“Mmm…”

Ranifi kept revising the prosthetic limb blueprint Torina had requested, while Lindas used her metal-manipulation skill to mold physical models beside her—each one turning out worse than the last.

“Thinking about it… the boss’s request isn’t just sketchy, it’s technically brutal,” Ranifi grumbled. “Something this intricate really calls for alchemy.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll provide full technical support,” Lachesis said, barely holding back a laugh.

“I just feel… unclean,” Lindas muttered.

Elsewhere—

“Hah?! These are premium materials—this is all you’re offering?!”

“My apologies, but market prices have been fluctuating…”

“Ugh, so annoying!”

Annawiel stormed out of the town merchant guild, frustration simmering. Profits were shrinking fast. At this rate, she’d run a deficit… But as the proud young lady of a prestigious merchant house, she’d never let frustration show.

Soon after, the group gathered outside the inn. Everyone had arrived.

Torina, Mylora, Annawiel, Ji Xue, Lachesis, Patti, Ranifi, Lindas, Naji.

The familiar nine-member squad. After final checks, Torina led them forward—this would be their last venture into Amana Forest.

They retraced the path taken during the boss raid. Back then, the four had left immediately after the fight, leaving the boss’s treasure vault unlooted. Fortunately, no one else had discovered the location. Time was on their side.

Mylora was the most energetic along the way.

She’d completely abandoned the so-called “Tartaglia Style Swordsmanship” taught by the System (useless anyway) and fully committed to Torina’s family sword style, wielding the Rune Shortsword in combat.

True to protagonist form, she progressed rapidly—after just a few real battles, she’d already reached beginner level. Torina offered patient, hands-on guidance.

Annawiel seethed. Determined not to let Mylora shine, she bypassed Ranifi the tank, charged ahead, and used fierce spear techniques to eliminate every approaching monster. Corpses of minor foes littered their path.

With Annawiel and Mylora handling frontline duty, the others relaxed. Lindas openly slacked off. Lachesis occasionally conjured a fireball. Patti took opportunistic shots. Naji even painted her nails while walking.

Ji Xue? She seemed dazed, lost in thought. Her wounds had healed—the distraction was something else entirely.

…

…

Reaching the marsh, the group paused for rest. Naji and Lindas, lowest stamina, plopped onto the ground (a cleansing blessing kept it clean). Others adjusted gear.

Torina frowned.

“Mmm…”

She bent to inspect her feet (her curves made standing inspection impossible).

Something felt off.

Ever since awakening the skill *Corporate Drone’s Clumsy Fumble*, walking in shoes felt awkward—like writing with thick heat-resistant gloves on.

After a brief pause—she kicked them off.

Her slender feet, sheathed in black nylon stockings, pressed directly onto the damp earth.

Nearby, Naji rubbed her sore waist, wishing she could escape this stinky place sooner.

“Naji.”

“Huh?”

Naji turned—

“Look.”

A nylon-wrapped foot hovered before her face, nearly poking her lips.

“Eh?!” Naji froze.

Torina nudged her soft cheek with her toes.

“Stop slacking. Buff my feet.”

“Buff?! Some shady slang? You want me to *lick* them?! Absolutely not! I serve the divine—and I’m not into that!”

“Don’t be weird. ‘Buff’ is hometown slang. Cast blessings on them.”

“What kind…?”

“Defensive, damage resistance, dust-repelling, moisture-wicking—anything useful. Make it long-lasting.”

“Fine, fine! Move your foot first!”

Naji shoved it away—but couldn’t fully release it. Long-lasting blessings required contact. Grumbling sacred chants, she gripped Torina’s foot.

“Hey, Naji.”

“What now?! Don’t interrupt my chanting…”

“I heard a priest’s kiss strengthens blessings. Could you…?”

“LIKE HELL I’M KISSING YOUR FOOT!!!”

“Whimper… Don’t be so harsh…”

After finishing the buffs, Naji shoved Torina away (no kiss given). Then she felt two resentful stares. Turning, she saw Annawiel and Mylora glaring—expressions screaming, *“If you won’t do it, I will.”*

——————

——————

Inside the underground cavern, Lachesis took center stage.

“Flames, burn all!”

As a Divine Word Mage blending fire magic and offensive divine arts (Naji specialized in healing/support), she dominated the terrain. The face-bugs below were weak to fire and light—perfectly countered. She mindlessly hurled fireballs, steamrolling the path. Any stragglers were headshot by Patti’s arrows or impaled by Annawiel’s spear.

After the skirmish, Shepherd Moon Adventurers reached their loyal boss chamber.

The floor remained torn from Gelai Lu’s rampage. Mosses and fungi were charred to cinders by Torina’s skill. Gelai Lu’s corpse lay sprawled in the hollow’s center, dried blood crusted over its weak point.

“What a fierce battle,” Patti murmured.

“This lord feels stronger than same-tier dungeon lords. How did you win?” Annawiel asked, puzzled.

She’d assumed Torina coordinated with Lachesis—one luring, one striking the weak point. But no traces of Lachesis’s magic remained. Did Torina solo the lord?!

“*Hmph~ Hmph~ Hmph~* My prowess is peerless and overwhelming! I have my own effortless methods—you simply can’t compare~” Torina preened.

“Torina is amazing,” Mylora said, oddly proud.

“Tch. If you can do it, so can I!” Annawiel shot back.

“So… done arguing?” Lindas cut in. “Mmm… I sense dense metal behind the stone wall at two o’clock. Probably the lord’s vault?”

“Likely. But there’s probably a puzzle—”

“Take this!”

BOOM!!!!

Annawiel switched Cassius’s Lance to sniper mode without hesitation. A thigh-thick beam blasted straight through the rock wall. Puzzle? Solved.

“…You’re ruthless,” Torina sighed. “Alright, let’s go in. Everyone gets a share—no fighting~”