Chapter 230
Chapter 230
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 230
Chapter Title: Prepare Thoroughly, Travel Light
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This urgent mission to destroy the rift in the abyss and rescue the missing personnel involved a total of four people.
Me.
Hippolyte.
Antiope.
And the remaining one.
The last member hadn't been definitively decided, so we were supposed to rendezvous at the north gate before departure.
Since it was someone Hippolyte had carefully selected for the party, I figured it would be a reliable and sturdy companion. Curiosity gnawed at me about who it could be, so I scanned the area around the north gate.
"Hot-san—."
A familiar voice called out to me from somewhere.
It was Luna.
Luna, hooded in her robe.
"Luna, what brings you here?"
Could she be the final member? Had Hippolyte changed her mind? I glanced at Hippolyte's face, and as if reading my thoughts, she shook her head with a quick swipe.
Luna spoke.
"Even so, you're heading off on something dangerous. I had to at least see you off."
"Ah, I see."
"Here, take this."
Luna held something out toward me, her nose tip strangely reddened.
Wondering what it was, I looked and saw a small cloth doll about the size of my palm.
Its eyes and nose were crudely attached with buttons, and its hair was made of pink thread tied into two pigtails.
"A little... Luna."
"Right. It's a small protective totem. Even though I can't go with you, I wanted to send my feelings along with you, Hot-san."
"Protective totem?"
"It's just like a good-luck charm. It might not have any effect, but... anyway... I'm sorry, Hot-san. If I were just a bit stronger, I could've gone with you."
Luna seemed deeply bothered by her own shortcomings.
I'm weak myself, so what— I nearly said that, but I closed my mouth. Wondering if there was a cooler, more fitting response for the moment, I just went with what came to mind.
"No apologies between us, at least."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. 'Come back safe' is all it takes."
"Uh, yeah. Now that you say it, that feels right."
Even in the dim predawn light, Luna's dejected face brightened just a little then.
Still, she looked pretty tired.
"I'll take good care of it."
I picked up Luna's doll and wiggled it around.
In response, Luna said,
"I stayed up all night making it, so don't just toss it around roughly!"
"Got it."
"...Well, I'll head out now. Don't want to cause too much of a scene."
Luna hesitated, lingering.
A hug would have been nice, but with Hippolyte and Antiope there, too many eyes watching—we parted like awkward friends.
Every so often, as she put distance between us, Luna turned back to look at me, so I waved enthusiastically.
"I'll bring back a souvenir. Be good and wait!"
Only when Luna finally vanished from sight did Hippolyte sidle up beside me and murmur offhandedly.
"You two look good together. You were both making faces I've never seen before."
"That's... yeah. Sorry about that."
"...Whatever. So, Actaeon still hasn't arrived?"
Hippolyte glanced around.
The name Actaeon from her lips lifted my slightly glum mood like a balloon.
Actaeon—one of only two heroes in Sodoma with a golden necklace, right?
Surrounded by them, I could just tag along like on a field trip. But what emerged silently through the predawn darkness wasn't Actaeon.
"That guy won't come. He's busy. I'm joining the expedition instead."
Shedding her robe revealed silver-white hair.
Not grayed like Antiope's, but hair naturally lacking pigment, sparkling like stars.
Pale face, red eyes.
A fairly long staff in hand.
It was Elfriede.
Hippolyte curled her lips slightly at the sight of Elfriede.
"Decided to step up yourself?"
"It's my party. An accident born from my shortcomings. If I'd gone with those guys, this wouldn't have happened."
"Didn't you say your condition was poor?"
"I'm fine. Drank some miraculous potion. It'll last two or three days."
"Fair enough. A mage's physical prowess is nice to have but not essential. Just don't get in our way."
As Hippolyte and Elfriede exchanged such businesslike words, Antiope—who had been standing in the corner with arms crossed, observing like some enlightened sage—stirred.
Antiope circled Elfriede like a feline predator who'd spotted something amusing.
