At this moment, Lunoire finally realized that she had fallen into a passive position, but everything was already too late.
The unexpected situation made her unable to accept it for a moment, even briefly freezing in place, dumbfoundedly staring at the tattered gauntlet in her hand.
And Emiya seized this opportunity. Just as Lunoire was in a daze, he quickly swept past her side, and gently tapped her neck with the back of his knife.
"This battle, I took a shortcut,".Emiya said, with a trace of apology on his face, "Sorry, Lunoire, I broke your weapon. I'll help you fix it."
Lunoire was stunned for a moment, then slightly shook her head and said, "Fix… no need to fix it."
Her [Combat Gauntlet] actually wasn't some top-tier equipment. Although it could barely be called second-tier armament, its overall performance wasn't excellent, and it could even only be considered third-tier armament with strong attack power.
Lunoire's combat style was extremely rough, and the wear on her equipment was especially high, so her gear was replaced very frequently. To her, weapon damage was not a rare occurrence.
However, today's situation was different. During battle, the weapon was directly destroyed by the opponent. This was the first time.
"Then, I will craft a new set of equipment for you," Emiya said.
This time, Lunoire didn't refuse. She originally planned to say "I will pay for it," but swallowed the words back down.
She realized that she now didn't have a penny to her name and was even in heavy debt to Mama Mia. Even daily expenses had to be calculated carefully, not to mention having extra money to pay for new equipment.
So, she coughed lightly, her gaze slightly evasive, then somewhat awkwardly added, "I will pay… but after I have money in the future."
As the words fell, Lunoire suddenly seemed to think of something, her eyes lit up, and she said excitedly, "Shirou, what do you think, how about we go adventuring together? We can also drag along those two dumb cats."
Lunoire wasn't purely proposing to go into the dungeon for money, her true goal was "level ascension."
Ever since seeing Ryuu, the useless elf as she often called her, successfully break through and rise to Lv.5, Lunoire's heart was deeply shaken.
Since then, she had been training herself even harder, desperately improving her strength. Now, her strength stat had already reached A870, not far from S-rank.
However, Lunoire knew that level ascension wasn't just about accumulating strength. It also required completing great deeds, those feats where one pushes beyond their limits and defeats powerful opponents in life-and-death battles, in order to gain divine recognition and achieve true ascension.
Relying on daily training alone could never produce such great deeds. The dungeon, that domain filled with the unknown and danger, was the stage she needed now.
"Actually, I had already wanted to invite you guys to go adventuring together," Emiya said as he smiled gently, but then shifted the tone, his voice growing more serious, "But, Lunoire, about the dungeon, you must be careful—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the goddess Demeter, who had been watching from the side, suddenly stepped forward and lightly knocked Lunoire on the head.
"Lunoire, dungeon adventuring isn't as simple as you imagine."
The goddess's expression suddenly became serious, "You absolutely must not rely on a high level to face the dungeon with a relaxed attitude."
As for Lunoire's desire to enter the dungeon to adventure, the goddess Demeter did not oppose it. After all, challenging the dungeon was the best way for adventurers to improve themselves.
However, she was extremely serious about the slight arrogance that Lunoire unintentionally revealed.
A well-known fact is that in the dungeon, those with the highest death rate are often the inexperienced newcomers on their first adventure, who are arrogant beyond measure.
Especially those from small Familia, lacking experienced seniors to lead or guide them, and ignoring the training courses provided by the Guild.
They often carry a fluke mindset, rush into the dungeon recklessly, and end up suffering tragic fates.
Yet, aside from these rash newcomers, even adventurers who have already achieved a certain level of success in the outside world, and even completed level ascension, also face shockingly high death rates when first entering the dungeon. Far higher than those cautious but weaker newcomers.
The root of this phenomenon lies in their arrogance and underestimation of the dungeon.
Emiya knew of a classic example, Lefiya's team from the [School District].
Her teammates were all adventurers with some achievements, several of whom were upper-tier Lv.2 adventurers. By rights, such a team already had the strength of a mid-tier Familia in Orario.
However, reality was cruel. They ignored the [School District]'s warnings and rashly entered the middle floors. As a result, one teammate died on the spot, another was severely injured and left permanently disabled.
This tragic experience left deep psychological trauma in Lefiya's heart, and to this day, she had yet to fully escape from the painful memories.
