Chapter 26- Emergency Quest

"No, seriously. You're mistaken," Liam said, shrugging his shoulders. "I didn't kill anyone."

The leader scoffed. "Save the act, kid. I know what I saw. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"

Liam took a deep breath, his mind racing with possibilities. He knew he had to be careful. This guy could either be a threat or an opportunity, and he needed to figure out which one it was.

"What do you want?" Liam finally dropped his act.

The leader smiled, a sly grin that spread across his eyes. "I want in. I want to be a part of whatever you're planning. You're clearly not just some ordinary hostage, and I want to be on the winning side."

Liam considered the offer, his mind weighing the pros and cons. He knew he couldn't trust this guy, but he also knew that having an ally could be beneficial. He had to make a decision, and he had to make it fast.

"No," Liam said firmly. "I don't need you. Go away."

The leader's smile faded, and it was replaced by a cold, calculating look. "Fine. But if you don't let me join, I'll tell the commanders it was you who killed the guards."

Liam scoffed at the threat. "The commanders won't believe you."

The leader remarked, "They won't have anything to lose by believing me and killing you."

"They'll kill you first." Liam's voice was steady and confident.

The leader went quiet, as if thinking of a comeback. After a while, he said, "Maybe. But I won't take your name. I'll take that girl's name instead." He pointed his finger at Rin.

Liam's face twitched in anger. He immediately summoned a sword in his hand and prepared to kill the leader. "You won't be able to do shit because I'll kill you first."

The leader didn't seem surprised to see the sword materialize in Liam's hand. "I saw that before too, when you summoned the dagger to kill the guard. Impressive trick. How do you do that? Are you perhaps a mage?"

The leader then raised his hands in the air, as if surrendering. "Look, I didn't come here to make an enemy out of you. If I wanted to do that, I would have gone to the commanders instead of coming to you. I apologize if I angered you."

Liam hesitated for a moment, then put the sword back into his inventory. "What do you want?"

The leader smiled. "Name's Kai. And I want to join your team because I think you've got a real shot at getting out of this place alive. And I want to be on the winning side."

Liam's eyes narrowed. "Why should I trust you?"

Kai met Liam's gaze steadily. "Because I can be an asset. I know things, I have connections, and I can fight. You need all the help you can get if you want to stay alive. And let's face it, you can't do this alone."

Liam considered Kai's words, and he pondered. He knew Kai was right. He couldn't do this alone, and having an ally could make a difference. But trusting Kai was a risk, and Liam wasn't sure if it was a risk worth taking.

"Alright," Liam said finally. "But if you betray me, I won't hesitate to kill you."

Kai nodded as his smile widened. "Deal. So, what's the plan?"

Liam looked into Kai's eyes with a sincere look on his face. "The plan is for you to get the fuck out of my face and let me rest."

"..." Kai let out a soft sigh and backed off. "Okay. We will talk tomorrow."

With that, he left, disappearing into the shadows.

Liam muttered to himself, "I had beat the shit out of that guy a few hours ago, and now he wants to join my team…" He shook his head and went back to sleep.

When Liam woke up in the morning before sunrise, as per his daily routine, he saw Rin sleeping right next to him. It seemed as though she had rolled over close to him in her sleep without realizing.

Liam's heart skipped a beat, and for some reason, he was happy that the first thing he saw after waking up was Rin. He couldn't help but smile softly as he looked at her peaceful face.

"Uhm~"

Rin then made a soft, seductive noise in her sleep—a mix of a moan and a yawn that sent a shiver down Liam's spine. His gaze fell on her lips, and he recalled the event where she had gotten on top of him when he was bedridden.

The memories and emotions from that time flooded back, and he immediately got a boner.

Liam's gaze drifted lower, noticing that Rin's cleavage was barely visible. He wanted to look away but found himself unable to take his eyes off her. He felt a mix of guilt and desire.

Suddenly, he remembered that it was the last day to complete the task, and Rin's life was in danger if she didn't achieve the first stage. The realization hit him like a bucket of cold water, snapping him out of his daze of pervy thoughts of Rin.

Just then, Liam received a quest notification:

[Quest Detected: Help Rin achieve the first stage of the Muscle Strengthening and Bone Forging Realm.

Reward: 1 RP. 1500 XP.

Deadline: 24 hours.

Penalty for Failure: Rin's death.]

Liam's heart raced as he read the quest details. He knew he had to act fast and come up with a plan to help Rin achieve the first stage. He couldn't let her die, not after everything they had been through.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges ahead. He had to be smart and careful, using every resource and advantage he had to ensure Rin's survival.

Liam gently shook Rin awake, and said in a calm voice. "Rin, wake up. We have work to do."

Rin stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at Liam, her expression still groggy from sleep. "Lee? What's going on?"

Liam helped her sit up, and softly whispered. "Rin, we have to start training right away. It's the last day, and you need to reach the first stage."