The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 111

Chapter 111: 03/29- Thornhide Grazer
Rowan’s response was swift, her voice edged with that same guarded skepticism she always carried. “Nice of you to offer me company,” she said, adjusting the hood of her cloak as if reinforcing the invisible barrier between herself and them. “But I decline.”

Dorian didn’t look surprised. If anything, he seemed to expect it. He merely offered a small smile and shrugged. “Fair enough.”

Before the tension could stretch any further, a loud, unmistakable grrrrrowl echoed through the cavern.

Everyone paused.

Markus, standing near the center of the group, winced as he clutched his stomach. “…That was me,” he admitted with absolutely no shame.

Kael snorted. “That sounded like a beast.”

“I am a beast,” Markus said proudly, flexing an arm before waving them forward. “Come on, let’s eat first. We’ve been fighting nonstop, and I, for one, refuse to go into another battle on an empty stomach.”

Lucian sighed. “Fine. But we move quickly. We don’t know how long this area will stay clear.”

Markus grinned and turned toward a makeshift satchel he had slung over his back. With a dramatic flourish, he pulled out a slab of freshly harvested meat—thick, marbled, and enough to feed all of them twice over.

Aeliana eyed the cut with mild curiosity. “What did you kill to get that much meat?”

Markus puffed his chest. “Behold—the great Thornhide Grazer.”

At his words, Rowan’s brow twitched upward. “A Thornhide Grazer?”

“Yes!” Markus gestured grandly toward the creature’s hide, now bundled up beside the meat. “A massive, fatty herbivore, big as a narwhal, slow-moving but packed with enough meat to keep us going for days. Takes a real skilled hunter to take one down.” He smirked. “Which, lucky for us, I am.”

Kael raised a brow. “You mean it was slow and defenseless, so you just waltzed up and stabbed it?”

Markus frowned, clearly displeased with the phrasing. “That is not how I would describe my heroic takedown. There was strategy, patience, precision—”

“You killed a cow,” Rowan deadpanned.

“A very big cow,” Markus shot back.

Aeliana chuckled, shaking her head. “Well, if it’s edible, I won’t complain.”

Markus grinned. “Now that’s the spirit, Oracle.”

As the group settled into a temporary resting spot, Markus got to work preparing the meat, setting up a small fire and skewering thick slabs to roast. The scent of sizzling meat soon filled the cavern, rich and savory, making even those who weren’t particularly hungry pause to inhale the aroma.

Lucian, ever watchful, sat slightly apart from the group, his back against a jagged stone, arms crossed as he kept his gaze on the distant shadows.

Riven, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease, leaning against a boulder with that ever-present smirk. “Well,” he mused, “I suppose even warriors need to eat. Though I never expected this crew to take a break for a feast.”

Kael glanced at him. “What, do you survive on air and arrogance?”

Riven chuckled. “Mostly.”

Aeliana, settling beside Kael, glanced toward Rowan, who still stood apart, watching the fire but making no move to sit. “Are you sure you don’t want to join us?”

Rowan hesitated for just a moment before shrugging. “I’m fine.”

Dorian smirked. “You keep saying that, but you’re eyeing that meat like it owes you money.”

Rowan rolled her eyes. “You’re all so amusing.”

Markus, clearly pleased with himself, flipped one of the skewers and let the juices drip into the fire, sizzling loudly. “Suit yourself, but I promise this’ll be the best meal you’ve had in a long time.”

Lucian finally broke his silence. “Eat quickly,” he instructed. “We shouldn’t stay in one place too long.”

Aeliana frowned slightly. “Do you sense something?”

Lucian’s gaze remained locked on the far end of the cavern. “Not yet. But something about this place doesn’t sit right with me.”

Riven sighed dramatically. “Do you ever relax?”

Lucian didn’t answer, his expression unreadable.

As the group ate, conversation drifted, though the underlying tension never completely faded. The fire cast flickering shadows on the rough stone walls, making them appear almost alive.

Rowan, despite herself, found her gaze straying toward the group more often than she intended. They laughed, teased each other, shared stories—things she had once enjoyed but had since learned to live without.

She told herself she didn’t need it.

Didn’t need them.

But the longer she stood there, the harder it became to ignore the quiet ache in her chest.

