I Became A Starter Beast

Inside a cramp and dark trench a soft voice whispered, “...Are they gone?”

Another voice appeared, but instead of answering, he passed the question.

“Twy?”

Twy raised his right paw to answer but shortly realized that his partner couldn't see a single thing. So he made a mellow purr.

When Aster felt no sign of worry from the kitten he couldn't help but sigh.

“They didn't find us.” 

“Thank the Goddess!” Eliza tried to raise her arms to praise, but in doing so her elbow struck the young man's ribs.

Caught off guard Aster made a weird sound.

 “Sorry, I didn't mean to!” Eliza tried to amend by putting her hands to where she hit him.

But, before she could do so Aster grabbed her wrist. “No, it's okay. More importantly, we have to get out of here before they notice something wrong.”

The imp with its goblin goons was not only persistent but also cunning. They chased after the three and used a few tricks to trip them.

In a fortunate manner, before that could happen Twy found a good hiding spot. After they turned into three different intersections they were finally able to relax.

However, that wouldn't be long as those confused demons would realize that they'd been had.

That is why even though his body screams to ease up, Aster still stands up. He then tipped on his toes and peeked through an open storm drain—like a famous clown. He turned his head left and right to check for other companies. 

Aster saw nothing but insects enjoying the weak light from the mosses. He sat back down and held his bag.

“Hop on.”

Once he felt a small weight that suddenly added to his backpack, he once again stood up. The young man then pushed it out of the trench.

After Twy and the bag were back in the corridors, he shouted. “Do you see any demons outside?”

“Meow.” 

Aster didn't feel any sudden rise in his partner's emotions. So he deemed the hallway safe and turned his head to the side.

“You go first, I'll help you.”

“Thanks!” a lively voice replied.

Though the young man couldn't see her, he's sure that Eliza's smiling wide right now.

He shook his head before he kneeled, then he instructed her. “Step unto my hands.” 

“Okay!”

The young woman tried a couple of times until her right boot finally landed on his palms.

Aster laboriously stood up while carrying her.

Eliza latched onto the rough and moist edge of the drain before she looked down.

“Don't say I'm heavy!” 

The nerves on Aster's temple almost bulged like the ones in his arms, he urged her, “Hurry!”

She jumped off of him and easily went back outside.

“Hello Twy!” in her good-natured smile she greeted the wary kitten. Eliza tried to pet him, but the kitten hissed at her.

'Woman, you're way too close!!'

Their banter however was interrupted by Aster, who pushed his shield towards them. “Help me with this, Eliza.”

“Okay, okay!”

Twy watched with his tail perked up high as the girl helped his partner climb up.

'Once we get out, I'm going to bathe myself in a tub filled with deodorant!'

“What's the plan now?” 

Eliza's eyes glimmered as she proposed, “Are we going to ambush them?”

“No,” Aster said as he patted off the dirt off his palms. He armed himself back before adding, “Our target for today is to only scout a route towards the left tower boss,”

His eyes met hers.  “—and fighting together without any kind of teamwork is dangerous.”

The girl looked stunned. Her fist crumbled open and her blonde hair covered her eyes.

“You don't trust me...?”

Anyone with a gentle heart would likely try to correct his words once they heard her voice, but sadly the one in front of her is someone like Aster. 

He walked forward without any consoling words out of his lips.

Twy glanced at Eliza before following his partner. A smug grin adorned his lips that was barely hidden by the lighting.

However, the kitten's gloating didn't last long as once Aster reached the corner and didn't hear another human footsteps following them, he halted and turned to look back at her.

“What are you doing? Let's go!”

Eliza raised her head. Her blue pupils turned glossy; she was about to cry, but when she caught wind of what he said, her lips turned upward. 

“Yes!” 

Twy's warm blood almost froze, when he watched as she ran closer towards them.

'What the hell? I thought we were going to part ways—!

No, wait!'

His small eyes then suddenly widened as he followed the two, who were walking side by side. Twy couldn't help but feel that their distance from each other was much closer now.

'Is he using a man's forbidden technique—Playing Hard To Get!?'

The kitten couldn't believe it.

'Oh, Aster... are you really gunning for that stinky hole?'

•••

'His emotions have turned to worst. I don't even want to know what he's thinking inside anymore.' 

Aster turned his head away from Twy. He gave up trying to patch up the misunderstanding at the moment as they're currently faced with a tough decision.

“What now?” Eliza asked the eagerness from a while ago came back in her eyes. 

“We're going to attack them right!?”

'Them...' 

Aster sighed. He then peeked out of the corner of the wall. A few steps away from where they stood was an open room and at the end of it was a door.

'An unremarkable door, yet guarded by the imp and its goons... No matter how I look at this it isn't simple.

‘It is either a treasure area or a door that leads us out of here.'

Aster pulled his head back before he could get noticed by the demons.

After they walked for at least an hour, met with three dead ends, and slain a poor goblin, they arrived in this location.   

There is only one path forward and it's through the hall. However, by a twist of fate, it's guarded by their nemesis, who chased Aster and Twy since they were outside. Either it's a work of the imp's wisdom or a challenge to them.

No matter what the reason is, Aster now has a choice.

'Move forward, or—' he turned to look at Eliza, who was already heating her rings by punching them against each other. Aster's purple eyes then met Twy's golden eyes, in them he could see his reflection... 

A desperate boy.