"W-we did it?!" Rasie exclaimed. She stepped forward cautiously, her sword still drawn and alert in case the monster regenerated from its remains.
But there was no sign of movement. The remains of the monster’s flesh and armor slowly turned into particles of blue light floating into the air. The light condensed in the center of the crater, forming a beautifully glowing green crystal. It was shaped like the giant hammer the monster had used, but now in the size of a small, softly glowing pendant.
Suddenly, Rasie felt the adventurer card in her pants pocket heat up.
Her pupils dilated instantly. The corners of her lips twitched, fighting back a smile that was forcing its way out.
Her body trembled before she screamed loudly while throwing both hands into the air. "Aaa!!!!! We did it!!"
"Hahaha whoo!!" Rasie jumped up and down in delight. She spun around once and then thrust her middle finger toward the remains of the monster’s explosion. "Die, you bastard! Bastard!!!"
Rasie immediately reached into her pocket, pulling out her adventurer card. She stared at the number displayed there.
"40..."
Rasie’s eyes sparkled. She lifted the card high under the aurora light. She blinked repeatedly, making sure her vision wasn’t deceiving her.
"40..." she murmured softly. "I’m level 40... I... I’m level 40..."
"I’m level 40?!" she shouted again.
Tears began to flow heavily, wetting her cheeks that were dirty with dust and blood. She smiled so widely that her eyes squinted shut. "I’m level 40...."
"Hahaahah!!"
"Rasie! Rasieeee! You guys did it, Rasieee!"
Hasya’s voice was heard approaching. The man ran enthusiastically while waving his hands. Behind him, Cyhas followed with quick steps, her pale face now adorned with a relieved smile.
Rasie turned. She immediately ran to meet Hasya, showing off her card with pride. "Hasya! I’m level 40!! I’m level 40!! I did it!!"
Without warning, Rasie grabbed both of Hasya’s hands.
Hasya was startled, his eyes blinking in confusion. "R-Rasie?!"
Rasie shook Hasya’s hands up and down with full force. "I did it, Hasya! I got to level 40!" she said in between happy sobs.
Hasya fell silent for a moment seeing the tears on the girl’s face. His playful expression softened, replaced by a warm, sincere smile. "Yes."
Hasya nodded. "You did it, Rasie."
A second later, Hasya returned to his cheerful mode. He joined in, jumping up and down following Rasie’s rhythm. "Yeyyy yeeyy!!!!"
Hasya turned toward Cyhas, who was chuckling at their behavior. Hasya extended his right hand. "Come on! Let’s go!"
Cyhas pointed at herself in confusion. "Huh? Me?"
Rasie stepped forward and pulled Cyhas’s arm by force. The three of them held hands, forming a small circle spinning on the white sand, laughing freely to celebrate a victory of life and death.
On the other side of the crater, Zaefal smiled faintly. He felt the familiar heat in his shirt pocket. Slowly, he laid his massive body down on the sand. His tense muscles finally relaxed completely.
His eyes gazed at the purple aurora dancing in the night sky. "I want to rest for a bit..."
With slow movements, he took out his adventurer card.
The number shone there.
"40..." he muttered softly.
Zaefal let out a long sigh, letting the cold desert air fill his lungs. He put the card back.
A little more... just a little more... Zaefal thought full of hope.
A few meters away, Fyar and Illya sat leaning against the remaining cathedral wall that was still standing. Illya rested her head on Fyar’s shoulder. Her eyes were droopy, her face still pale from excessive mana usage.
Fyar himself looked exhausted. His hand hung limply by his side, but his other hand moved slowly, stroking Illya’s shoulder gently.
"Don’t you want to check your level, Fyar..." Illya murmured softly without opening her eyes.
"I already know it definitely went up a lot," Fyar answered casually. He leaned his head against the cold stone wall. "Later. That’s easy."
"What about you, Illya?..."
Illya laughed lightly. "Hmm.."
"Maybe later."
"Are you sure you’re okay? You had a nosebleed and coughed blood," Fyar asked. His hand shifted to stroke the top of Illya’s head, brushing away the sand stuck in the girl’s hair. "You used teleport and that last spell quite a lot. What was that? I’ve never seen it.."
"Hmm.. I’m okay, Fyar. At my current level, my regeneration is pretty fast.." Illya replied. She tightened her hug on Fyar’s arm. "And regarding that spell, actually, I’ve memorized it since level 15. I just couldn’t use it because my mana was too low.."
"What’s the minimum level to use that spell?"
"Hmm.. around 26.."
"I see.." Fyar nodded in understanding.
He went back to enjoying the view in front of him. Rasie, Hasya, and Cyhas were still spinning around doing their silly celebration. Zaefal lay still like a corpse but looked peaceful.
"Rasie has so much energy, she can still act like that..." Fyar said with a weirded-out face.
Illya chuckled softly. "It’s natural, Fyar. Her dream is to be an adventurer on par with a Guardian."
Illya smiled proudly looking at her red-haired friend. "Back then, when we first formed the party, Rasie was obsessed with becoming strong. She studied and looked up who the adventurers were at level 40 or above 40.."
"Rasie also... she likes to imagine, ’if I were that level, what would it feel like’, or ’if I became that strong, it would surely be cool’.."
"And well, now it’s almost realized. I can guess her level increase is high enough for her to celebrate like that.."
Fyar fell silent hearing the story.
So that’s the cause of her insecurity and why she likes to pick fights? No wonder she was jealous when my level passed hers... no, that also answers why she can be a bit soft on Hasya. Hm.. hmm.. I’m grateful she has a side like that, Fyar thought.
"Good then.."
Silence fell for a moment, only the sound of the wind and faint laughter from afar could be heard.
"Speaking of which, Fyar.., what do you want now?" Illya asked suddenly. She looked up at Fyar’s face.
Fyar frowned in confusion. "Why the sudden..."
"Hmm.. I don’t know, I was suddenly just curious..," said Illya while playing with the button on Fyar’s shirt. "But if you don’t want to answer, it’s okay."
Fyar fell silent. His eyes stared at the stretch of white sand at his feet. His mind drifted to his past life on Earth, his gray past, and the strange dreams he had experienced lately.
After a long silence, Fyar took a deep breath.
"For now," he said softly but firmly.
"For now... I..."
Fyar wrapped his arms around Illya, hugging the girl very tightly as if afraid Illya would vanish if he loosened his grip even a little.
"For now, I just want to become strong and marry you," Fyar answered. His voice trembled with honesty. "I want to live with you. Do stupid things, be lovey-dovey with you, joke around, curse life and enjoy it with you."
"Tell you about my day. Live normally, adventure with you, Zaefal, and Rasie. Ah, now Hasya, or maybe Cyhas if she suddenly joins."
"That’s all..."
Illya’s pupils dilated. She released her lean and sat up straight, staring at Fyar’s face. She shook her head slowly left and right, as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
Illya’s eyes glazed over with tears, her lips trembling to hold back her emotion.
Slowly, a soft smile carved onto her face. Illya raised both hands, cupping Fyar’s cheeks warmly, then leaned in and kissed Fyar’s lips under the night sky full of auroras.