Since that day, Seneca and Maiol have been venturing together into the Baet Forest.

  Maiol's [Detection] is incredibly powerful, allowing her to hunt with great efficiency. However, Seneca feared that over-relying on detection skill would cause them to rust, so she requested that Maiol guide her without providing explicit information during normal circumstances.

  Upon hearing this, Maiol agreed and responded:

  "I've been using my skill too much to the point that without it, I can no longer track effectively. I’ll check to confirm there’s no immediate danger when we enter the forest, but after that, would it be alright if I refrain from using my skill as much as possible? Some seasoned adventurers can track monsters even beyond my range."

  Seneca nodded in agreement, understanding.

  Maiol had learned about how Seneca leveled up and decided to change her approach to gaining experience. Previously, she had thought that frequent use of her skills was the most efficient way to level up. However, she soon realised that earning high-quality experience could lead to rapid advancement.

  Though Maiol cked the immense magical power that Seneca possessed, she did have some magical potential. She pondered how she could harness it to undergo high-quality training.

  With the goal of advancing to Copper rank by passing the exam, Maiol was thankful for her encounter with Seneca.

  ...

  Since pairing with Maiol, Seneca’s work has become significantly more efficient.

  They would defeat monsters, gather medicinal herbs, then return to embroider.

  Though adventurers typically lead unstable lives, Seneca’s life was strangely steady.

  Baet Forest was a pce where the presence of a few Copper-ranked adventurers could secure safety. However, Seneca and Maiol were still not yet able to fully explore its depths.

  Seneca had started utilising her tracking capabilities to face stronger foes.

  Though she had been alone before, with Maiol by her side, she now felt assured.

  That day, they discovered traces of a horned rabbit. The horned rabbit is known for its high attack power, but with her exceptional agility, Seneca could easily dodge its strikes.

  Maiol, who had recently started studying scouting, took the lead in searching for the horned rabbit.

  A disturbing sound broke the silence.

  Bzzz

  Maiol immediately activated her [Detection] without hesitation, as she sensed something was wrong.

  "Five scorpion bees are heading our way."

  The scorpion bees are monstrous insects with venomous stingers.

  Not too long ago, both Seneca and Maiol would have fled at the sight of them.

  However, the two had seemingly come to an unspoken agreement and decided to fight instead.

  They also had a potent antidote that Kito had made for them.

  Neither Seneca nor Maiol had means of attacking a group effectively. They needed to maintain constant communication, defeating one enemy at a time.

  As they prepared for the scorpion bees’ arrival, the horned rabbit also began fleeing in their direction. It must have sensed the disturbance. Scorpion bees sometimes harassed horned rabbits.

  Now, the two were faced with six monsters in total. Animals are unpredictable, and situations like this could quickly escate.

  Despite the sudden turn of events, Seneca remained calm.

  Pop, pop, pop.

  Three sharp, explosive sounds echoed through the forest.

  Seneca had fired three needles at the horned rabbit.

  At first, Maiol panicked, thinking, What is Seneca up to now? But that thought brought her a sense of crity, and she managed to calm down.

  Because the needles had been fired slowly, the horned rabbit tried to evade them.

  “Ha!”

  Seneca channeled all her magical energy into one needle.

  The needle altered its course slightly and pierced the horned rabbit's leg.

  Once a hit was secured, Seneca maniputed the magical thread attached to the needle, immobilising the rabbit’s leg.

  Watching this, Maiol was struck with inspiration and decided to use her skills as well. Perhaps seeing Seneca so fervently exploring her technique sparked her desire to try something herself.

  Maiol’s [Detection], when activated, could reveal everything within a vilge’s range, and by expending more magic, she could detect even further distances.

  However, she decided to try a different approach. She focused her magic to only detect what was within her immediate field of vision.

  It consumed a great deal of her magical power, but it allowed her to sense the enemies' movements as though they were right in front of her.

  Seneca charged forward toward the leading scorpion bee. It seemed she pnned to sever it in one strike.

  Maiol, using her enhanced spring-like agility, leapt toward the swarm of scorpion bees.

  Seneca briefly blocked Maiol’s line of sight, but thanks to her skill, she could still perceive the movements of the scorpion bees behind her.

