“Thiefmaster?”

  The one-horned Tiefling stood among the corpses of his brethren. Blood splattered all across its dark, night-like cloak. The odor of rancid blood rolled through the air, mixing into Suna’s nose, who was still aiming his arrow at the creature. He breathed, and the metallic taste invaded his mouth, engulfing him in more sliver of doubt.

  Sweat ran down his hair; he could feel it slithering to the back of his ear. Suna gripped his bow tighter, not willing to let this Tiefling out of his sight.

  “Tell the archer to lower his bow, Pito–then we can talk,” the Tiefling said.

  “Suna! You heard him!”

  “Don’t, do it!” Reki screamed. The office worker stiffened. That thin blade still held his throat, and his back was against a wall. Could he even shallow without drawing blood?

  “This one doesn’t seem to understand the conditions,” The Tiefling muttered. “I could easily decapitate you and then turn to block his arrow. I’m merely asking for proper…manner, for our future partnership.”

  That was probably true, especially with that strange wind ability--it looked like the Tiefling was able to enhance its body with it.

  Not seeing another option, Suna loosened his grip and lowered his arrow slowly. For some reason, it felt as if he did it too fast; he might be cut apart in a matter of seconds. It felt like his neck was on knife-edge instead of Reki’s; was it because of the Tiefling's attention on him? Or was this his Archer Sense speaking to him–warning him?

  “All right,” Suna said quickly.

  “Eyebag!” Reki groaned.

  “Shut up, Reki,” Min called from the back. Beside her was Slea, whose staff was held up by Min; she probably had tried to aim at the Tiefling, too. Slea went inside the room shortly, keeping it open after a quick talk with Min.

  “Shut up? You’re not the one with steel at your throat. I swear if I die, I will--”

  “Speaking of which,” Suna cut him off. “Can you lower your sword now?”

  The Tiefling regarded him with those differently colored eyes. He looked down at Reki and wrenched his sword into its sheath. Reki flinched at the speed, but the [Paladin] then opened his eyes and backed away hastily, bumping his head into Min’s legs.

  “Let's talk deal, human.”

  “Wait,” Suna said. “Your brethren betrayed us—”

  “That’s right!” Reki shouted, pointing at the Tiefling with a shaky arm. “How will you take responsibility, creature!”

  “Manner…” Pito smiled thinly at the office worker.

  “They’re not my faction; I have no control over them.” The Thiefmaster looked around. And in those eyes, there was a flash of melancholy. It was a brief moment of sadness that Suna was able to catch. “This place is unbefitting. Let's move to another room. But before that, let's harvest everything, so the discussion shall be easier.”

  Name: Suna Amor

  Level. 13 → 16

  Class: [Archer]

  Rune: 15 → 16

  Feat: 5

  Mana: 267/300

  Class Skill (4/8):

  - Archer Sense [Common]

  - Archer Backstep [Common]

  - Mana Arrow [Uncommon]

  - Moving Shot [Uncommon]

  General Skill (2/8):

  - Quick Draw [Common]

  - Drowfication [Rare]

  Strength: 180 → 192

  Dexterity: 290 → 334

  Vitality: 34 → 37

  Arcanery: 34 → 37

  Sense: 66 → 74

  It was a grueling, bloody work, which reminded Suna that he had done this before. But it wasn’t exactly the same–back in the Drow tower, he had just stabbed into dead bodies’ chests. This time, the Tiefling insisted that they harvest the Runes without destroying them.

  The Tiefling claimed he had two reasons for them to do so, and he will explain when they are done.

  Honestly, that sounded like a scam, and Suna was about to interject, but then Pito said…

  “Of course, Thiefmaster! We will gather them quickly.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  The [Monk] was eager to please the Tiefling. Reki tried to protest along with Min, but they were shot down.

  Ultimately, Min went to take watch while the rest of them started harvesting.

  Suna had pulled about eight of them with his dagger, which he got from the Drows. He laid them out by color inside a common kitchen in a different house next to the one they had been in. On top of the long table were... three dozen runes. Three dozen. His body's knee-jerk reaction was to destroy them, like he did when that white creature explained what it did. But sitting on one of the chairs was the black-cloaked Tiefling. The one-horn thiefmaster folded his arms on the table and closed his eyes.

  Suna decided to regard it as a he, just like Pito did.

  He eyed the dazzling gems—Why do they shine so brightly, as if they asked to be destroyed?

  Suna huffed, drawing his eyes away as he lounged by the chair.

  “Patience, human,” The Tiefling said, eyes closed.

  Suna blinked and smiled at the creature. “Right…”

  Was that sense stat? His eyes had been closed the whole time…

  The door to the kitchen opened, and Reki and Min sauntered in carrying fully armored Noa. It was a bit worrying that the [Warrior] had not woken up. They laid him down gently, and Slea brought a pillow for him.

  Pito eagerly entered and drew a chair next to Suna. “Thiefmaster James! For you to be here, that means she was on the move, right?”

  The Thiefmaster opened his eyes and nodded. “That is right, Pito, I came here to get you. Then I found this unfortunate—”

  Suna stifled a laugh.

  The creature tilted his head curiously, cloak sloshing. “Apologies, did I say anything funny?”

  “Suna?” Pito asked, raising his eyebrow.

  Suna bit his cheek and he let out a soft, unintentional laugh. “I’m sorry, your name is James?”

  “Yes”

  “I, uh—” He coughed. ‘I was just expecting something more…”

  “Fantasy” Min finished, as she drew the empty chair to Suna’s left and sat.

