["Don't consume anything she offers. It might be drugged—one sip, and you won't wake up."]
(Makes sense...)
Following the system’s warning, Mylora carefully accepted the teacup but didn’t drink. The teammates trailing behind watched them curiously and quietly.
“Not to your taste? Shall I switch to green tea?” Torina asked warmly.
“It’s not that—I just… if we’re sipping tea here, who scouts ahead and steps on traps?”
“No problem.” Torina slipped off her gauze shawl, chanted a string of runes—“ᛊᛞᛗᚷᚩᛗᛇᛖᛉ”—and the fabric twisted instantly into a silvery humanoid figure. Crackling with electricity, it drifted forward.
Brought from home and layered with rune modifications, the shawl was as versatile as a Swiss Army knife.
“If you had this handy thing, why not use it sooner?” Mylora asked, puzzled.
“Burns mana. I was lazy before.”
“…”
---
And so, the dungeon exploration continued.
The party pushed through the damp, mossy forest. Other adventurer groups appeared occasionally, but monsters were far more common.
Most frequent were the “Saprophyte Spirits”—1.5-meter-tall humanoids draped in mushrooms and wood ears. They swarmed in packs: weak attacks, stubborn vitality—the plant kingdom’s goblin equivalent.
“Worthless! All of you, trash! Scram!”
Ranifi’s greatshield effortlessly blocked their blows; her mace crushed them one swing at a time. Zero threat.
“Flames, purify all.”
Lachesis’s fire magic countered plant-types perfectly. A few small fire pillars reduced them to charcoal; her kill count climbed fast.
Meanwhile—
“C’mon, c’mon, Mylora~ Red bean paste treats~”
“Uh… eating mid-battle feels kinda…”
“Finish them for a reward. Leave any? Penalty~ ❤”
On the other side, Torina cheerfully tried stuffing pastries into Mylora’s mouth while Mylora, flustered, kept dodging.
…
…
After advancing further, near a moss-choked river, several “Swamp Moss Crocodiles” burst from the water—stronger minor monsters, fangs dripping potent venom.
“Azure Vine Bind!”
Archery ran in elven blood. Patti fired emerald arrows; roots coiled around struck crocodiles, freezing them briefly.
“I-I’m going in!”
Ji Xue drew her distinct oriental sword. Delicate and timid-looking, she seemed unfit for battle. She and Mylora shared commoner roots—but only Mylora was treated as a servant. Few troubled the shy, socially anxious Ji Xue. Why?
Simple.
She was strong.
“Sparrowhawk Lunge!”
A thrust light and swift as a raptor pierced the root-bound crocodile’s skull.
“Blossom Storm!”
A dense, precise slash-storm ripped open another’s belly.
“Wolf’s Pounce!”
A backhand flick sent her flying sword pinning the third crocodile’s forehead.
In seconds, the thick-skinned beasts lay defeated.
Meanwhile—
“Feeling warm? Lower the ice rune’s chill?”
“No thanks. I might catch cold.”
“Don’t worry~ If you do, I’ll care for you… close… personal… care.”
“No thank you!”
Torina’s earnest fuss left Mylora flustered, words stuck in her throat.
…
…
Deeper in, they reached a clearing beneath towering trees.
“HSSSSK!!!”
A python thick as a trunk dropped from above, its scales crawling with vile worms! The “Gu Python”—an elite monster symbiotically hosting venomous insects. Non-venomous itself, it weaponized their toxins. Hide tough as tanned leather; coils strong enough to crush stone.
“A Gu Python… Mine! Naji, bless me!” Annawiel commanded.
“Got it~~”
Naji clasped her hands, casting holy light (this spicy nun only looked remotely holy mid-cast). A soft glow settled on the tip of Annawiel’s famed spear, Cassius.
“Bring it, foul beast!”
“HSSSS—ROOOAR!!!”
Annawiel lunged. Spear tip, empowered by strength and blessing, slammed like a siege ram. The python charged, maw gaping with toxic breath. Impact shockwaves shredded grass and leaves.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Spear and fangs clashed a dozen times in seconds. Venom splatter shattered against the spear’s battle aura; thick scales held firm. Eyes locked—battle reignited!
Meanwhile—
“My low-power lightning rune eases neck stiffness. Try it?”
“No! Sounds scary!”
“I use it daily. With this much up front, shoulders ache~”
“Are you mocking my size…?”
“Perfectly average. Lovely shape.”
“Se-Sexual harassment!!!”
Torina’s relentless affection left Mylora crimson-faced.
“—WHAT ARE YOU TWO LOVEBIRDS DOING?! THE REST OF US ARE FIGHTING MONSTERS!!!!”
Annawiel, fury boiling, channeled rage into her ultimate: “Mighty Thrust!”—piercing the python’s heart. Ignoring loot, she stormed over and yanked them apart.
“What’s your problem, Annawiel…?” Torina grumbled inwardly, *Don’t ruin my rewrite of the party-wipe ending!*
“I should ask YOU! Possessed?! You’ve hovered around her since we entered!”
“Didn’t I say? I was irresponsible before—Mylora got bullied. I’m making it up to her now.”
“Timing and place matter! This is a dungeon, not a resort!”
“I slacked off before too… you never complained. Why now?”
“Past is past! Just—no!”
“But you’re vice-captain! You lead so well. You’re the one I trust most ❤”
“Eh?! R-Really?!”
“Of course.” (*Yeah, right.*)
Annawiel’s face brightened—then hardened. A stiff cough.
“Ahem! No dodging duty! Mylora too! Team member = fight monsters. Period.”
“But…”
“I WANT TO FIGHT! TAKE ME! I’LL SCOUT TRAPS TOO!!!”
Torina hesitated. Mylora, suddenly energized, found the arrogant vice-captain oddly endearing for the first time.
*Anyone… just make this lesbian behave already!!!*