  Maiol’s mind struggled to process the abundance of information, but she managed to keep up.

  One of the scorpion bees at the rear appeared to be making a suspicious move.

  Maiol deduced that it might be preparing to unleash its venom on Seneca, so she threw the broad sword she was holding.

  Thud.

  The sword struck the scorpion bee at the rear and fell to the ground.

  Seneca adjusted her posture and positioned herself next to Maiol.

  “That could have been dangerous,” Seneca said.

  “Could you see it?” Maiol asked.

  "No, not exactly. Just a feeling. Was it trying to release venom?"

  "Yes, exactly."

  Once again, Seneca's mysterious capabilities left Maiol in awe.

  There were three scorpion bees remaining, and one horned rabbit.

  Seneca swiftly advanced, unching her attack.

  Maiol continued activating her skill, analysing the situation from an overhead perspective and supporting Seneca’s movements.

  Maiol focused on predicting the movements of both Seneca and the monsters, striving to eliminate threats before they could cause harm.

  She kept the scorpion bees in check, striking when they exposed a weakness.

  When the horned rabbit began leaping erratically, she sshed its throat before it could escape.

  Thanks to Maiol’s decisive actions, the battle began to turn in their favour.

  Seneca sensed the fight was becoming much easier.

  In a straightforward situation like this, the one with superior skill would win.

  Seneca focused on her battle and swiftly dealt with the remaining two scorpion bees, cutting them down in the blink of an eye.

  Maiol was collecting materials from the scorpion bees as her mind drifted back to the earlier battle.

  By creatively utilising her skill, Detection, she felt as though she had uncovered a new method of fighting. Though she was still aware of her inexperience, there was a distinct sense of accomplishment.

  She realised that Detection might not only be useful for scouting, but could also directly contribute to combat. A hopeful excitement stirred within her as she considered the possibilities.

  Detection was a rare skill, though it was not uncommon for higher-ranked parties to possess it. Most often, it was held by scouts. There were many skills suited to scouts, but Detection, known for its sharpness in detecting danger, was particurly valued.

  Maiol had begun her studies with the simple goal of becoming a scout, without giving it much thought. Yet, recently, she had started to question whether that path was truly right for her. The reason for this uncertainty was the presence of Seneca beside her.

  Seneca was constantly coming up with new strategies for battle. Though she frequently failed, each failure was genuine and full of effort. She would test her ideas, fail, learn from them, and press forward with unwavering determination.

  There were even ways to apply a seemingly non-combat skill like [Sewing] to battle. Given that, it seemed only natural to Maiol that there might be other creative applications for her Detection skill.

  As she reflected, Maiol pondered her own potential. Perhaps for now, Maiol should continue to support Seneca in her efforts. Maiol might fight in the front lines, covering the other vanguards, or perhaps take on a more strategic role in the mid or rear guard. The idea of staying in the back and using a bow to neutralise threats also seemed promising.

  But, truthfully, Maiol didn’t know what she was best suited for. The only way to find out was through trial and error. She couldn’t foresee what the future held, but the uncertainty made her feel an excitement she hadn’t expected. She was genuinely happy to realise how eager she was for what y ahead.

  This journey of discovery was made possible by Seneca—by the simple fact that they were rooming together in the dormitory. Watching her, Maiol felt a renewed sense of hope for the future.

  Maiol had taken another step towards a brighter future.

  ...

  Seneca, too, was deep in thought as she peeled the skin off a one-horned rabbit. Her skill in this task had become so refined that it no longer required much mental effort, freeing her mind to focus on other things.

  The [Magical Needle] attack was proving incredibly effective. The discovery that she could use [Sewing] to attack had been a breakthrough, and Seneca felt a deep sense of gratitude for that.

  However, a question lingered in her mind: was this really enough?

  Seneca didn’t aspire to be a sniper. The [Magical Needle] was merely a supplemental attack for her. Compared to true archers or mages, her use of ranged attacks was nowhere near as powerful. The true strength of a swordsman with a ranged attack was not the attack itself, but rather the unique combination of skills that made them formidable.

