Chapter 670: The Pallum Girl Who Dreams of Leaving Her Familia (For This Month

If an ordinary Adventurer encounters a situation where they are pursued by a herd of Killer Ants, they can exploit the Killer Ants' habit of caring for injured companions, using the method of wounding a Killer Ant to escape the predicament of being pursued by a whole herd of Killer Ants; this counts as comparatively useful Dungeon monster knowledge.

Broly followed behind the two people, watching Bell open the way in front, while Liliruca behind him provided support with crossbow bolts.

The 5th and 6th floors of the Labyrinth were merely a bit slow, but they still passed through; Broly did not make a move the whole process, and after reaching the 4th floor, the two people's march speed became faster.

When leaving the Dungeon, Broly glanced at the Crystal Palace Panel; the two people coming up had taken a total of a little over one hour.

About the same as the time Bell consumed going back and forth alone; mainly it just added the time going down, but the Magic Stones and drop items carried out were double.

Overall, the two people walking together was still fairly safe, the efficiency of transporting supplies was also okay, it's just……

Broly looked at the somewhat panting Pallum girl and couldn't help but ask: "Miss Liliruca, are you alright?"

"S-still okay, just need to rest a bit."

Due to needing to participate in battle, physical strength was consumed comparatively fast; of course, an even more important point: even with the backpack's weight reduced, the things she was carrying on her back now were still more than the harvest she had to carry when following other Adventurers into the Dungeon to do supporter work in the past.

"Then you probably don't have much rest time."

Bell said one sentence, then took the lead walking toward the Babel Tower at the side, interfacing with the money exchange window staff, renting a single room to empty the Magic Stones and drop items from the backpack; after clearing out the things in the supporter's large backpack, the boy had the look of preparing to continue going down to the Dungeon to work.

Liliruca: "……"

Suddenly understood how the boy managed to get this whole set of equipment.

After the Guild Staff's tally, the things she brought up this time could probably sell for the look of twenty-something ten thousand Valis.

One tenth is twenty-something thousand; if she can do this job ten rounds a day, the daily wage would be twenty-something ten thousand, right? The money prospects exist, but it is comparatively demanding on the supporter's own physical strength; it is hard labor selling exertion.

"Miss Ede, want a bottle of Blue Pharmacy's Physical Recovery Potion?"

Bell saw she was still somewhat panting, so he took out a bottle of Physical Recovery Potion from his waist pouch and handed it over, asking.

"No way, you even carry Physical Recovery Potions yourself?"

Liliruca couldn't help but start complaining.

"Yeah, if I didn't bring this, I could at most run two rounds and then I'd have to collapse too."

Bell answered as a matter of course.

【This potion isn't even Beginner Rank goods, but Intermediate goods; a bottle's market price should be around three thousand Valis; just the cost of recovering physical strength would be three thousand……】

Liliruca took the Physical Recovery Potion, and upon discovering it was Intermediate goods, she couldn't help but click her tongue a bit, but calculating the account carefully, it seemed even using this thing wasn't a loss, as long as Broly at the side was truly willing to split her one tenth of the money from the loot brought up.

"You want to keep following us to work?"

When the Pallum girl looked toward him again, Broly asked her.

"Work, of course work."

Liliruca nodded; as long as she could make money, a bit of hardship and fatigue didn't matter.

The Pallum girl drank the Physical Recovery Potion, then carried the empty pack and followed them down to the Dungeon.

And when they came up again, Broly didn't follow them up.

One afternoon, round-tripped four times.

When nearing Dusk, Broly then followed them up together.

Four times, eight fully loaded backpacks, totaling 1.65 million Valis in revenue.

Next is the exciting moment of splitting the accounts.

"One tenth is 165,000, but due to forgetting to calculate the loot on you and Bell's backs separately.

How about this: I'll add another 35,000 to make a round 200,000 Valis, and then you two each split 100,000 Valis, how about that?"

Broly thought for a bit and said.

