Chapter 86: A Sweaty Stroll Through the Demon Lair
Sweat pouring down her face, Esen Taiga glared at the gray pyramid-shaped structure, then shifted her gaze to the sun hanging at its peak. She couldn't stare for long. The sunlight was boiling fiercely.
"Damn it, we should've gone in yesterday. Why's it suddenly this hot after just one day?"
"Right? Summer's really hit its stride before we knew it."
We'd taken a day to check our gear before the full demon lair assault, and in that time, the muggy heat had caught up and started tickling us. Of course, temperature wasn't the only distraction. Esen's tongue lolling out like a dog's, all scarlet. Her sister's underboob peeking out every time she tugged her sleeve to fan herself. Bilena Nitro's white nape, hair tied back because it felt stuffy in the growing heat, dotted with sweat beads like dewdrops on glass...
"Quit peeking already?"
"What's wrong with girls looking at girls?"
Nenya and Islune Storm each tossed in a line, then shot each other dirty looks. Righteous Islune must've figured Nenya was bullying me over the male prostitute rumors even though I'd been cleared. But Nenya knew part of those rumors rang true. She exchanged a quick glance with Monica, then came up with an excuse after some thought.
"If you've got something to say, spit it out. We're teammates, right?"
Islune beamed with pride and emotion. Nenya cringed at that sun-like innocence, scrunching her face like the sunlight stung or something. Meanwhile, I'd barely torn my eyes from my teammates' casual exposure. This was a jobsite. There'd be plenty of better times and places to admire the people I loved.
"For a demon lair that popped up out of nowhere, it's pretty damn big. Even trained combat aptitude holders would struggle to break through with just swords, spears, and bows—not that civilians could."
"No wonder the villagers were worried. If we'd bailed, those locals they'd hastily rounded up would've died like dogs."
Reni sighed as she shook monster flesh off her blade. She'd been brutally straightforward with the villagers, but deep down, she cared about them. Around us, those worries come to life—severed torsos of the unfortunate twitching on the ground. The classic demon lair spawn from magi-soaked soil: centipimos.
If they'd known our party was coming, they probably would've crawled back into the dirt unborn.
"Big centipede bodies with venomous tentacles. Red as hell—full of poison. Been a while since I last saw 'em."
"A while? This is my first. They only show up in A-rank danger zones."
Esen let out a hollow chuckle, probably hoping for a scared look from me. Islune shook her head in shock.
"Whether it was your father or that Adamanthon punk, they must've dragged you through some hellholes, huh?"
...Nah. It was Tena. I remembered starting our clumsy adventures, just the two of us, charging bare-handed into the world. She'd secretly grilled centipede legs because she was sick of peanuts and jerky, then spent days bedridden with fever. I carried her back on my back. Nights nursing her burning fever, swinging torches at monsters—we were swamped. Thought we were goners for real back then.
I set aside the bittersweet memory and nodded.
"Yeah. Let's do a quick headcount as usual. Esen, Monica, Nidroga, Islune, Reni, Nenya, Morgan, Bilena, and me. All here. Sun's brutal—ready to head in?"
"Love the enthusiasm. How we doing it? Nidroga smash like always? Or Bilena blast with explosives for old times' sake?"
"That'd tip off the monsters inside. Let's open it quiet."
Fight-loving Esen pouted a bit, but Monica and Bilena welcomed my suggestion. With centipimos swarming from just a leak of magi, the inside was bound to have equals or worse lurking. Demon lair doors were traditionally massive stone slabs—impossible to lift without magic or overwhelming strength, and even then, careless moves could crush a couple people flat.
But with a steel cable pulley redirecting the force upward...
"Lifts a 1.5-ton stone door easy."
"Hah, we're a full-on pro break-in crew."
"...Even with gear, that's 150kg per person at 1/10th. Porter aptitude or not, ain't that heavy?"
They all stared in awe, and I felt proud. Gripping the cable steady, I grinned.
It's heavy. Hurry through.
"It's heavy. Hurry through... Was gonna say it's my job so no biggie, but yeah, just assume that."
"...Slipped out 'cause it's that heavy, huh."
"I'll hurry. Still badass though."
