"Tch... if you have so many healing potions, why the heck are you asking for my help? Can't you just heal yourself?"
In one of the corners of the E-rank Dungeon, Emberwing Roost, Sylvia spoke, clearly annoyed at Soren.
After his vehement persuasion that this might be a test from the Elite Hunter Academy and that they should try to conquer the dungeon to the best of their ability, they finally agreed to stay a little longer inside.
But Sylvia wasn't having any of it.
"What do you mean? Do you know how much a healing potion costs? One vial costs me 50 credit points, and it's single-use. I only have five with me. Why would I waste them for nothing when you're the healer?"
Soren rolled his eyes. To be honest, he really felt a pang of heartache when buying those potions earlier.
But remembering the credit points they could rake in by completing the dungeon all by themselves, his mood improved again.
"Tch... and you think you can waste my mana for nothing?"
"Hey, didn't I give you a mana potion just now?"
"Didn't you give it to me in the hope that I could save you again after your foolishness? I don't know why you guys are listening to this idiot who doesn't even know the value of his own life."
Sylvia grumbled, making Evan, Aurelia, and Aria feel a bit embarrassed. She was the only one who didn't want to explore the dungeon despite Soren's persuasion.
According to her, they should leave first and make thorough preparations instead of trying to clear an unknown dungeon by themselves.
They wouldn't always get lucky, after all.
From an outsider's perspective, Sylvia really seemed unfit to become a hunter.
But Soren knew this was only before her true awakening. After all, she was the main heroine in the Dating Sim. She had her own separate storyline.
"Hey... did you recover your mana? Can you use those barriers of yours again? You really saved us back there. That was quite impressive."
For now, Soren directly ignored Sylvia's grumbling and turned to Aurelia instead, intending to divert the conversation.
After wasting 1000 credit points, he wasn't going to let them leave the dungeon just like that.
"..."
Unfortunately, Aurelia directly ignored his question and didn't even look at him, making the situation even more awkward.
"Ahem... hello? Miss Aurelia, I'm talking to you."
Soren tried again, only to be ignored once more. He could already sense everyone trying to hold back their laughter.
"Pfff... you have some guts. After calling her 'idiots' to her face, you're trying to talk to her? Not even a sorry, tch... tch..."
Well, except Sylvia, of course, who didn't miss the chance to jab at him. She only stopped laughing and lowered her head, teasing him with her tongue when he shot her a cold look.
But judging from the increasingly frosty expression on Aurelia's face, Sylvia was right.
She really took that word to heart. Well, there was another guy too, but Soren ignored him.
"Cough... Miss Aurelia, the situation was perilous at that time, and you didn't dodge when I told you to. So I got a bit worked up. If you're offended, I'm sorr—"
"I don't mind. Let's focus on killing monsters instead."
Aurelia cut him off and flatly replied.
It wasn't that she was angry about being called an idiot. She was angry that someone dared to question her skills.
Her prideful solution was simple: prove him wrong.
That was also why she had so readily agreed to continue exploring the dungeon.
"Oh... okay then."
Soren simply shrugged. He wasn't going to kiss her cold ass.
Knowing her personality, Aurelia wasn't someone who could be swayed by words alone. So instead, Soren shot a warning glance at the giggling Sylvia, successfully silencing her.
Then, feeling slightly tired, he slowed his pace and intentionally fell behind when he suddenly heard someone grumbling.
"What about me? You called me an idiot too, you know."
It was Evan who looked ready to forgive him as long as he received an apology. His handsome, sunny face was clearly fishing for an apology as he leaned a little closer.
"Get lost! Why would I apologize when you are indeed an idiot?"
Annoyed, Soren pushed Evan aside and moved to the back, positioning himself beside Aria Luna. His expression was full of irritation.
"Hey... Soren, who are you calling an idiot? Damn, you've really changed these days."
Soren ignored Evan's complaints, slipped his hand into his pocket, and activated his Eagle's Eyes to scan the surroundings.
As a dungeon dominated by flying-type monsters like falcons, the terrain consisted mostly of towering cliffs connected by stretches of dense forest below.
They had landed on one of the outer cliffs, its edges covered in thick vegetation that clung to the rocky surface.
From their position near the perimeter, they could clearly see the massive central cliff rising above everything else, which was most likely the boss monster's nest.
Fortunately, with the E-rank Blazing Falcon Feather, navigating the cliffs wasn't too difficult. Still, they had no intention of heading toward the center just yet.[1]
For now, they were somewhat relaxed, since they still hadn't left the territory of the two falcons they had just killed.
"Hmm?"
While Soren was carefully analyzing his surroundings, he felt someone's gaze from the side.
When he turned, he saw Aria trying to dodge his eyes, only to fail miserably.
"Is there something on my face?"
Soren noticed that Aria was staring at him a little too intently.
Of course, it wasn't that she was interested in him as he still hadn't received any quest from her, but rather, she seemed genuinely curious about something.
"N-No..."
Flustered, Aria quickly lowered her head, her chin nearly brushing her ample bosom.
From his vantage point above, Soren couldn't help but notice just how well-endowed she was.
Soren knew she was shy and didn't have much skill at socializing.
Even now, she hadn't said a word to Evan, despite him being her crush. She would just glance at him occasionally, only when she thought no one was watching.
The poor girl was really suffering all alone.
Seeing her plight, Soren decided to help her a little as a sly smile spread across his lips.
He was a gentleman, after all.
"Hey... Aria, you saw that, right?"
[1] Added one extra effect: Slow Fall, to this item, which I forgot to show before.