Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Fox's Heat (1)
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[Limit Break Lv.1] has ended.
The moment he plunged the dagger into Hiro, the effects of [Limit Break] vanished instantly. The power that had filled his entire body drained away in a heartbeat, replaced by excruciating agony.
Grind. Creak.
"Guh! Guh... Graaaah..."
He let the shattered dagger slip from his hand and collapsed like a puppet with cut strings. He could hear his muscles screaming, feel them tearing in spots all over his body. At the same time, the [Regeneration] skill kicked in upon detecting the injuries, slowly knitting his wounds back together.
He wished he could just black out like he had after felling that troll last time, but thanks to [Regeneration], he stayed conscious, wracked by nonstop torment and convulsing. Somehow mustering his wits amid the spasms, he clawed desperately at the pouch on his belt and pulled out a potion.
What he retrieved was a murky crimson potion—one he'd refined from that toxic troll blood before. It was poisonous, sure, but its regenerative power, drawn from troll blood, was unmatched.
Lacking the strength to uncork it properly, he brought it to his lips, twisted the stopper off with his teeth, and dumped the contents into his mouth.
Eh, he said something about just shoving it in his mouth, right? Close enough.
"Gack... Graaaaaah!"
He regretted it immediately. As the potion took effect, his body began regenerating rapidly, and [Regeneration] aided the process—prolonging the agony without cease. On top of that, the already vicious poison had concentrated further during refinement; even his Lv.3 [Poison Resistance] couldn't fully block it, letting venom seep through his system.
Unable to pass out, feeling every bit of that suffering, he cast [Sensory Block] on himself. But it hit its limit right away and canceled, letting him gauge the pain's sheer intensity.
By now, he could block most sensations without issue... yet the skill canceled instantly? Just how brutal was this pain?
Your swordsmanship has advanced one step in a desperate battle to the death against a formidable foe. [Swordsmanship] skill has reached Lv.3.
[Sensory Release] level has risen to 3. Sensory release limit has increased further.
[Multi-Block] level has risen to 2. Can block more senses across more targets.
To escape the pain, he pulled up the system messages that had appeared after the battle. Rewards for surviving that brutal fight—proof he'd grown stronger. Feeling that growth made the current suffering seem almost bearable... Nope, not even close. Fuck, somebody save me.
How long had he been thrashing about? Once the pain finally ebbed enough, he managed to pull himself together and stand. His body still ached everywhere, but the potion and [Regeneration] had done their job—he could move again, at least.
Muscles weren't fully healed, so every motion brought sharp stings, but now [Sensory Block] could handle that much. Of course, he couldn't afford to push it recklessly...
Staggering to his feet, he approached Hiro's corpse. He pried at the object still clutched in the dead man's hand. This was... paper? It looked torn from a book...
What the hell was so important about this? Thinking back, Hiro had fought the whole time gripping this paper in one hand—effectively sealing off that arm. Even during the final Hearing Block-Release combo attack, he hadn't let go, even while covering his ears.
It screamed "important and ominous," too risky to leave behind, so he pocketed it.
"■■■........."
"Guh?!"
The instant he pulled the paper free, his mind reeled. A language echoed in his head, akin to the incantations Hiro had muttered— like some higher being speaking directly into his thoughts...
'Mortal... you have obtained a fragment of my knowledge...'
"[Sensory Block]"
'...............'
Reacting on instinct, he slapped [Sensory Block] on himself. He wasn't sure exactly what he'd blocked—just willed away that intrusive voice, and it vanished. Handy.
Creeped out, he considered burning it, but it seemed too valuable. Into Vivian's gem it went... Too much of a mouthful every time. Inventory from now on.
Anyway, paper to inventory. Safe to store something like this? Made by a grand witch, so it should hold, right?
With the paper stowed, he tentatively released [Sensory Block]. No voice this time. Isekai classic—an ego item? Or maybe possessed by a demon or evil god.
Maybe Hiro had been brainwashed by whatever this was, driven to attack them. Wouldn't bring the bastard back to life, though.
Pocketing the paper, he dragged his battered body over to Lena's slumped form. Shuffling slowly, he knelt by her side and checked her pulse. Good—she was breathing steadily, seemed fine. Hell, better off than him.
Ever since grabbing that paper, the curse aura permeating the area had lifted. Checking Lena, her curses seemed gone too. The paper was the culprit, huh?
Hiro's magic poison lingered, though, so he fed her one of his antivenoms. Not custom-tailored, but Alchemy Guild-made—reliable stuff.
Forcing her mouth open and trickling it in, more than half spilled, but she swallowed enough. Her color improved markedly. Crisis averted.
Finally, chugging water to rehydrate, exhaustion overwhelmed him. He collapsed on the spot. Just a bit... just sleep like this a while...
Around the time Ian succumbed to fatigue, Lena dreamed.
