"Shit, it's already evening on the outside!" Aster panicked.
Cassandra, on the other hand, was looking pensive. She didn't rush but was in deep thought instead. "Star, don't you think it'd be a waste to come out after we paid that much just to enter?" She asked with a serious expression.
Of course, Aster himself felt like it was a waste. They spend 2,000 Tels each just to enter the dungeon. If they left, that would mean they needed to pay the same amount tomorrow to enter!
"But if we sleep here, we don't need to pay again!" Cassy's lips slowly curled into a grin. "Aren't I smart?!" She exclaimed, proud that she had found a loophole in the system.
It's true that on higher floors, it was common to stay a few days to a month at most inside to conquer it. However, that's only for floors where "safe areas" have already been established.
The first floor, being the easiest and weakest of all floors, basically didn't need a safe area. As such, sleeping in there posed the risk of getting attacked by monsters instead.
That was one of the reasons, but the biggest one was something he couldn't do anything against. "Sorry, but I need to go to the hospital today. I need to fetch something important..."
"Oh..." Cassy's expression turned into a mix of disappointment and understanding. "If you already have an appointment, then we can't help it."
Of course, her positivity knows no bounds. She quickly bounced out of her disappointed mood and smiled joyfully. "Let's go rest for today and work harder tomorrow! I've got a grasp of those Blue Slimes' movements, so we can probably hunt even more tomorrow!"
Aster smiled, feeling the care and understanding that she was giving him.
After that, the two walked toward the entrance of the dungeon. They didn't lose their way at all, as it stood out and looked like a natural rock cave entrance standing in the middle of a plain. It was eye-catching.
As they peeked through the cave entrance, they saw not darkness but a blinding white light coming out of it.
The pair didn't hesitate one bit and jumped through together, and as if it were an illusion, their vision shifted an instant later. The interior of the midday dungeon changed from a bright, open space to one that was completely dark and lit only by evenly spaced floodlights.
*TAP!*
'If I leave her be without money, then...'
Aster thought, thinking about her plans, which she mentioned earlier. Sleeping in public parks! No matter how good public security was, it still didn't feel right to let a girl sleep like that.
"Sorry, Cassy," Aster apologized immediately. "If only we didn't lose track of time."
"Oh, it's not your fault alone, but mine as well." Cassy smiled, not showing even a hint of disappointment. "But well, it looks like I'll be sleeping on a park bench tonight! Don't worry, I'm quite tough, so I won't catch a cold easily!"
"..."
Cassy, despite getting the short end of the stick, didn't bother blaming it on Aster. Instead, she sounded as if she didn't want to drag him into her circumstances!
Aster thought for a while before asking her. "Leaving you to sleep in such an open space as a park worries me. How about staying the night with me in my room?"
Cassy turned to look at Aster's face, looking shocked and speechless. "... Really? You want me to stay the night with you?" She asked again, as if to confirm.
"Yes." Aster nodded immediately. "Of course, if you're uncomfortable staying with a guy, then I'll just lend you money to stay the night in some inn instead."
They would be getting their money tomorrow after the guild opened, after all, so he didn't mind spending what little was left of his budget.
"N-No way! I wouldn't dare increase my debt to you! It's too much!"
Cassy shook her head as she waved her hands in denial. "I'll take your offer if it doesn't really bother you~!" She continued with a smile.
"Great, then, let's pass by the hospital first before heading to my room."
Although he was downplaying the event, and even though he didn't have any ulterior motives, it was still his first time sleeping with a woman, not his nurse or his mother. Such thoughts made his heart race.