Volume 7 Chapter 343 - An Adventurer
From then on, the group could only stay silent on their track until the reached the next safe zone, the 39th floor, where everyone else is waiting for the arrival of the main party.
Raul and Lefiya came running to the group, "Finn!" "Ais-san!"
Lefiya came running towards Ais with a crying face, not noticing the strange atmosphere, "Are you hurt!?"
And while Lefiya is bothering Ais with her concern, Raul reported to Finn the status of their members. While some got injured pretty badly by the acid that came from the irregular monsters, none died or would be left disabled. But because of that, all of their supplies that should last until the 59th floor were depleted.
"We'll rest for 10 hours before we start moving. Tell everyone that this will be the last long break we will be getting until we reach the surface. Also, those who're level 4s will party up with some level 3s to gather food." Finn gave his instructions after hearing the damage report.
"Understood." Raul ran off after a quick peek towards the two strangers. He's curious but he already received his orders and that takes priority.
As Finn look around, all those who just came all agreed not to talk about Ais' situation. He then faced Kisuke and Yoruichi, "You can use one of the tents. Riveria, please lead them."
Riveria nodded at him and turned around, "Please follow me."
Yoruichi, with Kisuke on her back, followed her, but not just her, Ais also started moving along with them while peeking at Kisuke.
"Eh…? W-what's going on?" Lefiya asked in confusion, however, nobody answered her and not just that, Tiona and Tione decided to follow them without a word. Seeing this, Lefiya also followed, wondering what's happening.
Bete also wanted to follow, but Gareth and Finn stopped him since they can tell that the unknown man isn't very fond of the werewolf. And adding to that is Bete's unstoppable mouth which is why they decided that they shouldn't be together as much as possible.
They then reached a tent at the edge of Loki Familia's temporary camp. The tent is big enough to house around 10 people so Yoruichi is thankful and both of them also knew that they won't be leaving the two of them alone, so a large space is better.
Putting down Kisuke, both of them checked the state of his arm, "If there's something else that you need, don't hold back and tell me." Riveria followed them inside and offered.
Ais, Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya also entered the tent and saw what they are doing. Lefiya then finally noticed the status of Kisuke arm and exclaimed, "W-what happened to that?" At first, she just thought that it was painted black and didn't pay attention as Ais 'needs' her attention more. But now that she took a closer look at it, it looks like charcoal.
"Just got a little bit burnt~. Nothing too serious." Kisuke answered nonchalantly as he continued to inspect his arm.
But hearing his word, Lefiya couldn't help but retort, "If that's not serious, then what's serious!? Here! A high potion!" Lefiya then took out her remaining potion.
Yoruichi smiled and took the potion without any hesitation, "Thanks~. This is just what we need." She then turned to Kisuke, "So we do that, after all?"
"Yes."
While wondering what's their conversation is about, Yoruichi turned to Riveria, "Can I please have some bandages?"
Riveria and the rest thought that they wanted to wrap his arms with it. Riveria then faced Tiona, "Tiona, please get some."
"Okay~." Tiona ran out cheerfully to get the bandages.
"How can she still be cheerful after all that happened?" Her sister, Tione, muttered but nobody could answer her. Perhaps, that's just how her sister is.
A minute later, Tiona came back with several rolls of bandages along with some clips and passed it to Yoruichi.
Yoruichi then took out her knife, but before she could do what she intended to do, she warned everyone watching, "Can you take some blood?"
The girls looked at each other. Her question though, for them, sounded like she's underestimating them. What's a bit of blood for them, who's already been to countless battles in the Dungeon? Everyone shook their head and watch what is Yoruichi without blinking their eyes. They thought that Yoruichi is only about to scrape off some of the man's skin to see what's inside.
However, contrary to their expectations, Yoruichi suddenly pulled Kisuke's arm and brought down the knife to his shoulder… Severing his burnt arm.
Riveria, Ais, Tiona, and Tione's eyes widened and frozen on their spot witnessing this, while Lefiya outright screamed, "Kyaa!!!"
Hearing her scream, Finn, Gareth, and Bete instantly arrived at the tent, "What's happening!?" Finn asked before meeting their guest's arm missing and his shoulder spewing out blood which also froze him on the spot.
Kisuke and Yoruichi's expression didn't change as the latter pours out the high potion that Lefiya gave them earlier. Yoruichi only poured enough potion so that the blood would only stop flowing and not outright heal it. She then slowly wrap the bandages around the stump of the shoulder.
"W-why!? Why did you suddenly cut your arm?" Lefiya asked. She couldn't think of any reason to give up on an arm easily as they did and the rest also has the same question in their minds.
But instead of Yoruichi who cut the arm, Kisuke answered them while grabbing his severed arm, "Why? It's because it's essentially useless." He then proceeded to break the arm's pinky and showing it to them, "See? It's already brittle and burnt until the bone. No way to heal something like this where all the cells are already destroyed."
Riveria took a closer look at the finger and indeed, even it's inside is burnt, "…I understand why you came to that decision, but… is losing an arm something trivial for you?"
"Trivial? No way that's the case. I lost a freaking arm here, you know."
"…Then why? Why do you seem so nonchalant… Even more so… you look happy?"
Kisuke didn't immediately answer as he looked towards their surprised faces, "…Why are you guys looking at me like that?"
"…What?"
"I mean… You're Adventurers, right? Even though you might not agree, I thought that you guys would at least see my point."
From surprise, their eyes became clouded in confusion.
"Seriously…? You still don't get it? You guys are focusing on the fact that I lost an arm, but aren't forgetting something? I didn't lose it for nothing!"
Slowly, realization starts dawned on them.
Smiling from his makeshift mask, Kisuke continued, "I lost my arm for saving my partner and for the life of that guy. I must say, even just one of those is already worth the price. And besides, I earned some valuable knowledge that I can use in the future, so why shouldn't I be happy?
"You guys are Adventurers, seeking adventure in the Dungeon. No matter your reason is, it's for getting stronger, seeking knowledge or looking for excitement if you're here…
"Or maybe… I'm just getting it wrong. The top Familia of the Labyrinth City Orario is already proud after getting out of the Dungeon unscathed.
"If that's the case, what are you guys doing here? Did you know that you could lose your life here?"
The Loki Familia, after processing his words, were frozen in their place again, but one of them could take it lying down, "You bastard! Are you insulting us!?" Bete shouted at him.
"I'm sorry if that came out strongly… It's just that… I might have been expecting more. You guys only focused on my injury and not what I have achieved." Kisuke shook his head in disappointment, "If you're only entering the Dungeon in hopes that you can get out safe, then you better quit being an Adventurer."
"What was that?!!!" Bete wanted to say more, but he suddenly felt a heavy hand dropping on his shoulder stopping him before hearing a loud laugh that echoed throughout the camp.
"FUHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Gareth's laugh woke everyone else from their stupor, "Indeed! It seems that we're forgetting something very important! I still don't want to stop being an Adventurer, but it seems like my spirit is slowly whittling away. Thank you, lad! For reminding me of my flame!" He then walked out of the tent while loudly muttering, "It seems tonight's drink will be tasty~!"
Seeing this, Finn sighed before chuckling. The wisping flame from the bottom of his heart so started to regain their former glow. He then looked towards Kisuke with a smile, "I also thank you. It seems that we're really forgetting something important. And I'm sorry. I can't quit being an Adventurer. Not yet when I haven't accomplished my goal." Not waiting for anyone, Finn also turned around and exited the tent. He intends to join Gareth's drinking party.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