Chapter No.3 Wild Protagonist Spotted

'Let's get this straight, In the novel, the protagonist goes into the newly formed 'dungeon' which is coincidently owned by the Rutherford House heir. and as the heir needed a porter for the exploration team, the protagonist offers himself as tribute in exchange for the chance to explore the dungeon. That's where everything goes awry, leading to his imprisonment and eventual encounter with the main heroine,' Samael thought, his mind racing with possibilities.

'I can't let history repeat itself. If I want to change my fate, I need to intercept the protagonist before he can make his fateful decision. But how?'

As Samael navigated the crowded streets of Kaitoria City, his mind raced with possibilities. He knew that intercepting the protagonist before he made his fateful decision to enter the dungeon was crucial to altering the course of fate. But with time running short, he needed to act quickly and decisively.

As he pondered his next move, a sudden commotion up ahead caught Samael's attention—a group of adventurers clad in armor and armed to the teeth were making their way through the crowd, their voices raised in animated conversation.

"Did you hear about the newly discovered dungeon on the outskirts of the city?" one of them exclaimed excitedly, his eyes shining with anticipation. "They say it's filled with untold treasures and ancient artifacts just waiting to be plundered!"

Samael's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the dungeon. Could this be the same dungeon that the protagonist was destined to explore in the novel? If so, intercepting him here could be his best chance to change the course of fate.

Without hesitation, Samael wove his way through the crowd, his senses on high alert as he searched for any sign of the protagonist. And then, as if by fate, he spotted him—a young boy average-looking with a nondescript appearance that blended seamlessly into the crowd, his eyes filled with a sense of wonder and excitement as he listened to the adventurers' tales of treasure and adventure.

That's him—the protagonist.

With a determined stride, Samael approached the boy, his heart pounding with anticipation. This was his chance to change his fate, alter the course of history, and rewrite the story of his life.

"Ethan," Samael called out, his voice cutting through the din of the crowd. The protagonist turned, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Samael approaching him.

"Sam! It's good to see us again." Ethan's surprise instantly turned into a warm smile as he greeted Samael, his voice filled with genuine warmth and affection. "What brings you here?"

Samael returned Ethan's smile, though inwardly his mind raced with urgency. He needed to steer the conversation in a direction that would prevent Ethan from offering himself as a porter for the exploration team, thus averting the tragic events that awaited him in the dungeon.

That brings the question, Why the protagonist is going to the dungeon in the first place?

Samael's mind raced as he tried to piece together the protagonist's motivations for venturing into the dungeon. In the novel, Ethan's decision to offer himself as a porter is driven by a desire for adventure and the promise of riches. But Samael knew that there must be more to it than meets the eye.

Samael's thoughts raced as he considered the protagonist's motivations. It dawned on him that Ethan's desire to explore the dungeon might not solely stem from a thirst for adventure and riches. There could be another factor at play—a deeper, more personal reason driving him to take such a risk.

And then it hit him like a bolt of lightning. In the novel, Ethan's younger sister falls ill with a mysterious ailment, and the only cure lies within the depths of the dungeon. Desperate to save her, Ethan offers himself as a porter in exchange for the chance to obtain the cure.

If he could somehow intervene and provide an alternative solution to save Ethan's sister, perhaps he could dissuade him from entering the dungeon altogether.

"Ethan, I heard about the dungeon," Samael began, his tone casual yet laced with concern. "But before you decide to join the exploration team, there's something you should know."

Ethan's expression turned curious as he regarded Samael, his eyes searching for clues in his words. "What is it, Sam? Is something wrong?"

"It's about your sister," Samael replied, choosing his words carefully. "I know she's been ill, and I understand why you're considering joining the exploration team. But there might be another way to save her, one that doesn't involve risking your life in the dungeon."

Ethan's eyes widened with surprise at Samael's words, his expression a mixture of hope and uncertainty. "What do you mean, Sam? Is there really another way to save Lily?"

Samael nodded, his gaze steady as he met Ethan's eyes. "First of all tell me the symptoms of Lily's illness," Samael said, his voice gentle yet insistent. "The more information I have, the better equipped I'll be to help you find a solution."

Ethan hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he debated whether to confide in Samael. But the genuine concern in Samael's expression seemed to put him at ease, and he finally nodded, a hint of desperation in his voice as he began to recount Lily's symptoms.

"It's complicated, Like a cycle or something. At one time she has an extremely high fever yet at another moment she shivers with cold. Her condition seems to worsen with time, and none of the doctors in the city can figure out what's wrong with her," Ethan explained, his voice filled with frustration and fear. "I've tried everything to help her, but nothing seems to work. That's why I thought... maybe the cure lies within the dungeon."

Samael listened intently to Ethan's words, his mind racing with possibilities. It was clear that Lily's illness was a complex and mysterious condition—one that defied conventional treatment and left her brother desperate for a solution.

But if someone knows the cure then it would be Samael, Because of his unique circumstances and knowledge of the plot.

"Mana Poisoning." The words escaped Samael's lips before he could fully process them, but as soon as they were out, he knew they held the key to solving Lily's mysterious illness.

Ethan's eyes widened in surprise at Samael's revelation, his expression a mixture of hope and disbelief. "Mana poisoning? But how do you know that, Sam? And more importantly, is there a cure?"

"...Yes, But-"

Before Samael could finish, Ethan fell on his knees in front of him, his hands trembling with a mixture of desperation and hope. "Please, Sam, you have to help me save Lily," he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll do anything, just tell me what I need to do."

'Success!'

Samael's heart swelled with a mixture of relief and determination as he looked down at Ethan, his mind racing with plans and strategies to save Lily from her mysterious illness.

"Ethan, listen to me," Samael began, his voice steady and resolute as he reached out to offer Ethan a reassuring hand. "There is a cure for mana poisoning, but to cure her...the person has to suck the poison out of her body through...physical contact. A k-kiss to be exact."

Ethan's eyes widened in surprise at Samael's words, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the thought of such an intimate act. But the desperation in his gaze outweighed his discomfort, and he nodded eagerly, determination shining in his eyes.

"I'll do it," Ethan declared, his voice filled with resolve as he rose to his feet, his gaze unwavering as he met Samael's eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to save Lily, even if it means...kissing her."

"What do you mean ' you have to kiss her'? I have to do it." Samael corrected himself quickly, realizing that he had inadvertently revealed too much about his own identity and abilities. "I have the knowledge and the ability to cure Lily's mana poisoning, but I'll need your help to bring her to me."

Ethan's expression shifted from surprise to confusion, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of Samael's words. "But why can't you just come with me to see Lily and cure her yourself?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

Samael hesitated for a moment, weighing his options carefully. He knew that revealing his true identity could have unintended consequences, but he also couldn't risk Ethan refusing his help out of fear or suspicion.

"I can't explain everything right now, but trust me when I say that Lily's safety depends on it," Samael replied, his voice firm yet reassuring. "All you need to do is bring her to the outskirts of the city at sunset tomorrow, and I'll take care of the rest."

Ethan regarded Samael with a mixture of uncertainty and determination, his mind clearly wrestling with conflicting emotions. But in the end, the thought of saving his sister seemed to outweigh any doubts he may have had.

"Alright, Sam. I'll trust you," Ethan said finally, his voice filled with determination as he clasped Samael's hand in a firm shake. "I'll bring Lily to the outskirts of the city tomorrow at sunset, just like you said. But you better not let us down."

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[To Be Continued]

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Thanks For Reading.

Peace Out✌️