Chapter 28: Hyung-nim and Younger Sister, Master and Disciple

“Registration is done. A C-Rank Gate, just as you asked — I applied for the one with the fewest people.”

Marcel, who had come out of the office, approached Verdi and reported.

A satisfied expression settled on Verdi’s face.

Normally, Verdi would have loathed partying with others, but this time was different.

In the past, Verdiol had never shied away from anything they judged to be beneficial.

And besides, even if Marcel was unknown, Deneb was someone she’d known for a while, so it was less uncomfortable.

‘This time, I don’t need to watch my back either.’

These two already knew at least a fragment of her real skill.

So in this dungeon, she could cut loose without worrying about appearances.

Though she’d still have to put on an act of chanting incantations.

Marcel, who knew the location, took the lead, and Verdi followed behind him.

Deneb was at the very back. And because she was at the back, she could tell.

‘Ms. Verdi’s excited.’

Verdi’s footsteps were lighter than usual.

Normally, Ms. Verdi was like an iron wall, utterly emotionless toward others, but she couldn’t hide her joy at having more companions to tackle the dungeon with.

That must be it, Deneb thought with a small smile.

* * *

And so, the place Verdi’s party entered was the interior of a cave swarming with C-Rank Demon Beasts.

Clatter! Clatter!

Walking skeletons greeted Verdi’s party.

Wielding grim blades — swords, axes, and the like.

[ C-Rank Demon Beast, Skeleton Warrior ]

[ C-Rank Demon Beast, Skeleton Knight ]

To Verdi, those living skeletons looked like nothing but trash…

“Whoooaaa! O radiant saint, grant me the power to smite these unworthy ones who block my path!”

But not to Deneb. This was the inside of a C-Rank Gate.

Even if Deneb, a D-Rank Hunter, unleashed all the Divine Magic she could muster, it only managed to halt the skeletons’ movements for a moment — far from enough to inflict a fatal wound.

‘That thing’s really noisy.’

Verdi reached a hand out toward Deneb. To Deneb, that hand felt like a lifeline.

[ Flame Element — Fireball Lv.2 ]

“Flame.”

Verdi spoke the spell. Then, a sphere of fire formed in her palm.

“Dodge.”

“Huh?!”

At that flat, toneless remark, Deneb, who had been fleeing from the skeletons, hurriedly turned her head.

WHOOSH—!

A blaze shooting straight toward him!

“Aaaahhh!”

Deneb let out a loud scream as she rolled across the floor, barely dodging.

CRUNCH!

Meanwhile, the skeletons caught in the flames were reduced to black ash, not even a single bone fragment left.

All that remained were the Magic Stones — crystals imbued with mana.

“I’ll collect them!”

Still, Deneb didn’t forget her role.

As soon as the skeletons were cleared, he dashed over like an arrow to gather the Magic Stones scattered on the ground.

The sight was oddly amusing and kind of cute, so the corner of Verdi’s mouth lifted slightly.

‘Well, I guess he’s useful for something.’

Verdi had expected that Deneb would only be good for a porter’s role.

Deneb was a D-Rank Hunter, and this was a C-Rank Gate. It was only natural her skills wouldn’t cut it.

Still, compared to the party members she’d met back when she was an E-Rank Hunter in Verdiol’s body, he was much better. Those guys were selfish and useless, and they even tried to avoid being porters.

‘Little Master…’

Meanwhile, Marcel, watching the two from a distance, couldn’t help but let out an awkward smile.

In the guild, the younger sister of the Master and a member of the Lucius family was now doing menial work like that. And willingly, at that. There was nothing more awkward than this sight.

On top of that, the Hunter Deneb was following was also a D-Rank.

‘Just as I expected.’

Marcel was certain.

As the Master and he had discussed last time, the incident with the C-Rank Bandits must have been resolved by that girl, Verdi, alone.

She defeated Bandits made up of C-Rank Hunters and took down a C-Rank Boss. If a D-Rank Hunter had done that alone, it would naturally pique the interest of a Guild Master. Especially now that the number of High-Rank Hunters had dropped sharply, making it harder than before to reinforce the guild’s strength.

Just as the Master had hoped, Verdi and Deneb were breaking through the C-Rank Gate without any trouble.

But even so, it still hadn’t truly sunk in for Marcel. He could acknowledge that the girl was special, that she was impressive compared to other D-Rank Hunters.

If someone other than the Master had told him about this, Marcel would probably have answered like this:

*So what? Is that it?* He would have said it flatly.

Marcel was an A-Rank Hunter. Clearing a C-Rank Gate was no different from eating a meal that had already been prepared for him.

What Verdi had done was nothing more than what even a B-Rank Hunter could handle with ease.

That was why it didn’t quite sink in. Why the Master was keeping such a close eye on Verdi.

There were countless promising prospects who had failed.

Plenty of Hunters had drawn interest from many guilds but never even made it to B-Rank.

The only thing that piqued Marcel’s interest was why the Hunter Association had tried to hide information about Verdi.

“This side’s all cleared up. Marcel, come on over.”

When no more clattering sounds came after a while, Verdi, judging that all the nearby skeletons had been dealt with, called out to the two of them.

This dungeon was similar to the Underground Aqueduct from last time in its darkness, but the atmosphere was quite different.

For one thing, it was nice not having that damp, unpleasant feeling of the Aqueduct. If she accidentally stepped in a puddle and splashed mud onto the white fabric of her clothes, that would mean extra laundry costs.

Unlike Verdi, who walked with a satisfied expression at having no risk of dirtying her clothes, Deneb’s face was still full of fear.

