“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Al said. He quickly retrieved back his hand from in between Izumi’s nether region. The sticky fluid dripped from the end of his finger, a sign he went to a place he shouldn’t have. He slathered his finger on his bloody tee, and stared with confusion at Izumi. Don’t get Al wrong, he was a man that wouldn’t say no a pretty woman’s advance, but in this sort of situation, he wasn’t going to go along with it. Because who knows what sort of things that this girl went through that she felt the need to resort to such action just to feel safe.

Izumi spoke something. Conveying her message through her crying eyes and her body leaning closer to Al. But Al stopped her before she got closer. Pushing her away as Izumi fought back with twice the strength in her legs. She tried to hug him with tears trickling down her cheeks, saying the same thing over and over again.

At the receiving end, Al was left even more confused over what was going. It took him a while, then he stopped. Al gave way and Izumi lunged forward, hugging him tight. She nestled her face on his chest as he let it be, sighing to the side.

“This is worse than I thought,” Al said. Craning his neck up, staring at the foliage in a daze.

It seemed Izumi saw him as an anchor that she could rely on, a possible victim to a false white knight syndrome. Well, to be fair, he saved her out of the morality of a human to a human, and not because of trying to look good, or swooning the heart of a damsel in distress.

Al looked down at the crown of Izumi’s head. His option was now down to one. He, himself had to bring her to the cave and let her believe that the cave group would be the safest place she could be.

“Okay, you can let go now,” Al said. Yet Izumi wasn’t budging. After a few forceful struggles, Al managed to separate himself with Izumi and be content with her hugging his left arm. He didn’t mind the sensation being hugged by a pretty girl, but now wasn’t the time for such thing.

He brought her along, crossing across the plains, heading towards the cave. It was still dawn, and the temperature was just right. It was neither hot or cold, perfectly in the middle. To his surprise, he stumbled a few times with a group of slimes minding their own businesses. Thankfully, they were docile. He circled around them, and after an uneventful journey, he finally reached the mouth of the cave.

“There goes my pride,” Al said. It was just yesterday he said he wouldn’t come back. But in less than twelve hours, here he was.

By a stroke of luck, someone emerged out of the cave.

“Is that you, bastard amigo?” Juan said. Coming closer with a jubilant smile on his face. The man with the cowboy leaped over the tall grasses, and stopped before Al and Izumi.

“I don’t know why the name calling, but I have a name, and it’s Al,” Al said. Observing Juan top to bottom and noticed the Mexican cowboy to have quite a good piece of metal slung on his belt.

“Yea, I know. But most of us decided to call you a bastard,” Juan said with a wide smile. But then the smile stopped.

“Whoa,” Juan took a step aback. His hand reaching for the grip of a bladed weapon on his belt, finally noticing the bloody girl on Al’s arm.

“Don’t be alarm. She’s human,” Al said.

“You sure, ese?” Juan looked at her up and down and his gaze was not well-received by Izumi. She hid behind Al while still hugging his arm.

“Well we fought a dog and she got injured, so that’s that,” Al said. “So why the hell am I being labeled as a bastard again?”

“You sure your lady friend okay, ese? We do have a healer back in the cave and—”

Al snapped his finger and pulled Juan’s attention to him. “She’s fine, and don’t the change the subject, Juan,” Al said. “Tell me why I’m the bastard.”

“You make our little Lannister cried, amigo,” Juan said.

“Lannister? Who the fuck is that?” Al asked.

Juan nodded. “Really, man? You’re more of a bastard than I thought. You don’t even know little Jamie’s full name,” Juan said.

“Oh,” it just hit him. If it was about Jamie, then he was well-deserved being called a bastard. He didn’t know, but same as him, Jamie had a name inspired from fictional characters, and Al wondered whether Jamie’s mom was similar to his. Well perhaps they didn’t share the same fond to the same literature, but they did share the same fanaticism to the point of giving their sons a fantasy name.

“So what brings you here?” Juan said. “Jack did tell us that you would come back sooner or later, but I never thought you would be this early. Having cold feet?” the man with cowboy hat smiled.

“It’s her,” Al said. Glancing at Izumi. “I need you guys to take her in.”

