[Author's note: Check out my new story, My wife's sisters want me to make a harem?!, and give a power stone or two if you liked, as I need those for WPC Contest. Thanks.]
After Reylin respawned, he cursed, "This again..."
He was naked because he dropped his whole loot! Reylin respawned outside the dungeon, where undead monsters also flailed their hands bare.
Their bodies were bare, too, so Reylin fit the scenery...
Alas, he had flesh, and his gear would receive more than just a little attention should someone see him naked.
He found a spot to hide and waited for Emilia to come out of the dungeon.
She took her time and appeared after some time.
Emilia chuckled, "I think I forgot your loot."
"If you did, then prepare for a lot of spanking," Reylin teased back, then he saw his robe flying his way.
It was quite a weak item for him, but it suited his looks and fire magic.
Reylin donned himself and left the hidden spot, "Let's casually go outside,"
He took Emilia's hand.
They left the dungeon's grounds without anyone bothering them.
Emilia peeked at his face, "You didn't check your equipment?"
"Other than a few items missing, you probably haven't stolen anything," Reylin shrugged along the way.
"You are right. I took some common stuff that you might miss," Emilia clenched his hand, "I did it, so you will visit me a few times."
"I guessed as much," Reylin burst out laughing, "But I still will visit you, even if you end up empty with nothing but a bare body. That would make things faster, wouldn't it?"
"As if I would end up empty," Emilia glared at him and pointed her gun at him.
"If you do, I will spank you badly, then bring you back to the top," Reylin chuckled, knowing that such a scenario shouldn't happen with how much Emilia had changed.
Their talk was all teases about the future as they surely would part soon.
However, just a few meters away from the dungeon, Reylin and Emilia spotted a monster that shouldn't be here.
It was elk Reylin saw in the dark matter wave.
Dark matter filled its body to the brim, oozing out of its eyes and antlers.
"I saw that monster, but it was much weaker," Reylin commented.
Emilia nodded and added, "It's like a mini-boss. It shouldn't be near the road."
Upon a closer inspection, the duo noticed a few blood stains on its body. It meant that a few players had already fallen prey to its charges, let alone poor residents!
The priestess immediately took out her gun, "Let's get rid of it!"
She couldn't care less about players, but innocent residents dying due to the necromancer's death was not something Emilia could stomach.
The more she thought, the more agitated she became.
Any bad words or jokes would worsen the situation, so Reylin's flames howled as an answer to her feelings.
Only after they erased the monster did Reylin speak, "Do you have a family outside Exodium City?"
"No, I don't... I don't have anyone..." Emila replied blankly as Reylin sounded serious.
"Then you have nothing to worry about. Don't let those feelings manipulate you and cloud your judgment," Reylin pulled her cheeks and added, "Exodium City won't fall, so your home and everyone here is safe. As for others, those lucky enough to meet us will be saved. Others can pray for the players or the kingdom's forces to help them."
"That's right... Yes... Yes! You are right!" Emilia nodded decisively.
She understood that she was far from a hero.
Her two hundred percent wouldn't even save the whole province, so stupidly going after monsters would be simply counter-productive.
The best would be to save those around them and believe other players and residents would do the same.
She faced Reylin with a composed and ready-to-fight face!
Reylin let her cheeks go and turned around, "You just follow me and shoot. That's how you will save a thousand people."
"Following a reliable man is nothing but a blessing," Emilia sweetly smiled.
"Don't contribute Milkyone to it," Reylin rolled his eyes and began running forward.
Emilia quickly caught up and whispered, "We've met because of her, so she has a little contribution. I will definitely thank her twice in the future."
"Twice, huh," Reylin knew that he had a lot to learn about his priestess.
However, be it Layla or Emilia, these two also had much more to learn about them.
That relationship had a lot of room to grow, and Reylin indeed would carry it well.
On their way toward the closest city, Reylin and Emilia had slain countless monsters that were like mini-bosses.
They had seen many players hunt them as well, but the majority of them had left Emilia with a bitter heart.
Yes, the players didn't really help residents.
"Those monsters give more EXP than usual, so they don't want to be left behind by others," Reylin explained.
It was like a race.
Emilia and the residents they had saved nodded sadly.
Those residents nodded and agreed to each of their words, inwardly praying that either Emilia and Reylin would stay with them until the end.
They just wanted to enter the city and feel safe within the walls.
After all, all villages were either without walls or with a cheap ones. Those didn't even contribute to the resident's safety, and the monsters rampaged across the whole province.
At one point, Emilia pulled Reylin's sleeve and asked, "it's happening because we have killed the necromancer."
By saying 'we', Emilia also shared Reylin's burden.
She was worried about his psyche since Reylin showed nothing but humane treatment towards residents.
Reylin replied, "The necromancer could've died at any moment. But you see... He has been preparing that army for a long time. At some point, this province would've faced the same or even worse disaster."
Emilia nodded gently, "You've got the point..." And her face soon lit up brightly, "I am relieved you are fine. Let's pick up the pace! I think everyone can run a little faster!"
"Yes, yes, yes!" The residents promptly nodded and agreed with her.
Reylin chuckled, "Don't bully them too much."
"They can do this much. A city is also not too far away." Emilia smiled sweetly.