"Bro, Broly-san, you're my real bro; I have absolutely no objections to your distribution."

Liliruca's originally red small face became even redder now; she excitedly expressed her stance.

"I have no objections either."

Bell also expressed his stance.

"Miss Liliruca, do you want Guild Voucher (check) payment, or cash payment?"

"Eh, there's even this kind of choice?"

"Of course there is."

"I remember Guild Vouchers have a handling fee, right?"

"Mm."

"Then, can you give me cash?"

5% of 100,000 Valis is 5,000; the Pallum girl wasn't that generous.

"Okay."

Broly lifted up two bulging money bags and handed them to the two people respectively.

Trembling hands, excited heart; upon receiving the heavy money bags, they directly transformed into a happy smile on the Pallum girl's face.

After tangible Valis were in hand, Liliruca's stereotyped impression that Adventurers are all bastards finally had some change of view.

At least, the Adventurer big brother (boy) right in front of her who doesn't dock wages at all and even adds his own money to give more wages is absolutely not one of those bastard Adventurers; he is absolutely a great good person.

"Also, Miss Liliruca, you joined my party today; want to eat a meal together?"

Hearing this, Liliruca instantly became somewhat vigilant.

"You wouldn't happen to want me to treat the meal, right?"

She asked carefully, temporarily retracting her evaluation of the boy in her heart.

"How could that be; a dinner I initiated, of course I'm treating."

And upon hearing it was Broly treating, she put the evaluation that the boy is a great good person back out.

"Okay, I'm very willing (free-riding a big meal)."

The Pallum girl showed a shy, cute smile.

The dining location was still the Fourth Floor of Babel Tower.

The waitresses here were all familiar with Broly, this regular customer.

"Welcome to Miss Liliruca joining us, let's cheers~"

Three large cups filled with juice went *pa* as they clinked together, then each was taken back and drunk down with *gulugulu* sounds.

"Hah~"

After a tiring afternoon, the feeling of sweet, ice-cold juice going down the stomach was simply refreshing.

"From now on, we are intimate cooperative partners. Why don't we talk about each other's situations? I'll go first. I am a Saiyan from a distant land (Wanpa Star), currently the Regiment Leader of Hestia Familia. My name is Broly, 15 years old, and my dream is to encounter my fated partner (Capture Target acknowledged by Crystal Palace) in this world."

Broly actively introduced himself.

Bell: "???"

Did they have this segment before?

However, the simple-minded boy didn't think too much and directly continued the conversation, not letting Broly's words drop to the ground.

"I was born in a village in the Southern Region, far from Orario. My name is Bell Cranel, also a member of Hestia Familia.

I am 14 years old this year, and my dream, besides wanting to become a hero-like Adventurer, is to also encounter my fated partner here in Orario."

The boy finished speaking, and together with Broly, looked toward the Pallum girl at the opposite seat.

【Reveal my information to others?】

The Pallum girl hesitated a bit, but touching the bulging money bag at her side, she made her decision.

"I am Liliruca Arde, a child born in Orario, Soma Familia."

"Eh, Soma Familia?!"

The white-haired boy exclaimed in surprise.

"You seem to be wondering why I would be a member of Soma Familia. That is because my parents were Adventurers of Soma Familia, so I belonged to Soma Familia from birth."

Liliruca explained in one sentence.

"Age is 15, same age as Broly-san, but one year older than Mr. Cranel."

"Uh, then don't I have to call you Arde-nee?"

The white-haired boy scratched his head.

"Hah, that's not necessary. Just keep calling me Arde, or Lili is fine too."

The Pallum girl took two more sips of juice. Today she earned 100,000 Valis, thanks to the boy opposite introducing work. Besides introducing work, the boy accompanying her, protecting her on the way up, and giving her Physical Recovery Potions — all were things that took care of her.

"Then Miss Lili, do you have any dream you want to realize?"

Broly asked. Before attempting to capture someone, understanding their preferences is important.

