After three hours of reading all the grueling documents placed in front of me, I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information.
"First, I have to say. This was very detailed, to say the least. Second, you are legally asking us to be slaves of each other. Third, you went ahead to cover all expenses and insurances for my parents. Highly appreciate your consideration.
But I don't think I will sign it. Sorry."
"Hmm. I expected it, but why exactly? It will be your one way trip to wealth, along with being with me."
"Well, I don't even know you enough to marry you. That would be jumping the gun there. Also it is not earned, it is borrowed. It wouldn't last."
"Well, that's sad. But, as I said earlier, I ain't giving up. So to fulfill that I am going to blackmail you to meet me everyday."
"With my father's job? And if I still said no?"
"Kidnapping isn't that hard for my family to get away with. I would just have to say a word."
Damn.
"Alright, we can meet but not daily. I have my part-time after all. And also, you stop grabbing attention towards us. We can think about our relationship after untangling this mess and I am at a better place. I will take my leave with that. Bye, 'My Darling'."
"Pfft- Did you just try to imitate me now?"
"Ahh, just forget it." I could only scurry away in shame after my dumb attempt at making her fluster.
_____________________________
After Cole had left, Iris was sitting alone in the room.
Hmm, he really is the same. It is just like him to not take what is given to him. He passed my test. But, not taking the most lucrative offer anyone could have gotten has rubbed my ego a bit. I will get you back for that.
"Bye, my Darling"
"Pfft- Hahaha, he really is cute. I can't wait for you to be mine." Iris's eyes gleamed under the cafe lights.
_____________________________
I left the cafe. Going a little further from it, I began running. It was about to be seven and I had to be at home by nine. The Penguin kept nagging me, saying I had proved its point and what not. I went to the nearest metro station. Going into an unassuming corner, I saw a wall filled with graffiti drawings. I turned to look at the Penguin which had returned to its original size.
"Is this really the place? Why doesn't this place have an easily accessible point of entry?"
"Quit complaining and use the key I gave to you."
The key was for entering a hidden dungeon subspace. It seemed dungeons had specific conditions to materialize in this world. These were the ones that failed to do so. So, a hidden unexplored treasury for me.
Before I went to meet Iris, Penguin had given me the key. It took it out from its stomach pocket. I was also surprised by it and tried touching it, which it wouldn't let me.
I pressed the key against the wall. Soon, a door materialized onto the wall. I opened the door and entered through it.
I fell head-first into a swamp.
"You damn Penguin!" My whole body got covered in mud.
I looked around, only to find the bird stuck inside the mud with its head.
Lifting it up, I laughed. "Haha, you deserve that."
It spat mud all over me. "Stop it, you idiot."
"Hah, now who's got mud on their face?"
"Wait, you little-"
"GUGRKKKK"
"Now which idiot is shouting near my face?"
Both of us turned to see where the sound was from.
Ah. Shit.
A gigantic black slime, ten feet tall was staring down at us.
____________
I was running away from the swamp with Penguin holding onto my shoulders. The black slime was chasing us. Each of its jumps was creating shocks in the ground. It was closing on us very quickly.
"Can't you do something about it?"
"I am not equipped with combat abilities."
"Useless bird, at least think about what to do, it is going to catch us soon. Quick."
"There is nothing I can do, better run quick. And pray that you cross its domain."
Just as he said that, the Slime jumped right next to me. I was thrown airborne because of the shock wave. All I could do was scream.
"YOUUUUUUU CRAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZY BASSSSSTARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRD"
I landed on a tree branch a few feet up. Fucker really did a number on my body. Getting myself together, I jumped off the branch. Landing on the ground, I searched for the Penguin. Now, where was the damn bird?
I found it and grabbed it by its neck,
"Is this how you help me? Does the Department of Causality think this was what all my sufferings amounted to? If so, I will burn you and find the goddamn person responsible for it. I am sick of your annoyances. I was about to die just now."
"Well, I apologize for all of it. But, it was just our bad luck. It doesn't mean the Department is belittling you. All of this has been prepared in order to make up to you after all. It was just that we had spawned directly on the boss monster first before facing the small fries. Don't let this get you down. Trust me once."
"No. Compensate for putting me in danger before we proceed."
"I am not abl-"
"I don't care. Call the higher-ups or let me speak with them. What do they take me for th-"
The Penguin gestured me to shut up. I stopped and it started rummaging its pouch.
I tried peeking inside but it noticed and turned the other side. It was still full of attitude, even after all of this.
While it was doing that, I realized a peculiar thing. The pain in my body had completely vanished, like I never was hurt.
The Penguin turned back, "Here, this is the 'Two times Growth Pill'. It will increase the amount of experience you get from the battles here. You have played those games, right?"
A smile formed on my face.