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5.79% Looking Forward to Another World / Chapter 20: Ariel

Chapter 20: Ariel

In the courtyard, an unknown and beautiful scene quietly unfolded.

The wind was picking up.

The wind was gathering.

Visible air currents, like a playful fairy, suddenly swept in from all directions, wrapping around Ais's body.

In this visible wind, the girl, enveloped by the gentle breeze, had golden hair that shimmered like sand, dancing in the air.

It was a sight as beautiful as a painting.

"This is my magic." Ais said calmly while being surrounded by the wind as if she had transformed into a wind spirit.

Riezel stared intently at the wind around her body, memories in his mind coming to life.

Ariel.

That was Ais's only usable magic, an enchant-type magic.

Enchant-type magic could attach a certain magical attribute to oneself or objects one touches, enhancing one's power and abilities.

Ais's Ariel was a wind element enchant-type magic.

The chant for this magic consisted of only one word, an ultra-short chant. This made it exceptionally fast to cast, with a difficulty level surprisingly low compared to other magic.

When activated, the magic provided the caster with the protection of the wind, the power of the wind element, control over wind force, and the ability to wrap wind around the body and weapon.

It served as both protection and assistance in attacks, increasing speed, and even granting the ability to fly short distances. It was almost an all-in-one package of attack, defense, speed, and support, with the only drawback being its inability to perform long-distance attacks.

Now, this magic was unfolding before Riezel's eyes, imprinted in his memory.

At this moment, he felt it.

His memories were stirring.

"Tempest."

As if by instinct, Riezel chanted the ultra-short chant he had just heard a few seconds ago. The stirring memories immediately responded to his chant.

*Whoosh—*

The wind swept in again.

However, this time, it came from all directions. It started off faint, but gradually, the powerful wind created by the atmosphere became more and more spectacular, wrapping around Riezel's body.

'My magic...' Ais's attractive eyes widened involuntarily.

Not only Ais but even Riezel in the courtyard failed to notice that, above, several windows were open, allowing lines of sight to peek through, gazing in their direction.

"Succeeded...?" Loki muttered in astonishment as she looked at Riezel effortlessly using Ais's magic. Her expression was quite comical, unsure if she was crying or laughing.

"That rookie actually pulled off Ais's magic?"

"This is going to be interesting."

The Amazoness twins peeked from their room, clearly witnessing everything.

"Tch!" Bete clicked his tongue silently and turned away.

Meanwhile, Finn, Riveria, and Gareth gathered in the same room, looking at each other in dismay as they watched a boy and a girl entwined with the wind in the courtyard.

"It really worked..." Finn sighed emotionally. "It seems our rookie, in terms of uniqueness, might be the best in the entire Familia."

"Isn't that obvious?" Gareth quipped, his muscular arms crossed. "If he can learn Ais's magic, could it be that kid isn't an ordinary human like Ais?"

At his speculation, Riveria remained silent, only staring at Riezel's figure, then at Ais's with her brow slightly furrowed.

She knew very well how special Ais's magic was.

At first glance, it seemed like just a typical enchant-type magic with nothing extraordinary. Enchant-type magic wasn't even that rare in Orario; there were probably dozens of adventurers with enchant-type magic, and even in Loki Familia, Ais wasn't the only one with it.

But compared to those enchant-type magic, Ais's enchant-type magic had a strong difference.

The ultra-short chant was just one of the characteristics of this magic.

The true uniqueness of this magic, visible only through use, was something impossible to discern with the naked eye.

"Riezel Brynhart?" Riveria muttered. "I wonder if letting him learn Ais's magic is a good or bad thing."

Hearing her mutter, Both Finn and Gareth remained silent.

It wasn't until after a while that Finn broke the silence.

"Regardless, we have a highly potential genius in our Familia, which is a good thing." Finn smiled slightly. "Train him well, and he might become another Familia's backbone in the future."

"Yeah..." Gareth chuckled, stroking his long beard. "I get it now. Loki gathered us all, and introduced that kid to us, not just for us to simply teach him magic, no?"

"She wants us to focus on cultivating him, right?" Riveria looked at Finn. "What's your plan, Finn?"

