Porter: Johann 21
We returned to the inn. The picnic with Priest had borne fruit. I'd learned her name—a sure sign that we'd grown even closer.
"Priest, it's no fun just sitting around. How about we head to a dungeon together?"
I said it like we were just popping out for a casual outing.
"A dungeon? But your body's still..."
"An advanced one would be too much, but a beginner dungeon's fine. Our duo cleared that tricky Illusion of the Carnivorous Plant together, didn't we?"
"Still, pushing too hard could reopen your wounds. Rest is the best medicine for a patient."
"Get too lazy, and your body rots away."
I invited Priest to explore the dungeon. I had a strong feeling this would drive the wedge home. If I played the suspension bridge effect right, I could stamp my claim on her heart.
Priest twirled a strand of hair around her finger, pondering. She wasn't flat-out refusing—just hesitating—which meant she was at least somewhat interested. Our shared ordeal in the Illusion of the Carnivorous Plant was probably giving her pause.
"If it's a really easy beginner dungeon..."
After some thought, she gave her answer. She accepted.
"Perfect. Do we need to register at the Adventurer's Guild first?"
"Not necessarily. But if you don't report the expedition, no rescue team comes if you go missing. For a beginner dungeon, it's fine to skip it."
"Then let's go."
We stepped back out onto the streets.
Priest seemed fully adjusted to her tight bodysuit now. Eyes still lingered from passersby, but she ignored them. Even with her massive hips on blatant display, she walked along with a carefree bounce. Human adaptability was truly frightening.
"Head out the east gate, and there's a dungeon popular with newbies. Mostly mushroom-type monsters. Low lethality, but watch out for their poisonous spores."
"Not a strong poison, I take it?"
"Yeah. Inhaling it might cause a rash or mild hallucinations. Still, they're monsters. Lose focus, and you'll look foolish."
Not something I'd ever worry about.
We reached the beginner dungeon soon after exiting the east gate. Far from a typical "dungeon," it was a lush forest stretching before us, ringed by a tall fence to keep people out. A sign at the entrance read: "Dungeon Starts Here."
"Quite a crowd."
Several groups of adventurers in light leather gear dotted the area. Even some kids half my size. This was the cradle for fresh adventurers just starting out from Start Village.
"Let's head inside."
Hardly any monsters near the entrance. Priest and I pushed deeper. The dense canopy blocked the sunlight, turning the path dimmer the further in we went. Despite the midday hour, the shadows from the trees created an unfamiliar, eerie mood. A damp, humid atmosphere hung over everything.
Perfect environment for mushrooms.
No wonder the mushroom monsters spawned here.
"There—a monster!"
A mushroom monster waddled into view, its cap bristling with sharp spikes. About 110 cm tall. True to form, it had eyes, nose, and mouth on its stalk body, plus orange shoe-like feet and white-gloved arms. Straight out of an RPG—pure cartoon fodder.
"Horned Mushroom."
I raised my fist, kicked off the ground, and closed the distance in a flash.
"!?"
The Horned Mushroom's face twisted in acrobatic shock. My fist smashed into its face. Felt like punching a rubber wall—springy. Its body flew off pathetically.
Thud!
It slammed into a tree five meters away. Swirly eyes spun in its head. It didn't twitch again.
"Amazing!"
Priest clapped, beaming. It was nothing special, looks aside.
"Horned Mushroom was my first monster ever. It scared me back then, but now... kinda cute?"
Priest toddled over to the fallen mushroom, squatting to inspect it like a curious squirrel eyeing a nut.
"Hand okay?"
"No issue."
I swung my arm to reassure her worried gaze. Not a drop of stamina lost. I could take down thousands of these trash mobs. We pressed on.
Power of Sex (SSS-grade)
Influences all sex-related acts. Amplifies sexual pleasure for self and partner during sex; growth scales with intensity. Induce 'Defeat Orgasm' in partner to enslave them.
Power of Trust (F-grade)
Grants slight favorability to all targets. Buff efficiency scales with favorability. Special buff effects may trigger on max-favor targets.
My absurdly high stats meant the beginner dungeon mobs were no threat at all. We reached the deepest part without a hitch. Along the way, we found a couple treasure chests. True to a beginner dungeon, the loot was meager, but Priest lit up over even those small spoils.
"Whoa! This necklace—it's the item I got on my first adventure! Shops buy it for 1 silver!"
Her joy over the spoils was the real treasure. At some point, she'd started treating this expedition like a picnic.
The boss was a Giant Silver Wolf. A massive wolf with gleaming silver fur, about 3 meters long—tough for newbie parties. Taking it down as a group supposedly shed the "beginner" label.
I dispatched it effortlessly. No skills needed—just a few punches, and it yelped off to the side.
"Whoa! Incredible! Once you're fully recovered, Porter, our party could seriously take down the Demon King!"
"You're too kind."
Maybe not.
Sunset painted the sky crimson as we exited the dungeon—a sentimental glow. A fresh scent wafted from the fading horizon.
"Porter!"
Priest turned, hands behind her back, a bright smile on her lips. She stepped closer—one pace. Now we were a handspan apart.
Close enough to hear each other's breaths, she rose on tiptoes. Her face drew nearer. Gloss shimmered on her cherry lips.
"Thanks so much for today!"
"No trouble."
"Truth is, I was agonizing over it. Better to leave the party than burden Hero and Mage, right?"
Classic Priest dilemma.
"But that was silly. Thanks to you, I realized I'm a full-fledged party member."
Her lips moved with crisp, melodic words.
"I gained confidence. I joked earlier, but now? I feel like we could beat the Demon King. Hehe~♪"
She spun away playfully, voice lilting up. I grabbed her shoulder.
"!?"
I turned her back toward me. Still close. Our eyes locked, reflections crystal clear.
"Porter...?"
I covered her lips with mine.
"......"
No gasp of shock escaped her. Not because I'd sealed her lips—but because she'd accepted it.
Her body had already been signaling yes. This kiss was just confirmation.
I gently traced her mouth with my tongue. First kiss—no need for a full deep one yet.
But too light wouldn't suit me. I tenderly explored her teeth and gums. Her tongue quivered, unresponsive. First time—expected.
I pulled back. Saliva stretched like a spiderweb between our lips, arcing slowly before snapping as we parted a fist's width.
Her expression was indescribably complex. Flushed cheeks like henna dye spoke volumes.
"Porter..."
Her first words were meaningless—just my name.
"Doing this out of nowhere... it's cheating..."
"Couldn't help it. I wanted to win, even if it meant cheating."
"Seriously..."
She bowed her head. Steam practically rose from her crown.
"Back to the inn."
Laden with implication. She nodded without hesitation. Did she grasp it went beyond "let's go home"?
I gripped her hand tight. Hot as if dipped in fire. Shyer than when she first wore that lewd outfit.
Like I'd snagged a fun new toy—I was thrilled. The walk back felt endlessly long.
Back at the inn, we went straight to her room. I shut the door. Didn't lock it.
"Um... Porter."
Hand on her chest, she looked up anxiously.
"I'm still not mentally ready..."
I silenced her lips again with mine.
"Don't worry. I'll take the lead."