"Alright, now tell me why that adventurer was chasing you."
As they descended deeper into the Dungeon, the number of people around them thinned. After several floors, Arthas turned to the quiet girl walking behind him.
"…"
Lilly remained silent.
"I'm sorry."
"You should apologize to the adventurer, not me."
Arthas stopped, turning to the small adventurer.
"You stole from him, right?"
"Ho… how did you know?"
Lilly was startled; she didn't know how he'd found out.
"It's written all over your face."
Arthas chuckled, continuing onward.
"Since you know… why did you help me? I'm a bad person…"
"That guy was annoying; him getting robbed was his fault." Arthas said lazily, hands behind his head.
"As for why I helped… maybe I'm bad too? More importantly, I got a free support member for three days."
"Mr. Arthas… you're cunning. I'm only your support member; no other services."
"Don't worry, I'm not interested in you. I have someone I like."
Glancing at Lilly, Arthas scoffed.
"Of course, Mr. Arthas likes someone like Riveria-sama."
"You know me?"
Arthas paused, intrigued.
"Yes, Mr. Arthas's public confession spread throughout Orario."
"Ah…"
Arthas stroked his chin; the Gods probably knew about him.
They probably just laughed it off; he was an unknown Level 1 adventurer.
They'd probably just laugh at my foolish ambition. They never imagined I'd…
Wait… that's insulting.
Arthas shook his head.
"Let's go, Lilly. We'll check the tenth floor."
"Eh?! Bait for Mr. Arthas on the tenth floor?!"
Lilly was shocked; Arthas rolled his eyes.
"I'm not using you as bait! I always save you."
"You're using me as bait!"
"I'm not! You need to understand my strange situation!"
They bickered like a close couple, but their pace didn't slow.
Close… Mr. Arthas is stingy and annoying, and uses me as bait. But my feelings are changing.
I thought adventurers were bad… they are selfish; he's no exception.
He's making me work for free for three days. And doing dangerous work. How annoying.
"Where's your sword?"
Lily noticed the absence of Arthas's greatsword.
"Oh, it was stolen by your replacement."
Arthas feigned despair.
"Stolen?! Are you an idiot?! Someone stole that huge sword?! That was my target! You let them steal it?!"
"Don't worry, I have something better. I'm a mage."
Arthas tossed the fire poker to Lilly.
"This… looks like a fireplace poker."
Lilly sighed.
"It's not! It cost one million! It's a staff!"
"One million?!"
Lilly shrieked; Arthas puffed out his chest. He wasn't exaggerating; the price was lower than the actual cost.
The staff itself aside, the casing crafted by Hephaestus was worth at least ten million.
This is a huge debt. Arthas regretted showing off.
But I have to follow through!
"You know you're being scammed… that pained expression."
Lilly muttered, returning the poker.
"Let's get to work."
Arthas said; Lilly's face fell.
"Mr. Arthas is cruel! Making me bait!"
"I'll be nearby. You won't die."
"That's not reassuring!"
Lilly reluctantly walked towards the deeper parts of the maze.
Why… this strange feeling?
Walking alone in the fog, she wondered.
I won't die, she believed. It's funny; this is the tenth floor; many adventurers have died here.
But she felt no fear; he would protect her.
Maybe… this is trust?
Trust?
A funny word…
A monster roared—a half-orc wielding a large club. As it swung, a thin ice spike pierced its heart from the fog.
"Good. The hunt begins."
Arthas emerged from the fog, a reassuring smile on his face.
It's funny… but this isn't bad.
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