After all, when I first visited that world, I had been dropped back to level 1.

“Let’s head to the dragon hourglass in order to perform the limit-breaking class-ups. Anyone who meets the conditions, get ready to join us,” I stated. The power-up method provided by the gauntlets seven star weapon now allowed us to distribute skill points. Increasing the skill level for my Portal Shield had boosted the number of locations I could register and the number of people I could take through the portal with me.

“We’re here, we’re here! Little Shildina, get ready!” Sadeena shouted eagerly.

“I was ready before you were,” Shildina shot back. The killer whales were two of those who would be participating in the class-up experiment. Both of them were pretty strong, and both were already at the level 100 cap.

The reason for their high level was because, for whatever reason, the monsters in the sea awarded a substantial amount of experience.

“Raph!” said Raph-chan.

“Dafu!” said Raph-chan II. The pair of them looked pretty excited. I guess it’s about time these two got a class-up too. There were still plenty of lingering questions about Raph-chan II, but she wasn’t an enemy, and so it couldn’t hurt . . . right?

“Hold on!” Ruft ran up, chasing the Raph-chans.

“Hey, Ruft. Working hard on raising your own level?” I asked.

“Yeah. I should be level 40 pretty soon,” he replied.

“Good for you,” I complimented him. He had definitely gotten taller recently. His face looked more mature too.

“Once I reach 40, I’m going to take the Raph-chan class-up. I really can’t wait!” he exclaimed.

“Raph?” Raph-chan interjected. Oh boy. Had I gone wrong somewhere with raising this kid? Raphtalia hadn’t been happy about it, but I had ostensibly agreed to the Raph-chan class-up that Ruft had mentioned.

“Shildina, you’re going with the Shield Hero, aren’t you?” Ruft asked.

“That’s the plan,” she replied.

“Once you get your class-up, let me join you in leveling up,” he said. Shildina looked at me. If possible, I had wanted Ruft to remain young for a while longer and to grow up more gradually, but with everything that had happened recently, he likely had his own reasons for wanting this. He was also being trained in all sorts of fighting styles by all sorts of people. I couldn’t waste his desire to work hard.

I gave a nod, and Shildina confirmed it too.

“Just within a range that isn’t dangerous,” she said.

“Okay. Thank you,” he replied. The speed that Ruft was developing mentally really reminded me of Raphtalia. That was how swiftly he was making progress. No wonder he and Raphtalia were cousins.

“Dafu?” Then Ruft picked up Raph-chan II. I saw the perfect opportunity.

“Raph-chan II, you take good care of Ruft,” I told her. Raph-chan II was actually the past Heavenly Emperor. If anything happened here while we were gone, she could turn into the form of the past Heavenly Emperor and fight to protect Ruft. She was strong too, although the transformation appeared to have a time limit.