ALL NOVEL Chapter 123
123. Children Are Often Unaware Of Their Parents’ Feelings
After extracting information from Barry, I left the prison and headed to a certain place.
He was as foul-mouthed as ever, but the information he provided was undeniably valuable.
The raid team is already powerful enough to clear the 43rd floor.
However, there is a person who is deliberately delaying it.
That person is Gerda.
As long as Gerda is around, the dungeon raid won’t progress.
That’s why I’m going to change that.
The first place I headed to was Raize’s house.
When I knocked on the large front door as usual, someone poked their face out from the other side.
“Yes, yes, coming―― Oh, it’s you! Arx!”
Raize’s father began bowing his head repeatedly as soon as he saw me.
His previously arrogant attitude had turned into extreme politeness.
“Hello. I need to talk to Raize for a bit.”
“Yes! I’ll call her right away! I’ll also make some tea!”
“No, I don’t need tea… but isn’t something strange today?”
I felt an overwhelming sense of discomfort from Raize’s father’s excessively subservient attitude.
His eyes seemed to sparkle more than before.
“Absolutely not! To you, Arx, I am nothing more than a servant!”
“I don’t think that! Just talk normally!”
The cause was probably the recent Minotaur incident.
I just intended to give him a light warning, but it seems it changed his personality completely.
Raize’s father let out a deep sigh and slumped his shoulders.
“Actually, you’re right. Since that incident, I’ve been scolded by Raize more often. She even told me to use polite language with you.”
I can almost picture it.
Raize scolding her father with a demonic expression――
“…I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Arx. This is the result of suppressing Raize all this time… But, oh dear…”
Raize’s father slumped his shoulders again.
A father suffering from the harsh treatment of his rebellious daughter――pitiful.
“Oh, Arx?”
At that moment, Raize appeared from behind her father, holding her large pet dog in her arms, probably in the middle of playing with it.
“Do you need something? If Arx is here, say something, Dad.”
“Eek! I’m sorry!”
…He’s too pitiful.
I called Raize outside, and we started walking to our next destination.
“You know, you should be a bit kinder to your dad. Even the dog seems more comfortable than him.”
“I can’t help it. Ever since the Minotaur incident, Dad has been overly clingy. I just told him he was a bit annoying.”
“Your dad is probably trying to amend his past behavior… Try to cooperate a bit.”
“Fine. If you insist, I’ll be a little nicer.”
Raize glanced at the staff in her hand through the sunlight and changed the topic.
“…So, what’s your business? Where are we going?”
“Oh, about that… we’ll be there soon.”
A way to restore the raid team to normal.
I considered various options while talking with Barry―― but this is the only way.
I brought Raize to an inn.
Recalling the room number I heard before, I knocked on the door. A girl peeked out from inside.
“Oh! Hello, big brother!”
It was Fran, greeting me with an innocent, charming smile.
I had heard that this room was where Fran and Laura lived when we had dinner at Sierra’s room before.
And inside the room――Laura, staring at us expressionlessly.
“Laura, I need to talk to you.”
“What is it?”
Laura walked to the entrance and faced me.
Her reply was very curt, but her posture exuded an intimidating aura.
Even so, I couldn’t back down. I took a deep breath and spoke.
“I heard about the current state of the raid team.
Despite what you said yesterday, I haven’t given up on joining the raid team.”
“You’re persistent. Why are you so fixated on the raid team?”
“The main reason is to become stronger. Initially, I was only thinking about efficient leveling.”
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to steadily dive into dungeons on your own?”
“――But it’s different now.”
I noticed Laura’s eyes widen in surprise. I quickly continued.
“Sure, not joining the raid team might be better for me. But Laura, what do you think of the current raid team?”
I was curious. How did Laura, once called the strongest, feel about being part of this corrupted raid team?
Rationally, avoiding the raid team would be better for her to get stronger.
She must understand that. Yet, she’s a member.
Laura stayed silent for a moment, then spoke.
“…I’m fulfilling my responsibility. Those who become stronger than others must use that power for others.”
“But do you truly believe you’re fulfilling your responsibility with the current methods? Do you really think so?”
“What are you trying to say?”
Laura glared at me with a slightly irritated expression.
The current raid team has a significant flaw. I want to change that.
For myself――and above all, for Laura.
“Laura. I’m here to set you free. With me, Raize, and you, we will conquer the 43rd floor.”