"Dream, huh... there is one..."

"What is it?"

【I want to break free from that damn quagmire of Soma Familia...】

"I want to earn more money, let myself live a good life."

The Pallum girl described her inner thoughts with different words.

【Breaking free from Soma Familia requires enough money...】

The waitress came to serve dishes. Broly ate while asking: "Then besides money, what else does Miss Lili like?"

"I have no particular likes. Currently just earning money to support myself already has me running around busy every day.

Of course, if Broly-san is willing to hire me in the future, I think my life will get better."

The Pallum girl answered, and also started eating the food in front of her.

"Miss Arde, you've been a Supporter for a while now, right? I feel your packing technique is much more powerful than mine."

Bell said. This afternoon the girl had helped him pack once, and that pack's weight was actually much heavier than what he packed himself.

"Yes, it's been a while. From six years old I started Dungeon Diving, and now it's been nine years."

Liliruca answered.

"Ah, you started Dungeon Diving as a Supporter this early? Amazing!"

Bell exclaimed in surprise.

"Amazing? No, just forced by life. My parents died on their own in the Dungeon when I was three years old, leaving me alone, just taken by other Familia members to the Dungeon as a Supporter."

"Ah, so-sorry, I didn't mean to bring up your sad past."

Bell hurriedly apologized. He didn't expect it to actually be this matter.

"It's fine, it's all in the past now."

The three ate and drank, chatting while eating and drinking. When Broly heard that yesterday someone had deducted the Pallum girl's wages, he got a bit angry and cursed that person as a bastard, slapping his chest and guaranteeing that if he saw that guy in the future, he would help the girl vent.

"Then thank you so much, Broly-san."

Liliruca smiled in response to the boy.

After eating and drinking their fill, they went down Babel Tower together. Agreeing on tomorrow's meeting time, they waved goodbye to the two.

Today, for Liliruca, was an exceptionally happy day.

Although she didn't get revenge on that bastard who deducted her wages yesterday, she earned 100,000 Valis.

Although this process was tiring, she gained a long-term, well-paying Supporter job.

"Your brand scar belongs to me, my brand scar still belongs to me..."

Liliruca did not directly return home. Instead, after turning into a deserted alley, she used her Transformation Magic to change into a person of another Species.

Then she went to a jewelry shop, exchanged today's earnings into gems, then went to the Dwarf Spirit Bank, and put the gems into her Private Vault.

After hanging the key back on her neck and leaving the Dwarf Spirit Bank a distance away, she only then released the Transformation Magic in another deserted alley, then walked toward the direction of Soma Familia Headquarters.

That was a place she didn't really want to return to. The Familia was full of rotten drunks, but for her, who had no home to return to, it was the only place she could go back to.

Just as she approached, she could hear the clamor of the drunks; Liliruca tried her best to lower her presence, pushed the door open, and quietly walked inside, heading straight for her own shabby room.

However, the Pallum girl did not want to attract attention, yet someone called out to her anyway; it was a burly Tanuki man: "Arde, why are you sneaking around like that?"

Hearing this voice, the Pallum girl's body trembled; she didn't dare ignore him, walked over, and carefully asked: "Mr. Kanu, I don't know what orders you have?"

"No orders, just heard that yesterday you were stiffed on some money by a scoundrel Adventurer, right?"

Enma Kanu asked with a smiling, narrowed gaze.

"Yes."

Liliruca nodded gently.

"That won't do, Arde; you were bullied outside, came back, and didn't even say a word — we're all Familia partners, you know."

Liliruca bit her lip with her teeth, saying nothing.

"How about this: I'll go stand up for you, help you collect the debt; how does that sound?"

"That would be nothing better."

"However, since I'm doing you a favor, Arde, you surely shouldn't show nothing at all, right?"

"Mr. Kanu, I am willing to give you the full amount that guy deducted from me as a thank-you fee."

The Pallum girl hurriedly replied.

