Why Are You Looking at Me Like That?
“You can do it! Sis, get strong!”
[N-no... I... I can't...]
“Huh? No way! Heungmi's super good at this stuff! Sis is really strong!”
Pink rose-tinted eyes, utterly free of doubt, peered transparently into Amelia's watery gaze.
The moment Amelia saw that look, she tightly gripped Heungmi's hand in return.
Pure trust.
Unconditional faith.
These were the first beings to approach her, when no one else had been around.
Flawlessly innocent, they instilled in her the belief that she could do it.
It's weird. I always thought I was a useless idiot who couldn't do anything...
Tears welled slightly in Amelia's eyes, but she quickly let them blend into the seawater.
Instead, a faint spark of resolve flickered across her pale face.
[R-really? You... see me like that...?]
“Yeah! Baekya thinks so too, right?”
“Peep!”
Baekya had ridden the currents to land on Heungmi's head, chirping in agreement.
Amelia didn't know what to do with the two young ones before her.
[O-okay...]
It was a strange feeling.
The fact that people acknowledged her made her heart feel solid and secure.
[Th-this... feeling... it's my first time...]
Amelia shyly bowed her head a little.
Yet a subtle smile graced her lips.
Rune watched the scene, rubbing his chin with a forepaw.
It's going even better than I thought.
Heungmi clearly adored Amelia, now playfully calling her “Sis, Sis!” and acting spoiled.
Baekya joined in, chirping excitedly to liven things up.
[Y-yeah...! I'll... I'll try!]
Finally, Amelia gripped her spear 'Mel' tightly with both hands.
“Wooow!”
“Pee!”
Rune hummed thoughtfully as he observed them, reviewing his plan.
Christina's outing starts tomorrow and lasts at least three days. That should be enough time to settle this.
She would leave Rai behind, but Rune had a countermeasure for that.
It was time to use the Curse Tool-Making Kit he'd bought from the black market.
One of the recipes should work perfectly for this plan.
Rune felt anticipation swelling at the thought of putting the curse tools he'd experimented with to good use.
“Pee?”
Sensing the four pairs of eyes on him, Rune continued nonchalantly.
[Good. Now I'll explain our combat tactics.]
We need experience, but this lesson has something specific I must confirm.
This training was essential to solidify his plan.
[Once I absorb the field's darkness, Heungmi, you'll use your 'Friend-Making Power' on the dazed, sleepy sea monsters.]
“Huh? You said combat, but does that mean they'll all become Heungmi's friends?”
Heungmi's translucent pink eyes blinked.
[It'd be nice, but they'll resist.]
“Aww. Heungmi likes making friends.”
Ignoring Heungmi's sulky pout—even before trying—Rune pressed on.
[Not every creature wants friends, so don't feel too bad. Some prefer solitude. And Amelia.]
[Y-yes...?]
Amelia's eyes widened in surprise at her sudden call.
[How well can you use 'Purification'?]
[W-well... I usually use it to purify the d-darkness inside me... about thirty percent...]
Rune nodded at her increasingly uncertain reply.
[That should be enough. Purify the ones drawn to Heungmi.]
[Y-yeah. If it's just that much...]
Positive response. Looks like building her confidence is paying off.
Amelia handled her spear with considerable skill and had diligently practiced breathing techniques before training.
Thanks to that, she managed her darkness power well.
And sparring?
Against the Dark Knight Dullahan, madness-crazed monsters were no match for her.
No way she'd lose 1-on-1 to mere field sea monsters. Primary goal: teach her to sync with Heungmi against frenzied ones.
[If Purification fails, we hunt them down.]
At the word “hunt,” Amelia's shoulders twitched slightly.
It was a natural reaction—she'd never taken a life.
Rune asked the girl calmly.
[Can you do it without hesitation?]
Amelia stared at him for a moment, then nodded firmly, gripping her spear.
[Y-yes! I'm... a d-dragon too!]
“Kyoo. Kyu.”
[Good.]
Whether that resolve holds in real combat remains to be seen.
Swallowing the afterthought, Rune turned to Dullahan.
“Kyit.”
[You act at your discretion. Basic role: reconnaissance.]
Clank! Thunk!
Dullahan thumped his chest with his gauntlet.
He needed no assigned attacks or defenses.
A one-man army, he adapted to the battlefield on his own.
First real combat training: check Amelia's responses while purifying surrounding monsters and the field.
“Kyukyu.”
[Let's go.]
Following Rune's lead, the group plunged deeper into the abyss.
***
Crackle!
