Morning come, and after a playful night with the orphans, we gather around the table, eating our breakfast. Mrs Saga isn't what we would call a great cook, but nonetheless, her cooking have improved over the past six years. Most of us can cook better than her, but there is something about her food, something that just warm your heart when you eat it, and does, the three of us would crave for her motherly food.

"I see, so you won't go with us. That's too bad but understandable" [Elise]

"True. We are in a dire situation as of now, with the clashes between old and new follower constantly happening around Kiserre, so our defence force take a massive hit. Even the two S rank siblings work tirelessly around the clock, so I don't think they will be available to help you. That said, should you need anything, just ask, I'll try my utmost best to help you" [Khamishah]

"Thank you for the offer, but we are the one that suppose to help you" [Kara]

"True. It feels like for the past few years, we have been nothing but trouble to you" [Charlotte]

"Don't say that. You have help us much more than we can count" [Khamishah]

If she's talking about subjugating devil around the Kiserre's part of the open field dungeon, then maybe we are, but then again, should her hand are free from the bind of her country, she could handle it all by herself

After the incident of the beginning, much of the old follower gather around the holy palace, as well as the surrounding counties, and Kiserre, being one of the countries take the hit pretty hard, and now, the two religious are at each other throat, with the new religion having a massive disadvantage between the two

"Well now, I already inform the adventure that will take you to the underground lake, so after breakfast, I'll come and follow you, just until the lake that it" [Khamishah]

"Are you sure? We don't want to burden you any more than this" [Kara]

"It's fine. That spot seems significant, so the least I can do is knowing the location" [Khamishah]

Since she insists to go, the three of us gladly take her offer. After breakfast, together with Mrs Saga, the four of us set out to the adventure guild, and

"Fake heroes! Die!"

"!" [Elise]

A random old follower throw a package containing animal dropping at Elise, or at least try to, as Elise simply burn the package before it even reach us, and the horrid smell affect her keen beastman nose more so than any one of us

Stolen story; please report.

~Cough~

The horrid smell, I start throwing a cough, and looking at my condition, Mrs Saga snap, but against all odd, a fire of light and dark begin encircling that man

"Wait! Let me go! Mrs Saga! Help me!"

"Oh don't worry. I will, but right after you apologize to Charlotte" [Elise]

"Why... cough...cough... me?" [Charlotte]

She didn't reply anything, instead, just a big scary smile reminding me of how Sis Diana used to do to us (and yes, she still does it from time to time)

"Never! I will never apologize to the fake heroes! I will rather die!"

"Then die you should. Let's go" [Khamishah]

"True" [Mahsuri]

"Wait! Please don't leave me!"

Being the first to start walking, Elise does not even hesitate to leave the man behind. As we walk, I can hear his voice getting weaker and weaker until

~Thud~

the sound of a somebody collapsing into the ground, and when I look behind, the fire were no more, only the man, lying, unconscious. He seems fine, other than the fact that he is breathing heavily and sweating profusely. Must be because of the fire cast by Elise

"Is it really fine?" [Charlotte]

"It is" [Elise]

"Then why don't you respond to the guard yesterday?" [Charlotte]

Why did she keep quiet when the guard insult her yesterday, but react to that guy just now? I'm confused

"Simple. You weren't hurt yesterday, but just now, that guy causes harm to you, that's why I snapped and do that" [Elise]

"But your nose are more sensitive than I am! Surely you are affected more by it! Why don't you get angry for yourself?" [Charlotte]

"I can, but every time I get angry because for my own sake, it will ended up hurting my feelings even more, but not when getting angry for your sake, or any one of us for that matter" [Elise]

"Sigh... I just don't understand you" [Charlotte]

"You will once you're older" [Kara]

"I'm old and mature enough!" [Charlotte]

"Haha. old and mature, if that's the case, I must be a grandma by now" [Khamishah]

The conversation take a turn from a serious one to a comedy, even though my mind is still thinking why she didn't bother defending herself. I'm happy that she will act like that if I was in danger, it makes me feel protected and love, but if only she gives herself the same treatment. Maybe I should be the one taking care of her if she didn't want to do it by herself

Going to the adventure guild, we thought of talking with Anjin and Kucin first, but they aren't here, so we quickly talk with the adventure that will bring us there, as he described to us about the strange mermaids he saw back then, and as expected, it's the same description from the one we investigate two days back.

We enter one of the path leading to the ancient tunnel, and after taking multiple turn, we finally arrived at the location. It's not a big lake, maybe pond will be a better word, but the water is surprisingly clear, just a clear water like this ought to attract attention of a life form. At least I would expect to see a fly and a frog, but there are none of them. I wonder why

"Stay back. All of you" [Mahsuri]

And following her instruction, we did exactly that