Chapter 142: Elise Is a Traitor?

’So, the Kingswells came here from outside this world... through a dungeon? Isn’t that... ironic?’

There were countless events recorded inside the crystal, but most were fragmented and cryptic, belonging to a shattered world he knew nothing about.

To be honest, he still couldn’t understand why his system had suddenly dumped such memories into his mind.

Still, he had to admit he’d learned far more than he ever knew from that crystal.

For one, he had already realized that the dungeons appearing across this world, Gaia, were actually remnants of many unknown, broken worlds, destroyed in some kind of war.

And the Kingswell lineage he belonged to... they were humans who had come from that very world.

’How annoying!’

He was already an outsider in this world, and he now realized that even his lineage was the same.

Wasn’t he just a Side Character in the game, Lover’s Labyrinth?

Why did he suddenly have such a heavy background behind that rivalled the protagonist Evan?

’Sigh... forget it. Knowing them or not knowing them doesn’t change anything.’

Soren forcefully pushed aside the heavy thoughts weighing on his mind.

Then, he raised a hand to rub away the tears from his yawn, only to feel the soft touch of cloth against his face.

"Hmm?"

Before he could react, he found Sylvia standing right in front of him, gently dabbing at his eyes with a clean napkin, her fingers brushing lightly against his skin.

"What the heck were you busy with all night that you didn’t even sleep? Aren’t you being a bit reckless?"

Ignoring Soren’s surprised look, Sylvia simply frowned, unable to hide her concern as she took in how exhausted he was.

And she wasn’t alone in her concern, as Soren saw both Aria and Aurelia step forward at the same time, each pulling a potion from their inventory and offering it to him simultaneously.

"Soren, drink this."

"Soren, drink this."

Both spoke at once, extending their soft hands, their voices laced with care.

"..."

It was such a coincidence that, for a moment, everyone fell silent, exchanging confused glances.

Well, it was mostly Sylvia and Aria looking toward Aurelia, as none of them had expected her to show this level of concern for Soren.

As for Evan, he was already staring off into the distance as if he hadn’t witnessed anything at all, silently regretting why he hadn’t left earlier.

"Oh? ...what is this? Energy Potion? Thanks, I was actually planning to buy one just now."

Fortunately, Soren quickly defused the awkwardness and accepted both potions from Aria and Aurelia as if he hadn’t noticed their expressions at all.

He then promptly scanned the potions using his

Eye of Insight

.

---

[Name: Energy Potion]

[Rank: E]

[Effect: Restores physical energy and reduces fatigue, relieving exhaustion and sleep-deprived tiredness while maintaining high alertness]

---

’Perfect! Just what I need. But... why the heck do they even have a potion like this on them?’

Surprised, he turned his head toward the two girls, only to find them staring at him with rapt attention.

"Soren, drink it quickly."

Aria even urged him lightly, clearly concerned about his condition, while Aurelia simply nodded from the side.

"..."

But Soren quickly sensed something was definitely off. For once, their eyes were too focused on his hands as if waiting to see which potion he would choose.

’Tch... are they competing or what?’

Soren wasn’t a fool. Of course, he noticed the faint scent of rivalry in the air.

It seemed they were trying to see whose potion he would drink. Even Sylvia and Evan were watching him now with faintly amused expressions.

Seeing them act so childishly, Soren rolled his eyes before abruptly pulling the corks off both bottles and gulping them down at the same time.

"Soren... stop!"

It happened too fast. Before anyone could react, he had already downed both potions given to him by Aria and Aurelia.

Did they really think he’d be caught off guard by something this simple?

Why choose one when he could just drink both?

’Though... this might be a bit much?’

Soren exhaled, feeling an immediate surge of energy flood his body, his fatigue disappearing in an instant.

But since he had taken two potions instead of one, his alertness was a bit too high, causing him a headache instead.

"Soren? A-Are you alright?"

Aria asked worriedly, never expecting him to drink both. For a moment, she felt it was her mistake.

