Chapter 3 - Inside

I wasn't sure I'd be able to clear this mission. He looked like the type of guy who trusted no one... especially not some random girl who had just shown up out of nowhere.

"So, let me get this straight. You woke up here—in this cave, to be precise—you survived, and you don't know who I am?" His eyes narrowed. "And you just happened to show up the first time I'm sent alone to clear a cave where a lot of Purgers have died?"

"What the fuck are Purgers?" I tried to move again, but it was impossible. Those chains did not budge. "Hey, also, you told me you'd release me when—"

"Are you still going to pretend?" he cut in, and by the tone of his voice, he was probably thinking of a way to kill me.

"Oh my GOD, you're insufferable, you know that?" I bit back the urge to scream. "I explained everything! I'm not pretending! I don't know what the hell you're yapping about, but this is just a coincidence!"

He still didn't believe me, that was for sure. But he released whatever was holding me and threw his coat at me, which I gladly took.

"About time," I muttered.

"Don't try anything funny. You're guiding me to the cave you came from. I have some business with the beast inside it."

"I'd rather not." I hugged the coat tighter around me. "The beast inside is way too scary, and you'll probably leave me there for it to eat me."

"Lead the way." His tone was final.

I hate this guy's guts. Can't I change MC, please?

[No.]

I sighed and started walking in the direction I'd come from. Thank God for my good sense of direction.

Soon enough, the familiar mouth of the cave came into view between the trees. My stomach immediately tightened.

The beast was still there.

It stood just beyond the entrance, its massive body partially hidden by the darkness inside. Those glowing eyes found me almost immediately, and every instinct I had screamed at me to turn around and run in the opposite direction.

The beast suddenly backed away and disappeared into the cave.

I turned around, only to find the bastard standing there with one arm extended toward me.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" I yelled, stepping away and making sure to put as much distance between myself and the cave as possible. Let's be honest here, the bear—or whatever this thing was—was just waiting to behead me.

"Since you're clearly afraid and I haven't been ambushed yet, it seems like you weren't lying to me."

"Are you crazy?" I asked, genuinely concerned. "I'm sure we can fix that with a good psychiatrist."

"Are you really calling me crazy? When you're the one walking around naked, by the way, saying that you woke up in this very cave?"

"I'd prefer it if you didn't judge. I could be a nudist, and that would mean you're calling all nudists crazy."

"Are you a nudist, then?"

"No."

"An exhibitionist?"

"I knew people would think that! No, I'm not!"

"I have to take care of the beast inside this cave. Take down the barrier you put up."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"The beast. It can't get out because of your barrier."

"I didn't put up any barriers. Look at me. Do I look like some kind of powerful mage?"

He looked me up and down before running a hand through his hair. "What are you, then? You survived this without any power?"

"I mean, I do have a power." I smirked. "Want to see it?"

He raised an eyebrow. I took that as a yes.

I looked around and found some small pieces of wood and a few leaves. I put them together and crouched in front of the pile. "Ignite," I said, snapping my fingers.

Saw that in Fullmetal Alchemist, heh.

A tiny flame appeared.

"Wait, that's... it?" I heard the MC ask behind me.

"It's cool, right?" I said, proud of myself. The pile was burning, and its heat was soothing.

Ah... Feels nice.

"Cool?" he asked, disbelief clear in his tone. "That's like the worst flame I've ever seen from a mage."

"Hey, now! Be nice. It was my first time. Can't be the best yet."

"Your first time?"

"Yes," I replied easily. His condescending tone was maddening, but whatever. I was feeling much better now that I was a bit warmer. "Now, I'll be waiting for you here while you defeat this ugly beast."

He stared at me. Then at my fire. Then back at me. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious." I hugged the coat tighter around me and scooted a little closer to my tiny fire. "Good luck with the murder bear."

His lips pressed into a thin line, and for a second, I thought he'd just ignore me and head inside.

But no. Apparently, that would've been too easy.

"There's no way I'm leaving you out here."

Oh, for the love of...

"Dude. Look around." I gestured vaguely at the trees and the nothingness around us. "What am I gonna do, run off into the freezing wilderness in this fashionable yet breezy coat?" I gave the fabric a little shake. "Or, I don't know, take a nap by my glorious, definitely life-threatening flame?"

"You could be lying about how you got here," he said, unimpressed. "And if you're some kind of spy, I can't risk you escaping."

I gaped at him. "Spy? Who the hell would I be spying for?"

He shrugged. "That's what I'm going to find out."

"Right. Because obviously, I woke up naked in a cave on purpose to infiltrate the... what was it... Purgers? As the world's worst assassin." I threw up my hands. "Genius plan."

"Get up."

"No."

He exhaled sharply, and I swore I saw a muscle tick in his jaw.

Then, without warning, he grabbed my coat by the collar and started dragging me toward the cave entrance.

"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

The ground rushed beneath me as he kept dragging me toward the cave like I weighed absolutely nothing.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT! YOU CAN'T JUST DRAG PEOPLE INTO DEATH CAVE—"

"You had no problem coming out of it."

"THAT'S BECAUSE I WAS RUNNING FOR MY LIFE!"

I clawed at the ground, but it was useless. This guy was strong. Stupidly strong.

And my bare feet were hurting.

"I'll stay RIGHT HERE," I tried again, flailing dramatically. "Look, I made a fire! I'm being productive! You do your little hero thing, and I'll be here, not dying."

"Not an option."

He didn't even slow down.

The entrance was getting bigger with every step.

Unfortunately, so was my sense of impending doom.

"No, no, no. Okay, WAIT!" I panicked, gripping his sleeve. "Just... just pause for a sec, alright? One second. Let's think this through like civilized people."

He actually stopped and raised an eyebrow.

I inhaled.

"What if I promise, like, on my honor or whatever, that I'll be right here when you get back?"

"No."

I squeezed my eyes shut. "What if I build a bigger fire, so you can always see where I am?"

"Inside."

"OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? FINE!" I threw my hands up in defeat. "But if I die, I'm haunting your ass."

"Noted."

And just like that, he hauled me straight into the dark.

[Mission: Gain the MC's trust.]
[Mission: Stay alive.]

Yeah, that's what I'm trying to do.