Just as she was about to turn and leave, Su Hai's smile flashed in Liliruca Arde's mind. Clenching her teeth, she resisted the urge to run away.
This did not go unnoticed by Medusa, who was concealed nearby, silently watching over Liliruca.
Seeing the girl's determination, a faint smile appeared on Medusa's lips. For the first time, she felt a glimmer of respect for Liliruca.
Meanwhile, Su Hai skillfully used the gathering monsters as training to hone his experience and reflexes.
As time passed, Liliruca gradually relaxed. Watching Su Hai move effortlessly through the battlefield, she realized her fears had been unfounded.
Su Hai's strength far surpassed her expectations—none of the monsters could even touch him.
When afternoon arrived, Su Hai swiftly dealt with the remaining monsters on the fifteenth floor and led Liliruca back to the surface.
"This is for you."
Standing at the entrance of the Adventurer's Guild, Su Hai weighed the cloth pouch in his hand, noticeably heavier than the day before. Taking half of the gold coins, he placed them into another smaller pouch and handed it to Liliruca, who stood beside him.
Her eyes widened with shock as she instinctively shook her head, wanting to refuse.
"Take it—you've earned it," Su Hai said firmly. "Besides, you need the money, don't you?"
"I plan to enter the dungeon every day from now on. I need a reliable supporter, so if you're willing, meet me at the dungeon entrance tomorrow at nine o'clock."
Liliruca opened her mouth to protest, but Su Hai interrupted her, gently pressing the pouch of coins into her hands with a smile.
Before she could respond, Su Hai turned and walked away.
Watching his figure disappear into the golden hues of the setting sun, Liliruca bit her lip, her heart swirling with unfamiliar emotions as she gazed down at the heavy pouch of gold coins.
"Master, are you sure it's alright to leave her like this?"
On the way back, Medusa's calm voice echoed beside Su Hai.
"Earlier, I sensed several malicious gazes watching that little girl from the shadows," she added, her tone tinged with concern.
"Don't worry—Lily isn't as fragile as she seems."
Su Hai's eyes gleamed with a knowing light.
"Some challenges she needs to face on her own. Only when she makes the decision herself can we truly help her."
Medusa fell silent, understanding the wisdom in his words.
Quickening his pace, Su Hai soon arrived at the Hestia Familia's home.
But the moment he stepped through the gate and into the courtyard, he froze in place.
Standing quietly in the pavilion was a fair-haired girl—none other than Ais Wallenstein.
"Ah, Hai, this girl's been waiting since noon!"
Hestia appeared from the house and hurried over, a mischievous pout on her face.
"Said she knows you and wants to see you. Don't tell me she's another girl you've been flirting with outside, huh, Ah Hai?"
Rolling his eyes at the teasing goddess, Su Hai flicked her forehead lightly.
"You're overthinking things," he retorted with a sigh.
Turning to Ais, he studied her calm expression and the faint determination in her golden eyes.
"You're here to learn the techniques I mentioned last time, right? To become stronger?"
Ais gave a slight nod in confirmation.
"Alright. But it's late now. Meet me at the eastern city wall of Orario tomorrow morning at six sharp."
"That's when I'll officially start teaching you."
Since he had promised before, Su Hai had no reason to refuse. Besides, the glimmering three-star treasure chest hovering above Ais's head piqued his curiosity.
All it would take was a single touch to open it—another reason he welcomed this opportunity.
"Okay."
Ais nodded, her gaze unwavering as she looked into Su Hai's eyes. Then, with a polite bow to both him and Hestia, she turned to leave.
"Wait!" Su Hai called out as she reached the gate.
"You've been waiting since noon, right? You must be hungry by now. Stay for dinner before you leave. Hestia's cooking is really good."
Hestia puffed her cheeks in mock protest, but she didn't object.
Ais hesitated for a moment, then glanced down at her stomach, which betrayed her hunger with a faint growl. With a slight blush, she nodded in agreement.
After a warm dinner shared with laughter and light conversation, Ais bid them farewell, disappearing into the moonlit night.
Later that evening, in the brightly lit hall, Su Hai reclined on the sofa and handed a pouch of gold coins to Hestia.
"Here's today's earnings."
But instead of taking the coins, Hestia leaned closer, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air around him.
"Sniff… Sniff… Aha! I knew it!"
Pointing an accusatory finger at him, she pouted.
"You've been around another girl today! I can smell her scent on you—and you've been with her for a long time, haven't you?!"
Su Hai blinked in surprise at the goddess's keen sense of smell, but he quickly regained his composure.
"You're imagining things. I was in the dungeon fighting monsters, not going on a date," he replied calmly, maintaining a straight face.
Hestia narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but Su Hai's unwavering expression eventually convinced her.
"Alright… But I'm watching you!" she huffed, puffing out her cheeks.
Shaking his head with a chuckle, Su Hai ruffled her hair affectionately before heading to his room.
Just as he settled into bed and closed his eyes, he heard the faint sound of a key turning in the lock.
The door creaked open slightly, allowing the soft glow of the corridor lights to spill into the room.
Su Hai's eyes snapped open, and he instinctively tensed, his gaze shifting toward the door as a shadowy figure stepped inside…
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