When the Water Clan requested the removal of the darkness from the <Cursed Dungeon>, Christina opposed Roon's involvement.
However, as an elder of the Light Clan, she could not turn her back on the Water Clan's elder and the entire clan.
Ultimately, the decision rested with Roon, and he accepted the request.
Though he felt apologetic towards Christina for her concern, this was a situation he was willing to embrace.
'With this, there will be no hindrance to reaching the lair where the Water Clan lives or entering the <Cursed Dungeon>. The training will be intense, but it's been a while since I've properly handled darkness. I need to keep my hands free.'
As if hearing Roon's thoughts, Christina interjected.
"There is one condition for accepting the Water Clan's request."
Roon looked at her with a puzzled expression, and she responded gently.
"To improve your skills to a level I can acknowledge. At the very least, I shouldn't have to worry about your life, right?"
'...A condition based on Christina's standards for "worrying about life."'
Given Christina's standards, the bar was quite high.
After a moment's thought, Roon accepted the condition.
"Oh, you're more calm than I expected. I thought you'd be a bit disappointed."
"It's a condition that ensures there's no worry about my life. So, it's a good method."
No guardian sends someone to a dangerous place without preparation.
While it would be difficult for Roon to immediately demonstrate the skills Christina would acknowledge, he already had a perfect excuse to ensure his safety.
"Ferdikion will go with me. You know his personality. He will definitely take care of my life, as I received the Seal of Fire from him."
Christina let out a helpless laugh at Roon's confident statement.
"Truly, you are a cunning child."
"So, you used me as a pass to the <Cursed Dungeon>?"
"Sort of. Do you not want to go?"
"Frankly, I'd rather not go, and I'd advise you to stay safe."
Ferdikion added, seeing Roon's hesitant response.
"But ignoring the Water Clan's predicament is not something a future elder should do. Besides, you would find a way to go even without me."
Ferdikion's piercing gaze and pointed words made Roon smile innocently.
"Of course, only you can do it."
"That place is somewhere I haven't been to either. Even if I went, Christina would not have allowed it immediately."
Roon groaned and shifted his position on the bed.
"There are additional conditions. As you can see, I can't go right away."
It was well past lunchtime, but he found it difficult to move from the bed.
'I'm completely exhausted.'
After the conversation with Christina, the remaining time was spent in combat training.
At first, he was knocked out with a single blow from a powerful punch, unsure if it was a lesson or revenge.
But after regaining consciousness, Roon requested additional training without giving up.
Christina was proud of Roon for not giving up despite knowing he couldn't win, but Roon had his own reasons.
The provided Light space was conducive to practicing darkness, and he needed to show Christina that his efforts were improving his skills.
'Suddenly becoming stronger would look suspicious. It's also out of personal curiosity.'
He was also curious about how much he could resist Christina's Light power.
He fidgeted to find the most comfortable position and stretched out.
Ferdikion clicked his tongue at Roon's relaxed state.
"You're reckless. Thinking about going to the <Cursed Dungeon>, an unknown territory, and believing you can beat Christina."
"…Not exactly to win, but just to try."
'Tch. This kid is surprisingly perceptive.'
Roon frowned at Ferdikion's blunt words.
He had hoped to find a clue to defeat Christina during the sparring but ended up being beaten badly.
It was the most powerful and painful back slap he had ever experienced in training.
"It still hurts. She was so merciless…"
Ferdikion clicked his tongue at Roon's muttered complaint.
"Still, she is being lenient with you. You don't know, but her nickname was once 'The Savior from Hell.'"
"She was merciless enough to push her opponents to the brink of death but saved them just when they wanted to die."
Roon agreed with the nickname, which reflected both her deadly and saving nature.
"Many must have said it would be better to die."
Ferdikion's gloomy addition made Roon feel a chill.
Roon looked at Ferdikion with sympathy, imagining he had gone through the same experience.
Do you get along with her?
Roon let his head fall back onto the pillow.
"I feel like I've come back from the dead."
"Still, with her perfect healing abilities, you'll recover with rest."
Considering the intense training to come, rest wouldn't be enough.
'Well…, at least it's a good thing I had such a lesson.'
Though the training was harsh, he could use darkness freely.
It was a rare opportunity to fight without worrying about his life, even when using his full strength.
'Each strike was fierce and heavy.'
Roon recalled the moments he regretted during the fight, savoring them one by one.
Despite his smaller, feminine body, he felt like he was hit by a heavy punch from a muscular male.
'Pity. Being young, I can't do much about the physical disadvantage.'
He knew it was greedy, but he felt disappointed.
While there were ways to overcome the physical difference, many parts were unavoidable due to the basic physical disparity.
He thought of a few ways to gain the upper hand despite the physical difference, but Christina's exceptional skills made it impossible to use them.
'Ch. Will I never be able to beat her until I become a dragon?'
Roon exhaled deeply through his nose.
At that moment, the door opened, revealing pointed fox ears and translucent pink eyes.
"Roon! Blackie is here. How are you feeling?"
Blackie, Baiye, and even Rai came to check on Roon, worried about him lying in bed without eating.
"I'm fine. Just lacking energy."
"But, you can't even eat… I'm so worried about you, Roon."
Blackie made a whining sound and approached Roon, pressing his shoulders and arms with small hands.
It seemed she was trying to give a massage, but it wouldn't help his energy recovery.
"Thank you, but I'm really fine. Just stay still and don't worry."
Rai, floating above his head and emitting a white light, also looked at Roon with doubt.
Blackie's strength was unexpectedly strong, and the areas she pressed throbbed, but Roon endured the pain and answered.
"Really. So, stop rubbing my arms."
Blackie finally let go of his arm and rummaged through her snack bag, pulling out something.
"Here, today's chocolate and apple pie. These are peanut cookies and meringue cookies. I brought them for you, Roon."
Though he had no appetite, the magical food would help with his recovery.
"Eat a lot, Roon! And get better soon."
The pure look in their eyes as they watched him sit up in bed made him feel he should show them he was eating.
Roon bit into the cookies and pie for recovery.
After finishing the pie with a crunch, Roon decided to inform Blackie, Baiye, and Ferdikion about something important.
"Soon, I'll go to Amelia's place to clear a dungeon. But…"
Roon took a breath before continuing.
"Blackie and Baiye, you can't come."
Blackie and Baiye looked at him with wide eyes, startled.
Blackie, fidgeting and perking up her fox ears, clasped her hands.
"Roon, can't you take us? I want to see Amelia."
Her ears and tail drooped, and Blackie looked dejected, fidgeting with her fingers.
"Blackie, the dungeon is different from the abandoned mine. The monsters are not easy, and it's a deep-sea dungeon where fire power will be weakened."
Blackie's black fox ears twitched as she looked at Roon, saying, "But…"
But her eyes grew more dejected with each "but," as Roon's refusal was unwavering.
Seeing her, Roon subtly hinted.
"If you really want to go, there is a way."
Blackie asked, as if a lifeline had been thrown from the sky, and Baiye also looked at Roon with sparkling eyes.
"The <Cursed Dungeon> is specialized in darkness and curses. If you can use the power of darkness properly, it should be fine."
Roon planned to teach Blackie, who mainly engaged in close combat, how to use the darkness he could control.
"However, it will require some training. Can you do it?"
Blackie's eyes lit up at the prospect of a way, and she wagged her tail excitedly.
"I can! Blackie can do it! Baiye can too! Right?"
Roon watched Blackie, who was bouncing in place and spinning with Baiye in her arms.