“This really is strange…..Sensei….are you really the Gate Keeper of this floor?” Crayford asked as he stared at the half-bred woman in front of them. The party would have failed to recognize her as a half bred had it not been for the goblin who informed them.

“Of course I am the Gate Keeper!” Sora cried out loudly! “I specifically made a contract with the Floor  Master….”

“Contract with who?” Crayford asked curiously.

Sora paused for a moment and thoughtfully repeated himself. “Floor Master?”

Crayford’s expression hardened for a second before he drew up a blank face. “This is my first time hearing of a floor master….I wonder….if it is true….” Crayford mumbled, making him inaudible to Sora.

“What is true?” Claire asked as she caught his words.

Crayford kept quiet as he stood in deep thought, “There were some legends with regards to the origin of dungeons….but after my many years of research all I know for sure is that your world did not originally have dungeons.”

Claire was stunned at the revelation. How can that be? Dungeons have existed for countless years….

“Even I am not too certain about this….but maybe we will get some concrete when we meet the Floor Master…for now don’t tell others about it….” Crayford whispered back.

Claire nodded in agreement – this kind of theory was too crazy. Although none of the familiars here would care about the origin of Dungeons or mention it. However, the same could not be said about Sora. Although on the surface it appeared that Crayford and Sora had a wonderful relationship,  Claire discovered that Crayford was still a bit distrusting towards Sora. More specifically, Crayford was using Sora with whatever means necessary – even if it meant cajoling the skeleton warrior.

“Okay! Break it up, you two lover birds!” Sora cried out as he inserted himself between the two.

Before Crayford could say anything, the woman in front of them opened her eyes and spoke. “Everyone but the skeleton can go….”

All eyes were on Sora once again.

“Sensei, are you absolutely sure, you have never met this woman?” Crayford asked with a childish suspicion.

“I am absolutely sure.”

“Are you absolutely absolutely certain?”

“I am absolutely certain. A beauty such as her would be impossible to forget.” Sora continued to lie through his teeth.

Crayford nodded in agreement. “I can see what you mean…..then there is only one explanation, Sensei.”

“What?”

“Love at first sight….” Crayford earnestly answered.

Claire and the other familiars could be heard face palming themselves.

“Love at first sight?” Sora was baffled.

“Sensei, if the two of you have never met before….and she only requests you to stay behind….isn’t this plot too similar to ‘There was a cute girl in the Hero’s Party and so I tried to propose’…and in this case we are the Hero’s party and Sensei is the cute gir…..”

*Uffff*

Crayford began rubbing the top of his head in pain after receiving the a fist from Sora.

“Reflect! Reflect on your words, useless idiot!” Sora snapped as he felt an imaginary vein or two pop.

“Everyone but the skeleton can go….” The woman repeated herself. Was it the flame lighting in the chambers or the heat – but the woman’s face appeared a shade redder than before.

“So it is like this….” Sora muttered. “No matter what, you wish to fight me?” Sora asked.

The woman nodded her head.

Sora took a deep breath. “Foolish woman! Did you think you can fight the main boss directly? You are not even worthy of reaching my feet! First you have to defeat my minions!”

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Sora’s declaration left everyone stunned. The goblins unconsciously took a step back.

“Crayford!” Sora called out.

“Yes, Sensei?”

“Ask your disciples to defeat this woman in my stead!”

“Eh?”

“Training! Didn’t you want me to handle their training?” Sora asked.

“No that was you one-sidedly wanting to train them….” Crayford murmured.

“Same thing! Same thing!” Sora replied as he patted the dazed Crayford’s back. “In the end it is the ends that justify the means!”

The two continued their banter with no care in the world despite the situation, as their 'enemy' patiently waited for them.

“Now then!” Sora turned to the disciples. “To begin your special hell’s training…I mean special advanced training! You must defeat the monster in this room with your right hand behind your back. Also you are permitted to use no more than 5% of your full strength.”

Master save us!! – The four disciples wore worried expressions across their faces. If Crayford’s stories were anything to go by, this was going to end very badly for the four disciples. Having seen the goblin’s emotionless doll-like-responses, the disciples were now absolutely terrified of Sora!

How is that Mizuki! Without lifting a finger I will overcome this obstacle you have placed in front of me! Sora thought to himself with a pleased smile.

Seeing the smirking Sora, Crayford couldn’t help but be reminded of his teacher’s lazy attitude – always push the work on to someone else. However, he was not going to stand by idly and watch his disciples get decimated by one of Sora’s pointless exercises. “Sensei! I don’t even think what you are asking them is practical….”

“Shush! What is practical, possible or probable is up to me to decide. If they can’t even defeat an enemy of this level with these restrictions then you might as well give up on defeating the Empire.” Sora snapped back.

Crayford no longer protested after hearing that. Defeating the Empire was like turning the impossible into the possible. By simply relying on the same ’practical’ and ‘traditional’ methods of training, his party had becoming a force to reckon with.

“Is that your final reply?” The woman blocking their path asked.

“Don’t take these disciples of mine lightly.” Sora warned her. “If you become careless, you might as well forget about the revenge you want to take against me.”

Revenge?

“Sensei, I thought you didn’t know this woman.”

“I don’t.”

“But just now you said revenge….”

“You must be hearing things…”

“I knew you were a weak monster….that last fight was a fluke wasn’t it? That is why you have resorted to taking the aid of others!” The woman spoke out in frustration as she realized Sora was being unfair - she was hoping to provoke him.

“Whether it was a fluke or not will be clarified if you have the strength to reach me!” Sora shot back to her.

“Sensei…what last fight is she talking about? You are sure you have never met her before?”

“Never met her before….I am just going with the flow….” Sora replied back confidently.

“Are you really going with the flow? It doesn't seem like that to me…”

“What! Are you questioning my acting skills here?” Sora asked as though he were enraged.

“Um….No….Sensei…it is  not that I don’t doubt your acting skills…but remember in Royal Road…the time you tried passing off as a flat chested woman…” *UFFFF*

“Forget that memory…mention it again and you will die a painfully quick death.” Sora spoke coldly as his eye burned bright red.