A Dangerous Partner

The next morning, Hayeon headed to the Adventurer's Guild with Gold Sun.

Although the fatigue from her training still lingered, there was a newfound confidence in her stride, unlike the day before.

As they pushed open the guild doors and stepped inside, Riena, who was sitting at the reception desk, spotted them and waved warmly.

"Oh, Hayeon! And... Lord Gold Sun? What brings you two here together? My, Hayeon! You're starting to look like a proper adventurer now!"

Hayeon shrugged at Riena's compliment, a proud smile gracing her lips.

However, she quickly flushed red under the sly, teasing gaze of Gold Sun standing beside her.

"Thank you, Riena. By any chance... is there a decent quest today that a Bronze Plate can handle? I want to gain some more real combat experience."

The moment she finished speaking, Gold Sun chimed in.

"Let me find one for you."

He scanned the quest board and, without hesitation, tore off a sheet of paper and handed it to Hayeon.

Riena spoke as she looked at the quest sheet.

"A Twilight Wolf pack subjugation? It's a Bronze Plate quest, but wolves hunt in packs, so they can be quite tricky. Well, with Lord Gold Sun accompanying you, I suppose there's nothing to worry about."

Gold Sun naturally wrapped his arm around Hayeon's waist as she took the quest sheet, pulling her toward the dungeon entrance.

"Well then, shall we go, partner?"

"Wait a minute! Partner? Don't just decide things on your own!"

Startled, Hayeon slipped out of his embrace and walked ahead. The two made their way toward the southern part of the Dungeon's first-floor plains, where the ruins of collapsed buildings lay scattered.

Gold Sun strolled leisurely, his shirt half-unbuttoned to reveal his solid, chiseled chest muscles.

"Once the quest is over, let's have dinner with Sister Serena. What do you say?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"That was... just a one-night mistake. Please, just forget about it."

Hayeon spoke with her head lowered. Guilt toward Ksenia and the memories of her night with Serena and Gold Sun rushed back, making her curse herself inwardly.

Finding her reaction highly amusing, Gold Sun chuckled mischievously and kept pace beside her.

While wandering through the forest for a while, five wolves baring sharp fangs suddenly burst from the thicket. That was two more than what was written on the quest sheet.

Their crimson eyes gleamed with hunger and bloodlust.

"Well, look at that. More than expected. Alright, Hayeon. Let's see what you've got."

The moment the words left Gold Sun's mouth, his body blurred. He plunged into the center of the wolf pack like lightning, swinging his greatsword without a shred of hesitation.

His movements were like a brutal dance.

Every time his blade cleaved through the air, a spray of blood erupted alongside the wolves' agonized shrieks.

"Awooo!"

The lead wolf ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rolled on the ground, its neck half-severed. Without stopping, Gold Sun spun on his heel and deeply slashed the flank of another wolf.

There was no wasted movement in his swordsmanship.

It was a technique of pure slaughter, forged solely for real combat, delivering maximum destructive power with minimal effort.

"Now, it's your turn, little rabbit. You can handle at least that much, right?"

While Gold Sun dealt with one of the remaining three after instantly dispatching two, the other two lunged toward Hayeon.

"Of course I can! I can do this too!"

Just as she had been taught by Ksenia and Gold Sun, Hayeon lowered her stance and watched the wolves' movements intently.

Their gaze, the subtle twitch of their shoulder muscles, and the exact moment their paws kicked off the ground—she strained to catch every single detail.

"Grrrrr...!"

The two wolves pounced simultaneously from both sides. It was a cunning pincer attack.

Without panicking, Hayeon slammed her shield hard against the sharp fangs of the wolf lunging from the left.

Clang!

With a metallic ring, the wolf's body faltered for a brief moment.

At that exact moment, she spun her body and thrust her sword deep into the flank of the wolf on the right.

"Yip!"

The wolf collapsed, letting out a painful whimper.

But Hayeon had no time to bask in her victory.

Using the falling wolf as a shield to block the other wolf's attack, she seized the opening and drove her sword deep into its nape.

The dull sensation of bone and flesh splitting apart vibrated through her fingertips.

Squelch!

Everything was over in an instant.

Panting heavily, Hayeon felt a thrilling rush of ecstasy swell in her chest at the realization that she had slain two monsters with her own hands.

"I did it...! I... I actually did it!"

"Oh, not bad. You actually know how to fight."

Gold Sun, who had already finished off the last wolf, walked over and lightly kicked the fallen ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beasts.

"But for a real adventurer, the job doesn't end with the hunt. Harvesting the loot is part of it too."

Pulling out a dagger, he began to skin the wolf with practiced ease. His movements were as swift and precise as a master craftsman's.

"Watch closely. When you skin them, you have to insert the blade along the joints and the grain of the muscles to peel it off cleanly without any damage. Don't forget to harvest the teeth and claws too, since they sell for a good price. That pretty face of yours won't buy you dinner, but these pelts certainly will."

Though his tone remained teasing, the lessons he was imparting were essential survival skills for any adventurer.

Hayeon hesitated at first, but soon began to mimic his movements, helping him with the butchering.

