Return and the Zebraman's Vitality

Returning, I chose 'Zebraman's Vitality!'

It was an obvious choice. With a stamina skill right there, nothing else could catch my eye.

I'd already tasted the limits of my stamina with Slami just yesterday. To survive that greedy, fizzy tentacle pussy's insatiable milking, boosting my stamina was essential.

And tonight, not only would the growing Slami join in, but Brina, now at stage 3, would too. In my current state, I had no confidence I could endure it.

The reward skill Zebraman's Vitality integrated into Stamina Enhancement, raising its grade to C. Above all, the part about dramatic increases in ejaculation volume and sperm production speed was music to my ears.

'Good thing I won't run short on stamina anymore.'

The other achievement-based skills were excellent too. Guardian had tough conditions, but the physical stat boosts were impressive for its grade. And Strong Slayer was perfect for me—no need to explain.

'Dealing with dungeon bosses will be a lot easier from now on.'

Personally, the most satisfying was the swordsmanship grade-up.

'Swordsmanship reached 2nd grade. Is it because I can now properly unleash Moon Shadow Sword?'

The fact that my stubbornly stagnant swordsmanship had finally leveled up was incredibly encouraging. The system itself certified that my skills had improved.

After settling everything, my status window looked like this:

All physical stats except mana had broken into the 20s, Stamina Enhancement had leveled up, and two new skills were added. Surpassing 20 gave a clear sense of crossing a threshold, even in my fatigued state. My body moved more responsively to my will now. I could probably kill Nuker far more easily than before.

"Ahh...!"

Following the dying woman's voice to her gaze, I saw Nuker's corpse melting into the dungeon floor.

'Can't take Nuker's body, huh? Even as a corpse, it could've fetched 50 million ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠won.'

Aside from the head and lower body, it looked almost human, so it would've sold for a high price. Quite the pity. Fortunately, his battle axe and mana stone remained, so I pocketed those at least.

Checking via status window, the battle axe had high restrictions for its performance—not a great weapon. The mana stone was 7th ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grade, confirming Nuker's Maze as a 7th-grade dungeon.

"Is it... really over?"

Even after seeing the clear message and Nuker's dissolving corpse with their own eyes, the three women stared blankly, still in disbelief.

"Yeah, it's all done. Time to head home."

At my words about going home, they finally burst into tears and cheers.

"Home... sob, waaah!"

"We're alive...! Hic!"

"Should've cut off that fucking Nuker's dick!!"

One was overly energetic amid it all, but they composed themselves and prepared to exit the dungeon.

"I wish we could at least take the bodies out."

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

The women had gathered the corpses of comrades killed by Nuker and the female hunters who'd been hostages first. Exhausted from prolonged captivity, hope of survival spurred them to carry the bodies as they advanced through the passage.

Post-clear, the exit route appeared, guiding us to the door leading outside.

"So this is where it was..."

"We were so close."

The exit door was near where their party had last been searching. Lost in reminiscence for a moment, they thanked me before stepping out.

"Thank you so much. Thanks to you, we get to go home alive. I never dreamed we'd make it out... We don't have much now, but please contact us here later. We'll repay you somehow."

She left her number in my smartphone.

"You have to contact us. Promise."

Handing back my phone after she insisted again, I voiced my inner concern.

"Sure, I will. By the way, if you're questioned, could you keep quiet about me taking down Nuker?"

"Why? Word of a 10th-grade hunter perfectly clearing a 7th-grade dungeon solo would make you famous overnight."

"I have reasons I can't draw attention. Please."

"Got it. So, how should we spin it?"

We agreed to say their party had badly wounded Nuker and been taken hostage, then I entered, rescued them, and we escaped.

'Can't sell the axe or stone at the exchange.'

Trading Nuker's axe and stone would scream "I killed the boss." I'd need another way to offload them. Maybe take them to Abigail?

"Alright, let's go."

"Yes!"

"I was so worried! Why'd you go alone, rescue us on your own, and...!"

"Sorry. But I'm out safe and sound, right?"

"Hiiing... I was scared you'd died saving me..."

After escaping the dungeon, I and the three women suddenly appeared at the 7th-grade labyrinth entrance. We were giving a simple debrief at the dungeon management office. No crimes committed, so we just recounted the events and how we escaped.

Meanwhile, An Jeong-hwa—registered in my party—must've gotten the alert and rushed here, leading to this.

Jeong-hwa said after I tossed her out of the pit, she left the centaur corpse and ran out to call for help. While the office responded to her report, she'd waited anxiously, imagining the worst for nine hours straight—nearly driven mad with guilt. She'd come right away upon hearing I'd been found.

Thinking how scared she must've been to abandon a valuable centaur corpse for help made me proud yet sorry. I held the tear-streaked Jeong-hwa leaning against me, patting her head.

"There, there. But good job, huh? Leaving the centaur body to report first?"

"...Sniff. What else could I do? It was all I could think of."

"Thanks for that. Still, next time grab the body first. I never do suicidal stuff, so don't worry. Aigoo, that 1.5 million won though."

"Uwuu. Really?"

"Haha, kidding. Kidding."

Han Yeoul wiped the tears from the now-calmed An Jeong-hwa's eyes with his hand. Watching from behind, the three women whispered among themselves.

"Looks like he already has an owner."

"Yeah, it'd be weirder if not. What about our maknae? Already a goalkeeper in place."

"...No helping it. But I still wanna repay our lifesaver."

"Obviously."

"But what do we even have to give? Gear got looted this time; gotta replace that first."

"Tell the cult leader? He saved a Cheonma Shin-gyo believer—leader won't ignore it."

"Maybe. Report after we get back."

"You aren't thinking of recruiting him into the cult, are you?"

"...Ahem. No comment, sisters."