Chapter 59
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Weiss
Level 1
Strength: D – 572
Endurance: D – 532
Dexterity: C – 622
Agility: A– 873
Magic: S– 910
MAGIC
AURA
Glyphs
WINTER
Skills
Fencing D
Weiss stared at it, eyes scanning rapidly. No outward reaction.
But her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
"S in Magic," Ruby breathed from behind her. "You're basically a spell cannon."
Yang let out a low whistle. "Agility's crazy high too."
Blake's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Balanced for control. Not brute force."
Weiss rose slowly, slipping her jacket back on with deliberate care. "As expected," she said coolly.
Hel regarded her evenly. "Your magic is exceptional. Your body, less so. If you wish to survive deeper floors, you will need to correct that imbalance."
Weiss met her gaze without flinching. "Then I will."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Hel's lips.
"Good."
Her gaze shifted past Weiss.
"Blake."
Blake
Level 1
Strength: E – 470
Endurance: F – 311
Dexterity: F – 330
Agility: C– 660
Magic: B– 740
MAGIC
AURA
Shadow
Skills
Marksmanship G
Blake continued to study the sheet in silence.
Ruby leaned in again, head tilted. "Wait… your numbers didn't jump as much as mine or Weiss's."
Yang folded her arms. "Yeah. Not by a lot."
Blake didn't look up. "I wasn't here as long as Ruby. And I don't charge things head-on."
"That isn't the only reason," Hel said calmly.
The room stilled slightly.
Hel's crimson gaze remained on Blake, analytical rather than judgmental. "Growth accelerates under extreme strain. Ruby burned herself against the Dungeon repeatedly. Weiss faced a floor boss and survived. You…"
Blake's ears twitched. "I avoid unnecessary risks."
"Yes," Hel agreed. "You fight to preserve, not to overwhelm. You withdraw when the situation becomes inefficient."
Yang smirked faintly. "Translation: you're smart."
Hel did not smile. "Translation: your growth is steady, not explosive."
Ruby blinked. "So she levels slower because she's not reckless?"
"In simplified terms," Hel replied evenly, "yes."
Blake finally lifted her eyes from the sheet. There was no resentment there—only quiet consideration. "That's fine. I prefer consistency."
A soft voice spoke from the back of the room.
"Consistency becomes stagnation if the stimulus remains constant."
Every head turned.
Lisa stood where she had been the entire time, hands folded neatly in front of her. Beside her, Taylor leaned against the wall, equally silent until now.
It took the group a full second to process the fact that neither of them had moved.
"…How long have you two been there?" Ruby asked slowly.
"From the beginning," Taylor replied flatly kinda annoyed at being ignored.
Lisa inclined her head politely. "If you continue progressing at your current rate, Blake, your growth will plateau."
Blake's ears flicked once. "Plateau."
"Yes," Lisa continued evenly. "However, given that the rest of your party insists on dragging you into engagements with Level Four-class monsters as a team of four rather than a proper raid formation…"
Her golden eyes shifted briefly to Ruby and Weiss.
"…you will likely be forced to adapt regardless."
The room went very still.
Yang blinked. "Level Four?"
Taylor looked at her like she'd just asked if water was wet. "Yeah. The Goliath is a Level Four monster."
A beat.
"You three triple-teamed it."
Ruby slowly raised a finger. "In our defense—"
Weiss cut in smoothly, "It was tactically sound."
Blake deadpanned, "We almost died."
Ruby lowered her finger. "—That part too."
Yang stared at them. "You fought something meant for adventurers three levels above you?"
"Three levels," Lisa corrected calmly, "and typically with a raid party of eight or more."
The room went quiet again.
Yang looked back at Ruby. "You're insane."
Ruby beamed. "Efficiently insane."
"Reckless," Weiss corrected.
"Statistically improbable," Blake added.
Hel's gaze shifted toward the Renard. "You have been reading at the Guild library, Lisa?"
Lisa inclined her head. "Yes. Floor boss classifications, average party compositions, survival rates."
Hel hummed faintly. "Diligent."
Yang blinked again, processing. Then her eyes narrowed slightly. "Okay, new question. If you two were here the entire time… why didn't you say anything?"
