CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 158: ANNO: I’M NOT ANGRY

"Those minotaurs could catch up to us at any moment. We should leave this place immediately," Charles suggested, his gaze shifting toward Anno.

The latter lowered her eyes, seemingly unwilling to meet his gaze. "I have no objections."

Charles felt a mix of emotions, but this was no time for sentimentality. He turned to Bruno and asked, "Sir, what do you think? Will you join us, or will you side with those minotaurs?"

Though he knew these people were weak and injured, their earlier indifference still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

At that moment, Bruno and the female brass Dragonborn, each supporting Bonnie on either side, looked awkward upon hearing his words. "Of course, we’ll leave with you. Those minotaurs are despicable! They deceived a dwarf!"

As he spoke, Bruno stomped his foot, his expression a mix of anger and indignation.

Too exhausted to join in condemning Torun’s deceit, Charles sighed and said, "Alright, let’s go. Andny, contact Theresa and ask where she is. Did she eliminate that drider?"

Andny shook his head. "No, she’s on her way here. But she didn’t kill the drider because she encountered new foes."

Charles’s expression shifted. "Who?"

"That fiend—the succubus we met earlier," Andny replied. "Your hunch was right. The succubus survived your attack, and she’s grown stronger. She can even cast 5th-level spells now!"

Behind them, Anno’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock. Charles tensed as well. "Then Theresa’s in danger?"

Andny shook his head again. "No, Eldest Sister is still chasing both of them. But... they’re covering for each other, so she hasn’t managed to take either down."

Anno lowered her eyes once more, and Charles exhaled in relief. "Never mind. Killing her isn’t crucial. She won’t dare return to this mine."

"Let’s hurry. Tell Theresa to meet us at the exit, and we’ll leave this mine together!"

Andny gave a quiet acknowledgment, relaying the message to Theresa through his familiar. Unfortunately, most of the giant spiders he controlled had perished in the earlier battle, leaving them no mounts to ride. They had no choice but to proceed on foot.

Charles didn’t feel like speaking; exhaustion weighed heavily on his mind. As he trudged forward, Anno watched his weary figure, her emotions in turmoil.

She didn’t want to engage with him now, but her duty as a paladin and a member of Force Grey compelled her to address what she’d just heard.

Finally, steeling herself, she stepped closer to Charles and asked, "Priest, earlier you mentioned fiends?"

Charles perked up at her voice, but the formal address sent a chill through his heart.

He knew she was upset, and the realization made his scalp prickle. But he also knew patience was key. Gritting his teeth, he decided not to hide anything and briefly recounted his experiences. "Yes, the monastery was attacked by fiends. We followed clues linking it to events in the Rubble District, so under Miss Nidalee’s guidance, we came here to investigate."

His expression turned rueful. "I never expected things to turn out like this."

Hearing this, Anno’s face darkened. The name "Nidalee" reignited emotions she’d barely suppressed.

Biting her lower lip, she pushed her feelings aside and focused on the mission. "What exactly happened? To be honest, I came to the Rubble District to investigate some anomalies as well."

Charles, however, noticed the shift in her expression. He knew exactly what had caused it.

Taking a deep breath, he leaned in slightly and whispered, "Are you angry?"

Instantly, Anno’s resentment surged. Her eyes reddened, and she turned her head away so he couldn’t see them. "No, I have no reason to be angry."

Charles’s heart raced. The only thing he could be sure of was that this girl still held affection for him. Summoning his courage, he suddenly wrapped his arms around her.

Anno stiffened, reflexively trying to pull away. But then she realized how weak his grip was—if she truly struggled, she could break free easily.

So she only feigned resistance for a moment before letting him hold her. Keeping pace with him, she muttered angrily, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

Meanwhile, Bruno and the female brass Dragonborn tactfully supported Bonnie, sticking to the opposite side of the tunnel and pretending not to notice.

"I’m sorry, Anno," Charles murmured. "I’m such a fool. My words were reckless, and seeing your face earlier felt like a knife to my heart..."

As he spoke, Anno’s cheeks burned. Glancing around, she noticed the others stealing glances and flushed even deeper. "Let go! I told you I’m not angry... If you don’t let go, I really will be!"

"Then forgive me?" Charles pressed. "If you don’t, I’ll slap myself—"

He raised a hand as if to strike his own face.

"I’m not blaming you! Stop!" Anno hissed, horrified at the thought of drawing more attention. "I know you lied to protect Miss Nidalee. It’s normal—I’ve done the same. How could I blame you?"

"You think I’m that petty? Now let go!"

Charles finally released his embrace but kept her arm linked with his as they continued walking side by side.