Maybe, just maybe, a part of her wished she did.

Rowan adjusted the straps of her satchel, her sharp eyes scanning the group as they lingered around the dying fire. The warmth of their camaraderie was something she hadn’t felt in years—something she had once known, but had long since learned to do without. She had no intention of getting comfortable.

“Nice to meet you all,” she said coolly, pulling her hood further over her face. “But I travel to another floor of this dungeon. I don’t linger.”

Dorian, still chewing on the last bite of his meal, gave her a half-smile. “You sure? Could be fun to stick around.”

Rowan raised a brow. “Since when are dungeons fun?”

Markus wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Well, when you’ve got good food and good company—”

“—it makes the dying more tolerable,” Kael finished dryly.

Rowan smirked slightly. “Exactly why I don’t stay in one place too long.”

Aeliana, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head. “Another floor? Do you already have a route in mind?”

Rowan nodded. “Of course.” She tapped a map that was barely visible under the layers of fabric wrapped around her waist. “This dungeon shifts unpredictably, but there are patterns if you know where to look. I’ve mapped a path that’ll take me through the least-traveled areas—less risk of ambushes, fewer adventurers to get in my way.”

Lucian, who had remained silent for most of the conversation, finally spoke. “And you’re doing this alone?”

Rowan turned to him, meeting his piercing gaze. “I always do.”

Riven chuckled, amused. “A lone wolf, then?”

“Something like that.” Rowan gave him a pointed look. “Not all of us need a party to survive.”

Riven smirked. “Oh, I don’t need one. I just like watching others struggle to keep up.”

Lucian shot him a sharp look. “Is that why you follow me around, then?”

Riven gave a mock gasp. “Are you accusing me of favoritism?”

Aeliana sighed. “You two never stop, do you?”

Rowan, uninterested in whatever history they had, turned on her heel. “I don’t have time for this.”

Dorian leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Are you really gonna run off without even considering what I said earlier?”

Rowan exhaled slowly, then glanced over her shoulder. “I did consider it.” She hesitated. “And I decided I’m better off alone.”

Dorian’s face fell slightly, but he masked it with a lighthearted shrug. “Fair enough.”

Markus groaned, stretching. “Man, she’s stubborn.”

Kael smirked. “Takes one to know one.”

Rowan ignored them, already moving toward the narrow tunnel leading deeper into the dungeon. The air grew colder as she stepped away from the warmth of the fire, but she barely noticed. This was what she knew—solitude, survival, keeping her own back covered.

But just as she reached the tunnel’s mouth, a voice called after her.

“Wait.”

She paused.

Aeliana had stood up, her expression unreadable. “At least take this.” She held out a small vial, shimmering with a soft golden hue.

Rowan stared at it. “What is it?”

“Aether tonic,” Aeliana explained. “It helps stabilize mana flow if you’re injured. You might not use magic, but if you get cursed or hit by something unnatural, it’ll stop the effects before they spread.”

Rowan hesitated. No one ever just gave things like this. There was always a cost.

But Aeliana’s eyes were steady, sincere. “Take it.”

After a long pause, Rowan stepped forward and took the vial. She tucked it into her belt, nodding once in quiet gratitude. “Thanks.”

Aeliana smiled softly. “Stay safe, Rowan.”

Rowan gave her a brief look before turning away again.

This time, no one stopped her.

As she disappeared into the shadows, the group fell silent for a moment.

Markus sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well. There she goes.”

Dorian exhaled, staring at the tunnel. “She’ll be fine.”

Kael glanced at Aeliana. “You really think she’ll use that tonic?”

Aeliana shrugged. “Maybe.” She looked down at her hands. “Maybe not. But… I wanted her to know that not everyone expects something in return.”

Lucian watched the tunnel entrance for a few more seconds before shaking his head. “We should get moving too. The dungeon won’t wait for us.”

Riven stretched, clearly unfazed by the departure. “And here I thought we’d be keeping a new pet.”

Dorian rolled his eyes. “You really have a way with words.”

As the group packed up and prepared to continue their journey, Aeliana found herself glancing once more at the tunnel Rowan had disappeared into.

She hoped, wherever the rogue adventurer was going, she wouldn’t have to face whatever lay ahead alone.