Chapter 22: Offering a Helping Hand

"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!*

Their feet landed on the concrete ground, telling them that they had really returned from the dungeon.

"Oh, you're the newbies this morning!" And just as they got out, the deep, friendly voice of an uncle called to them. "Looks like your first day was a success, huh?"

Aster turned around, seeing the same man who took their entrance fee before standing there. With the backlight on him, he looked even scarier than during the day, causing Aster to gulp in nervousness.

"Yes, we did! We earned a bit from hunting those slimes~!" Without minding his appearance, Cassy responded in a friendly and excited manner.

"Is that so? Well, it's nice to see newbies working hard like this! Go and rest, and come back tomorrow to give me more money!" The Oni man joked as he cackled loudly.

Aster, of course, kept his distance. He pulled his hood deeper to hide his face, and he tugged at his scarf. Although he wasn't as bothered by Cassy's appearance, as a beastwoman, other races—ones that were usually portrayed as evil beings in novels—were still too scary for him.

Cassandra waved goodbye to the Oni uncle as the two strode away, heading toward the street. Since the two were "broke," they were simply walking over the automatic walkways, trying to reach their destination as cheaply as possible.

"Hmmmm~! Hm hmhmm~!"

Cassandra kept on humming as she skipped along. She was in a good mood, as their first day as a party was pretty successful. They got a lot of loot, even!

Their first destination was, of course, the adventurer's guild. After all, they have to cash in their loot before they can get their money.

"Ohh..."

But when the two reached the building, they found that it was already closed. Well, it was reasonable, since it was already 8 p.m. and the Adventurer's Guild doesn't run 24/7 and only opens from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Aster turned to Cassy and found that she looked a little troubled. After all, she did say she had no money to even stay in a hotel anymore. While they were resting in between hunts, the two did chat lightly, and from that, he learned that she had come to Orinfeld City roughly six days ago.

She did come with ample funds into the city, but nobody bothered taking her into their party after knowing that she could only use Minor Heal three times. As such, with inn fees and meals piling up and no way of replenishing her money, she ended up running out right as today began.

'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.