Off to the Dungeon! (2)

After transforming into my horse form, I headed to the church, where Klea and Baul were waiting in front of the main gate. But before I could even say anything, I noticed Klea's expression shift to one gripped by fear—she must have sensed me. Oh dear, not already. Acting like nothing was wrong, I approached the two and greeted them. Baul, oblivious to the truth, welcomed me with a smile. Just like Als, these guys really have no clue...

Next to Klea, who stood there silently with her head bowed, Baul explained to me the key points for an adventurer party with a priest. It was mostly about how to protect and make use of a priest who lacked combat ability. After that, he loaded the luggage onto my back and looked at Klea with a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hint of worry.

"Klea. Like I said, don't push ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yourself too hard. Unlike with the Hero Eater, the guild management office should have assigned a dungeon at an appropriate level this time, but adventuring always comes with risks. Forget about the saint selection—just focus on gaining experience and stay cautious."

"Yeah, got it, Baul."

"If things get dangerous, find Sema. In this form, he can get you out quickly. Got it?"

"......Yes..."

Baul urged Klea to rely on me if danger arose, then loaded her luggage onto my back as well. He apparently didn't think I'd be the biggest threat. Heh heh. Must be the priest thing—zero suspicion. Once the luggage was all loaded, I crouched down so Klea could mount. She hesitated awkwardly before climbing on reluctantly. With that, we set off toward the guild management office where Als and Lizbet were waiting, seeing us off with Baul's farewell.

Klea had been trembling and giving only short replies even when I spoke to her, but once we met Als and Lizbet, she seemed a bit relieved and started opening up. After cheerful greetings all around, we entered the guild management office and officially received our assignment for Solik Dungeon. We renewed our cards and issued a temporary adventurer card for Klea.

Never mind the stat increases from leveling up—my card even had achievements added. I wondered why "Divine Beast" showed up now, and they said it was because I'd acquired the partial humanization skill, even if it was only half-assed. What the hell? So I've been treated like a straight-up monster until now? Honestly, I'd prefer skills over stats. Still just Back Kick? Kinda deflating. Well, I'll probably get some proper ones later.

Klea's stats were overall pretty low... I recalled Baul saying priests don't train their bodies, so their stats barely change. Probably won't shift much even with levels. Her leveled skills seemed pretty high, though... I asked why Heal and Purify didn't have levels, and they explained those scale with Esser consumption—efficiency varies by person. Sensing must just be a basic priest ability for her and others like her. More worrying was her lack of self-defense options. Gonna have to watch out for her.

As I was thinking that, the staff got a bit rowdy. I turned to see them gawking at Lizbet's adventurer card. They could accept my Divine Beast status, but Lizbet's stat jumps were insane even compared to her level-ups—especially Esser, nearly double the previous amount. No precedent for that kind of surge; the whole staff looked flustered. When I asked if it was that big a deal, one explained Esser only rises slightly from levels—you need long-term training. Normally takes 2-3 years for gains like Lizbet's... Yeah, that's impressive.

Lizbet herself looked stunned, eyes wide at her card before breaking into a joyful grin. Oh... seeing that face makes me happy too. Meanwhile, Als looked all crumpled—his Hero Fighting Spirit level was up, but otherwise ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unchanged. Come to think of it, Lizbet's stamina now exceeds his by double. A warrior outdone by a mage in stamina... No wonder he feels irrelevant outside his hero gimmick.

After checking each other's cards, we headed to the city gates for the dungeon.

Outside the gates, I secured the luggage on my body, and they mounted in order: Als, Lizbet, Klea. Truth be told, I'd rather just carry my future mares... But no choice. Gotta hold back for now. With a pang of regret, I carried the three and started moving. Gradually picking up speed until I hit a pretty fast pace—to test limits, since my Status Window showed a skill for stably carrying riders.

"Whoa, super fast... With three of us, you okay?" Lizbet asked, a bit worried.

"I'm fine. You guys okay? Not shaky or uncomfortable?"

"Nah, actually comfy? Cart monsters are slow, bumpy with horns or hard shells—supposed to suck. You're totally different, Sema."

"Heh heh. Call this form 'Maltese'."

Might as well name my horse form Maltese. In Essentia with its crap transport, it'd fit. Half-human? Humorse or something? Chatting with the three on my back about formation, Klea's role, dungeon precautions... Biggest threat: illegal adventurers. Outlaws barred from cities, raiding dungeons without licenses for loot, robbing proper parties. Mostly mediocre, not huge threats, but sneaky bastards—take 'em down fast if we spot outsiders. We planned accordingly.

Before long, we reached Solik Dungeon. Three-day walk, done in two hours... Definitely Maltese-worthy.

"Nngh~ Covering this distance so quick... Amazing."

"Makes it easy for us. Otherwise, it'd be a slog dodging bandits and monsters."

"Really fast..."

They dismounted, stretching and commenting. I prepared to slip away for human form, scanning for a spot. As I went to grab my luggage with my mouth, Lizbet picked it up.

"I'll help with the bags."

"Lizbet, if it's luggage, as a fellow guy I should—"

"Als, you guard Klea. We'll just go nearby and back—don't worry."

Als tried to protest over my impending nudity, but Lizbet brushed it off. Ignoring his reluctant nod, she followed with my stuff. Once out of sight, I focused and shifted to half-human form.

"Phew... Lizbet, you're getting better at making excuses."

She'd followed right up close, eyeing my naked body. Blushing, she stammered, "N-not an excuse... You do need to guard Klea..."

Cute. I approached, flexing to show off my nude form and unsheathed horse cock. Her gaze locked on it, face flushing deep red. After staring a bit, she snapped her head away.

"N-no. Too late and Als'll misunderstand..."

I hadn't even suggested it yet. Smirking, I cupped her chin.

"Ah..."

"This much is fine, right?"

Pressing my horse lips to hers, she closed her eyes, parting for my tongue.

"Mmm... chup... smooch..."

Deep kiss lingered, saliva trailing as we parted, gazing lovingly and smiling in sync.

"Rest later... after clearing the dungeon?"

"...Yeah...♡"

Dungeon wasn't huge—half-day exploration tops—so plan was clear it, camp overnight, return tomorrow. Meaning tonight, sneak off with Lizbet for some release. She looked expectant, face lit with anticipation. After kissing, I dressed from my bags—clothes and ill-fitting armor—then returned with her.

Als greeted us smiling... If he knew what we just did, he'd faint. Klea, though, had a weird expression. Sensed something? No way, even with her detection. Shaking it off at Als's words, we did final checks and formed up: Als, Lizbet, Klea, me. In that order, the four of us stepped through the dungeon's dimension gate, hazy interior visible within.