I killed them. I actually killed them.

I stood there, staring at the bodies.

My stomach churned. I tried to breathe, but the air felt thick and heavy. A sudden wave of nausea hit me, and I doubled over, clutching my stomach as I vomited from the disgust i felt.

This wasn’t like killing monsters in the game—things that respawned or didn't matter.

This was real. These were real people, now reduced to nothing but bloodied corpses.

I wasn’t some overpowered character wiping out mobs. These were people, and I had ended their lives. Permanently.

My breathing quickened, the reality of what I'd done crashing down on me. I could feel my hands trembling.

“What the hell did I just do?” I whispered to myself, the words barely making it past my lips.

I had killed them because they were a threat, because they were going to take the girl and… what? Enslave her? Abuse her? I did what I had to, right?

But even as I tried to rationalize it, the sick feeling in my stomach didn’t go away.

I wiped my brow with the back of my hand, taking in a shaky breath as I tried to calm myself down. "I had no choice." I muttered under my breath.

But deep down, I knew there was more to it than that.

It wasn’t just about protecting the girl. There was a part of me—some dark, twisted part of me—that had wanted to kill them.

To prove to myself that I could survive in this hellhole, even against my own kind.

I glanced down at the gnome girl, still trembling behind me.

The reality of what she must have seen hit me, and my stomach twisted with guilt.

The girl’s tiny frame was shaking, her eyes wide with fear as she stared up at me.

I couldn’t blame her.

I had brutally killed three people. She had every reason to be afraid.

I crouched down slowly, trying to make myself appear less threatening despite the gruesomeness around us.

“Hey…” I began softly, though my voice sounded far more fragile than I intended. "Are you okay?"

She flinched at my words, taking a hesitant step back. I could see the terror in her eyes.

"Ha~" I sighed as i rubbed the back of my neck, unsure of what to say.

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What could I say to someone who had just witnessed something so horrifying?

“Look, I know you’re scared.” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and steady .

"But I'm not going to hurt you. I never wanted this." My hand waved uncertainly toward the bodies behind me.

"But they weren't going to let you go unless I stopped them. You saw it, didn't you? If I hadn't killed them, they would have killed me and taken you away again. You understand why I had to do it, don't you?"

She didn’t respond. Her eyes just flickered nervously between me and the corpses, her tiny body tensed as if ready to bolt at any moment.

I saved her life, and yet I couldn’t even look her in the eye without feeling like I’d done something wrong.

I looked down at the ground, unable to meet her gaze anymore.

“You can leave,” I said softly. “With your inheritance, you should be able to find your way out of here.”

There was a long, uncomfortable silence between us.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke. Her voice was barely audible, trembling with uncertainty. “W-why did you… help me?”

Her question caught me off guard. I looked down at her, surprised that she had spoken. She stood there, her tiny body still trembling, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and confusion.

“I guess…I just couldn’t stand by and watch.”

“I'm sure you've asked for my help for a reason. Did your inheritance guide you to me? If it did, then maybe… maybe that’s proof enough that I don’t have any intention of hurting you.”

She studied me carefully, her eyes searching mine for some hint of the truth. I wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but I hoped she could see that I was being sincere.

She slowly stepped forward. Her tiny hand reached out hesitantly, brushing against my knee. Her touch was light, almost hesitant, as if she was still unsure of me.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely holding steady.

I managed a smile. “Yeah…” I said softly. “You’re welcome.”

I couldn’t drag her along with me through this hellhole even though I’d considered using her inheritance for my own gain.

She had to find her own way out, and I needed to focus on staying alive.

“Look,” I said, taking a deep breath, “use your inheritance. Find the path that leads you out of this dungeon and back home. That’s what’s best for you.”

She nodded slowly. She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing as she called upon her inheritance in order to guide her.

I waited, watching her closely.

But then, something strange happened. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at me, confusion written all over her face.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I… I did what you said,” she stammered, “but… all the paths… they all lead back to you.”

I blinked in confusion. “What?”

“No matter what I try,” she continued, her voice growing more desperate, “every path my inheritance shows me… it all leads back to you. If I leave your side, I—I'll die.”

The gnome’s [Pathfinder] inheritance, an ability that could guide them through even the most dangerous situations was insistent in having her by my side?

I sighed heavily, rubbing the back of my neck. “So… you're saying you need my help to get out of here alive?”

She nodded, her eyes wide with fear. “I’m begging you,” she said quietly. “I’ll help you however I can. I know I’m not strong, but… my inheritance can guide us out. I-In exchange I can help you find whatever is hidden in this place. Just… don’t leave me.”

I stared at her for a long moment, weighing my options. I couldn’t just abandon her now.

And… if her inheritance could really lead me to hidden rooms and treasures, then maybe this wouldn’t be such a bad arrangement after all.

“Alright,” I said finally, kneeling down to her level. “Here’s the deal. You help me find whatever hidden secret lies in this floor first, and in exchange, I’ll help you get out of this dungeon. Deal?”

Her eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope, and she nodded eagerly. “Deal!” she squeaked.

“Good, whe're a party then.” I said, standing back up. “Then let’s get moving. Lead the way."

The small gnome girl fell in step beside me.

Maybe, just maybe, this unlikely alliance would work out for both of us.

And if her inheritance was right… then perhaps fate had something bigger in store for me than I had ever anticipated.