I Became a Barista in Another World! Volume 1: New Beginnings [Completed]

Cup 33: The Barbarian's Lockpick

"AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!" Ryu exclaimed, running down a stone corridor as an enormous boulder rolled behind, determined to flatten him.

"Faster, Ryu! Mush!" Wisteria ordered.

"I'm running as fast as I can! And did you just tell me to mush?! I'm not a dog!" he replied through gritted teeth. "Just try me! I'll drop you right here, right now!"

"Y-you wouldn't dare! You'd leave a lady to fend for herself in a dungeon?"

Ryu didn't buy her act for a second. "Don't give me that crap!" he scoffed. "You're Mage Class—you just don't want to run!"

"It's the honorable thing to do!" she huffed, pounding her fists on his chest.

"My honor's in shambles, woman! You picked the wrong guy for that!"

Ryu made to drop her—

"Waahh! No! Okay! Okay! I'm sorry! Just don't drop me!" Wisteria apologized.

He carried the mage in his arms as Sylfie ran alongside them, straining to keep up. The elf's face was red from the exertion. No matter how far they ran, the boulder's speed didn't seem to let up.

"How come she gets a ride but I don't?!" Sylfie complained.

"She doesn't have agility skills, and you're just naturally fast!" Ryu replied.

Sylfie shook her head in denial. "No! Even Aurora's hitching a ride! I can't keep up any longer!" she huffed. "You're the only one with infinite stamina, make use of it!" she finished, jumping onto Ryu's back.

"I swear to God, I'm going to turn around and run into this boulder! What kind of party members are you?!" Ryu shouted in frustration.

"Don't blame us! Blame Jörm! He's the one that said all the traps had been set off!" Sylfie replied.

Ryu's eye twitched violently as he clenched his jaw tighter. "Did it ever occur to you buffoons that the traps reset after a certain time period?"

Wisteria pondered the question for a moment. "I wouldn't know—I never visit dungeons twice."

"If we survive this, I'm going to kill you two myself."

"D-don't say that! Even as a joke!" the mage shuddered.

Ryu looked down at her with a ghoulish gaze. "Who said I was joking?"

"P-point taken! I promise we'll be more helpful this time!" Wisteria stammered.

"Ryu! Look out!" Sylfie screamed hysterically as Ryu accidentally fell into a spike trap.

Technically, the trap would have been quite easy to see and get around. However, the elf had decided her hands would be best suited right over Ryu's eyes at that moment. Hence, their fall to an early demise. Thankfully—

"Aurora!" Ryu yelled.

"On it, nya!" The bloated cat emerged from his satchel, grabbing his collar and letting loose a stream of flatulence that speedily propelled them out of the trap before they were skewered.

The boulder fell into the trap, allowing them a brief respite. Ryu breathed a sigh of relief.

Sylfie's ears pricked up. "We're close to the others—just take this corner!"

"Freedom!" Ryu cheered, as he escaped the corridor. He turned his head, expecting to see the rest of the adventurers, only to be met with the sight of another boulder rolling down the hall, straight towards them. "Oh, come on!"

A burly hand suddenly grabbed him by the collar, pulling him back.

"Behind me! A towering figure with arms as thick as tree trunks and flowing golden hair commanded.