The night had already grown deep.
Patrol squads moved around the camp, constantly staying alert for any possible abnormalities.
Ryoji had originally planned to head back to his tent to sleep, but before returning, he suddenly remembered something and walked toward another area of the camp.
That was where the female members' tents were located.
"Aiya, Prince-sama wants to sleep with us tonight?"
The beautiful girls immediately lit up with delight when they saw him approaching, all trying to pull him into their tents.
"Uh, well, I'm looking for someone…"
Ryoji was extremely tempted, but still refused.
Because if he actually stayed here for the night, this place might very well turn into an orgy scene, and the reputation of the Loki Familia would be completely ruined.
'I'm not that lust-driven of a person.'
'I am absolutely certain about this.'
After getting some information from a kind-hearted girl, Ryoji headed toward the edge of the camp.
Before long, Ryoji found the figure of that girl sitting at the edge of a rocky platform.
"Too nervous to sleep?"
He walked over and sat down beside her.
"Wah, you scared me!" She shot him a startled look.
Then she pouted and turned her head away, her golden-yellow ponytail swaying continuously in the night wind.
"You were just too absorbed in your thoughts. I was clearly making footstep sounds, okay?"
Ryoji rolled his eyes.
Lefiya muttered a couple of complaints under her breath.
It seemed like she wanted to argue back about something, but in the end, she didn't say it out loud.
What Ryoji said was true. Pure Elves weren't good at acting tough with words, so she could only admit it.
She really was extremely nervous.
So nervous that she hadn't even registered Ryoji's footsteps, instead sitting there alone and anxiously worrying by herself.
"Didn't you already join the Familia three years ago? Why are you still nervous now?"
"...This is also my first time entering an unexplored area. Isn't it normal to be nervous?"
Lefiya fell silent for a moment, then looked at him strangely.
"Might as well say that you're the abnormal one. This is only your second expedition and your first time entering the territory beyond the 51st Floor, yet you're not nervous at all!"
Lefiya had already been in the Loki Familia for three years.
She had participated in quite a few expeditions as well, but this was her first time truly entering unexplored territory. Moreover, among the assault team, she was the only Lv.3.
Afraid of holding everyone back, it was impossible for her not to feel nervous.
By contrast, Ryoji looked far more relaxed.
"So this is what people mean by skill giving courage?"
Lefiya let out a melancholic sigh.
Entering unexplored territory with the strength of a Lv.5 naturally gave him far more confidence.
"The way you say that, when I came down here last time, I was still Lv.2. Was I nervous then?"
Ryoji rolled his eyes again.
"It's just that I know being nervous is useless, so I turned that nervousness into motivation instead. You just think too much, which is why you're sitting here brooding."
Lefiya suddenly had nothing to say.
It was true.
When Ryoji first came down here a month ago, he had only been Lv.2. Yet he had been unbelievably fierce, standing out brilliantly in both the Middle Floors and Lower Floors.
Even when they reached the deep floors on the 49th Floor and faced the Fomoire that had broken through the formation, while even the Lv.3 adventurers were terrified, he still charged forward fearlessly and even killed it in return.
It really felt like this guy simply didn't know what fear was. He was on a completely different level from ordinary people.
If it were the Ryoji from a month ago, even if he had been selected to enter unexplored territory, he probably still would have been just as ferocious. Whether he could win or not was another matter, but he definitely wouldn't sit here worrying sentimentally like she was.
"I'll teach you a breathing technique. Once you learn it, you won't feel nervous anymore!"
"There's really something like that?"
"Of course there is. You've gotta trust me!"
Ryoji thumped his chest confidently.
Half-believing and half-doubting, Lefiya began adjusting her breathing, following Ryoji's rhythm.
"Not good, this part needs to be faster!"
"Oh, this part got slow again…"
"So annoying…"
Lefiya had completely immersed herself in learning.
"Oya?"
A beautiful member of the Elven royalty arrived behind the two of them. Seeing their interaction, she smiled slightly before turning around and leaving.
"..."
Not long afterward, the golden-haired, golden-eyed girl also walked over with hesitant steps. She seemed to be trying hard to organize her words, but after seeing the scene before her, she thought for a moment and chose to head back instead.
"Ugh…!"
Shortly afterward came the two sisters, Tiona and Tione. Seeing the two of them getting along so well, Tiona couldn't help shedding two comical streams of "seaweed tears," before being dragged away by her elder sister.
Ryoji glanced behind him.
"Good grief, she's really the group's beloved pet, huh?"
He muttered inwardly.
Several groups had come one after another. Every single one of them was probably here to comfort Lefiya. That little girl usually kept quiet, but unexpectedly, she was actually very popular!
"How is it?"
Lefiya shot him a proud look.
She had followed every detail Ryoji pointed out exactly as instructed, and it felt extremely effective.
"Hm? Oh! Not bad, you've basically learned about eighty percent of it!"
Ryoji pretended to listen for a moment before revealing an approving expression.
"I'm a Mage after all. Of course I can master this kind of technique easily!"
The young Elf started getting smug.
"So, have you relaxed now?"
"Eh?"
Lefiya froze for a moment, then suddenly realized.
"It's true, I'm not nervous at all anymore!"
The uneasiness in her heart had already vanished completely, and her whole body felt much more relaxed.
"This is a technique specially used by swordsmen. It's like a magician's chant, you need to remember it and practice it often. Whenever you get nervous, just breathe according to this rhythm, and the nervousness will disappear."
Ryoji spoke with complete confidence.
Trust me. You can't go wrong.
"I understand now!"
Lefiya nodded vigorously, filled with delight.
"I'm heading back."
After saying that, Ryoji stood up and turned to leave.
"Um… thank you!"
She received no response.
He merely waved his hand before disappearing into the darkness.
"Haa…"
Lefiya adjusted her breathing, memorizing the rhythm within it.
Strangely enough, the nervousness in her heart truly did not return.
Was it really because of the breathing technique?
Lefiya didn't know, but she wanted to believe in Ryoji. After all, he was such a fearless person, there was no way what he said could be wrong.
"Honestly… I'm such an idiot."
Suddenly, Lefiya let out a long sigh.
In the end, the reason people felt nervous was simply because they had too much free time.
When there was nothing else occupying the mind, one would keep worrying about whether they were dragging others down. In truth, that kind of mentality was the worst; one careless moment and mistakes really could happen.
As long as your heart was filled with other things, and your brain stopped dwelling on it, naturally you wouldn't feel nervous anymore.
Simply put, don't think too much.
Ryoji could do that very easily.
But Lefiya couldn't. Her personality was too emotional, and she always couldn't stop herself from overthinking.
What Ryoji had done was merely help her forget her nervousness. What worked wasn't the breathing technique at all,
It was him.
"Seriously… I was supposed to forget about him… How am I supposed to forget him like this?"
(End of Chapter)
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