(Lili POV – Dungeon, 6th Floor)
The air here always feels heavier. Damp, stale, and thrumming with hidden danger. A persistent tension makes you second-guess every shadow, as monsters could pop out of the wall next to you.
I stand quietly behind my new party, clutching the straps of my pack. They're locked in a fight with a War Shadow, it's long, slender arms darting through the air with the lethality of sharpened blades.
At the front, the vanguard does their work. A burly Dwarf with a tower shield and hammer braces against the monster's strikes, his boots scraping across the stone as he absorbs blow after blow. Beside him, a human swordsman darts in and out, taking shallow swings at the creature when an opening appears. His timing is decent… but not impressive.
Behind them, a catwoman with tan skin and sharp golden eyes nocks arrow after arrow, loosing shafts that barely pierce the War Shadow's hide, falling off each time the creature moves, and clattering harmlessly against the ground. She clicks her tongue each time, her face scrunching up in annoyance, but maintaining its fierce focus. The last member, another Dwarf, smaller and rounder, hangs back to watch their rear, blade ready but spirit timid.
It's a balanced party, on paper. But in practice…
'They're mediocre.'
I watch them work with a blank face, eyes following every movement. Not because I care, but because I have to.
'The only one Lili should be wary of is the cat lady.' I note silently. Her ears twitch with every sound, her sharp eyes taking in every movement around her, and her reflexes are superb. 'She'd probably notice if something goes missing.'
The rest? They're sloppy, overconfident, or cowardly. Too used to things going their way, and too focused on themselves to properly grasp the world around them.
'But that's just how most adventurers are.' I think bitterly. 'They act like the world exists to serve them.'
Greedy, arrogant, selfish… every single one of them.
From the moment we met, they made it clear what I was to them. A tool. A convenience.
They offered me two percent of the take, and called it generous. Expected me to thank them, despite the standard being equal distribution.
I smiled… like I always do.
I thanked them for their generosity… like I'm supposed to do.
Inside, I was already counting how many magic stones I could pocket without them noticing.
'They won't pay me anyway.' I remind myself. It's something I've learned from numerous experiences. 'So Lili will simply take what she's owed.'
My grip tightens on the straps of my pack. I've stolen three magic stones so far. Two from goblins, and one from a kobold. They're small, and easy to hide. Not worth much either… but every little bit helps.
The War Shadow gives one last shriek before collapsing under the Dwarf's hammer. The sound echoes down the corridor as the low, dying wail fades into silence.
"Phew. That was tough." The shieldbearer grunts, shaking out his arm. "That thing put a few nasty dents in my shield."
"Ha! Don't worry." The swordsman says, clapping him on the back. "We'll make enough to fix it up. Maybe even upgrade it, huh?"
The Dwarf swats his hand away with a glare. "Don't touch me."
The man just laughs, clearly used to the response.
"Hey! Focus." The catwoman snaps, looking annoyed. "We're still in the dungeon. Don't start chatting and let your guards down." Her golden eyes flick toward me, narrowing. "Supporter. Get the magic stones. Now!"
"Y-yes, right away!" I squeak, pasting on a cheerful, deferential smile.
The persona slips on easily. A bright, clumsy little supporter, eager to please. The one who's too harmless to be a threat, too grateful to complain… and too stupid and weak to resist.
It's a mask I've worn so long it's begin to feel like a second skin.
I hurry forward, crouching beside the War Shadow's corpse. The creature looks menacing up close, but I don't flinch. The short knife in my hand slides in cleanly, and with practiced movements, I begin dissecting it. I've done this hundreds of times.
Cut. Pry. Dig. Collect.
The routine calms me. It's something so insignificant, most overlook me while I work.
'But it's better to be ignored.' I remind myself. 'It's better when they forget you exist.'
Around adventurers, attention increases your odds of getting hurt, while being silence keeps you alive.
Then, a voice slices through the low chatter of my party.
"Who are you?!" The catwoman hisses, her bow half-raised.
My body goes still, knife frozen mid-motion.
I follow her gaze, and my stomach begins churning.
Down the tunnel, three figures appear.
Armor, faces, and all too familiar scowls.
'No…' I breathe inwardly, blood draining from my face.
'It's them… my last party.'
My heart starts hammering the moment I see them.
Of course it'd be them. Of all the people we could've run into down here… fate really does hate Pallums.
Their eyes lock onto me instantly, recognition lighting up their faces before turning to the Cat Lady standing in front of me.
"We mean you no harm." Their leader says, flashing that same oily smile I've come to dread. "We've just got some business with the Pallum over there."
He jerks his thumb at me, making sure everyone sees exactly who his target is.
My current party tenses. Swords half-raised, as their feet shifting back. But their breathing's still uneven. The fight with the War Shadow drained them, and even without that, I see it in their eyes. They don't intend to fight. Not if it's for me.
I let out a small, bitter laugh that gets lost in the damp air. I already know how this ends.
"She's our supporter." The human swordsman says stiffly, forcing bravery into his voice. "She's carrying our loot. I can't just hand her over."
It sounds noble. Protective, even…
'But Lili knows better.'
