episode_0007

Lia briefly reminisced about the past.

Her childhood.

Lia had been a crybaby.

Timid, fearful, the kind of child who would burst into tears at the slightest hardship.

In contrast,

the neighborhood kids were often rowdy and mischievous.

Maybe that was why?

Naturally, they ended up bullying Lia,

and she frequently found herself crying in her mother’s arms.

Yet, every time that happened, something strange occurred—the kids who tormented her would meet with misfortune.

But Lia was alone.

She had no real friends.

So she loved and adored her mother even more.

She didn’t need anyone else.

As long as she had her mother, that was enough.

…That was what she believed as she lived a happy life.

Even though she spent most of her time at home,

she had books as wonderful companions.

Even though she didn’t have a father,

her mother loved her enough to make up for it.

So she was happy.

But then, on the day bandits raided the village,

Lia lost her mother—the one who meant everything to her.

It was devastating.

Her life had revolved entirely around her mother,

so when her mother died,

she had no choice but to despair.

But then,

a man appeared.

He saved her when she was on the brink of death,

dealt with the bandits,

and even told her of a way to reunite with her mother.

So she didn’t succumb to despair.

She could still smile.

Not being able to see her mother immediately was heartbreaking,

but just knowing she was alive gave Lia some peace—

because he assured her that once the Demon King was defeated, they could meet again.

‘The problem is having to defeat the Demon King, but…’

That was fine.

Because she had a reliable mentor who would rush to her side and solve everything if she cried.

…That was what she had thought.

“I’m sorry.”

“My role ends here.”

Those words from her mentor shocked her.

We’re done here.

Let’s part ways at this point.

The moment she heard that, tears spilled from her eyes.

It was the first time.

The first time she had grown close to someone other than her mother.

And now they were already separating?

No.

I don’t want this.

I don’t want to say goodbye.

All that talk about not needing friends as long as I had books—that was all a lie.

I need them too.

I want friends!

I’m human too!

I want to play with other people!

Being with Mom was great, but…

I want to experience what it’s like to be with others too!

So she clung desperately.

She wanted to do anything within her power to keep her mentor by her side.

But.

He told her he couldn’t stay because he was weak.

I have the trait .

An invincible warrior who won’t die no matter what monster I face.

But my mentor doesn’t.

Though he worked as an adventurer,

he’s just a frail D-rank.

If he encounters a strong monster, he’ll die.

I know that.

I know just how dangerous a hero’s journey is for someone as weak as him.

But.

Because I don’t want to part with him.

Because I don’t want to be alone again.

Because if even my mentor leaves, I might collapse before defeating the Demon King—

with no mother by my side and no one to rely on.

So I racked my brain desperately.

And the solution I came up with was to use my own body as both weapon and shield.

A blade that could kill anything in a single strike,

a shield that could block every attack—

if he had those, no enemy would be too strong, right?

But it didn’t work.

There were limits to fighting with just my body.

So I struggled—

only to realize the answer was surprisingly simple.

‘Equipment.’

All I had to do was give my mentor good gear.

‘If I give him the special equipment scattered across the world!’

‘He can grow strong enough to travel with me!’

That’s what was written in the guidebook he gave me.

Legendary weapons and armor lay hidden across the earth.

Obtaining them could grant immense power.

So—

Couldn’t my mentor grow stronger too?

‘Normally, I’d use them myself, but…’

‘I already have traits inherited from my mother.’

I didn’t need them.

Because my mentor’s guidebook also said this:

[Lia, you don’t need equipment.] [You can win without it.] [If you find good gear, passing it all to your allies is the most efficient approach.]

So—

All I had to do was give everything to my very first ally—my mentor.

This time was no different.

Though I spent nearly all my fortune,

his safety was now assured.

And the safer he was, the fewer reasons he would have to leave.

…That thought made me smile.

‘I don’t have much money left, but…’

‘Mentor will figure it out.’

He was someone who knew suspiciously much.

With someone like that—

Would he really overlook the problems that come with being broke?

Of course not.

He’d handle it all for me.

So—

All I had to do was help him with whatever he did.

…That was how I thought it would go.

“Lia.”

“Let’s go earn some money.”

A solution came immediately.

As expected of my mentor.

Cain took Lia to the Adventurers’ Guild.

“Let’s start with registering you.”

“Okay!”

Five minutes later.

Lia beamed as she proudly showed off her F-rank adventurer’s license.

“Mentor!”

“Ta-da!”

“Look! My adventurer license!”

“Yeah.”

“Now that we’ve registered you…”

“Let’s take on a request.”

“A request?”

“See that board over there covered in papers?”

“Yeah!”

“I see it!”

“Those are all requests.”

“People hiring adventurers to do work for money.”

“So we’ll earn travel funds by completing them?”

