Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"Eh?"

Not only me but the other two guys were also confused and speechless by her question (answer).

What even made her think that way? Did she become a fool after falling in love?

"What? Did I say something wrong?" She asked, seeing our reaction.

"We will talk about it later. What about you, Ardel? You must know it, right?" I turned to Ardel with anticipation. Surely he won\'t disappoint me, right?

"Um... Is it because... I\'m not s-suited to be an as-ssassin? A-Am I too weak?" He muttered, his voice barely audible as he looked down at the floor, clearly uncomfortable.

"..." You too, bro?

I shook my head, feeling a mix of frustration and sympathy for my teammates. "No, Lila, you\'re not too powerful,(not powerful), and Ardel, you\'re not weak. Those aren\'t the issues we\'re facing."

Turning to Kairen, I prompted him to share his thoughts.

Kairen hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I... I don\'t want to hurt anyone. I know it\'s not a good reason, but... it\'s just how I feel."

Well, at last someone with good judgment, though it seems there seems to be some story behind it. Was he bullied before? From what I remember about him - he was definitely bullied, by his own relatives no less.

Or is there another reason?

It would be good if I knew, it would make it much easier to find a solution.

"True, that\'s exactly the problem you have." I straightforwardly agreed with Keiran.

"Huh? Why is that a problem?" Again, an angry voice chimed in. "He just doesn\'t want to fight, why are you saying it\'s his problem? Hmph, I can fight on his behalf if you are so desperate."

Girl, you really became a fool after seeing this guy. Your eyes, mind, and heart are blinded, for real.

"Sigh..." I massaged my temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Lila, Kairen\'s reluctance to fight is indeed a problem for our team. In combat training, we need to be able to work together efficiently, and that means everyone needs to contribute."

Lila huffed in frustration, but I continued before she could protest further.

"Ardel, your issue isn\'t that you\'re not suited to be an assassin or that you\'re too weak," I said, trying to reassure him. "It\'s your hesitation. I need you to be confident in your abilities and act decisively when the situation calls for it. You have to learn to adapt and lose that shyness of yours.

You should know what happens to a hunter fighting with a monster if he is even distracted for a moment, right? Not to mention if the hunter is \'shy\' when others are watching him when he is fighting."

"Y-You are right..." Ardel nodded, slowly lowering his head. I know it must have hurt to hear but if I don\'t say it, he is gonna stay like this who knows for how long.

"And you Lila, you aren\'t powerful. Not like this. Your control and focus were often off during the previous match. I won\'t tell you the reason why your focus kept being lost since it\'s a bit awkward but your aim isn\'t the same as the one you showed us in the first fight." I started pointing out her mistakes, trying to be as constructive as possible.

Lila\'s expression became awkward, her previous defensiveness giving way to a more introspective look. "I... I see. I\'ll work on it," she muttered, her gaze shifting to the floor. "But, you don\'t have to be this rude, you know..."

Now you are acting as if I am bullying you!

Urgh... Should I switch teams?

Nah, what did I promise back that day? My will isn\'t that weak.

"Ok, now we have sorted out your problems, you can tell mine as well," I told them. "I am open for criticisms as long as they are correct and reasonable."

Lila\'s expression shifted from introspective to slightly vindictive. "Well, if you want criticism, how about this? You\'re too cold and emotionless. You act like you\'re better than everyone else and you\'re always trying to control everything. Maybe if you were a bit more human, people would actually want to be around you."

I raised an eyebrow, not surprised by her response but slightly amused. "That\'s a fair point, Lila, I\'m trying to work on that," I replied calmly while wondering if she didn\'t consider what she was saying. "But keep in mind that being a leader requires making tough decisions and sometimes appearing detached. It doesn\'t mean I\'m emotionless, just that I prioritize the bigger picture and the result."

She scoffed but didn\'t argue further, seeming satisfied with her attempt to put me in my place.

"Ardel, what about you?" I prompted, turning to him.

Ardel hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "I-I think... sometimes you\'re too focused on strategy and t-tactics. You forget that we\'re still learning and that mistakes are part of the process. It makes you come off as a bit... unapproachable.

B-But, you are still good and powerful!"

I nodded, acknowledging his observation, but the last part was unnecessary. "That may be right as well, Ardel. Then, I\'ll also work on being more approachable and understanding, especially when it comes to learning and improving together as a team."

Like what I am doing now? Am I doing things wrong?

"You have anything to say?"

Then I turned to Kairen, waiting for his input.

"I haven\'t noticed any problems with you, Adrian, aside from Ardel\'s thoughts," Kairen said sincerely. "Actually, I think you\'re doing a great job. You\'re observative and understanding, and you always try to find solutions to our problems."

Finally, someone understood my intentions.

"But, sometimes I feel like... you are restricting yourself." He muttered, his ears twitching slightly. "Ah, I don\'t mean to offend, that\'s just a feeling on my part."

"No offense taken," I said. "Maybe you guys are right. Nobody is perfect after all."

"But, we can still try to fix these shortcomings and improve, right?"

"Then, why don\'t we help each other while practicing? Has anyone any objections?"

"I-I don\'t." (Ardel)

"Me neither." (Kairen)

"Hmph. Though I agree, I still think I don\'t have a problem."

I smiled slightly. At least I achieved my purpose for today.