Is it wrong to pick up girls in the alley?

"Where should I go?"

Kai muttered as he walked around the streets of Orario.

It was at this time that he had spotted a familiar figure he did not see back in the pub.

"Miss Ryuu good morning."

Kai waved his hand cheerfully greeting Ryuu.

"Good morning."

Ryuu was surprised but right after seeing Kai she greeted back in her characteristic neutral tone.

"What are you doing early in the morning?"

Asked Kai out of curiosity.

"Buying ingredients."

Ryuu replied.

Kai nodded and as if something in mind came up he smiled brightly.

"Why don't I help you?"

Kai suggested making the stoic elf hesitate, but before she could dissuade him Kai added.

"There's no need to hesitate, here. Let me have that bag, so you can pick ingredients more thoroughly."

Saying so Kai stole the bag from Ryuu's hands, everything happened so fast that Ryuu wasn't able to react but one thing she did notice was Kai held her hand even though it only happened for a single second.

Ryuu then recalled a deceased friend's words, and she couldn't help but feel complicated.

[Don't let go of a person who caught your hand.]

However as Kai took the lead and dragged her around the stalls selling fruits and vegetables with his carefree and cheerful behavior reminding Ryuu more of Alice Lovell, Ryuu did not notice that a smile managed to surface on her face.

…

Kai and Ryuu were walking back to the hostess of fertility after their shopping when they heard a crashing sound coming from the alley.

Ryuu hastened her steps as Kai followed behind her.

Arriving at the scene, Kai and Ryuu saw three men beating up a human girl as she shielded another girl who begs her to stop protecting her.

But the human girl was unyielding as she used her own body to shield the little girl.

Ryuu's face that was all smiles a while ago enjoying her time with Kai turned into a frown.

The same goes for Kai.

Ryuu was about to step in to help the two girls when Kai placed his hands on her shoulder.

Ryuu looks back at Kai giving him a questioning look.

"Let me take care of this."

Said Kai.

His voice was cold, and his eyes were devoid of any emotions shocking Ryuu.

Unknown images popping out in his head.

But instead of pain it brought him peace and tranquility.

Kai gently placed the groceries onto the ground before vanishing from his spot appearing an instant beside the adventurer who was kicking the poor human girl that was protecting the smaller girl.

The moment Kai appeared using teleport his fist was already raised punching the man straight on his face blasting him off like a cannonball.

*Boom*

The man's eyes rolled back as his body smashed hard onto the wall more than 50 meters ahead and most of his bones broke, but he was still alive.

Not giving them the chance to react Kai made his next move by kicking the next closest guy before him, sending him flying just like the first guy.

Ryuu and the two girls gasp at the sight of how Kai was able to easily take down the two in an instant.

Kai did not know what's happening to him the images stop showing up but the moment he shifted his gaze at the unyielding white hair and red-eyed girl another image began to surface, it was the image of a small young girl with a pale complexion, long black hair, and large obsidian eyes that were framed by long eyelashes and small, wide eyebrows.

But just as he found the young girl's image a bit familiar the last guy screamed at him.

"You bitch."

The guy pulled out a knife as he tried to stab Kai.

A vein can be seen on Kai's forehead after the guy mistakes him for a woman and calls him a bitch.

He also interrupted what should have been a plot development.

Before the knife could touch a hair on his body Kai grabbed the last man's wrist gripping it so hard until a cracking sound resounded making the three girls watching the confrontation cringed feeling bad for the guy.

The guy let out a loud scream of pain and Kai let go of his hand.

He drops onto the ground rolling in pain snots dripping from his nose accompanied by tears.

But Kai didn't care as he mercilessly kicked him on the side sending him sliding to where the first knock down man was at.

*Boom*

The collision knocked the last man out, and plenty of bones definitely broke from that kick.

Kai clutched his head.

'Great Investigator, what were those images?'

Kai tried to get answers from his trusted partner but to his dismay.

[Unable to comprehend the question.]

Great Investigator didn't see the images which baffled Kai because Great Investigator is a part of his soul and should be able tell everything about himself.

'I guess I wouldn't get answers that easily, huh.'

Kai sighed.

"Are you ok?"

Ryuu sees Kai clutching his head asked in a worried tone.

"I'm fine it was nothing, just some minor headache."

Kai lied to dodge Ryuu's inquiry.

"How about you two, are you ok?"

Kai kneels down and asks the two girls, though he could already tell that they weren't ok from the cuts and bruises they have.

"Please help her."

She has a petite body with chestnut-colored hair and eyes.

She wears a slightly torn red and white hooded top that exposes her midriff and a red skirt that she chooses to leave unbuttoned.

She also uses long hand gloves, black tights and light-brown boots.

Kai immediately recognized the girl, Liliruca Arde.

But the Lili before him is different.

Not on the outside but on the inside.

Kai can see through one's soul and due to this Kai is able to tell that Lili is different from the original Lili he knew.

Lili at this time should still hate adventurers but Kai sense no hatred in her soul.

The Lili before him is a strong-willed girl trying to prove herself.

Did my existence change the timeline that much.

I don't think so.

It has only been less than two months since I and Artoria arrived in this world it's impossible to imagine that I can affect other people's stories even before I met them.

The butterfly effect couldn't possibly affect other people's past experiences.

Then there's only one explanation to this.

I'm in an alternate reality of Danmachi.

Kai presumed.

"I can't heal her, she needs a doctor. Some of her bones were dislocated and if I were to heal at this moment it might result in irreparable damages."

Said Ryuu.

"No…"

Lili's expression crumbled, her complexion went pale and tears began to pour down like a fountain.

"Don't… cry… it's… not… like… I'm... dying…"

The heavily injured girl muttered, trying to reassure Lily.

"Stop saying nonsense, didn't you want to become an adventurer? How can you become one if…"

Before Lily could continue, Kai stepped in.

"I can heal you, but it will be very painful."

He told the heavily injured girl.

"I… will… endure."

The girl replied in broken words.

"Enduring the pain wouldn't be enough."

Kai added to which the girl nodded in a resolute expression.

"You two, please step back."

Kai asked Lili and Ryuu to which the two nodded.

But before Lili steps back she grabs Kai's hands.

"Please help her, please."

Lili begged him.

"I will, don't worry."

Kai assured her.

He was happy to see this side of Lili.

"Ok, let's begin."