The dust settled and the ant monster was already aiming at the adventurers. Tasha was the first to reach the spot where Sargon and Demi-Ura were standing; Lilith was still further away and closer to the monster. The lizard-woman ran as fast as she could since there was no way she was able to put a fight. Lilith placed her foot on one of the smashed shells and it slipped because of all the goo. She slammed into the ground and proceeded to slide for a few meters. The [Ant Guardian] was dangerously close and it would take too long for her to stand up. It looked like she was doomed.

“Nooo.” Sargon shouted as he was about to run to help Lilith.

However, he was grabbed on a shoulder and stopped by Demi-Ura. She didn’t approve of him risking his life like that. There was no way he will even make his way to Lilith alive, and even if he did make it, he wouldn't come back with her unscathed. Demi-Ura couldn't let him die like that; she held Sargon in standstill by his shoulder

Sargon wasn't thinking rationally and acted upon his emotions; his friend was in trouble and he had to save her. He broke off from Demi-Ura’s grip and proceeded to run towards Lilith. The monster spat acid towards Sargon and he just barely avoided it, it was more luck than skill.

He reached Lilith who was already scrambling to stand up, this proved harder than she thought. Slick goo covered the ground and her body preventing her from rising. The brave, or stupid, boy was there to offer her a hand.

Lilith looked at him with wide eyes; eyes which teared up quickly. She didn't expect him to risk his life like that. They stood up and only then Sargon realised that he had messed up. They were standing still and there was no nearby cover. The ant [Ant Guardian] had them, a single projectile of acid spit could end their lives.

Sargon knew all that, yet still, he refused to accept this fate. He turned his back to the monster and ran as fast as he could while tightly grasping Lilith’s arm. Again, very stupid thing to do, if they had split up at least one of them had a surviving chance. Neither of the two wanted to let go of the hand they were holding, if they had to die they would die together.

Their backs were unprotected and the two were a perfect target for the black ant. The monster tensed up its muscles in its throat ready for another attack. Just before it could spit its acid out a ball of dark energy hit it in the head, interrupting its attack. Demi-Ura had bought them some time but it wasn't enough. The blast was powerful but it barely damaged the ant so it readied its attack again. The running pair made only half of their distance to safety.

Tasha began firing her crossbow at the ant. The crossbow bolts found their target easily since it was very big but they simply deflected from monster's chitin. The ant continued its attack finally spitting a large glob of acid. The bolts did no damage but they distracted the monster so its acid spit missed completely. Just before it could spit again another blast of magic pushed its head to the side. The monster got frustrated at annoying intruders and charged at them with its body; if ranged attacks did not work it could always attack them with its large body.

Sargon and Lilith ran for their lives, the [Ant Guardian] was quickly gaining on them. The ground was slippy but they had supported each other so neither of them can slip up. The monster opened its large maw ready to snap at the two. Just before it could close its mandibles the running pair made inside the narrow tunnel. The monster slammed its head in it, it was too large to fit through. It hissed once again in frustration.

“We… Barely… Made it.” Sargon said it in between his breaths.

“Stupid.” Demi-Ura directed her anger at him.

Sargon had never seen Demi-Ura this angry before, actually, he had never seen her angry maybe only mildly annoyed.

“I saw it and I froze. Only then I saw you running… You are very brave.” Tasha praised Sargon.

“No. He's stupid.” Demi-Ura cursed in dissatisfaction.

“Stupid or brave, I am alive because of him… You too Demi-Ura and Tasha, thank you.” Lilith was just glad to be alive. She still could feel her heart racing in her chest.

Demi-Ura nodded accepting the gratitude, she too was glad it turned out fine. But still, her face remained stern, she directed her gaze at the Sargon’s hand which was still tightly locked with Lilith’s.

Sargon felt uncomfortable receiving such luck and he realised that he can finally let it go. He did so and then added “Girls I owe you one. You saved us back there.”

“We are comrades, that is what comrades do. Yesterday it was me, today it was you and tomorrow it will be someone else again.” Tasha said such heavy words with a bright smile.

Her words reminded to everyone just how the Labyrinth Dungeon was dangerous and how lucky they were to escape death on multiple occasions.

“Comrades...” Demi-Ura mimicked Tasha’s words her stern look gone as if it never existed.

“We better go to the surface before anything else happened.” Lilith urged everyone, she didn't want to stay here longer than it was necessary.

“Good idea.” Everyone agreed.

They grabbed the armoured chitin they had left in a corner and dragged themselves out as quickly as they could. Just before they could reach the first floor, Demi-Ura stopped; it was as far as she was willing to go. She was still insistent about not being able to go outside the dungeon. They had parted albeit reluctantly, it was almost the time for the dungeon to change and Sargon worried about finding Demi-Ura. Like always she ensured that if it won't be him it will be her who'll find Sargon.

The trio hauled their loot back to the market. It was quite late but they still hoped that they will find Belish working in his shop. And sure they did. The bulky man was toiling at his workshop, hammering hot metal. He was the only one who was still working this late, everyone else had closed their shops already.

