The Author's POV

"You..."

Staring at Ren's back for a couple of seconds, Kevin couldn't find any words to say. Though he had a bit of a hunch regarding Ren's strength, when he saw it in person, he was at a loss for words

...fast.

So incredibly fast and efficient.

Although his attention wasn't directed towards Ren at the time he attacked, in the blink of an eye, all of the night lizards were killed.

...not one was spared.

Eleven night lizards were dissected in a blink of an eye. Something that would've taken him quite a while to accomplish.

Recalling the lightning-fast attack that came from behind him, Kevin couldn't help but think to himself

'Could I have stopped that?'

Closing his eyes, Kevin envisioned himself defending himself against that attack. In the end, after a couple of seconds, he shook his head.

...he didn't know. Perhaps when he was fully alert he could, but...if he wasn't paying attention.

Stopping his thoughts there, Kevin didn't want to think about it. Just the thought of him facing such lightning-fast attack made him shudder.

"huuu..."

Taking a deep breath and looking at Ren walking upfront, Kevin had so many questions in his mind, but he refrained from voicing them out. Everyone had their secret, and he knew this fact better than anyone else.

After all, he was hiding a pretty big secret himself...

Although he didn't know why Ren was trying to hide his strength, he knew better than anyone to just shut up and go move on.

"Come on, we still got a bit to cover"

Glancing at Kevin who was deep into his own thoughts, a faint smile appeared on my lips.

Knowing Kevin, he was most likely comparing himself to me. It was a habit of his. Be it friend or foe he would always compare his strength to others.

...It was just engraved into his system. The hot-blooded mindset of a youth seeking to compare himself to someone else and see who was better. That's what Kevin was experiencing...

Shaking my head, I couldn't help but bitterly smile.

'...I'm too old for that'

Though I also wanted to get stronger, I didn't have the same hot-blooded mindest a youth had. Maybe at times, but usually I preferred to stay calm.

Although when I first came into this world I was anything but calm, as I adjusted myself to this place, I somehow regained my confidence and became much calmer.

Moreover, well, he was misunderstanding the true extent of my strength. Although the night lizards were indeed creatures that were hard to kill for him, they were a breeze for someone like me who could just kill them with my incredible speed.

...either way, it doesn't really matter. I wanted to get over with this dungeon as fast as possible.

After all, I had many things to do in preparation for the many tasks I had to complete by the end of the month.

Thus, glancing at Kevin, I picked up my speed.

"Hurry up, we've still got half a day worth of distance to cover..."

Like that, for about the next five hours or so, Kevin and I swiftly moved around the dungeon and killed any monster that obstructed our paths.

Of course, whenever we killed a ranked monster, I would quickly skin it alive and try to see if it had a core, however, somehow, lady luck wasn't on my side today.

was what I thought

"Kyuuuuuueee—!"

loud desperate cry resounded across the forest as Kevin appeared on

dead

be the

"Yup, now move aside"

my head, unsheathing my sword I merrily walked towards

-Spurt!

skin the bat, Kevin

core. If there was one thing he learned from Gilbert's class was that finding a core

a core is really small so you better just

—Vuum! —Vuum!

as Kevin was telling me to give up, pulling a purple orb-like object that continuously pulsated a purple hue, I raised my brow

didn't quite get what you were

Trying his best to calm himself down, an awkward smile appeared

"Congratulations..."

"Mhhhm"

couldn't help but slowly caress the purple

this due

placing the orb in my dimensional space, I merrily walked

"Let's go"

two hundred meters, Kevin

do we have to walk? I think we've pretty much

area filled with large thick green vines, squatting down and placing my hand on the floor, after a couple of seconds, looking up towards Kevin I

we are pretty

"Here?"

all he saw were thick vines and trees everywhere. In fact, the vegetation was so thick here that he couldn't

"...I don't see anything"

cracking my neck,

you can't

-Slash! -Slash!

I then proceeded to hack towards

I continuously cut down the large vines in front of me. Soon after, a large rumbling sound started becoming discernible by both me and Kevin as the ground below

the gaps of the

"Alright"

-Slash!

the scenery before me and Kevin changed one more time

-Rumble!

"Is that a waterfall?"

"Yup"

enormous waterfall appeared before us. Surrounded by vines, a pocket-like space that contained a large pond and a waterfall appeared

-Splash! -Splash!

and crashed against the hard rocks on the ground, a small rainbow appeared in the area.

of his daze, Kevin looked around and

we do

at Kevin, taking off my shirt and pants, without hesitation, I jumped into

else aside from

-Splash!

said those words, diving deep into the water, I felt my skin sting due to the cold sensation of the water

my teeth and remaining underwater, I waited for Kevin to dive

-Splash!

water. Using my hand to signal him to follow me, using breaststroke, I swam towards the

me, and making sure he was following me, I pointed towards the tunnel and swam

nodded his head and proceeded

...

-Splash! -Splash!