After we had a discussion for more than 4 hours, without realizing it, it was already evening, and we decided to postpone the discussion until tomorrow.
In the end, we were completely unable to make any decisions.
Right now, I was in a room that was lent to myself. But, thanks to everything that happened today, I couldn't sleep well. I couldn't stop feeling uneasy, so I used my time to look at the moon through the window in the room.
Different from the moon in my world, the moon in this world shines with a beautiful blue color, along with the sparkling stars.
While watching them, I thought about our discussion today.
"Looks like it's going to take them a long time to wrap everything together," I muttered and sighed tiredly.
Actually I have also thought of a plan to face this battle.
First, in this battle, Alicia might be useful against the Vampire, because for them, Alicia is like a natural enemy, so I don't think it will take much effort to finish off the Vampire.
However, the main problem is the dragon, as well as the hordes of other monsters that still roam the village.
With just our current members alone, it would be impossible to defeat that dragon. I can guarantee that before we could get to the Sacred Tree and defeat that Vampire, we'd all be thoroughly slaughtered by the dragon.
If it's to fight dragons, Alicia and I are completely useless… especially me.
Seriously, why do I have to get involved in such a troublesome matter?
I might be able to make [Buff Potions] for everyone, but I don't have high combat ability at all. I might be able to take down some slimes and goblins, but dragons are already on a whole different level.
Right now my level is also in single digits, I'm sure I'll only hinder them all. So, wouldn't it be better if I stayed in this place while they were gone?
I absolutely don't want to get involved in a fight that risks my life again.
While I was thinking about that, suddenly someone knocked on my bedroom door.
"Riku, are you still awake?" she asked.
"Come in, I'm still awake," I replied and invited her to enter.
When the door opened, I saw Alicia in a sheer light green one-piece dress, different from the pure white dress she had previously worn. Even so, she still looked beautiful as usual.
Because both of our clothes were wet from the rain and dirty from our playing with mud, Elvy and the head of the village lent us clothes. I am now also wearing the same clothes as the male Elf.
When I asked whose clothes this was, it seemed like it belonged to Elvy's older brother, and when I asked where her brother was to thank him, she just looked down with a sad face. It seems that, in order to protect Elvy from the dragon's attacks, her brother was forced to sacrifice himself.
Because of that, I have reason to enter the battle this time and slay that dragon. This is all for the sake of avenging Elvy against the death of hers brother.
Right, this is for revenge. There is absolutely no hidden meaning behind it.
It's not that I want to look cool and want to make the girl fall in love with me. These are sincere intentions that come straight from the bottom of my heart.
So, I'll make sure if I really participate in the battle this time.
"Hey, Riku, how do you think I look?" asked the goddess, and brought me back to reality.
At that moment, I started looking at her with a sharp gaze, and after thinking for a long time, I finally gave her a firm thumbs up.
"You look really good in that outfit," I said, complimenting her with a sincere smile.
"I wonder what you thought to be that serious. But, is that so? It does have a comfortable and cool material, so I like it too," Alicia replied as she twirled her dress left and right with graceful movements.
"So what do you want from me at this time of night? Do you intend to carry out a Yobai*? Or ask me to flee this village?" I asked in a relaxed tone.
(In the sentence above, what Riku means by "Yobai/Night Attack" is a tradition in Japan, where a woman suddenly enters a man's room to make out with him, and vice versa.)
Hearing that, Alicia frowned, and looked at me with a cold face. She seemed disgusted by my suggestion.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course not, sorry, I was just kidding. Even I wasn't that evil to leave them when they've helped us come this far."
"Well, actually I'm here to give advice about fighting that dragon."
"Eh, not a Yobai?!" I exclaimed in surprise.
Hearing that, Alicia sighed, and looked at me blankly.
"Why would I do that with you?"
"No— Well, cough, forget it." I coughed once to break the ice, and then changed the subject.
"So, what advice do you want to give? Does it have to be just the two of us? Wouldn't it be better to say that tomorrow in the discussion later?" I asked curiously.
Alicia shook her head. "That's true. But, before that I want you to decide whether you want to do it or not," she answered with a serious expression.
"Huh? Why me?" I asked again, only getting more confused.
"Because everything depends on your strength. So, what do you want to do with my suggestion, it's all your own decision, I won't force it," she replied.
After that, we both talked at length, she told me all the advice she had in mind, which seemed to be the key to us winning the fight this time.
But, after hearing her suggestion, I couldn't help but have to strongly reject it.
"You don't want to do it?" she asked.
"Yeah," I answered in a low voice.
"Okay, that's up to you," said Alicia, who then immediately wanted to leave the room. "Riku, I know it's difficult. But, I want you to think about it again, don't you also want to save them?" she continued.
But, I just kept quiet while lowering my face gloomily.
Seeing that, Alicia smiled sadly and left me alone in the room.
"Good night."
"...."
After Alicia left, I walked over to my bed which was made of a pile of leaves, and lay down with an ugly expression on my face, thinking about everything she had just said.
What Alicia suggested, it might not have been a very good suggestion either.
But, it's true, if I followed hers advice, it might be possible for us to win the battle this time with a higher probability.
But still, I don't want to do it.
Something heinous like that, I'm sure only crazy people would do it.
I definitely won't do it.
But—
What else can I do for them?
"Damn, this sucks."