It's been about a week since we got back to our starting town.

"It's been a good time. If you need anything else, visit the dragon path."

The fireworks have been staying for a week for a while now combined with my Mana (MP) recovery and sightseeing in town, but it was time to say goodbye to Ground Gals.

Wouldn't it still be okay if we were in this town? I asked, but because the fire is also the head of the country, you can't keep it absent for too long.

"Yes, and then I'll give you this."

"This is..."

"You've seen it before, haven't you?

I was handed a red jewel from the fire... "Dragon King's Jewel".

With this, it would be the dragon's way, but it would be Valhalla, but I can get there in an instant.

They consume a huge amount of MP, and it seems to have a limit on the number of times, but it still doesn't change that it's a valuable item.

"Thank you, fire."

"Don't thank me... I'll leave this as a loan to Cross"

"To the cross..."

You're talking absurdly about making a loan to God or something.

Well, they seem to know each other, so I guess it's nothing.

"It's Claire. You'll have a little more power as a woman by the next time you see her."

"Mm... I know! I don't have the guts to tell you that!

"Really? Then let's captivate our favorites who were serious about the rest. I hope you turn your wits so they don't steal anything else."

"Goodbye."

And at the end of the day, the fire left a meaningful line in the crawl and used the 'spatial connection' to return to Earth Gulls.

"Totally... this is why I don't like fireworks."

"Have you always had such a relationship?"

Looks like Krall's been in a position to be messed with by fire for hundreds of years now.

Or Crail must be in extreme jerk shape.

I could have been swayed by the Spirit King or Gardia or something, and that's now normal?

"Lord Singh. Haven't you thought about being very rude right now?

"It's my fault."

It's a rare and good guess for a crawl.

But I didn't want to say what I just thought, so I raised my voice in denial.

"... than that, Mr. Singh. Mr. Singh is still here today... so... are you going?

"Oh, of course we're going."

Also, Phil, who has a good guess today, has just shaken another topic.

Going means going to the labyrinth, more specifically under Sakya, who is leveling in the labyrinth.

Mina and the others watch Sakya during the day, but basically no one at night.

That's why I've been working here lately to keep an eye on Sakuya at night.

"... I thought we were going too?

"No, I see Sakya. Otherwise, I knew it wouldn't work."

"Mmm..."

Sakya's being impotent is for me, and it's my fault.

Then I'll have to look at Sakuya the most.

But I wonder if Phil and Claire would like to accompany me like that.

"Okay. Then... take care, Mr. Singh."

"Oh, see you later."

For those reasons, Phil and I broke up on the spot.

By the way, it seems Phil will be exploring the labyrinth with his junior high classmates for a while to come.

Even so, they're going to explore around 10-20 floors underground, so it won't be enough from her.

But it's not a good idea to keep acting with us forever.

It would be pathetic if Phil got botched at school.

That's how Phil disappeared, and only me and Claire were left on this occasion.

"Phil never challenged Lord Singh's decision, but why shouldn't we go along with Sakya's leveling?

'Cause I don't really want to make you feel like Sakuya.'

Unlike Phil, they don't really know what's going on, so Claire asked, so I'll explain it lightly.

Watching Sakya's leveling for more than one person can put an extra mental burden on her.

So if you can do it, one watcher is desirable.

To be honest, Krall would be stronger than me, so I guess he's a good watchman.

But I don't want to leave that role to anyone else.

Whatever it is, I'm the reason for this.

"Well... if that's what you mean, I won't say any more. Keep an eye on Sakya."

"Leave it to me."

So I broke up with Claire and started moving to the labyrinth.

"... I've told you many times, you don't have to force me to follow you, okay?

"I didn't push it. This is what I like to do."

We had that conversation with Sakuya on the arrow tip.

This is an exchange that is becoming a routine these days.

For once, Sakuya must be sick of thinking I'm wasting my time on the inside.

…………

…………

But Sakuya's face has been burning for the past couple of days.

Just a little bit, but the corner of the mouth is hanging.

Should this be pointed out once and for all?

"Hey Sakuya. I mean, have you been good lately?

"Huh? Duh, what do you mean? I'm just like I always am today, aren't I?

"Really? I think I'm laughing a little bit."

"What!?

Sakya, who got my point, put his hand on his mouth and turned back.

"Beh, there's nothing to laugh at. It's not your fault?

And that's what Sakya says and starts walking all the way through the labyrinth.

I guess I'm in a good mood no matter how I look at it.

"Well, it's a waste of time talking about it here! Oh, but I'm not saying it's useless to talk to Master Singh!

"Oh, okay, okay. Then start hunting. Or come back to town with me."

"The hunt will be decent! Otherwise, we won't be able to catch up with Master Singh forever!