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Sargon stood behind the counter, he could not see the smith, only hear him working.

“Hey” He shouted but there was no response. Then he shouted again but louder.

“It’s closed can’t ya see?!” The beastman shouted back.

“But we brought the armour!” Lilith complained unhappily about the idea of having to drag it all back.

“It is okay, Lilith.” Sargon tried to pacify his clearly annoyed companion. Then he timed his next sentence in between the metal clanging against metal. “We will come back tomorrow morning.”

The hammering suddenly stopped. “Oh, it's Sargon. I didn’t expect ya.” Belish stepped away from his work and looked at their loot, a broad smile appeared on his face. “Ya really got it! It was quick.”

“Can you make it?” Sargon asked putting the loaned crowbar on the table.

“The armour? Ya bet I can, dis chitin is good stuff. Ya won’t be disappointed, believe me.” Belish said full of confidence. “Tough it will take time, a week or so… No, if I work through the night, make it four days.”

Belish enthusiasm surprised Sargon, the smith had that shine in his eyes and looked excited.

“You don’t need to work at night. I am in no rush.” Sargon didn’t want to pressure the smith.

“No no, It is fine. Ya brought something this valuable to me.”

Sargon didn’t think that this chitin was so valuable. Actually, then they sold the [Armoured Ant] core at the guild he asked about the chitin too, it was not that expensive as a material. This type of ant was rare and its chitin hard to harvest but there weren’t that many people who would buy it.

However, Belish Tikay was not a mere smith. He could make extraordinary things out of the most ordinary stuff and something even better from rare materials. He just never had the chance to obtain what he needed.

Sargon and his companions staked chitin at the back of the shop, before Sargon left he thanked the smith once again.

“No problem. Oh and don’t forget dis, it’s yours.” Belish handed back the crowbar.

“Really?”

“Yeah, consider it a gift. Just keep bringing ME the good stuff.” The smith stressed the 'me' part.

“Are you his personal smith now or something?” Tasha asked. She knew that veteran adventurers would get one eventually.

“Exactly. It would make me very sad if ya did business with another smith, just saying.” Belish added.

This was his way of communicating that Sargon wouldn't be able to trade with other smiths. Sargon got that and considered that it was fine since Belish seemed nice and actually very competent at his craft. The in the form of armour and the crowbar also contributed to this.

“I won’t.” Sargon sealed the deal with these simple words.

The party have left the market district and headed towards one of the adventurer taverns to let some steam off.

…

They were sitting around a small table, in front of them were delicious food dishes and beer.

Lilith’s eyes were glued not to the steaming hot food like Tasha’s but to a person in front of her: Sargon. Even though they were no longer in the dungeon her heart didn't stop to race. The alcohol which she has never had before was partially to blame, or so she thought. One thing clear was that something had changed in her heart, she thought she already loved Sargon but these feelings she felt now were even stronger than before. She needed him, she desired him, it was a craving. Lilith was filled with carnal desires she hadn't experienced before.

Sargon noticed her hungry look and mistook it as a voracious appetite for food.

“No need to wait for my portion, you can start.” Sargon was still waiting for his food.

The lizard-woman just kept eating him with her eyes, food was not what she desired.

“Lilith?” Sargon asked slightly confused and uncomfortable about her gaze.

Him saying her name brought her back to normal. Her tail twitched and she lowered her head in embarrassment, if she could blush, she would be beat-red. She kicked her dirty thoughts aside for a moment and dug in her food.

“By the way, where are you staying guys?” Sargon asked to start a small talk.

“I'm still living in a temple, they were kind to let me stay there. But it's only temporary, soon I'll need to find a different place.” Lilith said all that refusing to look at Sargon, her heart was still racing.

“How about you Tasha?”

The little beastkin almost choked on her food. She coughed it out and there was a small pause before she spoke. “Well… I live… for me it is complicated. Why do you ask?” Tasha asked back unwilling to share her circumstances.

“I was just thinking.” Sargon took his plate from tavern maiden and continued. “Since we are a party why don’t we live together? It would be convenient no?”

““Really?!”” Both girls responded at once. Their tails showed that they liked the idea.

“I was just thinking, no need to get so enthusiastic about this. We don’t even know if we can afford anything decent.”

“It does not matter where it is or how it looks, everywhere will be fine if it's with you.” Lilith said and as soon as she did so she realised how shameless it was.

“~mm ~mm” Tasha nodded in agreement.

“I guess you are right, it is the company what matters not the surroundings.” Sargon slightly misinterpreted Lilith’s words.

They finished their food and washed it with beer. Only that Tasha once again insisted on drinking the same amount as Sargon and ended up wasted.

“Uuuu… It is spinning.” Beastkin complained.

“I guess she can sleep in my place again. See you tomorrow, Lilith.” Sargon picked up a petite woman by her waist to carry her back to his shack.

“I will accompany you.” Lilith offered.

Sargon wasn't against the company on his way back but he didn’t suspect Lilith intended to stay the night too.