Rohan's Finger
Rohan wasn't an instructor or a leader.
But he'd clashed head-on with named succubi and watched those with transformation skills up close in Abyss City, peering into the depths of their struggles.
There were definitely lessons worth sharing.
"Wanna give it a shot first, Lete? I wanna see you use your mana. If it gets dicey, I'll jump in."
"Got it...!"
The ground trembled as the monster drew near, sand shifting beneath their feet with a palpable vibration.
Lete met Rohan's gaze and summoned her mana without delay.
Crack──crunch──!
The girl's form shifted.
Small wings sprouted, a glossy tail gleamed, curved horns rose like a laurel crown, and her eyes twisted into reverse irises.
Of course, it wasn't full liberation.
This was the state she'd shown Rohan when she first revealed the skill.
"Do whatever feels natural."
"Yessir!"
No further words were needed.
Rohan and Lete split left and right at the monster's approaching presence, scattering from their spot.
──Whoosh! Sand erupted as the monster burst forth.
It resembled a blue marlin from the sea, with a nose sharp enough to skewer rock effortlessly, scales blending brown and gold in an eerie harmony.
Rohan leaped high, eyeing the beast blotting out the sun, and muttered under his breath.
"Oh, right—this guy's around too."
More familiar than its scholarly name, Dune Sailfish, it was called Flying Sand Spear.
A monster dubbed the desert's flying lance.
──Tskrrr···.
The Flying Sand Spear twisted in midair, aiming its tip at Rohan.
Rohan gripped the Light of Glory strapped to his back, watching it dive.
"Wrong target, buddy."
He planned to draw and swing it like a baseball bat, scabbard and all.
But before he could, Lete—from the opposite side—launched herself with her enhanced physique.
"Take this!"
Her flying kick slammed into the Spear's body.
'Whoa.'
Rohan was impressed. His eyes followed the girl rather than the flapping fish.
It was a posture straight out of a movie—flawless.
"Hah!"
She landed and struck a poised stance, elegance etched into every move.
The mark of steady effort and time ingrained in her body.
──Tsk, grrk!
The Spear tumbled across the sand from the heavy blow, thrashing before burrowing back in.
Furious now, it sliced through the sand with its fins, charging straight ahead. Its speed visibly ramped up.
It was heading right for where Lete stood.
"Same rank as a Desert Shark. Watch out when it charges like that—gets way faster."
"Thanks for the tip!"
Her voice boomed confidently, eyes locked unwavering on the monster. Solid focus.
Splash──!
The Spear leaped shallow from the sand at peak speed.
As it thrust its nose like lightning, Lete threw a punch.
Dodging the linear strike with a counter.
Its metal-hard scales rang with a dull thunk.
The Spear writhed in pain but pressed its speed-based assault.
When Lete's knife-hand grazed its shell-like hide—sans teeth—sparks flew.
After three solid hits, something shifted in the monster.
'Charm effect?'
It slowed, growing dopey.
Hostility faded from the Spear; its charge lost momentum. Confusion muddled its actions.
It even hesitated to attack Lete outright.
When the disarray peaked—that was the end.
"Hngh!"
Lete's heel crushed the Spear's skull, severing its life.
'Party system confirmed.'
Their bond proved it.
"Good work."
"No sweat! Piece of cake!"
"The monster started acting weird, right? That your charm?"
"Kinda... It's something I picked up instinctively with the skill. Basically, it's like stacking on contact."
Stronger foes seemed to drain more mana.
In a way, akin to Weakness Infliction.
"Some enemies might resist the buildup, so don't rely on it blindly."
"Yessir!"
Advice born from succubi slain by his blade after overtrusting their charm.
"Stamina okay?"
"All good! I'm just warming up!"
Rohan grabbed the Spear's tail, sprawled on the ground—relieved.
Not far; he'd roll it back to the brick house.
"Sunbae-nim. Can we eat that one too?"
"Planning to. Gilbert'll handle it. He's the expert on this stuff."
"Is the rumor true? That he skips normal food for monster mains...?"
"?"
Gilbert had that rumor too?
But Rohan saw no need to correct it.
'Not exactly wrong?'
Gilbert's wild tales mostly involved eating.
Rohan smashed the Spear's sharp nose.
Rolled it from the dune to the brick house, then headed farther with Lete.
The Sand Sea dungeon teemed with diverse monsters.
This ecosystem hid minnow-like fish underground, plus conch or clam beasts the size of a person.
The shelled ones were Lete's perfect prey.
Infuse mana into the shell—they'd panic, exposing soft innards.
After snagging a few more and cresting several dunes.
'Getting the picture now.'
Rohan spotted the imbalance: her body lagging behind her mana.
Time to address it.
"Lete. You know the body is the vessel for mana, right?"
"Yup!"
"Skills—barring rare exceptions—run on mana in that vessel."
"Right!"
"But your skill spiked your mana, and control's shaky."
Lete nodded, hanging on his words.
"The Succubus Transformation slipping your grip? Overflowing mana flooding the vessel—that's the culprit."
"Ah...!"
"Best fix? Boost base stats like physique. Deeper skill mastery'll refine it further."
Straightforward advice, but with reassurance for her anxiety.
Training would master it eventually.
"Thanks! Feels better already!"
"I'm broadening my horizons watching you. Mutual aid, yeah?"
"...Meeting you was the best luck. Should've spilled everything and come to Academy City sooner."
"I'd agonize too if I got a skill like that."
Rohan smiled at her joy and resumed walking.
"Now, tweak your mana flow a bit."
"Whatever you say!"
He'd faced named succubi—seen their mana handling. Even tanked charm firsthand.
Might translate to her transformed state; worth trying.
"Ooh!"
Following his cues, Lete's mana efficiency improved.
Monsters turned dumb faster—noticeably.
That was his limit from surface observations, but room for growth overflowed.
At Orion Academy, a good instructor would accelerate it.
"Whew!"
Rohan watched Lete's back as she dispatched another, her black tail swishing.
Optical illusion? Wings look bigger.'
As he pondered, Lete turned, eyes meeting his.
She flashed a bright smile and trotted over.
"Sunbae~"
"!"
"Did I do good?"
She cooed cutely and threw herself into his arms.
Rohan tensed at the sudden sweet scent—thicker than before.
'This is the out-of-control part.'
He stroked her head, testing the horns' texture.
"You did great. Wanna rest now?"
"Mmm~"
Head buried in his chest, she inhaled deeply.
Wings fluttered; tail whipped.
After a while, she lifted her head from his embrace.
"Sunbaeee~"
"Yeah?"
Looking up from his arms—potent stuff.
"Why do you smell so delicious?"
"Me? Well... succubi always took a weird liking to me."
"Heh, hehehe...!"
Lete let out an odd chuckle, her slender tail slinking forward.
It coiled around his thigh.
"···."
As Rohan debated waiting for her to snap out of it.
She parted her lips again.
"I won't ask for the full thing. You have a girlfriend now...·."
"Yeah. Your willpower's impressive, Lete."
She fell silent.
Eyelids fluttered—two selves warring in her mind?
Resolution hit; eyes closed, then opened.
Sultry smile declared the winner.
"Just one favor? It's an experiment on your constitution and skills."
"What?"
"I wanna taste your finger."
"···?"
Savoring Rohan's fluster, Lete giggled.
Then parted her lips wide, like an invitation.
Revealing a sticky tongue.