Chapter 9: Gawella (27), the Ex-Instructor Strong in Body and Mind but Weak in the Rear [1]
I pulled out the lantern. I'd picked it up yesterday while shopping for adult toys—handy for cleaning up all the trash scattered in the corners here.
'Damn, it's bright in here.'
Since I had plenty of cash anyway, I'd splurged on the most expensive one, and it was worth every penny. The depths of the cave were lit up clear as day.
"GRRRRAAAAHHH!" The bear slumbering deep in the cave woke with a thunderous roar.
A field boss monster, the Cave Bear. It seemed pissed off, its eyes stung by my lantern light.
The beast charged straight at me, its massive bulk barreling down like a goddamn truck. Sure, its level was way higher than mine, but it didn't feel threatening at all.
No matter how you sliced it, even a field boss was just beginner village fodder. My +15 reinforced Growth Dagger had long outgrown this dump.
I hurled the Growth Dagger at the charging beast.
Whiiish!Crunch!
The dagger flew like a bullet, piercing the bear's skull. The hole it punched through split its enormous body clean in half.
Damn, it's seriously strong. Still only level 19, and I one-shot a level 25 field boss.
The only gripe? This so-called field boss didn't drop a single item.
But I wasn't disappointed. Real loot awaited in the back of the cave, where the bear had made its bed.
◈ A book infused with mysterious power. Reading it fully grants the Purifying Light skill without restrictions.
"Oh! A skillbook!"
Skillbooks are rare treasures. Just read 'em, and you learn the skill—no job or level limits. And this one's Heroic grade. No idea why it'd be stashed in a backwater hole like this, but jackpot.
Sell it? Big money. But nah.
Skills over cash.
Skillbooks are tough to buy even with money, and more skills are always better.
Lantern light flickering in the dark cave—perfect reading spot.
I spent a good while poring over the book.
Purifying Light (Lv.1)
Purifying Light
Purifies the target with holy light. Washes away impurities, foreign matter, and curses. Consumes mana.
"Oh?"
I'd guessed from the name, but this was way more useful than expected. My ultimate goal? Exterminate the Demon God.
And that bastard pollutes and curses everything it touches. Chasing it down means dealing with all sorts of nasty contamination and curses—this skill would make that a breeze.
Handy for the present too.
Purifying Light!
"Whoa. Works like a charm."
I cast it on myself, and all the dirt from tumbling down the slope vanished spotless. No more grime in my future.
'What's this thing?'
The skillbook wasn't the only find. Next to it sat a mysterious crystal orb of unknown origin.
◈ A crystal orb that has lost its original power. It must absorb a specific force to regain its true form.
Found next to a holy skillbook, so maybe something sacred? I tried Purifying Light—no change. Poured in mana—nothing. Never seen anything like it in my past life; no clue how to handle it.
"There you are! I knew I'd find you here!"
Whoa, that startled me. A booming voice out of nowhere nearly made me yelp.
"Instructor Gawella?"
I turned to see Gawella standing there.
"You came looking for me?"
She nodded, her face full of apology.
"Someone got hurt in my exam—it's only right I come searching."
She didn't know it was Bigsim's doing. No surprise; that prick wouldn't fess up straight.
Funny, though. He'd shoved me away to get me apart from Gawella, and now here she was, tracking me down herself.
"What about the exam?"
"Handed it off to the other staff. They've got the eye and skill for it—no issues there."
"Then I'll join them."
"No. This forest is too dangerous for you. Even with me, I might not protect you fully. Better stay put."
She saw me as your average examinee. Fair enough—the forest was deadly by normal standards.
'Not for me.'
Regressor knowledge aside, raw reinforcement handled it all. A level 25 Cave Bear went down in one hit; random mobs were nothing.
"Besides, the staff will wrap up soon and come looking. Moving risks missing them."
Wait here for backup? Nah, skillbook done—time's wasting.
'Tell her about Bigsim?'
Hold off. Better spill after passing and changing jobs—builds trust.
So... what now? As if reading my mind, Gawella nodded and proposed.
"But sitting idle wastes time. How about a final exam right here?"
"Sounds good to me. How?"
"Simple! Prove you can handle various weapons—against me!"
The third exam's theme: master three-plus weapons in real combat. Normally in a dungeon, but instructors had leeway.
