Chapter 21 - Unwanted Meeting

Loki widened his eyes. The one hiding was a human like them; in fact, it was a very familiar man. He didn't expect to meet the long-haired thug this soon. Yet, his concern wasn't because they met the person who robbed them, but because the same person was filled with injuries.

His leather armor was torn and bloodied, just like the spear he held. Slashes and stabs filled his body, and arrows could even be seen stuck on his back. Regardless, he wasn't worried about the injured man; he had no ounce of sympathy toward the long-haired thug.

"What do you want?" Loki asked with a serious tone.

The thug raised his hands and spoke. "Hey, don't be like that; I'm obviously too injured to do something to you guys, and it seems your group isn't in the best condition to fight either."

"Yeah, like we can't see that."

"You don't need to be so hostile. I'm here to make a deal."

Loki frowned. "What made you think we would even consider dealing with you?"

"I don't know, maybe because everyone's life is on the line? Don't get me wrong, if I'm not in a desperate position, I won't even consider talking to you guys about this, especially…" The long-haired man glanced at Pandora.

"Shut up! Who are you to judge Pandora? You're an embarrassment to all Crawlers!" Leo rebutted after seeing the thug looking at Pandora with disdain.

The long-haired man shrugged. "I didn't say anything. So, what do you say? Do you want to hear it or not? We don't have much time."

Loki furrowed deeper. Even though making a deal with the thug was against his pride, if the man told the truth—that it was indeed a life-and-death situation—listening perhaps wasn't such a bad idea.

"Speak."

"What are you saying, Loki? Are you really going to listen to that scum?" Leo said in disbelief.

Loki looked at Leo. "There's no harm in hearing him. And even if we listen, it doesn't mean we will accept, so don't worry and keep resting."

The long-haired man smiled. "I knew you're a reasonable kid."

"Stop beating around the bushes and speak; I thought you said we didn't have time."

"Fine. As we converse, there are two Crawlers who are tracking me. I want your group's help to deal with them."

Loki stared at the thug with unamused eyes. "Why would we ever help you with that? Don't you have your own party? Where are they anyway? Are they hiding somewhere to ambush us?"

The long-haired man grimaced. "They are all dead, killed by the same group that is tracking me."

"Well, I can't say I feel sorry. But how is this related to us? I don't see any benefit in helping you."

"The benefit is that your party will have a chance to see another day. The thing is, the group hunting me isn't normal. They belong to the Occult. I'm sure you already know what will happen if they see you."

Occult? This is the second time I have heard that name.

"No, I don't. Tell me what will happen if they see us."

The thug shook his head. "This is your first time in a Dungeon, aren't you?" He sighed. "Why don't you ask that girl? I'm sure she is well aware of what the people of the Occult do if they see you."

Loki turned his attention to Pandora. The timid girl was shaking, as if the mere mention of the group's name brought something painful. In any case, his first impression of the Occult wasn't good either. If the people hunting the long-haired man belonged to the same group that killed the swordsman, then there was a high possibility that they would be involved.

Loki returned his gaze to the thug. "Instead of fighting, I think it's better for us if we run as far away from you. You're the one they are searching for after all."

The long-haired man chuckled. "Hehe, that's probably the best decision. But can you leave behind your injured member? I don't think you have the heart to do that."

Loki frowned. "What made you think we needed to leave someone behind to escape?"

"Well, because I will follow you. Even with my injuries, I'm confident I can match your group's speed if you decide to bring that injured kid. If I'm going to die, I would rather go to the afterlife with companions," the thug said while hinting about Leo's injury.

Loki unsheathed his dagger from his belt. "Then, should I kill you first?"

The long-haired man grinned. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Maybe, but I promise you, before you can kill me, the people looking for me will be here. And if that happens, you will lose another person to fight them. Are you confident that you can beat them on your own?"

Amidst their conversation, two strangers suddenly interrupted their heated debate. They wore a hooded cloak, and their faces were hidden by a white mask with intricate symbols of an eye. One held a sword, and the other a wooden staff.

"It looks like we run out of time. So, what do you say?" The thug asked.

Loki scanned the new arrivals. They indeed had the same clothing style as the robber on the wasteland. But the symbol on their white mask caught his attention the most. He had seen it before, but he wasn't sure where.

As Loki eyed the strangers, a woman who held a wooden staff spoke. "Dungeon isn't a place for kids; I suggest that you head back and never return."

Loki's eyebrows rose. "Are you letting us go?"

The other masked stranger nodded. "We don't kill kids, so get out of here before we change our mind."

"Don't believe them! They know they are at a disadvantage if you help me fight them! If you leave me here to die, they will come after you!" The long-haired man warned.

Loki didn't know what to do. Although the thug's words were difficult to trust, there was some truth in it. Also, people who belonged to the Occult weren't exactly trustworthy either.

Do I trust the murderer or the person who robbed us?

Loki looked at Leo and Pandora, searching for the answer to his dilemma.

Pandora seemed shaken and not in the right mind to make a decision. Leo, on the other hand, was injured and probably didn't want to help the long-haired man, which was understandable.

"I will count to 3 if you kids don't go; we will consider that you want to help this man," the man holding a sword said.

"Okay, we will leave," Loki said, walking to Pandora and Leo.

"You stupid kid! This is why I hate newbies!" The thug shouted.

When Loki reached his members' side, he moved closer to Pandora and whispered. "Should we believe the strangers?"

"N-no," Pandora whispered back.

Hearing this, Loki crouched and helped Leo up. "Get ready, I know you're not in the best condition, but I think we need to get involved."

Leo nodded.

It appeared he was willing to set aside his problem with the long-haired man.

"We're going now." Loki assisted Leo and walked away from the scene.

Upon reaching 10 meters away, they heard a clash of metal, meaning that the thug and the strangers began fighting.

"Okay, I will leave you two here. Pandora, if you see an opportunity to utilize your skill, please do. I know you're low in stamina, but all I'm asking is for you to distract them for a second. Leo, your job is to protect Pandora. I know you want to fight, but we all know you are not in a good condition." After saying that, Loki left, fearful that he would be too late.

Loki witnessed the intense exchange of the sword and spear while the woman was on the back casting a spell. Seeing this, he didn't waste an opportunity and threw a small knife at the mage.

Unfortunately, the woman saw it and blocked the knife with her wooden staff.

"What are you doing, kid? Do you want to die?" The masked woman asked.

"I certainly not; that's why I'm doing this. My gut is telling me not to trust you guys," Loki rebutted.

"Hahaha, I knew you were smart!" The thug exclaimed in delight.

"Then we have no choice but to kill you too," the masked man declared.

Loki swiftly rushed to the woman. With his speed, it only took him a few seconds to shorten their distance. Fortunately, the long-haired man was distracting the swordsman; he could focus solely on his target. Without her partner, the mage was an easy target for a Rogue.

When Loki was close enough, he propelled himself with astonishing speed and instantly appeared beside the mage, attacking her with a quick slash. He had no idea what the reaction of the masked woman was, but he could imagine her panicked stricken face behind her white mask.

Loki smiled when he saw the tip of his dagger was only a few cm from the woman's neck. He didn't know if he was nervous, excited, or scared, as this was his first time actively taking someone else's life. The first one didn't count as it was an accident.

However, when his blade landed, Loki's eyes immediately widened. He hadn't felt resistance as if he were slashing the air, and what was more confusing was that the image of the masked woman became distorted and disappeared suddenly.