Jue listened carefully, and Aiena also felt the seriousness of Ryu's voice; Rafa's ears also perked up. The coldness in Ryu's voice was similar to back when he killed bandits to save Aiena,
"And there is no way I am simply accepting requests from these beings claiming to hold so much power and rewards for us meanwhile they need us to help them. The beings in the shadows surrounded by confidentiality trying to ask only one group to help, is it a joke?" Ryu took a breath as he realized this anger building up inside was not his,
'No matter where, these kinds think mortals are bound to help them at a single notice,' thought Ryu, realizing it was something originating from his existence as Mictian; Ryu couldn't hold back as he spoke,
"I won't involve our party in their mess, and a hero is already being summoned. Last, I remember it was their job to help the beings beyond humanity. Either way, nothing good comes from getting in the way of mysterious beings working in shadows."
"But big brother… it is about the world!! And Rafa big sister is strong she can help us," Jue tried to reason, but before Ryu could answer, Aiena spoke in a thoughtful voice,
"Ryu is right, Jue; for me, your and Ryu's security is more important… also Dungeon Lords are already very strong. We can't just rely on Rafa sister…." Aiena, despite being the type that couldn't move her eyes from those suffering, doesn't want her family to be prematurely involved in such a ruckus,
"You can rely on me, though," Rafa said in a low pouty voice,
[Dungeon Lord of Calm Illse: I request you to reconsider; there is a reason why the world can't know of our existence.
Dungeon Lord of Primal Frost: Ryu, I've heard about you from Camazot and knew a little of your talents, but I believe you can be stronger as you take this journey to help us!!
Dungeon Lord of Hell's Flame: Please help us; I will make sure to give you the best reward I can]
Ryu just turned around at this and spoke in a heavy voice,
"I am no hero; this party is no guardians. We have our goals and we'll focus on them."
As Ryu began walking away, Chisi tried to stop him, but what he said next made her stop instantly,
"If we don't reach Adventure Guild in time Elite paladin would be visiting here" As he shrugs,
As Fusion souls begin making their way out of the Dungeon, Jue feels remorse at the fact that he couldn't convince Ryu to change his choice, but he decides Ryu is right as he knows he is useless in front of Drake,
'I need to get stronger,' Jue thought as he vowed in his heart that he'll ask Ryu to help them again once they were strong enough; other Fusion souls were in their own thoughts.
'I can't put myself in the face of death before I get strong enough to kill that son of a b!tch!!' thought Ryu as he remembered his major goal, Aiena who walked behind them thought,
'I just wish to meet momma and him. To have a full family again.'
As they neared the place where Rafa put Arion and Geld, Ryu tried to lighten the mood as he spoke,
"Yoshhh!! Now we go and tell the adventurer guild that the Dungeon is completed. I can't imagine what kind of expression will that Elite Paladin have!!"
"Big brother, don't we need Dungeon Core to prove that?" Jue asked, confused, and Ryu answered,
"No Jue, we just need to tell them it was a permanent dungeon with a reward chest and mana crystals."
"Are we going to use the crystals from the previous dungeon?" Siena asked Ryu as she remembered how Ryu took a portion of harvested crystals; Ryu nodded as he put his hand on his belly.
"It's sad we'll have to leave instantly to not come in conflict with Elite Paladin; I wanted to eat and bathe at the Inn we paid at!!"
On the topic of bathing, Aiena also sympathized silently; Jue's mind was shifting from the earlier gloominess at the inability to help as he asked enthusiastically,
"Big brother, where will we go next?"
"I am thinking of going to Verdanita town; it has a permanent dungeon with the final reward being a skill-granting chapel."
"Really!?" Jue's eyes glittered, and he looked like a puppy about to be given a treat; he had always heard about the skill-granting chapel and wanted to visit one,
'It'll give me an uncommon skill suited to me!! that'll make me stronger!' Jue stared at Ryu's face as he walked, waiting for confirmation, and Ryu smirked as he nodded,
"Yes, that's our next location."
'He is still as easy as ever,' Ryu thought as he saw Jue's mood changing at the little thing, but then he noticed Rafa being too quiet since Dungeon,
"Are you fine, Rafa, big sister?" Ryu asked, concerned,
"am fine," Rafa replied, but her mood didn't seem to be well, and Ryu decided to ask her later in private as he patted her to ease her mood a bit temporarily,
Arion and Geld neighed as their owners returned; the journey back to the town was smooth, but Fusion Soul would never expect what waited for their return at the entrance of the town.
