I Must Get Stronger! (2) - Second, and Third Plans
I Must Become Stronger! (2) - The Second, and Third Plans
Rose, who had stepped out onto the street, found a quiet, secluded alley with few people and entered it.
To test the performance of the Gauntlet she had bought for a large sum of money.
She had briefly checked it at the general store, but...
What kind of significant effect would it show if she used its full power?
「Good, this should be enough...」
Rose, after confirming that no one was around,
raised her left hand, which was wearing the blue Gauntlet,
and channeled Mana to her fingertips as if facing an enemy.
[ Woooong-! ]
The Gauntlet trembled subtly.
As Rose's eyes gleamed and she unleashed Mana into the air—
[ Kwaaaaaah-! ]
「H-huh...!」
The wind that erupted from her fingertips shot upwards at a terrifying speed.
The recoil was strong enough to push her arm back and make her body sway.
However, the Mana consumption was the same as usual.
Rose, who had been blankly watching the stream of wind disappear into the sky, couldn't close her mouth and looked down at the Gauntlet on her left arm again.
「Amazing...」
At this rate, five Gold Coins weren't a waste.
Should she ask for another one just like it next time?
Just as she was marveling at it—
「Wow.」
「...?」
A voice came from behind her.
Had they perhaps seen the magic just now—
The faces she saw when she turned her head were not expressions of admiration for an amazing sight.
「Hehehe.」
That lewd and greasy smile was all too familiar.
Approaching from the darkness of the alley were,
the Three Thugs, eyeing Rose's entire body and licking their lips.
「You look like a young lady from a noble house, what are you doing alone in such a dark alley?」
「If you're lost, should we help you? We can send you to a very pleasant place.」
「......Sigh.」
Rose shook her head.
The thugs chuckled and strode forward.
Just as the biggest one approached to grab Rose's shoulder.
[ Thwack. ]
Rose's left hand, which had first grabbed the man's wrist.
And the subtle Mana transmitted through its tip.
[ Crrrack-! ]
「Kuaaaaaaahk-!!」
With the sound of the Mana amplified through the Gauntlet crushing something,
the burly thug screamed and collapsed to the ground.
「W-what? What did you do?」
「I don't know, fuck! Just beat her up!」
The other two, flustered by the sight before them, pulled out daggers from their pockets and charged,
[ Thwack! ]
but Rose lightly spun her body, kicking one of them in the side and sending him flying,
[ Thud- ]
and then slammed her Gauntlet-clad fist into the jaw of the remaining one.
「Hoo.」
Rose glanced at the men sprawled on the ground, then walked out onto the main street with a satisfied smile.
'I've definitely gotten stronger.'
The immense Mana of the Intermediate-level Magical Beast she had absorbed in the mine.
The incredibly powerful Gauntlet she had unexpectedly acquired.
And even the experience she was accumulating through repeated battles.
However, Rose's expression soon turned serious.
'To put it metaphorically... it's like a newborn chick that has just shed its downy feathers and grown a little bigger.'
Recalling Risolde's strike that defeated the Golem in a single blow, a Golem that Rose herself couldn't harm at all in the mine—
'I need more Mana.'
She had to hunt Magical Beasts or monsters and absorb the Mana residing within them.
But Risolde hadn't woken up yet, and it was too dangerous for Rose, a novice Guardian, to wander around alone.
Even more so because of the terrible experience she had in the mine.
So, the place Rose sought out was,
the very place where she had caused a huge commotion a few days ago.
Her second effort to get stronger.
[ Thud- ]
The heavy oak door of the Deluna Mercenary Guild opened, and as Rose, clad in a red cloak, stepped inside.
「......」
「......」
The boisterous atmosphere inside the guild, where drinking and gambling had been going on since midday, froze as if by magic.
Dozens of rough Mercenaries, as if on cue, clamped their mouths shut, slowly bowed their heads, and avoided Rose's gaze.
「...Hiccup.」
Balmon, the staff member who had been leaning casually on the counter, started hiccuping and trembling like an aspen leaf the moment his eyes met Rose's.
In that suffocating silence, a New Mercenary, unaware of the commotion from a few days ago, stepped forward without a hint.
「Oh? What brings such a dazzling beauty to a gloomy place like this? Young lady, if it's an escort request, leave it to me... H-huh?!」
The New Mercenary, who had tried to approach Rose with a greasy smile, couldn't finish his sentence.
Because the surrounding Mercenaries rushed at him with terrifying momentum.
