39.3ᴘᴀᴛʀᴇᴏɴ.ᴄᴏᴍ/sᴛʀᴀᴛᴏᴛʜʀᴀx

"Why did you help Opal?"

"Because I am an honourable Kobold, I see a monster in need and it tugs at my heartstrings, I could not leave such an injustice alone."

Rain narrowed his eyes. "Why did you help Opal?"

The Kobold swallowed and looked away. "Because I can help the team! I'm all in with you guys!"

Rain snarled and the Kobold took a step back in fright.

"Okay! Okay! Fine. It's because had the levelers won then I would have been nothing but an experience snack for them, dead where I stood. Levelers don't let monsters live without reason, I was either definitely dead with them or maybe going to die with you lunati- uh, very nice monsters!"

Rain nodded in satisfaction.

"What's your name?"

The Kobold blinked at him in surprise. "Y-you want to know my name? Really?"

Rain nodded.

The Kobold coughed into his fist and cleared his throat. "Rixquintalios'alos the third, third in line for the noble house of Salamansos'firilianaranse. Esteemed giant rat hunter, famed amongst my peers!"

"...I'm not pronouncing that. Your name is now Red."

"Wha- You can't change my name!"

"Your name is Red."

"Nuooo! That's not even a real name! That's the name of a child's toy!"

"Red."

"-But!"

Rain loomed at him, which was impressive given he was slumped against the throne still.

The Kobold whimpered and looked at his feet. "My name is Red."

Opal slapped him on the shoulder. "Thanks for saving my ass Red."

The Kobold stumbled forward under the slap and made a pained face.

"That's... you're welcome..."

Rain snorted then turned to look around the hall. He narrowed his eyes.

"I know you're here, watching, listening. Show yourself."

The hall remained still.

"You did what you did for a reason, Don't Leave Me Waiting."

Standing half behind a pillar the Elf-sheep suddenly became visible, her face pale and her legs visibly trembling.

"H-hi...It's, uhm, me...again."

"You saved my life."

"...And m-murdered a leveler, oh g-gods, what have I done…"

"You did what you felt you needed to do, though I would like to know why."

The Elf-sheep seemed to gather herself, as though building up toward a speech she had been going over and over in her head.

"I came because I want your protection, and to 'join'-"

"It's yours."

"-I feel I have a lot to offer your, uh, band. I am out of contract and a free agent, I have a very particular set of skill- wait what did you say?"

"I said you have it. I watched you from the forest as you left the Half-goblin tribe. You can turn yourself and others invisible. I want that."

"O-oh." She seemed to relax a little. "You know I had thought of quite a lot to persuade you, it was really good and very persuasive."

"Well you can still tell me if you wish."

The Elf-sheep sighed. "The moments kinda passed but you should know I'm not doing this out of the kindness of my heart."

"I know, otherwise you wouldn't have said protection."

She nodded. "I might have gotten in a speck of trouble."

"A speck large enough to throw yourself on the mercy of a monster? Some speck."

"Ahaha, yes. Well, uhm, you know that pregnant Lamia you freed who wanted to bridge the divide between monsters and levelers? Wellll I kinda have a bounty on my head for her murder."

"You didn't murder her did you. If you had you wouldn't have been as bothered by what you just did."

"...No... I was framed by her horrible husband." She held out her hand and a black bladed knife appeared out of thin air in it. "Framed and handed a cursed item I cannot get rid of."

Opal spat. "Levelers. Backstabbing rats. Why should we keep her around? She's just as likely to betray us as the leveler that betrayed her."

"She did save my life…"

The Elf-sheep scowled. "You think I want to be here?! My Class is called Rescuer! I rescue levelers who get into trouble in Dungeons, from monsters, monsters like you lot!"

"Well now you can rescue monsters."

The Elf-sheep groaned and put her head in her hands. "Did I really make the right choice?" She peeked between her fingers. "You know there's over a hundred levelers looking for you right? I should have known it was you from the start, you took the Inquisitor's arm didn't you?"

Opal held up the longsword with a grin. "Took her sword too!"

"Of course you did, things couldn't get any better could they."