****
At Illusory Dungeon, Chisi patted Rei as she read through her senior's chat,
[Dungeon Lord of SouthernSeas: I can't believe that human; he turned his back on us and walked away.
Dungeon Lord of Hell's Flame: It is not his fault…. anyone would be baffled by such a challenge.
Dungeon Lord of Primal Frost: Nuri, you should ask Serpha to inform the hero already.
Dungeon Lord of Hell's Flame: Serpha sister, don't seem like before talking to her when she's training hero always turns into a sermon.
Dungeon Lord of Calm Ilse: We should have a little faith in the guy who just left
Dungeon Lord of SouthernSeas: What faith do you mean, Newbie? Didn't you see that humans left us and even insulted us by not letting us complete what we were saying?
Dungeon Lord of Primal Frost: Atla, you are being too critical. Think about it from that human's perspective.
Dungeon Lord of Calm Ilse: he sure is interesting, though; notice how even after outright denying us, he claimed he'd help any permanent dungeon he comes across.
Dungeon Lord of Hell's Flame: What do you mean by that?
Dungeon Lord of Calm Illse: I mean, that guy is willing to help, but he is not ready to take responsibility; a fair policy. I'll plant flowers and make a garden out of the land my arms reach. Even if I end up covering up a desert, it's just a matter of course.
Dungeon Lord of Primal Frost: you again said something confusing
Dungeon Lord of Hell's Flame: Are elder totems all born with such complex wisdom?
Dungeon Lord of SouthernSeas: So that's how it is? Calm Ilse, I envy you for your insight.
Dungeon Lord of Primal Frost: \(o_o)/
Dungeon Lord of Hell's Flame: \(o_o)/
Dungeon Lord of SouthernSeas: It's not that shocking for me to be envious]
Chisi, who read the whole chat, felt a smile forming on her lips as she remembered how Ryu looked, the first real person she spoke to. She stood up, closing the group chat, and began collecting the chair they used at the corner of the room,
"This will be memorabilia!!" Chisi smiled as she patted Rei, who claimed her shoulder,
"Rei, what do you think will they visit us again? Although Ryu was scary at first, he was kind too rushing back so he can save me from Paladin…. Camazot brother was worrying for nothing."
Rei's face turned to Noh as she wanted to explain to Chisi that Ryu was far from being kind and good,
'The first thing I'll do when I talk is teach you the distinction between bad and good!!' Rei thought as she prayed that Ryu won't ever visit the Dungeon again,
****
Fusion souls neared the entrance of the town and so began discussing their plans,
"I, along with Rafa big sister, will go to Adventurer's Guild to inform the completion with mana crystals," Ryu said, putting Rafa and himself in one group so he could talk to her about her mood,
"Jue and Aiena should go to the store and buy some necessities as the journey to Verdanita town is a long one" As Ryu completes forming groups, Jue speaks with confidence,
"Big brother, I already know a great shopkeeper, uncle. I'll buy everything for a fair price!!"
"Yes, yes just take care not to buy unnecessary stuff," Ryu said as he realized their action had indirectly saved this town from its demise. Now, with the demon gone, adventurers can enter the Dungeon without any issues, so the economy based around the Dungeon will recentre,
'Aren't we aweso….' Before he could've completed this thought, Rafa's troubled voice entered his ears,
"Ryu, some armored people are blocking the way!!"
As Ryu tilted his head out of the carriage window, he saw a flock of adventurers with a majestic warrior standing between them in front of the town's gate; as they slowed down the carriage, Ryu could already smell the trouble,
"Big brother, what happened?" Jue asked, confused, and Aiena also felt dread as she noticed the holy orb on the chest plate of the majestic warrior standing near the town's gate,
As the carriage halted. Ryu stepped out with Jue to deal with the trouble,
"What might be the problem Elite Paladin Sir?" Ryu asked as it was common sense that the person standing before them could only be him, but ignoring him, Paladin pointed at Rafa, who was seated on the carriage and, in a voice that seemed to fill with care, yet shallowness, spoke,
"Where were you?… Everyone is madly looking for you."
-to be continued