「Is this crazy bastard out of his mind, trying to die?!」
「Shut your mouth, you idiot! Do you know who that is, running your mouth off?!」
「Even an oblivious bastard should know when to stop acting up!」
[ Thwack! Thump! Crack, Clatter! ]
「W-what... what...! Keok! Kuek! Ugh!」
The New Mercenary, without knowing why, was mercilessly beaten by his seniors and dragged out through the guild's back door.
At the forefront of that group was Balmon, who had rushed over as if flying and was throwing the most violent punches.
'......That person always leaves the counter empty.'
Rose, who had been blankly watching the series of farcical events,
walked past the Mercenaries who were looking at her with fearful eyes,
and approached the familiar faces gathered at a round table in the corner.
「Captain-nim.」
「...Guardian-nim.」
Carlton and the members of the 'Black Wolf' mercenary band all rose from their seats and respectfully bowed their heads.
「We heard the news about the Guild Leader-nim. That something big happened in the mine....」
「Don't worry. Risolde is only asleep due to Mana depletion; she'll wake up soon.」
Rose smiled gently, reassuring them.
A serious atmosphere, unlike the rowdy other Mercenaries.
Thinking that they were indeed the most suitable for her plan, Rose opened her mouth.
「The reason I came today is because I want to formally entrust you all with a request.」
「A request... from Guardian-nim to us?」
「Yes. I'd like you to go Magical Beast hunting outside Deluna with me.」
「......??」
A brief silence.
It was to the extent that she could feel the surrounding Mercenaries holding their breath and perking up their ears towards them.
「Hmm... Shall we move somewhere else for a moment?」
「Ah, yes.」
At Carlton's suggestion, the two of them exited the guild's back door and moved to a corner of the Training Ground.
「Argh! Argh! Stop it, fuck! What did I even do?!」
「An oblivious bastard needs a good beating!」
「I was bored, and you just happened to come along, you punk!」
In one corner, the enthusiastic beating of the oblivious New Mercenary was still ongoing,
and when Rose appeared, the seniors' kicks became even more intense.
Carlton, who had passed that scene and stopped in a secluded spot, quietly opened his mouth.
「I heard that the Magical Beast that appeared in the mine was dealt with by the Guild Leader-nim and the two of you, but Magical Beast hunting...?」
「Hmm... there isn't a specific objective or target set. It's just... finding monsters or Magical Beasts outside Deluna... catching them....」
Guardians get stronger by absorbing Mana—
As she hesitated, wondering how to explain this,
「Are you trying to get stronger by absorbing Mana?」
「Ah... you know about it.」
「I've heard it from the Guild Leader-nim before. I've assisted the Guild Leader-nim in Magical Beast subjugation a few times in the past.」
Although ordinary Mercenaries couldn't see the flow of Mana, Risolde always personally handled the finishing blow whenever she faced a strong Magical Beast.
Somewhat unnaturally, sometimes even recklessly.
And she had once explained the reason to Carlton.
'It's a relief if he has that experience.'
What Rose wanted wasn't comrades to fight alongside her in a bloody battle.
She wanted supporters who would take on the arduous tasks of guiding the way, tracking Magical Beast traces, collecting spoils, and preparing camp.
Just like the Guardian and Mercenaries who had once dragged her away from the Entertainment District.
Rose, who had no experience ordering people around, was wondering how to bring it up, but Carlton already understood her intentions.
「Since Guardian-nim will be in charge of combat, we will handle tracking, support, and camping... considering even the night watch, about four people would be appropriate. If there are too many people, supplies and consumables will increase accordingly.」
「As expected... Captain-nim is amazing.」
At his reliability, pointing out even the parts she hadn't thought of, a smile of pure admiration spread across Rose's face.
At that dazzling smile, Carlton's face flushed for a moment.
「Y-yes...?? Ah, no. Anyone who's a Mercenary would naturally... More importantly, please call me Carlton comfortably.」
「No. I'm used to calling you Captain-nim.」
「Hmm... we are in the position of employees who receive orders, so if you call me Captain, it doesn't establish the hierarchy. Moreover, for Guardian-nim to call me that is a bit...」
「Alright. Then, Captain-nim... no, Carlton, you should also call me Rose. And all the other members too.」
Carlton was momentarily flustered, then soon cleared his throat and nodded.
「Then, shall we depart right away?」
「......Huh??」
When Rose asked with burning enthusiasm, Carlton wore a troubled expression.
