"What about you? What is your name? Age? Class?" Hasya asked.
"Tch," Rasie hissed softly, then fell silent for a moment. She then forced a stiff smile at Hasya. "Ra-Rasie... twenty-seven years old... Hunter... Fire."
Hasya was silent for a moment, sensing something was off.
He then smiled faintly, tilted his head, and boldly touched Rasie’s cheek. Her skin felt warm against Hasya’s fingertips.
Rasie flinched slightly, her eyes widening in confusion. "Huh? Oi, what are you-"
"Please don’t pretend to be someone else, Rasie."
"Be yourself."
"Huh?!" Rasie frowned, her mouth slightly open. Confusion was plastered all over her face. "W-what do you mean?"
"Hmm, how to say this... right now you seem to be pretending to be polite to me. Earlier, when I saw you from above, you were kind of rude and barbaric, you know!" Hasya said while mimicking a punching motion in the air.
Huh? What is this weirdo saying?! I’m not barbaric! Rasie muttered inwardly.
Rasie was silent for a moment. She glanced at Fyar and Zaefal. Both nodded slowly at her, signaling to play along with the man’s game.
She looked back at Hasya, her gaze sharpening. "Are you sure?"
"A thousand percent sure, beautiful!"
"You looked barbaric and uncivilized. It feels a bit weird seeing someone like you being polite like this," Hasya said while stroking his chin, staring intently at Rasie.
"Huh? U-uncivilized?" Rasie muttered. Her jaw hardened, her hands clenched at her sides.
Hasya nodded. "Yes."
Fyar held his breath. He covered part of his face with his hand, trying hard to hold back the laughter that was pressing to come out. His shoulders shook slightly.
Shit man. Why am I laughing? Damn. Calm down, Fyar, calm down. There’s nothing funny, damn it! Fyar muttered inwardly.
Beside him, Zaefal nudged Fyar’s arm gently. "Fyar, what’s wrong with you?" he whispered.
"I-I’m holding back a cough," Fyar answered briefly, his voice stifled.
"Tch. Fine, asshole," Rasie hissed. The fake smile on her face vanished instantly, replaced by an honest expression of annoyance.
"Hmm, hmm. You’re cuter now. Cuter now!" Hasya said. A sincere smile bloomed on his face, his eyes crinkling happily.
Hasya then shifted his gaze towards Zaefal and Fyar. His smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious look.
"Alright. Why are you here?"
"And oh, friends, just put away your weapons. We know you can’t defeat me," Hasya said while waving his hand casually.
Fyar looked at Zaefal and Illya. They exchanged glances, then nodded in unison.
Fyar holstered his pistol back under his armpit and his katana at his waist. Zaefal sheathed his remaining sword. Illya lowered her ready arms.
Hasya nodded in satisfaction. "Good, good, goood."
"So?"
"We were thrown here because of an artifact," Zaefal answered. His face was flat, but his eyes remained watchful.
"Artifact?" Hasya asked.
Illya removed the fragment of the black orb necklace from her grasp and gave it to Zaefal. Zaefal then showed it to Hasya.
Hasya took the fragment. He turned it in his fingers, observing the residual magic energy that still pulsed faintly. He brought it close to his eye, then nodded slowly.
"Interesting..." Hasya looked at Zaefal, Illya, Fyar, and Cyhas in turn. "Why did you use it? What happened? Where did you get an artifact this rare?"
They all fell silent. The atmosphere became quiet. Zaefal looked down slightly, Fyar turned his face away, Illya squeezed her own hands, and Cyhas bit her lower lip, hesitant.
Just as Cyhas opened her mouth, intending to answer honestly...
"We don’t want to answer that, idiot!" Rasie said curtly. She folded her arms across her chest, her chin lifted defiantly.
"Idiot?"
Illya, Zaefal, Fyar, and Cyhas instantly turned in shock towards Rasie. Their eyes widened in horror.
Hasya turned to Rasie. Instead of getting angry, he smiled again. "Why?"
"Well, I don’t want to!" Rasie answered firmly.
"Hm, I see. Okay then, beautiful," Hasya said casually. He shrugged, not making a big deal out of it.
"Do you know this place?" Fyar asked, trying to change the subject.
"Huh? What kind of stupid question is that?" Hasya said.
He sighed deeply while shaking his head dramatically.
"Bro... I came here riding a giant bird and killed that monster easily. And you ask if I know this place?" Hasya laughed loudly. His voice echoed across the silent crystal plain.
If only I were a bit stronger, I’d shoot you, bastard, Fyar muttered inwardly. His jaw hardened, holding back his annoyance.
Zaefal just shrugged and shook his head slowly.
"Just kidding, bro. Just kidding, bro!" Hasya said while patting the air, calming Fyar.
Hasya then looked up, looking at the aurora on the cave ceiling.
"This is a dungeon."
He looked at Rasie. "And honestly, the way to enter this place can be said to be quite difficult."
He turned back to Fyar and Zaefal. "That’s why I was surprised there were humans here."
"Quite difficult?" Zaefal asked. His brow furrowed in curiosity.
Hasya nodded. "Yep."
"The portal in this dungeon usually moves around. So it’s very difficult to enter this place." Hasya paused for a moment before continuing.
