It had been a long time since I had felt that feeling of wanting to do something or really liking something. I was like an empty shell, just living. But now I have something, or rather someone, who cares about me and who I want to protect. Maybe it's out of obligation, maybe it's just that. Anyway, my goal is to get to the tenth floor, to the Garden of the Hesperides. Wait, Lachesis! I almost forgot about her. Right, I came here for her. That's the reason. I want to impress her. I really look like an idiot, standing here, and when another girl catches my eye, I go straight for her. Am I an idiot, or should I choose who I should pay attention to?
Maybe it was because it's been so long since I've done something like this, interacting with people, talking about our stuff. But now, thinking about Lachesis fills me with what will it be, determination? It's something that makes me feel motivated. I want to be with her. Could it be love? I've never felt anything like this before, but it feels good.
Elsewhere...
"Come on, girls, quick, quick! Let's catch up with the boy named...?" said Lachesis.
"Yuzuru, if I'm not mistaken," replied Ethliyn. "Euri-san told you, remember?"
"Don't be like that with me, Ethliyn. You know I'm not very good with names," Lachesis said.
"This girl is really going to drive me crazy, don't you think, Tiana?" asked Ethliyn.
"Yes, she really is. But just the way she is, she got to where she is, and look at us, we're still at level 3. She's different," replied Tiana.
"She really is," said Ethliyn frustrated.
"Girls, come on. It'll take us a week to get to level 2. It'll take us a week to get to level 10. We should hurry, they shouldn't be that far away," Lachesis urged.
Yuzuru, what did you try to level up? You told me you cheated, is that all you did?", asked Tiana.
"Yes, that's all I did. I heard that by killing monsters you get the experience, albeit indirectly. But you do get it," replied Yuzuru.
"That's a lot less than what you get when you kill them directly. You should give it a try. Let's go this way nearby. I saw some goblins. Take that sword you have and let's go," Tiana said.
"Okay, that's fine. I can do it," nodded Yuzuru.
"Yuzuru, come on! You can do it. If anything happens, I'm right here nearby. Nothing will happen to you," Tiana encouraged.
"Okay, let's go. By the head, right? That should be enough. Her hand is going to my stomach. I won't get there... Is he making a fist?"
"That hurt too much. Goblins hit too hard or I'm too weak. Take it easy, don't despair. I'll close the distance, wait, dodge and hit him with my sword. And that's it," thought Yuzuru.
"It's coming! It's now! I dodge... Is another blow coming? It's taking me. It's with a sledgehammer. I should do it faster, be faster than him. Now!"
"Tiana-san, I think I did it. I was able to defeat him all by myself," Yuzuru exclaimed.
"Tell me, did your experience go up at all?" asked Tiana
"Let me see it... Did it go up? Nothing.
It's weird, very weird. You should be able to level up. I had heard stories of adventurers who couldn't level up, but over time they did. According to you, it's been 9 months and no stats went up," Tiana said.
"I know, Tiana. I've really gotten used to it. Even if you don't want to, when something happens that you can't change, you have to get used to it. I've struggled for so long hoping that one day something different would happen, but nothing. And now it didn't work out either," Yuzuru expressed.
"Don't worry, I'll still fix it my way. By the way, this is my problem. You don't have to worry about me anymore," Yuzuru stated.
"Of course I won't! I will. I'll help you level up, I promised!", Tiana assured.
"It's okay, Tiana. Thank you."
"She really cares about me. Why is that? Does she have a thing for me? Does she just want to help me? I really don't know," Yuzuru thought.
Tiana's thought moments later....
"What the hell? This isn't what I was told. In theory, Yuzuru should already be at level 8 right now, but.... Why, what happened? Those years with Yuzuru... Wait, Mr. Cronos said there would be some inconvenience, but this is too much. You need to be calm. Apparently, Yuzuru doesn't suspect anything. But now that I think about it, he's changed a bit. I don't remember him the way he used to be," Tiana reflected.