"Yeah, don’t worry. I’m feeling better now, thanks to you."

Soren didn’t let her feel bad, acting energetic as he gave Aria a faint smile.

"So? What’s today’s plan? I don’t think there are any lectures today."

He then quickly diverted the topic, not wanting to dwell on it too much. He still had many things to do today after all.

***

"Hey... don’t tell him it was me, alright? Act as if it were you all along. There’s no need to complicate things here."

Somewhere around the camp, outside a small tent, Elara spoke worriedly, her voice sounding tired.

If someone looked at her, they would see the same dark circles around her eyes, similar to Soren, indicating that she also hadn’t slept a wink last night.

But how could she sleep when she was constantly being tormented by what happened yesterday?

"Okay... tsk, sister, you’ve already said it a hundred times. I am not stupid. Why would I tell him this?"

Elise rolled her eyes at her sister’s antics. To be honest, when she first heard that Elara kissed Soren, she was a bit angry.

Angry that her sister took his kiss before her.

Although it was a mistake, it was still the truth that they kissed each other. How could she bear it when Elara wasn’t even in Soren’s harem list?

But after the initial anger, she quickly calmed down.

All because she realized that Soren did more than kiss her, didn’t he?

In fact, he did her so intensely that she was still relishing the memory, eager to meet him again immediately.

Her legs were still weak yesterday. She should be thankful that Elara was distracted; otherwise, she would have immediately noticed her condition.

Now, though, after some good sleep, she was up and ready.

Ready for the next round.

She even lied to her sister that she was going to meet Soren to sort out their feelings, when in fact...

"I am just stressed and embarrassed, okay. Can’t you see it?"

Elara seemed genuinely worried that Soren would find out about what had happened earlier. So much so that she didn’t even notice her sister was lying to her.

Rather, she asked again tiredly,

"I just need you to promise me that you won’t spill the beans. It isn’t his fault that he mistook me for you. We are Mirror Twins; even our parents cannot distinguish us if we try."

She believed Elise would directly pour out her grievance the moment she met Soren.

If that happened, then their relationship might get strained. Not to mention the embarrassment she would have to go through.

’Sigh... I really shouldn’t have acted yesterday.’

Regret came too late, and Elara didn’t know what to do. She could only hope that everything went well for her sister.

"Okay, Elara... you are thinking too much. I promise I won’t tell him anything. Can you calm down now? Otherwise... let’s go together and see for yourself?"

Elise was already annoyed by her sister and asked, only to see her quickly shake her head.

"N-No, n-no need. You go and talk. I-I have other things to do."

Like hell she was going to meet Soren after he kissed her lips.

Although she didn’t have any such feelings for him, she was still shy. She didn’t have the courage to face him at all, at least not yet.

"Okay, since you’ve promised me, I am relieved. Now go and talk to your boyfriend. And don’t forget to tell me everything later about what happens."

Fearing that Elise might drag her along, Elara spoke before quickly turning around and walking away. She almost ran.

’Tch... so much for being tough before.’

Elise didn’t stop her sister. She only clicked her tongue before heading toward a certain direction outside the camp.

Since Soren was abruptly invited by Professor Lyra yesterday, they didn’t get to say a proper goodbye last night.

Soren only asked her to meet him at the last location where they had found the Venomcoil Serpent. It was the place where they had been teleported to the C-rank dungeon before.

He said he had something very important to give her.

’I don’t know what he wants to give me... or is he just making excuses?’

Elise wondered shyly, her cheeks turning red as she remembered the wild events of last night.

For a moment, a faint anticipation lingered in her mind, making a certain area tingle beneath her short skirt, hidden by her long robe.

’By the way, I wondered whether he knew it was my sister he kissed before?’

Elise suddenly thought, feeling that Soren might already know. Still, she was a bit curious and decided to ask after meeting him.

As for her promise to Elara, well, she already forgot about it.

So much for being a twin sister.

Elise was a traitor.