Phyllis nodded deeply: "Indeed, this Red-Armored Crab King should belong to Teacher... cough cough, to Linda!"
Even Phyllis, an 'outsider,' had no complaints.
With his old teammates being so modest, Linda couldn't possibly accept everything. He gave Xueyan the four pairs of bladed legs of the Crimson Crab King, which could be used to forge level 20 purple equipment.
Linda solemnly said, "The monster tide isn't over yet, everyone be careful."
"You too." Ai Ke smiled and nodded, then headed towards Lia's direction with the Xueyan members.
"Everyone has grown up." Watching Xueyan and the others disappear into the distance, Linda couldn't help but sigh.
Leah learned to be modest and did not try to take the spoils from him.
Ai Ke seemed to have figured it out as well, and stopped slacking off, becoming much more sincere in her attitude.
Kaine always gave him the impression of being a timid, down-to-earth, ordinary girl, yet she resisted the temptation of the Red-Armored Crab King, giving up this trophy to repair the gradually estranged relationship between them.
Chrona no longer referred to him as a nobody...
Each member of Xueyan has their own unique growth process.
...
The laughter and cheers behind us gradually faded into the distance.
Lia looked back and saw that Linda, who had been tossed into the air, had been put down by everyone, and Aiko was smiling and talking to him.
Each member of Xueyan seemed to have a good relationship with Linda; it was a very ordinary and sincere relationship between old teammates.
She was the only one who felt she didn't belong there.
I can't bring myself to say something as simple and heartfelt as, "It's so great to go on an adventure with you."
Leah walked along, her boots kicking a small pebble that rolled forward, her mind seemingly attached to that pebble.
The joy of successfully defeating the Red-Armored Crab King was so intense it felt almost tangible, making her so happy she wanted to jump for joy. This feeling was something she hadn't experienced in a long time, so long that her memory was becoming hazy. Leah couldn't remember the last time she had felt this way.
What, then, is the meaning of adventure?
'Getting more and more tired, is this the meaning of adventure?'
Leah couldn't help but ask herself the same question.
Just as Ai Ke said, she seemed to have been misunderstanding something all along. Linda never regarded her as an enemy, and the idea that defeating Luanweihua would prove Xueyan's strength was just wishful thinking on her part.
Lia recalled the first time she held a sword.
Before being taken in by the Mandala family, he sneaked into the noble academy, hid under the windowsill, and held a straight wooden stick, imagining it was a sharp sword that he would use to cut down monsters and become a respected adventurer.
Climb to higher levels, defeat powerful monsters, acquire stronger equipment, and become a renowned adventurer.
Leah suddenly realized.
It wasn't to embarrass anyone; she simply wanted to become stronger.
Defeating Linda proves she's an excellent adventurer, right?
What measures an adventurer is the World Tree.
Even if she defeats Linda, she won't be more admirable than clearing the top level.
Lia's face darkened.
Deep down, she understood, but she was unwilling to admit it.
The reason she wanted to beat Linda was probably just because she was angry that Linda had left the team.
Just like a willful elementary school student, when things don't go their way, they have no choice but to throw a tantrum.
Beating Linda to prove herself is probably just a way to get Linda's attention, like before, when Linda would just give in to her whenever she made a fuss.
This time, however, Leah encountered unprecedented resistance.
She thought the commotion wasn't strong enough.
Even today, in this joint effort to combat the virus, Linda has helped her despite past grievances.
Lia then realized how childish her behavior had been.
Linda is a true adventurer.
That's why I joined the Snow Goose Adventure Team.
However, she went astray on the path of an adventurer, obsessing over the outcome of clearing the game and the speed of completing the levels, ignoring the feelings of her teammates, and becoming no different from those utilitarian businessmen.
When Leah suddenly looked back, she realized that only Linda was still supporting her.
Echo, Chrona, and the others had long since drifted apart from her.
"If this continues, Linda will only look down on me more and more."
Lia's face was pale, her small hands clenched so tightly that her knuckles ached.
Without Linda, is she unable to move forward?
The girl swayed amidst the horde of monsters, feeling the heavy sword in her hand weigh more than a mountain.
Just then.
"team leader."
"Captain, slow down!"
"Lia, are you throwing a tantrum again?"
Xueyan's team members followed.
Kaine addressed her as "Captain" with the same reserved manner as any other team member, a practice that had remained unchanged for the past two years.
Orlu grinned sheepishly, clearly looking a bit dim-witted.
Ai Ke was the most infuriating, and she looked helpless as she coaxed the child, saying things like, "Come on, come on."
Kruna, like a proud little rooster, walked at the front carrying an axe.
Phyllis's fawning expression disgusted Leah.
But no one gave up on her.
Five people caught up and surrounded Leah.
The members of the Snow Goose Adventure Team walked side by side among the crabs.
Leah burst into tears.
Aiko asked in confusion, "What happened to you? Did you get stupid from being whipped by the Red-Armored Crab King's tail?"
"Thank you all for staying with me until now." Leah wiped her eyes hard, turned her head, and said softly.
Xueyan and her team were all dumbfounded.
It's even more unbelievable than a goblin paying for a prostitute.
“When we get back…” Leah said, “let’s practice our combat teamwork.”
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