Chapter 27: Shizuku Pov 2

It had been three weeks since both Shizuku and Kaori had made their promise. In this time, they have been pushing themselves hard at training, which helps them to level up quite a bit from last.

After they have returned from the Oscur dungeon, the news of the disappearance of two heroes spreads like wildfire. This created many controversies, saying that those heroes disappeared because they didn't take training seriously and did their own thing thus the result.

Shizuku after listening to all those rumours didn't bat an eye. If it was before she made up her mind she would have raged, but not anymore. More than anyone Shizuku knows how skilled Rihito is. If someone comes and says to Shizuku there is someone in this world who is more skilled in swordsmanship than Rihito, she will not believe it. In Shizuku's view, Captain Meld who is the strongest swordsman in this country is no match for Rihito.

Shizuku then stopped her training for the day and started to head to the bath to wash. While heading towards the bath Shizuku came across Suzu who was also heading to the bath.

"Hey, Suzu", Shizuku called out.

Suzu hears Shizuku's voice and responds back, "Hey Shizuku".

"Are you going to the bath as well", Shizuku asked.

"Yes, I am. I presume you as well", Suzu responded.

To her response, Shizuku nodded "Yes, I am". Then both of them headed to the bath together.

While walking Shizuku remembered something she asked Suzu.

"Suzu today was your turn to take care of Aiko sense right, so how is she doing", Shizuku asked in worry.

Sensing Shizuku's worry Suzu answers "She is doing quite well now. After the disappearance of Hajime and Rihito, she has been depressed for weeks, but she is coming along fine now".

[That's good], Shizuku thought to herself.

While Suzu was talking. Shizuku noticed that Suzu was glancing at herself. Shizuku who had been trained by Rihito had become sensitive to glances, so she had noticed. But Shizuku didn't say anything about it, if Suzu wanted to say something she would do it herself.

Suzu mauling her question for a while asked, "What do you think about the incident that happened in the dungeon".

Hearing the question Shizuku's eyes darkened, and her mood started to sink. But she instantly concealed it with a smile, she then asked Suzu to clarify what specifically she wanted to know her opinion on.

Suzu then halted for a second and spoke again, "Do you think it was Hiyama's fault that's why Hajime and Rihito…".

The moment she was about to complete the sentence and looked at Shizuku, Suzu got a chill down her spine and she stopped speaking.

"..."

After a few seconds, Shizuku spoke up in a slightly cold tone, "Let's not talk about that", to which Suzu nodded hurriedly.

…

8 days later

Kouki's group, the Hero party has once again come to 'Orcus Dungeon'. The party was just Kouki's group and a small rogue group. The group of 5 boys and girls were led by Nagayama Jugo, a big judo guy. This time the total number of students that came to the dungeon was 14 of what it was.

The reason was simple. Even if they did not talk about it, Hajime and Rihito's death had cast a shadow over their hearts. They strongly felt his 'Death in Battle', and this made them unable to fight directly. Trauma had struck them.

(a/n: Because there was no news of Rihito. So, he was considered dead by the church.)

Of course, they did not concern the Church with this. If they could experience actual combat again, then it is likely they would be able to fight again. Every day they urged themselves to return to their past selves.

Aiko saw a few of her students training, to go back to that dungeon. So, she tried to discourage her students, and it mostly worked but to her distress, it didn't work on Kuoki, Shizuku, Kaori and a few others who had already made up their minds.

So, she did the next best thing. She protested at church to not allow her students to participate in war. Aiko used her own class as leverage. Church seeing Aiko's protest was in a tight spot, on one side Aiko with her class farmer could remedy the food shortage by herself, and on the other side the powers of heroes who could win the war. So, they made the decision. 'Only those who volunteer themselves will be trained.'

Aiko seeing the church's response tries to protest again, but this time church doesn't budge on their decision, so Aiko has to back down. The only ones to continue their training were Kouki and Jugo's party because they wanted to challenge 'Orcus Dungeon' again. This time Meld and several members of the knights attended.

This was the 6th day of their journey into the dungeon. They were currently at the 60th level. Just 5 levels behind the highest recorded achievement.

After beating the mobs on this floor, they were about to step on the 61 floor and so they entered.

Shizuku right after she stepped onto the floor looked around to see her surroundings, she got the feeling of Deja Vu, "this floor", she muttered subconsciously.

To this day she hasn't forgotten this was that floor where she was teleported and lost him. And it was not just her everyone remembered this place, they had nightmares of his place even if they wanted to forget they couldn't.

Shizuku snapped herself out of her thoughts and searched for Kaori. She then saw her standing near a cliff glaring at the abyss.

She then walked beside her and softly called out to her worryingly, "Kaori".

Hearing her best friend's worried voice Kaori responded, "No need to worry about me Shizuku, I am fine".

"I was just reminiscing".

Shizuku hearing that just said, "Please don't overdo it".

