Take Responsibility...♡
"No, I swear, it really hurt so much I couldn't do anything! I collapsed from the pain, and now this feels so unfair..."
Han Do-yoon vented his frustration amid the deepening suspicion sparked by Lumine's inexplicable reaction.
"...Hold on, come here."
Unable to shake off her doubts, Karia pulled Han Do-yoon close and sniffed him like a cat investigating its master's day after a hunt—sniff, sniff.
"There is a weird smell... but I can't quite place it."
Han Do-yoon recalled how Lumine had suddenly washed him before they returned to the altar... It seemed dragons had some special sense for scents only they could detect.
What the hell kind of smell is it...?
"Nothing... happened."
Lumine's repeated denial seemed to finally put the party members at ease, and they dropped the subject. Even if something had gone down between the two, her denial meant it was consensual anyway.
...They totally did it, right?
I thought she was a virgin, but turns out she's a sly fox.
That dragon bastard! How dare he touch Lady Lumine too!
Regaining his composure, Han Do-yoon inspected the altar. The party members who had returned first had offered their souls, tilting the scales slightly... And when he and Lumine added theirs, the balance tipped even more dramatically.
But it still wasn't level yet.
As far as Han Do-yoon remembered, the 20th floor scales had one key gimmick: Once perfectly balanced, a passage to the floor boss would open. But if you overloaded it with souls and made it tip too far, the boss would emerge stronger but with glaring weaknesses, actually making it easier to take down.
Either way... we need to hunt more.
The real challenge started tonight. As souls gathered at the altar, more monsters would swarm, drawn by the prize. The problem? Monster souls couldn't be offered to the altar, so they'd have to split their forces between defense and collection to carve a path to the boss.
Han Do-yoon decided to ask Karia about her experience guarding the altar last night.
"Nothing happen at the altar?"
"...Yeah, there was. A few monsters came sniffing around. Nothing impressive... You're right, though—if Lumine had stayed, it might've been risky."
"Risky if Lumine stayed...? Nah, you're underestimating my little sis."
"...What're you talking about?"
"I figured she was a healer since she volunteered for it, so I thought her combat was lacking... but that was a rash call. After hunting with her, she's every bit as strong as you. And with that rain yesterday? I got a front-row seat to a blue dragon's terror."
Karia shot Lumine a disbelieving look. Lumine shrank back modestly, downplaying herself.
"Th-that's too much praise. Even I can't match you, sis."
The ones who'd partied with Lumine before backed up Han Do-yoon's claim.
"Lady Lumine is a blue dragon. She tends to undersell herself, but honestly—if she can do healing magic, that doesn't mean she can't fight."
"...When she gets mad, she's no different from you with that blue hair flaring. Everyone saw her go toe-to-toe with you the other day, right? She steps up when it counts."
"Ah... uh-huh."
The proof of Lumine's strength was already settled. It wasn't some drawn-out debate, so Han Do-yoon approached a nearby pile of monster corpses.
"Did you extract souls from these?"
"No. I tried as soon as I got back, but maybe because time had passed—or maybe attacker souls just don't work—but collection failed."
Han Do-yoon nodded at the first-returning party member's words. Now he had solid grounds to share what he knew.
He'd brought it up deliberately to make sure everyone was in the loop: Monsters targeting the altar couldn't have their souls harvested. He already knew that.
"...The trials don't give you time to adjust—they just ramp up. Won't more monsters hit tonight?"
"I've heard the longer you stay in the tower, the tougher it gets... The issue is, the ones swarming won't drop souls."
"We need defense and collection at the same time."
"What if we clear the monsters that gathered while we were out?"
"...Doubt it's that simple. The trials aren't so forgiving. Wanna test it?"
The silent Karia finally spoke up about what she'd seen last night.
"The monsters were trying to extract souls from the altar. We left one as a test yesterday, remember? They were after that."
"Guess we need even tighter defense then."
The roles and flow for the 20th floor were set. Han Do-yoon sized up the party. Karia's originals were solid; the ones added after the tavern incident were a bit green but usable.
Instead of outnumbered defense, small strike teams are easier... Have them collect soul lanterns. Slip 'em some potions, and they'll handle it.
"Here—potions I made for you two. If something dangerous shows up you can't handle, pop one and keep collecting souls..."
Han Do-yoon checked his magic bullet reserves... Plenty to hold the 20th floor.
"I'll stay tonight. Karia, take my spot and hunt with Lumine."
"Why you specifically today? If it's riskier, wouldn't two be better than one?"
"Three reasons."
He pulled out his weapon to continue.
"My gun's better for stationary defense than mobile hunting. We need fast soul collection to clear this quick... and yesterday's pain hasn't fully healed. I need a breather."
Reasonable enough—Karia swallowed her irritation.
"...Everyone's here, so let's eat and head out."
No romance in camping, but a full belly makes everything go smoother. He tossed beef bone broth, veggies, and meat into a stew pot and set it bubbling.
"You cook well?"
"...Tastes good!"
"How's it so rich?!"
'Cooking' was a breeze for alchemists if you followed the recipe—decent results every time. It took some dexterity to prep ingredients, but no one nitpicked texture in a rough stew you just chucked stuff into and boiled.