"For now, I don't plan to do anything special..." Finn bit his thumbnail, thinking for a moment. "He joined the Familia just two days ago, and he's had the blessing for only two days. Now is precisely the time for him to lay the foundation and clarify his own path. If we interfere hastily, it might be counterproductive."

"Oh?" Gareth raised an eyebrow. "Are you worried we'll lead him astray?"

"That's right." Riveria agreed with Finn's view. "We don't know enough about him, and his combat style hasn't fully developed. If we interfere randomly, he might be influenced by us."

Everyone should have their own path, their own development—the one that suits them best.

Riezel was still too young in their eyes, and his time for growth was too short. Before he clarified his own development and path, if he was influenced too much by others, he might end up on a path that was completely unsuitable for him.

That was not good and must be avoided.

Therefore, Finn didn't plan to intervene too early in Riezel's growth stage.

"Later, I'll go have a chat with Loki and see if she can spill some beans..." Finn said with a smile. "Judging by her attitude yesterday, there's probably something special about Riezel's body that we don't know about yet. We need to understand it before making any plans."

"What else is that kid hiding?" Gareth muttered with anticipation. "Hmm, what could it be? Damn, it's really intriguing!"

"It could be skills or other magic..." Riveria said while looking thoughtful. "Either way, Loki's attitude definitely signals something."

In just a few words, the three top executives of Loki Familia settled on a plan for dealing with Riezel.

This also indicated that from this moment on, he officially entered the attention of Familia higher-ups, garnering importance.

However, the three top executives, as well as those secretly observing, were unaware that they were still underestimating him.

What happened next would shatter their perception of him, making them reconsider and truly understand his uniqueness.

===

Ais continued to gaze silently at Riezel, who was surrounded by swirling wind, confirming his current state.

'Really learned...'

Ais found it challenging to describe her feelings at this moment.

Seeing someone else, like her, using 'Ariel' didn't bring joy; instead, it stirred up some bittersweet emotions. After all, this magic held significant meaning for her.

Suppressing the emotions about to surge within, Ais's eyes flickered for a moment as she glanced at the sword gripped in Riezel's hand.

She hesitated for a moment, then looked directly at his face.

"Want to give it a try?" Ais asked calmly.

Observing himself and curious about the changes in his body, Riezel understood her intention upon hearing her question.

"Draw your sword." Ais said calmly. "Let me see what your wind looks like."

After saying that, she unsheathed her sword, revealing a bright silver sword.

However, she didn't grasp the sword hilt; instead, she held and raised the scabbard and casually tossed the sword aside.

Seeing this, Riezel's eyes flickered.

The girl in front of him was the strongest swordswoman in Orario, a true first class adventurer.

She was powerful.

At least, for his present self, she was an object almost impossible to reach.

Leaving aside everything else, just the difference in their levels was like heaven and earth, something incomparable.

In this world, just one level gap alone represents a huge difference.

Moreover, with each level up, the increase in power could be described as a whole evolution.

Therefore, in this world, let alone facing a Level 5 first class adventurer, even a Level 2 third class adventurer, Riezel had almost no chance of winning at the moment.

But so what?

Facing a powerful opponent and being able to throw a challenge at any time was quite exciting, wasn't it?

*Ba-dump!* *Ba-dump!* *Ba-dump!*

His heartbeat accelerated, and a familiar excitement surged in his heart.

"Please teach me."

As he unsheathed his sword, Riezel wasted no time in assuming a stance, pointing the sharp tip towards Ais's throat.

In his eyes, a hint of coldness emerged, completely contradictory to his inner feelings.

"..."

Ais, who had been acting nonchalantly, seemed to sense something. Her heart tightened while her body subtly tensed up.

It felt as if she was being stared at by a ferocious beast—a sensation that gripped her heart. Though not intense or dangerous, it still made her subconsciously tighten her guard.

*Crack!*

In that instant, Riezel forcefully stepped on the ground with the wind swirling around his body. With the aid of 'Ariel', his figure turned into a bullet, charging towards Ais, whose pupils had contracted, marking the beginning of the battle.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
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Chapter 21: Evolving

*Clang!*

The sharp edge of a sword clashed with a silver scabbard in midair, creating a resonant sound of metal collision.

