Chapter 74 - Hands Off!?
Three days had passed since I started preparing for the guild creation. The paperwork was basically just an informational guide for establishing a guild—you only had to sign it—so there wasn't anything too difficult. The biggest headache was designing the guild emblem, which I still hadn't decided on.
I fiddled with a pen, sketching a few rough ideas while pondering what shape to go with, but every time I thought, This could work, something felt off, and I couldn't commit. Nothing really clicked. I needed a design that screamed, "These women wearing this emblem are my bitches~," like an advertisement, but nothing popped into my head.
Lizbet said we could add tiny text variations to each member's emblem, like personalized initials. But hearing that made it even harder to decide. If the size were right, I'd tattoo it right on their lower bellies like a pussy mark... but at this scale, it felt like a waste for that spot. So I decided to save tattoos for later on that area and just have the guild emblem on the back of the hand or somewhere visible.
But honestly, more than the design, what bugged me was Lizbet's reaction. When I mentioned starting guild prep and asked about the emblem, she smiled and answered, but her expression had this subtle tinge of melancholy. I wanted to tell her right then to come with me... but her face looked like she was wrestling with, "I want to follow Sema, but is that okay?" So I held off on saying it.
Guild creation would take time anyway... and with Lizbet just one step away from that final commitment, it'd be easier for her to betray Als without as much guilt afterward. Thanks to that, our nights were rougher than usual—I satisfied her thoroughly, like soothing a restless pet.
And today was the day Als had been assigned a new dungeon to challenge. Ripi Dungeon, a step up from the Solik Dungeon we'd done before. After wandering a bit inside, it was clear: the demon beasts here were more aggressive and nimble than in Solik. They dodged sometimes, and their attacks were sharp enough that a slip-up could get you hurt. Unlike Solik's straight-line paths, this had branches—finally feeling like a real dungeon.
"Hya!" Swinging my blunt weapon like a baseball bat, I smashed the head of a fang-mouthed wolf-like demon beast. It burst into smoke and scattered. The beasts were stronger, sure, but my strength could still pulverize them in two or three hits. I'd picked a bludgeon over edged weapons thinking it'd suit me better—no need to worry about angles or slicing direction, just swing hard—and damn, it stuck to my hand like a glove. Feels great... but if anyone saw me now, they'd think I was a total monster. Good thing these don't leave corpses; otherwise, it'd be a gorefest. Wonder if I should keep using it.
"Blunt weapons feel better than I thought? Other adventurers swing all day for maybe one or two kills... Strength makes a real difference," Lizbet said with a laugh, coming over to stroke my arm muscles.
"Yeah, seems good, but I'm worried about monsters later. Their corpses would be mangled."
"Hmm. Yeah, hard to skin valuable ones. Though swords have the same issue." As Lizbet laughed, she caressed my arm with an ecstatic look. Mmm. Als is right there—too bold. Even after satisfying her last night... or because of it? Glancing worriedly at Als, he wasn't even paying attention, scanning around with a serious face. What's up with him?
Right then, Als called us in a grave tone. "What? What's wrong, Als?"
"...Looks like someone's already in the dungeon ahead of us."
"Huh? No way... illegal adventurers?" Lizbet, who'd been blushing by my side moments ago, tensed up instantly.
Illegal adventurers... criminals or outlaws without adventurer cards, right? I'd heard most have mediocre skills—real pros don't need to break the law.
"We've been in about an hour, no good harvest spots, and fewer demon beasts than expected. Probably..."
Unauthorized entrants, huh. Or maybe they already looted the valuables and bailed.
"If they're gone, nothing to gain here... but if they're still around, we'll run into them," I said. Als nodded tensely.
"Killing illegal adventurers in a dungeon is no crime, even if you kill them. Best case is capturing and dragging them to Radia... but it's our first time, and they'll fight like cornered rats, so subduing might not—"
Desperate criminals with no backup. Killing feels iffy.
"...Turn back?"
"Hmm... Reporting we found traces and retreated would hurt our guild eval. The kingdom encourages killing them and bringing proof."
