ALL NOVEL Chapter 124
124. I Came To Set You Free
When I spoke, both Laura and even Raize were astonished, their eyes wide open. Especially Raize, who immediately raised her voice.
“What are you talking about!? Stop saying things on impulse!”
“It might be impulsive, but I’m serious. The three of us will conquer the 43rd floor.”
From what I found out, the number of people in Gerda’s expedition team is 10. All of them are S-class adventurers, and even with that much power, conquering the 43rd floor was impossible.
But what if the three of us conquered it?
It would prove that Gerda is intentionally stalling the conquest. It would mean that they are struggling with a floor that three people can conquer.
If we could prove that to the kingdom, the expedition team would be able to proceed beyond the 43rd floor with us included.
If things go well, Gerda might be removed from his position as leader for deliberately holding back.
“What benefit do you gain from doing that? There’s no need for you to get involved.”
“Don’t you get it yet? I came to ‘set you free’, Laura.”
I was convinced when I met Laura yesterday. Although her attitude and expressions are hard to read, she has a caring heart for others.
Hints about Laura’s character, like the way Eleanor spoke about her and how she advised keeping me away from the expedition team, were there.
Laura knows the current expedition team is ineffective. She knows it, but she took on the job herself to avoid involving others.
“If the expedition team stays as it is, Laura’s time will be wasted. So, I’m going to help her out of it.”
“I don’t recall asking for that.”
“You didn’t. But I can’t just watch Laura keep enduring and staying in the expedition team.”
Talking to Ilza made me understand. I’m her ‘idol.’
She said she likes not only my strength but also my kindness. So, I want to live up to that.
Moreover, it’s too sad to see Laura being used by Gerda.
“Laura, come to the dungeon with us. I want to keep fighting alongside you!”
“But…”
“Big sister, you should go.”
Fran took Laura’s hesitant hand and smiled warmly.
“Fran, but…”
“Big sister, you take on too much by yourself. Besides, even if you go once, it doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily conquer the 43rd floor, right?”
I wanted to question what she meant by that, but since Fran was persuading her, I decided to keep quiet.
After thinking for a while, Laura started to walk back to the room.
“Tonight.”
Laura turned around and looked at me with a serious gaze.
“Tonight at 8 PM, let’s meet in front of the Ash Dungeon. I’ll rest until then.”
I understood that we had succeeded in persuading her, and joy welled up in my chest.
“I’ll take my sister to the dungeon, so you two go back and get ready!”
“Fran, thank you for everything.”
“It’s fine! Both my sister and I love you guys! Besides…”
For a moment, a shadow crossed Fran’s face. But her smile returned in an instant.
“…my sister tends to shoulder everything alone! I think this will be a good experience for her!”
Fran crossed her arms and nodded, which seemed a bit off, but I decided not to mention it.
“Alright, I’ll take care of Laura. We’ll rest for a bit.”
“Okay! Have a good rest!”
Closing the door, Raize and I left the inn.
“So?”
As we walked back, Raize suddenly spoke.
“So what?”
“What do you plan to do now?”
Raize, her face red with anger for some reason, asked me.
“What do you mean… We’ll rest as usual, right?”
“Rest… Ahem. Got it. Maybe I should brace myself too.”
“Do you need to brace yourself for resting?”
I felt like we were talking past each other.
“Where are we resting? We need a place, right?”
“A place? Just at home, right?”
“Home. My dad is at my place, so it has to be your place.”
“What are you talking about? Just go home.”
At that moment, Raize’s shoulders shook, and she mumbled something under her breath, then looked at me sharply.
“…You said ‘we’ are going to rest, right?”
“Yes. Each of us at our own homes to prepare for the dungeon tonight.”
“~~!! Alright then! I was stupid!”
Saying that, Raize whipped my back several times with her hand before running off toward her home.
“…What was that about?”
Still puzzled by her behavior, night came.