Chapter 108: [Bonus Chapter] The Unexpected 5th Member Rever’s voice trembled with disbelief as his eyes widened upon seeing Midnight Duchess. "N-no way . . . You’re Midnight Duchess! The top assassin! Oh, I must be dreaming! Somebody pinch me! Quick!"
At Rever’s request, Yuzuro obligingly pinched his arm.
Despite her gentle demeanor, Yuzuro’s pinch should not be underestimated, as she was rumored to have had an iron grip in her earlier years.
Rever’s yelp of pain echoed through the air, causing him to jump on his toes. With tearful eyes, he turned to accuse Yuzuro. "Why did you pinch me?"
Yuzuro tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face and a question over her head. "But you told me to pinch you."
Rever’s exasperation was evident as he exclaimed, "I was only kidding!"
Unfazed by Red Dragon’s reaction, Midnight Duchess approached the group with an unwavering gaze fixed on Lord Schrodinger. "I heard you’re going to attempt The Abandoned Dwarven Fortress. Coincidentally, I’m looking for a group to attempt it too."
"Of course, you’re welcome to join us!" Rever eagerly exclaimed, his eagerness evident in his tone as he rubbed his injured arm.
Xin couldn’t help but give Rever a side glance. He was definitely simping to top players.
However, Victor took charge and swiftly interjected. "Uhm . . . excuse us for a moment," he told Midnight Duchess.
Without waiting for Midnight Duchess’s reply, Victor guided Xin and the others away from her, ensuring their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.
"We can’t bring her along," Victor stated with firm resolve as soon as they were away from Midnight Duchess.
"Eh? Why not?" Rever protested, his fervor undeterred. "She’s a top player and level 114. You can’t wish for a better companion than that."
Victor’s expression remained serious as he issued a warning. "She might be a top player with an impressive level, but she’s dangerous. Infamous for luring and killing players, she doesn’t discriminate between new and experienced players if their items catch her fancy."
He continued, his tone carrying the weight of caution. "She’s notorious for being devious, full of tricks, and anyone who’s included her in their group has suffered mysterious deaths, finding their hard-earned items missing afterward."
As Victor provided these details, Xin couldn’t help but momentarily glance back at Midnight Duchess. She stood calmly, an air of indifference surrounding her as she crossed her arms, half of her face concealed by a mask like she didn’t care about anything at all.
Their eyes met, and Xin felt a shiver down his spine as she seemingly greeted him with a subtle curl of her fingers and a knowing smile that he could almost sense beneath the mask.
Quickly breaking their gaze, Xin focused his attention back on the ongoing debate.
"But she seemed nice," Yuzuro offered, her voice gentle as always.
Victor’s tone carried a stern lecture. "She may appear nice, but inside, she’s a literal demon. Don’t let her looks deceive you. There are multiple groups attempting this dungeon right now. So, why do you think she wants to come with us? We have two lower-level players here. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?"
Rever’s response was nonchalant, an attempt to ease the tension. "Maybe she was captivated by my good looks?"
His attempt at humor was met with a collective stare, and he quickly added, "Just kidding!"
Xin’s skepticism was evident as he questioned, "Are you suggesting that she wants to join us because we’re easy targets?"
Victor affirmed Xin’s suspicion with a nod, and Rever’s voice joined the conversation again, albeit in a lower mutter. "I don’t mind if she bullies me. I’d willingly offer myself to her anytime."
Simp, both Victor, and Xin thought in silent agreement.
Rever seemed to read their thoughts and he defended himself, saying, "Don’t look at me like that! Don’t you know how many players are simping over her?! She got the looks and the skills to dominate this world! If you see her in action you would understand how I feel too!"
The more desperate Rever’s explanation was, the more Xin and Victor gave him the side glance.
Yuzuro’s kind-hearted nature led her to a more optimistic outlook. "Maybe she genuinely wants to join us?"
". . ."
". . ."
No one wanted to break her heart.
Before anyone else could respond, Midnight Duchess’s voice cut through. "If your concern is loot distribution, know that I only desire one equipment set that suits me. I won’t contest for the other items."
At this, Victor pulled the conversation back, addressing Midnight Duchess directly. "How can we be certain you’ll stick to that arrangement? And how can we trust you won’t turn on us after you’ve gained what you want?"
Rather than taking offense, Midnight Duchess chuckled. "To ease your minds, we can establish a blood contract."
Victor’s incredulous stare was met with her calm gaze, leaving him uncharacteristically silent.
A blood contract, as Xin understood it, was a formal agreement between players that carried penalties if either party failed to uphold their end of the bargain, enforced by the game’s system itself.
Rever eagerly advocated for her inclusion, his voice filled with persuasion. "You see, she’s even suggesting a blood contract. Her skills will be invaluable for us."
Victor, deep in thought, eventually turned to Xin and left the decision in his hands. "I’ll defer to you."
The hopeful gazes of Rever and Yuzuro fixed on Xin while caution lingered in Victor’s eyes.
Xin’s attention shifted between the composed Midnight Duchess and his friends, weighing the potential risks and benefits. Finally, he made his decision. "Let’s bring her along."
Rever’s enthusiasm overflowed, and he raised his fisted hands up and down. "Yes! I knew you were a simp too, Xi–I mean, Lord Schrodinger!"
Yuzuro mirrored Rever’s happiness, glad that she wouldn’t be the only woman in the group anymore, though she still wasn’t sure about Midnight Duchess’s true gender.
Victor, though not thrilled, relented. "Fine, fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you."
With the decision made, the group approached Midnight Duchess to discuss the terms before drafting the blood contract.
The document was finalized, and with an agreement in place, they embarked on their expedition to The Abandoned Dwarven Fortress.