Chapter 167: Lanternals Bargain [You have made a pact with the Lanternal]
[You must rescue the prisoner at all cost! In exchanged for letting you go, the Lanternal asked that you save the prisoner in the depth of this fortress. Failure to do so, the Lanternal will claim you and your group’s soul.]
[The Quest, Secret Prisoner has been updated!]
Xin thought that it must be because of his CHA but it seemed that the Lanternal had let them go because of the quest he had acquired.
"Why did it let us go?" Yuzuro’s voice trembled with confusion.
Midnight Duchess and Victor shared her bewilderment, seeking an explanation from Lord Schrodinger.
With a shrug, Xin admitted, "I honestly don’t know. I saw that it retained some consciousness from its description, so I thought, why not try talking to it? I didn’t expect it to work."
His statement was met with incredulous laughter from Victor and the others.
Victor clapped Xin on the shoulder. "Who would’ve guessed a simple conversation would do the trick?"
"Sometimes words can be as powerful as weapons," Yuzuro added thoughtfully. "Not everything needs brute force."
"And it even let us keep the bow," Midnight Duchess noted, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Xin turned to her. "Do you want it? It suits your class, and none of us can really use it."
Victor grumbled quietly, but he didn’t protest.
Midnight Duchess shook her head, her eyes fixed on Lord Schrodinger. "No, you take it. After all, you’re the one who got us out of that perilous situation."
Yuzuro nodded in agreement. "She’s right, Lord Schrodinger. Without your quick thinking, our level might have decrease a lot."
The group shuddered collectively, imagining the horror of their hard-earned levels decreasing. They owed their life to Lord Schrodinger and were just happy to be alive.
"Then, if no one minds, I’ll take the bow," Xin said, eyeing the weapon as a potentially valuable asset for future auctions.
Yuzuro voiced their collective concern in a hushed tone. "So, what’s our plan now? Rever has respawned at the entrance. Do we continue without him?"
Just as they contemplated their next move, Rever’s face appeared on their screens, his excitement evident.
"Hey, did you guys manage to defeat the monster? I couldn’t believe how dangerous it was! One touch, and I was gone. I let my guard down. Sorry."
Yuzuro explained the situation, her voice tinged with relief. "Lord Schrodinger found a way for us to escape."
"You didn’t kill it?" Rever asked.
"It’s unkillable," Victor stated matter of factly.
Rever chuckled, and looked away. "Ah, got it. So, what’s the plan now? Leaving the dungeon or pressing on? I can’t rejoin you there unless, of course, if you exit the dungeon."
"But if we log out now, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to log in again," Victor interjected. "That’s how this dungeon’s system works."
Yuzuro hesitated, torn between wanting to continue with Rever and abiding by the practicalities of the game. ’I’d like to continue with Rever, but it’s not just my decision.’ She thought.
Victor turned to Xin. "It’s your call."
Xin didn’t know when was he made leader, but he decided, "Let’s log out for today and resume tomorrow."
"That’s the spirit!" Rever exclaimed in glee. "I know that you couldn’t journey onward without me!"
Victor, though accepting, had one last concern. "Are you sure? We’ll start from the first room if we log out now without finishing this dungeon."
Xin nodded decisively. "I’m sure. We should also use this time to restock our supplies and invest in potions, especially those [Holy Waters]."
Victor agreed, acknowledging the wisdom in Xin’s suggestion. "That’s a smart move. We can’t afford to be unprepared again."
"Looks like we’ve reached a consensus then!" Rever chimed in enthusiastically.
Victor couldn’t help but chastise him lightly. "Just be more cautious next time, Red Dragon."
"Got it, got it! Haha!" Rever laughed before disconnecting the call.
Victor sighed, concern etched on his face. "I hope he really understands and came prepared."
"Alright then," Victor continued, addressing the group. "Let’s reconvene here at the same time tomorrow."
The rest of the group nodded in agreement. They exited the game, and Xin logged out, surprised to find that it was only approaching ten in the evening.
He had expected it to be well past midnight. But given their early log-out, he guessed it was understandable.
Wanting to calm his racing heart, Xin decided to have a glass of milk in the kitchen to help him sleep. The intense events in the game had left his adrenaline pumping, making it difficult to relax.
Stepping into the kitchen, illuminated only by the soft glow of night lamps, he was startled to find a figure in a bathrobe with a face covered in a beauty mask when he opened the lights.
His initial fear of a ghost or burglar dissolved into relief when he recognized Seraphina.
"No need to be scared. It’s only me," she said, her voice carrying suppressed laughter.
Xin exhaled deeply, his tension dissipating. "It’s only you. Why didn’t you turn on the lights?"
"I was just getting some water. I forgot to stock the fridge in my bedroom," she explained.
"Ah, I see," Xin replied, moving past her to heat a pot of milk.
"Are you making coffee?" Seraphina inquired.
"No, just milk," Xin replied.
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, her expression curious. "Milk in the middle of the night?"
"It helps me sleep," Xin said, shrugging off her surprised look.
"Sleeping pills work faster," she said with a smile playing on her lips.
Xin paused, his eyes narrowing with concern. "Are you taking sleeping pills?"
Seraphina hesitated, caught off guard by his direct question. She placed the bottle back in the fridge and replied casually, "Yeah."
Xin fell silent, unsure of how to respond. "Do you have trouble sleeping?" he asked after a moment.
Seraphina managed a small, wry smile. "Just a bit of pressure from work and school, nothing serious."
Work. Right, she was the heir to the Fey’s legacy. The weight of her responsibilities must have been immense, Xin thought.
"Anyway, I should get going," she said, preparing to leave.
Before she did, she leaned closer and whispered in Xin’s ear, "Take the full cream one. It’s thicker and more delicious."
With those words, she left the kitchen, her footsteps fading away.
Xin stood there, pondering her advice. Opting for the full cream milk, he found himself contemplating what he had learned about Seraphina.
Sleeping pills . . . Xin muttered to himself. She should just drink milk.