The morning sunrise brightens the room in an orange glow. Finch birds chirping away making the morning seem peacefully bliss. Roth lays in bed sleeping as he slowly opens his eye. He is greeted with a throbbing headache and sunken eyes. And to his annoyance, game text in front of his vision.

[TWO PERKS UNLOCKED: HARDENED SKIN-POISON RESISTANCE]

"Hooraaaay..." saying with a low tired voice. As he went to rub his eyes, he felt his left arm give a sharp pain. He looked down and saw it was splinted and wrapped in bandages. He also notices a bandage wrapped around his right eye and another wrapped around his shoulder. Roth attempts to sit himself up but was too weak. There was a weird heavy feeling on his chest as well. As he moves the covers slightly off of him, he sees Mina sleeping, cuddling him with her head resting near his chest. There was a faint green glow underneath her that went in and out slowly.

He was surprised that she was healing him in her sleep. But he also notices something off with her. Her cheeks had streaks of dried tears that weren't wiped off. He hesitantly lifts his right hand up to wake her but decides to let her sleep. Suddenly the door to his left opened and Aufnier came in. He had a silver platter with teacups and a teapot.

"Ah, wonderful, you're awake. I was beginning to worry you wouldn't wake up." Saying with a smile as he sets the platter down on the nightstand.

"Where...where am I? What happened?" Said a confused Roth.

"You're at the adventurers guild infirmary. You're lucky to be alive at all considering how much you've taken a beating. I see your little one has finally fallen asleep." As Aufnier softly chuckles.

"I do say, you have a remarkable, dedicated, loving sister Mr. Malvikun. If it wasn't for her, you probably would have perished." Roth looks at Aufnier in deep confusion. Aufnier grabs a cup and pours himself tea. The strong bitter smell of the leaves can be recognized the moment it left the spout. It made Roth's stomach queasy; he was never a fan of tea.

"Would you like me to pour you a cup?"

"No... I'm good, thank you. What did Mina do anyways?"

Aufnier takes a sip from his tea and exhales in pleasure, "It's remarkable really. She dragged your wounded body from where you were training all the way back to the city gates. But that's not all, while she was dragging you, she simultaneously was casting healing spells on you continuously. She pushed past her limits trying to save you. Do you know how difficult it must have been for a seventy-pound child to drag a fully geared man? She was determined to save you no matter the cost to her." Aufnier turns to her and smiles.

"When she finally brought you here it was already midnight. When the guards asked her what happened she showed them your tags of your ranks. They helped her carry you back into our infirmary. Our nurses worked tirelessly to stitch you up and close your wounds while casting healing magic. Your little one was also helping cast healing spells on you as well. The nurses finally patched you up but even after you were in good care, she stayed by your side night and day. Casting healing spells every day until you woke up."

Roth's face was in complete disbelief. He stared at Aufnier for what felt like an eternity. Looking down at Mina he also felt a sense of guilt for dragging her in this situation. Now he's second guessing himself if saving her was the right choice. "How long was I out for?"

"About a week at most. Mina refused to leave your side for a moment in this room. She drank so many enhancement potions to keep her mana from running low." As Aufnier happily sips from his cup. Roth stares off in the distance through the window worrying what he should do next. Aufniers soft spoken and gentle voice soon turned into a concerned and stern tone.

"I don't suppose you know what this symbol means do you?" Aufnier flicks a metal insignia pin to Roth and he catches it. It was the same symbol that Roth picked up from the guy he stopped who was hurting Mina. The winged spanned eagle holding in his talons a three headed serpent. Roth stares at the metal pin and slowly feels it. He shakes his head not knowing what this pin means. Aufnier sighs in disappointment. "This pin was in your belongings when we undressed you for recovery. That symbol is the underground syndicate known as the lernaean fidelity. A massive organization that deals with a hierarchy. They are feared in the underground world and rightfully so. They do illegal trade, trafficking, drug distributions. Anything that is frowned upon in social status, they have it all."

