111 Chapter 107 Near Selection

As I watched the other mages fight, I felt some steps walking towards me, and considering how isolated I was from the others, these footsteps were meant to be for me.

I looked up to see the familiar Marissa, though her hair color is different now, maybe she had a makeover, I don't know, it's red now, kinda suits her, to be honest.

"H-hey!"

"Hi, how can I help you?" I asked.

"N-no, I just wanted to thank you for your help, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to join the magic knight's exams," She gave a bow, its not much considering I have already parted ways with them.

"It's nothing, so did you pass the test," I asked, pushing away the matter regarding her debts or whatever she thought about it.

"Um yeah! I did, though I wasn't as good as you," She said as she awkwardly ruffled her hair.

"Hmm, where are the other kids, I don't see them anywhere," I asked. I had an impression of some of them, and although they weren't good enough, they shouldn't have left.

"Sigh..about that, after the little hell, they went through in the forest and on the way here..they have decided it's best they stay in town and look for a job," she answered sadly, she sounded really depressed, I guess that's a given since she was with them all her life.

Seeing them give up must have put a dent in her will as well, no matter how small.

"I have a request!" she asked as I was mulling over the matter bringing me back to the present

"Yeah?" I asked as I drew circles on the ground, I don't have much to do for now except for the trials to end.

"Can you teach me to be strong?" the girl again bowed, and this one was a full 90 degrees now, fortunately, there was no cliche scene of a wardrobe malfunction so I wasn't flustered in the least.

"In the forest, when I couldn't save Rowan, my father, I realized that I was so weak, how can I be a magic knight if I don't even have the guts to go against a few magic knights," she continued as she closed her eyes, afraid she might let a few tears spill ad she closed her trembling fists,

"tell me how to be strong, father said you are very strong, much stronger than some second-class and maybe as strong as a first-class magic knight," She requested.

...

"And why should I tell you?"

"Huh!"

"Why should I tell a stranger one of my most well-kept secrets, even if there was any, to begin with," I asked with a smile,

"U-umm,"

"Exactly, no one is going to tell you how to be strong, at least not completely, they will mostly tell half lies and half-truths," I continued as I watched her face darken, she hadn't thought about this well enough.

"It's better to forge your own path, or to stay a weakling forever, only the unique ones become recognized, while the commoners become stepping stones for those of the noble lineage,"

I told her as I pointed towards the battlefield, where a certain cliche noble was busy dealing with a backwater country bumpkin.

"No matter what it takes, you have to believe in what you do, that you will give your all to become strong," I told her.

Although I had the help of the system, I believe even without it, I would have made something of myself, no matter how small, for the system want the one that gave me the courage to travel into the dark dungeons of danmachu with nothing and come out stronger.

It was just a helping tool for me, though I am ashamed to say I would not have been here if it weren't for this tool.

"Only then will you have taken the first step," I replied as I stood up, I don't have much to say, as I was in no position to teach someone right now.

I feel like I still haven't become stronger enough to face those reincarnated bastards that want to take over my dear brother's body.

"What's your half-truth?" as I was walking away, Marissa asked me.

"Hmm, mine is...experience danger, go through despair, learn to accept it, and then take care of it, that's it," I didn't wait for her to say anything else as I disappeared.

The battles are about to end anyways.

I didn't tell her any lies, just that they were not complete facts.

....

I was wrong...I was so wrong...

It took ages for the matches to be over, it was about to be evening and I was really hungry, so I took out some food, and guess what, the little squeak found me again.

I don't know how, but it seems she is trying to latch on to me, I have already tried to run away three times, but the field isn't that, big to be honest and she keeps finding me.

Though I have no reason to use haze as she is just observing me and doing nothing, so I am also ignoring her as I eat my third wyvern sandwich.

Although it irks me now that I see her noting down my every move with a notepad like I am some study subject.

'Sigh...forget it, it's not like we will be meeting often, and if she does trouble me too much, I am not above giving a few fists of love, GENDER EQUALITY ALL THE WAYYY.'

"Alright folks, the moment you have all been waiting for, it's time for the captains to choose."

'Finally, lets get this over with.'

————————

Hey guys, hope you enjoyed the chapter, you can get advanced chapters on my patreoon Link:- https://www.patreeon.com/novagenofficial remove. e from link A/N:- I love you guys <3