"Thanks, sis."
"Walking supply depot, lift operator, weapons rack. Can't fathom why anyone thinks parties don't need porters."
Torches and oil packed generously in my bag, plus folding javelins. Morgboards—rat-like monsters that see in pitch dark like daylight. But our lit stone passage blinded them like moles in the sun. Our party rained javelins on the man-sized rats stumbling and squeaking in confusion.
Reni marveled at how our ample payload made fights easier. From my view, her spearing three at a time was more impressive. Esen, though, looked deflated. Nidroga, throwing alongside Reni, patted Esen's shoulder and handed her a spare.
"This is kinda fun."
"Have your fun then."
"Were you hoping for a dark brawl or something?"
"How'd you know?"
Nidroga eyed Esen weirdly. Esen scowled right back. Good thing the morgboards were mopped up. I jumped between them in horror.
"What's up?"
"Step aside a sec. Nidroga's got words for me."
"You too, Esen?"
"Won't interrupt work. Wait here."
I gaped at the unprecedented sight. Even in downtime, I hadn't realized inventory management was this lax.
"...Strong as you are, this is a demon lair. Can't do this."
"Won't interrupt. Won't take long."
Esen and Nidroga bulldozed around the corner. Their clicking steps toward the entrance looked ominous. Hope they weren't seriously fighting. Esen wobbled like heatstroke.
"...Tan, grab some cold water from the bag? Weird doing stuff we don't usually in this heat."
"...Yeah. First time seeing them like that."
Reni and Nenya's words left me uneasy.
"Good thing, I guess. Or maybe bad. They got beef?"
"Dunno. Usually tight."
"Esen's competitive side's always there. Maybe Dragon's Nest stuff set it off..."
Esen had ground her teeth after Nidroga—possessed by Lilith—beat her one-sidedly. Vowed to smash that succubus so bad she'd never return if they met again. But Esen's straightforward nature didn't seem the type to hold it against Nidroga herself.
Stunning the rest, they stiffly returned. Esen faced away, face hidden. Nidroga's was clean.
"Uh, Monica."
"Hurt?"
"Bruised a bit mid-reconciliation. Help?"
"...No hard feelings?"
"Yeah, sis."
Esen's voice trembled. Beaten to tears? Too scared to ask. Monica sighed, eyeing them reproachfully, and stood. Nidroga averted her gaze awkwardly, then beckoned me suddenly.
"Porter, grab the med kit and follow. Got words."
"Me?"
"Heat...stroke? Again?"
I nearly yelled, then hushed. Esen panted hot breaths, nodding. Shit. Now I got the shaky voice, the stagger. Not just the heat messing her condition.
Esen muttered weakly.
"Came days early. Weird. Never like this. Shouldn't have tagged along."
"No Tan back then. Partner changes the body maybe."
"Worst."
Nidroga—sniffing it before me—dropped the fake menace, looking anxious at us. Asking what now. Monica glanced at me. I bit my lip.
"Sis, soundproofed?"
"Long ago."
Esen looked at me, eyes brimming with anticipation and tears. I gripped her shoulders firmly, enunciating clearly.
"No."
"Please."
"Not till we smash the altar and shut this lair down."
"Please. Once, done."
"No. Islune'll notice. And if you can't finish in one, I'll get swept up too. This is enemy turf."
"Hands only."
Esen pleaded desperately.
"I know it's pathetic. But it throbs like dying."
"Not pathetic."
How could it be? It was the price of tigress power. I'd ordered books on Esen—mature tigresses' heat pains could shatter reason entirely. Nothing but mating on the mind. Unsated, they'd smash surroundings to signal males. Turns out Esen had exceptional restraint for her age. Her parents calling her back from that promiscuous society? Probably for her and others' sake.
Books had tips too. Like temporarily easing pain with... partner's verbal stimulation.
"Hold out, and I'll reward you."
"What reward?"
In this sweltering sauna, I squeezed out the cheapest line my brain allowed. Esen eyed me impressed, then crushed her urges with grim resolve. Soon, the usual cocky Esen returned.
"You promised, kitten."
"Finish safe, and I will. Definitely."