  “Right fantasy”

  “Fantasy? I do not understand these words…” James said, eyeing both of them.

  “I’m sorry, James, please continue. I would like to hear what you and Pito—”

  “The Runes!” Reki slammed both of his palms on the table, sending up clouds of ashes. Some of them made their way to Suna’s nose, and he coughed, glaring at the office worker.

  “Yes, let's start from the runes first,” James sighed. “I shall claim half of them; it’s the price of saving all of you, and the cost of our future partnership. My faction of a hundred Tieflings will aid you to this gateway Pito spoke about. However, we also want you to help conquer the tallest tower, and kill the Matriarch… The tallest tower faction had three hundred Drow, and these new variants, who have erratic and strange moves. Help us defeat them, and we will lead you down the depths.” The Tiefling finished.

  “This does not seem fair,” Suna said, earning a pointed look from the Thiefmaster. “We have no obligation to fight this Drow. I understand your request for half of the runes and for your cooperation to lead us into the depths. I think it's fair enough.”

  “What?” Reki guffawed.

  “I agree with Suna here,” Min said. “I did not see any point in bringing the fight to the Drow.”

  “Yes!” Slea added in. “We should just find a way out quickly,” she muttered from the corner, sitting right beside Noa.

  “The levels…” Pito brought up. “And the Runes too!” He leaned in, eyes desperate to bring them to the Thiefmaster cause.

  Suna smiled despite his annoyance that began to creep in. Why did he act like he was negotiating for the Tiefling's sake?

  “With six of us, taking one of these Drow towers is more than possible on our own!” Reki said, crossing his arms as he pointedly stared down James.

  Suna noticed he counted Pito and Noa, who both probably woldn't join in the fighting. Pito because he wanted to help the Tiefling, and Noa because he was scared.

  “Pito had told me how every last one of you came here. Transported from your own world, you still had a trial ahead before you could return. You will not know what to expect.”

  “Even so, the Tiefling wouldn’t be able to follow us… Actually, they might be,” Suna muttered the last part. If the Tiefling helped them in the next stage, then maybe this deal would a good one.

  “Even if we can, we shall not do so. Or at least the third faction won't go.”

  Reki banged the table again. “Then why the hell would we fight the Drows?”

  “Four things,” the Thiefmaster opened four fingers.

  “First, of course, my faction's cooperation for your delving to the depth and to eventually face this necromancer.”

  “Second, for levels. You are not limited by the system like we Tieflings are. With our resources, we knew which path you needed to take, which hidden place, which tower with the weakest number. Besides, the second and third depths are filled with much tougher adversaries than the Drows. Not leveling up before going down is a mere foolishness.”

  “Third, of course, Runes. Not just to grow stronger by it, but we Tieflings use these runes…” He picked one up. “As currency, we have shops set up for you to access. With your leveling-up and runes you shall gather, there are plenty of items waiting for you in our shops.”

  “Fourth, and perhaps the most important.” the Tiefling paused. “The sun altar, you will have access to it. We will even help you prepare an item for sacrifice. I shall claim the tower, and with my authority, you can use it.”

  Silence passed, and for an entire minute no one spoke.

  Suna mulled over the deal. He had been interested in this sun altar. Of course he did; who doesn't? And also, with these Tieflings' help, perhaps he could find out what happened to the dead women, whose bodies were supposed to give them an advantage. With the Tiefling information source, that will cut down so many days of wandering aimlessly.

  He liked this deal.

  Suna looked at Min and Reki, who were both still deep in their own thoughts. Min chewed her lips, while Reki tapped his finger up and down against the table. Pito, on the other hand, peered in from his seat and stared at them with hopeful eyes like a child.

  If it comes to a vote, he will say yes.

  “Ridiculous,” Reki muttered. “We killed most of the Tiefling that attacked us… and you demanded half of the runes… Also, Pito had revealed, you hadn't made it to the second depth! Why should we even need your help to traverse the depths?”

  That… actually a good point.

  Is this really Reki?

  “What Reki said made sense,” Min said, “The towers we could find on our own, ambush, and pathfinding will be something we can overcome. I’m having a hard time imagining how much of this…’cooperation’ will extend. Are you willing to send the bulk of the Tieflings with us? Considering you had not even entered the second depth as Reki here had said, that seemed out of the question, no?”

  Is this what adults are? They’re scary. Suna gave them a thumbs-up mentally.

  James regarded them silently; the Tiefling did not betray any emotion. But, it looked like they hit a bullseye.

  Suna was now glad he was not in charge of the negotiation. What was most important of all these deals was not the sun altar but the expedition to the depths where the gateway to the next stage is.

  He was almost blinded by this sun altar… James no doubt put the depth on number one and the sun altar on number four to draw their attention to it the most.

  Cheeky creature.

  “To what extent of our help for your depth expedition?” James said slowly. “You’re right, human, I’m not willing to commit the bulk of our force. But what if… Let's say the first, second…”

  “Thiefmaster? Wait,” Pito exclaimed.

  “Fourth and fifth factions are to

  enter the depths with you? A total of four hundred, well, perhaps around three hundred after today.”

  “You can do that?” Suna asked, now his attention refocused, as did Reki and Min’s.

  “Of course, but, if you find yourself cannot forgive the fourth and fifth, then an arrangement can be made…” The one-horned Tiefling smiled. “It's rather easy. I’m the strongest of all Tieflings, and I'm only for my faction. The other four factions are yours to use for a deep expedition. That was the fifth advantage. Now what will you say, humans?”