The second female lead Dual Cultivates

"Stay back. I've got this'' was what Suna had told the group almost an hour ago. The female had taken it upon herself to negotiate for a safe place with the adventurers guild. She had gone in alone, not wanting to risk the whole group in case they were recognized or betrayed by someone.

It left the pair outstanding under the bright sun. The day was hot but the worry made it even hotter to bear.

"Should we go and look for other shelters while we wait? This heat would cook us alive" Nao suggested with a tired voice. The heat was getting to her as well.

Maria wanted to take her suggestion but she did not want to make Suna worry when she eventually came out. The dot that represented Suna had not moved at all since she had arrived inside.

"Not yet. Suna is not done yet. In fact, she had moved from her initial position and it makes me worry about her. No wait, she just started moving again" Maria watched as Suna's dot finally started moving on her screen.

She had been using her phone screen as a substitute after making sure that it was secure to use and free of any trackers. Since she already had an excuse to use it freely now, she decided to openly display her skills.

“She is? How do you always know where we are despite us having never told you so? Don’t tell me that you have trackers on us or something. Don’t you trust us?” Nao joked but Maria saw suspicion in her eyes.

Nao was not making it obvious but Maria saw her discreetly check her back for some kind of tracker Maria might have put upon her.

“I do not have a tracker on you and there are other ways to track someone if you know them well enough. We are barely hidden from the empire as it is. I was not going to make any change of them being able to locate us” Maria explained.

Thankfully, Nao did not question Maria on her words. There were too many flaws in Maria’s logic but they never came up.

And even if Nao wanted to ask a question to her, Suna did not give her a chance. Suna looked a little pissed as she came out but her expression turned sheepish as she took in her companions.

Suddenly, Maria had a bad feeling about what had transpired inside.

“So, did they agree to help or not?” Nao asked as she dragged herself away from the wall she had been leaning on.

“They kind of agreed to help but not for free. Here, take this access key and follow after me” Suna passed a small access card to them and asked them to follow behind.

The pair decided to trust Suna and follow behind. They could not really allow Suna to go in alone since it could be a trap.

Suna led them through a fancy corridor and directly toward the backrooms. It was empty and only life was visible right in the middle. The group walked toward the lift and went up to the seventh floor before entering a business suit.

“So, what is all this? No one is this generous” Nao gestured toward the luxurious room around them and Suna’s expression turned guilty.

There was something coming. Something they were not going to like.

“So, I might have-kind of, I mean, I made a deal with the guild head here for this room. I hope you do not mind helping me out” Suna did not look at the group as she to her actions.

However, there was something more about it all that was eating her. There was no way Suna would have made that deal had it only been for accommodation. Suna was not that materialistic.

“You’re hiding things from us. Spill it out now or you are on your own” Nao sounded cold but Maria could see the worry in her eyes. Nao had certainly warmed up to Suna in these past few days.

Maria had too but she could not help but feel as if the near-death experience the pair had along with the few nights they had likely spent together without Maria had made them close.

It was not that Maria had avoided them or anything, it had naturally happened. The easiness and intimacy the pair was showing in the recent days was not something that was achieved without physical intimacy involved.

“Well, there is no need for you to worry about the deal. I will make sure to fulfill it on my own. More importantly, we can stay in this place for a few days free of charge. Isn’t it wonderful” Suna proposed, trying really hard to sell this news to them.

Maria could see the appeal of living in such a luxurious place. It was fun and the protection did sound nice even if the guild master had no idea to whom he was proposing this protection.

Still, Suna was missing the main point here.

“Suna, it is all good but you missed the point where we don’t have time. We can’t stay here for that long” Maria tried to be gentle, she really did. But she felt like she misjudged the situation worse when Suna’s eyes filled with tears.

The female held them in quite well but the damage was already done.

“I know. I understand but I just wanted to. No, it doesn’t matter. You are right about the fact that we cannot stay here. I will go and clarify this with the guild master” Maria felt her heartbreak for the other.

Now she really wanted to know what the deal had been about and why it held such importance to Suna. And surprisingly enough, it was Nao who made the decision to ask that question.

“Wait! At least tell us what the deal was about. Maybe it is not that bad and we can get it done early” Nao proposed and Suna seemed to not have missed the ‘us’ in there.

“I-are you serious? You would help?” Suna asked with a small voice. It held disbelief and Maria felt awkward with that attention.

“We will help if it’s something important. So please, tell us what it is about” Maria added as she agreed with Nao.

Suna looked overwhelmed but happy all the same.

“Thank you. I did not want to take this deal but then the guild master said that he would tell me what happened to Simon’s court if I helped him out and I could not resist the temptation. Apparently, it is well-known that Simon’s court fell recently” Those words worried Maria.

If the guild master knew what happened to Simon’s court, then, did he know about them as well?

“Let’s finish this quest soon and get out of there” Nao suggested and Maria agreed. As much as she wanted to get out of the chariot hill right that instant, she also knew Suna needed the closer and only knowledge would give her that.