Chương 41: Lili's Conflict, and I Might Be a Little Wicked

"A sword technique!

"For an instant, it reached Lv. 3. Unbelievable." Finn's eyes widened, his mouth slightly open. A sword technique was not a Skill. It was a method of sword use a person comprehended on their own. Those who could combine Magic and swordsmanship into a unique form of attack were called magic swordsmen. It did not mean every mage who used a sword was a magic swordsman. It required Magic and swordsmanship to merge into an attack style that belonged only to that person.

This was the first time Finn had ever seen a rookie adventurer comprehend such a sword technique.

"I suddenly love that boy. When we return from the expedition, I am going to make friends with him." Tiona's eyes sparkled.

"Tch." Bete clicked his tongue coldly, clenched both fists, and silently turned to leave.

"Hey, hey, wolf boy, weren't you the one who wanted to watch? Why are you running off so fast?" Tione called after him.

"Bete took a hit to his pride. After all, that boy reached in a few days what took us years. Whether in nerve, courage, or strategy, he is first-rate." Riveria spoke calmly after a moment of silence, with a trace of motherly concern in her tone.

"Honestly, I took a bit of a hit too. A rookie adventurer is burning with that much spirit and unleashing Lv. 3 strength from Lv. 1. Meanwhile, have we started losing that fire during our expeditions? That is not acceptable." Finn shook his head with a self-mocking smile. It seemed the rookie's hot-blooded feat of soloing an entire floor had stirred something in him.

"Everyone, let us put some spirit into this expedition."

"Ohhh!" Everyone roared as if they had been given a shot of energy. Cael breathed heavily and flicked the swords in his hands. Both blades shattered into fragments, and he tossed them aside. A faint breeze still lingered in the area, but the monsters were gone. Only fist-sized Magic Stones glittered across the ground.

"Now that is a good harvest." Wait. This feeling of strength increasing... This was not a Dungeon rampage, but his Basic Abilities were still rising this fast. Was it because those thirty-plus Orcs added up to about the same Excelia as all the monsters he had killed before?

"Lili, collect the drops. Then we can leave the Dungeon. This is enough for today." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Cael crouched and picked up a Magic Stone near his feet with a smile. Lili snapped back to herself and hurried to collect the Magic Stones.

"Please leave the drops to Lili. Mr. Cael should rest properly. If more monsters arrive while Mr. Cael has no strength left, Lili will be done for." If Mr. Cael helped collect the Magic Stones too, Lili's little tricks would not work.

"All right. I will not steal the Supporter's job." Cael stretched and shook out his sore arms. He did not expose Lili's small intentions. Even if she tricked him now, it did not matter. In the future, Lili herself would be standing at his side. Come to think of it, am I becoming a little wicked? He fell into thought for a moment. Still, his starting point was good.

"The sun should be setting soon. I hope we can get back aboveground before it is completely dark."

"How does Mr. Cael know it is almost dark? The Dungeon does not tell us the time." Lili asked curiously.

"Oh, because I have this. It is called a wristwatch. A Magic item for telling time. It can measure time down to the instant and will never stop moving. In this world, there is probably only one like it." Cael lifted his wrist and touched the mechanical watch.

"If I sold it to a craftsman interested in it, it should be worth several million valis. It is the most valuable thing I own right now."

"But it has important meaning to me. Even if I were desperate for money, I would not sell it." As he spoke, a trace of nostalgia crossed his face. This was something he had brought from that world.

"A timekeeping Magic item that never stops and can measure time down to the instant?" Lili looked at the watch on Cael's wrist. Its moving hands caught her eye for a moment. A Magic item. Something as expensive as a Magic Sword, sometimes even more valuable. After all, Magic Swords had limited uses, while Magic items did not. Even the cheapest Magic items sold for over one hundred thousand valis. A timekeeping Magic item worth several million valis. One that never stopped moving.

If Lili could obtain that, she could immediately leave Soma Familia and gain her freedom. Thinking of that, Lili's ears twitched. But... Mr. Cael... She remembered how Mr. Cael had helped her twice. One of those times had been a life-saving favor. If she stole from him... Lili's eyes dimmed. Two voices appeared in her heart. Lili, if you take that Magic item, you can leave Soma Familia and become free. Lili, you cannot do that. Mr. Cael is truly a good person. He keeps helping you, and he cares about you.

Noticing the look in Lili's eyes, Cael smiled faintly. He had said all that on purpose.

"Ah, fresh air." After walking out of the Dungeon's spiral stone stairs, Cael took a deep breath.

"What is wrong, Lili? You suddenly have no energy. Are you too tired?"

"Not at all, Mr. Cael. Lili was only thinking about exchanging today's harvest for valis as soon as possible. Lili can hardly wait." Lili snapped back to herself and hid the conflict in her eyes, putting on the look of a greedy little money lover.

"Then let me buy you a drink later. Having a drink after leaving the Dungeon is practically an adventurer's rule." Cael spoke cheerfully.

"Eh? Mr. Cael is treating Lili again? Lili earned a lot by following Mr. Cael today, so let Lili pay this time. It is to thank Mr. Cael for helping Lili." Lili smiled cutely and patted her chest. Then she leaned closer and whispered mysteriously.

"Also, Lili has some wine brewed by Lord Soma. It is not Divine Wine, but it sells for a very high price. Lili worked very hard to get it."

"Soma's wine? Wow, I have to try that. Soma is the god of wine. His wine must taste amazing." Cael pretended to be surprised, looking as if he could not wait to drink it.

"I remember even the worst of that wine costs tens of thousands of valis. If Lili were not from Soma Familia, I definitely would not be willing to buy it." So she still wants to do it? Is she planning to get me drunk and steal my watch? Still, she was really investing in this. Soma's wine was extremely expensive.

"Hehe. It is nothing. Lili only wants to thank Mr. Cael for helping Lili this morning." Lili showed a cute smile. As she spoke, her head lowered and her eyes turned dim. I am sorry, Mr. Cael. Lili wants to leave Soma Familia. Lili needs money, so I am sorry. Later, Lili will apologize to you. Even if you hit me or curse me, it is fine. She knew that once she betrayed him, Mr. Cael would never treat her gently again. All that awaited her would be disgust and hatred.

She had done this kind of thing countless times before. Only this time, her heart hurt.