“Exactly.”

He immediately checked the request board.

“Hmm…”

“This one looks good.”

[Orc & Goblin Village Subjugation Request – C-rank]

A group of orcs and goblins has settled near the village, even establishing their own settlement.

They frequently raid nearby villages, causing significant harm.

Their extermination is requested.

“A C-rank request?”

“You’re taking this?”

“Yep.”

“But you’re D-rank?”

“It’s fine.”

“I’m leaving everything to you.”

“Huh?!”

“Leave it to me?!”

“Yeah.”

“You can handle it.”

She was a joke of a hero who would collapse into at the first sign of tears—

but when she fought seriously, she was terrifyingly strong.

After all, she had stomped her mentor in swordsmanship within an hour of training.

It was just that her mother had taught her nothing.

Given proper training, she could surpass anyone even without relying on her .

That was the kind of warrior she was.

Which meant she needed real combat experience.

Upon hearing this, Lia took a hesitant step back.

“M-Mentor?…”

“What?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to… learn properly before rushing into fights?”

“Enough.”

“Just get ready.”

“Uuu…”

“Then, just one thing…”

“What?”

“If it gets dangerous…”

“You’ll save me, right?…”

“I will.”

“So fight wildly without worry.”

“O-okay…”

“I-I’ll try…”

Trembling, Lia moved reluctantly before asking—

“Mentor?…”

“We’re a D-rank and an F-rank… Is it okay to take a C-rank request?…”

“Normally, no.”

“Huh?…”

“Then how are we…?”

“Like this.”

Rip!

He tore the request straight off the board and pocketed it.

Then—

he announced to the guild staff:

“We’re accepting this request!”

“Excuse me?!”

“W-Wait a second!”

“You’re D-rank!”

“And that’s an F-rank newbie!”

“You seriously think two people like that can complete a C-rank request?!”

“Are you trying to die?!”

“Hahahahaha!”

“Strength is everything in the adventuring trade!”

“We’ll complete this C-rank request and prove we’re worthy of it!”

“Are you insane?!”

“It’s an orc village!”

“How are just two of you going to wipe them out?!”

“Anyway, we’re going!”

They swiftly made their exit.

Then—

Lia stared at him with a strange expression.

“Mentor?…”

“Yeah?”

“Isn’t this… not allowed?”

“Normally, no.”

“D-rank adventurers can only accept requests up to D-rank.”

“T-Then…?”

“But.”

“What if we aren’t normal?”

“?”

“First, Lia.”

“You’re F-rank now, but you’ll be S-rank within months.”

“Eeek?…”

“T-That’s a bit…”

“That’s accurate.”

“S-rank exists for heroes anyway.”

S-rank.

An irregular classification.

A realm beyond human limits—

only attainable by borrowing divine power.

‘Though there are ancient records of rare monsters who reached it without divine assistance.’

But those were outliers, so they didn’t matter.

The key point was that heroes were S-rank.

A hero without is S-rank.

So then—

What about a hero with ?

A being beyond S-rank.

SS-rank?

Or maybe SSS-rank?

At those words, Lia grew even more flustered.

“I-I’m that strong?…”

“You are.”

“And I’m no ordinary D-rank adventurer either.”

“Right.”

“Mentor is amazing.”

“……?”

“What?”

“You’re in denial about being S-rank, yet you accept me not being D-rank way too easily.”

“Your endless faith in me is baffling.”

“Hehe…”

Lia just smiled.

Anyway—

Neither of us was D-rank material.

So a C-rank request was easy.

At that reassurance—

Lia voiced her lingering doubts.

“S-So we’re really doing this?…”

“Yeah.”

“There’s no better request.”

“Uuu…”

“If it gets dangerous…”

“You really will save me, right?…”

“Of course.”

During the tutorial, he had assumed she would win effortlessly—

but this time was different.

He expected Lia to collapse into —so he was prepared to act.

Thus—

There was no real danger.

A village swarming with goblins and orcs.

The orcs acted as generals,

while the goblins were like soldiers—

a faction that had seized a ruined village as their own and kept expanding.

“Eeeeek…”

“There’s so many…”

Having taken over an entire village, their numbers were substantial.

“Roughly a hundred.”

Ten orcs.

Ninety goblins.

Far too many for just two people to handle.

Unless—

You were Lia—the daughter of the goddess, history’s strongest hero.

With that thought—

He fastened a leather pouch to her body.

“M-Mentor?…”

“Wh-What’s this?…”

“A lucky charm.”

“And this rope?…”

“For when things get dangerous.”

“R-Really?…”

“Yeah.”

“So don’t worry.”

“Okay!…”

Lia was curious about the pouch with a rope attached—

but if her mentor called it a lucky charm,

it must be something good.

With that thought, she headed toward the orc village.