A massive, berserk electric eel monster unleashed ultra-high voltage in all directions.
At Rune's command, the group had anticipated the electric wave and prepared.
They watched the eel from beyond its range.
Rune shared countermeasures from Christina's transmitted knowledge, experience, and observation.
[Well done. Once the electricity weakens, re-engage calmly!]
[Y-yes!]
“Yes!”
Baekya peeped lightly from Rune's head.
After the electric surge passed, Dullahan advanced to face the writhing eel.
Thud!
The black-armored knight stomped, shaking the ground like an earthquake.
Green light gleamed coldly in his eyes as he seized the eel's massive body midsection with both hands.
Krunch!
- Kreeeek!
The electric eel thrashed wildly, spewing electricity.
In that instant, Dullahan unleashed superhuman strength, slamming the eel into the seafloor.
- Keeek! Kie!
Even underwater, sand swirled in a vortex.
The eel, wracked by organ-twisting pain, shrieked with sharp hatred in its eyes.
Amelia stepped forward, spear raised before the perfectly subdued giant eel.
[I'll p-purify it!]
Flash!
Amelia activated the Word of PowerPurification with her spear.
- Krruk... Kak!
Darkness oozed from the thrashing eel's mouth like smoke.
Bathed fully in Purification, the eel blinked with clear eyes.
Meeting Dullahan's gaze, it trembled in terror.
Flap.
Flap flap!
The eel fled with all its might.
Dullahan let it go without pursuit.
Rune, having absorbed the expelled darkness, was satisfied with overall progress.
Good. Even if frenzied monsters swarm now, everyone's staying calm.
There had been mistakes at first.
Distracted by a rampaging monster, they missed the timing for Purification.
A giant crab monster, rejecting even Heungmi's allure and glaring furiously, charged.
As its pincer swung at the little fox beastkin demon, it was crushed dead by Dullahan's grip on its shell.
Thought panic would hit after that, but surprisingly, they performed better.
Amelia had gritted her teeth, gripped her spear tighter, vowing silently.
Shock and guilt on her face.
The near-catastrophic outcome flashed before her—what could have happened if she hadn't stepped up.
She's realized it. Hesitation means teammates get hurt—or sea monsters die.
After that, the girl confronted the monsters' madness head-on.
Just as Rune had predicted.
Still, commendably so. Thought she might cry.
She was timid and fragile by nature.
Yet that fragility made her choose confrontation over tears.
She didn't want to disappoint the group's faith or see anyone hurt.
Rune added his own speculation.
Maybe from too long spent powerless and alone.
Monsters consumed by madness.
To the pure-hearted girl, they exuded the most grotesque aura.
All afflicted with frenzy debuff, if she failed to purify, they'd flip out and charge.
Any mistake meant someone got hurt—badly.
Amelia couldn't afford to slack; she had to go all out.
Fears both solitude and seeing harm from her errors.
Rune crushed a passing frenzied sea shrimp in his hand, sucking out its darkness.
Contradictory, but to avoid dreaded outcomes, she's enduring. Visible results are a bonus.
No one would hate tangible progress shoved in their face.
Just two or three hours into hunting.
Amelia's Purification skill had visibly improved.
And Heungmi's handling her power better than expected.
Heungmi's 'Allure' had barely been used lately, per Rune's warnings.
Naturally stagnant at beginner level.
Mental abilities can't be abused, so grow it maximally here.
Once Rune's group left via mana passage, even charmed monsters couldn't follow Heungmi.
Side effect... their lovesick frenzy?
Madness plus infatuation.
Rune frowned at the dangerous vibe.
This'll be fine, right?
Feeling uneasy, Rune glanced at Heungmi battling a sea monster.
A flounder, charmed yet still frenzied.
Panting, it glared at Heungmi and lunged.
Heungmi's eyes sharpened.
“Hya! Bad boy!”
Smack!
“Why are you staring like that? You're gonna get it from Heungmi!”
“......”
...What was that hand-chop sound?
A clean vertical hand strike—one-hit knockout.
Perfect execution.
Heungmi huffed proudly and dashed to the next target.
Rune shook his head at the sight.
That one's... no worry needed.
A similarly frenzied manta ray lay belly-up nearby, knocked out cold.
[A-ah...! Heungmi! S-slow down a bit...!]
Amelia called to Heungmi while diligently purifying the giant manta and flounder.
After several tries, they came to their senses.
The 'Frenzy' mental debuff made Purification taxing.
That's not bad.
Normal monsters would yield minimal growth from Allure or Purification success.
But frenzy elevated their threat level substantially.