Lilli watched with growing horror as what appears to be a monster party starts to approach them, her mind already planning escape routes.
The dungeon was always a whimsical place but there was something about it that seemed especially weird today, especially the way it had rattled just about an hour earlier.
It seems like she would have to cut her losses here, she had planned on making her move on the adventurer she was currently acting as a supporter for, but it seems like he would have to do for bait.
Honestly, Lili hated herself for having such thoughts, not the thought of putting an adventurer's life at risk (they can all die for all she cares) but because she is forced to sink so low.
How disgraceful.
Underhanded tactics, robbing unsuspecting individuals, forced to act like a loyal dog so as to survive in such a despicable place. Just when would all of it end, she wonders.
Is there a happy ending for people like her?
Before Lili could ready her wrist held arrow and aim for the back of the adventurer, he turned around and kicked her right in the chest, spittles leaving her mouth as her eyes bulged.
As she holds onto her chest gasping, she hears the man talking but she couldn't place the words then retreating footsteps followed shortly after.
Even though her backpack had prevented her from slamming into the ground, her chest hurt like hell, each forceful intake of breath felt like she was taking raw distilled alcohol, burning in her chest.
Turning on the ground, Lili watched the monsters that were just a few feet away from her. Most notable were goblins and kobolds, intense hatred and bloodlust emanating from them.
Scary.
She had never been more scared in her life.
Is she going to die here? In this forsaken place?
Had karma finally caught up to her?
Once again, she has been forced to witness the harsh reality, adventurers only care about themselves, in the first sign of danger, they are ready to trample on anyone to survive.
She hates adventurers… but isn't she the same? Wasn't she moments away from using that adventurer as bait as well?
Emotions are very irrational. Despite being aware of her hypocrisy, Lili's hatred only grows.
A Kobold who is now before Lili stretches a hand, claws gleaming from the dungeon's light.
It hadn't been ten seconds since she was gasping for air and now, it felt as if time had slowed down in this torturous moment.
At moments like these, one's life usually flashed through their eyes. But not Lili, you needed to have a life for it to flash through your eyes in the first place.
With blood on her lips and tears on her eyes, Lilli desperately wished for someone to save her, it is not the first time she had made such a wish, it was never answered before so why does she think it would be any different this time?
And yet.
And yet.
"HELP!!!!" She yelled through the burning pain in her chest.
Kobold claws inches away from her face, Lili instinctively closed her eyes then what followed was the sound of the air being cut through along with splattered blood.
She didn't feel any pain but felt a wet hot liquid splash against the side of her face.
As she opened her eyes slowly, she was greeted to a sight that looked like it came out of hell, the walls of the dungeons were colored red from the dozens of bisected monsters that were lying strewn before her.
It was a sight of carnage and brutality.
And in the middle of it all, as if a contrast to the violence that happened a mere moment earlier was a young girl that looked about Lili's age.
The young girl had feline traits, denoting her race as one of the cat people. She was wearing a two piece cloth: black shorts and a sleeveless black piece that covered only her chest area, over that was a black cape that had a red fur on the collar, and behind her back was a sword sheath.
On her left cat ear was a gold bangle that had a single red pearl. And on her right hand was a beautiful white longsword decorated with blue lines with a golden hilt.
The girl who was responsible for slaughtering all the monsters in less than five seconds tilted her head, her short black hair swaying with the movement as she looked at Lili and spoke in a stoic voice.
"Are you okay?"
Feeling all the tension leaving her body, Lili's consciousness slipped.
•••
Lilli woke up to the feeling of warmth spreading all over her body as she coughed out some blood that had been in her mouth.
"There, there." The girl who had saved her said in that same flat voice as she rubbed her back.
Putting a hand to her chest, she couldn't feel the once burning pain. "You… did you heal Lili?" She asked as she stared into dark blue eyes.
"Hmm." The girl nodded.
Lili could see that she was an adventurer. And the way she easily dispatched the monster party, she had to be at least level three right?
Lili immediately went to her knees as she thanked her.
"Thank you very much… you were very amazing, you must be a high level adventurer and your sword was very beautiful as well."
Adventurers were unpredictable people, even this young girl who had saved her might not be any different and the best way to treat an adventurer is with reverence and praises.
So Lili showered her with praises in order to appear meek.
"Oho! You can tell?! Shishou is definitely a super duper sword, right? Right?"
Lili was surprised by the emotion that was now present in her previously stoic voice as she held her shoulders and looked at her with sparkling eyes.
"Ah, y-yes it's definitely… super duper." Lili replied.
In the back of her mind, she wonders who names a sword Shishou.
"Once again, thank you very much for saving Lili, adventurer-sama." Lili continues. She hates the fact that she has to thank an adventurer when it's their fault that she's in such situation in the first place.
"Fran…"
"What?"
"My name. Fran… you called Shishou super duper, so you can call me Fran." The girl, Fran says.
The girl in front of Lili is throwing her off her balance. The fact that Lili had been moments away from dying and then being saved by Fran, who also healed her wounds means that no matter how she tries, she can't even hate her properly.
"Then, thank you Fran-sama."
"No, no. Fran." Fran said in that stoic tone.
"Lili couldn't possibly refer to her savior so lightly." Lili responded.
"Hmm, then if you can show me the way out, I will allow you to call me that." Fran compromised after seemingly staring at her for a few seconds.
Show her the way out? The way she said that made Lili suspicious, from the dispatched monsters, Fran could easily be level three and yet she doesn't know the way out?
"Fran-sama, are you perhaps bad with directions?"
"Mhm." She nodded, but somehow Lili could not believe it.
"Then if you don't mind having Lili as a guide, Lili will show you the way."
Even though this adventurer, Fran had saved her, Lilli is still on her guard… although looking at the young looking cat girl who is not that much taller than her, Lili would not admit that she feels just a bit of kinship.
As Lili holds her large backpack resting against the wall, she noticed her hands were shaking.
"Lili, are you okay?"
She squeezed her hands tightly as she put on a cheery smile. "Lili is fine, Fran-sama…" She says as she equips the bag. "Follow me Fran-sama, this is the way to the entrance." She says as she starts to lead them.
"Mhm. Don't worry Lili, I will protect you." Fran says as she walks beside her.
Those words that sounded genuine stirred something in Lili.
"Thank you, Fran-sama." She whispered under her breath.