The next day, Maiol set off towards the royal capital's forest, accompanied by Gaia and Prautia. There were matters to discuss, matters that required secrecy.

  With Maiol around, most people could be detected easily, so speaking in the forest was the safest option.

  Seneca, on the other hand, seemed to have much on her mind still and was likely wandering the capital again today. Maiol specuted that, perhaps, she was nearing the point where she might seek advice from someone like Kito.

  After walking for some time, with no sign of anyone nearby, Maiol began the conversation.

  "I apologise for suddenly dragging you out here. There’s something I really need to discuss in secret."

  "I don't mind," Gaia replied calmly, her usual composure evident.

  "Ah! Please don’t apologise!" Prautia excimed, flustered as always.

  "But, you know, we just heard about the Saint not too long ago, right? Is there something more secretive than that?"

  Gaia braced herself, wondering if Maiol was about to reveal yet another shocking truth.

  "It’s a secret, yes, but it’s not about the Church or politics. It’s more about effective training methods," Maiol expined.

  "Ah, I see," Gaia responded, relief evident in her voice.

  "Thank goodness," Prautia added, exhaling deeply as they both rexed a little.

  "I’ve already mentioned that Seneca is at Level 3, but don’t you think that’s incredibly fast?" Maiol asked, her tone turning serious.

  Both nodded gravely. To reach Level 3 in just two years was undeniably unusual, though they hadn’t dared ask too many questions.

  "I, too, reached Level 2 in a remarkably short time," Maiol continued. "When you consider the types of skills involved, it becomes even stranger. Thanks to that, I’ve been belled a 'genius', but there’s a secret behind it."

  "A... secret?" Prautia gasped, a trace of suspense in her voice.

  "Yes. The secret to why we’ve levelled up so quickly. It’s—"

  "Wait! Could it be you’re about to tell us the secret to levelling up? If such a method exists, it would shake the very foundations of the world! I’m desperate to know! But if I learn it, I don’t think I can offer anything in return…" Prautia interrupted, her voice growing louder as her excitement overtook her.

  Maiol chuckled and nodded.

  "Yes, as Prautia says, if this is true, it would be world-changing. But... we’ve only tested it with three people, so it’s still uncertain. There’s also risk involved."

  Gaia and Prautia listened attentively, each clearly weighing the seriousness of Maiol’s words.

  "I’m telling you this because I want your honest opinions and for you to be part of this discussion. You don’t need to try it yourself. The matter of skills and levelling is a lifelong one, after all."

  After a moment’s pause for consideration, Prautia and Gaia spoke.

  "Alright. Even though I’m not sure it’s enough, I’m willing to listen," Gaia said.

  "I’ll listen to what you have to say, Maiol, and then decide," Prautia added.

  With a firm nod, Maiol continued.

  "I’ll get straight to the point. First of all, I believe that repetitive training has very little effect on levelling up. The key lies in quality. It’s been described as accumuting high-level proficiency, but I think the most important thing is to accumute as much of that as possible, by any means necessary. If we manage to accumute high-quality proficiency—proficiency that could only be gained at a higher level—the level-up could happen instantly."

  "...That’s our secret."

  Gaia and Prautia, ever attentive, listened with all their focus.

  "Instantly? You mean... the level-up happens that quickly?" Gaia asked.

  "Yes. Prautia, when Seneca reached Level 2, her level-up was so sudden that it could only be described as instant. This was before she met me," Maiol expined.

  "Wait, what? You and Seneca met before she was eleven, didn’t you?" Prautia excimed, surprised.

  "Yes, that’s right. Seneca’s level-up occurred just two months after she acquired her skills," Maiol confirmed.

  "Wait—WHAT?!" Prautia gasped.

  "Seneca reached Level 2 in just two months, and then, a little over a year ter, she reached Level 3. Seneca is the genius among all geniuses, and I'm nowhere near her might" Maiol said, her voice tinged with admiration.