Taylor shrugged, arms still folded. "You four had a thing going."
"A rhythm," Lisa supplied gently.
Taylor nodded. "Didn't want to interrupt it."
Ruby tilted her head. "Interrupt… what?"
Hel answered before either of them could.
"You were acting like a group of friends who have not seen each other in years."
The words landed softly.
Silence followed.
Weiss looked away first, clearing her throat lightly.
Across the room, Taylor and Lisa nodded in unison—calm, observant, entirely unsurprised.
Only then did the four of them seem to fully register it.
Ruby's smile dimmed slightly.
Yang scratched the back of her neck.
Blake's ears dipped a fraction.
Weiss adjusted her sleeve again, unnecessarily.
The realization settled in.
They had been so focused on each other that they'd… forgotten the others were there.
"…Sorry," Ruby said first, because of course she did.
Taylor shrugged. "It happens."
Lisa's tails swayed gently. "Reunions are… emotionally dense events."
Yang winced. "Okay, when the fox starts using therapist language, we've messed up."
Blake shot her a look. "She's not wrong."
Weiss straightened, composure returning in smooth layers. "It was not intentional."
"No," Hel agreed quietly. "And I am certain everyone understands why it happened. Now, Taylor—if you would come forward so I may update your falna."
Taylor stepped forward without complaint, pushing her glasses up slightly. She removed her shirt with clinical efficiency—
—and Lisa gave a sharp wolf whistle.
Taylor froze mid-motion. "Lisa."
The Renard grinned, unapologetic. "What? I have eyes."
Yang burst out laughing. Ruby choked. Weiss turned away so fast it was practically a pirouette. Blake looked deeply entertained.
Taylor's face turned red all the way to her ears. "Can we not?"
Hel cleared her throat. The room snapped back to attention.
Taylor sat on the futon, shoulders squared, composure forcibly restored.
Hel placed her glowing palm between Taylor's shoulder blades.
The reaction was immediate.
Not cold.
Not heavy.
Not subtle.
The air compressed.
Lantern flames bent inward. The stone beneath their feet hummed faintly. For a brief, suffocating second, it felt as though something vast had opened its eyes.
Hel's own expression shifted—just slightly.
"…Oh."
Taylor
Level 1
Strength: S – 940
Endurance: S – 908
Dexterity: S – 944
Agility: S – 910
Magic: S – 930
MAGIC
Queen Administrator
SKILL
Queen Administrator: D
Silence.
Ruby leaned sideways. "…That's a lot of S's."
Yang blinked. "That's all S's."
Weiss stepped forward despite herself, eyes sharp. "That is not normal."
Blake's ears flattened slightly. "Not even remotely."
Lisa did not whistle this time.
She stared.
"…I thought so," she murmured softly.
Taylor turned slowly. "Is something wrong?"
Hel's crimson gaze was fixed on her—ancient, sharp, and no longer remotely neutral.
"Wrong?" Hel repeated.
The word echoed faintly against the stone.
Then her composure cracked.
"Wrong?!"
The lantern flames flared violently.
"Taylor, what did you do?!"
The room recoiled.
Ruby nearly jumped out of her boots. "Whoa!"
Yang straightened instantly, instincts kicking in. "Okay that's new."
Weiss stared at the status sheet again, eyes narrowing. "All parameters at S… at Level One…"
Blake's ears flattened completely. "That's not growth from combat."
Taylor blinked, visibly startled. "I didn't do anything."
Lisa's tails were very still now. "You didn't consciously do anything."
Hel stepped closer, not threatening—but intense. "Falna measures effort, struggle, achievement. It does not grant universal S-rank parameters to a novice without cause."
Her gaze burned into Taylor's.
"You have already fought something."
The air grew heavier.
Taylor's expression shifted—but recognition. "…I always fight," she said quietly.
Hel's gaze flicked to the Renard.
"Lisa. Explain."
Lisa did not hesitate. Her tails had gone completely still.
"Taylor is currently fighting in the Dungeon," she said evenly.
Silence.
Ruby blinked. "She's… right here."
Lisa continued as if that were irrelevant.