Al told Juan about her circumstances and the Adventurer made a mad dash back to the group. A while later, he came back with a few familiar faces and one of them was something he didn’t want to see.

“Mister!” a boy rushed on his feet. He reached Al and immediately hugged his leg tight.

“Oh, boy,” Al said. Taking a brief glance at Jamie before eying at Jack who was approaching with a snickering smile.

“You’re earlier than I thought,” Jack said.

“Like I said, I’m not going back,” Al said. Resting his eyes a the woman that walked beside Jack. “So is it her?”

“Yea. Meet—”

“Chloe, Chloe Dupont,” the heavy France accent was apparent, and the brunette came closer to where he was. A second later, fluent Japanese escaped through her rosy lips.

Al felt Izumi’s grip on his arm loosened, and saw the chance that this plan might work. Before Juan left to get Jack, Al specifically request to bring along someone who could converse in Japanese and luckily there was one.

After a while, Chloe managed to convince Izumi and both of them headed back to the cave. Yet in the distance both of them talked, and Chloe fell her gaze on Al. “She’s asking whether you’re coming along,” Chloe asked.

Al shook his head and it was enough of an answer. Chloe relayed his message and Izumi left her side. She sped for a while, stopping a distance away from Al. Her eyes were tearing up again, and then she bowed. “Thank you,” Izumi said in broken english. She then turned and left with Chloe back to the cave.

“Well, you really have a knack in saving people do you,” Jack said.

“I don’t have much of a choice,” Al said. “And about Izumi, she has some sort enhanced regeneration, so try not to be alarmed when something ridiculous happen.”

“Duly noted,” Jack said. “And you sure you’re not coming this time? We do need a level five in our group.” Jack winked.

“Didn’t someone tell you it’s rude to peek?” Al said. Taking a look at Jack himself.

[Jack Harris. Lv.3. Warrior Lv.2. Dominant status: Strength 10. Main Skill: Heavy Swing Lv.1]

The detail was quite an eye-opener and Al wondered whether Jack could see the same as he did.

“Sorry bout that,” Jack raised his hands. “I’ve been curious what you have been up to the whole night, and from the look of that girl, you probably went through a lot.”

“Yea, well, through hardship you will find strength,” Al said. “Especially in a world like this.”

“And that I agree,” Jack said. “So I’m thinking, you down for a few days here?” the blue-eyes man tried his luck.

Al shook his head in silence. While something in the back of his mind came up. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the classes do you?” Al asked.

“Why? You’ll agree if I tell you?” Jack grinned.

“Shut up, and just tell me,” Al said.

“Wow, now you’re being mean,” Jack said. “See that Jamie, when you grow up don’t be mean like Al here, okay?”

“No. Mister is not mean. He promised me to find my mom and dad,” Jamie said. “You promised right, mister?”

Al lightly smiled. He messed up Jamie’s hair and knelt in front of him. “Yea, I promise. But to do that I need to leave the cave, and find your mom and dad. So be a good boy, and listen to Jack, okay?”

“You’re leaving again?” Jamie grew teary.

“Hey, big boys don’t cry you know,” Al said. Wiping off the tears at the corner of Jamie’s eyes before it fall. “I will be back, and by the time I’m here, you’ll see your mom and dad again.”

Jamie vigorously wiped on his eyes and made a toughened up look. “I won’t cry again, mister,” Jamie said with his cute fists clenching tight. “And when mom and dad comes back, I’ll show them I’m strong.”

Al smiled. He asked Juan to take Jamie back inside, and then there were two.

“I’ve to say, you really have a way with words,” Jack said. “And I’m assuming you probably have your ways with the ladies, huh.”

It wasn’t far from the truth. But the truth kinda hurt to Al. “Come on. Tell me what you know,” Al said.

Jack told him everything he knew about the classes chosen by his group members and courtesy of Raj, the geek who was fond of RPGs made a simple list of each class pros and cons. Jack remembered most of it, and it was enough for Al to get the gist of it.

Al got what he needed and yet before he left to his own lonesome self, Jack called out to him.

“Don’t die, man,” Jack said.

Al gave an awkward thumbs up and then he left for the plains.