  Seneca was a swordswoman. She could not afford to neglect her primary focus. As she continued to train with the [Magical Needle], she felt a pressing need to find a path that truly suited her.

  To her, this felt like an immense challenge. She had finally become an adventurer after acquiring a skill, and now she could see how it could be used. Yet, it felt as though this path wasn’t quite right for her.

  There were no clear, easy paths ahead for Seneca. Unlike [Swordsmanship] or [Fire Magic], which had well-defined directions, Seneca constantly had to carve out her own way. She had to keep her eyes open and navigate the rough terrain, constantly creating new paths where none seemed to exist.

  As she dug a small hole to bury the entrails of the one-horned rabbit, Seneca’s mind began to darken with doubt. How many more times would she need to overcome this feeling before she could surpass her parents and become a true adventurer?

  “Lucius… do you think I can do this?”

  The air in the forest was so crisp and clear that Seneca’s words seemed to hang in the wind, almost as if they might reach Lucius.

  “I’m sure Lucius and Kito are trying their best too... I don’t want my weakness to reach them,” she added softly, before resuming her work.

  Seneca had noticed Maiol’s movements earlier, and she couldn’t help but think that they had been exceptionally sharp. After the battle, Maiol’s face had been stern, her eyes burning with a fierce determination.

  Seneca was certain that Maiol had gained something valuable from that experience. She had seen that look before. She had seen it in Lucius when he had resolved to surpass his parents and become a top-tier adventurer. Seneca had seen it in Kito when she had decided to study earnestly under Yulia. Both of them had carried a burning light in their eyes.

  Maiol would grow stronger.

  Seneca was sure of it.

  But if things continued as they were, Maiol, Lucius, and Kito would soon become unreachable, far ahead of her. Seneca had no choice but to keep moving forward, believing that, in time, she too would spread her wings.

  And with that thought, Seneca made a firm resolution.

  Her eyes shone with a light stronger than any she had shown before.

  ...

  Back at the dormitory, Seneca and Maiol sat down to enjoy the dinner prepared by Mint, the dorm mother. Mint possessed the [Housekeeping] skill and used it to its fullest extent. She was well-regarded among the children of the Baetica dormitory, and it was clear that Mint's cooking was of the highest standard.

  After their meal, the two of them made their way to the communal bath near the dormitory, where they rexed and warmed up. It had become a daily routine for them.

  Maiol was practicing her [Detection] skill once more. Previously, she had focused on using it to scan rge areas quickly and in detail, but now she was training to use it in smaller, sustained bursts. Her magical energy drained quickly as a result, and her control over the mana was still a work in progress.

  Seneca, meanwhile, was holding a shapeless, coyote-like stuffed creature in her arms as she tried her hand at sewing. More accurately, she was attempting to use [Magical Needle]s to sew without the use of her hands. The battle earlier had shown her that, if she infused enough mana into the needles, she could make them move remotely. If she could master this, it might prove useful in the future.

  However, unlike during combat, the needles barely moved as Seneca poured her mana into them. She continued muttering “nu-nu-nu” under her breath, her focus intense. To any onlooker, it would have looked a little unsettling.

  When Seneca gnced over at Maiol, she saw her with her eyes closed, completely absorbed in her skill practice.

  In her mind, Seneca whispered to herself, “It’ll work out... It’ll definitely work out.”

  ...

  It was time for bed. Both Maiol and Seneca were early risers, so they often went to sleep around the same time.

  After Maiol climbed into bed and switched off the light, Seneca, already lying down, spoke in the darkness.

  “Hey, Maiol… we’re only just getting started. I know we’re going to become amazing. I just know it. Everything’s going to work out, you’ll see.”

  Maiol heard her words clearly, though she wasn’t sure how to respond. It was such a sudden decration, and truth be told, she didn’t fully understand what Seneca meant. But she didn’t feel any discomfort.

  “Hey, Seneca...”

  She started to speak, but as she listened closely, she realized Seneca had already fallen asleep, her quiet breathing filling the room.

  She had said something profound, but now she was already lost to sleep.

  “Becoming amazing, huh…” Maiol thought to herself. Do I have what it takes?

  Her voice, uncertain, echoed gently in the now-dark room.