"She is simultaneously controlling thousands of insects. Ants, primarily. Predatory species, shes using an army of killer ants to kill thousands of kobolts and goblins every hour." Lisa states
"And the magic stones?" Ruby asked, remembering the last time she'd accidentally contributed to an Irregular.
Taylor answered plainly.
"I feed them to the ants. It makes them stronger."
Complete silence lingered for half a heartbeat longer.
Yang blinked. "…You're doing what? What are magic stones? I'm not gonna lie, I've been lost in this conversation for a bit."
There was a pause.
Then everyone burst out laughing.
Hel watched the exchange with faint amusement flickering in her crimson eyes. "Magic stones are the crystallized cores of monsters. When a monster dies in the Dungeon, its body disintegrates and leaves one behind. They are valuable. They are dangerous. They are not snacks."
Yang blinked. "…Okay, that part was implied."
Lisa's tails swayed lazily. "They are also the primary economic driver of Orario's adventurer system."
Yang stared. "You're making that up."
"I am not."
Hel tilted her head slightly. "Yang."
The blonde straightened instinctively.
"You will begin structured tutoring sessions with Lisa and Weiss."
Yang froze. "…I mean, Ruby should probably join me too, right?"
Ruby's eyes went wide, then she shook her head violently. "No! Absolutely not! I do not want tutoring!"
Hel's crimson gaze swept over the group. "That's actually a great idea, Yang. Lisa, Weiss—do you care if I add an extra student?"
"Nooo!" Ruby cried, throwing her hands in the air.
Yang smirked faintly. "Welcome to the club, sis."
Ruby groaned. "…I hate you both."
Taylor, adjusting her glasses, cleared her throat. "So… um, are we not doing the song and dance about my status sheet?"
Hel shrugged lightly, crimson eyes calm and unreadable. "Not really. I just need you to fight a Level Two or Three monster—without your insects, preferably—sooner rather than later."
Ruby blinked. "Wait… why?"
"So she can level up, you lovable dolt!" Weiss shouted, arms crossed and voice sharp enough to echo off the stone walls.
Level 1
Strength: D – 572
Endurance: D – 532
Dexterity: C – 622
Agility: A– 873
Magic: S– 910
MAGIC
AURA
Glyphs
WINTER
Skills
Fencing D
Weiss stared at it, eyes scanning rapidly. No outward reaction.
But her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
"S in Magic," Ruby breathed from behind her. "You're basically a spell cannon."
Yang let out a low whistle. "Agility's crazy high too."
Blake's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Balanced for control. Not brute force."
Weiss rose slowly, slipping her jacket back on with deliberate care. "As expected," she said coolly.
Hel regarded her evenly. "Your magic is exceptional. Your body, less so. If you wish to survive deeper floors, you will need to correct that imbalance."
Weiss met her gaze without flinching. "Then I will."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Hel's lips.
"Good."
Her gaze shifted past Weiss.
"Blake."
Blake
Level 1
Strength: E – 470
Endurance: F – 311
Dexterity: F – 330
Agility: C– 660
Magic: B– 740
MAGIC
AURA
Shadow
Skills
Marksmanship G
Blake continued to study the sheet in silence.
Ruby leaned in again, head tilted. "Wait… your numbers didn't jump as much as mine or Weiss's."
Yang folded her arms. "Yeah. Not by a lot."
Blake didn't look up. "I wasn't here as long as Ruby. And I don't charge things head-on."
"That isn't the only reason," Hel said calmly.
The room stilled slightly.
Hel's crimson gaze remained on Blake, analytical rather than judgmental. "Growth accelerates under extreme strain. Ruby burned herself against the Dungeon repeatedly. Weiss faced a floor boss and survived. You…"
Blake's ears twitched. "I avoid unnecessary risks."
"Yes," Hel agreed. "You fight to preserve, not to overwhelm. You withdraw when the situation becomes inefficient."
Yang smirked faintly. "Translation: you're smart."
Hel did not smile. "Translation: your growth is steady, not explosive."
Ruby blinked. "So she levels slower because she's not reckless?"
"In simplified terms," Hel replied evenly, "yes."