"It's so good—have more!"
Lumine questioned as Han Do-yoon finished a half-hearted plate.
"The more I eat, the more I miss home. Wish there was more of this or that... The nostalgia kills my appetite."
"That's why you collapsed yesterday, right?"
It made sense now. He'd tried Earth foods out of homesickness, but nothing matched, so his appetite always tanked. Ended up eating light.
"Leave him be. Doesn't wanna eat, don't force it."
...Lumine's empathy vs. Karia's self-centeredness. Spite kicking in, Han Do-yoon ladled another scoop and shoveled it down.
Post-meal, they built defenses. The island teemed with rabid wild beasts, most charging head-on. They dug pits and piled sand dunes to block paths, fortifying advantageous positions.
"Thought you'd need help building the camp... but alchemy makes it quick?"
"Not a siege—just enough to look legit."
A transmutation circle on the ground for the makeshift setup. Still, Lumine clocked the quality.
"You make it sound simple, but it's so densely packed... You refined Goliath mole bile into a molten gel and spread it to set fast. Way beyond me."
"You know your alchemy."
"Just read the intro chapter..."
Better than Sylph screwing around in my workshop.
"For efficient defense, I'm digging poison smoke traps near the altar. Don't come back for at least four hours after you leave. Not lethal, but it'll muddle your head."
"What if someone's hurt and has to retreat?"
"Signal flare. Pop it outside, and I'll clear a path."
Prep done, the party headed out for souls. Alone in the quiet, Han Do-yoon mounted his hand cannon on high ground for defense.
Tonight's gonna suck.
Karia, paired solo with Lumine for the hunt, kept glancing back worriedly at Han Do-yoon, halting her steps.
"...Worried? Not like you to care that much."
"Wh-what...? M-me, worried? Don't be ridiculous... I just... noticed. He said he was sick yesterday."
Lumine, who'd always doted on her big sis, could tell how much Karia treasured Han Do-yoon. And Han Do-yoon... how much he thought of Karia.
Still innocent to love, she inwardly envied her sister. Already found a mate to guard the nest forever.
...Can I find one like that too?
Lumine blushed recalling last night... Nearly lost her virginity to sis's mate, but as practice? Not bad. Prep for some future male... Honestly, she hoped for more.
A bit scary, but...♡
Closing her eyes still brought back Han Do-yoon's hands slithering snake-like into her top, mauling her breasts. She missed clutching that chewy seed sack, craved that 'thing' that stopped just shy of piercing her to ram her depths again.
...What would it feel like inside?
Lumine dazedly pressed her palm to her lower belly. Never saw it, just felt its size... Imagining alone made her gut clench, breath short. Like the stew might come up.
Ugh... What am I even thinking♡!
Unlike Lumine lost in lewd fantasies, Karia's head was full of worry for Han Do-yoon.
"This won't do... Hey! You head back to the altar."
"...Pardon? What do you mean?"
"Nah, it's not working. I'll hunt solo today—you go nurse that guy. You're strong, right? He vouched, so my eyes must be wrong."
"B-but... won't you be in danger, sis?"
"I guard myself. We can clear without me. But without him...? Probably not. Gut feeling."
"I'm worried about you."
"Whatever. Go."
Despite Karia's urging, Lumine hesitated... But secretly hoped for a repeat of yesterday, aching to return.
"...Oh yeah, don't eat anything he gives you unless you have to. Who knows what's in it. I ate his crap and got royally screwed."
I... want to get screwed too...
Karia sent Lumine back, figuring nothing would happen.
Warned her good— she'll get it. He's no random beast in heat.
Shaking off unease, Karia marched on. No way sweet Lumine would take a potential brother-in-law's seed in her womb.
Pfft, as if.
My little sis isn't some indiscriminate slutty dragon...
Lumine returned to the altar.
Oh right, he said poison smoke traps.
She nearly inhaled deep entering the land path, then spread her six wings and flew over to the altar.
Ugh... Even up here? My head suddenly hurts.
Poison affecting a half-dragon? Master alchemist indeed. Wobbly-winged, she landed amid unease.
Glancing around, she heard familiar gunfire nearby.
Over thereee...♡
Lumine felt an inexplicable thrill heating her body... Like accidentally tapping Karia's power, filling her with fire elements.
Bang, bang, haaang... Each primer strike dazed her mind.
Ugh... Suddenly so hot...
Reason fogging, clothes loosening. The strap hiding her heavy breasts slipped off her shoulder as she staggered forward.
Thaaat way...♡
Han Do-yoon hunted monsters steadily, gun braced on sandbags. Lumine approached his back.
"...Han Do-yoooon♡"
"Saw you flying in... I said use the signal flare. The smoke must've...
-BANG!
"Wait a sec, almost done... Ack!"
Han Do-yoon jolted at the warm, soft press on his back, Lumine's hair tickling his nape. Nearly dropped the gun.
"Lu-Lumine...?"
"Hehe... smack smack..."
Lumine suckled his ear lovingly. Han Do-yoon whipped around in panic—only for a soaked blue dragon's thighs to fill his view.
"Take responsibility...♡ You did this to me...♡"
What the hell did I do...?
