Furry

Aster ran towards the wall while Cecil retreated.

Right now, Nyle was trying to stand up.

Cecil was trying to distract the boss.

Boar was nowhere to be seen.

Asher confidently waited for the boss to come to him. In a way, he was baiting the boss so that Nyle could have time to get up.

And Aster was running towards the wall.

It didn't take two seconds before he reached the wall and slashed at it.

[ You have killed a monster painting. ]

[ You have gained 2 Energy Points. ]

"System, open shop." He didn't even wait to see the notifications.

The moment the shop appeared, he ordered again. "Buy and use the common gacha lottery ticket immediately!"

The ticket was bought before it was instantly used.

Aster watched anxiously the wheel turn. 

"Please give me something good. Please, something good." If he didn't get a useful enough item, it was possible that the whole party might get wiped out.

The wheel stopped.

And with it, Aster's heart.

[ You have gained 2 EP ]

The System announced.

Aster's heart sank as he saw the notification.

"Dammit!" He cursed. 'No time for that. I have to deal with the monster first.'

He looked at the three-meter big boss.

'Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!' He cursed inside his mind before abandoning all tactics and directly rushing at the boss.

Cecil noticed Aster's rush and kicked the boss's foot so that it would turn toward her and ignore Aster.

'I really have to get stronger after this.' Aster decided while madly rushing at the boss.

Once he reached it, he jumped, imitating the axe kick that Cecil tried on him before.

Aster hit the boss in the head. It wasn't a big injury, but it had accumulated a lot already.

"A few more like this, and we'll win," Cecil shouted.

The moment the boss turned towards Aster, she kicked it from behind as well.

"Fighting!" Asher shouted from the side.

Just as Cecil and Aster felt like lashing out at Ash, he picked a rock as thick as his hand and threw it at the boss.

Coincidentally, the boss opened its mouth to roar at that moment, allowing the rock to enter it.

"Nice one!" A shout could be heard from behind Aster.

He froze, feeling fear.

'Where was Boar all this time?'

At that moment, he could feel an overwhelming force on his shoulders.

Boar had used Aster as a stepping board. He jumped over Aster, holding both fists together and slamming them at the boss.

'Chance.' Aster's eyes lit up. He already forgot the whole traitor thing. All he cared about right now was to deal the finishing blow.

It wasn't because he wanted more contributions from the party.

'I need those EP!' He thought while running, stabbing the boss in what he presumed was a place that the heart should be in.

The boss collapsed.

[ You have killed a lesser furry. ]

[ You have gained 20 Energy Points. ]

"A what?!" Aster blinked twice to make sure he wasn't imagining it.

"This damn monster is named a furry?! And it's just a lesser one?" He said aloud.

Although he didn't shout, the silence that followed the monster's defeat ensured that everyone heard Aster's voice.

"That's a nice name." Cecil chuckled. "Fitting for such a furry monster."

"You got a great sense of humor. Maybe we should be friends." Ash laughed while patting Aster's back.

"Hahah." Aster laughed, trying not to talk more about the topic.

"How's Nyle?" He turned, seeing the spot where Nyle had been lying empty.

"I'm fine." Nyle walked from the side.

His face was bloody, his clothes torn, and his hair messy.

He wasn't the handsome leader anymore.

'And yet, why does he give me hot vibes even more?' Aster wanted to facepalm himself.

"Finally, we can leave the temple!" Ash said with a loud tone.

"As if." Cecil scoffed.

That was when Aster remembered Cecil's words.

'No, it's a warm-up.' and 'After all, there's a traitor among us. The real boss.'

He numbed his emotions.

"It's not the time to celebrate yet. We can only access secret passages now. Who knows what other monstrosities will await us." Nyle commented from the side.

'As long as we don't escape the temple, the traitor can always get to us.' Aster interpreted Nyle's words in another way.

The matter was far from over. It had only begun. Just like Cecil said.

"Aww." Ash showed a dejected expression. "I am bored of this temple already. Let's just leave."

"For now, let's go back. In a week, I expect everyone to be ready for the next exploration." Nyle said.

"Alright."

"Got it."

"Btw, how are we supposed to leave this place?" Ash approached the hole they entered from, peeking at the top.

All he could see was darkness and walls.

It was a mystery how the temple was preserved so much.

"Simple." Nyle chuckled. "We just climb back."

"Tch." Boar's annoyed voice could be heard.

"Well, some easier and some harder." Nyle laughed before jumping and grabbing the wall.

'How is he able to climb so easily? Isn't he injured?' Aster narrowed his eyes. He didn't expect Nyle to move so freely after such an intense fight.

'When I return, I'll learn spells.' 

'By the next expedition, I should be able to use magic.'

'Being weak and in the spotlight will only let the traitor deal with me.' He decided on his next course of action before grabbing the walls.

Aster really regretted becoming an explorer at that moment.

He climbed.

And climbed.

And climbed some more.

Making sure that the candles were preserved and always lit the path also didn't help his endeavor.

"I hate you, Nyle!" He shouted.

"I love you too, Aster." Was the reply he got back.

It took the team two whole hours to return back to the survivors' corridor.

The guard greeted them. It was the same guard from last night who asked Cecil for tribute but was ignored.

At this moment, after seeing five explorers all battered and probably not in a good mood, all he could do was lower his head.

Ask for a tribute?

He didn't wish to tribute his head to appeal their anger!

Nyle looked at the guard with a pitying gaze before taking a portion of the meat they had managed to scavenge.

"Here, I'll give you this. You worked hard." He patted the guard on the back.

For some reason, that action felt really wrong in Aster's mind, but he couldn't pinpoint why.

"Guys, I'll go back every day and bring portions of the boss back. I should be done by the next week. In the meantime, your task is to be ready by next week."

"Chances are, the next week will be the hardest until now." He said before leaving the rest.

"I'll bring your portion of the loot later to your rooms." Those were the only words he left behind before entering his room.

Boar and Asher bade their farewells as well.

When only Cecil and Aster were left, Cecil approached him.

"I know who the traitor is." She looked him in the eyes with a determined gaze.

"Is this another joke or..." He noticed her serious gaze. "How sure are you?"