"Phew, that was… amazing," Marsha said, her voice laced with satisfaction as she lounged beside me, her sweat-slicked skin glistening with a sensual allure that radiated in the dim light of the temple chamber. Despite having just finished, a familiar ache stirred in my lower abdomen, tempting me all over again.
The encounter with Marsha had granted me a new skill: [Treasure Detection (Advanced)], an A-rank ability. While not combat-oriented, it promised to be invaluable for dungeon exploration or tracking down hidden riches.
A soft sound broke my thoughts. "Nn…" Karen stirred on the nearby bed, her eyes fluttering open. Realizing she'd been detoxified, she turned to us, offering a weak but grateful nod.
"Thank you, Priestess Marsha… And you too, Kairi," she said, her voice soft, her emerald eyes glistening as they met mine.
"Don't mention it," I replied, my heart easing at the sight of her recovery. "You're the one who saved me back there. I should be thanking you."
"I'm just glad the detox worked," I added, sincerity coloring my words.
"Fufu, we'll adventure together again soon, right?" Karen said, her gaze softening, a dreamy intensity in her eyes that carried an unspoken weight.
"I want you to look at me… not other women," she murmured, almost to herself, her voice tinged with vulnerability.
"Huh?" I blinked, caught off guard.
"I know… You were with her, right? I can tell," she said, her tone light but edged with something deeper. "It's fine. I'm not trying to tie you down or anything."
Yet her expression betrayed her words, a pout forming, her eyes flickering with a mix of frustration and longing. "Ugh… this feels so weird. What's this feeling?" she huffed, turning away with an irritable toss of her fiery hair.
What's up with her? I wondered, puzzled by her reaction. Then it hit me.
The reason why Alisha and Marsha from the brothel had a positive impression of me from the beginning was probably due to the effect of [Charm (Intermediate)].
In the same way―I wonder if [Charm (Intermediate)] is working on Karen too?
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We left the temple, the cool evening air a stark contrast to the heated moments within. Karen's steps were steadier now, her strength returning, but I could sense the lingering tension between us.
"I'm heading back to the wetland," I announced, breaking the silence. "We've got one Basilisk left to deal with."
"What?" Karen's eyes widened, a flicker of concern crossing her face.
"The quest isn't done. We took out one Basilisk and the five Big Hands, but there's still one more to go," I explained, my voice firm with resolve.
"Oh, right…" she nodded, realization dawning.
"You just got detoxified, so you should rest," I said, my tone gentle but insistent. "I can handle one Basilisk on my own."
"No way," Karen shot back, her voice sharp with determination.
"But—" I started to protest, only to be silenced as her lips pressed against mine, a sudden, fiery kiss that stole my breath.
"I messed up back there, so I'm paying you back," she said, pulling back, her cheeks flushed a vivid red. "Try to argue, and I'll kiss you again… every time."
Despite our intimate history, the way her face burned with embarrassment over a single kiss was… adorable. My heart skipped, a warmth spreading through me as I realized how much she meant to me.
"Alright, together it is," I said, a grin breaking through.
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The Basilisk hunt ended almost anticlimactically. As soon as we spotted the second beast, Karen unleashed her [Crimson Blade] from long range, a blazing arc of energy that obliterated the monster in a single strike. Her S-Class prowess was undeniable—caught off guard once, perhaps, but in her element, a mere Basilisk was no match for her.
With the quest complete, we returned to the Adventurer's Guild to report our success and claim the reward.
At the guild, we headed straight to the counter to discuss our next move. "Hello, Karen, Kairi," greeted Meia, the receptionist, her voice warm and professional. A beastkin with fluffy rabbit ears and a twitching tail, she was otherwise human-like in appearance—save for her notably ample chest, straining against the tight fabric of her receptionist uniform. The sight was… distracting, to say the least.
"Kairi~?" Karen's voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and teasing, as she pinched my side—hard.
"Ow!" I winced, catching her cool, narrowed gaze. "Uh, right, work! Let's talk about the next job," I said, hastily redirecting the conversation.
Since the incident with Marsha, Karen's demeanor toward me had shifted noticeably. Her affection had skyrocketed. It wasn't just my imagination; [Charm (Intermediate)] was likely amplifying her feelings, though I suspected there was more to it than just the skill. Her reactions felt too genuine, too layered, to be purely magical.
Shaking off the thought, I focused on the quest document Meia handed us.
[Urgent] Dungeon Exploration (A-Rank)
"A dungeon, huh…" I murmured, intrigued. I'd heard this world was riddled with dungeons—some resembling cavernous labyrinths, others towering spires of mystery.
"It's A-rank, so it's pretty challenging, right?" I asked, glancing at Meia.
"Yes," she replied, her rabbit ears twitching slightly. "Rumor has it even an S-Class adventurer recently failed to clear it."
"An S-Class failed?" I echoed, my stomach tightening. That suggested a difficulty far beyond what I'd expected.
"Sounds interesting," Karen said, her eyes gleaming with excitement, her fiery hair practically glowing with her enthusiasm.
I hesitated. I'm still a newbie… a high-difficulty dungeon sounds like a lot. But Karen's eagerness was infectious, I couldn't help but feel a spark of anticipation for what lay ahead in this perilous, thrilling world.