…

….

…..

"Was it too much? As expected, you're still a kid, huh…" The crackling of the campfire could be heard amidst the downpour and silence. "Getting laid is when two people–"

"No, I know what that means," Eis interrupted, staring at Friedrich's face expressionless. "…Wait, you're not serious, right?"

"Unfortunately, he's serious," Frieda murmured, her eyes closed and head tilted downward.

Eis turned his head to Friedrich, his eyes squinted and his mouth slightly opened, “You're willing to risk your life, just to do it?”

“Manly, isn't it?” Friedrich replied with a smirk. “When a damsel is in distress, I’ll make an entrance and slay the monster effortlessly. Flawless plan, isn’t it?”

“Friedrich, I don’t think that will work. Look at Frieda; I don’t think she likes me or anything.”

“That’s because, Eis, Frieda here would prefer someone who’s old enough, independent, and handsome. Her standards are really high.”

“I don’t know about my standards being high; I’ve never really thought about it. But doesn’t Eis fit all of that, though?”

Friedrich lifted his left brow and turned to Frieda. “What’s this? Do you like Eis or something?”

Frieda turned her head in the opposite direction of Friedrich with her eyes closed as she crossed her arms, “At least, I think his goal is more respectable than yours.”

“Outlandish! My goal cannot possibly be measured against such a thing!” Friedrich immediately stood up upon hearing Frieda’s answer. “My sister, I won’t dare propose that our perspectives shall align every time. However, you must understand, the feeling of perpetual loneliness, without the company of one’s significant other, is the bane of a man’s existence.”

“I think it’s a bit respectable. By pursuing his goal, won’t Friedrich save a lot of people?”

“Oh, you’re getting it. At the very least, I knew you’d understand, Eis.”

“That’s just the effect of the cause,” Ruhig muttered, his eyes half opened and his chin resting on his palm.

“Besides, it’s not like this guy goes around saving people,” Bernadette added.

“And if he does, it’s only girls he puts effort into saving,” Heidi quipped.

“Putting those aside, I think you should reconsider your approach to girls.”

“What? Are you saying I’m bad at approaching girls, Will?”

“Not really…”

“Nah, that’s totally what Will said,” Heidi teased.

Friedrich shrugged off their remarks and walked out. “Regardless of what society says, I will pursue my path.”

“Where are you going?”

“Sleep.”

Eis yawned. “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I’m sleepy too.”

“Let’s go to sleep, shall we?” Will suggested.

“Who’s going to guard?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Ruhig’s ability will take care of that.”

.

.

“It finally worked.”

“Seriously, how long were these fuckers gonna keep talking?”

“Still, these logs that put you to sleep when burned, that guy gave us work really well. Look at them—sleeping like logs without even noticing us.”

“Take everything of value. Oh, and don't forget the crimson marble thing that guy mentioned.”

The four men moved quietly. The first was bald with a relatively big frame; the second, a lanky guy armed with a sword. The third had an unkempt appearance, while the fourth wore glasses, his hair tied back in a tight, high man-bun.

While ransacking, the lanky guy glanced at the sleeping Frieda and licked his lips. "Hey, bro, this girl..."

"Oi, she's muscular, but she ain't bad either," the bald guy added, looking at Bernadette while smiling.

"Whatever. Take the valuables first, then kill the ones sleeping," the man with glasses ordered. Before the lanky man could press the sharp edge of his sword to their throats, a sudden electric spark jolted through their hands.

The man with glasses tensed, his expression twisting. "We need to run. Now!" he exclaimed.

The four bolted, moving at breakneck speed, with the man with glasses leading the way. He glanced back at his companions and clicked his tongue in frustration.

.

.

An hour had passed since they were put to sleep. Being the first to wake, Ruhig gave a cursory glance around, and an oval-shaped with an arrow on top made out of geist, pointing in a specific direction, lay on the ground. Standing up, he spread his arms and opened his palms wide. As he did so, blue lightning sparked in his hands and spread to the foreheads of those still sleeping—except for Friedrich.

“What? Mhm? Where's Frieda and Bernadette?” Eis inquired, his eyes still half opened.

“They were kidnapped.”

Upon hearing that they were kidnapped, Eis’ eyes opened wide as he darted around, “What?! We have to hurry. Which direction did the kidnappers take?”

“Calm down. Frieda left a compass pointing in her direction, and with a distance indicator, we can chase them anytime.”

“When did she—”

“Will, Heidi, you two prepare. Eis, you sit.”

“What?”

“How well can you control your geist nowadays?”

“It still fluctuates, but I can at least control it better than when we first started training.”

“Right now, we’re on the 35th floor. Any floor lower than this won’t be as vast and will be more compact with monsters, so they won’t have any other places to hide. It’s safe to assume their hideout is on the 35th floor or higher.”

“Huh?”

“What I’m saying is, as vast as the floors above 35, it’ll take you even longer than the current estimated time to go back if you come with us to rescue Bernadette and Frieda. If you wish to go back, Will is going to escort you. The two of you should be fine—Will is not bad in combat and can heal. Although your control still fluctuates, the monsters below shouldn’t be able to catch you off-guard.”

Should I-

Before Eis could complete the sentence in his head, a sharp coldness engulfed him, as if the cold were biting at his skin. His eyes widened in shock. His brows furrowed in confusion and fear as a mist of bright teal began to cloud his vision, swirling like a living thing. Both sides of his temple throbbed painfully, as though something deep inside him were being torn apart. Eis staggered, reaching out, but the world around him seemed to blur and darken, the ground beneath him growing colder with every passing second. The pain in his head surged, and for a moment, he felt as if he might collapse. But then, as the mist thickened, the pain began to dissipate. When his vision cleared, Eis found himself standing upon the frozen floor, covered in darkness and mist that surrounded him once more. The chill now bit through his very bones. His heart hammered in his chest, but his legs felt rooted, as if the cold had frozen him in place. The glowing eyes of the dragon, emerging from the darkness and mist, grew closer as its neck leaned toward Eis.

As Eis frowned and remained speechless, ice began to form at his feet, creeping upward slowly until his entire body was frozen.

The dragon's razor-sharp teeth began to show as it opened its mouth. "Are you going to abandon your own goals? I can't say I'm amused. Your determination towards your goal easily wavers the moment a trivial distraction arrives.”

A sweat of bud formed in Eis' temple, freezing on its way down. The frozen sweat bud in Eis' temple made it hard to fully open his right eye.

Even after all I've said, you remain void of words. How unbefitting, how pathetic. Truly, how unworthy." The ice had reached Eis' neck. "Unfortunate that this is all you amount to. Remain frozen within your own mind for eternity.”

The dragon closed its eyes as the ice crept steadily up Eis' body, its chill biting into his skin. With each inch it covered, a sense of numbness spread. The mist swirled around him, thick and suffocating, and the darkness pressed in as though the world itself were closing its jaws.