「Well... it's impossible right now. Ever since the Lord-nim took office in Deluna, especially with the Guild Leader-nim's activities, the Magical Beasts in the surrounding area have been wiped out. The appearance of Magical Beasts in the mine this time was a very unusual occurrence.」
「Ah....」
「So, to properly subjugate them, we have to go quite far. We'd have to go as far as the swamps on the eastern border or the northern canyons to find traces of Magical Beasts. It's a journey that will take at least a week, considering two days just for travel and then setting up and subjugating them.」
She had thought she could just grab her weapon, rush out, and quickly fight—
Rose realized how unprepared she had been.
「We need to gather personnel, food, and equipment, so let's plan to depart early tomorrow morning. We will handle the preparations, so Guardian-nim... Rose-yang, you don't need to worry about anything.」
「Thank you, Carlton. Really.」
「Ah, no. This is something any Mercenary would naturally do...」
Carlton, whose face flushed again,
the New Mercenary abandoned in a corner, sniffling,
and Rose, who was about to leave with a lighter heart.
She passed the Training Ground, opened the door, and was about to exit the guild building when—
「Farewell, Guardian-nim!」
As Balmon, who had returned to the counter, shouted loudly,
all the Mercenaries in the guild simultaneously rose from their seats and repeated in disciplined voices.
「Farewell, Guardian-nim!!」
「......」
Rose's face turned bright red in embarrassment, and she hastily raised one hand in a vague gesture before quickly exiting the guild.
'I thought I could go on a subjugation right away, but I was short-sighted.'
The remaining time was left hanging.
Carlton said he would take care of the preparations for the luggage,
and since she would be away for a week, there was nothing to do but inform the Lord-nim in advance.
So, a thought suddenly occurred to her.
Leveling up her Lust Skill.
When she had first checked her skills,
she had considered them useless and shameful abilities that merely turned her into a lewd prostitute.
But the terrible experience in the mine had changed her mind.
「Sensory Synchronization」, which had forcibly injected her pleasure into the Magical Beast's brain fluid, paralyzing its thoughts.
And 「Lewd Voice」, which had stimulated it to save Risolde.
These skills could also become weapons depending on how they were used.
'...If I level up and gain other skills, I could become much stronger in combat.'
Certainly, there were useless skills.
But she didn't know what else might appear.
Then it was an effort worth making.
Rose clenched her fists with a determined expression.
'Yes. This is purely to get stronger. It's absolutely not because I'm lewd... absolutely not...!'
It had only been a few days since she was terribly violated, penetrated front and back by the Tentacle monster.
If she had been an ordinary woman, she would have suffered from a severe trauma that would cause seizures for the rest of her life.
However.
Rose's mind was surprisingly clear and calm.
Was it because of her Lust body?
Or because of the Guardian's resilience?
Or was it simply innate?
The reason was unknown.
But Rose even processed the memory of that terrible violation as part of 'sexual stimulation'... and was, in fact, feeling a strange thirst, a dull ache in her lower abdomen.
So, the next place Rose sought out was.
Her third effort to get stronger.
「G-Guardian-nim?! W-what brings you here...!」
The mansion of Barman, the great merchant, located in Deluna's commercial district.
At the Guardian's sudden visit, Barman rushed out barefoot and bowed his head deeply.
「It's been a while, Haengsu-nim. I apologize, but could I trouble you for a day?」
「Ah... yes... yes! Apologize? Trouble? Please come in right away! I will serve you with utmost sincerity!」
Towards Barman, who was bowing and flustered, Rose added in a low voice.
「Um... well... meals and tea are fine... but could you... call that person who attended to me back then...?」
「......」
Barman flinched and looked back.
What he saw was Rose, her face bright red, avoiding his gaze and pretending to be busy.
Barman glanced out the window.
What he saw was a clear, bright, and blue sky with the sun high above.
'From broad daylight... she wants to do *that*? Theo, you enviable bastard....'
As all sorts of lewd fantasies filled Barman's mind, Rose stammered, opening her mouth.
「And perhaps... if there's... another person like that... one more person to join...」
[ Gulp. ]
Barman swallowed dryly.
He stammered for a long time with his mouth open, then finally managed to nod and replied that he understood.
'I... I shouldn't go in with them, right...?'
Barman, deep in thought.
'This is for leveling up. If I do it with two people at once... I'll get double the experience points...!'
And the lewd Guardian, Rose, seriously rationalizing her actions.
< Illustration - Barman's Imagination: No, from broad daylight?? >
