The Tutorial Boss Heads to the Back Alley
Elena trudged along listlessly the whole way from the blacksmith. She kicked at the pebbles underfoot as if staging some kind of protest.
"Mister."
"What."
"Are you dating that lady? Ow!"
I planted my fist on Elena's head.
"Don't even joke about that in front of Barie. She's nobility."
"She's nobility?"
"Yeah. So shut up with the nonsense and focus on your own job."
Elena pouted at my dry response but kept walking without asking more. Her face was full of dissatisfaction.
The street to the guild's training grounds buzzed with morning energy. Merchants set out their wares on stalls, and adventurers hustled about in their gear.
"Elena dear! Good morning!"
A shopkeeper at the street corner waved as she opened her door.
"Oh, ma'am! Good morning!"
Elena waved back with a bright smile. A passing housewife spotted her and greeted warmly.
"Oh, Elena. Off to work again today?"
"Yes! It's a big one today."
"Elena. Good morning."
"Good morning to you too, mister."
"Big sis Elena."
"Hey, little bro~."
Elena seemed pretty well-known around here. Plenty of folks greeted her as we walked—fruit vendors, veggie shop clerks. She replied to each with a sunny smile, chatting easily without any distance. Even though she'd only moved here recently, everyone remembered her face.
Elena's daily life feels like this, huh.
It was something the game never showed. With the time acceleration, everyday moments got skipped over. Considering how Elena was treated in the official story, she never got this kind of peaceful vibe.
A tranquility you couldn't see in that adult game. But even amid the serene scene, tension rippled through the crowd.
"Elena, dear. Come here a sec."
The bakery lady grabbed Elena's sleeve and yanked. She glanced warily at me picking out bread, then whispered low.
"That guy's Eck, right?"
"Yes, but...?"
"I heard you were hanging around with him, but you're not getting mistreated or anything, are you? The rumors are nasty. Don't tell me you're still single at your age because of Eck?"
"N-no! Mister's not like that. He's really good to me."
"Really?"
Elena flailed her hands in panic, denying it. But the lady's suspicious glare lingered. She even tsked toward me.
I could hear everything, lady. Don't underestimate an adventurer's ears.
But I pretended not to notice.
"What're you two whispering about? The customer's ready to buy bread—why aren't you doing business?"
"Y-yes! Coming!"
She fumbled nervously as she rang up the bread I'd picked, right in front of me.
The villain tutorial boss's reputation was always like this. Eck's foul temper was starting to rub off on Elena.
The game didn't delve into these details, but it was time to do something about it.
Why do I have to clean up Eck's karma? Felt unfair, but ignoring problems in reality wouldn't make them vanish.
I handed Elena the bread as we left, tearing into mine as we walked. Warm sunlight bathed the peaceful street. Right after wrapping up the Red Moon mess, everything felt languid and idle. Maybe I was just sleepy from pulling an all-nighter.
In the original scenario, this time of day Eck would've been demanding "tribute" from Elena—money or her body. Sitting her next to him in the guild cafeteria, groping her chest and crotch. Hell, making her sit on his lap while all the adventurers knew but looked away.
Fucking Eck bastard.
Thinking of his deeds always gave me a headache. Technically, it was my record now.
And walking these streets with Elena brought back game memories.
"Tch."
I tsked without realizing. This was where he'd made her crawl naked on all fours with a collar, enduring passersby's jeers and scorn. Those mocking shouts from the same people now greeting her friendly echoed in my head.
It was all undone now, but the memories stuck firmly in my mind.
No wonder it took a whole year.
A year of wasting Elena's talent on the game's hardcore sex scenes. Current Elena was stronger than her game counterpart at this point. She'd built solid foundations step by step, matching her gifts. No more tripping over her own feet despite her skill, no more frustrating the player by getting raped by monsters every time.
Smooth sailing so far.
If it kept up, she'd handle the monster wave with room to spare.
I was munching contentedly when I felt eyes on us. Unlike the neighborly stares at Elena, these were furtive from afar, peeking from the shadows of a dingy back alley. Rat bastards.
Might as well clean house while I've got time.
They noticed my gaze and slunk into the alley.
Guild training grounds. Adventurers joined their parties, gearing up for hunts.
Elena's crew was already waiting when we arrived. They looked solid. Hans and Duke, adapting to their female bodies, stuck to their old roles. Their lifelong skills hadn't vanished—just new ways to use them.
Mira kept an eye on them. Elena said they still struggled with basics like holding it in.
Tension showed, but their grips on weapons were firm.
I gave Elena's back a light push.
"Mister, you're not coming?"
"Nah."
Her shoulders tensed. She shot me an anxious look.
