"...."
Eli stared at the mysterious silhouette of a dark purple-haired figure with enchanting blood-red eyes and a mouth that was dripping with...black blood?
"Mr. Asher Eli?" a small, indifferent voice echoed in the area.
Arlyne, who had heard the voice, was about to scream, but Eli quickly silenced her.
"KYYA---"
"Quiet down" Eli snapped at her.
"OUCH"
"AA!" Oliver shouted and glared at Eli for his inappropriate behaviour.
Eli ignored the commotion and pointed his flashlight at the purple figure.
Pointed his flashlight at the purple figure and asked,
"Are you fine, Ms. Rize?" He asked.
"Huh?...Hmmm...Yes" The purple figure confird and approached Eli.
Rize's dress was not just tattered but also stained with black blood.
If others didn't know she was Rize, they might have mistaken her for one of the Funamia, the black humanoid monsters that inhabited the dungeon.
'Purple?' Eli couldn't help but notice that Rize's eye, which had seed to shine with a bright red glint earlier, had returned to its original purple hue.
He was about to approach her but,
"W-Wait, Mr. Asher Eli" Rize suddenly backed off.
"What?" Eli asked with a confused expression.
She then closed her eyes, covered her mouth slightly, and...
'burp'
She burped and then moved towards Eli as if nothing had happened.
As she ca near them, a strange stench flared up, causing everyone to wrinkle their noses.
'sniff'
"rrugghh"
They made disgusted faces and covered their noses.
Seeing their reactions, Rize stopped in her tracks and glanced at everyone before apologizing,
"I am sorry" and then turned around.
Eli looked at the scene with a puzzled expression, not quite understanding the reason behind Rize's sudden apology.
"Ms. Rize?" he asked, curious about her actions.
"Yes?" Rize replied but didn't turn back to face him.
"....Why did you apologize?"
Hearing that, Rize turned around surprised expression and saw a genuinely confused Eli's face.
"Are you for real?" Soone suddenly chid in.
Eli glanced at 'Pretty boy' and asked, "What do you an?"
Theo remained silent. He couldn't help but think, 'Doesn't he know who she is?'
Oliver then chid in, "Asher, can't you sll this?"
Seeing Oliver's peculiar hand motions, Eli finally caught on.
'sniff, sniff'
"Oh... I see" Eli said as he glanced at Rize and then turned to Oliver's team, stating, "Thank you for your help and... here" as he handed another flashlight to Oliver.
With that, he jogged toward Rize, leaving the others with dumbfounded expressions.
The group didn't know what to say.....What words could they offer to soone who had just saved one of their mbers?
"..." Oliver couldn't help but feel a tad betrayed, thinking, 'Once a woman enters the picture, friendship becos nothing but a burden'.
If Eli were to hear his thoughts, he'd likely retort, 'Since when did we beco friends?'
Theo sighed in relief, thankful that Eli had left them to their own devices.
He thought, 'Just contemplating what he will do with Chola's Saintesses gave a headache...Finally, he's gone'.
Kyra and Kira remained silent but exchanged a knowing look as they observed Rize and shook their heads.
Arlyne, who had finally cald down, realized she had been hit by a complete stranger. Even her brother wouldn't have acted so rudely.
Still, she quelled her fury, thinking, 'Hmph, I'll overlook your rudeness since you helped my brother'.
"...Let's follow them" Oliver muttered in a low voice with a wicked smile.
His team mbers glanced at him strangely as they continued discussing his weird actions.
....
Eli stood before Rize, who looked at him indifferently.
"What are you doing?" Rize asked, her tone puzzled.
"Well, I thought it would be better to have soone I am familiar with, so..." Eli awkwardly scratched his head.
"Is that so? What about your team?" Rize inquired, her doubt evident.
"...Well, Eliminated"
Hearing this, Rize raised her eyebrows, her curiosity piqued, "Even Princess Zera?"
"....Yes" Eli nodded solemnly
"I see...Well, if you want we can work together" Rize nodded in understanding.
"Okay" Eli agreed, and they continued walking together.
It was then Noticing a pained expression on her face, Eli asked with concern,
"Did you get hurt sowhere?"
"Huh?....I am fin-"
"Ms. Rize, Please" Eli insisted.
"..I hurt my left leg" Rize admitted.
Eli crouched down to examine her calf, which was partially bitten off.
'Seems like fighting solo is dangerous here' Eli thought wry smile.
He couldn't help but comnt, "So, you jumped around like a ghost when you're hurt this much?"
"I-I... I hate sudden flash" Rize stamred, seemingly embarrassed by her own actions.
Shaking his head, Eli took out the remaining two healing potions.
Just as he was about to use them,
"No" Rize imdiately rejected his offer.
"..." Eli was taken aback by her reaction and her....scared expression?
He then realized his mistake and facepald while saying,
"I'm sorry, I forgot"
'How did I forget about Fallen's healing potions?'