"An elf. White elf. Seen plenty of elves, but a white elf's a first. Word is, you white elves have some weird powers—."
"..."
Antiope and Elfriede eyed each other with narrowed gazes. A subtle battle of nerves seemed to crackle, then Antiope grinned and said,
"Better not think about corrupting the kingdom's morals, outsider."
"Mind your own business."
They said it'd be over in as little as two days.
This was shaping up to be a hell of a two days.
* * *
I had been a bit worried from the start about how Antiope and Elfriede, already trading subtle glares, would fare going forward.
Surprisingly, the moment we passed through the north gate, they shut their mouths as if the static between them had been a lie.
They just walked in silence.
Kept walking.
After half a day like this, a massive valley gouged into the earth like claw marks from a giant rake would appear.
Crunch, crunch—.
The only sounds were footsteps and the clatter of gear and supplies each had brought. Most of the baggage noise came from my side, of course.
Clank, clunk—, ting, clunk—.
Elfriede, Hippolyte, and Antiope carried only water bottles, holy water, and weapons.
In my case, Luna had packed a huge bundle with all sorts of things for various uses, so they bumped and rattled quite a bit.
Not truly loud, but the silence made it grate more. What feelings had prompted Luna to pack all this?
In the quiet, such thoughts crossed my mind.
This lineup felt awkward enough on its own.
The client herself, Elfriede, joining the expedition. And both Antiope and Hippolyte knew plenty about me in various ways.
It weighed on me.
An awkward, tense atmosphere.
They say people split into two types in situations like this.
The first can't stand the silence and starts chattering first.
The second stays quiet until spoken to.
I was the latter.
Hoping the silence would hold, the lead-walker, Hippolyte, glanced back and murmured.
"Elfriede, was it? You take right flank and rear."
"B Formation tactics, right? Fine."
"Quick on the uptake—good. That high-rank adventurer bit from Calcutta wasn't just for show?"
"Not on your level, but I had my fame."
As Elfriede gave a moderate reply, Antiope, overhearing from the side, snorted.
"Hmph. Famous for dragging party members who vanish into the abyss. Greenhorn."
"Antiope."
"Sis, did I say anything wrong? Just made more hassle for us. Gotta know your limits to be a high-rank adventurer."
Antiope apparently hadn't taken a shine to Elfriede at first glance.
From her view, Elfriede had stolen one of her rare days off—natural to be pissed, maybe.
But needling Elfriede wouldn't help.
Curious how the prickly elf would respond, I watched with interest.
"..."
Surprisingly, Elfriede said nothing. Not at a loss for words, but deliberately ignoring her—so Antiope growled, more irritated.
"Anyway, mages. Think they're all that. Really gets under my skin."
Did Antiope hate mages?
I'd heard warriors sometimes despised them, but seeing it firsthand was new.
Magic itself was a talent only the chosen wielded. Inferiority complex toward the talented made sense.
And Antiope herself had divine grace and demigod blood?
The haves hate harder.
* * *
"Probably descended around here."
When Luna, Paranoya, and I explored Manticore Valley, we'd found a hidden cave entrance guided by the twin serpents.
But apparently, this Manticore Valley had an official entrance people used regularly.
A sloped path on the valley cliff.
Before it, a rock carving of asphodel flowers.
"Pluto's mark, huh. Me, going down there."
Antiope grumbled, displeased at taking this path. Hippolyte calmly scanned the surroundings, narrowing her eyes.
"Old path used by Pluto's priests on patrol. More marks here."
Below the asphodel on the rock, an X scratched with a sword or something sharp.
"Fresh carving. Elf, know anything about this?"
"My comrades' mark."
Swipe—.
Elfriede peered over Hippolyte's shoulder, tracing the mark with her palm. Had she sensed some code or mana only they knew?
The fairy, Elfriede, said,
"Probably marks like this every set distance. Lili's markers are special."
"Lili—the taciturn bone fighter?"
