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Chapter 20 – Finding the Optimal Path

  From that day onwards, we started training like our lives depended on it. Morning and night, we ventured out to the hunting grounds and fought for hours on end. I wanted them to like me, so it felt like such a shame. I mean, who doesn't right? But what Hertz told me took preeminence over their personal opinions of me. I seriously didn't mind becoming that mean coach that all the team members despised. I'll beat you all into shape! I thought as I oversaw one of our night training sessions. Zombies and Skeletons were everywhere, but we were holding our own quite fine. Kimmel and Sarde were carrying torches around so I could make out what was happening, and this time, I wouldn't just be watching as well.

  I readied my bow and drew an arrow from the quiver. They're getting a bit sparse, I thought as I supported Batti from the hilltop in his fight against a Skeleton Lancer. For someone so massive, he had some good reflexes, as he dodged almost every attack that came his way. Some thrusts connected, and I could tell he took some damage from that, but he kept on fighting as if nothing had happened. It made me happy and worried at the same time. Happy because of his high HP and worried because his attitude had still not changed! Well, Rome was not built in a day, I reminded myself. Besides, he was making small, noticeable improvements, like the hatchet he bought the other day, so I could let it slide.

  A Skeleton Archer tried to mirror my actions by supporting its kin, but Batti was having none of that. He quickly drew the hatchet from a small bag he kept around his waist and threw it with all his might at the Skeleton Archer. It staggered a bit from the impact but quickly regained its stance. Its eyes burning with hostility, it tried to attack again, only to be fried to ash by Lucia's lightning spell. Nice combination! I thought as I turned my eyes to Hertz.

  He didn't fight during the day but joined at night whenever he wasn't busy spying around or something. Hertz was probably the swiftest member of the party, as not a single attack had ever nded on him ever since he joined our night training sessions. It was incredible, but his attacks were weak, even with the spy's night status boost, so I had to find a way to increase his strength stat. I was a bit x with him, and I couldn't tell if it was out of respect or personal bias, but I wouldn't be prioritizing him, at least not yet.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Phildina flying around, acting as our team rescuer. If anyone were ever in critical condition, she would swoop down and carry the person to safety. She compined about this role, but I wouldn't be changing my mind until most of the party was on her level. "Haa," I let out a heavy sigh, wondering when st I had had a good night's rest. Ever since I learned about Camelia's secret, I'd been looking for ways to level up quickly, but... No luck so far, I thought with a pained look. I knew this wasn't the optimal strategy. It was really all I could do for now in case things started getting hectic.

  "I've taken a liking to you, little one." His words lived rent-free on my mind, and I couldn't stop myself from worrying about our safety. We need to get stronger, but what's the best way to go about doing that? I couldn't rely on Gorgon eggs because they were rare. Finding those ten was a stroke of good fortune that would probably never repeat itself, and seeking them out carried its risks. You could easily find yourself in a room swarming with Gorgons if you were not careful, so I quickly dismissed the idea. What could I possibly do to increase our levels as quickly as possible? And that was when it occurred to me. It was an idea so wild I almost wanted to reject it on the spot. The risks were great, but the rewards were incredible as well. I need to implement it at the right time. Maybe when we're all at level 40, I thought as I watched them all fight with a renewed sense of hope.

  Eventually, they returned to the hilltop, looking worn out and tired. Good job guys! I'm really proud of ya! Kimmel and Sarde's weapons were starting to break, so I'd have to buy them new ones. I'm running out of arrows as well, so maybe we should go shopping one of these days, I thought as I turned to look at Matilda.

  "W-what is it?!" She asked nervously. Is my face that scary? I thought as I asked her,

  "Is it possible to heal monsters?"

  "Y-yes, but I don't see why anyone would want to do that," she answered with a somewhat puzzled look on her face. "Why do you ask?"

  "Just curious," I fibbed, as I didn't want to spoil the surprise. I had found the optimal path, the key to generating unreal amounts of EXP in a short span of time, but I would have to y the groundwork first. Once we're all promoted, that's where the real fun begins, huh? I thought with a wide smile on my face. As for my stats, well, I'd met my quota of kills during this night session, and I'd also been steadily racking up kills in the morning and night training sessions before, so they were looking like this:

  DaphneLV 22HP78Str19Dex52Spd31Luck 17P-DEF15M-DEF23Status-----Compatibility-----

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