Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Ronie (4)
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Something was different.
Cornus felt an indescribable sense of wrongness amid the battle.
"Grrrrowl!"
-Slash!
"Grk-?!"
She swung her sword, cleaving the wolf cleanly in two. A single red line appeared across its forehead, and it split vertically from top to bottom.
'...It's different.'
The grip on her sword.
The feel of slicing through her foe.
For some reason, her jerky sword techniques had smoothed out naturally. Their efficiency had doubled as well.
It felt like she'd leaped a whole stage—or two—in skill.
-Hum, hum!
Her mana surged roughly, coalescing around her blade. Thread-like mana rippled along its edge.
A sinister blade that seeped fog and exuded murderous intent.
The circular sword formation centered on her shone brilliantly around her like a lotus floating on a lake's surface.
As if she were about to set out and kill someone right now.
-Drip.
But only for a moment.
Cornus halted her mana and lifted her head.
Her pure, nursemaid-like eyes blinked, and she sheathed her sword before clasping her arms over her chest.
'...I need to find Siheon!'
She scanned her surroundings. Recalling what her friend had told her, she hurried onward.
Her long, chick-like ponytail swayed with every step.
A sharp pang stabbed her chest now and then.
*****
Fuck, I'm screwed.
I marveled at myself.
'...Why the hell would I make someone drink my piss?'
So this is what happens when Lewd Demon hits S-rank. I never imagined it'd lead to thoughts like these.
Sex with men or women wasn't just about pounding away anymore—I realized that in a flash of delusion.
I recalled those early days after entering this world, covered in all sorts of traits and getting roasted for it.
The traits displayed on my status window perfectly defined my current identity.
Yeah, you're a total pervert, asshole.
-Bubble bubble.
Lust welled up. I teetered between barely holding it together and tipping over, summoning superhuman willpower to cope.
Little Demon Lord I'd climbed to in my past life or not, I wasn't about to lose now.
Big Bro of the Wastes. Senior of the Heavenly Path. Buddy to White Path and Formalwear.
My mental fortitude had always been unmatched. Even as Lewd Demon ranked up, I'd managed normal life just fine.
"Hoo."
"Eek!"
Ronie shrieked at my sigh.
She stared at me in startled panic, like I'd woken a sleeping stray cat.
What the hell was with her? Her gaze had suddenly turned to one reserved for sex offenders.
Her small, pale cherry lips stirred a sense of conquest.
"What?"
"...N-nothing. We need to clear this fast. Wow~ I wonder what the reward will be?"
"Yeah. Please hurry up and end it."
I wanted to help if I could, but I was too busy channeling all my focus into suppressing my lust.
Should I smash the status window? I considered it, but in my current state, no chance. My scattered concentration meant I couldn't even do the basics right.
I closed my eyes and imagined.
Recall getting executed by the Heavenly Demon.
Having my nails pulled, my guts ripped out. The pathetic tale of the Little Demon Lord...
Wait. ...Bishoujo gore?
"Fuck."
"W-why?"
Ronie was now trembling in fear.
Was this really a Wood Person? I wondered inwardly.
'Trait enhancement... So hers got boosted too.'
That explained her turning into such a scaredy-cat.
My near-madness with lust was thanks to this inexplicable dungeon too.
How was this dungeon even made in the first place?
A dungeon within a dungeon. Not artificial, but a genuine hazard naturally formed in this land.
More precisely, its dangers left intact while some rewards were tweaked by human hands.
One wrong step, and you could stumble into peril.
Since cadets were treated as B-rank hunters from the Forest Keeper selection onward, accidents were unlikely, but still.
'And fate picks the shittiest coincidences.'
I clutched my forehead.
It burned hot, like my body was going on strike unless it got sex or died.
Hell, even that dead wolf looked tempting.
Not me—my trait.
-Grip.
I tightened my hold on my staff. No helping it.
"Ronie."
"Y-yes?"
"No breaks till clear."
I'd planned to conserve mana, but at this rate, I'd wear myself out first.
-Thud!
I thrust my staff forward, passing Ronie. She stared blankly before chasing after me belatedly.
Blue mana rose from both shoulders, whipping up wind.
Wind Cutter. Improved version.
The original crescent blade was now a translucent wedge shape.
Basic spell, but power up a notch. Black mana was overkill here.
I marched forward silently.
-Thud!
The floor panel sank, unleashing a volley of arrows.
"Hey—"
Before Ronie could finish, I deflected the arrows behind me.
-Whoooosh!
One shot, one kill. Arrows crumpled harmlessly on impact.
-Clunk!
Blades erupted from the floor, bending against my barrier.
Trap. Dodgable with care.
"Isn't this too reckless?"
Ronie hurried over in a panic.
I turned only my head, and she averted her eyes, subtly widening the gap.
Even with her trait rank up, could her attitude change this much?
Not incomprehensible. She might have her own issues like me.
"Support from behind."
"...Okay."
Pressing on without pause, the corridor's end came into view.
The guardian spell from the entrance hung on this door too.
Ronie darted ahead and placed her hand on it.
"...I'll do it."
Maybe feeling guilty for hanging back, she volunteered the magic.