"I've only got one weapon."
"Ho! That's one hell of a blade you've got."
I showed her the Growth Dagger, and her eyes lit up with excitement. Reinforced gear gets flashy effects—I had 'em off, but she clocked its extraordinary vibe like the Weapon Master pro she was.
"Don't sweat the others. Borrow mine."
"Got it."
No reason to refuse. Time's money.
"Come at me with that dagger!"
Ex-instructors are beasts. Minimum level 80 to qualify. Gap's clear, so I lunged without holding back.
Clang!
Gawella whipped out her thigh-holstered dagger, parrying flawlessly.
"Oho! You're the real deal!"
Pure admiration crossed her face. With each clash, her excitement ramped up.
"You're strong! Good—hit me harder!"
Perfect chance. Hadn't properly warmed up since regressing. Against an instructor? I could go all out.
"Incredible talent—I've never seen—huh?"
Mid-swing at her throat, I halted my arm, spun, and snapped a kick.
"Cancel?"
First hint of fluster from Gawella. Weapon Master staple: abort attack, chain into another. No skill yet, but muscle memory let me fake it decently.
Normally swap weapons mid-cancel for max chaos, but dagger-only meant improv kick.
"The body is a weapon too! You get it!"
Didn't land, of course. Her elbow swatted my leg away.
"Here I go again."
"Bring it!"
Fierce exchanges followed. The cave heated up fast.
Tap. My dagger grazed her side first, but...
"I lose."
Her dagger hovered at my throat.
"Lose? This wasn't about winning! Given our level gap, this is astonishing! Incredible!"
She was buzzing. Yaka tribe worships the strong, regardless of age or gender. Guess I impressed her.
"Dagger: pass! I'd certify you on the spot, but rules are rules."
Gawella threw her arms wide, chest thrust out, slowly spinning for show.
"Pick what you want! Anything goes! Got valuables, but against you? Fine by me!"
Choose any weapon, but... damn, that pose was tempting. Lantern light played up her killer curves—ripped muscles and bone shadows popping, cleavage, underbutt, holster-squeezed thighs all highlighted. Sweat beading on taut brown skin, sparkling in the glow? Hot as hell.
No wonder Bigsim and the guys were thirsty.
"Sword first."
"Take it yourself."
Up close, it hit harder.
Too bad. Full gauge here would've triggered some lewd luck on her.
Focus on the exam for now.
"Oh, right—like I said, body as weapon! Your hand-to-hand was solid too. Prove sword, and you're in!"
That spar must've blown her away.
Problem, though.
Reason: Level Restriction (Lv.20)
"...Huh?"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"Instructor, I can't wield this sword yet—below my level."
"What? For real?"
Gawella looked stunned. Made sense—most examinees were high-level. Third-rounders usually over 20. Bigsim was 32, right?
"That skill at your level? Amazing, but tricky. No lower-grade swords in my kit."
One more weapon needed, but none usable.
"Exam over?"
"Hmm. No weapon substitutes?"
"Got one, but... it's kinda."
"What? Anything works! I don't discriminate weapons."
If she insists, must be fine.
◈ Artificial phallus for various acts. Usable as a blunt weapon.
◈ On skin contact, all Attack converts to Pleasure.
◈ Insertion treats all attacks as critical hits.
◈ Reinforcement Effect (+15): Attack power +200%. 15% of attack as fixed damage.
18cm long—matched my size, so I'd bought it. Reinforced overnight to +15.
"Ah! Artificial cock! Counts as a blunt weapon!"
She's cool with it. No embarrassment, just hyped at having a weapon.
'Yaka tribe thing.'
They worship strength first, boldness second. Gawella rocks that skimpy bikini armor shamelessly—they're always upfront, honest, shame-free. Yeah, they'd fuck mid-street if vibes aligned. No way a warrior like her blushes at a dildo.
"Good! Attack me with it!"
"Bare-handed?"
"Yep. Soft material—might break clashing weapons. I'll go unarmed too!"
No holding back. I swung at her ankle.
Thwack!
"Know this? Body's a weapon!"
Leather sandals on her feet. Her toe nailed my wrist—I dropped it.
But routine. Left hand snatched the falling dildo as I targeted her thigh.
Smack!
"Hah?!"
A lewd moan slipped from Gawella's lips, her usual bold voice cracking.