"Sigh, Arde, oh Arde, when did you become so cunning, actually using what rightfully belongs to me as a thank-you fee for me — do you think that's reasonable?"

"Then, I am willing to pay Mr. Kanu a separate thank-you fee……"

The Pallum girl somewhat reluctantly took out her not-very-bulging money bag, and just as she was preparing to take money from inside, the money bag was directly snatched away by the burly Tanuki man at her side.

"Ah, Mr. Kanu, you……"

"Just this little money, barely counts as a thank-you fee for me standing up for you."

"But I need to eat too."

"This half-eaten bread stick of mine, you take it; you're so small, eat sparingly, and it'll last you several days."

The Pallum girl still wanted to say something, but the burly Tanuki man narrowed his eyes and looked over, his gaze somewhat dangerous; she seemed scared, hurriedly clamped her mouth shut, somewhat humiliated bent down to pick up the bread stick thrown on the ground, didn't say another word, and returned to her own shabby room.

Behind her was the clamor of the drunks; they didn't care in the slightest about this bullying of the weak by the strong among fellow Familia members.

And this is Liliruca Arde's daily life; since childhood she was exploited as free labor, able to gain only the drunks' fists and leftovers.

Even now that she's grown up, it's the same — she still has to be exploited by that bunch of bastards for her hard-earned money; whatever 'helping her collect debts' is all a lie to fool ghosts; the money collected only turns into wine in those drunks' hands; not only that, they even extort thank-you fees from her.

And if she doesn't give it, the outcome is being taught a lesson, those guys laying hands on her, beating her black and blue.

"Good thing, it won't be long before I can leave."

Lying on a shabby bed without even a mattress, Liliruca took out her safe key and looked at it, her mind full of longing for her future life after breaking free from the Soma Familia.

And what the Pallum girl didn't know was that those drunks outside were talking about her.

"Mr. Kanu, don't you think that guy Arde these past two years has been taking us less and less seriously?"

A human drunk poured wine for the Tanuki man and said.

"Nothing much; the kid's grown up, a little rebellion is normal."

Kanu waved his hand dismissively.

"Rebellion is one thing, doing side jobs is another; I heard these past two years, that guy Arde has secretly taken on quite a few Supporter private jobs that can reach the 10th floor of the Labyrinth, relying on cheap hire rates."

Another Werewolf Familia member took a mouthful of wine, then mentioned it as if unintentionally.

Hearing this, the Tanuki man stopped his drinking motion, stayed silent for a while, then said: "The kid growing up rebellious, to some extent is also related to us elders neglecting discipline.

Looks like we should also pay some attention to that kid Arde, watch her more closely, see if she's hiding some private savings we don't know about.

If not, best; but if there is, then we have to make her understand — money, that kind of thing, should be handed over to adults for safekeeping."

The Tanuki man's words drew agreement from the two beside him; the other Soma Familia drunks didn't speak, nor did they dare snatch, because the Pallum Arde is Enma Kanu's exploitation target.

Upstairs, the God who passed through the corridor heard the Tanuki man's words downstairs, yet had not the slightest intention to intervene; even though Liliruca Arde was a Familia child he had once raised, and had even bestowed Falna upon her so that child could more easily survive within the Familia.

But……

Ever since she also drank the 【Divine Wine】 and fell because of it, in the God Soma's eyes, she was no different from that group of Familia who disappointed him; they're all just slaves to wine, their only function being to provide corresponding funds for his brewing business.

This God of Wine is full of disappointment toward his own Familia; ever since nine years ago he saw the girl he raised with his own hands become obsessed with Divine Wine, he stopped caring about the Familia, wholeheartedly immersing himself in brewing better fine wine.

God Soma returned to his own room, *pa* — shut the door, completely isolating the clamor of the Familia drunks outside from himself.

Although I don't know if this month's monthly tickets can pass a thousand, I'll still add an extra chapter; today updated ten thousand words, now have a kind of floating-like-immortal feeling……

(Chapter End)