Anno let out a sigh of relief, her cheeks still burning. She glanced around and noticed their companions pretending to be serious, though they were all stealing glances and eavesdropping with sidelong looks.

For a moment, she was so embarrassed she couldn’t stand it. Suddenly, she stopped and stomped hard on Charles’s foot, making him grimace in pain.

But that was the extent of her emotional outburst. Remembering the responsibility on her shoulders, she quickly steered the conversation back: "Charles, about the fiends—how much have you investigated so far?"

Charles shook his head slightly. "Not much, really. Just that the main foe is an Abyssal Lord named Montport, and his corruption has driven one of Miss Nidalee’s tribe’s Elemental Creatures into madness."

"We came here to investigate more about him and help restore the Elemental Creature’s sanity." He shrugged. "But as you saw, because Nidalee wasn’t happy with her father’s arranged marriage, we haven’t gone to her tribe yet. Instead, we started our investigation here."

"I just didn’t expect an extra twist—there’s a drider here, and she’s also colluding with our foes."

He was genuinely confused, thrown off by this development since the game had never included such a plot.

Of course, the game also didn’t have the Alliance of the Mountain Purifiers or Abyssal Lord Montport. The real world was different—bosses didn’t just sit around waiting to be challenged. They had their own goals and lives, so they moved on their own...

Anno nodded softly. "I see. But... since Miss Nidalee’s father betrothed her to that minotaur, it’s possible her tribe has joined this so-called ’Alliance of the Mountain Purifiers.’"

"You heard their true goal—to destroy all of Liberl Port. Do you still plan to go there and purify their Elemental Creature?"

Charles paused mid-step, then sighed quietly. "That... we’ll see. Miss Nidalee keeps telling me her father is a flexible moderate, but... well, even ignoring the risk of aiding the enemy, I have to wonder if her father would just kill me on sight after what happened."

He looked utterly troubled, and Anno’s lips curled slightly, her mood lifting. "Serves you right! Who told you to say those things? If her father finds out, killing you would be the least of your worries!"

As she spoke, as if still unsatisfied, her small hand pinched Charles’s side and gave a sharp twist—

Charles’s face twisted in pain. "Ow—easy, Anno, I’m sorry, ah—!"

Anno released him, huffing lightly, then rested her head against his shoulder like a true couple. Charles didn’t say more, simply keeping her arm linked with his as they walked slowly.

The cave began echoing with the roar of waves—high tide had arrived. The southern coast’s surf crashed against the mountain cliffs, the vibrations resonating through the rock, filling the cavern with a perfect backdrop of sound, a farewell to their departure.

As the excitement faded, exhaustion set in. The group walked in silence, following Andny’s lead through the collapsed cave, searching for a way forward.

Fortunately, though Move Earth was a 6th-level spell, the collapse was limited. In less than an hour, they navigated the low mine tunnels and returned to the first level’s exit—the massive pit.

Only then did Charles and Anno separate, climbing the rope ladder one by one. Bonnie, despite her altered physique, retained her basic athleticism as a warrior, needing only slight assistance to ascend.

Once everyone was up, Charles removed the ladder, ensuring the minotaurs couldn’t climb up anytime soon.

With that done, they left the cavern behind. The sky outside had grown dim—deep autumn meant earlier nights. Theresa hadn’t returned yet; she’d chased the drider too far. To wait for her, the group settled in the miners’ rest area, sitting on stone benches to rest while reporting their safety to the dwarves on watch.

Bruno, meanwhile, helped himself to the old miner’s liquor and loudly lamented how the minotaurs had deceived him and attacked Charles and the others. In doing so, he exposed the true face of the Alliance of the Mountain Purifiers to the dwarves.

After another half-hour of waiting, as darkness fully descended, a flash of white light flickered at the mine entrance. Then, a tall, curvaceous figure in opulent nun’s robes sprinted toward them: "Priest! Andny!"

Charles, seated on the stone bench, quickly stood and took two steps forward, waving his arm in response. "Theresa, we’re over here!"

Theresa moved swiftly, reaching the group in moments. Seeing Charles covered in dust and grime, her heart ached unbearably. Without caring for his filth, she stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace!

"Huh?"

Caught off guard, Charles—shorter than Theresa by a head—found his face pressed against her chest. His expression was stunned, unprepared for Theresa’s emotional outburst and this very public display.

With Anno watching, he didn’t dare wrap his arms around her waist. Instead, he stood there like a helpless child, held tightly by his elder sister...

The already tipsy Bruno perked up, eager to share the gossip with the old dwarf on watch. But the female brass Dragonborn’s icy glare silenced him instantly, and he shrank back, not daring to say another word.

Behind them, Anno stood up, then pouted and sat back down, pretending she didn’t mind.

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