Chapter 145
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Side Story: The Hero Party's S-Rank Porter (2)
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"Hmm, so there's a separate level-up route after all."
Looking closely, it seems specific areas are designated for trials.
Up until now, it played out like a munchkin hero bulldozing everything, but the real issue is the Demon King being on a whole other level of power—which means an NTR corruption route exists.
In other words, to put it bluntly, these heroine bitches might actually be pretty easy to pick off. That's the gist.
Alright then, time to push forward.
I decided to stick only to the dungeons where the hero levels up and gets stronger.
No detours to random areas to boost the hero's fame—just straight boss runs.
The next day, I gathered everyone in front of the tent.
"Hero, I know a good dungeon. How about we head there?"
"How can I trust you?"
"Why do you keep doubting me? I need to make money too. I want to earn big and go back home to see my family."
Plena kept suspecting me, so I snapped back with some resentment. Realizing she'd gone too far, she turned her head away.
And of course, she got a scolding from the hero.
"Plena, that's enough. She's guided us well so far."
"But..."
"Plena."
"Fine. I get it."
They'd die for the hero without a second thought. What a bunch of man-obsessed bitches.
We arrived at a provincial town called Lacto.
The cemetery north of the village had turned into a dungeon, and that's where we were headed today.
Apparently, the Immortal Lich Orkan—one of the Demon King's executives—had created it. He was using it to build an undead army for invading the human kingdoms.
In the original story, the hero hears about Orkan attacking Lacto and rushes in to fight. But I planned to end him before he could assemble his undead legion.
We reached the entrance to the cemetery Orkan had made, and sure enough, a skeletal knight stood guard—probably to cut off anyone trying to enter.
A heavily armored skeleton on horseback, wielding a scythe.
Red light glowed from its eye sockets; it'd be terrifying at night, and even scary in daylight.
No wonder the heroines were freaked out.
"This seems dangerous, right? Feels like we stumbled into a dungeon way above our level."
"Yeah, kinda."
I didn't tell the hero or heroines the truth. No point.
"Don't worry, Hero. 'Potion Warrior' isn't just a saying. This is Yongyong Potion from my hometown."
I pulled a glass vial filled with red gas from my pocket.
Yeah, what more is there to say? This gas was my mana.
"What's that? It has some creepy gas inside?"
"Why?"
"Can we really trust this?"
Plena and Luelle—the ones who'd always treated me like shit—were now inspecting everything that went near their man. Made me wonder if they were really the type to get NTR'd.
Priestess Ruina at least looked uneasy.
"Exactly! It's not verified or anything!"
"I'll try it first."
What a bunch of paranoid wrecks.
Though, to be fair, they had reason right now.
I uncorked the vial and inhaled the gas I'd squeezed out with my tail earlier.
Nothing special. No way sucking my own stuff would give me a power-up.
So, I unleashed my mana like it was no big deal.
The hero and heroines blinked in shock, clearly sensing something.
Now was my chance. Time to act.
"Oh, the dragon's power surges! Watch me take down that skeletal knight with my bare fists!"
I blasted out my mana right after inhaling and charged at the skeletal knight.
"Danger!"
The hero Ruina lunged to help, but by then, the knight was swinging its scythe at me. But the mighty Yongyong isn't weak.
"Hya!"
I smashed the scythe with my fist and shattered the skeleton's body.
"She took out a golem in one hit?"
"Heh heh, no side effects at all. And for you, Hero, with your holy sword? Even better."
Heroes with holy swords are strong by default. Add Yongyong Potion? They'd soar.
"Hmm."
"Heroes get stronger by beating tough foes, right? Let's go!"
"Alright. Let's do it."
The hero inhaled the Yongyong Potion I offered and started solo-wiping the cemetery's undead.
Dozens of skeletal knights fell to him, along with Orkan's precious undead army.
We blitzed through the dungeon in no time, and the massive skeletal boss Orkan at the center looked panicked.
"What? How did the hero gain this power?"
"Time to die!"
"No. I can't die here! Graaaah!"
The hero cleaved boss Orkan in half with his glowing holy sword.
And just like that, Hero Ruina became the village hero, basking in praise.
"This is insane. And no side effects for real."
"That's how you get strong."
But then the heroines started pushing back.
"Fighting like this feels kinda weird, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. Relying on potions isn't good."
"The Goddess said heroes should grow through proper trials!"
Oh, did author Yoo Eun-ha say that?