Blake finally lifted her eyes from the sheet. There was no resentment there—only quiet consideration. "That's fine. I prefer consistency."
A soft voice spoke from the back of the room.
"Consistency becomes stagnation if the stimulus remains constant."
Every head turned.
Lisa stood where she had been the entire time, hands folded neatly in front of her. Beside her, Taylor leaned against the wall, equally silent until now.
It took the group a full second to process the fact that neither of them had moved.
"…How long have you two been there?" Ruby asked slowly.
"From the beginning," Taylor replied flatly kinda annoyed at being ignored.
Lisa inclined her head politely. "If you continue progressing at your current rate, Blake, your growth will plateau."
Blake's ears flicked once. "Plateau."
"Yes," Lisa continued evenly. "However, given that the rest of your party insists on dragging you into engagements with Level Four-class monsters as a team of four rather than a proper raid formation…"
Her golden eyes shifted briefly to Ruby and Weiss.
"…you will likely be forced to adapt regardless."
The room went very still.
Yang blinked. "Level Four?"
Taylor looked at her like she'd just asked if water was wet. "Yeah. The Goliath is a Level Four monster."
A beat.
"You three triple-teamed it."
Ruby slowly raised a finger. "In our defense—"
Weiss cut in smoothly, "It was tactically sound."
Blake deadpanned, "We almost died."
Ruby lowered her finger. "—That part too."
Yang stared at them. "You fought something meant for adventurers three levels above you?"
"Three levels," Lisa corrected calmly, "and typically with a raid party of eight or more."
The room went quiet again.
Yang looked back at Ruby. "You're insane."
Ruby beamed. "Efficiently insane."
"Reckless," Weiss corrected.
"Statistically improbable," Blake added.
Hel's gaze shifted toward the Renard. "You have been reading at the Guild library, Lisa?"
Lisa inclined her head. "Yes. Floor boss classifications, average party compositions, survival rates."
Hel hummed faintly. "Diligent."
Yang blinked again, processing. Then her eyes narrowed slightly. "Okay, new question. If you two were here the entire time… why didn't you say anything?"
Taylor shrugged, arms still folded. "You four had a thing going."
"A rhythm," Lisa supplied gently.
Taylor nodded. "Didn't want to interrupt it."
Ruby tilted her head. "Interrupt… what?"
Hel answered before either of them could.
"You were acting like a group of friends who have not seen each other in years."
The words landed softly.
Silence followed.
Weiss looked away first, clearing her throat lightly.
Across the room, Taylor and Lisa nodded in unison—calm, observant, entirely unsurprised.
Only then did the four of them seem to fully register it.
Ruby's smile dimmed slightly.
Yang scratched the back of her neck.
Blake's ears dipped a fraction.
Weiss adjusted her sleeve again, unnecessarily.
The realization settled in.
They had been so focused on each other that they'd… forgotten the others were there.
"…Sorry," Ruby said first, because of course she did.
Taylor shrugged. "It happens."
Lisa's tails swayed gently. "Reunions are… emotionally dense events."
Yang winced. "Okay, when the fox starts using therapist language, we've messed up."
Blake shot her a look. "She's not wrong."
Weiss straightened, composure returning in smooth layers. "It was not intentional."
"No," Hel agreed quietly. "And I am certain everyone understands why it happened. Now, Taylor—if you would come forward so I may update your falna."
Taylor stepped forward without complaint, pushing her glasses up slightly. She removed her shirt with clinical efficiency—
—and Lisa gave a sharp wolf whistle.
Taylor froze mid-motion. "Lisa."
The Renard grinned, unapologetic. "What? I have eyes."
Yang burst out laughing. Ruby choked. Weiss turned away so fast it was practically a pirouette. Blake looked deeply entertained.
Taylor's face turned red all the way to her ears. "Can we not?"
Hel cleared her throat. The room snapped back to attention.
Taylor sat on the futon, shoulders squared, composure forcibly restored.
Hel placed her glowing palm between Taylor's shoulder blades.
The reaction was immediate.
Not cold.
Not heavy.
Not subtle.
The air compressed.