She poured in a hefty amount of mana, and soon—click—the door opened.
-Hiss.
Fog began rising from the floor again.
A dungeon requiring two tough unlocks.
The room at the narrow corridor's end housed a massive silhouette.
A black serpent dozens of meters long coiled around a tree the size of an apartment complex.
Branches wrapped around its body. It thrust forward a house-sized triangular head, lifting its stiff eyelids.
Its glaring yellow eyes scanned the room circularly before fixing on us.
-Drip.
A water drop fell from the ceiling. A fishy stench assaulted my nose.
Moss made the floor slick. Filthy puddles dotted the area.
A rotten dead tree sprouted through stone bricks, lifeless.
"...I'll handle this."
"You sure?"
"What do you take me for?"
"Academy cadet."
"Oh, right... Well, yeah, but it's not weak."
Plenty of space, it seemed. She extended her staff confidently, gathering mana.
I stepped back to give her room, and mana swelled at her staff's tip.
"Hiiiiss."
The snake flicked its tongue our way. Wary, but not yet hostile.
Advanced spell. Beyond that.
Her blue mana ballooned, and her lips parted with an alien incantation.
"Le. feu." "Lac vert!" ⟨ Unknown Spell ⟩
Blue flames compressed.
Denser, fiercer mana converged on a single point.
-Fwoosh!
It slashed a straight line through the air.
-Rumble rumble rumble!
Her spell shot out like a thin laser, grazing the tree—then a massive explosion rocked the room.
Roar.
The colossal tree was instantly engulfed in blue flames. The fire danced like waves, surging toward Ronie's feet.
The serpent, steeped in the blaze, let out a deafening screech.
"Kieeeek!"
Crackle. Pop. The rotten tree burned to ash, crumbling to the floor. The snake writhed grotesquely from its perch and plummeted down.
The flames were so intense, its form was unrecognizable.
Ronie pressed down her hat against the billowing heat, having incinerated the giant tree in seconds.
The unquenchable blaze raged on.
I wouldn't have walked away unscathed either.
'No wonder they're essential for dungeon clears.'
Group them up and blast a few shots—monsters wouldn't stand a chance.
Ronie stowed her golem, recovering what mana she could.
"Now just check the rewards. Didn't expect to burn 30% mana on a simple clear... Hope there's a potion."
She spoke while avoiding my gaze.
-Crackle, pop.
The fire still burned. Was it over?
Not quite—something moved in my sight.
Ronie hadn't noticed, her mind scattered. Without my Combat-Type Physique, I wouldn't have either.
-Thud.
Sure enough, a massive shape lunged at us.
Triangular head. The snake's maw gaped, fangs bared.
I grabbed Ronie's shoulder and shoved her behind me.
"Eep!"
"Graaaargh!"
Thud.
I squeezed out mana to halt the snake.
Its charging head suddenly plunged into the floor.
Gravity. An advanced wind spell, unpopular due to difficulty.
The pinned snake's eyes twisted in agony.
-Thud, thud!
I ramped up the pressure, crushing its head. Still not dead.
I infused a bit of mana into my staff and smashed its forehead.
-Crack!
Red blood sprayed, snuffing the flames.
"...It wasn't dead. Thanks."
Whatever.
I lowered my staff without a word, breathing heavily.
Please go down already.
It was rock-hard down there. Combat hid it from Ronie, but awkward as hell.
I turned my back to her and walked forward.
Needed to get out of here.
A reward room waited kindly, its golden door gleaming invitingly.
The odd dungeon crossed my mind briefly. Opening it revealed a damp signpost and three backpacks, plus a chest.
"H-how is it? Oh, this room smells nice."
Ronie asked cautiously. Post-battle, her tone softened again.
No stench here—in fact, it was fragrant.
I read the sign first.
[24 hours later. Automatically teleporting to the waterfall ahead.] [Enjoy your sweet rest time.] A full day. Rest here, it said.
With a week-long survival gimmick, a threat-free 24 hours was a huge boon.
Explained the elaborate door seals.
-Thud!
Yeah. Safe for a day.
As if proving it, the door slammed shut the moment Ronie entered, sealing firmer than the two barriers we'd breached.
"W-what?! Why'd the door close?"
Ronie jumped in shock.
"Read this."
She stepped closer, squinting at the text.
Dungeon trait auto-translated to native tongue, so no issue.
"24 hours later. Automatically teleporting to the waterfall ahead. Enjoy your sweet rest time...?"
She stammered, words halting.
Then she looked up at me, face visibly stiffening.
Pale with terror.
"...For real?"
"Probably?"
I sat and hunched over before she glanced down.
Claustrophobia or cowardice aside, I felt the worst right now.
"How... How could this happen?"
"Not hating it that much, are you?"
"S-sorry... I mean, we both need to find our teams quick..."
No helping it.
Try breaking that seal, and our mana would drain dry.
Definitely S-rank handiwork from a pro.
I stayed silent, and Ronie soon accepted reality, curling up in a cozy corner with knees hugged.
Or tried to.
"......"
-Tremble tremble tremble.
Her face was ashen white.