For Deneb, the Underground Aqueduct from last time was actually better. She had bad memories of skeletons.

It was because, back when she was caught up in a Dungeon Break, the Demon Beasts that had chased her were skeletons in appearance.

It was only after the skeletons were all taken down by Verdi’s hand that Deneb could barely suppress the fear in her heart.

*’Sigh, how can I be scared when Verdi is right here…’*

Deneb let out a small sigh.

She looked utterly pathetic.

If she kept showing such a pitiful side, Verdi might get disappointed and leave her.

At that horrifying thought, Deneb quickly shook her head from side to side.

*’Next time, I’ll face them without fear and fight.’*

No matter what Demon Beast jumped out, this time she would stand and fight without being afraid.

Deneb clenched her fist, making a vow.

* * *

CLATTER-CLATTER!

“O radiant saint, grant me the power to vanquish the unworthy who block my path!”

When they encountered skeletons again deeper inside, Deneb, who had just made that vow, bravely chanted her incantation.

Lights formed around Deneb and shot toward the skeletons that were about to pounce on Verdi’s party.

CRUNCH!

Most of the unaimed lights cut through empty air, but there were enough of them that some pierced the skeletons’ bodies.

*’Yes, I hit them!’*

Deneb gained confidence from the sight of the skeletons staggering, but—

CLATTER… CLATTER-CLATTER!

It was the same as before. Deneb’s magic couldn’t completely take down the skeletons.

Still, it had managed to slightly bind their movements. That was enough for Verdi.

“Flames.”

Verdi chanted her spell.

WHOOSH—!

Flames burst from the magic circle engraved on her hand, instantly burning the skeletons away.

“Wow…”

Deneb stared blankly at the sight and thought.

Someday, she wanted to reach that level too.

If she did, wouldn’t her brother, and the family that only knew the sword, see her differently?

“Good job.”

As she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the cleared scene, Verdi’s voice reached Deneb’s ears.

When Deneb turned her head, she saw Verdi’s face wearing a faint smile at the corner of her lips.

“I-I’m glad I could help!”

At that sight, a smile bloomed across Deneb’s face. Just the fact that she hadn’t been a burden brought her joy.

“You still have a long way to go, though.”

“I’ll work hard!”

Someday, without fail.

She would become someone necessary to others — hearing Verdi’s words, Deneb vowed once more.

While Deneb was collecting the Magic Stones after the skeletons were cleared, Verdi secretly turned her gaze toward Marcel, who was behind them.

Marcel, as promised, hadn’t laid a hand on a single Demon Beast from start to finish.

Even now, he was just watching their hunting from the rear.

Though, he seemed to be getting bored, occasionally letting out yawns.

Well, it was only natural he’d be bored.

This is a C-Rank Gate.

For an A-Rank Hunter like Marcel, even taking the lead here would feel boring, and he hasn’t done anything but watch.

As Verdi’s party swiftly dealt with the skeletons and pressed deeper into the cave, what was bound to come finally arrived.

A structure utterly out of place in a cave.

The Boss Room door.

“We’re finally here…”

Deneb swallowed hard.

Just like in the Underground Aqueduct, once they broke through this Boss Room, this wretched skeleton cave would finally be over.

How will Ms. Verdi take down this boss? Deneb was thinking just that when—

“Deneb.”

Verdi suddenly called out to Deneb.

“Yes!”

“If I told you to handle the boss alone right now, could you do it?”

“Huh?!”

Deneb threw both hands up in shock. Whether she found that over-the-top reaction amusing, Verdi chuckled.

“That’s impossible!”

“You really think so?”

“Isn’t… it?”

“If you’re going to keep traveling with me, you need to be at that level.”

“…”

The moment their eyes met, Verdi stopped smiling.

Only then did Deneb realize.

That disappointment had crept into Ms. Verdi’s eyes.

Fearful, Deneb lowered her head.

She was nothing more than a D-Rank Hunter.

If she became useless, she might get kicked out of Ms. Verdi’s party.

Those negative thoughts refused to leave Deneb’s mind.

“But don’t worry too much.”

A calm voice reached Deneb’s ears.

At that voice, Deneb cautiously lifted her head.

When she met Verdi’s gaze, Deneb could see it.

The very slight upward curl at the corner of Verdi’s mouth.

“I’ll make you strong. Strong enough to close a Gate like this on your own.”

At those words, life returned to Deneb’s eyes.

“I-I’ll work even harder!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

* * *

A laugh slipped out at Deneb’s spirited reply.

‘Cute kid.’

I never used to be like this, but now that I know she’s a girl… how should I put it? I feel like playing a little light prank.

It was also to boost her spirits since she seemed down.

Anyway, I’m satisfied with Deneb’s current state.

I hope she’ll keep doing well as my porter from now on.

Of course, I wasn’t just talking when I said I’d make her strong.

She asked me to be her teacher.

I don’t break my promises.

Once I say something, I follow through.

‘Though I’ve never taught anyone before.’

At the same time, I’ve never learned from anyone either.

Maybe that’s why — I’ve grown a little interested, faintly.

I’m curious how far a mage I teach could go.

And.

‘This kid’s older brother.’

Deneb’s older brother — no, her big brother Wilhelm.

Born into a swordsmanship family, when his little sister, who he’d hoped would walk the path of the sword, unexpectedly becomes a brilliant mage — I want to see the look on that prideful bastard’s face, so full of pride in his own sword and his family.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Deneb, who had gone ahead, flung open the Boss Room door with vigor.