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Roth listens with an uneasy face, " So these guys are really dangerous. As in make me disappear if I make their day an unpleasant type."

"Correct, I'm assuming you disrupted one of their little operations?" curiously asked Aufnier.

"They were in an abandoned fort as a set up. They had demi humans in chains in a cramped dark room." Roth continues to have that zoned out look as he explained.

"Ah yes, demi humans. On par with the category of beast men, they don't have the same strengths as their counterparts. However, their common human traits mixed with animal traits is seen as exotic. Many pay a hefty price for them."

Roth looks over to him with only his eye in suspicion, " How do you know so much about them and what they're looking for?"

He softly giggles, "Information is a resourceful tool. They say knowledge is power and I try to have as many ears and eyes as possible to help keep the peace. Besides, wouldn't it be helpful to have knowledge and think how the enemy thinks."

Roth stares at Aufnier unsure. "Relax my good friend. Just want to double check with you, is this the assailant that put you in this mess?" Aufnier takes a folded parchment paper and unfolds it showing Roth. Roth's face looked dissatisfied. It was a bounty poster, wanted dead or alive. And the face of the bounty was the sketch of that deranged cat face masked woman. Roth clenched onto the bed sheets riddled with anger. "Yeah... that's the psycho that attacked me."

Aufnier gives another heart aching look, " Then that makes this situation more complicated. This blood lust lady is Frida and is second in command of the lernaean fidelity. We don't have that much information on her but from what we gather she has an insatiable appetite for power. Whenever someone catches her attention, she will "play" and see if the individual she has her eye on is worth anything. All reports on her during her playtimes have all resulted in the deaths of her victims. Which is why I'm amazed that you survived but by a thread of a miracle."

Roth just stares at the paper despising her for the trouble she caused. Before he could say anything else he notices a slow rustling under the covers. He removes the covers and sees Mina slowly waking up rubbing her eyes. As she slowly opens them fully, she makes eye contact with Roth. Immediately she gained a boost of energy and sprang into his arms. "Roth! I... I thought I lost you! I thought you were never going to wake up!" As she clings to his chest, hugging him tightly.

"Well, it's my que to leave you two be then. We'll discuss more on the matter at a later time Mr. Malvikun. Try not to overthink too much, okay?" As Aufnier gave a smile to them exiting the room. Roth continues to stare at the door still skeptical about the guild master. A slow faint sob can be heard and as Roth looks down, he sees Mina tearing up. "Hey c'mon I was only taking a nap. I got to have some rest to be stronger." As he flexes his right arm trying to break the tension.

"You got hurt... because of me Roth. You're hurt because of me." No big brother? He worries a little because she always calls him big brother. Now something is definitely wrong.

"If you hadn't met me, none of this would have happened. You wouldn't be risking your life because of someone weak like me. I don't deserve how kind you are to me! The people who had me were right... she was right. I bring nothing but misery to people. I just... I... I..." Roth feels terrible how traumatized she is and what those syndicate monsters have done to her. With his right hand he gently flicks her forehead barely just to grab her attention. She looks up with glossy eyes.

"Dummy, you didn't do anything wrong. I made a promise that I would make you stronger. And I don't mind protecting you at the same time as well."

"But... but I..."

"No buts, you are my little sister are you not? It's my job to make you stronger and protect you no matter what." He gently pats her on the head. Her eyes begin to build up with tears and rests her head on his chest and hugs him. "Big brother I..."

"It's okay, you don't need to say anything." As he smiles, still rubbing her head for comfort. Mina doesn't sob but her tears still pour out onto his chest. He felt a bit happy that she called him brother again. At first the only reason he brought her along in his party was to have some type of support. But after spending so much time that hardened heart to ignore being close to anyone was slowly being opened up. Being opened up to a little sister he never had before. To protect where he failed once before. All he could think to himself was how cruel, how cruel this game world is.