"... well"

Apparently Sakya won't stop hunting today.

I sighed softly knowing it and followed behind Sakya in silence.

When about two hours had passed since we had this conversation, I suggested a break where Sakya's movements were getting tired and dull.

Then Sakya obeyed honestly with a delightful look on her face and sat down physically next to me with her hips down in the corner of the labyrinth.

I knew this guy was an alley.

"Hey Sakuya. Maybe you're happy with the situation or something?

"! Ah, uh... well..."

Sakya started wandering off as soon as I was right.

But after she let her eyes wander for a few seconds, she shakes her neck vertically with her fingers scratching her cheeks.

"... yeah. To be honest, I'm happy with the situation. 'Cause Master Singh is actively taking care of me."

"Phew, phew."

I'm glad you're okay with it, or if you tell me that straight, my mouth is just going to loosen a little.

But if I get laid here, I don't feel right.

So I make the most serious look possible and stare at Sakuya.

"I'm sorry. It's just a pain in the ass from Master Singh, but I'm the only one who thinks this."

"Hey... no, that's not true. I don't think I'm a pain in the ass."

But Sakuya, who got my eyesight, started to faint, so I hurriedly make up for it.

"I've said it many times here lately. I like it and watch Sakuya hunt. There's no such thing as Mendow."

"But... it's annoying to Master Singh that I keep being mean like this, isn't it? If it were true, Master Singh would be able to use this time to do things."

…………

Indeed, I can spend this time watching Sakuya to leveling and improving player skills, and fulfilling the challenges given to me by Dr. Hayakawa.

But I don't think I want to be strong on my own, and when I told you about Sakuya, Dr. Hayakawa told me I should be free for a while.

Also, when it comes to getting stronger, Kengo told me before that there's a top up there, but I don't want to do anything to run one of them over with it.

Sakya in particular does a tough leveling for me every day.

At least I'm not leaving Sakya here working so hard.

"I... I'm not leaving Sakuya here. I don't care how long it takes for Sakya to catch up with me."

"Dear Sin......"

"So I'm gonna try to stop Sakya from doing what she's forced to do, and if she keeps doing what she's forced to do, she's not gonna leave Sakya like this forever."

Sakya, who heard my words, began to nibble her face as she shook her body.

Are you so happy with what I just said?

"I didn't think you'd tell me to stay away from Master Singh. If you say that to me, I might get more and more impossible, right?

"... then if you can't do it any more, why don't you ask my surveillance officer around Krall?"

"Mmm... Sin's messing with me"

When I corrected my remarks, Sakya took a reaction that inflated her cheeks and made her slightly angry.

Krall was also occasionally here to see how Sakya was doing in the late-night zone, and would be relieved while she was watching.

That really makes me wonder if it's okay.

But as for Sakuya, she'd be happier to have me look at her than Krall.

You don't hide these things from me because you think they're gonna annoy me.

"Phew...... it's time to end the break. I also strained my hunt from here...... is that it?

Sakya's body tilted as she tried to get up at the end of the break.

When I saw it, I hugged her shoulder and slowly lowered it to the floor.

"Oh, hey... you're a little out of balance"

…………

Then Sakya turned her untiring face toward me and put out her tongue as if to say that she had failed.

It would be time for the limit already.

"... hey, can you stop levelling any more impossible after all?

Now it may be just a coincidence, but Sakya is exhausted and it may have come to her feet.

If so, it's dangerous to keep levelling like this.

I put my strength in Sakya's shoulder-supporting hands.

"You don't have to work any harder. You don't have to work hard, 'cause I'm not leaving Sakuya... so rest now."

…………

Sakya's face, right beside him, is lost.

But Sakya shook her head to the side and stared at me.

"I'm glad Master Singh said something like that... but I'm going to keep levelling."

"... why not. You still can't tell me I'm not leaving."

"No, you can't. 'Cause I don't want to be Master Singh's luggage. There's not a single benefit to me now, Master Singh."

…………

I see.

Sakuya refuses to do this because it doesn't do me any good.

Sakuya won't be willing to stop this unscrupulous leveling until she's at a level where she can shoulder to shoulder with me and benefit from being a party member.

... then what do I do?

This is how I remembered the conversation I had with Sakya before when I was not allowed to bend Sakya's strong will.

"... then I hope Sakuya's by my side is in itself a benefit, huh?

"To?"

"Answer me. Sakuya's gonna stop leveling like this when it's in my interest, right?

"Ugh, yeah... well, yeah"

"Okay......"

He doesn't quite understand what I'm trying to say. Sakya is tilting her neck.

But I didn't mind her saying that, and after taking a big, deep breath, I said the words.

"Then... would you be my girlfriend, Sakya?

"................................. Huh?

Thus I made a confession without looking over to Sakya beside me.