Soma Familia Vice Captain!
Even with sufficient mental preparation, Keare's calm expression still subtly furrowed when he heard this news.
In the original Dungeon or Familia story, there wasn't much description of the Soma Familia.
Their displayed strength in Orario was only considered mediocre; Chanis, titled the "Wine Guardian," was an Adventurer of Level 2.
However, he focused on management and neglected Dungeon exploration, so his strength wasn't particularly high.
But the sudden appearance of a "Soma Familia Vice Captain"—Keare truly had no recollection of any information regarding this.
He cast his gaze towards Liliruca.
Upon hearing a familiar voice, the girl, whose mood had been relatively relaxed, became like a taut string, and unpleasant memories gradually surfaced from the depths of her mind.
She had escaped the Soma Familia back then.
Using the 'Cinder Girl' magic for disguise, she was finally taken in by a florist couple, and just when she thought her life was completely stable, he broke it.
An Adventurer of Level 2, Ganu Beruwei.
"..."
"An Adventurer of Level 2, he... seems to have a special method to see through my magic effect."
Liliruca looked at the floor area shrouded in mist and the approaching footsteps; out of instinctive fear, she clenched her fists, trembling slightly.
The choice before them now was to forcibly pass through the mist mechanism and hide on deeper floors, avoiding pursuit by Beruwei and the others.
"We can't stay here."
She had a basic understanding of Keare's strength, but it likely wasn't at Level 2, and moreover, Beruwei's team had many Adventurers.
They absolutely couldn't confront them head-on.
Putting aside being dragged back to the Soma Familia, being caught would definitely implicate Keare.
Forcibly passing through the mist mechanism also meant Keare would bear the risk; at such a critical moment, as a Supporter, a sense of powerlessness filled Liliruca's heart.
"But..."
"Going to the floor covered by the mist mechanism is really risky!"
"..."
Keare wasn't surprised by the existence of a method to see through disguise magic.
It was very possible that this Level 2 Adventurer possessed a skill similar to Yamato Mikoto's 'Yatagarasu,' which could sense fellow Familia members.
A life-and-death battle against a Level 2 Adventurer beyond his current level...
Could he win?
He wasn't sure either, but looking at the mist mechanism covering the floor ahead, utilizing the environmental advantage for an ambush might present an opportunity.
Clear out the Adventurer team Beruwei brought.
In a one-on-one situation, make full use of the 'Deterioration' skill to maximize its effect and end the battle quickly before the opponent could react!
But before that, Keare needed to prepare.
"Since he can see through the disguise, there's no need to keep up the disguise anymore, right?"
"Sorry..."
Was he preparing to abandon her...
But Liliruca didn't ask; she simply did as Keare said, and as the 'Cinder Girl' magic faded, her original appearance was revealed.
Did she resent Keare for turning on her before the battle?
The girl's heart held no such thoughts; from Keare's perspective, encountering such a situation, the best solution would be to sever ties.
If she were Keare, she would definitely do the same.
Not only that, she remembered those Adventurers who hired her but were betrayed by her; surely, they felt the same despair at that time?
Suddenly understanding this, Liliruca's mood became relieved.
She forced a smile: "Thank you very much for taking care of me during this time. The money I saved earlier..."
"I hid it in room 201 of the Wisteria Inn. Consider it payment."
"Mm..."
"It's better to help you with your financial problems than to let those guys from the Soma Familia get it cheaply." As for her next plan, Liliruca hadn't thought about it.
The fact that Chanis went to such great lengths to find her meant she still held value.
"...And I can finally understand the feelings of those Adventurers I betrayed." The girl forced a relaxed smile, but what happened next exceeded her expectations.
Because... as Keare, standing before her, gently cupped her cheeks, Liliruca had already braced herself for a beating and a complete severing of ties.
But then she noticed the brown-haired boy's gradually changing face.
The girl's pupils contracted violently as she looked at that incredibly familiar face, and Liliruca's heart was filled with a sense of unreality, as if she were looking in a mirror in a hotel room.
Even she herself couldn't tell the difference; it was the exact same appearance!
"What are you still standing around for? Waiting for them to catch up!"
The 'Optimization' skill could not only reshape memories, adjust ability point distribution, and temporarily enhance oneself, but also alter appearance and physique.
It was just that Keare had never thought that after transmigrating to the Dungeon or Familia world, he would actually need to use this hidden function of changing appearance!
He looked at Liliruca, who was completely stunned before him, and fiercely pinched the girl's cheeks with both hands: "After this matter is completely over, you'd best be prepared..."
"To become my private property!"
What did he mean by private property?!
That statement sounded incredibly excessive...
But the glistening tears in the girl's eyes and the brilliant smile on her face already provided an accurate answer.
"I... I don't mind!"
"--"
"Vice Captain."
"Are you sure that Liliruca is on the 10th floor?"
Ganu Beruwei, who was leading the way, didn't even bother to explain. His skill allowed him to sense Adventurers from the same Familia faction nearby.
When he reached the 9th floor, he already had a premonition, and even if she used the 'Cinder Girl' magic for disguise, he could instantly recognize her.
Only by completing Captain Chanis's mission could his position as Vice Captain be fully confirmed. As for Liliruca following that Adventurer party, if she really refused, then she could go tell the Soma Familia!
"Hurry up."
"Liliruca is here."
Ganu Beruwei frowned, urging them on. As they entered the safe passage connecting the stairs, the sight that greeted them made his already grim expression even more serious.
A mist mechanism shrouded the current floor.
And in this safe area, untouched by the mist, there were no Adventurers in sight.
His skill's sensory effect was quite strong; he carefully observed the surroundings and finally noticed the mist that had been disturbed by a figure and hadn't fully recovered.
"Damn it."
"Liliruca must have entered the mist mechanism!"
Beruwei couldn't help but curse, but Captain Chanis's request was to bring Liliruca back to the Familia unharmed, leaving him with only one last option.
He had to go into the mist mechanism.
He had to get her out before the surrounding monsters killed the Supporter Liliruca.
"She really doesn't learn... still playing hide-and-seek at a time like this?"
Having prepared for battle, Beruwei and the Soma Familia Adventurers in his party decisively chose to follow the footsteps, beginning their pursuit of Liliruca.
This cat-and-mouse farce was almost over!