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Chapter 28: An Achievement to Boast About for a Lifetime
"Next time I'll treat you to a drink! We won't go home until we're drunk!"
Aiden suddenly shouted at Bete's retreating back.
Bete's steps paused for a moment. He didn't look back, just retorted grumpily, "I don't drink with weaklings."
But immediately after, he changed his tone and added with an arrogant, charitable air:
"But if you really want to drink with me, the Great Bete, I suppose I can be magnanimous and have a cup with you."
Aiden shook his head with some amusement.
Still the same old Tsundere Wolf.
He raised his voice in response, "Then that is truly my honor, Lord Bete."
"Hmph."
Bete let out a nasal sound of unclear meaning and disappeared at the tavern entrance.
Their conversation had long attracted the attention of many nearby adventurers.
When they recognized one of them as the famous "Vanargand" Bete, they were all shocked.
Soon, a clever adventurer took the initiative to walk over with his tankard.
"Brother, mind if I join you? My name is Todd. You seemed to be quite familiar with Vanargand just now?"
They all sensed from the conversation that this unfamiliar-looking young man had an unusual relationship with that First-Class Adventurer.
Someone who could be friends with the "Vanargand" was definitely not simple and was worth getting to know.
Aiden refused no one. He smiled and exchanged toasts with these adventurers who approached him.
He happened to need a channel to collect various intelligence on Orario.
They were newcomers and knew little about many things. An adventurer's tavern was undoubtedly an excellent place for intelligence gathering.
In life, who doesn't have a few fair-weather friends?
There was no need for deep friendship; just treating them as ordinary drinking buddies was enough.
Catalyzed by alcohol, Aiden indeed collected a lot of fresh and useful intelligence from these adventurers that couldn't be learned from books.
It was already late at night when Aiden returned to the residence, carrying a faint smell of alcohol.
As soon as he pushed the door open, a look of disgust was cast his way.
"So stinky! Did you go roll around in a wine barrel?"
Furina pinched her nose exaggeratedly, her brows knit tight. She trotted over and pushed him with both hands.
"Go take a bath! Hurry, hurry!"
Aiden stumbled from her pushing, smiling helplessly.
Behind him, Robin walked up silently, took the coat he had taken off—which still carried some Dungeon dust and tavern smell—and turned toward the simple washing area.
Watching Robin's elegant back, watching her skillfully prepare to wash the clothes, a complex emotion welled up in Aiden's heart.
That was Robin. The Galaxy Diva of Penacony, and even the entire universe.
Now, she was washing clothes for him here.
He felt he could boast about this achievement for a lifetime.
But more than that, it was something called motivation.
Although their current life provided food and shelter, his nature made him want to pursue a better life.
He wanted to give Furina and Robin a better life.
At least, these trivial chores shouldn't be done by Robin.
"Actually, this is quite interesting."
Robin seemed to sense his thoughts. She turned her head, a gentle smile on her face.
"Back home, my brother always protected me very well. I rarely had the chance to experience this kind of life."
Furina also stopped pushing him. She put her hands on her hips and said:
"Exactly, exactly. No need to be so anxious. Just take it slow. I actually don't hate this kind of ordinary life."
She put away her joking expression, her mismatched pupils looking at Aiden seriously.
"In everything, your own safety must be the first rule. I am the God of Justice, but in my view, my justice is 'Survival.' As long as our Familia can survive, I can accept any hardship."
Although Furina and Robin said it was nothing, Aiden didn't think so.
As the person who summoned them to this world, he had to be responsible for them.
"Whether it's life or safety, I will do my absolute best."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally steady.
"Even if we encounter an insurmountable crisis in the future, I will only die before you do."
This sentence silenced the air instantly.
Furina and Robin both looked at him in a daze.
They could clearly feel that Aiden wasn't joking; he was serious.
If danger truly descended, he would absolutely not abandon them. Instead, he would choose to use his own life to open a path for them.
An indescribable emotion spread in their hearts.
But the next second, Furina lifted her foot and kicked Aiden's shin, neither lightly nor heavily.
"Idiot, what nonsense are you saying?"
She shouted, somewhat angrily.
"Why do you disrespect your own life so much? Opening and closing your mouth with 'death' this and 'death' that. None of us will die. The Focalors Familia will be eternal."
Robin, on the side, also revealed a rare serious expression. She frowned slightly. "Aiden, don't say such inauspicious things anymore."
Seeing their serious expressions, Aiden immediately raised his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright, I was wrong. Don't worry, I have a cheat ability. How could I possibly die?"
Hearing Aiden's guarantee, Furina and Robin let it go, the seriousness on their faces easing.
After washing up, Aiden returned to his room.
The room was simple, with only a hard plank bed and a worn wooden chest.
He lay on the bed, looking through the broken stained glass of the window at the bright moon outside.
From the room next door, the faint sound of Furina and Robin chatting drifted over. Although he couldn't hear the content clearly, the gentle tones made him feel at peace.
The corners of Aiden's mouth involuntarily revealed a smile.
This feeling wasn't bad.
Three days passed in a flash.
During these three days, Aiden and Robin had pushed their exploration to the 9th Floor of the Dungeon.
As the floors deepened, the strength and density of monsters increased sharply. Battles became increasingly difficult, but correspondingly, the harvest became increasingly rich.
The Familia's public funds grew larger. They could finally afford to buy more Mind Restore Potions to support Aiden using magic more frequently.
Most importantly, after continuously investing a massive amount of magic stones, the Intertwined Fate on Aiden's system panel had finally finished recharging, shining with heart-moving light.
Back in the rented house, Robin and Furina skillfully closed all the windows and doors, even drawing the curtains tightly to ensure not a sliver of light would leak out.
Both looked at Aiden, who stood in the clearing in the center of the room, with eyes full of anticipation.
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