In the narrow courtyard, two figures wrapped in wind collided with each other, causing the surrounding airflow to become chaotic under the friction of the wind.

Riezel charged recklessly at Ais, his slender sword rising and generating numerous arcs of light, slashing toward the girl.

*Clang!* *Cling!* *Clang!* *Cling!*

Successive collision sounds echoed throughout the courtyard.

Facing Riezel's relentless charge and merciless slashes, Ais effortlessly danced with her scabbard, deflecting all incoming flashes of silver.

Wind collided with wind; sword clashed against sword.

The exchange between the swordsman and swordswoman appeared equal, yet one continuously attacked while the other never took a step back, an ongoing spectacle.

Keen observers could discern who held the advantage in this battle.

Regardless, Riezel felt as if he were facing not a person but an immovable mountain. No matter how he sprinted or swung his sword, he couldn't shake his opponent.

However, confronted with this formidable opponent, he felt no fear. Instead, his blood boiled, while his eyes sparkled.

Yes.

He enjoyed it.

He enjoyed fighting a strong opponent.

He enjoyed the urgency, where any mistake could lead to death at any moment, a battle on the brink.

Driven by this mentality, he unleashed all his strength.

*Clang!* *Cling!* *Clang!* *Cling!* *Clang!*

The collision sounds seemed even more intense and never-ending.

Riezel maneuvered around Ais, launching a variety of attacks towards her slender figure. Blade lights and sword afterimages appeared from all directions, slashing towards her entire body.

There was a forceful cleave aimed at her back.

A vertical cut targeted her ankles.

A sudden thrust aimed at her shoulders.

A direct cut towards her abdomen.

Riezel showed no signs of holding back or avoiding vital points; each slash he swung seemed as if he intended to kill Ais for real, with every strike carrying tremendous power and lethality.

Unable to make a dent in the powerful swordswoman without pulling out all the stops, he understood the gap between them and believed that she wouldn't succumb to this degree of attack. So he attacked with full dedication.

Ais, in response, didn't disappoint him, standing there motionless, effortlessly deflecting every one of his slashes with her scabbard.

The girl didn't just parry with her scabbard; she used various straightforward techniques to neutralize his attacks.

Facing a forceful cleave towards her back, she swayed her scabbard from the side, skillfully deflecting the powerful blow with minimal effort.

Against a vertical slash aimed at her ankles, instead of dodging, the girl lifted her foot and kicked his sword grip, robbing it of strength.

A thrust targeting her shoulder was blocked by the scabbard, emphasizing finesse over force. Though the attack was threatening, it was easily parried.

Even the attempt to cut her abdomen had no effect; the scabbard rebounded the strike, sending it back, causing him to lose control and step back.

Gradually, Ais shifted from defense to offense, using the seemingly harmless scabbard to leave marks on Riezel's body.

Her scabbard swung at an incredible speed, while the attacks were sharp. Even without aid from the wind, each strike created a howling gust, hitting him hard.

Unable to track the scabbard's trajectory, Riezel abandoned defense, focusing all attention on relentless attacks, turning his slashes into arcs that became faster, fiercer, and deadlier.

Watching Riezel, who seemed like a cold and ruthless sword demon, relentlessly attacking Ais, those in the manor witnessing the scene through the windows couldn't stay calm.

"Are you kidding me?" Tiona murmured unconsciously.

"Wasn't he a rookie who recently received a blessing?" Tione wore a disbelief expression.

"Hey! Loki, you fool!"

Even Bete, who returned to the window without anyone noticing, stared at the intense battle below. Angered by what he witnessed, he shouted in Loki's direction.

"Are you sure that brat was just an ordinary guy who got blessed a few days ago? There should be limits to joking!"

Not only Bete but Finn, Riveria, and Gareth were left speechless, one after another looking towards Loki.

"A rookie?" Gareth said doubtfully. "With this skill and ability, he's already an expert even in Level 1."

Indeed, Riezel's displayed strength surprised everyone, defying the expectations of the Familia's first-class adventurers who initially only wanted to gauge the rookie's potential.

"Ahh, shit..." Loki scratched her head tiredly. "Just as I thought, it's gonna be like this..."

Evidently, the reactions of her children were within her expectations.

