"What? Infested with bandits?" Gil's shock was evident; he hadn't anticipated such a turn of events when he heard it for the first time. The village or it could be said the region, which had been safe in the game, had now inexplicably fallen prey to bandit infestation.
Gil's anxiety surged briefly, but upon reflection, he discerned the likely reason behind it. The situation had arisen because he had ventured ahead of the timeline when Sid and the others would typically explore the dungeon.
'Damn, should I postpone it?' The thought sprang forth from his mind, driven by the awareness that the bandits in this realm operated with brutal ruthlessness. If he were to fall into their clutches, the grim options of either slavery or death awaited him. His current strength left him ill-prepared to confront a marauding band.
Anderson interjected reassuringly, "If we are careful enough, we should be fine. However, if your concerns still linger, I happen to have some contacts among the guards there. They could provide us with an escort to the village, naturally, at an additional cost."
Monetary concerns held little sway over Gil, prompting him to accept Anderson's proposition readily. Their journey continued, culminating in their arrival at Galantha village five days later, accompanied by a group of local guards as escorts.
Upon their arrival, Anderson instructed Lack to approach the village chief for lodging arrangements. At the same time, he planned to scout around the dungeon alongside Elise.
Gil inquired, "Wait, what I'm going to do then?"
"Well, you can sit tight here and wait for one of us to return." Answered Anderson.
Gil pondered for a moment before asking. "Can I just go with you?"
"No, no, please. If anything happens to you, we will get into trouble." Anderson said with a smile.
Gil knew what Anderson said was bullshit. But then again, he was treated extremely nicely during the trip. Probably because of his perception of money that he didn't care about.
"Fine, but don't take too long, please." Gil reluctantly agreed.
And then Anderson went with Elise, leaving Gil behind.
***
At the entrance of the dungeon, Anderson and Elise stood gazing upon it. The dungeon's entrance, a blend of marble and stone, seemed grand and weathered as vines and weeds enshrouded its features.
"It looks abandoned," Anderson remarked, a tinge of disappointment in his voice.
Elise nodded in agreement, her eyes surveying the scene. "Indeed, it appears that way."
Expressing his vexation, Anderson raked his hand through his hair. "Honestly, first dealing with a kid and now a bust. Talk about rotten luck."
In a gesture of surrender, he sighed. "Honestly, Miss Elise, if you're not joining us, this quest really will be boring."
The unexpected mention of her name brought a glimmer of surprise to Elise's expression. "Mhmm, is that so? I think it's the same with you, Mr. Anderson. Your tale was quite amusing to listen to along the trip." She said with a smile.
Throughout their travels from the capital city, Anderson had regaled her with tales of his adventurous experiences, an attempt to stave off boredom.
"Well, you are the only one to listen, though." Anderson conceded, a hint of amusement in his voice. "That brat didn't even care, and Lack sometime stopped me from telling you until the end."
Gil exhibited a consistent disinterest, either entirely apathetic or promptly succumbing to sleep whenever Anderson began his storytelling. On the other hand, Lack was willing to listen. Yet, he occasionally interjected to halt Anderson, particularly when the story veered into territories where Lack was directly involved due to embarrassment.
"Then I hope you didn't stop telling me your story, Mr. Anderson. Cause I find it quite intriguing." Elise expressed earnestly.
"Absolutely, anything for you, milady," Anderson replied, a warm smile gracing his features. "Speaking of which, can I call you just Elise? Since, you know, we will get stuck together for a while. In exchange, you can call me Andy."
"Sure, if you're fine with it," Elise replied, also taking a moment to survey their surroundings. She then suggested. "Shall we go back? I think we got nothing to do again in here."
However, Anderson interrupted her train of thought. "Huh? Why, though? You want to get back to that boring guy and brat" he inquired as he also slowly approached her.
Anderson locked his eyes on Elise. His hand ascended to her upper arm in a deliberate, languid motion. "How about spending a while longer right here with me?" he suggested his touch a gentle caress.
Elise was a bit surprised, yet she didn't rebuff it. Instead, a seductive smile danced across her lips as she replied, "Why don't you say from the start, handsome."
A wide, pleased grin spread across Anderson's countenance as his eyes remained intently fixed on Elise. And they decided to stay for a little longer.
***
Meanwhile, Gil was listening to Lack's story about his experience in adventures. He had always yearned the experience firsthand the tales spun by a seasoned adventurer, akin to the stories woven in fantasy realms. The opportunity had presented itself earlier when Anderson shared his story during their trip. But he forgot that traveling in a fantasy world setting was horrendous. Whenever Anderson began storytelling, Gil encountered a string of predicaments – his ability to concentrate wavered because of the road, or weariness would wash over him upon reaching an inn.
"On that day, I swore to pay Ms. Elise a hundredfold." Lack recounted earnestly.
Gil's attention was rapt as he absorbed Lack's words. The current topic was Lack's initial encounter with Elise, the mage. Lack's tale revolved around his participation in a huge dungeon raid, a massive undertaking targeting a nest of goblins that had unleashed terror across the surrounding expanse. At that time, Lack's primary objective was to ascend to C-rank status, fueling his motivation to join the mission.
On the day of the raid, the reality far exceeded Lack's expectations, as the goblins were formidably resilient opponents. The skirmish exacted a heavy toll, resulting in injuries and casualties among his comrades. This situation plunged Lack into a profound state of desolation, his sense of failure stemming from an inability to fulfill his role as the team's protective tank.
However, amidst the depths of despair, divine intervention shone through. Suddenly, a mage named Elise came. She cleared the encroaching goblins with a swift and powerful display of magic. Though the mage didn't come alone, her presence left a mark on those she saved, none more so than Lack himself.
"I see. I understand your feeling." Gil acknowledged, his voice carrying an empathetic tone. "Basically, to get a second life. Not everyone is lucky like you."
"Yes, precisely. I was incredibly fortunate on that day. That's why I also want to protect everyone so no one won't die. I train hard every day to increase my strength after that day." Lack replied earnestly.
"I see." Gil nodded. Then he asked the most crucial question. "Then can I ask what's your feeling toward her? Cause I can see you like her."
Lack's cheeks flushed slightly. "W-what? No, how can I have a romantic feeling for my savior? There is no way I can have that."
"Huh? How so?"
"That... I don't know. It just feels wrong."
Gil was twitching his eyebrow upon hearing that. "So, you are fine if someone got close to her?"
Lack stammered, "I-I mean, that's her decision about her personal life."
Gil pressed further, his tone probing. "Why it can't be you, then?"
Lack's expression tightened. "I told you, it feels wrong for me to think that way. Why are you even asking this? Please drop it."
Gil couldn't believe there was someone like Lack existed. Nevertheless, he let out a sigh and opted to set aside his thoughts. After all, why did he involve himself in the affairs of a stranger?
Then the two of them resume their wait, awaiting the return of Anderson and Elise. As time dragged on, Gil's impatience grew more palpable.
'Why they took so long?' he mused.