Chapter 6: Full Cast

Reunited with the other parties, the group continued their advance, with Michael's party leading them this time. No one objected as Leo was still incapacitated from the recent monster attack. Well no one, except for Harold who annoying instructed the knights to follow him. Seems like he got over his trauma too quickly.

Just like a true heroine, Alice attended to all the injured people, offering her gracious help. The injured were moved, to the point they cried as the angelic lady fixed their wounds.

More obedient than before, they followed her like some lost puppy. The annoyed Harvey snorted. Seems like they don't mind carrying more baggage with them. Though honestly all of them are on par with Leo, with the exemption of Michael, that damn walking cheat.

Winning the entire group, looks like Leo will be losing some his of people. Amused, Julius observed them. Looks like the full cast is finally here.

"Aria was it? You're a knight, aren't you? Then come here. We will need someone to tank. "

Michael peered at them, calling Aria over. The girl frowns, totally unwilling to leave her guard.

"My apologies sir Michael. But I can't leave Sir Julius unprotected."

She answered, standing firm. The twins tug at her dress, objecting in silence. Miriam glared at her, annoyed by her response. On the other hand, Michael just quietly accepted, ignoring the group.

" I don't think that's necessary. We need all the people who could take Leo's place as he recovers. ", Harvey insisted, pointing at the weak Leo from the back.

"His unnecessary.", Michael commented, before leaving. The twins glared at them, but still obediently followed their orders.

Well sorry for that. I know you hate clerics. But just to inform you, I hate you too!!!! Damn f*cker!!, screaming internally, Julius bit off his complaint.

Too damn rude.Makes any sane person wonder why was Michael loved by the book's reader. He just basically ignores everyone. He doesn't listen to people's suggestions, he treats any person according to his standard of human value, except for Alice and a few people that he befriends (which makes Ling Chen extremely baffled at the fact that the damn bastard actually had friends.lol.) Michael just basically had a firm belief in his moral values and principles, never adhering to anyone else. Such a weird personality, perhaps the author focused on the protagonist's setting and twisted plots, that they completely forgot that Michael needed an actual personality improvement.

Anyway, despite acting like a good Buddha, the number of stinky eyes and dirty looks cast in his direction already made him uncomfortable, which may be the damn party's intention.

Honestly, their discrimination against clerics is too darn annoying. Just because Alice's former adoptive father is a shady priest, it doesn't mean that all clerics are shady. Furthermore, isn't Michael quite fond of Cecil? Was it the gender? So all priests are scum while priestesses are blessings?

Julius still smiled amicably, ignoring the party's obvious dislike for him. He can't pick a fight with them. He could only curse at them in his mind at this point. Must endure. After this, he'd be laughing his head off when Alice finally did the deed. Let's see your smug visage after that. He might be collected, but he most certainly holds grudges. What did you feel when Alice ran off with your enemy? Do you feel glad? Delighted, Julius could already see their betrayed expressions.

Furthermore, just a while ago, it looks like Lilith Sabbath effectively mingled with them. That girl is Asmodeus' assistant. Looks like the big villain is already starting to make contact with the hero's party. Aside from the mysterious attacks from before,  the plot is progressing according to the story. If this goes smoothly, Alice will meet Asmodeus and fall for him just like that. To be expected from the demon of lust, even the heroine isn't immune to his charm.

The journey took three hours, with the exhausted people finally taking camp on the 10th floor. Aria separated from them, before checking her captain's status. The twins began playing with their familiars, frolicking at the nearby patio of wild grass. Focusing on his meal, Julius barely eats his meal, fiddling with the gummy boar meat.

"I see, so your religion allows you to eat meat. I thought all Hestia's believers live off boring plants.", behind him, a man clad in a knight's armor grinned.

Julius stumbled back, his back hitting a tree. The unknown man laughed, pleasantly amused with his reaction.

" Please stop that. Also, those are just empty rumors, we live like normal people as well"

Dusting his robe, Julius shot him a death glare. He had enough of people's hobby of ambushing him from behind his back. The man laughs even more, his body shaking slightly.

"Oh...good. And here I thought It'll be boring here, looks like there's still some fun things to entertain me.", the man said before leaving.

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Although the journey was quite rough, Julius finally reached the 20th floor. Biting his lip off, he was truly annoyed that they reached their destination faster than he calculated. With the help of Michael's party, the length of their journey was blatantly lessened. Something to be thankful for, but he had to endure a week of hell with people glaring at him for no reason at all. Except that he wore the usual priest robes. Though the party likes Cecil, Alice chats with her happily in their camp. He nearly screamed hypocrites at them, while he was treated like an eyesore the entire time.

It would be better if they just ignored him, it's not like he wanted to team up with them as well. Also, that newbie knight would frequently ambush him whenever his alone. Julius almost dragged Aria to his sleeping camp when that man suddenly appeared inside his tent. Too strange. However, the man named Mao never really explained his intention, nor showed any hostility towards him so he just wrote it off as an unnecessary curiosity on the latter's part. After that, the knight never showed up again, giving Julius his peaceful rest back.

The twins also made some progress. Now they're capable of taming ogres. In the meantime, it seems that Alice had already contacted Asmodeus. She started to disappear and then reappeared again for an entire week already. Anyway, it isn't Julius' business. Her betrayal is bound to happen since the plot says so. As a fledging small villain, he had no part in that.

Bidding their farewells, the party separated on the 20th floor just like the agreement. This is the part where Julius would offer assistance to take the tower trial, only that the bastard plans to steal the artifact afterward.

Now that Ling Chen had taken over, he won't follow that. It's not like it would ruin the plot, since it was just some minor detail anyway. Plus they hate him, who would do that? He isn't stupid to dig his own grave.

Watching as the protagonist goes, Julius tries his best not to show his emotion. Good riddance. With this, he could finally act, take the Midas' artifact and say sayonara to this damned place.

Also, he'd be bringing the twins with him, since he plans to trap their father. It is not like there is any bond between them, with their father exploiting them, while the two only follow him because they're afraid of him. He also had to pay for his atrocity. Despite just meeting the twins, Julius felt warmth from them, like how he felt whenever his rascal nieces mess up his apartment on summer days. Their cheerful smiles resembled them, so Julius decided that he'd adopt these two instead. Hestia's Church would be more than willing to take in the children.