GILF Hunter

Chapter 468: 468 Telepathy

Standing in the center of the training ground, Lia looked down at her hands.

It was a place she usually used only for swordsmanship practice, but Lia was out at the training ground today for a different purpose.

Lia’s training had always been swordsmanship, but recently something had piqued her interest.

In Lia’s hands, which held neither a real sword nor a wooden one, mana slowly gathered.

Training to go beyond simple ’attribute conversion’ of mana and build a specific structure to exert power through it.

In other words, it was magic practice.

...Magic practice, how awkward.

Thinking that, Lia frowned slightly and moved her mana here and there.

The thought of asking the fellow mages in the mercenary group for help had crossed her mind briefly, but recalling the faces of those mages, it was obvious they wouldn’t be much help, so she was just practicing quietly alone.

Eventually, after moving the mana around in her hands for a long while, a small light blossomed from Lia’s palm.

It was [Healing Wave], one of the simple holy magics.

The light flowed down her fingertips and covered her arm. A very slight wound Lia had inflicted for testing purposes slowly vanished.

Since she couldn’t intentionally cause a major injury just for magic practice, she couldn’t do a full-scale test... but still, this seemed enough to be called a success.

Though her speed was still quite slow, she had succeeded for now, so practicing a lot would naturally solve that.

Thinking so, Lia let out a deep sigh.

Perhaps because it was training that required concentration, her head throbbed after only a few hours.

’...Phew. It actually works.’

After unintentionally succeeding in holy-attribute mana infusion in the labyrinth last time, she had tried this just in case.

Thanks to having seen the holy knights use it quite often, she had a rough idea of how to use it.

She had a hunch it might work, but she hadn’t expected to actually succeed.

However, Lia’s knowledge of holy magic was only fragmentary.

Magic she had caught glimpses of while staying briefly with the knights to prepare for the expedition. And simply imitating the magic she had learned while fighting inside the labyrinth.

She didn’t know any other holy magic beyond this, so practicing anything else was impossible.

...She had seen Tanya’s magic a few times too, but imitating that would obviously be impossible.

A priest’s magic would be completely different from the magic used by knights.

Just in case, she had looked for books related to holy magic on the market... but of course, there was no way such things would be circulating in the general market.

’Sigh...’

Since there was nothing more she could do, Lia finished her training earlier than usual and stepped outside.

The training ground was located a very short distance from the lodging.

In that short time returning to the lodging, while walking the street, Lia happened to run into a familiar face.

’Hm?’

’Ah...’

Lately, a suspicious group had been hanging around near the Ian Mercenary Group’s guild house.

It was the knights.

’...What are you doing?’

’That is, Instructor.’

’I told you not to call me that...’

When one of the knights called Lia that, she made an awkward face and shuddered.

It was true that Lia had taken charge of the knights’ brief training at the Temple before heading out on the expedition.

But what she taught the knights was strictly a basic lecture for labyrinth beginners.

To be honest, being called ’Instructor’ by knights for teaching just that much was unbearably embarrassing.

’So, what’s the matter? We’re not strangers, so if there’s someone you’re looking for, the staff will call them for you.’

’Well, we were just hoping to see Leader Ian’s face if he happened to pass by...’

’...’

They’ve got it bad.

Lia muttered that and shook her head side to side.

The knights, perhaps knowing that this wasn’t a great look to an outsider, looked at each other with sheepish faces and laughed.

Who would ever think these were holy knights looking at this?

...Lia suddenly had a thought while looking at the knights.

Holy knights.

The ones who knew holy magic best were, naturally, these holy knights.

In the first place, the holy magic Lia had practiced was something she had learned by peeking at what these knights used.

Maybe... if she asked about holy magic, she could get a little help.

Of course, secret magic handled only within the Temple would be out of the question, but she might be able to learn a bit more about simple magic available to the public.

After such deliberation, Lia spoke cautiously.

’Um, this might be rude, but... I have a favor to ask.’

＊ ＊ ＊

Guided by Lia, they entered the Ian Mercenary Group’s training ground.

A few knights who had followed to help with her training watched Lia’s magic and spoke.

’Yes, good. Keep that structure firm...’

’Send more mana now.’

Lia completed the magic according to the knights’ explanations.

Thanks to the detailed explanations and having seen a few demonstrations beforehand, she was able to complete the magic in no time.

A bright light flowed out, wrapping around Lia like armor and seeping into her body.

It was a holy-attribute support magic that reinforced her own stats.

Although it couldn’t be properly utilized inside the Deep Floor due to the light, it was one of the basic magics that holy knights used almost essentially when fighting.

Seeing Lia succeed, the knights clapped lightly and congratulated her.

