I love time travel the most!

While a panacea cannot save the dead or cure the injured, timely treatment can generally lead to a successful recovery.

And this recovery medicine, which is said to be even more powerful than a panacea, could it possibly revive someone who has just died?

Impossible, absolutely impossible.

"Hmm? Kobayashi, you don't seem happy. Are you not satisfied with this potion?"

"No, how could that be? I'm very satisfied."

Actually, I'm not entirely satisfied. After all, even if someone dies, he can use resurrection magic to bring them back to life, so this ridiculously powerful potion has significant limitations in its use.

Kobayashi put the potion in his pocket and said, "I was just wondering if the super recovery that the god Hermes mentioned was that kind of thing."

"What kind?"

“That kind.”

Xiaolin straightened her bent index finger, and even repeated it several times so that he could understand.

It's quite obvious which one they're referring to.

“Hahahahahaha!!!”

"Mr. Xiaolin..."

Hermes couldn't help but laugh, and even Asphie's eyes held a hint of reproach.

It's no wonder that Kobayashi deliberately distorted the truth; Hermes was just too unreliable and led him astray.

Furthermore, he just mentioned going to the red-light district. Considering that this male god often carries certain unspeakable drugs with him, it's understandable that unnecessary misunderstandings might arise... right?

Hermes burst into laughter, and even though it was very loud, Asphie couldn't rebuke him; Kobayashi's remarks were simply too inappropriate.

"This is bad, I'm really starting to like you more and more."

The dissolute deity seems to have said something that could lead to serious misunderstanding.

However, he wasn't the bisexual Apollo; his statement was probably mostly out of admiration.

"Although we get along well, I still feel something is off, as if something is being hidden. It's not something obvious on the surface, but something more subtle... Yes, we haven't seen through each other's true nature."

Hermes suddenly uttered something very abstract.

But whether it was because they were truly compatible or not, Kobayashi actually understood what he meant.

"I think it's probably this one."

Kobayashi extends his right hand towards Hermes and then activates his skill.

—Steal!

A sudden light appears!

After the light faded, a feather lay quietly in his palm.

It was the feather that was stuck in the brim of Hermes' hat.

"Oh oh oh oh oh oh!" Hermes exclaimed excitedly, finally realizing what was wrong.

Like him, Kobayashi also concealed his true nature.

Hermes is the messenger of the gods and the god of travel, commerce, and animal husbandry.

But don't forget, he's also a thief!

The move that Kobayashi made pleased the gods.

"Not only are you a traveler, but you also possess skills that resonate deeply with me. Indeed, I'm growing more and more fond of you!"

Hermes immediately invited, "Hey, Kobayashi, would you like to join my kin?"

"Please forgive me for refusing."

"...Huh? Why?"

"I apologize, Hermes. It's just that after spending some time with you, I saw the shadow of a certain foolish goddess, which has caused me physical discomfort."

Kobayashi's words could be described as extremely sarcastic.

The severely injured Hermes was speechless on the spot.

After a long pause, he stared blankly at his team leader, who was suppressing a laugh, and asked, "Am I being rejected?"

"Yeah, that's right."

Asphi showed no sympathy whatsoever, nodding in agreement as she had stabbed him in the back again.

Fueled by alcohol, Hermes threw a tantrum and rolled around on the ground.

"Why would you say that, Asphie? Why? Am I really that worthless, Asphie?"

"Hermes, the god of the highest realm, is truly despicable!"

Asphie grabbed the god who was trying to go mad.

Seeing that it was getting late, she was already thinking of leaving. If she stayed any longer, who knew what outrageous things her own god might do?

"Then we'll go ahead."

"Bye-Bye."

Xiao Lin waved his hand.

Asphie grabbed Hermes by the collar, scolding as she walked, "Get up, you stupid god! I'll give you a good talking to when we get back!"

"No, no! Let me go, Asphie!"

Hermes' screams echoed through the heavens.

Upon seeing this, Xiaolin silently mourned for him and expressed her sympathy.

"Sir, are you here to settle the bill?"

"Yes."

Upon receiving the bill from the waiter, Xiaolin's expression immediately froze.

The numbers above are very abnormal.

"...Don't you think this number is a bit high? Why would a glass of wine cost 1000 fares?"

"You're joking, sir. These are our normal prices."

Seeing the waiter's warm smile, Kobayashi's sympathy for Hermes vanished instantly.

You must give her a stern talking-to, Miss Asphie!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

night falls

After leaving the tavern, Kobayashi walked down the street. The night, illuminated by the magic stones, was indeed magnificent.

It's still early to go back and rest.

"In that case, why don't we go to the red-light district?"

Hermes had clearly intended to take Kobayashi to the red-light district, but Asphie's appearance disrupted their plans, leaving him alone and unsure of what to do.

Just then, he saw a familiar figure.

With short white hair and standard adventurer gear, he walked slowly down the street, his thin shoulders hunched.

His body was covered in dust, but it didn't look like he had been adventuring in a dungeon. The slight swelling on his face made it look more like he had been beaten up.

"Bell?"

"Mr. Xiaolin?"

The two people who met face to face greeted each other.

"Bell, your face?"

"Ah, this is..."

Bell then began to explain.

After leaving the Adventurers' Guild, he chatted with Sword Maiden Ais, mentioning that he had never actually received systematic training. Upon hearing this, Sword Maiden Ais offered to provide Bell with some training.

Being with the person you admire is such a wonderful thing.

Then Bell suffered the heaviest blow of his adventures.

Not only my body, but my mind is also broken.

Just like when Kobayashi first faced Ota at level 7, he was powerless against a mountain-like strongman.

It's only natural that their self-confidence was shaken.

"Mr. Kobayashi, what would you do if you encountered a formidable enemy that you could never defeat?"

Bell, wanting to get a little closer to the person he admires, asks Kobayashi for advice on how to break through the barrier.

He realized that continuing like this would only widen the distance between them.

Become stronger!

No matter what, we must become stronger!

"So, please tell me how, Mr. Kobayashi!"

"...What a completely unfounded request."

Xiaolin scratched his head.

Although it's unclear why Bale suddenly said that, his determined and eager eyes revealed that he truly wanted to change the status quo and become stronger than before.

"Then believe it."

"believe?"

"Believe in yourself. Didn't Bell ask what to do when faced with an insurmountable enemy? At that time, choose to believe in yourself. Believe that you can defeat him, believe that you can become stronger. Even if you can't defeat him now, with continuous growth, you will definitely become stronger than him!"

"Aha……"

"Specifically, it means having confidence in yourself, and strong confidence at that. Even if people say you are ignorant of your own limitations or arrogant, as long as you believe that you can do it, you definitely can."

It's not realism, but idealism, which has always been Kobayashi's way of growing up.