Rose Foxes

Back at the Inn Noah waited for Alice while practising the exercises from Winter Style. Finding the TriFlower Serpent would take time, he had stopped the library before coming to the Inn and read about it.

The Serpent was small as long as an arm at most. It had three flowers on its head that seemed like a crown. The colour of its scales was a mixture of the colour of the flowers and green. Its were its most unique feature which had three flower-like pupils.

The monster wasn't strong just really good at hiding. It was almost impossible to find it.

Although Explorer Map showed the location of monsters, it wasn't omniscient enough to show monsters in hiding. However, Noah wasn't too worried he had another card, Spatial Sense. With his Spatial Sense talent, he was able to analyse all structures around him and see within them as well so he would be able to sense the serpent as long as it was in his range.

Noah finished his exercise and Alice got up from her bed. The two then left, they needed to clear dungeons for the day.

...

Getting equipped and dressed the two got on their horses and walked out. Alice looked at Noah and noticed the new staff hung on his back. It gave off more energy than the others, she still hadn't seen a D Class item but she could tell that staff was one.

The two trotted towards the gate and were stopped by people waiting around. They were groups going to clear dungeons looking for other people to join them. People like Alice and Noah were priority targets.

The two declined one group after the other, seeing how low level they were. Near the end, a woman came holding a large broadsword and chestplate.

"Do you two want to join us?" The woman asked.

Noah saw that compared to everyone here, they were best equipped. He turned to look at Alice.

Alice nodded, the group was made of three girls similar to her in age. She still felt uncomfortable with men so seeing an all-girl group, she wanted to join it.

"We'll join," Alice said. The two came close and greeted the three.

Leona seeing them finish greeting, asked, "Where were you two going? We were going to the D Class dungeon, Cave of Beetles."

"We were planning to go to a D Class dungeon, Hot Spider Cave," Noah answered.

"I see, it looks you guys have already completed D Class dungeons from your equipment. This will be our first. We rented that carriage over there and are using that to travel, if you want you two can join us."

Alice looked at Noah with sparkles she wanted to ride the carriage, "You can ride it, I'll go bring your horse back to the stable."

"You won't?" Alice asked hearing his answer.

"There isn't that much space it'll get crowded if I join." Noah liked riding a horse better, he would just follow along.

Alice got off and sat in the carriage she greeted everyone with a slight wave. Leona sat in as well and saw Noah leaving, "Your friend isn't coming?"

"No, he'll leave my horse at the Inn's stable then catch up," Alice answered.

The carriage started moving. It wasn't as fast as riding a horse but it was more comfortable.

"So let's properly introduce ourselves, I'm Leona, 22 years old currently in university. I entered the Eternal Battlefield a month ago."

"I'm Tasha, 20 years old, entered a month ago. I use the dagger." The black-haired girl said. She also wore a chestplate and gloves for armour.

"I'm Sofia, 19 years old. I entered with them a month ago. I use magic and wands. I hope we get along." The short-haired brunette said.

"I'm Alice, 17 years old, I use daggers as well. I also entered a month ago," Alice said with a casual smile. Hanging out with Noah she could now tell a lie as if she believed it to be true. "I arrived at a town called BlueCloud town, where I met the guy you saw leave, he's Noah. 18 years old and uses guns. He usually supports me from behind as I fight."

"Alice I see you're the youngest now from our group. We're called the Rose Foxes, we came up with it a few days ago what do you think?"

"I think it's a good name, when did you guys meet?"

Tasha answered, "We met online on earth and then met here on our second day here. We then grouped together since then."

"Alice, if you don't mind telling us, where did you get that armour, is it a set?"

Alice thought about it and decided not to hide too much, "It is, set armour drops from C Class dungeons and quite frequently."

"You've been in C Class dungeons?" Leona asked in surprise.

"I have, it didn't go well so we ended up coming back to doing D Class dungeons." As she said this Alice looked back out, she saw Noah galloping towards them and stoping close.

"Hello everyone I'm Noah, I'll be riding my horse beside the carriage, nice to meet you all," Noah said as he came in close. He said it monotonously.

The others greeted him back and continued to talk with Alice.

Noah didn't mind them avoiding him, he needed to keep his distance from people to hide his identity for now. He hoped they were all good people and Alice could make friends. This had been worrying Noah, after getting the Staff and soon the gun, he would be ready for B Class dungeons soon.

The gap between Alice and Noah would continue to widen. If that happened he would have to hold himself back just to help Alice, which not only slow his growth but would burden Alice. So having her run dungeons with other people similar to her, would be better.

The girls continued talking. They had so much they were curious about from the beautiful mask to how she was able to use two daggers. Alice had fun talking to them. The conversation turned as they started going into detail talking about their life on earth. Before they knew it they arrived.

...

"We're here. Let's do an equipment check then enter." Leona said getting off the carriage.

