"If that's what I'm doing, what can you do about it?" Ashe asked smugly, grinning from ear to ear.
Finn let out an irritated sigh, shaking his head. He hadn't expected this girl to stoop to extortion. She'd wasted all those recovery pills because she was dead set on revenge—so why was it somehow his fault?
His head was starting to ache just thinking about it.
But in the end, he still handed over what she demanded.
There was no point in arguing any further, and besides, a few recovery pills meant nothing to him.
When he placed four small bottles into Ashe's hands, he couldn't help but notice how her grin widened with unrestrained satisfaction.
He grimaced.
'Somehow, I feel like I've been played…'
"I've paid you," he said calmly. "That should make us even, shouldn't it?"
Ashe shot him a dark glare. "I'll say this again—these are just compensation for the recovery pills you made me waste. When I've grown strong enough to take my revenge, then we'll be even."
Finn didn't know whether to laugh or bury his face in his hands.
'Does she really hate me this much over that ridiculous incident…?'
It had been an accident—he hadn't meant to see anything under the water. He was innocent, not some lecherous criminal.
After a long moment, he calmed himself and looked her in the eyes.
He was a gentleman. He would simply let it go. There was no point in trying to change the image she held of him in her mind.
Silence settled over them once more.
Eventually, Finn lifted his gaze to the moon, his expression softening. A question had been burning in the back of his mind, and with Ashe here beside him, this felt like the right time to finally ask.
"…Miss Ashe," he began, voice quiet but serious, "I've always wondered. Why are you so desperate to grow stronger?"
There was no jest in his eyes—only genuine curiosity.
He understood that everyone desired power, but Ashe was different. There was something in her gaze—a restless, unquenchable longing.
She came from a Noble Clan. She could have lived in comfort without ever risking her life. She had wealth, status, servants at her beck and call. Countless young adventurers admired her.
Why not be content with that?
Why choose this harsh, bloody road?
Ashe hadn't expected the question, and for a moment she was caught off guard.
She met Finn's earnest stare, feeling a strange, quiet shift in the atmosphere between them.
He looked so serious—far more solemn than she'd ever seen him.
Her own expression softened, losing its perpetual scowl.
After a moment, she tucked the recovery pill bottles into her interspatial ring and turned her crimson eyes on him. The firelight danced in her gaze like a living flame.
It was a sight so arresting that Finn nearly forgot how to breathe.
'She really is…beautiful,' he thought, almost dazed.
Among the young Adventurers of the Sacred Dragon Kingdom, only one other girl could rival Ashe's beauty—and Finn wasn't about to compare her to that detestable woman.
He was still marveling when Ashe finally spoke, her voice low.
"Why do I want strength…?" she murmured, lifting her eyes to the moon. She stretched out her hand as if to grasp its silver glow.
"All of us want to be strong," she went on quietly, "but each of us has our own reasons. I have mine…and I refuse to be ordinary."
Finn followed her gaze up to the moon, bright and round against the deep night sky. Stars glittered around it like countless tiny jewels.
He looked back at Ashe.
"…Would you tell me your reasons?" he asked softly.
Slowly, she lowered her hand and turned her face to the fire.
"There's no harm in sharing them," she said. "Besides, you did save my life…I suppose I owe you that much."
He said nothing, only watched her with quiet patience.
And in the reflection of the flames, he glimpsed the fierce determination that burned in her soul.
After a long silence, she began to speak again.
"When I was young," she said, voice steady, "my father often told me stories about how vast our world truly is. He said it's full of mysteries and dangers no matter where you go. That you can never fully trust anyone—because everyone hides their own greed."
She paused, drawing a slow breath.
"And because of that greed, people will do anything to seize the power they desire."
"It doesn't end at Sky Rank. My father said there are even Legend Rank Adventurers—beings so strong they could destroy an entire third-rate kingdom by themselves. They're respected and feared by all. To most, they're the pinnacle of what a human can achieve."
Her eyes glimmered as she remembered.
"Of course, only the most influential families know this truth. The weaker clans…they think reaching Sky Rank is some miraculous, unattainable dream. They don't realize there's still something higher."
She fell silent for a moment, exhaling a shaky sigh.
"But even Legend Rank isn't the end," she continued quietly. "I don't know what comes after—but I've heard there are beings stronger still."
"You remember what Lord Helbram said about the 'gods' who send us armaments every decade? Maybe…that greater world is their domain.'
"To them…we're just insects. They could crush us whenever they pleased.'
"They don't show themselves—because in their eyes, we're unworthy of notice. And maybe they pity us… That's why they gift us things we could never create on our own."
She clenched her hand slowly, as if trying to catch something she could never reach.
"They look down on us—on our ignorance. And I hate that. I hate being looked down on, whether by mortals or by so-called gods."
Her voice hardened, low and resolute.
"My greatest wish…is to prove to those gods that they have no right to dismiss us. That being born in a small world doesn't mean we can't reach the summit."
"You probably think it's foolish—this idea of defying the heavens themselves…but it's what I believe."
"I refuse to be caged in this little world."
"I want to carve my own name into the annals of adventurers."
"No matter how long it takes…I'll endure. I'll face every trial."
She fell silent.
Finn could only stare, deeply moved.
