Chapter 3: The Novel's Protagonist

Aria guided me, ignoring the onlooker's nosy staring. There, a man with a strong physique stood tall among the mass of people wearing different types of clothing. He stands out too much. He was in awe. Although he kind of expected it, Michael was simply created to be amazing.

Just simply reading it is completely different. Considering how biased the author is towards the protagonist, all kinds of "good-looking" adjectives were added. Michael is summed up as too handsome and too strong( though he visibly lacks in the intelligence department). His character setting is too packed up with every advantage that a person could ask for. Despite that, it was just an idea. A mere description. So seeing the real thing could still amaze me.

As expected of the protagonist, true to his settings, such a good-looking fellow. Those perfectly chiseled faces could make any girl swoon. This is a true wonder, why did Alice choose the villain? Does she have optical problems?

Also, oh....a true heroine I see. That pink hair and holy aura...not to mention her face....no wonder Michael even wanted to offer her everything. Too bad she had a bad character, minus point.

Alice, as this novel's beloved girl and heroine, is bound to have that Mary Sue aura, but Ling Chen did not expect a holy face with such fine features enough to give any modern actresses a run for their money. A genuine heroine. Bright personality, gentle demeanor, and a delicate appearance, enough to make any man feel protective towards her. In addition, she's a reliable healer with a powerful spell despite not joining any church.

Any party would want that. However, her true personality leaves a bad taste, since she had a peculiar mindset of thinking that every man likes her. That might be the case, since both Michael and Harvey, both handsome and capable, fell for her and were willing to protect her.

Also, ever since she arrived, the Templars' knights kept on showering her with attention, further boosting her ego.

As for Harvey, heh....ikemen....

I bet he'd pass as the second male lead.....too bad Alice had rotten eyes. Meanwhile, Miriam is...

ahem.....I am a respectable priest now... I must not sin...

Although I tried ignoring her, that kind of figure and face is bound to make her stand out. Too bad her mature beauty is being outshined by Alice's glorious face.

All in all, that's their party. One dark knight, a healer, a rogue, and a necromancer. Not to mention all of them are quite strong, though only in the start, then they became a complete mess later on. I guess Julius had eyes for strong people...too bad he acted stupidly in the end.

Well, since I already hired them, I just needed to relax till we reached the 20th floor. Since their goal is Hestia's tear, guess I have to let go of that one. I do not need a cure-type artifact. Furthermore, it's the very reason Michael fought Julius for, an artifact for his sick adoptive mother.

There's no reason to pit me in that, sentimental people are quite irrational. Anyway, I'll be getting Midas' artifact instead. A lucky artifact is the ultimate charm against bad luck. Since I had zero to no combat aptitude, might as well be lucky instead.

Good plan. Avoid the protagonist. As long as I don't do anything stupid, such as picking a fight at the protagonist's party, I won't meet my doom. Avoiding the calamity which is brought by this world's hero. Flight is the best answer for violence and running away from people who could cause me trouble is the best solution.

Anyway, Michael's party will only accompany us till the 20th floor, which will probably take at least a  whole month...so I just have to stay away. The novel mentions Julius for a brief episode, after that, he's gone. That means as long as I don't provoke the protagonist....then I'm free.Good.Very good.

Perhaps he felt a strange gaze, Michael looked back at us, eyes staring as though inspecting us. Rather, it seems that he is inspecting us. Aria glances back, though still too shy, while Julius instantly retracts his gaze, promptly taking a step back to his sleeping camp.

Aria ran after him, giving a slight bow over Michael's party, before following the cleric back. From the look of it, despite being a full-blown knight from a prestigious academy, she still retains that polite manner. Or it might have been Michael's bloodshot glare instead.

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Words could not describe how nervous Ling Chen is. Cold beads of sweat started to form on his forehead, face was deathly pale from his anxiety. Guess being stared down by a man capable of killing ogres in one strike could make anyone have a goosebump.

Sighing, Ling Chen finally concluded that avoiding that party is a must. After obtaining Midas' artifact, he won't go to any towers anymore. Plus he is a cleric, with a high position in Hestia's church, and might as well act as one. Towers are not for cowards like him in the first place.

Finally, Ling Chen calmed down. Aria then suddenly appeared behind him, slightly shocking him.

Goodness. Lady don't do that. This poor man here will die from fright.

The oblivious Aria smiled gently, standing like a knight beside the entrance. Ling Chen could not understand this girl at all. Too kind and gentle, yet she is an actual knight. Plus this too polite treatment keeps on throwing him off guard.

"Aria, there's no need for you to stand guard here. You may join the camp and have a chat with the rest of our party"

Ling Chen reminded her, as she might have forgotten about it, and followed him because that damn fatty instructed her. Honestly, why is every fantasy novel had this type of cliche? Stupid stuck-up nobles whose sole purpose is to aggravate every living being in the vicinity.

Even that bootlicking personality is just icing on his obvious scheme. Did he think Julius was deadbrained? The only good thing that Harold guy did was to invite the Templars' party with us.

"Um sir, I mean Cardinal, the captain told me to look after you. Also, I willingly accepted this task. Sir Julius might not know this, but healers are quite precious in a raid. Long-term raids might exhaust the entire party, plus injuries are unavoidable. Healing potions rarely appear so the parties rely on healers instead. So people like Sir Julius are indispensable to us"

"Also, I wanted to protect Sir Julius, so um, it's fine. I am used to standing for prolonged periods as well."

With a light chuckle, Aria showed a bright smile. A first, considering she was too shy from the start.Seems that she is finally at ease now that stinky noble is gone to wherever he is.

People like her are quite rare. In this type of violent environment, she is a breath of fresh air, despite being a mob character like Julius. Good girl, since we're both extras, let's be friends.

"You may call me Sir Julius, no need to act too stiff. Also, I am appointing you as my guard. Thank you for the effort, Miss Aria."

Ling Chen lightly responded, showing a warm demeanor compared to the usual cold acts of the original Julius.

Aria was, of course, startled at the sudden change, though she did not show it. Seems that her previous impression of him is incorrect. Rather than being a cold person, like the rumors say, Sir Julius is a warm person, he just rarely showed it. Must be tough being a high-rank priest, he seems to be worried about our party's being. Such a kind Sir indeed.

Beaming with energy, Aria felt moved, of course, without knowing what Julius was thinking. Both people felt bliss, for different reasons.