?The dwarfs scoffed at his words. If taking the key was so easy they would have already left this damn room.
Sia and Yue looked equally confused but then Jian grabbed his stomach and laughed out loud. He couldn't believe he had forgotten the strange skill Kyle used in the tower. After wiping the corner of his eyes, he placed his wand back and rubbed his hands.
"Bro, I don't want the first key. Okay?"
Kyle threw him a glance but before he could teleport he remembered something very very important. Silently, he grabbed Bia and placed her on the ground.
'Now it's fine.'
With a relieved sigh, he vanished from his place under everyone's stunned gaze. In the next second, Kyle appeared mid-air, just mere inches away from the key.
The dwarfs froze in their spots. The human was cheating in front of their eyes but they could do nothing but watch as he grabbed the key.
Instantly, the transparent dome around everyone vanished and a round fluctuating portal appeared at the end of the room out of thin air. Kyle glanced back with a smirk.
"So, who wants the first key?"
Jian immediately raised his hands and shook his head. For some reason, he was sure if he was the one who entered the next room first, he would probably have to face a life-and-death situation until the others arrived.
"Nope, not gonna take it."
While they were discussing who should take the first key, the dwarfs were devasted. In the end, the trio silently agreed to wait until the silver-haired human left the room. After all, they knew if they did not they would be wasting their breath.
Kyle thought for a second and vanished from his spot, he grabbed Bia and walked toward Yue.
"Yue, you go first. Also, Bia is sleeping so take her with you."
"It's kind of noisy in this place."
There was hesitation in Yue's eyes. However, the hesitation vanished when she gazed into Kyle's eyes. With a sigh, she carefully grabbed Bia and took the key.
"Okay."
A far contrast to Kyle, Yue's hands were warm. That's why the moment she touched the little phoenix, Bia blinked her drowsy eyes at Kyle.
-'Hey? It's rare for you to send me with someone else. You know her?... Why do I feel like you are worried.'
Kyle hummed and looked away.
'Just a friend. Stay with her for a while.'
Bia's eyes narrowed at Kyle's curt answer. She knew he made some new friends in Kingdom tersia but she never thought one of them would be a beautiful elven girl. After all, it was very rare for him to make female friends.
-'Alright... but, it's just my opinion okay don't take it to heart. If you want to choose a mate I would prefer it if you pick Mia because she is gentle and a talented cook-!'
Kyle grabbed her by her neck with a blank expression. Just what the hell was this tiny thing thinking? He was ready to roll his sleeves and put some manner inside her head but stopped because there were many eyes watching him.
He placed Bia back in Yue's arms and immediately walked away.
"Yue, you should leave. Or else..."
'I don't think I can stop myself from strangling a certain bird.'
The glowing portal immediately vanished the moment Yue stepped inside. In the next second, as if waiting for her to leave the mechanical voice sounded again.
Kyle gazed at the dome that appeared around him and the moment he saw a similar bronze key in the air he vanished.
The second person to leave behind Yue was Sia. After the girls were gone, Kyle looked at Jian.
"You are next."
Jian scratched his head with a bitter smile.
"Okay, but you know... I am having this ominous feeling that even though we are entering the same portal somehow I am going to end up in a different room."
Kyle tapped his back with a sigh.
"Don't worry. This treasure land is all about training so as long as you follow the command you will find the exit."
"I hope so."
After Jian left the room, Kyle and the speechless dwarfs were the only ones left the room. Once again the training started and Kyle easily got the key, but before he could leave, one of the dwarfs suddenly offered him a storage ring.
"How about we trade?"
Kyle raised his brow and took the storage ring. He glanced inside the ring. It was mostly empty except for a bundle of herbs and a small mountain of beautiful shiny finger-sized round orbs placed in a corner.
"What's the thing inside?"
The dwarf looked back at his companions and after getting a nod from them, he smiled.
"It's the currency of my Kingdom. You can call them coins. One coin is made of at least one thousand mana stones."
Kyle narrowed his eyes and fiddled with the many storage rings in his hand.
"To be truthful I am not poor. Do you have something better?"
The dwarf was stunned. He couldn't believe the human was so greedy to ask more when he practically gave away half of his wealth. He cursed under his breath and looked back at his companions. They were also wearing sour expressions.
After thinking for a few seconds, the dwarf took out a wooden box from his clothes.
Kyle grabbed the box and opened it. There was a black round pill inside the box. He gazed at the dwarf with a curious expression.
The dwarf sighed.
"It's an enhancement pill. After consuming it, your strength will increase by one rank within a minute. For example, if you're currently (F-)-Rank, it will go up to (E-)-Rank. However, there's a catch. The pill's effects only last for an hour. After that, you'll return to your original rank."
Kyle closed the box. The pill seemed good, but he would be an idiot to think it had no side effects.
"Sure, tell me about the side effects. I will help you all get the keys."
