Chapter 59 - Success Is Built atop Countless Failures!
"Am I being too easy recently?"
Zwei sighed helplessly once more as he looked at Tio lying on his bed.
As a mentally healthy person, he naturally wouldn't have any bad thoughts toward an eight-year-old girl. However, it still wouldn't be appropriate to sleep in the same bed as Tio. It would seem he had no choice but to sleep on the sofa tonight.
Meditating overnight was a good option, too, though he might end up with a headache the next day.
"Even so, isn't this girl a little too defenseless around me?" When Zwei walked up to the bed and saw Tio's peacefully sleeping face, he couldn't resist poking her face.
The girl's cheeks were soft and comfortable to the touch.
No, no! If this continues, I'll embark on a path of no return! Zwei quickly snapped out of his daze and wiped off the gentle smile on his face. He then held his head in self-disgust.
"Now isn't the time to think about these things." After calming down, Zwei massaged his forehead and returned to the sofa.
As it was still early, Tio might notice if he entered the dungeon now. He had to wait until late at night to do so.
In that case, all he could do now was meditate.
However, before Zwei could put his decision into effect, a series of knocks came from the door once more.
Too lazy to stand up and walk over again, Zwei used Mage Hand to open the solid wooden door. This time, it was the sight of Alyssa smiling in embarrassment that greeted him.
Like Zwei, the girl had not brought a set of pajamas with her on their trip to Horador City. However, unlike Zwei, who still wore his mage robe, Alyssa had changed into a white nightgown the castle maids had provided.
At this time, Alyssa had already untied her pigtails, letting her golden hair flow down like a long shawl that reached her waist and looked very smooth, maybe because she had just taken a bath. She looked much younger than her actual age.
"Alyssa, what's the matter?" Zwei asked when he saw the girl's hesitant look. He was still very concerned about this student of his.
"Teacher, that… The bed here is too soft. I can't sleep well…" Alyssa said as she cutely stuck out her tongue. "So, I wanted to see if I can sleep with Teacher. Sleeping on the bed or carpet is fine as well!"
You two planned this, right?! Zwei complained inwardly. However, he didn't reveal any intention to chase the two girls out of his room.
"Never mind the sofa and the carpet. Tio came over too. It might be better if you sleep while hugging her," Zwei said as he looked toward the bed.
"Really? Little Tio is here too?!" Alyssa was overjoyed. With hurried steps, she rushed over to the bed and climbed onto it.
Initially, Alyssa still felt rather embarrassed over her willful behavior. However, finding out that Tio had also come over relieved her.
Ever since Tio saved Alyssa, the two of them had become much closer. They would often stick together and whisper to each other, although Alyssa did most of the talking while Tio quietly listened.
Zwei's heart filled with warmth as he looked at the two girls behaving as if they were blood-related sisters.
Even if it was just for the two of them, he couldn't lose here.
Although he already had a countermeasure planned for the madam and Wicklen Green's scheme, he decided he needed to make even more preparations.
Meanwhile, there was only one thing that could enhance his preparations.
The Proof of the Strong.
"Really…" As Zwei lay on the sofa and gazed at the luxuriously patterned ceiling, a smile appeared on his face. "I can't continue bumbling about like this."
Shutting his eyes, he calmed his heart and began recovering his energy.
After some time had passed and the world outside the window had become a realm of night and stars, Zwei opened his eyes once more.
It was time to raid dungeons.
Zwei replaced the Apprentice Robe[1] with concealment properties with a robe that provided defense bonuses. After so many dungeon raids, Zwei's equipment was no longer limited to what he had before leaving the village. If not for the Apprentice Robe's concealment characteristics, he would've long since replaced it with one of two other robes with better attributes. (If he placed the Apprentice Robe together with the other magic items he had in the Bronze Storage Box, they would occupy only one slot.)
Afterward, Zwei called up the Trial Gate panel and chose to enter the Night Forest's Heart without hesitation. The next moment, without any lighting effects or other special phenomena, he suddenly vanished from the room.
Roughly ten minutes later, Zwei reappeared inside the room.
However, his appearance looked much more miserable than before. Even his mage robe with the Toughness Attribute had several holes, some of which even had fresh bloodstains. Zwei's face also sported many bruises as if he had gotten bludgeoned. His hair was frizzy and was fuming blue smoke. In short, he looked like a magician who had just escaped a ferocious beast.
In fact, if Zwei hadn't activated the Return Crystal as soon as the situation turned sour on him, he would've most likely died again.
After drinking a Minor Healing Potion and recovering from his wounds, Zwei breathed out a sigh of relief.
"I still can't break through the tide of goblins even with the Flaming Star Formation, huh… Does this mean my strategy to kill the Goblin Hero right off the bat is wrong?"
After a short rest, Zwei confirmed that Alyssa and Tio were still sound asleep before entering the dungeon again.
This time, he took nearly half an hour to reappear in the room.
However, Zwei was clearly in a much better state than before. Though, for some reason, his hair had become a bird's nest.
"It seems that starting from the foot soldiers is a better plan, but my mana… What if…"
After waiting until midnight arrived, Zwei repeatedly entered the dungeon, escaped at a critical moment, and reflected on his battles.
By the time he used up the new day's three raid opportunities and reappeared in his room, a red glow had surfaced on the eastern horizon.
However, on his last try, he returned with a thin piece of paper in his hand.
[Proof of the Strong (Night Forest · Heart)]
Please choose one of the following effects:
1. Return a life block.
2. Completely master a skill that meets the activation requirements.