The leader chuckles, eyes narrowing. "We're not after your haul. You can keep her pack—and whatever she's carrying for you. We just want the girl. She's not worth dying over, right?"
My so-called comrades trade glances. Then their gazes all turn toward me.
Gone is the dismissive indifference I'd grown comfortable with. I'm its place is callous calculation and attention. The kind that hinders any plans of survival.
I exhale, my shoulders slumping. "L-Lili gives up." I mumble, raising my hands.
Their relief is almost immediate.
My former party grins, showing smug satisfaction through ugly teeth.
My current one glares down at me with disgust for surrendering, like they hadn't already decided to abandon me.
The dwarf steps forward first, yanking my backpack off my shoulders. I stumble forward, then hit the ground as he shoves me aside. They check the contents. Loot, potions, supplies, making sure they lose nothing in the trade.
Then the human grabs my arm and drags me toward my old party. I don't resist. I've learned resistance only ever makes the pain worse.
He tosses me to the ground in front of them like a sack of garbage.
"We good?" He asks, not bothering to spare me a single glance.
"Yeah." My old leader says. "You're free to go. If anyone asks, the supporter died to a monster attack."
Simple. Clean. Forgettable. Just another Pallum lost to the Dungeon. And everyone here knows no one would bother questioning my death.
They nod, satisfied. They're already moving to leave when the Cat Lady stops, her tail twitching.
"Ack—!" Pain shoots through my stomach as her boot slams into me, flipping me over. I barely have time to gasp before she crouches down and rips my robe open, exposing the knife I'd hidden there… the dissecting knife I used earlier.
"You thought I wouldn't notice?" She sneers, plucking it from its sheath and tossing it aside. The sound of metal scraping stone echoes cruelly. "Knew you were a crafty little rat."
She flashes me a sharp-toothed smile before strutting away.
The men left behind no longer smile victoriously, as their faces twist with fury.
"You were still planning something?" One snarls. "After all that?"
I stare blankly at the knife lying out of reach. 'That was Lili's last hope.'
My one plan… to wait until my current party left, stab one of the remaining 3 as a distraction, and run.
I know I'd never win. And my chances of surviving in the dungeon alone are abysmal… but I had to escape. I could hide… survive… and maybe make it back…
But now… it's gone.
Hopelessness settles in my chest like a sinking stone.
"You think you can make a fool of us again?" The leader growls. "You think you can play us again? After what you and that white-haired freak pulled?"
Before I can react, his boot crashes into the side of my head. My vision blurs. The ground tilts. I roll across the cold stone until my shoulder slams into the dungeon wall.
Everything hurts.
My head's ringing. My stomach's twisted.
I want to cry. To scream. To beg them to stop.
But I don't. Crying only fuels their cruelty.
Their shadows close in as taunts, curses, and kicks rain down on me. Each blow blurs into the next until I can't tell which hurts more… the pain or the humiliation.
'Why Lili?' I think dully. 'What did Lili ever do wrong?'
A kick to the ribs steals my breath, and another to the face bursts stars across my vision.
A hand clamps around my throat and I'm yanked upright, my back scraping against the rough dungeon wall. Stone cuts into my skin while I choke, clawing weakly at his wrist.
"Don't—kill—Lili—please…" I wheeze.
He slams my head back against the wall.
"Shut up!" His voice echoes off the stone, his breath foul against my face. "You're not walking out of here alive."
His grip tightens. My vision blackens. I can see nothing but his furious eyes, and behind them, the joy of dominance. The thrill of power.
Tears slip down my cheeks. Not from the pain. Just… from being so tired.
'Why is it always Lili?'
'Why does Lili always have to suffer?'
The world dims around the edge of my vision.
Somewhere deep in my mind, I see him. The white-haired, blue-eyed devil who started all this. The man who'd "saved" me before.
'Bastard…' I think bitterly, even as I feel my lips moving on their own.
"Save… Lili…" It comes out as a rasp. A dying prayer to no one.
The man laughs, pressing harder. "No one's coming, you stupid runt. No one ever will—"
"And who decided that?"
The new voice cuts through the air… low, cold, and sharp enough to make the man's hand freeze around my throat.
***********
A/N: Hello Everyone! If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
Yes, yes! Even I felt bad writing this (well, not really.) I felt evil, rather. I felt sorry for Lili. She suffered😭. And worse yet, the cliffhanger hurts me more that it hurts you🥲 (don't trust me on that.)
So, how was the chapter? Super emotional I hope. I really tried to portray Lili's mentality. She's someone who wants to survive, but will give up when all that fails. Let's face it, she's weak, and she knows it. She knows struggle is pointless once there's no hope, and curses the world for the bad hand she got, and curses adventurers more for being that bad hand.
But, luckily for her, life is gonna be looking up. To be honest, it wasn't my plan, but this turned out much better than expected. Seems like it'll be easier to get her to join Hestia and Riven.
Finally (there's not much to be said), was I too mean? Probably. But it was necessary, right?! It enhanced the chapter. It made (I hope), everyone feel things. Hopefully compassion, pity, and so on, and not happiness somehow, but to each their own. You can enjoy Lili being in pain, just don't expect much more of it.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and have a good day/night 😊.