Episode 17.13 (1/2)
Eda fell pensively silent.
The thing about
and <Jaira> must be weighing on her mind.
Exploring the dungeon at her state of mind is dangerous.
Lecan thought about stopping their expedition short and going back to the surface, but that would turn her prone to running away. She'd want to retreat into her shell whenever she faces a stumbling block, or gets involved in something that corners her mind. Only road to ruin awaits when you can't run away anymore then. He's got to press ahead, even for a step, here.
”Eda.”
”Un?”
”Forget about it.”
”U-un.”
”Guess that's asking too much.”
”I feel so bad for them. Both
and <Jaira>.”
”Right.”
Her ability to empathize with others is Eda's virtue, a virtue that has saved Lecan's life.
Hence, he won't deny it.
”Had we taken
along with us on this floor, what do you think would happen?”
”Eh? Won't you get it done in no time at all, Lecan?”
”What would <Jaira> do in that case?”
”Eh? They're gonna, umm. I dunno.”
”They'd come along too.”
”Eh. Why?”
”Us, <Willard> haven't done anything that warrants any merit in this dungeon.”
”Un.”
”However, <Jaira> has glowing achievements and reputation to uphold.”
”Un.”
”That <Jaira> left a job they had taken upon themselves to some newbies with a dubious background, completely washing their hands off the matter. Can they really do that?”
”I-I guess they can't.”
”<Jaira> wouldn't be able to keep their face until they proved themselves superior to us <Willard>. This group of people follow us around from behind. What are they gonna do?”
”D-dunno.”
”They might do something, they might not. In other word, we would be facing magic beasts in front of us while a group of skilled adventurers with unpredictable behaviors are behind us. Don't you think that's dangerous?”
”It is, I think.”
”And even though
might look calm on the surface, they had just lost two of their friends. They must be shaken to the core. We can't predict how people in that state would act. <Jaira>'s mage seemed awfully shaken as well.”
”Now that you mention it.”
”Exploring a dungeon while babysitting those two parties is simply unfeasible. Also, a mistake on our side could mean the total annihilation of
, even <Jaira> wouldn't get out of it unscathed.”
”Un.”
”In other word, accepting that request could potentially lead to the death or injuries of many people from three parties. But now, no one would die since we didn't take it.”
”I see. So that's how it is.”
”Eda.”
”Un.”
”If you become an adventurer, you'll come across pitiable people. You can't fight magic beasts if that makes your mind waver. You'd die.”
”U-un.”
”A heart that sympathizes with others is worthy of praise. But you must leave it behind when you're exploring. Otherwise, it'd lead to your death.”
”Un. Got it.”
(That might have been too forceful.)
(Wonder if that was enough to slightly alter Eda's view on things.)
Lecan is bad at expressing his beliefs.
What important is how harsh this world called dungeon. Eda has to experience it firsthand in all its coldness and mercilessness.
That's exactly why Lecan didn't accept Kagaru's request. He could not afford to.
'We're strong, this dungeon is a piece of cake, even with extra baggage like these people are, traveling through this floor is easy peasy', anyone who harbors such train of thoughts will not survive dungeons.
Death is constantly lying in ambush even when you've made your baggage at its lightest and yourself at the apex, that's just how it is with dungeons.
Additionally, you should never agree to a proposal or a plea for help by someone with unknown motives inside a dungeon. Something Lecan had to learn the rough ways many times over.