Vol. 2 - Ch. 21 - Marihaba's Hunter [Part 1]

The day after having broken through the 10th floor of the Red Tower, Ash departed from Blain's Perch as soon as the sun rose.Walking out of the narrow alley to the street and towards the central plaza, the early morning air was still cool and slightly chilly, taking away the slight remaining drowsiness.

Ash was in perfect physical condition, not tired from the previous day.

He was itching to go to the tower as soon as possible, but before that, there was something he needed to check.

Someone had been following Ash since a few minutes ago.

Sneaking a peek over his shoulder, Ash saw a head of hair with a flower ornament and a wooden staff sticking out of a corner.

It was a strange sense of déjà vu.

Ash instantly figured out who that person was.

Sighing, he turned around.

"What's wrong? Why are you hiding over there?" he asked.

"What?!" The person responded.

(Did she really think I wouldn't notice her...)

Suddenly, the tailgater, Clara, came fearfully out of the corner.

After averting her eyes from side to side, she turned to look at Ash.

"I was just wondering where you were going."

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to climb the tower."

"I-I see. Hmph... In that case you could've called." Clara remarked.

"We cleared the 10th Floor, didn't we? There's no need to climb together anymore." Ash explained.

The moment Clara heard that, her expression sunk to one of despair.

However, she quickly pulled herself back up and looked at Ash.

"U-Um... I was thinking... If it's fine with you Ash, how about we continue climbing together? We worked quite well on the 10th Floor and I think we make quite a good team." Clara said.

"Team, huh..."

"Of course, I fully understand that I still have my rough edges. But I'll do my best, so please, don't leave me alone!"

Ash listened to her sincerely, his expression not shifting at all, that was until Clara at last started crying and hugged him.

(She probably remembered how hard and grueling it was hunting and surviving all alone.  Maybe I went too far with my joke.)

"Sorry, sorry. I was kidding." Ash said with an apologetic tone.

"What?"

"I just wanted to see how you'd react." Ash said, fully expecting Clara to get angry and lash out at him.

However, all she did was open her eyes in shock.

"Y-You mean we can stay together?"

"I'd be lying if I said I had no gripes. My biggest one is with how you're not used to combat."

"That's..."

"However, that's something you'll learn with time. The most important one is whether I can trust you or not."

When fighting alongside others, annihilation was to be expected if there was poor coordination and no support present. As such, when teaming up mutual trust was the most important thing.

"I have no problems with trusting you. What about you?"

"I-I... have trusted you for a long time now! If I hadn't I wouldn't have shook your hand." Clara said. She then raised her eyebrows a tad bit and continued, "Though I have some grievances about how you drag me into fights and tease me all the time..."

"You could say I'm just being playful."

"There's nothing cute about a grown man being playful!"

"I can't argue with that..." Ash said, shrugging his shoulders, to which Clara giggled. He then continued, "Regardless, I look forward to being with you, Clara."

"M-Me too!" Clara said, bowing her head vigorously.

(She's really a strange one. That's not the way you bow to someone you've known for a while now.  Though I guess that's what makes her interesting.)

"Well then, now that our team has been established, where should we go hunting today?" Ash asked.

"You haven't decided?"

"I'm curious to see the Red Tower's 11th Floor, but I'd also like to see how the other towers are. After all, I've only been to the Red and Blue Towers."

Ash was now painfully aware that to ascend the towers he had to make good use of the Enhancement Stones. After all, the most sure way to reach God's Challenge was to gather Enhancement Stones while ascending all of the towers.

"It's my fault for dragging you down... I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I was doing that either way so it's all good."

(To be honest, the pressure actually accelerated my speed, so it was a godsend.) Ash pondered.

"In the end I can't help but think about the other towers. Let's leave the red one on hold for now and go climb the others."

"The White and Black Towers are known for being slightly more difficult, so I suggest going with the Green Tower for now."

"Good. It's decided then. We'll go to the Green Tower, just as my partner suggests." Ash exclaimed.

"P-Partner?!"

Clara's eyes twinkled as if she were deeply moved, and she started walking forward with a bouncy gait.

"Follow me! Your partner will show you the way!" Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ ɴovᴇlꜰirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"I'm sorry to break your bubble, but before going there's something I'd like to do."

"Could it be..."

Clara's guess was right on the money.

Ash fished through his pouch and pulled out a small gem - a Red Attribute Stone.

He had picked it up on the 10th Floor yesterday.

"Yea. I want to have this embedded."