  Prautia opened her mouth as if to say, 'But you’re amazing too, Maiol,' but seeing the sincere, somewhat mencholic expression on Maiol’s face, she hesitated.

  "Everyone misunderstands. I’m only here because I happened to meet Seneca. If not for that, I’d probably still be in Baetica, doing some scouting work, living my life without much direction."

  "But didn’t you have a dream of defeating a dragon?" Gaia asked, her voice firm with curiosity.

  "Of course I did. I wanted to become a Copper-ranked adventurer, get into a special training programme, and one day become a distinguished adventurer. I left home with that in mind. I worked hard, too. But the truth is, I was lost. I had a dream, but I didn’t know how to make it happen.

  Then Seneca appeared before me. After hearing what she had to say, I desperately tried to learn something—anything. And it just so happened that things went well."

  Maiol, usually so full of energy and bright cheer, appeared momentarily fragile, her voice soft as she reyed her past.

  Neither Gaia nor Prautia knew what to say.

  "Because of Seneca, I can still hold on to my dream. I know I shouldn’t keep dwelling on the past, but I’ve decided that one day, I’ll be able to help Seneca in return.

  But, on my own, I’m moving far too slowly. At this rate, Seneca will grow stronger and stronger, and I won’t be able to keep up.

  That’s why... Gaia, Prautia, I need your help. You’ve both entered the Royal Adventurer’s Academy on your own merits, and now you’re trying to harness that talent.

  You two are true geniuses, not like me, a hollow idol.

  I want to move forward, and I want to do it with your strength, your guidance."

  "I understand!" Prautia excimed, surprising both Maiol and Gaia as she took her hand.

  "I always thought you were like a machine, pushing yourself to the limit every day, Maiol, but now I understand that you have such feelings. I don’t know what I truly want to do yet, but I’ll do my best to help everyone until I figure it out."

  "Thank you, Prautia."

  Maiol hugged her tightly, her gratitude evident.

  Gaia, looking on, then spoke up.

  "I’m not a genius like you say, Maiol. But we all want to get stronger, don’t we? You say this skill experiment might not be reliable, but that’s what being an adventurer is all about—putting ourselves in uncertain situations and growing stronger through them.

  Maiol, Prautia, Seneca... we’re all on the same side."

  Gaia wrapped her arms around them both, pulling them into a group hug.

  Tears welled in Maiol’s eyes, and Prautia, seeing this, couldn’t help but tear up as well. Even Gaia, her heart warmed by the moment, felt her eyes mist up.

  "Thank you, Gaia. But I truly think you’re a genius, just as much as Seneca."

  "I think so too," Prautia added.

  Maiol and Prautia smiled at each other, their words light yet sincere.

  "Is that so? I really don’t think I’m one at all," Gaia replied with a slight chuckle.

  "That’s what being a genius is like," Maiol said, and Prautia couldn’t help but giggle.

  "What’s so funny, Prautia?" Maiol asked, curious.

  "It’s just that... with the way you say it, it’s almost like you think geniuses don’t realise they’re geniuses. And yet, even you might be a genius without realising it."

  Maiol paused for a moment, then ughed.

  "Maybe you’re right."

  "Exactly," Prautia replied, grinning.

  "Anyway, just say you’re a genius, and suddenly you’ll feel like you can do anything," she added with a wink.

  "That might be true," Maiol agreed with a pyful grin.

  A moment ter, she used her skills to fsh a mischievous smile.

  "Right, Seneca?"

  At that moment, a figure came rushing towards them from the woods, tackling the three of them with a forceful hug.

  "Hey, what are you all up to?!" Seneca’s voice rang out, her tone a mixture of irritation and longing as she nuzzled against their heads.

  "Ah, youth!" Maiol said, almost shyly, but her face was filled with satisfaction.

  And so, with Seneca now among them, the four of them—Moonlight Vow—spent the rest of the day ughing and pying in the forest as the sun began to set.