"Give it to Yuuno, Noelle. She is about to die," I said. My voice was but a whisper as pain assaulted my body. I groaned. The burn was horrendous, but this was just a burn. Yuuno needed it more than I did. She was bleeding, and she had also tanked a firebolt just like I did.
"But…" Noelle looked at me, hesitating. She trembled, paralyzed with the choice laid before her.
"Hurry!" I yelled. I don't know what came over me. I should probably prioritize myself rather than Yuuno. But somehow, I trusted her. I don't want this party to die. I don't want Yuuno to die. This adventuring business has started to get fun; I don't want her to die.
"Y-y-yes!" Noelle then went toward Yuuno and poured the potion into her mouth. Yuuno's body glowed as motes of white light emanated from her body. Then, Yuuno immediately sat up. She then felt her body; a hole in her singed leather armor revealed white skin. As expected from a high potion worth 250k dollars. She was about to die just minutes ago, but she could walk now.
"Makoto!" Yuuno went toward me. "Are you okay?"
"Of course not, you dumbass. Do you think you could carry me to the surface?" I groaned. "I'm gonna need a doctor. Do you think he could fix this?"
"Yes. Of course. This is nothing. You just need 500 or a thousand dollars. I will pay the fee. Um…" She turned around to the chests. She hesitated.
"Pick the chests first. I don't want all of our effort to go to waste," I encouraged her. Dungeons changed all the time. If we leave, this dungeon might disappear when we get back.
"Yes. Please wait here, okay."
"Makoto. Sorry," Noelle said.
"What are you sorry for? This is not your fault," I answered. "Can you carry me back? Yuuno had to carry the loot, right?"
"Yes! I will. Please hug my neck." She turned and carried me on her back. Yuuno glanced toward the dead Red bandits with a disgusted face as if she was spitting on their worthless corpses. After a few deep breaths, she rappelled the rope.
My mind went hazy as I slept on Noelle's back. By the time my consciousness returned, I was inside a clinic. Yuuno and Noelle were beside me. I sat up. The searing pain from the burn I felt earlier was gone. Damn, healing magic is awesome. I seriously thought I was going to die there.
"Makoto!" Noelle hugged me while Yuuno smiled warmly.
"Well, it seems your boyfriend has woken up. Now, if you'll excuse me. We need the bed for the next patient. So, please be on your way, Makoto." The doctor, who wore a blue jacket, cocked her hip. Her mouth curved into a grin as she watched Noelle hug me.
"I-i-i am not his girlfriend."
"Oh, is it you, then?" She turned to Yuuno. She shook her head. Her face flushed.
"No. She is just an adventurer kouhai!" Yuuno turned away, her arms folded in front of her.
"Yes, yes. Now go. Shoo." The doctor then threw us out. Seraphine was waiting by the door, his face grim.
"Makoto." Seraphine glared. Huh? Did I do something wrong? Was he trying to be elitist and say that I do not deserve to be carried on her back? Or is it about the potion?
"Yes? What is it?"
"… Nothing. Good job, both of you."
"Yes! Yuuno would have died if not for your potion. Thank you." I bowed my head.
"… It's a valuable experience. I have met red bandits as well, but they certainly never approach me intending to kill. Noelle, disband the party and go to the guild tomorrow. And Makoto, Yuuno. If you want to party with Noelle again, you must join Arcanciel. Red bandits are no laughing matter. If you join, I can give you an experienced instructor and some low-level potions."
"Brother!"
"I know that you have found a trusted teammate. I am glad. But being a D-rank makes you too vulnerable."
"But it won't be much different even if I join your guild, won't it?"
"At the very least, you can use my guild name. We have trackers."
"I won't use it for such a thing! Scaring people away just because you are an S-rank."
"… We will talk about this at home. All of you, good job."
"Yes. Sorry for using your precious potion."
"No. You don't have to say sorry. There is no better time to use that potion. I am glad it was useful." Seraphine then walked away, with Noelle tailing behind him.
"Whoa, he suddenly turned intimidating, didn't he?"
"He must be furious. Losing against monsters is one thing, but Red Bandits are notorious. You can expect a war in the near future with Jackal's guild."
"Did that chamber persist after we left?" I asked. Yuuno nodded. Does that mean Seraphine had seen the body? Did he know about my ability?