Amidst the nauseating stench of blood, she felt herself taking another step forward toward becoming a true adventurer.

Time inside the dungeon flowed differently than in the outside world. As twilight began to settle over the forest, it was instantly enveloped in darkness and a bizarre silence.

Gold Sun set up a temporary shelter with Hayeon at the entrance of a small nearby cave.

He first tossed a torch deep into the cave to check for any signs of monsters, then cleared away the jagged rocks on the ground with rough but practiced hands.

He even took off his own cloak and spread it across the ground for her. His efficient movements were undeniably those of a veteran adventurer.

"Monsters get much wilder inside the dungeon once night falls. We'd better rest here for the night."

Hayeon nodded at his words. Sitting before the campfire, she stared blankly at the dancing flames.

As time passed, the darkness inside the dungeon grew heavier, and an inexplicable anxiety slowly began to fill her chest.

"Seeing the dungeon get this dark... it's strange. I never expected to see stars inside a dungeon."

Hayeon spoke up, breaking the awkward silence.

"Of course. This dungeon is basically another miniature world connected to the outside. Time flows, and seasons change. Though, it's a bit different from the real world—distorted, in a way. That's why veterans gauge the time by the flow of mana instead of the sun."

Saying so, Gold Sun stood up and skillfully prepared the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠meat of the Twilight Wolf they had hunted earlier, placing it over the campfire to roast.

There wasn't a single moment of hesitation in his movements. Watching his profile, Hayeon thought to herself:

'So this is what a veteran adventurer is like. Was Ksenia-eonni like this too? No, she would have been far more perfect than this...'

Without realizing it, Hayeon was comparing Ksenia and Gold Sun.

The savory aroma of roasting meat filled the cave. Gold Sun skewered a piece of meat on a branch and held it out to Hayeon.

"Here, eat up. Stamina is your life force in the dungeon. I didn't poison it, so don't worry."

Hayeon hesitated for a moment before taking the meat and biting into it cautiously.

Perhaps because she was starving, it tasted surprisingly delicious despite its tough texture.

After finishing her meal, a small spark of confidence began to bloom within her.

'I... I can do this on my own now!'

She spoke to Gold Sun.

"I'll be right back! I'm going to patrol the area to see if there are any more wolves nearby!"

Gold Sun paused his weapon maintenance and turned his head.

"Hey! Don't go too far. Seriously, what an uncontrollable girl."

Hayeon grinned and stepped triumphantly into the forest.

The moment she ventured deep into the woods, six goblins suddenly ambushed her, bursting out from the surrounding bushes.

They had green skin, greedily glinting red eyes, and brandished sharp daggers.

"Kreeee! Woman! Female! Catch her!"

With screeching cries, all six lunged at her at once.

An instinctive dread shivered down Hayeon's spine, but she did not back down.

She quickly lowered her stance and raised her shield, blocking the charge of the two goblins right in front of her.

Thud!

A heavy impact reverberated through her shield.

Using the recoil, Hayeon spun her body and swung her sword.

The first goblin's head flew off, and the second shrieked as its chest was sliced open.

Another goblin lunged from her left.

She swiftly raised her leg and kicked the creature squarely in the abdomen.

Thwack!

The goblin tumbled backward onto the ground.

Without a moment's delay, Hayeon drew her dagger and plunged it into its neck.

"Three."

Without giving her a moment to catch her breath, the remaining three moved to surround her.

One rushed from behind, another brandished a blade from her side, and the last one kept its distance in front, waiting for an opening.

Hayeon flung her shield backward as if throwing it, knocking back the goblin behind her.

Then, she lunged at the goblin in front and slashed her sword.

Just before the goblin's neck was severed, the one on her flank tried to flee.

Hayeon thrust her sword forward like a throwing spear, skewering its flank.

"Haa... haa... I won..."

At that moment, one of the goblins that was still barely breathing pulled out a pouch with bleeding hands and hurled it at Hayeon.

Splat!

The leather pouch burst, drenching Hayeon's face and upper body in a sticky, foul-smelling liquid.

"Ugh! What... what is this...!"

The sticky, foul-smelling liquid. The moment it made contact with her skin, an anomaly began to take over Hayeon's body.

Her blood boiled as if flowing backward, her breathing grew shallow and rapid, and an intense, mind-numbing lust surged through her, paralyzing her reason.

"Haa... haa... Wh-what is this... My body... feels so strange...!"

She collapsed to the ground, stumbling, unable to control her burning body as she panted heavily.

When Gold Sun rushed over after hearing the commotion, what he found were the scattered corpses of goblins and Hayeon, poisoned by the aphrodisiac, letting out pleasure-filled moans.

"Dammit... did this foolish little rabbit seriously get drenched in Goblin Aphrodisiac of all things?!"

Clicking his tongue, he scooped up the panting Hayeon and headed back toward the safety of the cave.

"Ahn... it's hot... I'm so hot... Please... do something to me..."

Hayeon clung to Gold Sun, her eyes hazy and drugged with the aphrodisiac.

Her hot breath and the sweet fragrance wafting from her body began to chip away at his own reason.