"Not only that. The average monster here is level fifty to sixty."
"That monster earlier? Its level was around fifty-five to sixty-ish."
50-60?! the fuck, no wonder it was strong, damn! Is that why the level 30 wall could be breached? Fyar muttered inwardly.
No, not that. If it really is level 55-60, then this person is extraordinarily strong to be able to kill them in seconds. As much as possible, we must not make him angry.
Fyar then glanced at Rasie, who still looked wary near Hasya.
Somehow, this man seems interested in Rasie. Is he in love with Rasie? Earlier, when Rasie said she didn’t want to answer, the man didn’t seem angry and accepted it.
"How do we get out of here?" Zaefal asked, his voice full of hope.
"About that..." Hasya rolled his eyes, thinking.
"I’ll tell you later."
"Why later?" Rasie asked, her tone demanding.
"Later, okay, honey? Patience," Hasya said while winking.
"By the way, what are your levels?"
"And uhm, I don’t know your names either, except for this angel named Rasie." Hasya pointed at Rasie with an open palm.
Hasya looked at Zaefal. "Starting with you, depressed man."
"Pfft!" Rasie held back her laughter. She covered her mouth with both hands, her gaze fixed on the ground.
Fyar closed his eyes and held back a smile. Illya and Cyhas seemed to be trying to regulate their breathing so as not to join in laughing.
"D-depressed..." Zaefal shook his head slowly, resigned. "Zaefal. My level is thirty-two. I am Void."
"Hmm, Zaefal, Zaefal." Hasya nodded. "Okay, okay."
He looked behind Zaefal. "And for the green-haired lady?"
Illya smiled gently, bowing slightly. "Illya. Witch. Level twenty-nine."
"By your side?" Hasya asked, pointing at the little girl next to Illya.
"I-I-I am Cyhas. Witch... level... six," Cyhas said with a small voice, shyly.
"Cyhas." Hasya nodded again, impressed. "Truly amazing you are still alive."
He then looked towards Fyar.
"You, purple-hair?"
"Fyar. Level thirty-eight. Hunter," Fyar answered briefly. His face was flat.
"Your sub-class?" Hasya asked.
Fyar fell silent, seemingly hesitant to answer.
"He doesn’t have one," Rasie answered quickly. "That’s why he’s silent, because he’s ashamed not to have one."
"Hmm, I see," Hasya said. "Alright, thanks, Rasieee."
Hasya approached Fyar. Without permission, he held a lock of Fyar’s purple hair, examining it. Fyar just stood silently staring at Hasya warily, his body tensing.
"Hmm, your hair color reminds me of my friend from the human race."
"Your friend?" Fyar asked.
Hasya nodded. He released Fyar’s hair and made a nostalgic pose, staring into the distance dramatically.
"Fathir."
"You guys know Fathir, right?"
"Yes," Fyar said. "We’ve met him."
"Ohh, really?! How is that idiot doing now?! I heard he’s married, huh? Is it true? Tell me, tell me!" Hasya asked enthusiastically. His eyes sparkled, his cool demeanor gone for a moment.
"Yes. I heard he’s adventuring with a female mage now," Zaefal said.
"Hmm, Lairas"
"huff, it’s been a long time," Hasya said, smiling small.
"Are you a close friend of Fathir?" Rasie asked, a little curious.
"Yes!"
"Uhh, he used to be my training partner. We used to adventure together." Hasya sighed deeply. "It would be long if told. I’ll tell you personally later, okay, when chatting alone with you."
"Want to?"
Rasie looked back at Fyar and Zaefal.
They nodded again, giving a signal of approval.
ashole.... Rasie muttered inwardly.
Rasie looked back at Hasya.
"Yes."
"Hmm, I look forward to it," Hasya said, satisfied.
Hasya looked at Rasie, Illya, Fyar, and Cyhas in turn. His face became a little more serious.
"But well. After knowing your low levels, I’m amazed at you guys for still being alive."
"It’s impossible, you know, for you to get out of here if your levels are that low."
"Impossible? Huh? Are you serious?!" Rasie asked, her eyes widening.
"Yes. Minimum... mmm... Yeah... hmm... forty-seven, I guess. Around there," Hasya answered casually while counting on his fingers.
Hasya then fell silent.
He looked at Fyar’s party in turn. And finally, his gaze stopped on Rasie for quite a long time.
After a long silence, Hasya brought his face close to Rasie’s face, looking straight into her eyes.
Making Rasie blush slightly and back away. "O-oi! Too close, close!"
"Do you have a boyfriend, Rasie?" Hasya asked with a serious tone.
"Haah? What? Why are you asking that?!" Rasie was confused, her face turning redder.
Hasya was silent, not moving, waiting for Rasie’s answer.
Somehow, I feel Rasie’s answer determines our life and death, Fyar muttered inwardly. Slowly, his hand moved towards the pistol under his cloak.
Zaefal held Fyar’s hand quickly and shook his head. Don’t.
"I don’t have one," Rasie answered briefly, turning her face away.
Hearing that, Hasya smiled widely. A smile of victory. "Hmm, I see. I see."
He nodded firmly. "Yosh!"
Hasya then turned and walked towards his giant owl. He jumped onto the bird’s back with a light movement.
"Get on, you guys. I want to show you something."