Kaori looked at Shizuku with a strong gaze "It will be fine, we will find them."

Seeing Kaori's strong will, Shizuku smiled and responded, "Yes we will".

Meld seeing the familiar bridge gave the order to line up in formation, which everyone followed unconditionally.

Then taking Kouki's party as a vanguard, they started to cross the bridge. At this moment everyone was anticipating. They have already faced a similar situation. So, they were expecting an attack.

Just when they were at the centre of the bridge, it happened like the last time. Two magic circles appeared at both ends of the bridge and a monstrous roar was heard.

Hearing that monster's roar Shizuku unintentionally released killing intent at the Behemoth. Beside her Kaori pointed her staff at the behemoth and proclaimed. "You are going down".

And so, the fight began against the 'Behemoth'.

…

Back to the present…

About a day has passed since we started travelling in this carriage and from what I heard we should be reaching Fuhren by noon.

Currently, I am lying on the flat top of the cart, resting my head on Shea's thighs. Initially, I was lying down to enjoy the pleasant breeze, and Shea seeing me lying down, offered her thighs as a comfortable spot for me to rest my head. For some reason, I couldn't refuse and ended up in this situation.

Seeing me accept her offer Shea was very pleased. While inside the cart there was also a similar situation playing out between Hajime and Yue.

Just when I thought everything was going peacefully Shea's ears suddenly picked up something. She looked at the front of the cart about 50 meters ahead which was easy for her. There she saw a large number of monsters coming this way that were ferocious in nature.

Shea seeing that called out to Rihito, "Rihito! There is trouble up ahead".

Hearing her I sighed and got up grumbling. "Here I thought things were getting a little peaceful." I then used <Magic Sense> to get a clear picture of the situation. While I was scouting Shea informed everyone about the situation.

"..."

From the front about 50 meters up ahead, there was a horror of monsters consisting of wolves, wild felines, wild boars, and more. There were about 100 of them.

Hajime and Yue after being informed stood beside me and observed the situation.

More hearing that there was a horde of monsters heading our way panicked and immediately ordered to retreat.

"No need to panic. We can handle the horde", I said to More to calm the situation. More's hearing that we could handle the situation calm down.

"Listen here! Everyone! I and my companions will handle the horde. So, you guys only need to protect the cart and the people present here", I announced to everyone.

Hearing my announcement some of the other adventurers looked in relief. From the look of those adventurers, they are not confident to beat those monsters.

I then looked back at Hajime and others and asked, "So who will be the one to deal with them".

Hearing me Yue responded, "Let me do it".

I looked at Yue and asked, "You have a new spell or something". Yue nodded in response.

"I see", I nodded.

Hajime said, "By the way don't forget to chant before using magic or it will be more troublesome for us later". To which Yue nodded and used gravity magic to float in mid-air and started to chant.

<He, who illuminates the darkness with blinding crimson>

<Shatter the fetters of my eternal prison>

<Breakthrough all in the time path>

<The strongest call upon this power>

<And together>

<Become the light that swallows even heavens>

<Draconic Thunder>.

While she was chanting many dark thunder clouds shrouded the sky and sounds of lightning could be heard. The moment she finished the chant, from the middle of the thunderclouds an eastern dragon consisting of lightning roared at the monster horde and dropped at the centre of the horde instantly killing all the monsters.

Rumble!

Rumble!

Rumble!

Booom!!!

Seeing the scene of a horde of monsters instantly vaporising everyone looks at Yue with amazement, disbelief, and fear.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Yue after casting the spell landed beside us. She then puffed up her chest and said in a bragging tone, "How do you like my new spell <Draconic Thunder>? I made it with Gravity magic and Lightning magic, my own composite magic, and for the chant, I use my and Hajime encounter and our future".

Hajime seeing the destructiveness of the magic spoke. "I think you got a little overboard."

To which I disagreed, "No I think it was appropriate and that spell is fantastic. You see while she was casting, I was analysing her spell. So, I know it is difficult to cast that spell. I mean you have to do the whole spell meticulously one slip and spell will go out of control… and on top of that you have to be adept at multiple spell casting to create the spell."

While I was explaining Yue had a smug face. She had a look that said praise me more.

After explaining I looked at Yue and asked, "Yue what do you think if we mix other elements and increase the number of dragons in the spell".

Yue smilingly looked at me and said, "I am already working on it".

Hearing that I smirk at Yue, "As expected of you of course you would think of that".

Both of us then started to chuckle

"Hehehe"

"Hehehehe"

In the middle of the laughter, Shea noticing something in the distance called out, "Look at there it's 'Fuhren' We can see our destination", Shea said happily.

"Finally, I was getting tired stuck in the carriage", Hajime groaned.

Just then More spoke up "We are about to reach to Fuhren soon. Let's get going."

We then got back inside the cart and headed to the Fuhren.

…

"Chapter end"

(a/n: I just wanted to say. I will be adding Tohru and most of you voted so. Thank You)