'That kid's damn growth speed; it's strange not to surprise other kids who are growing at an ordinary pace.'

Loki recalled the events from last night.

Last night, after Ais agreed to Riezel's request and promised to teach him her magic, he didn't immediately leave. Instead, he sought Loki's help for the third status update.

...

Riezel Brynhart

Level 1

STR: F385 → D555

END: F380 → D548

DEX: E431 → C623

AGI: E449 → C637

MAG: I0

...

The total proficiency points in all basic abilities had risen to over 700! In the third status update, Riezel's growth speed remained astonishingly rapid and ridiculous! Especially in 'DEX' and 'AGI', both had entered the C-rank!

This was something even adventurers who had worked hard for several years in Level 1 could not achieve.

As mentioned before, those who could develop basic abilities to A-rank were extremely rare, and those who reached S-rank were even rarer. Upgrading to B-rank was already considered a genius, and there weren't many in Orario.

Yet, Riezel achieved C-ranks in two basic abilities in just three days.

Due to this fact, Loki spent the night yesterday doubting her own existence, not to mention others.

And if others were in such a state, let alone Ais, who faced Riezel head-on.

"Ugh!" Ais's golden eyes stared at the continuously attacking Riezel, her pupils slightly contracting.

In his perception, she was an immovable giant mountain, but in her perception, he seemed like a constantly evolving pupa, seemingly small but gradually growing wings, turning into a moth flying towards the flame.

In terms of basic abilities alone, the current Riezel had surpassed more than 90% of Level 1 adventurers, becoming one of the top experts in Level 1.

With the enchant-type magic 'Ariel' bringing about an increase in basic abilities, he had comprehensive improvements in attack, defense, speed, and more. As long as he didn't encounter opponents at Level 2, he could handle them with ease.

Of course, that kind of strength was almost negligible in Ais's eyes.

As the universally recognized strongest swordswoman with the strength of a first-class adventurer, Riezel was not impressive in front of Ais, who had been a Level 5 adventurer for three years.

However, through Loki's words, Ais also knew that Riezel was just an ordinary human who received a blessing just three days ago and had never received a blessing before.

To possess a strength equivalent to an experienced expert in Level 1 within three days? This fact stimulated the deepest part of Ais's heart, surprising even herself.

Even more surprising for her was that, with their ongoing battle, Riezel was still evolving.

Specifically, he seemed to have found the key to controlling 'Ariel', starting to enhance the wind on his sword or directly detonating it under his feet to increase his attack speed and movement speed. He had truly become a gust of wind, swiftly approaching.

Moreover, as time passed, his sword became sharper and less chaotic, becoming somewhat familiar to Ais.

'Is he learning my swordsmanship?' Ais's heart shook uncontrollably.

She was correct.

Riezel was indeed learning her swordsmanship.

'Is this how I should swing a sword?'

In the continuous attacks, his eyes reveal strands of enlightenment, changing his sword movements step by step.

Becoming simpler!

Becoming faster!

With exceptional memory, Riezel observed Ais's movements carefully, noting every technique she used, and relying on his inhuman growth speed to reproduce and master them.

This was an unexpected harvest.

Riezel, who originally only wanted to learn magic from Ais, only realized this at this moment.

'I should learn not only magic.'

'I should grow not only in status.'

'My combat skill, combat technique, also need learning and growth.'

In his previous life, Riezel had only learned Taijutsu for self-defense. So, where did he learn combat techniques used for actual fights, especially sword technique?

No, he hadn't learned at all.

But now, he had the opportunity to learn.

The changes and transformations that he had undergone in Ais's eyes were no different.

'Too fast!' Ais exclaimed in her mind. 'He's changing way too fast!'

Her realization caused flaws in her seemingly flawless movements.

'Right there!' Riezel's eyes suddenly lit up, capturing these subtle imperfections.

*Clang!*

With her seemingly effortless slash, Ais retreated.

'An opportunity!' Riezel instinctively realized that this was the only opportunity in this battle that could pose a threat to her.

Without hesitation, he aimed straight at Ais's exposed chest and thrust his sword forward.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
VALRRR VALRRR

Support and read advanced chapters at:

pat*reon.com/VALRRR

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