Porter: Johann 14
Her body trembled uncontrollably. This sense of helplessness was a first since embarking on the adventure.
The Saintess had never been much help in combat even back in the original party, but she'd always thought she was doing her part by supporting the Hero and the Mage.
But that had been an illusion. If she had even an ounce of real ability, she wouldn't just stand by watching the porter collapse so pitifully.
"Damn it!"
Johann raised his voice. The man-eating flower's vines had split into so many tendrils it was hard to count them. It seemed ready to finish things off.
Up until now, it had been a casual scouting skirmish. From the dungeon hunter's perspective, the prey looked weak enough to catch and tasty enough to devour—there was no reason not to go for it.
"Porter!"
All the Priest could do was choke on the dust and cry out for him. But even that was fulfilling her role adequately.
Her favor stack must be pretty high by now. Time to wrap this up.
He had no hobby of rolling around in the dirt. If it weren't for winning her over, he'd never have let a puny flower like that push him this far.
The moment he decided to end it, Johann's demeanor shifted in an instant. But the Priest, shuddering in anxiety and fear, didn't notice the change at all. Instead, the man-eating flower—which had (in its delusion) cornered him with agile movements—sensed it first.
A chilling dread made its leaves quiver. As a monster that had survived on ferocity and death in the wilds of the dungeon, it had an exceptional instinct for danger. This should have been easy prey it'd already beaten senseless, yet an inexplicable fear pricked at its instincts.
Should I run?
The flower hesitated for a split second. A cat thinking of fleeing from a mouse it had already cornered—even a monster found the idea ridiculous.
The man-eating flower ignored its gut feeling. The situation was too advantageous. Snag that sprawled meat lump and the scrawny screamer beside it, and it'd have no worries about food for a while. No monster was dumb enough to kick away such a golden opportunity.
But as a monster, it should have trusted its instincts. That was the only path to survival.
Its thorn-studded vines swept away the cave dust as they reared up, ready to deliver the killing blow. The prey's stamina seemed pretty drained, so the finish should be easy.
But before the whip-spike could strike, Johann moved.
BOOM!
The thorn-covered vine slammed into the ground. The thunderous impact—unthinkable for a mere plant stem—echoed everywhere. Even the Priest, who had been whimpering "Porter!" in terror, lost her balance from the shockwave and tumbled over.
Underestimate those plant thorns, and you'd end up looking like you'd been dunked in an Iron Maiden. The attack packed overwhelming power.
Yet Johann dodged it effortlessly. The straightforward trajectory made it easy to evade.
"!?"
Only now did the man-eating flower fully grasp the abnormality. The nagging anxiety exploded like a dam breaking.
This human who evaded its attack moved with a lightness and grace that made you believe his body was made of feathers. Yet every motion brimmed with power.
Run.
That was the realization its instincts screamed. But it was too late. Johann's body had become a single gust of wind, closing in right up to the flower.
"Thanks."
A brief word of gratitude to his unwitting partner in the act, and Johann thrust his fist forward. Not just any punch, but one infused with the essence of KHC. The mana and inner energy at his fingertips spun like a vortex toward the flower.
The gale-blade tore through the flower's stem and shredded its leaves. Despite its sturdy body—tough enough to crater the ground—the flower was helpless against the profound insight of supreme KHC.
With a noise like thousands of swarms buzzing in unison, the man-eating flower was ripped to shreds. Like countless dungeon monsters before it, this one's end was to be subjugated by the protagonist.
Thud!
Johann landed stylishly on the ground. He'd sensed its demise the instant his fist gale connected. Not a tough opponent. It made his achievements feel all the more real.
"P-Porter!"
The Priest struggled to her feet using her staff and slowly approached Johann. Her face was stiff with shock. Her disbelieving eyes darted between him and the flower.
"Wh-What was that…."
"Danger!"
Johann scooped her up princess-style in a flash.
"Eek~!"
The Priest's cute scream popped like popping candy. Her voice was as youthful as her face. The flower's massive body toppled with a wobble, crashing over the spot where Johann and the Priest had just been.
BOOM!
The enormous plant trunk hit the ground. Only after retreating well clear did Johann set the Priest down. He brushed off his hands, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his forearm, and spoke.