I met her blue eyes straight on.
"Why not?"
"You can handle it without me. I'm trusting you because it's you. Do your best."
Her wavering gaze hardened into sharp resolve. Her mood flipped with just a few words—her innocence made me worry unnecessarily.
No wonder she fell for traps so easily.
Adult game heroine gonna adult game, but it pissed me off even when I didn't want the sex scenes.
For a third-rate adult game, the combat was solid—that made it worse.
Elena strode confidently to her party and led them toward the forest.
Elena's steps to the eastern forest were light yet determined. She mentally reviewed troll habits and countermeasures against Green Magic nonstop.
"Elena, we can really do this, right?"
Hans sidled up, asking. I still marveled each time that this pretty sister used to be a guy.
"Mister said we can. So we can."
"Hope so..."
Hans muttered doubtfully. To her, a few days hadn't brought noticeable gains.
As Hans fretted inwardly, a scoff rang out.
"Elena, you actually crawled out instead of running? Your arrogance is impressive."
Clap clap. The newcomers wore matching uniforms—white base with yellow trim. The YasMelo Clan.
YasMelo clan adventurers had tailed Elena's party. Leading them was a girl Elena's age.
"Daryl. What do you want this time?"
"It's Clan Leader Daryl to you."
Daryl smirked, nose high.
"Adventurers who can't even show basic manners from the get-go are just trash."
She eyed Elena up and down.
"I told you last time: bow your head to seniors. Staring defiantly like that? Did you learn etiquette from some alley mutt? Spare me."
Her clanmates snickered on cue.
"Ah, right. Learned from that guild drunk has-been squatting in the corner, huh? Figures you'd turn out trash. Obvious without seeing."
Pure provocation. Daryl had been picking fights lately for no clear reason—sharp words out of nowhere.
"What do you want this time?"
"Can't you tell? That's why rookies lack awareness."
Their gear gleamed: long spears, harpoons with hooks, thick ropes like a man's forearm, oil flasks of fire oil. Standard troll-hunting kit, per what Mister taught.
"The troll hunt's ours."
"Be grateful."
Sudden demand for thanks.
"Daryl of YasMelo will handle your cleanup. Don't worry about failing—just charge in, get wrecked. We'll exterminate after the troll's done playing, and save you as a bonus~."
She twisted her lips, mockery dripping from every word.
"That quest was ours originally."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Darko pushed it, we executed—that was the plan. But he overreached, screwed everything, then lost to trash like you without owning up. Embarrassing to have him around."
"...."
Elena stayed calm, breathing to keep steady against the bait.
"If you want, we can say you tried and hand it off."
"Pass."
"Why? You can't take a troll."
"We will."
Elena glanced at her party. They trembled facing the clan but shouted on her cue.
"Yeah! We can do it!"
"Eck vouched for us!"
"Yeah! Yeah!"
Elena drew strength from their cheers.
"No need for you."
"Hmph."
Daryl covered her mouth dramatically, laughing.
"At least you know your place. A rootless party like yours taking on a B-rank troll? Passing goblins would die laughing."
She shrugged.
"Fine. Go wild. I'll watch from afar as the troll guts you, laugh while saving you."
"....Let's go."
Elena led her party into the troll's territory.
Stupid bitch.
Daryl sneered inwardly.
Your arrogance will eat you alive.
She'd investigated Elena's party. All F-rank, tackling a B-rank troll? Absurd.
No miracles here—their fate was sealed.
Trolls were special even among B-ranks: top regen, magic prowess, endless stamina. Any one made them unbeatable by peers or below.
Her party would get picked off, then face the troll's lust.
"All four are beauties. Can we play with them after the troll?"
"Make sure they never act cocky again."
The clan cheered.
Soon, Daryl's group trailed Elena's at a distance into the deep woods. Elena's party checked the map, stealthily masking their presence in troll turf.
"Why're they so slow?"
"Not prepped like us."
"Tch, fighting trolls with that?"
They fiddled with gear, confidence surging. Fear gone.
"KUOOOOOH!!"
A roar shook the bushes. A troll burst from the forest depths.
"Save me! Uwaaaak!"
"T-troll!"
The troll crossed the distance in a flash, slamming thick vines into the party's center. They exploded, shattering Daryl's formation instantly.
"Wh-what're you doing?! Troll's here! Like we practiced! Sp-spears! Rope?! Shields!!!"
But the troll rampaged through, howling. Daryl flinched and collapsed.
B-rank troll. It shredded her party in moments. Wipeout in a blink.
"N-nooo..."
Facing its power, Daryl's legs gave out. The assault done, the troll's massive hand reached for her waist.