’It’s a success!’

’At this rate, you could almost be called a holy knight now.’

’You’re practically a knight already.’

But hearing the knights’ congratulations, Lia shook her head firmly.

’A knight with this level of skill... No way.’

’What are you talking about...’

It was absurd to the knights who had seen Lia’s skill inside the labyrinth.

Lia’s level was already nearing 50.

In the game, this was a level range where a character was considered already completed. Leveling up after this was for the sake of a few stats or one or two traits; it was hard to see any dramatic difference.

Of course, that was only talking based on the game. In reality, the gap due to differences in experience was still large.

However, at least in terms of combat power, it was a time that could be described as almost fully matured.

Naturally, she had already passed the qualification criteria for something like a knight a long time ago.

Seeing the knights’ reaction, Lia asked hesitantly.

’But, shouldn’t a knight be much stronger?’

’Are you saying we’re not even knights then?’

’N-no, it’s not that...! Should I say my skill isn’t quite complete yet...’

’We’re sorry for becoming knights despite our incomplete skills, Instructor...’

’That’s not what I meant...!’

Even though they were mercenaries and knights, Lia was soon to be A-rank.

At the level of rookie knights, her level was beyond comparison.

However, as Lia grew, the fantasy of a knight in her head grew as well.

Since she couldn’t objectively see her own skill growing from the side, the distance to the imaginary finish line didn’t narrow at all and continued to stay far away.

If she had consistently taken on similar tasks like normal mercenaries, she would have been able to feel her skill gradually rising...

Following the precise leveling route Ian had mapped out, her enemies also grew progressively stronger, so there was probably a slight part where she never had a chance to feel her growth.

Looking at the flustered Lia, the knights grinned.

They certainly knew that the public’s view of knights held a rather large fantasy.

Since they themselves had become knights with such prejudices and fantasies, it wasn’t that they didn’t understand Lia’s heart.

...Though it was their first time seeing someone this severe.

The knights spoke to Lia with somewhat serious faces.

’Hmm... If you’re at this level, why don’t you actually become a knight of the Temple? You said you wanted to be a knight. Now is a good opportunity.’

’An opportunity?’

’It’s awkward for us to say, but since many resigned all at once this time... they’re probably recruiting urgently.’

The knight spoke sheepishly. The expression of the priest in charge who received the resignation letters had truly been a sight that evoked guilt.

Anyway, conversely, it was an opportunity for someone who wanted to become a knight.

’If you can already use holy magic, there’s nothing to see. It’s an automatic knighthood! Since your mercenary career is also substantial, if you’re lucky, you might even take charge of a squad right away!’

’I... I’ll think about it a bit more.’

’Tell us if you’re going to do it! We’ll write the recommendation letters in advance!’

With those words, Lia left a greeting and almost fled out of the training ground.

In the meantime, the sun was setting outside.

During the very short time walking from the training ground to the lodging, Lia fell into thought.

...Becoming a mercenary was part of the preparation process to become a knight in the first place. Because she heard that having mercenary experience makes it easy to have one’s field experience recognized.

Mercenary activities, training, saving money. They were all things she had clung to in order to become a knight.

That heart hadn’t changed even now.

If possible...

However, she didn’t want to leave right now, abandoning the work here.

She had grown attached to her comrades, and above all... Ian would still need her.

If she said she wanted to leave to become a knight, Ian would probably allow it, but it was obvious he would overexert himself even more to fill her vacancy.

...I can’t leave and entrust the future of the mercenary group to those fools.

Lia hardened her resolve with a small smile.

Still, she felt she needed to talk to Ian.

About the future...

T-to... to get married. She might need to become a knight in advance.

Recalling such thoughts, Lia’s face turned beet red.

＊ ＊ ＊

’Um... there’s something I want to talk about quite seriously.’

Ian, raising his head from the desk, looked at Lia’s face as she knocked and entered, then replied.

’Yeah. I knew.’

’You knew?’

Ian nodded toward Lia, who seemed slightly flustered.

’I figured you’d be talking about that soon. I was actually thinking of asking first.’

’I... I see. You were already thinking about it...’

Lia blushed slightly.

To think he had already guessed her heart. Had it been that obvious she was worrying? She should have kept her composure more.

With her face flushed red, Lia made a promise to talk slowly after work was over, then hurriedly turned around and left, appearing shy.

Ian’s gaze was fixed on Lia’s desire gauge, which was almost filled to the brim.

Well, without even asking, it must be because of that.

He thought she’d be reaching her limit soon, but to think she’d ask first. It seemed it had been that hard to endure.

With that thought, Ian opened his drawer.