Useless as always. And this one blindly believing it.
"Why does it matter the result? Beating the Demon King faster is good, right? Our priority is taking him down quick. Sticking to rigid methods when there's a better way? What then?"
"The hero gets drunk on power and..."
Exactly. That's what I'm aiming for.
"No. Even now, the Demon King is invading human lands. Take it slow? People would think we're idiots."
"That's..."
They couldn't argue anymore.
It wasn't wrong at all. Right now, their duty as hero and comrades outweighed nitpicking me.
"So how about not getting in the way?"
I smiled and shut them down.
Thus, the hero party grew stronger around the hero.
And every time he cleared a dungeon unscathed, priestess Ruina grew gloomier.
Why? Because she'd been buffing him and healing wounds up till now—but her role was vanishing.
She started thinking she was useless to the increasingly powerful hero.
And their view of me changed too.
Fiancee elf Plena and mage Luelle treated me like a greedy lunatic.
Even though I'd earned plenty of chances to cozy up to the hero, I only cared about money—which baffled them.
It seemed fine at first.
Then, a month later, it blew up.
Ruina called me over.
"Why'd you summon me?"
"Please. Don't give the hero any more potions."
Couldn't have that.
"You know better than anyone, Saintess—these make dungeons easier."
Thanks to them, he'd powered up, and the Demon King's forces had lost key dungeons, putting them on the back foot.
"I'm begging you. I want to help the hero too. Please."
"Fine. But I need money to beat the Demon King fast. So take this instead."
I handed her a Yongyong Potion.
She stared blankly, took it, and looked at me.
"Huh?"
"Drink this and buff the hero—it'll have the same effect. I'll supply you daily."
"Oh. Got it."
She clutched the potion like treasure, ready to do anything.
Idiot bitch. Now I could target all three at once.
That's why I'd gone hard early—making only the hero strong, isolating the heroines.
I started supplying Ruina daily with Yongyong Potion.
Had to feed the hero a suitable lie.
"What? Why not?"
"Need to restock. But Ruina will step up instead. She's practiced a lot."
I could just squeeze more from my tail, but this was my golden chance to claim priestess Ruina.
Now Ruina had a head start with the hero.
Poor fool. She had no idea I was worse than the Demon King.
"Alright. I'll trust it."
The hero kept Ruina close.
Plena tried showing her fiancee power, Luelle aimed for points—but it wasn't easy.
The dungeon was still the hero's solo show.
No potion help, but Ruina's buffs as priestess did the trick.
"Huh? You've really been practicing?"
"Yes! Hero!"
Ruina regained her chance to approach him.
Fueled by my Yongyong Potion, she built confidence and stood right by his side.
Plena and Luelle grew sidelined.
With the hero handling everything solo, they had no openings—only Ruina buffed him up close.
Now the real fun begins.
My mana would slowly build up in Ruina's body.
Just like I did with Sia.
A week passed.
"You seem thrilled?"
"Thanks to you! This is all your doing!"
She stuck out her hand expectantly for the potion.
Fucking bitch. You're done for.
She was already changing from the inside.
Having taken in evil mana as a priestess, she could no longer use her holy powers.
In other words: unbeknownst to her, she was in full villain corruption mode.
The hero's holy sword made him immune, of course.
"But here's the thing. I'm not getting anything out of this anymore."
"What?"
"This gives me zero benefit."
She frowned and pulled out her wallet.
"Money then."
I waved it off.
Time to pull back. The hero was strong enough; no more point. Priestess was useless now too.
He could solo everything.
"That's separate. Are you saying you're a priestess who can't do shit without me?"
"N-No, I... I don't need it! I can do it alone now!"
Good. That was the plan.
Soon after, Ruina couldn't use buffs properly.
Not just potion power—her innate skills too.
Priestesses use holy power for heals and buffs. Now even that was gone.
"What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"S-Sorry... Why is this happening?"
Ruina panicked, failing her skills repeatedly.
The hero looked a bit disappointed.
The bastard was getting cocky with power.
But hero pride kicked in; he switched to encouragement.
"It's fine. Happens sometimes. You look tired—let's call it today."
"Okay."
Plena and Luelle snickered at her. They'd been annoyed by Ruina hogging the hero lately.
Even the heroines' bonds were cracking.
They'd seemed united at first, but now? Even if they shared as wife and concubines, one stepping ahead irked the others.
The catfight was on.