Kingdom endorsing murder? Scary, even for crooks. Als pondered, then looked at me, Lizbet, and Klea. "...Sema. Lizbet. You okay with this?"
Meaning, we might kill—still wanna go? Not too tense, though. Mediocre foes, my ass. Level 18, but anything under 20 feels easy. Not even sure they're here, so push on. Worst case, grab everyone and bolt. Lizbet nodded agreement.
"If Sema says so, no problem. They're hiding criminals anyway—adventurers run into them eventually. Experience, let's go."
Als nodded, turning to Klea. "Miss Klea. We might have to kill if we meet them. Okay?"
"......I'd avoid killing if possible... but better than you all in danger. Please try to subdue."
Figured the nun might object, but nope. Essentia standards differ from Earth. Criminal views too. With a plan set, we resumed exploration, a bit on edge.
We explored for a while, encountering only scattered demon beasts—no illegal adventurers. Maybe they bailed. Tension easing, a weird room appeared ahead: dead-end, no exit, walls a different color, floor divided into three panels.
"What is this? Feels off," I said, scanning from the center. Lizbet, checking the rear, suddenly yelped.
"Sema! We gotta go! This is—!"
Blinding light engulfed the room; my body floated. Light faded, eyes opening to... not the same room. Alone. A trickle of water in the corner. Surveying, I pieced it together.
Trap? Trap! Lizbet's urgency... yeah. Teleport trap? Magic world dungeon perks.
Find the three... all scattered...? Shit! Blind Klea hit me—spine chilling. Illegal adventurers unconfirmed... if Klea teleported solo? Lizbet and Als fight fine, but nun Klea? Only heals and buffs, no combat. Blind, alone... Admiring the trap turned to dread; heart sinking, I bolted blindly.
No! Human form too slow! Horse form, full gallop through dungeon. Clothes and weapon dropped—dungeon holds items till exit. Prioritize Klea, regroup with others later.
Please... let them all be together safe! Praying desperately, I thundered on.
A floating sensation hit Klea; suddenly, no presences from the other three. Probing intensely—nothing but her. Dungeon trap? Alone then... if they don't find her, no escape. Sweat beading, terror rising.
No... trust them. Worry if they're safe... She seemed safe-ish, but not guaranteed for them. Illegals unchecked—danger possible. Sitting, hands clasped in prayer.
Better than wandering... Goddess... protect them... Praying long, legs numb, fatigue building—then three presences afar.
...Huh? That's... Thought Als's party, but Esser felt wrong—alien.
No way... Tension surging, she backed away... but navigating uniform walls blind? Hell.
"Hey, boss. Lone woman."
"Yeah? A nun?"
"Heh heh. Sister, trapped?"
Groping for exit, three sinister presences approached laughing.
"...Boss, her eyes..."
"......No way..."
Stunned, then roaring laughter. Their Esser—pure dread, unlike any before.
"Puhahaha! What the fuck! This is gold!"
"Boss'll love this!"
"Worth sneaking in!"
One approached sneering. "Miss... Radia's Klea the nun, right?"
"...!? H-How...?"
Stunned, she blurted. Their Esser...? And they knew her?
"Kukuku...! Damn...! Blind nun in a dungeon? Ballsy. Kukuku...!"
"Makes our job easy."
"Boss'll pay big."
Snickering, one spoke. "Life's wild. But damn, body and face killer, boss?"
"Same thought."
Esser turning vile—shuddering, like Sema's but growing in these thugs.
"S-Stay back..."
"Kukuku. Blind where to, Sister Klea?" Leader stepped up sneering. "You're dying anyway—fun first."
The three beasts tore into her habit.
"Hah...! Hah...!" How far? Over an hour flat-out, few beasts, no one found. If Klea started in danger...?
"KyaAAAAAHHH!!"
Screeching scream afar—Klea's. Exploding forward on all fours, three men surrounded her...!
"N-No, stop!" One ripped her habit. Illegals? Raping her?
Screaming woman, circling men shredding clothes. Blood vessels burst in my head, rage boiling.
"You fucking bastards! Hands off her NOW!?" Roaring curses, I charged the ripper.