The Nobles arrived at Lila's house, the warm glow of the evening sun casting a welcoming light on the elegant facade. As they stepped inside, Lila greeted them with a smile. "Make yourselves at home. I'll get some tea ready."
Shinji flopped onto the couch, a grin spreading across his face. "Thanks, Lila. Your hospitality is unmatched."
Kai dropped into an armchair, a mischievous glint in his eye. "What are you doing following us all the way here, Shinji? Are you homeless or something?"
Shinji chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I should be asking you that, Kai. What are you doing here? Have you forgotten I'm a thief? I might be here to steal something. What about you, Mr. SSS-rank adventurer?"
Lila intervened, handing them each a steaming cup of tea. "Stop it, you two. No more teasing."
Kai's expression turned serious, his eyes locking onto Shinji's. "Okay, guys. In three days' time, we're going to face off against Kieran's team. Shinji, can you explain the rules of a group vs. group fight to us? You're the only one here with experience as an adventurer."
Shinji took a sip of his tea, his expression thoughtful. "Group vs. group fights are where each team selects their three best adventurers, and they face off in a one-on-one match against the opposing team. The team with the most wins after all three matches is declared the winner."
Kai nodded, a determined look on his face. "Alright, Nobles. Today, we sleep. Tomorrow, we train and prepare for the fights. Since our team only has three members, that means all of us will be participating in the team vs. team fight."
As they finished their tea, Shinji stood up, preparing to leave. As he reached the door, he turned back to Kai, who was still sited comfortably, a taunting glint in his eye. "Hey, Kai, aren't you going home? Or are you really moving in with Lila?"
Lila's face turned bright red as she rushed to defend herself. "No, no, no! Kai has memory loss and has forgotten everything about his past, so he'll be staying here with me for the time being!"
Kai looked at Shinji, a hint of amusement on his face. "Why are you jealous or something?"
Shinji chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "No, I just know it's not safe to leave a lady alone with a stranger."
Lila intervened, her voice firm. "That's enough, you two. Shinji, you can sleep in the guest room. Kai, you'll sleep there too. I'll take the bedroom. Tomorrow, we have training."
Kai nodded, a concerned expression on his face. "Okay, Lila. Sorry for the trouble."
Shinji grinned, shaking his head. "I'm not leaving Lila alone with you. I'll sleep on the couch. You can take the guest room, Kai."
Lila smiled, relieved. "Thank you, Shinji. Now, off to bed, both of you!"
Meanwhile, in the depths of a foreboding, abandoned castle, where the moonlight struggled to penetrate the grimy windows, and the wind howled like a chorus of restless spirits, Kieran's team gathered in a dimly lit chamber.
The walls were adorned with cobweb-shrouded tapestries, and the air was heavy with the scent of decay and rot. A lone, flickering candle cast eerie shadows on the walls, making it seem as though the very spirits of the castle were watching the proceedings.
Kieran's team members exchanged nervous glances, their faces illuminated only by the faint, eerie glow of the candle. They had all heard the rumors about this castle being cursed, but Kieran had insisted on meeting here, in this forsaken place.
As they waited for Kieran to arrive, the silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the creaking of the old wooden beams and the distant howling of wolves.
Finally, Kieran walked in, his eyes scanning the room as he took his place at the head of the table. "So, let's get down to business," he said, his voice low and even. "We all know that the upcoming fight against the Nobles is going to be a tough one."
One of his team members, a burly man with a scar above his eyebrow, spoke up. "Kieran, we need to talk about Kai. He's an SSS-rank adventurer. We can't take him lightly."
Kieran's expression was unreadable, but a faint glimmer of amusement danced in his eyes. "Don't worry, I've already found a solution to deal with Kai once and for all."
The room fell silent again, this time with anticipation. Kieran's team leaned in, their eyes locked on their leader, eager to hear his plan.
Kieran's grin grew wider, his eyes glinting with an evil intensity. "Let's just say I have a plan, and it's going to ensure our victory."