Noah elegantly dismounted and waited near the entrance ready. The other four joined and walked in.

Leona looked at Noah who was at the back and said, "Alice, already told us about you, you stay next to Sofia and support the three of us as we fight,"

Noah nodded and sat onto his Levitation Staff. He floated up, holding Black Wind. The girls were surprised to see him fly. Then quickly directed their attention to the monsters.

Leona slashed out with her heavy sword sending a beetle back. Tasha followed up with quick slashes, and Sofia sent a fireball.

"That's how we normally roll, you guys join in," Leona said as she attacked again.

Noah held up his gun and cast the buffs, soon he cast Strength Boost, Speed Boost and Bulk Up onto the three that were fighting at the front. He then supported them with bullets. The monsters were D Class and ook the hits from the bullets well. With his support, the fight got a lot easier.

Alice who was used to it didn't care as she cut a beetle in half. Tasha and Leona were surprised by the sudden boost, what was better was that the buff would be quickly reapplied never coming off.

The fight went on after than the three had imagined. They sat outside the Dungeon Lord's room and rested.

Tasha drank a bottle of water as she looked at Alice and Noah, "Having you guys made D Class dungeons easier than some of the E Class dungeons we've gone through. Noah, you really showed me the importance of support, my dagger was crazy today. I was ready for a beat down. If you weren't already dating Alice I would want that handsome jawline for myself."

Alice spit the water she was drinking, "Who said we were dating?" She never told them about it, she looked at Noah who looked casual.

"It's so obvious, right Leona? Sofia? Like you guys just have that energy."

Sofia nodded, "He had his eyes on Alice the whole time as he cast, he's either dating you or has a crush on you."

Leona nodded at the side, "No need to hide it, the couple mask was a big giveaway."

Seeing they were caught she didn't hide it, "We are, I didn't think it was so obvious."

"Did you guys meet here or on earth?" Tasha asked.

When Alice heard the question she looked at Noah who signed she could do whatever she wanted. Noah had already judged that the three could be trusted, he had good instincts and with the Truth Seeker talent, he could tell their intentions.

"We met on earth, it was a coincidence we appeared here together," Alice said shyly.

"Wow, what is this a romance novel, you guys appeared together? That's lucky. I would have loved it if my boyfriend came with me." Tasha responded.

Leona got up, "To the Dungeon Lord guys."

The three walked into the room pushing the door. Noah had already buffed them as they walked in. The large beetle Dungeon Lord was seen.

[Giant Dung Beetle]

D Class

Level 36

Noah spent his time supporting. Supporting three people compared to one was a lot harder. He had to constantly keep casting spells in the back of his mind to make sure the buff stayed on.

Focusing on three spots of the battlefield was hard as well. Luckily his sense attribute had increased because of the True Wood staff this helped him get through the situation with Spatial Sense.

The Boss took a while and they finally killed it. The loot dropped. The loot was quickly divided evenly and the five walked out.

"We normally do another dungeon then go back and talk the rest of the day, what about you guys?"

Alice looks at Noah and scoffs, "We do that as well." She didn't want to talk about how Noah ran her around like a slave to kill monsters.

Noah felt villainized, he did overwork her, but that was for her benefit. How else did she make so much progress so quickly? He silently followed them to the next dungeon.

They went to another D Class dungeon of similar strength then got back on the carriage to the City. In the city they all stayed at the same Inn, so they sat at a table downstairs as they ate talking.

"Uhhh, my boyfriend doesn't even believe me, yesterday he stopped talking to me since I kept bugging him to exercise. Why doesn't he know I'm just telling him what's best for him?" Tasha cried in Leona's arms, drunk.

"It's fine he'll understand." Leona comforted.

"He has to unless he wants to break up." Tasha got up continued to drink.

Noah looked out the window to see the sky still blue, they were drinking so early. Seeing that they weren't planning on running another dungeon he talked to Alice who was chatting with Sofia.

"Alice, I'll leave now, I have something to do. Don't hesitate to summon me if something happens." Noah whispered to Alice, this would be the first time they would separate for the day in the Eternal Battlefield. Before this, they had always been together. Alice didn't need his protection anymore, she was strong enough herself.

Alice nodded and continued talking. She didn't think much of it.

Noah got up, "I have something to do, so I'll be leaving. You guys have fun." He gave Alice a kiss then walked out of the Inn. He looked back then continued.

Alice who was talking stopped. She felt the 10% boost in attributes she got in Noah's presence disappear. Her heart filled with unease, as it hit her Noah wasn't there.

Sofia seeing Alice go quiet, "What's wrong, did you see something?" Sofia looked out the window behind her.

Calming down and taking a deep breath, Alice felt better motivating herself internally and remembering that Noah was hugging her as she slept right now, she slept at this moment she would be able to see Noah.

'It was nothing, where was I..."