The goddess Demeter's attitude was extremely serious. Although her Familia was mainly involved in production and rarely participated directly in combat or adventuring, having lived in the city for so many years, she had seen far too many such tragic lessons.
She looked at Lunoire, her tone strict and leaving no room for doubt, "Lunoire, if you truly want to enter the dungeon, first you must let go of your arrogance as a high-level adventurer. Follow Emiya, and start learning from zero."
Lunoire was silent for a moment. Finally, she raised her head, eyes shining with determination, and said with a nod, "I understand… Even so, I've already decided. I want to enter the dungeon. I want to adventure with Emiya."
She also had an even grander goal. She longed to become a first-tier adventurer, like Ryuu, gain recognition from the Guild, and through deals with the Guild, clear her bounty hunter status, step out from the shadows of the past, and stand proudly in the sunlight.
The girl she used to be had merely been a confused youth struggling to find a place to belong. Now, her heart was fuller, with greater ambitions.
"At that time, there'll be no need for that useless elf. I'll be the one to protect the goddess," Lunoire said.
"Lunoire, so cool~", The goddess praised her without holding back, her tone straightforward, which made Lunoire's face flush red.
Emiya: "Then next, we need to ask for Anya and Chloe's opinions."
"The cats want to join. Cats also want to adventure with you, nya!"
Chloe immediately raised her hand and said without hesitation.
However, Anya hesitated for a moment.
Lunoire: "What's wrong, dumb cat? Are you afraid of the dungeon? You weren't even scared to mess with Mama Mia."
"It's different… the dungeon is different…", Anya said softly. The usually energetic catgirl suddenly showing such a demeanor made everyone pause.
Chloe had words of mockery at the tip of her tongue but swallowed them down.
Emiya noticed her emotions and gently said, "It's okay, Anya. If you don't want to go, you don't need to force yourself—"
"No, I want to go," Anya suddenly raised her head, her voice firm and clear, "I want to go."
Anya calmed her emotions and continued, "At the start, it was the cat who helped Shirou train."
Her tone gradually lowered, as if reminiscing about those days.
At that time, Emiya was still just Lv.1, and Anya, being Lv.4, had to deliberately suppress her strength in order to spar with him and help him gradually get used to combat rhythm.
But soon, Emiya quickly rose to Lv.2. From then on, their training was no longer one-on-one, but everyone together, facing off against the strongest Ryuu.
Now, the Lv.3 Emiya was already capable of standing against the strongest in martial arts, Lunoire. The boy who once needed her care had grown into a full-fledged warrior.
At the same time, Ryuu had risen to Lv.5, and Lunoire and Chloe were about to embark on their journey.
Anya felt a deep sense of crisis. If she didn't act now, she feared being left far behind.
Lunoire and Chloe were both geniuses. They'd eventually reach Lv.5. As for Emiya, his talent was such that at Lv.4, he would already possess first-tier adventurer-level combat power.
At that time, what would she do?
"I don't want… to be left behind again," Anya finally voiced what was in her heart.
Emiya heard this and was silent for a moment. He stepped forward and gently took Anya's hand, "Anya, I promise, I won't leave you behind."
Anya looked up at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions, "Shirou…"
"And, although I can't guarantee that I can always do it in the dungeon, I will do everything I can to protect you."
Anya was stunned for a moment. After a pause, she turned her head and rubbed her eyes, "Geez, Shirou, what are you even saying."
Her tone carried a bit of playfulness, as if to hide her emotions, "The cat is Lv.4, you know. Saying that to a senior like me is really rude. Hmph… seems like sand got in my eyes, nya."
Standing nearby, Syr was secretly staring at the hands Emiya and Anya were holding. Once Anya's emotions calmed slightly, she finally couldn't help but speak up, "By the way, all of you are planning to switch from waitresses to adventurers. Does Mama Mia know about this?"
Anya, Lunoire & Chloe: "..."
Anya's ears drooped slightly, "So, who's going to tell Mama Mia about this, nya?"
Chloe immediately pushed Lunoire forward, looking completely justified, "Of course Lunoire should. She's the one who suggested this, so she should take responsibility, nya."
Lunoire's eyes widened, "Hey, don't try to push this on me. If someone's going to tell her, then we all go. Don't think I'll face Mama's wrath alone!"