Lantern flames bent inward. The stone beneath their feet hummed faintly. For a brief, suffocating second, it felt as though something vast had opened its eyes.
Hel's own expression shifted—just slightly.
"…Oh."
Taylor
Level 1
Strength: S – 940
Endurance: S – 908
Dexterity: S – 944
Agility: S – 910
Magic: S – 930
MAGIC
Queen Administrator
SKILL
Queen Administrator: D
Silence.
Ruby leaned sideways. "…That's a lot of S's."
Yang blinked. "That's all S's."
Weiss stepped forward despite herself, eyes sharp. "That is not normal."
Blake's ears flattened slightly. "Not even remotely."
Lisa did not whistle this time.
She stared.
"…I thought so," she murmured softly.
Taylor turned slowly. "Is something wrong?"
Hel's crimson gaze was fixed on her—ancient, sharp, and no longer remotely neutral.
"Wrong?" Hel repeated.
The word echoed faintly against the stone.
Then her composure cracked.
"Wrong?!"
The lantern flames flared violently.
"Taylor, what did you do?!"
The room recoiled.
Ruby nearly jumped out of her boots. "Whoa!"
Yang straightened instantly, instincts kicking in. "Okay that's new."
Weiss stared at the status sheet again, eyes narrowing. "All parameters at S… at Level One…"
Blake's ears flattened completely. "That's not growth from combat."
Taylor blinked, visibly startled. "I didn't do anything."
Lisa's tails were very still now. "You didn't consciously do anything."
Hel stepped closer, not threatening—but intense. "Falna measures effort, struggle, achievement. It does not grant universal S-rank parameters to a novice without cause."
Her gaze burned into Taylor's.
"You have already fought something."
The air grew heavier.
Taylor's expression shifted—but recognition. "…I always fight," she said quietly.
Hel's gaze flicked to the Renard.
"Lisa. Explain."
Lisa did not hesitate. Her tails had gone completely still.
"Taylor is currently fighting in the Dungeon," she said evenly.
Silence.
Ruby blinked. "She's… right here."
Lisa continued as if that were irrelevant.
"She is simultaneously controlling thousands of insects. Ants, primarily. Predatory species, shes using an army of killer ants to kill thousands of kobolts and goblins every hour." Lisa states
"And the magic stones?" Ruby asked, remembering the last time she'd accidentally contributed to an Irregular.
Taylor answered plainly.
"I feed them to the ants. It makes them stronger."
Complete silence lingered for half a heartbeat longer.
Yang blinked. "…You're doing what? What are magic stones? I'm not gonna lie, I've been lost in this conversation for a bit."
There was a pause.
Then everyone burst out laughing.
Hel watched the exchange with faint amusement flickering in her crimson eyes. "Magic stones are the crystallized cores of monsters. When a monster dies in the Dungeon, its body disintegrates and leaves one behind. They are valuable. They are dangerous. They are not snacks."
Yang blinked. "…Okay, that part was implied."
Lisa's tails swayed lazily. "They are also the primary economic driver of Orario's adventurer system."
Yang stared. "You're making that up."
"I am not."
Hel tilted her head slightly. "Yang."
The blonde straightened instinctively.
"You will begin structured tutoring sessions with Lisa and Weiss."
Yang froze. "…I mean, Ruby should probably join me too, right?"
Ruby's eyes went wide, then she shook her head violently. "No! Absolutely not! I do not want tutoring!"
Hel's crimson gaze swept over the group. "That's actually a great idea, Yang. Lisa, Weiss—do you care if I add an extra student?"
"Nooo!" Ruby cried, throwing her hands in the air.
Yang smirked faintly. "Welcome to the club, sis."
Ruby groaned. "…I hate you both."
Taylor, adjusting her glasses, cleared her throat. "So… um, are we not doing the song and dance about my status sheet?"
Hel shrugged lightly, crimson eyes calm and unreadable. "Not really. I just need you to fight a Level Two or Three monster—without your insects, preferably—sooner rather than later."
Ruby blinked. "Wait… why?"
"So she can level up, you lovable dolt!" Weiss shouted, arms crossed and voice sharp enough to echo off the stone walls.
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