really need at least one healer. Besides, I also... want to see Kagami-san.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for him too...?”
“No, no, that’s not it! Absolutely not! Don’t lump me in with someone as quick to fall in love as Kururu-san! It’s just that I haven’t seen that idiot in ages, so I kind of want to see him again!”
Menou and David sighed as the two of them bickered noisily. Then Alice, who had been sitting there in a daze for a while, steeled herself, her expression turning resolute.
“That’s fine, isn’t it? The difference between us isn’t that big! A healer is definitely more important! Besides, do you have any idea what kind of Skills I’ve learned—ah!”
While Tina continued arguing, Alice quietly crept up behind her. Then, when she saw her opening, she swiftly snatched the ticket.
“Then I’ll go. I can be both a healer and an attacker.”
Alice waved the ticket she’d stolen back and forth, beaming as if this were only natural.
“Hold on, Alice. If you’re going, then I’m going too. You never know what might happen.”
“No. I won’t give in on this, no matter what. I’m going to see Kagami-san... Even if I can’t meet him, I at least want to know what happened to him.”
“I understand how you feel, but absolutely not. He entrusted you to me. I absolutely, positively, most definitely won’t let you go!”
“Fine, then Parna-san and I will go. Rex-san can stay behind.”
“That’s fine with me.”
Rex sighed in exasperation. “As if that’s okay.” Menou and David seemed to agree, as they wore similarly troubled expressions.
“This is why I only told Rex-sama to train. I thought we’d only be able to prepare one ticket. If I’d known you’d all fight over it like this, perhaps I shouldn’t have prepared it... But we need every bit of strength we can muster to change our current situation.”
Then David snatched the ticket from Alice, moved over beside Menou, and held it out to her.
“Please go, Menou-sama. You should be the strongest here after Rex-sama. And you’ve reached the Dark Dragon once before.”
Menou looked bewildered at the ticket held out to her. She couldn’t bring herself to go alone, leaving Alice behind, as Alice looked straight at her with a sorrowful expression.
More than anything, there was a chance that accepting it would be pointless. The Dark Dragon had said that only humans could have their wishes granted and proceed to the next stage. Menou didn’t know what it had really meant.
But even if that were true, she understood that if they wanted to take someone strong, sending someone with a lower level than hers would be pointless. Menou knew how powerful the monsters in that dungeon were.
“...Very well. Though I don’t know if I’m up to the task.”
After agonizing over it for a while, Menou seemed to make up her mind and reached out to take the ticket.
“David, give that ticket to me.”
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out from the bar entrance. At the sound of that long-missed voice, David’s eyes widened, and he looked toward it. There stood Kururu, wrapped in a tattered cloak.