My gaze was locked on the scene. I just escaped death. It felt like a dream. That searing pain, the sensation of a knife stabbing my back. The scene where a spear jutted out from Yuuno's stomach.
"Makoto. Here is your share." Yuuno handed me a receipt of a thousand dollars and a ring.
"I see. How much for the hospital?" I asked. "Hm? There were five chests there, right? Do I get the short end of the stick?"
"Well, apart from your ring, inside the chests, there is a blue arcane stone, a crossbow, a halberd, and a tower shield."
"Ah, I see." I nodded. Yuuno needed colored stones and the shield. Noelle got the halberd. Since no one wanted the crossbow, Noelle got that as well.
"Well, Noelle paid for your medical fee. If you must know, it's about 700 dollars."
"So burn damage costs more than broken bones, huh?" I muttered.
"Yes. Due to how difficult it is to fix burned skin, it costs more than broken bones. In return, they make sure it leaves no scar." Yuuno turned away. "Sorry. I suppose I should chip in with your healthcare. But…"
"It's fine." I waved her question away. "So, about Noelle. I wonder what will happen to our team. Will it be us two again?"
"Dunno. Seraphine was more than pissed when he found Noelle crying as she carried you to the surface," Yuuno said.
"Did he know? About my skills?"
"Ah. About your skill? Probably. Noelle should have told him everything. They are pretty close, you know."
"Damn…" I cursed.
"Don't worry. Even if Noelle went away, you still have me. We will still be partying for a while, alright?"
"Yeah."
Well, I guess this would be the last time I see those bouncing melons of hers. The next adventure, it would only be me and this greedy blue girl.
"Alright. Thank you, Yuuno. I guess we should call it a day." I stood up.
"Makoto. Thank you." Yuuno bowed. "Really. Thank you. I promise I will repay this debt somehow. I hope you can continue adventuring with me in the future."
"Yes. Let's try to finish this dungeon together, okay." I nodded.
As I went home, I looked over at the ring.
[Dazzle ring
Shots left: 20
1 shot will be regenerated every hour.]
"I see. It's a ring to confuse or distract your enemies, huh." I muttered. This would be perfect for Noelle. I wonder if I should change my weapon and claim the crossbow instead. A longsword was worse than a spear, and it also couldn't defend better than a shield.
Inside the bus, I scrolled through my phone. My eyes bulged at the clock. It was 2 AM! Damn. I still have school tomorrow!
"Damn. I am so tired. I wonder if I should skip school." I muttered as I reached for my keys in front of my apartment. As I opened the door, Sakura was sleeping on my couch. I turned on the light, and she groaned in her sleep. Then, with a cute yawn, she woke up.
"Makoto. Why are you so late!"
"Well, it's a job hazard of being an adventurer. You know how it goes. It was the first time I was almost killed. I had to go to the mage doctor and rested there," I answered. I didn't mention Red Bandits. She didn't need to know.
She pouted. Worry plastered her face. I then patted her head.
"I am a bit too tired to play. Let's play tomorrow. Are you sure you are fine staying here?"
"Yes. I'm fine." Sakura nodded.
"Then, I guess we can sleep together," I said. Sakura cheered up.
"Yes!"
Then, after taking a short bath, I slept with Sakura. My hand went to her head. Yeah, this feels nice. Going home after such a tiring day. With my girl welcoming me. This is what I've always dreamed of.
But then, I am worried. Worried whether Sakura would become like Mom. I wonder whether she would go for greener pastures if she found one.
At the very least, please let me die before seeing such a thing happen.
I prayed to the heavens above. Afterwards, I scrolled through my stats.
Ah… I need to play more with Sakura tomorrow. I need her to cum from anal. Ugh. I want to upgrade my stats, but I am worried. I have been using this body swap two times to save my skin inside a dungeon. I have been relying on it more than I thought I would.
I then looked over at Sakura's status. She isn't sleeping! Well, she was woken up in the middle of the night, so it's understandable she couldn't fall back to sleep so soon.
As I pondered what game to play tomorrow, darkness took me as my consciousness slipped away into dreamland.
The next morning, I got a message from Yuuno and Noelle.
"Makoto! Are you free? Let's have lunch as a celebration for yesterday's success! Noelle will be treating us! You definitely want to hear what's happening with her brother!"
Apparently, my play with Sakura had to be suspended again. Well, there is always the nighttime. Let's have a blast tomorrow. Sakura can wait. She is my sex slave after all. We can always play all night.