He, too, had wondered about the so-called gods—but he'd never imagined trying to defy them.
For him, it was enough to grow stronger, to protect his clan, to survive.
And yet…he could feel it: her conviction was real.
After a moment, he nodded, his voice soft.
"I admire you," he said honestly. "With a dream that big…I believe you'll go farther than any of us."
Ashe didn't reply right away.
She met his gaze, then gave a small, almost wry smile.
"…Don't you want to hear the rest of my reasons?"
Finn blinked, then nodded again.
"Like you," Ashe murmured, her expression quiet, "I want the strength to protect the people dear to me. I want them to be proud of me…not because of my family's power, but because of my own.
"And besides that…"
Her eyes turned cold, their fire tempered by something darker.
"There are two people I must surpass. Two I have to…avenge myself against."
Her gaze locked on his.
"You're one of them."
Finn froze, mouth falling open.
'She's really not going to let this go…'
Was he truly the first person who'd ever seen her naked?
He swallowed but didn't dare ask.
Seeing him speechless, Ashe actually smiled faintly—but her expression soon darkened.
A man's silhouette flickered through her mind. She clenched her fist so tightly her knuckles went white, rage and bitterness swirling in her eyes.
She forced herself to calm down, finally looking back at Finn.
"You asked me why I want to grow stronger," she said evenly. "So let me ask you—why do you want more power, even though you're already Profound Rank? Is it only for revenge against those who wronged your family?"
It was true.
Finn was a Profound Rank adventurer at only seventeen. In any third-rate kingdom, that would be a miracle—let alone for someone from a humble clan.
She studied him, searching for the answer.
Finn's lips curved into a small, wry smile.
"…It's the same for me," he said softly. "I want to stand at the peak…to fight the strongest opponents I can find. And yes—I want to protect my clan while I'm alive."
For a long moment, Ashe looked into his smiling face.
Then she frowned slightly.
"…Do you really think you can do it alone?" she asked. "The Cloud Soaring Sect can't help you. The Sacred Dragon Family forbids any faction from interfering in such a personal war. You'll have no one to rely on."
"If you want revenge…you could wait another decade—buy yourself time to grow stronger."
Finn only smiled again.
He had his own plans—and the Azure Wood Family was already rising.
When he emerged from the Mystic Treasure Realm, he knew they would only need a year to be ready for war.
And beyond all that…there were truths he had no intention of sharing.
He was not truly Creed and Olivia's son.
He wasn't truly of the Azure Wood Family.
No one knew where he had come from.
If the Sacred Dragon Kingdom ever learned, suspicion would descend on him like a blade.
Some might believe he was a spy—sent to undermine them from within.
That secret had to remain buried.
But more than anything…he longed to discover who he truly was.
Even if he had been abandoned, he needed to understand why.
And somewhere deep inside, he wondered who the Adventurer had been—the one who left him at the Azure Wood Family's care.
Creed had described that figure: a person who could fly.
Likely a Sky Rank Adventurer—or greater.
The possibilities were endless.
And in some hidden corner of his heart, Finn wondered if that meant he, too, carried some extraordinary blood.
Ashe watched him fall into thought, then rolled her eyes and decided to snap him out of it.
"…If you want to reach the top," she declared, "that means we're destined to be rivals."
"When we get out of here, I'll devote every moment to growing stronger."
"I'll surpass you."
"And when that day comes…I'll finally take my revenge."
Finn could only let out a weary laugh.
He stood, ladled himself more broth, and sat back down without comment.
Ashe refused to be outdone. She jumped to her feet, scooped out her own portion, and sat beside him.
'If this is the start of a competition, she thought stubbornly, then I'm not going to lose—even in something as silly as eating.'
And so, the deep night passed in an odd sort of contest—two young adventurers eating side by side under the pale dawn light.
When the sun finally rose, Finn felt the rich energy gathering beside him.
He turned—and saw Ashe sitting in quiet meditation, eyes closed.
'Her cultivation is rising,' he thought, smiling faintly.
No wonder.
After surviving such a battle—and devouring so much energy-rich food—it was no surprise she broke through.
Before a month had even passed, she'd advanced twice: first from the pill he'd given her, and now from the Mystic Treasure Realm itself.
He felt a twinge of envy.
It had been a long time since he'd made any progress.
No matter how many pills he consumed, it was as if his body held some bottomless abyss that swallowed them whole.
He knew Profound Rank was difficult—but this was something else entirely.
Still, he stayed calm, watching the forest with steady vigilance.
Ashe needed peace to complete her breakthrough.
At last, she reached the 6th Level Scarlet Gold Rank.
Her aura was still a little chaotic, so she remained seated, steadying her energy.
Finn smiled at her.
"Congratulations, Miss Ashe. If you fought that Supreme Mantis Shrimp again, you'd probably win."
"Hmph." She shot him a look. "You certainly know how to flatter a lady."
He laughed quietly.
"It's morning," he said. "And you've rested enough. You should change your clothes—they're too torn up to wear any longer.
"Besides…we still need to find our allies if we're going to survive the vicious beasts out there."
She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.
"Hmph! Don't order me around. And before I change—would you mind leaving?
"I have to be careful…in case you try to peek again."