Healing potions were blessed by gods and infused with holy elents, making them highly effective for most people.
However, for those born in dense, dark elental places like the Fallen People, using a normal healing potion would cause excruciating pain rather than healing.
So, It's No-No for Fallen People.
While there was a rare water-based healing technique that could heal anyone, it was not widely available.
To address this issue, Adriana, the Vampire Queen of the Fallen Continent, had developed a unique healing potion specifically designed for the Fallen.
'F-Hing Potion' Eli pondered the rather peculiar na and couldn't help but wonder who had co up with it...Although he had a feeling he knew who was responsible for such a na.
"Didn't you buy those F-Hing potions?" Eli inquired.
"I already used everything" Rize responded.
"..." Eli stared at her, clearly surprised, and then asked, "You used everything?"
"..."
"Ms. Rize?" He pressed further when she remained silent.
"I-I gave so of them to my h-usband" Rize hesitated for a mont before admitting.
Eli frowned upon hearing her response. He was well aware of her complicated relationship, he heard from Zera.
Rize, a Ghoul who consus raw at as her food, was not yet married. While she was engaged, she had already started referring to her partner as her husband, despite the fact that her partner seed to dislike her for so reason.
"Seriously, Girl... sigh, hop on" Eli said, not wanting to intrude on her personal choices.
It was her life, and she had the right to make her own decisions. He then motioned for her to climb onto his back...piggy bag.
"D-Don't worry, I can wa--"
"Ms. Rize, Teach would be worried" Eli said seriously, cutting off her words.
"..." Rize fell silent and nodded her head in agreent.
"Here... I don't have any won's dresses" Eli offered as he threw a big shirt of his own to her.
"..." Rize blinked for a few seconds when she caught the shirt and asked with a wry face, "Is it okay? I an, I sl—"
"Ms. Rize"
"...Okay." She then reluctantly wore the oversized T-shirt over her tattered dress and hopped behind Eli.
'sniff'
A strong raw at stench entered Eli's nose.
"Shall we?" Eli asked without displaying any remorse or disgust, leaving Rize curious about his reaction.
"Yes"
Eli held her thighs tightly as Rize wrapped her slender hands around his neck.
He took out Celestria since they were in a dark place where monsters lurked. He hoped that having Celestria out would deter the monsters, which was why he opted for a piggyback style instead of the princess carry.
And most importantly, he cannot use the Sack carry style since he felt it was wrongdoing to her.
--rror--
"Hmm?" Eli frowned suddenly as his ears twitched.
"What is it?" Rize asked when she saw him halting his walk.
"...Did you hear anything?" Eli analysed his surroundings.
"....." Rize also pondered and said, "No".
"..." Eli shrugged it off and continued to walk.
Eli remained silent, he continued walking deeper into the darkness. Just as he had predicted, the black Faunmia, which had appeared out of nowhere, was terrified of him or his weapons. They scattered and fled as quickly as possible, leaving Rize in a state of bewildered amazent.
Rize's eyes remained fixated on Eli's face, and she couldn't decipher his thoughts.
She had learned everything from her Mother-in-Law and knew her future husband didn't like her, but for the sake of her Mother-in-Law, she was willing to do anything.
Her mother-in-law had taught her how to act and speak with etiquette and had also taught her about the cruelty of the world when you were alone....She had showered Rize with love, sothing Rize still couldn't quite understand.
That's why she was curious and had questions that others avoided answering, no matter what.
Now....For so reason, She wanted to understand this human,
"....Do you know what I am?" Rize asked Eli, seeking so clarity.
"Huh?" Eli, who was cursing himself for not finding the right route, was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard her.
"You are Ghoul, right?"
"..Yes"
"Then?" Eli made a puzzled expression.
"..." Rize was practically shocked, 'Yeah, then what?' this was the first ti questioned herself.
"I...m-an I like to eat rotten raw at...even humans, you know "
"You are a Ghoul, so that's normal....What are you getting at?" Eli frowned.
"..." Rize didn't know what to say anymore, wondering why she felt so confused 'Then Why are others avoiding her?'...Is he....'.
"Ms. Rize?" Eli called her as she snapped out of her stupor and asked without hesitation,
"By any chance, do you love ? If yes, I am sorry that I alread---"
"...." Eli stopped his motion and blankly stared at her, taken aback by the sudden question then,
'Thud'
"urgh"
Rize fell to the ground.
She groaned in pain, casting a glare at Eli, who had released her without any warning.
Eli brought his face extrely close to hers and inquired indifferently,
"Where did you even get that idea? Do you even understand what love is, Ms. Rize?"
Their proximity was so intimate that it might have led others to believe they were about to share a passionate kiss.
For better or worse,
"Look, it appears Jayvald was correct, Amber" an enthusiastic, lodious voice echoed as a blinding light enveloped everyone.
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