"Yeah. Edwin's the spellcaster. Lili the brawler. Delphina the swordswoman. The three of them."
"Anyway, follow these till they stop, then search. Not too tough—lucky."
We slowly moved onto the cliffside slope.
Calling it a slope was generous—like crude mountain paths in those continent-whatever series, perilously treacherous.
Rustle, roll—.
One twisted ankle, and you'd plummet into the abyss.
Sometimes we sidled sideways, bodies flat against the cliff rocks—miserably uncomfortable.
Swipe, swipe—.
After a few minutes of this sidling,
"Uw, my chest hurts from scraping. Wouldn't suck if I didn't have tits!"
Antiope, pressing her front to the cliff while sidling, grumbled. Her leather armor's bulges had been rubbing against the rock nonstop.
Hippolyte replied,
"Wear armor like me—way easier."
"Hate stuffy things. Old Amazons cut theirs off, huh. Kinda get why now. Even if I don't shoot bows."
"What barbaric old tale is that, Antiope? Anyway, shut it. Slip, and even we might not survive."
Swipe—.
Swipe—.
Elfriede had a decent chest too. Curious how she fared, I glanced ahead at her.
Her armpits spread wide—beside them, the pale swell of her ample breasts peeked subtly.
Slide, slide—.
"Kh—."
Elfriede was scraping too, it seemed. Each step drew a pained grunt.
Women's bodies must be such a hassle.
Mid-thought, I realized I was screwed.
Staring at Elfriede's armpit had been the issue.
Twitch, twitch.
Something dangerous stirred between my legs.
Shit, busted.
"Why'd you stop suddenly, Samaritan?"
Hippolyte, right behind me, sounded puzzled at my halt.
"Problem?"
Problem, yes.
How to say sidling with a boner is hell.
"Sis, what's up?"
"No, Samaritan just stopped."
"Wait, hold on. Just a sec—."
I desperately recited the national anthem in my head. But with my stamina stat up, the damn thing wouldn't deflate.
Sidling like this? Oh, shit—no way I could handle it. Panicking for a fix, I pictured Paranoya.
Master Hot-san, those ants are invading the yard...!! I'll, I'll chase them all out...!!
Picturing her face deflated it instantly, anger forgotten.
Paranoya's a real helper in every way. Gotta buy her candy later.
"Alright, moving again."
Thus, more sidling resumed.
Finally, we reached a wider space for a slope—mid-cliff, a cave-like indentation. Like where the skull knight's hut was built.
"Fairy, mark here too. Your comrade's scratch?"
Hippolyte dusted herself off, pointing to a corner.
Her gauntlet tip hovered near a bear-den-like crevice in the rock and an X beside it.
"Yeah. Looks like they went in."
"Hah, real exploration starts now. Before that, my chest..."
Ziiiip—.
Antiope unzipped her leather top. Peering at the rubbed spots, she parted her clothes, exposing soft, large breasts.
"Uw, all red and scraped. Hn, hurts—."
Lick, lick.
She lifted them and licked with her tongue. Big tits allow that, huh. Never thought I'd see it live.
I panicked hard.
Blood rushed to face and groin on instinct.
Hippolyte flustered too?
"Man's here—don't whip out your tits anywhere!"
"Why? They don't wear out. Feet, no—but tits should be fine? Plus, I've shown this guy plenty already. Feet too."
Antiope eyed me slyly while fondling hers. I caught she was teasing.
Payback for calling her a newbie reaper, maybe.
Deep in fluster, Elfriede—checking the mark—frowned.
"What's the big deal...?"
[Author's Note]
Luxurious party lineup... Hot-san's riding the bus, huh...
Side note: Planning to prune some tangled storylines in this episode...
Shifting to mid-to-long series means more considerations than expected—tough...
Writing shows how far we have to go, but hope for growth ahead...!!
Thanks to readers always enjoying and cheering—makes writing fun... Flat-out bowing...
Wanted daily updates, but too hot to write—forgive with a bow...!!!
Hioong....