246-240 consciousness reform

Whenever I come to the labyrinth, I'm reminded of many things.

I was the only one forced to struggle against the shadow wolf that came out of the darkness.

When I say struggling, it doesn't mean that I can't defeat them. It's just that if you're attacked by a falsehood, you won't be able to defeat it right away.

I'm sure I've fought stronger demons than the Shadow Wolf until now, but why is this in my head?　The thought of this was spreading, and there was a sense of impatience.

Then I heard Estia muttering to herself while looking at me.

''Luciel-sama's movements, it seems that in the past three months, she has gone back to the time we first met.

I felt like I was being told it was back to a defensive-oriented style.

'I don't think fighting for safety is any different now or ever, do you?

Well, yes.

But that was not what Esther had meant to say.

She gave a phase that seemed to contain such words.

I was curious about that, so I decided to listen to the truth of Estia's words.

Estea, if you have something to say, say it properly. I don't think it's better for me to be refrained from doing what I find out in a labyrinth where my life is in danger.

At my words, Estia turned her body towards me as if she had made up her mind, and uttered the true meaning of her earlier mutterings.

''........I feel that Luciel-sama's offense and defense is relying too much on sight.

Are you relying too much on your vision?

'Yes. I felt like I had better senses when I was being trained in Glandle.

Esther's words brought to mind the training she had done with her mentor in Grandle.

I certainly felt like I was able to feel something more then, but is it that different?　I'll check in with Lionel and the others as soon as I can.

"...Lionel, Keti, Kefin. Did you all know what Estia said?

''...Yes. I had the feeling that Luciel-sama had lost his actual battle sense.

Lionel replied, nodding at my question.

And Keti and Kefin followed suit.

'Luciel-sama was able to defeat the demons even though his level was much lower than now and his sight and hearing were crushed, Nya. But he was completely rusty while I didn't see him, Nya.

'I came to this labyrinth because I actually wanted to bring back my real-world instincts and the feeling I had at that time.

I'm stronger, but I'm also weaker. Such words come to mind.

'As expected, I wasn't going to do the whirlwind eye-blinding and eardrum-breaking, as I didn't have time to do it, but if possible, I wanted Luciel-sama to find out for herself.

Was it really that bad?　I was too afraid to ask.

''........When did I lose my weapons that I honed back then.......''

''No, I haven't lost it. Luciel-sama's weapons are his sense of danger and his strength of will, so when he awakened to his newfound power and became stronger, he just relaxed.

Lionel's words, while gentle, indicated that the weapon that his master had honed in a short period of time had been turned into a dull weapon in an equally short period of time.

Still, being told that he hadn't lost it gave him some relief. But the situation remained the same.

He was certainly proud of himself, but he thought to himself that he hadn't been distracted. Nor did I ever feel like I was lukewarm.

But if everyone feels that way, then they're right.

I understood how this lack of awareness was a disgusting state of affairs.

''Why didn't you pay attention to that........to make yourself aware of it?

'Yes. Yes, it is true that you can realize things by being taught. But it's harder to forget things if you're worried about them and come to an answer yourself. I believe that it also helps the mind to go back to its roots.

This word of Lionel's was still a mixture of harshness and tenderness.

It was surely enough to understand that they had various struggles as well.

''The reason why you couldn't win the battle with your master, the reason why you couldn't deal with the attack of the one who turned into a demon race in Ebiza, was all because of your own pride, wasn't it?

'In the three months that you went to Nerdal, Master Luciel, you only fought in one combat-like battle, didn't you?

''Yeah. You just fought a water dragon and a wind dragon.

It's enviable... I beg your pardon. That three-month period must have loosened Luciel-sama's tense consciousness, bit by bit. Besides.........

What's more?

The more powerful your newfound power is, the more you will want to use it, as it is natural for a warrior to want to use it. But you don't have to destroy the foundation you've built.

'No, I'm not a warrior. But I see. Estia, I'm sorry about all of you. And thank you. From now on, I will practice what I've heard. But I don't think my senses are going to be in the clear soon. I know this is going to be a problem for you, but please follow me.

I didn't think I'd end up dragging my feet just because I thought I was getting stronger....

I was grateful to Lionel and the others for forcing me to bring them to the labyrinth.

''I'm also at a lower level, so I can compete with Luciel-sama.

You'll get your support.

Let's work hard to get it back before we step through this labyrinth.

I'm sure Master Luciel will be fine.

Thank you. All right, let's keep exploring.

This is how I realized what I had lost as well as how I felt, so I began to proceed through the labyrinth, reading signs and magic to avoid relying on sight alone.

Then I reached the 30th level without any problems, and what was waiting for me in the boss room were three Shadow Bears and five Black Bears.

''Isn't the difficulty level suddenly increasing?''

He was a bear, as his name suggests, but honestly, the pressure wasn't even comparable to Wolf's.

'This Shadow Bear will also disappear into the shadows.

Moreover, Kefin shouted out to me that Shadow Bear has the same foulness of hiding in the shadows as Shadow Wolf.

It would be a foul to have this much mass disappear. With that in mind, I searched for signs of my four friends and the demons.

The demons' attacks were received by Lionel, whereupon Kefin and Keti cut into the arms and legs of the demons from their quick attacks to try to reduce their fighting strength.

Esther avoided the attack as she danced, turning the demons' consciousness in her direction while attacking so that the demons with their reduced strength wouldn't be surrounded by me and Lionel.

Kefin and Keti returned there, and with a trinity of attacks, the demons were reliably defeated.

I poured my magic power into my illusionary sword to slash at the demon's attack, while activating my recovery magic when Lionel was attacked.

''Luciel-sama,''

Yeah.

I felt Lionel's voice approaching from behind with great speed and launched an attack at it.

''Flame Dragon Sword!

A small dragon, still small, flew out of the illusory sword that called out his name and swung away, and a magic stone emerged as it bit into the approaching shadow and the shadow burned.

I was caught off guard and prepared for the next demon, but the demons were in a mild state of panic and were being tossed by the kefin and the others.

The last remaining Shadow Bear was fought one-on-one by Lionel, and he won the battle without danger.

''Good. Now we've secured the main room. I'm starting to get hungry, so let's get some food.''

I told everyone that after I finished picking up the magic stone, but something was wrong with everyone.

Has this done something else?　As I was thinking this, Lionel came right up to my side and opened his mouth.

''What was that attack just now!　Not only did Master Luciel learn magic, but he was also able to use the power of the dragon itself.

'Can dragons of other attributes fly as slashes?

Following Lionel, Kefin asks with a twinkle in his eye.

''Well yeah, I think I can probably do it.''

''If you can now use that attack, you can't help but mistake it for being stronger.

The demons in the labyrinth are terrifying, so they must have been quite powerful.

'You don't give your all unless it's really necessary.......right? I'll do my best to get my strength back as soon as possible.

''Maybe Luciel-sama would be recognized by the Dragon God.

Ketty and Esther were looking at us from the sidelines with a wry smile as the tension between the two of them rose quickly.

'You're both too over the top, and the Dragon God is a dangerous place to be, so you probably won't be going there forever.

I see.

Lionel and Kefin looked like they were contemplating something, their voices humming.

They hoped that their current exchange wouldn't turn into a flag, and then they went to the main room on the 30th level to prepare lunch.