Cursed to level 1 with an Ego weapon

[You obtained a small assortment of gemstones!

You obtained 5 Gems!

You obtained a Damaged Earth Golem Core!]

Useful items to either sell or use. Although damaged, the core can be salvaged for some resources and I have an idea already on what we can use it at the base when I contact the Builder's guild.

"Thank the three that is over!" Lisa says, coming out of her hiding hole she crawled into.

"You could have casted that holy smite scared spell of yours." I answer.

"Would it have made any difference?"

Maybe not. I just sigh with my arms crossed as I finish grabbing anything useful from the rests of the golem.

That is when I grab something metallic and cold.

[You obtained Bracelet (???)]

Mistyc! It is a mistyc bracelet! Golems often drop jewelry and this is a lucky strike! What level are these creatures? I cannot remember!

"Maybe Leiva can identify this!" I say while my tail is moving in every direction like it is attempting to make me take flight.

"You really love items..." Lisa comments.

"Ah!" My face goes red and I avoid her eyes. "I-I just like them!"

"Hahahaha!" Karina laughs. "You are so easy to fluster! And you look so cute when blushing!"

"S-shut up! You look cute!" I try to retort.

"Thank you!" Karina is laughing.

I will make her pay!

"Karina is making you blush! I don't know why, but you look cuter that way!" Lisa answers.

"I will make both of you suffer!" I answer in anger.

I am growling, hot, flustered and blushing. Why do they torture me this way?!

"Let's just go!" I say.

"Wait. Someone of high level is approaching." Karina suddenly says when I was getting ready to leave for the other beast.

"Do my eyes deceive me? If it isn't Amber!" A female voice blurts out behind me. "What a pleasant surprise, don't you think so too, Curtis?"

When I turn around, my gaze meets a couple of adventurers. A girl dressed in a gothic lollita fashion, a black dress with red ribbons, silver hair and purple eyes.

Lisa quickly hides behind me with Karina.

Why is the ghost hiding?!

Besides her, a tall man in clad armor that can rival the golem I just killed. Short golden hair, a stoic gaze with blue eyes and a big hammer in his hands.

"Gollem is dead... Amber is strong." Curtis says.

The girl is called Asena. I recognize them. They are adventurers on the list. Last time I checked they reached A rank already and I doubt they have gone down since then.

I instinctively put my hand on my sword. I hate being recognized with a bounty in my head.

"But not as strong as last time... Normally she would have just pierced through the stone with any spell." Asena says. "Ditched the staff, got a new cute dress... She seems to be doing fine with all that has been happening to her."

"Hmmm..." Curtis blurts out.

"What do you want, Asenas?" I ask with my ears flat against my scalp.

"Hehe..." She shrugs. "You are on edge, not surprising. There is a nice reward for your head, and several guilds and adventurers are trying to locate you. To think you were here when I just happened to stroll into what I can call a small civil war." She seems too content with the situation.

"Amber... Careless..." Curtis says. "Deliver warning."

"Yes! As Curtis says! As a fugitive I thought you would be more careful! Seems I was wrong!" She is smiling too much.

"And what, did you come to collect it?" I ask while growling. "I am not keen on giving 400k in gold to people!"

"I am aware." She closes her eyes and sighs. "Take it easy, Amber. I am not here for your bounty. At least, not until you give me a good reason to come collect!"

"Then what do you want?!" I say.

"Hmmm... Not surprising you are on such an edge! Well.. I will stop teasing you. I just happened to be nearby when all of this happened. Then I saw you valiantly save a woman and her child only to then kill a golem that was destroying town. Those are so different from what is being told in the kingdom."

"Is the ñrincess badmouthing me?Like I care."

"But you should. Whatever you are planning to do, the whole kingdom is slowly starting to believe... Well, it is not pretty. You will see if you decide to arrive there."

She cut herself when she was about to reveal something. Got dammit, she is having fun with this, isn't she?

"And you are clumsy at staying low. Acting like a hero will only get you in the public eye. What is your plan here?"

"I hope you don't believe I will tell you."

"Figured as much. Dear Amber, you were always an interesting case. You are behaving so different than before all this ordeal happened. You never messed with the town's affairs, only did what you wanted and explored dungeons, suddenly taking a route to disappear... Now you seem desperate to gain as many allies with you. I have never seen you moving with someone."

She is looking at Lisa. I am not sure if that is a threat, but Lisa reacts when her gaze falls on herself, and completely hides behind me, arching her back to hold herself in my back.

Coward...

"That is my business." I answer.

"It always was..." Asenas comments. "Curtis! Let's see who kills more monsters in town. Amber or me. Maybe we can make a good bet or the mayor will give us money for the trouble."

"Understood." Curtis says. "Amber... A pleasure. Again."

"Ciao, my dear Amber." Asena turns around and waves back at me with a wide smug smile.

They start walking away, leaving us alone once more.

"I don't like this..." I comment.

"Mmmm... She seemed sincere, but I cannot trust her. Is she strong? A friend of yours?" Lisa asks while fisting my kimono.

"Strong? Yes. Friend? That is not something I know."

I watch them go. Curtis' heavy armor can be heard even when they are distant, and Asena is doing small skips as she walks forward. I hope they are not more trouble for me.

And where is Aurelia?