MTLNOVEL Chapter 6: Deal
Max was running at full speed, while cursing how there weren't any tunnels for options.
He had hoped to confuse the big guy by running in different tunnels, but the path before him was a single big tunnel running to who knows where.
"I should have made more of these tunnels," Max muttered. "That aside, what are those two doing? They aren't stupid enough to fight it, right?"
His guess proved correct right when he heard the loud thumping behind him. He sighed, "I guess we can co-operate."
[You just wanna take advantage of the situation, don't you?]
"How dare you question a gentleman like me?" Max would have loved to tease her more, but the ground shaking below him was reminding him of the danger closing in.
[Sure, sure, I believe you. Now, deal with the big guy!]
Max didn't say anything, but there was a small smile present on his face. He continued running through the underground cave that took many turns and had ups and downs but never branched out.
It frustrated him, but he held on and waited until he heard footsteps coming closer to him. He smiled and slowed his speed slightly, so that the two ladies could catch up to him. Well, they were of a higher level than him so it wouldn't take long for them to catch up anyway.
Stelle saw the familiar back and shouted, "Hey, what did you do to piss off such a big guy?"
"False allegations," Max scoffed, as he ran slightly ahead of the others. "I did nothing. That guy just wants to eat my handsome face because it's ugly. Jealous bastard!"
Stelle and Charlotte almost slipped hearing that, dumbfounded and wondering how someone could joke in a situation like this. Still, there were more things to deal with, so they ignored it.
"You're obviously very weak...maybe not even a Hunter, so how did you manage to escape it?" Charlotte asked, finding it extremely odd.
"Oh yeah, how did I not notice it?" Stelle exclaimed. "Hey, red and white, how did you survive till now?"
Max was going to throw another trash joke, but a loud thump on the ground stopped him. Shaking his head, he said, "I have my ways, why should I tell you?"
"We can co-operate to kill it," Charlotte said. "I don't see an end to this tunnel and there's no way we can outrun a Level 9 monster. If you know something, tell us so we can use it to defeat it."
Max gave a side glance at her, especially at her wand, and said, "You're a Silver Rank Hunter, right? Then why can't you defeat it?"
"How?" Charlotte was surprised that he could actually see through her, but then quickly replied. "The labyrinth suppressed my rank, and I'm also a healer, so I can't really fight."
'I know,' Max looked at Stelle, who was looking like a small brat compared to the two of them. "And she's a berserker?"
"Yes, so quickly tell us anything you know so we can defeat it," Charlotte pleaded as they took another turn, only to end up in a long, wide tunnel that ran straight for who knows how long.
"Fucking hell!" Max cursed and stopped. "You're right. There's no point in running away, but you have to know that I'm just a weakling who hasn't even leveled up once so how can I be sure you won't kill me later on or use me as bait to run away?"
It was just the formalities he was doing as a stranger. As the person who had made their characters, he knew their personality better than anyone.
They would never betray their own, especially after what happened to them.
While Charlotte frowned slightly, Stelle scoffed at him, "Heh, scared of two cute girls and you call yourself a man?"
"I can take you two on at the same time, just not in a fight," Max rolled his eyes.
Stelle blinked, not understanding his words. But then the meaning registered properly, as her nostrils flared up and she raised her hammer up, "I will kill you!"
"Stelle, stop it!" Charlotte scolded, hiding the slight redness of her cheeks. "I give you my words, well, I know they mean nothing but that's the only thing I can give right now. Also, if you help us, then I will help you for two days in your leveling. I'm sure you will like a healer having your back, right?"
"But sis, his life is also in danger?" Stelle protested, but stopped when Charlotte looked at her.
On the other hand, Max didn't take a second to make his decision, as he gave a thumbs up and said, "That's perfect. It's a deal."
"Good, now can you tell us anything you know about it?" Charlotte asked.
"Oh, it's simple," Max flashed a grin, as he took out his bell and his dull blade. "The Dungeon Rats hate high-pitched noises and grow confused, feeling as if they were hallucinations."
Hearing his explanation, they remembered how they first saw him and became speechless. Stelle asked, "So, that's why you were crying loudly?"
"Screaming, that's called screaming," Max corrected her and said. "And yes, that's how I survived it, but it's too powerful and can ignore the effects to some degree."
He turned towards Stelle and asked, "What's your level?"
"I'm on Level 6," Stelle said, puffing her chest in pride. Sadly, there wasn't much to see.
"That's too weak," Max clicked his tongue...
"Hey!!"
"So, aim towards its armpits," Max said, turning back from where he could hear the growling sounds.
"Armpits? Wasn't their weakness their chins?" Charlotte asked in confusion.
"That's for normal Dungeon Rats. This guy is the boss and has his weakness covered," Max smiled. "Just like us, they also work on their weaknesses as they grow powerful, after all."
"You're quite knowledgeable for someone of your strength," Stelle said. "Alright, leave the beating to me. Big Sis will debuff it and heal me, I will do the killing part and as for you, heh, you should just cry as loudly as possible."
"Fuck off, you flat brat!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!??"
ROAR!