"...." Serina began to think her hand on her chin.
"So, what's your name?" asked Kyle having not seen this strange person covered in dirt before.
"Oh, I'm--"
"Kyle!"
Someone shouted from the other end of the hallway behind Serina and Guy.
"Yes?"
"I'm next tomorrow!"
"...Sure"
"Great"
"....So, what is it?"
"What, what?"
"Your name"
"It's--"
"I got it!" Serina declared her eyes sparkling.
"Guh."
"Oh, sorry, were you two talking about something?" asked Serina innocently, her smile that of innocent person not knowing what had happened.
"Uh....." began Kyle not knowing how to explain.
"Oh, just talking about stuff, so did you figure out the plan?"
"Oh, yeah. It's simpler than I thought"
"Nice. Can you show me?"
"Sure, uh...but..." Serina was about to head off but she turns to look at Kyle.
"What?"
"Well, I'm heading off so, will you be alright?"
"Yeah, no probs, don't get injured alright?"
"Okay, be safe Kyle"
"You too"
"I'll try to keep her safe"
"Uh, thanks"
The two headed off to the dungeon leaving Kyle watching them off with a small smile.
Once they're out of sight, Kyle's smile disappears.
(Finally, some time alone)
_____________
4th floor
"Okay, first off we should start with a plan, I will explain to you how I cornered the monster and then I will have you show me how it's done, alright?"
"Got it.
"...Great"
(Did she just smile?)
He wasn't what he did that made her smile, but he is happy that she is okay being around him.
"Okay, first off, speed"
"I'm slower"
"No problem, as long as you relentlessly chase after it then you're already progressing"
"Okay"
"Next, is the terrain, don't chase it out in the open like this, make sure to chase it when it nears rocky terrain, while fast it can't maneuver on rough terrain over there" she pointed in the distance when piles of rocks can be seen.
"Got it"
"And finally long-range attacks"
"....Wait, what?"
"? Is there a problem?"
"I thought you were going to say close range since you know...cornering it, so it would be close combat isn't it?"
"...Oh, right. Sorry, I used a bow so"
"Oh, no problem. So do you have a plan for this close combatant?"
"Yes," Serina nodded before explaining her plan to him.
_____________
"So, how did it go this time?" asked Rualan twirling around in her chair to face him.
"Horrible, but I got a plan"
"? Great, let's hear it then"
"Oh, sorry, head researcher, but I can't tell you that"
"And why is that?"
"Because I don't want to fail and have you watch it"
Rualan listened to his reasoning and processed it in her head quietly.
Watching Failed Capture Attempt: Rejected
"Are you planning on chasing after it all day long?"
"What?! No, that's impossible for me"
"Well, your words made me think so, and I did say to take your time so take your time"
She said that last part in a different tone than usual surprising him.
"No problem, by the time I take my time you will have more cages waiting...wait, actually it's more like less....just the same amount of cage--dammit(!)"
"See you tomorrow"
"Oh, yes, see you"
Rualan watches the door for a few seconds and turn back to work on her presentation.
"Oh, by the way, I might not come tomorrow since I will be training in the Main Dungeon with this classmate from another class so I might not see you tomorrow"
"Got it"
"Okay, bye"
(Well, that's disappointing) thought Rualan.
"....What did I just think about?"
She then touched her head to check if something was on it, like some attack from the captured monsters that were messing with her head or some sort of magic item left behind by Alaine that activated by itself running amok.
Nothing.
She then touched her face and noticed something strange; nothing on it except a certain change in her facial muscles.
"....?"
(I'm....frowning?)
_________________
Days later
"!!!!!!"
"OXO!!@#!$!%!"
Something is running, and something is chasing with all its might.
In the rocky terrain, the Speedy monster finds it difficult to run on the uneven and rough surface causing it to slow down by half of its usual speed to avoid crashing into the rocks.
Seeing this the chase smiled!
Diving head first toward the monster, the latter makes a quick turn to avoid capture and runs into the small gap within the rock wall where only worms and small animals can pass through.
"I will have you!!!!"
He shouted at the monster.
Giving up isn't an option.
Looking at the cracks in the rock, Guy could only shake his head in annoyance.
(That's like...the 3rd time I dove into a rock, and it did nothing!!!)
"Prepare to get crushed" taking out a hammer, Guy said so to the rock which remain quiet.
"Pfft!!!!!!!"
"...."
Turning to the right, Guy noticed a young woman laughing at him from a distance hidden behind rocks unable to hold her laughter even with her mouth covered he could tell she is half smiling and half laughing very hard at him.
"....."
"Hahahaha!"
The guy just watch her laugh at him with joy in silence while admiring the way she laugh.
(I feel happy just looking at that smiling face)