CHAPTER 262: SUSPICION

The morale was high.

By the time they stopped to make a temporary camp at the next defensible chamber, the group felt satisfied with the progress they had made today. Talia and her team drew up goals for each day, and they were crushing it. At this rate, it was possible they were going to meet the dungeon boss tomorrow, instead of the expected day after the last day.

They broke off into three separate camps.

Vaelira and her goons huddled in an alcove, forming a neat little spot that was defended by arcane wards and sleeping mats. Their energy was as prickly as ever. Whispered gossip, giggles, and the occasional mocking comment drifted from their section.

Diaz took a corner all to himself. True to form, the rogue made no noise and took no space. He had his back to a wall, eyes half-lidded but never truly closed.

Then, of course, there were them.

Kaiden and his girls had claimed the central area of the chamber. They did so in order to keep their eyes on their allies. Hiding away in a tent or even an alcove like Vaelira’s could put them at a disadvantage should they be ambushed.

Despite the possibilities of such thoughts lingering in their minds, their side of the chamber radiated warmth. Both literal and emotional.

A large steel pot sat above the fire. Nyx was seated just behind it with her legs crossed and fingers lazily twirling in the air, controlling utensils and spice bottles while also stirring the pot with effortless grace.

Luna, of course, was not feeling patient.

"Ughh... hurry up..." she groaned while stroking her hungry belly. She sipped from her mug of hot chocolate, then let her head droop forward as her stomach let out a dramatic grrrrrgle.

"I could hurry..." Nyx said without even glancing at her. "... but then the spices would be uneven. And your stomach is so delicate thanks to you basically only munching processed food while throwing obscenities at your online adversaries all your life, I fear I would upset it~"

Luna narrowed her eyes. "That’s just not true at all."

Nyx smiled without remorse. In fact, she even slowed the speed at which she was cooking to annoy her friend even further.

"I will throw this at you," Luna growled, holding up her hot chocolate.

"Try me," Nyx giggled lazily, not even pausing her hand motions.

Luna’s eyes gleamed at the challenge.

And then, she did just what Nyx told her to.

The Storm Valkyrie flung her drink through the air. A wave of steaming chocolate shot out from her cup with pinpoint aim.

Nyx didn’t flinch.

Her fingers twitched midair, and with a sharp hum of mana, a wall of pressure pulsed outward as her [Telekinesis] spell affected the small area before her as a whole, sending the flying liquid rebounding violently in Luna’s direction as if it had just been slapped.

But Luna was no rookie.

Even before the drink reversed course, her body was already in motion. Her [Lightning Step] spell flared for the briefest instant, and she vanished in a bolt of static energy, reappearing a few feet to the side with a scoffing grin and zero chocolate stains on her form.

"Nice reflexes... but wasting supplies during a dungeon clear? That’s pretty amateurish of you, Nyx. I thought the many hours you spent fawning over Scarlet and other famous awakened would at least teach you the basics."

Nyx tilted her head playfully.

"Oh? I’m wasting supplies? What supplies?"

Luna blinked.

Then turned her head.

Right next to where she’d been sitting... was a wide, shallow bowl, now filled with warm, swirling chocolate. The exact trajectory her thrown drink would’ve taken... had it been redirected into place beforehand.

"... You already placed the bowl?" she asked, incredulous.

Nyx offered her a wink. "Bestie... you should fight in your own weight class. And before you call me a fat bitch with cow tits, I obviously meant a different type of weight class..."

Luna was so shocked that she got read like a book to this level, she didn’t even offer a rebuttal. Instead, the gamer girl crossed her arms under her delicate chest and went for a walk to think things through.

In the quiet that followed, Aria and Bastet slid into place on either side of Kaiden.

They didn’t say anything at first.

They didn’t need to.

Their presence alone offered comfort.

Bastet’s sun-warmed fingers curled gently around his right hand, while Aria placed her palm against the back of his left with the kind of serene calm and unconditional support that only she could exude. Their strokes were soft, soothing, meant to coax him out of the tension that was coiled in his shoulders.

"You’re stiff, Kai..." Aria spoke worriedly.

Bastet leaned her head against his shoulder. "Mm. Master looks like he’s still preparing to fight even though the day is done."

Kaiden exhaled slowly... but it wasn’t a sigh of relief.

"I can’t relax."

His eyes drifted across the room toward the darker corner where Diaz stood alone.

"Vaelira... I can handle. I know what kind of person she is. Annoying, opportunistic, prideful, but predictable. She’s not that hard to read. But Diaz?"

He looked between his two companions.

"I can’t bring myself to trusting him."

Aria raised a brow. "Because of the last Runewoven clear?"

Kaiden nodded.

"That dungeon was supposed to be routine. Twenty people who trained together since their academy days for the single purpose of working in tandem. Not all of them were elite, but they were a cohesive unit. Talia and her team were not careless."

"And yet... he’s the only one who walked out alive."

"If those nineteen others had survived, Runewoven would’ve had the resources and bodies to clear this dungeon themselves. They wouldn’t have needed to hire us. They wouldn’t have needed to give me shares and Tessa an alliance she didn’t deserve. They’d still be on the rise without a question."

"But instead, they’re on their last leg. Just barely holding on."

Aria’s expression darkened. "Do you feel that Diaz let them die, or worse?"

"I don’t know," Kaiden admitted. "That’s the problem. Either he’s the typical lucky/cowardly rogue who just happened to survive where nineteen others perished..."

"...Or he helped the failure along. And if he did, then he’s probably planning to do it again."

Bastet’s tail coiled protectively around Kaiden’s leg.

"And what better time to strike than when everyone’s relaxed? Full bellies. Dropped guards. The night always favors the assassin."

Aria’s fingers curled slightly tighter around his hand, but her voice stayed even.

"If you’re not wrong... Then we’re facing an even more daunting challenge than it already was."

Kaiden gently moved his hand to stroke both women’s heads at once. "I can stay awake for a few more nights, don’t worry about it. Luna can also help me as she is the only one besides me with the reaction speed needed to counter his attacks. You girls just relax."

Then his expression shifted, becoming excited. As the progression fanatic Kaiden was, he couldn’t help himself. "Instead, tell me, how does your status window look like right now? I want to see just how much you girls gained."

"Oh, I want to see yours too!" Aria chirped excitedly.

"That’s what she said..." Luna grumbled in the distance, still in shock.

It was time to reveal the status of the girls and also show Kaiden’s screen after the many levels ups of the day.