There was no doubt that the person outside the door was Elise.
"Um... Mr. Rein, Iād like to help you check your injuries." A voice as small as a mosquitoās came from outside the door.
Although Rein had never been in a relationship before, he had at least seen pigs run, if not eaten pork.
When a beautiful girl who cares about you is outside your door, what reason does he have to turn her away?
Rein immediately opened the door and invited Elise, who was blushing and slightly bowing her head, into the room.
However, what followed exposed his straightforward nature: "Miss Elise, Iām fine! Itās late, you should go back and rest early."
This made the shy girl suddenly lift her head, blink her big eyes, and stare blankly at Rein.
But Eliseās action made Rein think she didnāt believe him.
So, he immediately took off his upper clothes, revealing a muscular body blessed with the āThick Hideā and āBrute Forceā monster skills.
The half-naked robust figure exuded a strong masculine aura, which overwhelmed Elise, making her heart race; even her earlobes turned a rosy hue with embarrassment.
"Th-this... Mr. Rein, then you should rest early."
Elise felt that if she didnāt leave soon, sheād fall right into Reinās arms, so she hurriedly said this while turning and quickly running out.
Rein somewhat belatedly put his clothes back on, pondering for a moment before realizing that something seemed off about the whole thing.
Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Laisa had her ear pressed tightly against the wall.
Listening up to this point, she couldnāt help but shake her head in exasperation.
"What a pair of useless people!"
"If I were Rein, I wouldāve already kissed her by now."
"And if I were Elise, I wouldāve pretended to lose my balance and fallen into Reinās embrace for sure."
"A pair of idiots."
"Elise, I can only help you this much. If something happens with Sulfur Vine... I canāt be of assistance then." Laisa picked up the floating boots gifted by Sulfur Vine, shaking her head with a sigh.
...
The next morning.
As the first ray of dawn shone into Reinās bedroom on the second floor,
he stretched and got up energetically.
Even after the perilous encounter and intense battle of the previous day, a night of deep sleep almost fully restored him.
Youth is indeed wonderful!
An hour later.
On the top floor of the Adventurerās Association in Mill Town.
Elise and Benest among the four had arrived early.
"Itās my first time riding a Griffin," Elise said, her face showing a look of yearning.
"Mr. Benest, were you the one who helped arrange this?"
Benest smiled and shook his head.
"Colonel Tessa helped coordinate this."
"Mr. Benest, how long will it take to reach our destination by Griffin?"
Before Benest could answer, several majestic Griffins, with bodies of lions and heads of eagles covered in striking gold and brown feathers, flew from the horizon.
....
Meanwhile.
Hundreds of miles away, at a certain edge of the Valley of Dead Water.
As the morning sun rose, the last wisp of smoke from the campfire drifted skyward, and Chris and his group of six began to pack up and prepare to set out, each having been covered in blankets or quilts in varied sleeping positions.
"Mr. Audu, are we heading this way?"
"Yes, there are twenty-six cave entrances here leading to the west main passage of the Wild Boar Peopleās lair in the Valley of Dead Water."
"But most are heavily guarded, except for this Wild Boar Peopleās cave ahead. If I remember correctly, their guard is the weakest here, making it most suitable for you to complete your task."
Audu pointed to the entrance of a nearby cave.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Audu; otherwise, it wouldāve been difficult for us to complete the task." Halfling Willboās eyes lit up, and he immediately expressed his gratitude.
Yet, what they did not know was that.
Right at that moment.
In at least three other places within the Valley of Dead Water, similar to them,
an Adventurer Squad was being led by a ākind personā into the central area of the Valley of Dead Water.
....