'Leona's technique is the best, no doubt!'
'Whose kid is Leona's daughter? Mine, right?'
Her mother had been a whore. A top earner at the brothel, too—stunning looks and a pussy that ensnared men like no other kept clients lining up nonstop.
She'd entertained so many, no one could guess Lena's father when she was born.
And Lena hated her mother for it. Hated herself for taking after her. Hated the way men leered at her, just like they did her mom.
So when she came of age, she ran away. Staying meant being groomed into the family trade—no other path.
Wandering aimlessly, she nearly got kidnapped and raped. Still young, but inheriting her mother's beauty made her a target in back alleys crawling with pedo scum.
"You okay?"
A compassionate old mage saved her. White-haired, aged, but wielding potent spells. She rescued Lena from the creep and took her in.
Fortune smiled—Lena had magic talent. From then on, she apprenticed under the mage, honing her craft.
By adulthood, her master passed from old age. Lena sought out the mage's old friend in Labyrinth City. To advance the magic her master taught, she became a Labyrinth adventurer.
Back then, buoyed by her master's love, she'd mostly forgotten her painful childhood. Unbelievable she sprang from a whorehouse—she'd been so bright...
"Oh, pretty thing. You'll fetch a good price."
In the Labyrinth.
"With looks like yours, you could be our ace. What do ya say?"
On the shopping streets.
"Ahem... Want to advance your magic? Forget diving the Labyrinth—be my apprentice. I'll teach you one-on-one, nice and proper..."
...At the Mage Tower.
Filthy men everywhere. Her master's love had filled her once, but now...
"Get lost, scum."
She grew to despise men. Or scum, really—every guy she'd met was trash.
It started as loathing for trashy types, but soon ballooned to hatred for all men.
"Um, hi. I'm Ketton, your new party membe—"
"Back off three meters? You make me sick."
She vented it freely. Her prodigious magic shot her to Intermediate Adventurer fast, but her prickly disdain for anything male made parties scarce.
Plus, she was a slow-chant mage. Labyrinth runs needed frontline tanks, but rumors hobbled her recruitment.
She didn't care. Better off without guys, she figured. Alensia from newbie training had formed an all-girls fixed party and hit Advanced, right?
Secretly idolizing Alensia as a mentor, Lena stuck to her guns. She met dear friend Hiss, softening her edges a touch... but she still loathed men.
Loathed them intensely. Men were... all... eve... ry... one...
'...Thirsty.'
Was she alive? Vague memories surfaced: mana reflux, a blade falling on her. Dead?
But the faint pain and thirst proved otherwise. Instinctively, she groped her side for her usual water-creation magic tool. Found it, infused mana on habit...
"...Ow..."
Sharp pain at the attempt. Right— she'd forced spells amid mana reflux. Backlash. Abandoning it, she staggered up and scanned around.
Her pre-charged glowstone lit the area plenty.
Undead corpses scattered about. Bloodstains where she'd lain—hers, probably—plus empty potion vials.
sweeping with the glowstone, she spotted a body and flinched.
'...That adventurer, Hiro?'
Memories trickled back from before blackout. The guy who'd ambushed her and Ian. Cursed and poisoned, forcing magic till he fell to this man. She'd figured death for sure...
A massive hole gaped in mighty Hiro's skull. Corpse cold and stiff, broken dagger nearby. Skill rivaling Intermediate Adventurers, plus curses, necromancy, weird barriers.
"...Ian? Ian?!"
Last memory before passing out: green flames from Hiro shattering her shield, then Ian leaping in to parry his sword.
Frantically shining the glowstone, she found a collapsed man nearby.
Her heart dropped. Massive blood loss, utterly still—dead, it seemed.
Panicking, limping over, she pressed her ear to Ian's chest. Breath—
"...S..."
Alive. Relief washed over her.
We won.
Relief buckled her knees beside him. Thirst hit anew. Spotting his water tool on his belt—pre-charged model, unlike hers.
Disposable once mana depleted, but perfect now.
Parched like fire, she eased it from his pouch and gulped. Clarity returned with moisture; she examined Ian.
Battle scars everywhere—blood everywhere. Good potions had closed deep wounds, but scratches lingered all over.
Sitting close, she idly brushed back his hair, studying him.
He'd saved her. Without Ian, she'd be dead. Curses, poison, heat—plus Hiro's freakish strength—had crushed her. And this man...
Empty vials by her spot weren't hers. Post-battle, Ian must've dosed her. Indeed, the toxins racking her body had eased before blackout.
I'd pegged him unreliable... Not that I'd expected much from any guy...
Stroking his hair, peering at his face—thirst returned despite ample water.
Another pull from the tool, but... water didn't quench it.
If anything, thirst deepened. Body itching faintly, heat rising.
"...Ah!..."
Then it hit her.
Right... my heat...