"What a gruesome foe. I barely won."
"Porter… you're amazing…!"
The Priest's eyes widened like saucers. She replayed Johann's movements from moments ago. She hadn't seen it clearly, but it resembled the Hero in the heat of battle. No, perhaps even more….
"I was surprised myself."
"Huh!? You were surprised too…? What do you mean…?"
"No idea. I just thought I had to protect you, Priestess, and suddenly this unfamiliar power surged up."
"What? Don't tell me… did you just awaken?"
The Priest's jaw dropped, saliva practically dripping as she gaped.
"Awakening? That's a concept that doesn't exist in my world."
"W-W-Wait! Porter! Could you show me your body for a sec!?"
Her eyes sparkled as she said it. Johann nodded coolly.
"Of course. Look all you want!"
With that, he yanked off his top. The bold Priestess flushed peach-pink and panicked.
"Ah…. W-Well, then… excuse me…."
It was her first time seeing a man's bare body. But if he'd awakened, there had to be a stigma somewhere. Checking for it wasn't lewd at all. Totally safe.
With her self-justifying logic in place, the Priest began inspecting Johann's body—from his neckline, collarbone, bulging biceps on his arms, pecs and abs, lats, traps, and more.
Aaah! I'm just staring at his muscles!?
Gazing at his sculpted physique, she'd completely forgotten about stigmas and was admiring it like a work of art.
Johann wasn't just handsome-faced; his body was ridiculously perfect. For a Priest with zero tolerance for men, this was foul play.
"Ugh! N-Nothing on top, it seems…."
Sudden embarrassment hit, and she hurriedly looked away. But even with eyes averted, the image of his chiseled muscles lingered in her mind. She recited scripture to calm herself.
"Not on your upper body? Then maybe lower…? Shall I check?"
"N-No! I'm fine!!!"
The Priest shook her head frantically. Her face looked ready to burst like a balloon at a poke. Seeing her adorable reaction, Johann licked his lips.
"Anyway, about this awakening. It feels like my desire to protect you granted me new power. Without you, Priestess, it never would have happened. Thank you."
"N-No! If anything, I was a burden and useless in the fight! I should be thanking you! Thank you so much!"
She bowed her head deeply. It was probably just polite words, but every one of Johann's melted her heart without fail. Before parting, she recalled the Mage's words, etching Johann's face into her memory.
-The Priestess is weak.
-Without you, Priestess, it never would have happened. Thank you.
Unable to control her expression, a silly grin slipped out. Fearing he'd see, she quickly schooled her face.
"Priestess?"
"Y-Yes!? S-Sorry! What did you say?"
"Could you heal me, by chance? My left arm's aching."
"Of course! I'll heal you fresh as holy water!"
The Priest examined Johann's injury. She couldn't heal much with her light, but now wasn't the time to admit limits. Praying to the gods, she cast Healing Light on his left arm.
"H-How is it?"
"Feels great. Like it's washed clean."
Johann swung his left arm around as he spoke. Her cheeks slackened unconsciously at his reaction. She let out a loose laugh.
"Glad to hear it."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
The two set off again toward the exit. Darkness still blocked their path, but oddly, the Priest's steps felt lighter than before.
"That was seriously close."
The Hero said. His battered state proved it wasn't exaggeration.
"Hero! You okay!?"
The Mage rushed to him, shouting.
"Of course! Nice assist at the end there. I really thought we were done for!"
The Hero spoke to her cheerfully. The Mage puffed out her chest, replying with pride.
"Just luck. Though grabbing that luck was all my skill."
"I know your skills best. But before you show off, call the Priestess? I need healing."
"Ah…. About that, I sent her back first."
The Hero's face soured instantly at her words.
"Sent her back?"
"Yeah. With the porter. She's got zero combat power unlike me. With him, they might've reached the Adventurer's Guild by now."
At the Mage's words, the Hero pictured the porter's face.
Behind that ridiculously handsome visage, he felt an inexplicable foreboding. That's why he'd thrown a tantrum to kick him out of the party.
"No… problems, right?"
The Hero muttered. The Mage brushed it off casually.
"We cleared most monsters on the way in, so nothing blocking the path. Don't worry too much."
Despite her reassurance, the Hero couldn't shake the unease.