Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Arthur forced a chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, about that. I might have changed my mind about the whole 'don't mention it thing."

"Oh, I see." She nodded again, her tone laced with understanding.

Arthur blinked. 'Wait, that's it? That's all she's got?' He waited a few more seconds, giving her a chance to redeem herself. Surely, she'd say something about the hidden reward he'd clearly earned.

But the silence persisted. Her innocent expression didn't waver, as if she was entirely oblivious to his mental spiral.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "So…" he began, leaning forward again, his voice filled with exasperation. "You know. Where's my reward?"

The girl blinked at him, her brows furrowing. "Reward?"

"Yes," Arthur said, nodding with exaggerated patience. "My reward. You know, for saving your life?"

Her face lit up as though she'd just understood, and Arthur felt a flicker of hope. Finally, progress.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, her voice chipper. "I already thanked you."

Arthur's hope shattered like cheap glass. "Thanked me?" he repeated slowly, his disbelief dripping from every syllable.

"Yes," she said, her tone firm. "I thanked you for saving me. Isn't that enough?"

Arthur stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. "You… You think a thank you is enough for saving your life?"

She tilted her head again, genuinely puzzled. "Isn't it?"

"No!" Arthur practically shouted, throwing his hands in the air. "You don't just thank someone for saving you from a bandit who was probably going to sell you to some underground operation! You—" He paused, catching himself. "You give them something tangible! Something useful!"

The girl furrowed her brows, her tone defensive but soft. "I don't have anything to give you. I was running for my life! Do you think I had time to pack a thank-you gift?"

Arthur's face fell into his hands. "Unbelievable," he muttered, his voice muffled.

He peeked at her through his fingers, desperation shining in his eyes. "No gold coins? No ancient family heirloom? Not even a low-level item?"

She crossed her arms, her expression turning stern. "You think I'd be running around in a forest with an ancient heirloom in my pocket? Are you stupid?"

Arthur groaned, flopping back in his chair. "This is why I avoid saving people," he muttered to himself.

The girl, unbothered by his antics, grabbed the pillow she'd thrown at him earlier and hugged it to her chest. "You should be grateful I thanked you at all," she said primly.

Arthur shot her a deadpan glare. "Oh, I'm positively overflowing with gratitude."

She smirked, clearly amused by his frustration. "Maybe next time you'll think twice before playing hero."

Arthur waved her off, muttering under his breath. "Next time, I'm charging up-front. Her work doesn't come for free."

The girl burst into laughter. "You're ridiculous," she said, her voice light with amusement.

Arthur rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at his lips. "And you're stingy."

Arthur slumped dramatically, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "You won't even spare a silver coin?"

The girl shook her head, her lips twitching with amusement. "Nope."

"Damn it!" Arthur groaned. "At least the 10 bronze coins I spent to put a roof over your head—"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Not a single thing," She shook her head again, her smile growing, clearly enjoying herself.

Arthur placed a hand on his chest as if she had physically wounded him. "Sigh! Fine. Charity it is. Fateless, protector of penniless damsels in distress." He turned on his heel. "Alright then, enjoy yourself. I'm out of here."

"Wait, what? Don't leave me!" she cried, scrambling off the bed. "How are you leaving a cute girl like me in the woods by herself? What if the hungry wolves eat me?"

Arthur stopped mid-way and turned back with a raised eyebrow. "Woods? Wolves? Are you blind? You're in a nice, cosy room I paid 10 bronze coins for!" He gestured wildly at the four walls around them. "Where's the woods? Where's the wolves?"

Her mouth opened, but no words came out as she faltered. "Well... uh..."

"That's what I thought," he said, turning back towards the door.

"Wait!" she yelped again, nearly tripping over the bed as she rushed after him. "I-I can give you a reward!"

Arthur stopped, spinning around with an incredulous look. "Oh, really? What reward could you possibly give me? You couldn't even pay me 10 bronze coins! That's a week's worth of bread for some people!"

"That's true!" she admitted, her voice pitching up slightly in defence. "But I can pay you later. Trust me!"

Arthur squinted at her. "Trust you?" He scoffed. "Heck no. I'm too busy to babysit someone who can't even afford her own lodging."

"It's not babysitting, it's protecting!" she said in frustration, stomping her foot on the wooden floor.

The stomp didn't have the dramatic impact she likely imagined, but it made Arthur blink at her.

"Oh, protecting," Arthur repeated, rubbing his chin. "Right, because guarding someone who's broke and stomps on floors like that, is just the kind of job I've been dreaming of."

"Exactly!" she said, missing the sarcasm entirely. "See? You understand!"

Arthur's expression flattened, his eyes narrowing. "No, I don't. I was being sarcastic!"

"Please!" she pleaded, her voice softening, her wide eyes doing their best impression of a helpless kitten. "Just until I get back to my family. I promise they'll reward you."

"Ah, there it is!" Arthur exclaimed, pointing at her. "The family card. Do you have any idea how many people have used that before you? 'My family's rich,' they say. 'They'll reward you handsomely,' they promise. Spoiler alert...they don't."

She groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "I swear! My family really is rich!"

Arthur crossed his arms, looking down at her with suspicion. "Sure they are. Next thing you'll tell me is you're secretly a lost princess."

Her eyes lit up, and Arthur immediately regretted his sarcasm.

"Well, I am from a noble house..." she began.

Arthur groaned loudly, dragging a hand down his face. "Of course you are."

"Really! I swear!" she said, tugging at his sleeve.