Don't Come Closer!
“Don't come any closer!”
That was what the saint candidate Klea blurted out when I greeted her.
“Ah, um... Baul was so insistent that I had no choice but to accept, but... I... I don't trust you... I'm sorry...”
What the hell is this? Why did my affinity drop to -100% just from a simple greeting? Even if my aura feels off-putting, isn't this a bit much? She treats me like that, but with Als and Lizbet—who she greeted first—she's exchanging words with a truly saintly smile. But the moment I get a little closer, she hisses like a feral cat with a sharp reaction. Her face even twists into something that looks genuinely disgusted... I was feeling pretty good about this pretty-faced saint candidate, but her attitude is pissing me off now. Fine, the first meeting could be chalked up to my aura, but this is our second encounter, and I just said hello—why this reaction? If it weren't for the humanization skill info, I would've said screw the saint candidate bullshit and bailed.
“Sister Klea, shall we head out now?”
Maybe sensing my mood, Lizbet shifts attention to the exploration by chatting with Klea.
These past few days, Lizbet hadn't been giving me proper attention, which bummed me out, but this cheers me up a bit. We arrived at the west gate like that... but here, Klea objected to the travel arrangements again.
We'd already mapped out the spots to check before leaving. We'd gotten a map from Baul marked with several locations, escort Klea there, have her sense for the Hero Eater in the area, and if nothing, move on. Repeat until we find it. If it drags on without a hit, we'd settle midway and continue later. Looks like the kingdom and church plan to see it through once started.
But with quite a few spots on the map, Klea flat-out refuses to ride on my back. My back can comfortably fit two, three if we squeeze—and she says hell no. So here we are, heading out on my first quest in this world... at human walking pace.
“Um... Miss Klea? Does Sema make you that uncomfortable?”
At this point, even Lizbet asks her. Klea, who'd been walking ahead chatting with Lizbet, glances at me and replies in a slightly frightened voice.
“I'm... sorry. I know it's rude, but... my eyes are impaired, so my Esser sensing ability is heightened, and I've lived gauging people with it. But...”
She glances at me again, turns away, and says, “The Esser from you, Sema... it's... more vicious than any criminal I've ever sensed... I just can't relax...”
What? This crazy bitch says I'm more vicious than criminals?
“And it feels like... you're plotting something bad... like you're hiding something...”
...Ha, look at this bitch? ...She's sharp. I thought her developed sensing just meant sensitive to auras, but it seems she can even read emotions. I don't sense shit from people...
“Plotting something bad...?”
Huh? Wait, what's this? Listening to Klea, Lizbet's eyes narrow suspiciously. No, Lizbet—sure, I popped your cherry, which was pretty damn bad now that I think about it. Suddenly, both women feel a bit more distant from me. What the hell? One word from that Klea bitch and my affinity with Lizbet drops?
Now she's not looking like a saint candidate but some mangy bitch. I'm already stressing how to win Lizbet back, and she throws sand in the gears? From now on, you're just a bitch in my book.
“Haa...”
I let out a sigh. Ever since conquering Lizbet's virginity, shit just won't go my way. Feeling frustrated, I sneak a peek at Lizbet's status window—yep, my affinity's down to 45. What the fuck? I thought the humanization skill bait would boost it, but I got played instead? I'm the one who took the request—why am I the one screwed? Sighing, I check the status window of that bitch walking beside Lizbet.
Name: Neris Klea
Race: Human
Level: 12 (3170/4620)
Title: Benevolent Saint Candidate of the Goddess Church
Age: 27
Her level's definitely low. Makes sense for a priestess who couldn't properly adventure due to her eyes. But “benevolent saint candidate”? Sure, pretty face and killer body, but I can't buy the saint bit after her attitude. Staring at the status window, I wonder why others show initial screens unlike Lizbet's, but mostly I'm just pissed at Klea—dying to smack those huge tits. If I weren't suppressing my urges, I'd say fuck it and charge in for some proper discipline...
Harboring those thoughts and frustration at the snags, I trailed behind the three.
‘...She's the real deal, huh...’
Surprisingly, Klea repeated prayer-like gestures—hands clasped, sensing something—at a few spots and nailed a suspicious location on the first day. I thought she was guessing blindly since she's blind, but... Priests and mages arrived via signal flare, did their thing, and a dimensional gate like a dungeon entrance appeared.
Guess the Hero Eater was holed up in a hidden dungeon. That's why adventurers who encountered it reported it vanishing.
Baul heard reports of its aura inside, pondered, then asked the subjugation team to have Klea wait in the rear with us—and if things got dicey, just evac us. Als and Lizbet hesitated but agreed since escorts were assigned.
Today, day two, major guilds are gathered for the assault.
“Dawn's Light! Everyone assembled?”
“Twilight Shadow guild members, prep as discussed!”
“Kyarrudan! You ready?”
“Blue Dawn guild, over here!”
Heard a guild name that screams betrayal, but anyway—guild masters shout their names, checking members for entry.
Scanning the guilds, they look solid: 5-20 per guild, flashy gear. With church priests, over 100 total... For contingencies, moving together—this should handle even a Hero Eater.
“Hmm... this many should be fine, right?”
“We could've gathered more, but for a typical dungeon, this is pushing it for a full force. Max considering risks—and we're here under protection...”
Even Als looks tense. Lizbet seems more relaxed, though.
“With three heroes even without you, Als—you know you can't join, right?”
“Yeah, I know. I'll stay back—don't worry.”
Preps done, the lead large guild master calls the charge. Over 200 enter gradually; we follow into the dungeon.
“Whoa...”
Inside, unlike prior dungeons, it's a forest-like expanse. Open-type dungeon? Admiring it, Klea's face sours.
“This is... what the...”
“What's wrong, Miss Klea?” Als asks. Pale and trembling, she replies:
“Ugh... massive Esser and Tesser swirling like waves... how can...”
Hmm, I sense nothing... but priests and some adventurers tense up—atmosphere's off.
“Hey, Lizbet, Als—if shit hits, on my back right away. Miss Klea, you'll have to ride this time.”
She nods. About time she behaves. If I weren't set on Lizbet, I'd have mauled those watermelon tits bigger than your head—especially with your lover Baul around.
Anyway, amid tension, ~100 advance in formation. Priests scattered inside, sensing; we stick by Klea and escorts, scanning as we go. My height lets me peer over heads—nothing notable. Then Lizbet beside me:
“Weird... dungeon with zero demon beasts...”
“...Esser and Tesser churning so wildly... can't sense properly... first time feeling this...”
Further in, urgent shout ahead: “Found it!” Adventurers grip weapons; peering forward...
“Grrrrrr...”
Erebos – Hero Eater, twice as huge as before, loomed on a high altar, glaring down.