36 Chapter 36 ~ Game Starts - P2 (2/2)

( That's it, huh? Even though I just saved her life... Is her hate for me really just won't disappear? Or is it because of her pride...? ) Shiro voiced inside his head as he looks at the girl beside him.

[ No, it's fine. It's not like I did it to gain your favor or something; it will be just troublesome if you just died like that. Knocking down Arthur is already giving me enough problems, letting you die here while I'm around will surely produce even more of those. ] he muttered, brushing off Alicia.

[ ... ]

Hearing those words, Alicia's expression tensed and silence took over her.

( So that was it was about, huh...? ) Alicia thought as she turned her head downward.

[ Anyways... We don't have much time to waste, we need to immediately look for the others. It would be dangerous if we got separated for too long. My guess is that this ruin is huge and it would be better if we start walking and searching for our companions now. ] disrupting the silence, Shiro turned himself around and started to walk, leaving Alicia looking behind his tall figure.

[ Ye-Yes... ]

( I hate him... I really hate him... But still... That time... That was the first time someone has hugged me so tightly yet so gently... I felt safe and comfortable... ) with this thought, she followed the back of Shiro.

[ ... ]

~~~

[ Echolocation! Advance Appraisal! ]

( Advance Appraisal: Result: )

( Ancient Ruins: Dungeon )

( Enemies: 1897 - Humans1%/ Anthropomorphs44%/ Heteromorphs55% )

( MaximumLv: 101 MinimumLv: 5 )

[ Oh! ] Shiro exclaimed.

( It finally worked, huh? A mid-level dungeon... This will take only a few hours if I was still in the game... I wonder how long it will take me to conquer a dungeon of this level in this world. ) looking at the map of the dungeon that is displayed in Shiro's mind, he thought.

( This is...!? )

[ What is it, Vlad-san...? ]

Seeing the surprised expression on Shiro's face, Alicia who's standing beside him asked with a baffled look on her face.

[ Everyone seems to be doing well... Except for Caiden... ]

[ Huh!? What happened to Caiden!? ] Alicia asked, worried.

[ No... It seems he's not in trouble yet... But he's currently alone right now... I'm confident that Sarah, Nina, and Lumi can survive for themselves... but for Caiden... I don't think he will be able to survive once he encounters a lot of enemies... ]

Shiro had given the trio necessary for them to survive, he also taught them what to do once this kind of event happens. Shiro is positive that the trio will be able to survive this mid-level dungeon, but for Caiden -

[ Anyway, we need to gather everyone first before we head to the end of this dungeon. ]

[ I'm... I'm really sorry... This is all my fault... ]

( So despite her attitude she definitely knows she's at fault, huh...? Both her and Caiden... They're like newbies you often encounter in the game... And I feel like it's my obligation to teach them and guide them somehow when they make mistakes. Even if it's just a little... )

Reminiscing something from his previous experiences as a gamer, Shiro felt a sense of responsibility towards the two of them: Alicia and Caiden. But despite that, Shiro was having conflicts in his thoughts as he wants to blame them for their incompetence and punish them for it. That was the feeling that is inside his heart, which extremely contradicts to what his mind and morals are telling him.

Realizing this, Shiro put a grip on his chest to stop the emotion that's lingering in the entirety of his being; the feeling of punishing the girl behind him who has caused him trouble.

( Tsk... This body is slowly contradicting both my thoughts and actions... When will the time come that I won't be able to control it anymore...? )

***

In a dark desolate room. One figure sat on a large throne seat made of bones from clearly - different species. His appearance can't be seen as it was hidden in the darkness, but his eyes, his eyes can easily be seen because of the red shining glow of its snake-like pupils.

[ Hmm... None died in that trap, huh...? ] his voice resounded throughout the room and echoed back to his ears.

[ Three years ago, when that same trap was activated, almost half of that group instantly died. Yet... Quality over quantity, eh? I wonder how really strong they are... ]

As he muttered those words with a gentle tone that can attract both women and men, one of his hands move to his side and he moved it gently as if he was caressing something.

A moment later, the rattling sound of a snake was heard, and there, in the person's back appeared the head of a large snake. Just with the look of its size, one would agree that it will be able to swallow the body of an adult human.

[ Vana, it's been a while since the humans had provided us entertainment, we'll be sure to play with them until we're satisfied. ]