Chloe: "By the way, do you think Mama Mia will agree to let us become adventurers? Don't forget, we still owe her money…"
———
The girls stood in a line before Boss Mia. From their perspective, Mia's face was hidden in shadows, and only her sharp eyes could be seen, coldly looking down at them from above. The atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
Syr originally wanted to protest, thinking that this had nothing to do with her, so why was she getting scolded too? But upon seeing how terrifying the atmosphere was, she chose silence in the end. Not even daring to breathe loudly.
Mia glanced at the kneeling girls and coldly said, "You lot stay here. Shirou, come in with me."
Emiya nodded and followed Mia into her office.
Once inside, Mia began grumbling while tidying the recipe papers on her desk, "Seriously, those dumb girls, always causing trouble. The tavern is already short-staffed, and now they all want to run off adventuring."
Her tone carried a trace of displeasure, "Even Syr too, always fooling around with them. Not one of them makes life easy."
Emiya listened quietly, a faint smile on his lips, without rebutting.
Mia sighed, opened a drawer, and pulled out two debt notes, handing them to Emiya. They were the IOUs she had forced Lunoire and Chloe to sign back then. Fifty million Valis each, debts from the damage they caused to the tavern.
"These are yours now," Mia gave him a side glance, "For someone like you, the famed [Sword King], one hundred million Valis shouldn't be that big a deal, right?"
"I understand," Emiya nodded and took out a promissory note bearing the guild and Hephaestus Familia crest from his chest, preparing to fill in the amount and sign it.
However, Mia waved her hand, "Keep that money. Don't pay me. Use it to forge equipment for those dumb girls."
Mia sighed slightly, her gaze complex as she looked out the window, "They all have their own dreams now. That 'useless elf' Ryuu really lit a fire under these lost kids. They've actually found their goals."
She paused, then turned toward Emiya, her tone softening, "If they ever want to come back to live here, they can. But they'll have to pay rent. As for being waitresses again, tell them I don't want those clumsy fools back."
Emiya chuckled lightly and nodded, "I'll let them know."
Mia: "Also, including you, everyone must come back alive. Got it?"
Emiya looked at her and nodded without hesitation, "Yes."
Mia was silent for a moment, seemingly holding back some emotion. In the end, she simply waved her hand to dismiss him.
———
"First, everyone please start learning from zero. No, from negative numbers," Eina stood at the center of the classroom, setting up a small blackboard, and addressed the four girls sitting attentively before her with a serious tone.
Her students were Anya, Lunoire, and Chloe, all experienced Lv.4 adventurers. As well as one true newcomer: Lv.1 Sanjouno Haruhime.
After learning that Emiya was forming a new adventuring team, Haruhime also expressed a strong desire to join. After much discussion and consideration, they finally agreed to her request.
Haruhime's special magic [Uchide no Kozuchi] meant her future would be anything but ordinary. Rather than keeping her in a safe place, better to let her train now and gain experience. It might not be a bad thing.
And now, Haruhime would face her first test, alongside her seniors.
Eina Tulle, a receptionist from the Adventurer's Guild.
Her race is half-elf. She has a graceful and elegant appearance and, being a human-elf hybrid, inherited the delicate beauty of the elven race.
A talented graduate from the [School District], she passed the notoriously difficult [Comprehensive Theology] course, which had a pass rate below ten percent.
Serious in her work, kind and considerate, and with sweet looks and a beautiful figure, she was extremely popular among male adventurers and coworkers, ranking as the Guild's number one receptionist. Many adventurers even quarreled over pursuing her.
She had been hired by Emiya to train Anya and the others in newcomer adventurer basics.
As for how Emiya managed to hire the Guild's top and most beloved receptionist to teach the girls, and even overlook the criminal records of [Black Cat] and [Black Fist],nthe answer was simple: tuition fees.
Eina: 'No choice… Mr. Emiya pays too much…'
Anya quietly raised her hand: "Um, the cat has actually ventured into the dungeon before. Even though it was so long ago, the precautions and such, I've basically forgotten almost all of them."
Lunoire: "I've never been to the dungeon, but I've fought monsters many times on the surface. And with my combat power, defeating a typical Lv.4 shouldn't be a problem."
"Cat too…"
Just as Chloe was about to chime in, before she could finish speaking, Eina suddenly interrupted them.
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