Coming out of the goblin's den, Lyra was startled.
"No way. The sex is already over, but it's still throbbing?"
As if her pussy was trying to remember being impaled by a meat pole.
Her lower body tingled, and even vaginal fluid was secreted. This was a first for Lyra.
'In 35 years of my life, this is the first time. That kid, is he the best fuck buddy?'
She smiled contentedly, then a different thought subtly crossed her mind.
'But perhaps it's a waste to keep him only as a fuck buddy? If he's this good... I want to keep him by my side permanently.'
She licked her lips stickily, then shook her head. She was Lyra, the head of a merchant guild, now.
A businesswoman must be as cool-headed as a businesswoman. That was her iron rule.
'First, let's go to the territory and think.'
She set off. And she had a thought she couldn't quite voice.
'I should find out if there's a tattoo artist. Don't I need to get it tattooed on my womb or something? Lucian, I'm yours...'
Lyra's eyes curved, and she began to let out a sinister laugh.
***
Two days later.
The Guard Captain was gathering the Hero Candidates and explaining.
Perhaps because it was group training today, he himself looked pumped up.
"Today, we will go to Uluru Hill for group training. Our targets are carnivorous squirrels and carnivorous tree squirrels! Don't underestimate them just because they're easy foes, and I expect you to move in groups of five to reach the destination! Or achieve overwhelming results!"
Kyaa, it's finally happening. Group training.
"Ah, and I will not forgive anyone who strays or goes elsewhere! Lately, there have been more individuals committing illicit acts in our territory, so be extra careful. That is all!"
The Guard Captain left first, leaving behind a few guards to escort us to the path.
So, I actually have to do this, huh?
'Group projects aren't my style. Are there any good kids around?'
Places where people live are all similar. If you do something as a group, it's no different from a group project.
I absolutely didn't want to bear the burden alone. Unless I could monopolize it.
As I looked around, I saw Zara. For some reason, she was in the same group as Alpa.
I went to greet her.
"Zara, good mor..."
As I tried to greet her, Zara completely turned her head away, as if ignoring me. Huh? What's going on?
'Didn't she have an interest in me? Was I mistaken?'
This was a first. Alpa scoffed.
"What? Looks like no one wants to team up with you? You outcast bastard."
Ignoring him, I asked Zara.
"Are you going to be in this group?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Then I'll join too."
"Alpa is the leader. Talk to Alpa."
"To me, Zara is the leader. When there's a lion, how can I treat a stray cat as the leader?"
At my words, Zara covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. She did laugh, right? Chuckle, glad it worked.
Alpa got agitated.
"That fucking wannabe doesn't know his place. I should crush him."
"Hey. Didn't I tell you to fix that way of speaking? Is your brain a goldfish? Do you only have cum in your head instead of brain fluid?"
As I glared openly, Alpa flinched in surprise, then cleared his throat. He soon averted his gaze and spoke. Idiot.
"Ahem, well. I can accept you as your senior, but."
"Whatever."
I naturally joined. My interest was solely on Zara.
I was curious to see how she would fight. Watching someone else fight with my own eyes? That's a rare sight.
Two more joined our group: a magic position and a healer position.
Our group also set off. I spoke first, as if to encourage them.
"Let's do our best."
"Lucian."
Zara called out.
"Yes?"
"You seem to be mistaken about one thing, even if we're in the same group, we're rivals. I won't lose to you."
She's already burning with competitive spirit. That's a bit unexpected?
'That's strange. She's usually competitive, but is she this cold?'
"Yes, of course, Zara."
"Hmph."
We arrived at Uluru Hill. First, to get past the hill to the destination, we had to cross several ridges and reach the hill path.
Alpa, who was examining the map, scratched his brow.
"Hmm, we'll follow that ridge. When we reach the destination, we'll see the Guard Captain, so get ready to greet him."
We set off again. Monsters appeared several times along the way. Not only carnivorous squirrels and tree squirrels, but also goblins and gnolls, as well as creatures like 'Sonic Wolves' and 'Forest Spiders'.
Of course, such variables are something any Hero Candidate would consider. We dealt with them calmly.
"Kiiieeeek, humans. Die!"
"Revenge!"
The goblins, in particular, attacked fiercely. These bastards, they fell apart when their leader died, but look at them charging with their eyes rolled back.
'Then I'll just have to kill them.'
Grinning, I drew my sword. The moment I leaped forward.
Swoooooshhhh...
Zara stepped forward first and began slaughtering the goblins. Light flashed, and the goblins were dead.
"Gnolls on the flank!"
Alpa shouted. Then shall I take care of the bastards?
This time too, Zara stepped forward first. She was starting to get on my nerves.
No, a question spread through me.
'What the hell. It's like she's stopping me from doing anything.'
Zara, no matter how competitive you are, this isn't right, is it? We're fighting together, aren't we? This is almost monopolizing the kills.
Alpa, on the other hand, was excessively cheering for Zara.
"Woohoo! Lady Zara! You're the best!"
Of course, no one paid attention. I kept trying to cut down the monsters. But I was blocked by Zara.
It was funny. Zara was keeping me in check while also cutting down monsters.
'Why are you stopping me from doing anything, sigh. We're not enemies, Zara. You can't acknowledge my skill?'
Well, did she think it was because of my lineage? Whatever she was thinking, I needed to change that perception.
Eventually, the battle ended. Alpa shook the blood off his sword.
"Haa, it's not that I'm tired. But it feels like the goblins are attacking more fiercely. Is it just my imagination?"
"Yeah, it does."
"It was like they were all high on drugs."
Everyone agreed. Of course, I knew the reason.
'It's not because of me, definitely not because of me.'
The goblins would probably be like that for a while. Then they would scatter, or die off completely.
We walked along the ridge, on a path that bordered the edge of the forest.
To the left was a steep hill, and to the right was nothing but forest.
Perhaps because there was a forest nearby? While I feared monster ambushes, it was nice that the wind blew coolly every time. I even wanted to bring some women here someday and enjoy nude forest bathing.
"Grrraaaaaaah"
Bastards appeared, interrupting my peaceful thoughts.
Gnolls appeared from all directions.
"Kihihi, human meat. You've rolled right into our hands."
"Pay the toll. Your lives!"
"Of course, let's just cut off the limbs of the females and rape them! Especially that female, I want to make her suck my dick!"
The gnolls charged. We fought back. There were a ridiculously large number of mobs.
This time, Alpa stepped forward first.
"I'll show you my class!"
He gripped his longsword and charged. He fought at the very front, then gradually got pushed back and isolated.
It was a moronic tactic.
"Save me, Fuck!"
Ignoring Alpa, who was showing a shameful display, I looked at Zara.
She fought more fiercely than anyone, constantly glancing at me out of the corner of her eye.
'It must be hard to fight while keeping me in check too. She lives such a hard life. What is that pride of hers?'
I understand. She's the Lord's daughter, and even if she can't inherit the position, she'd want to be recognized by the Acting Lord.
Because, in terms of Hero Candidate hierarchy, I was actually ahead of Zara.
I sighed and moved to the flank. I cut down the gnolls in my sight.
"You human, you're mine!"
"Get lost, I'm not interested in males."
I gained Collector Points and added.
"Oh, and I won't play with gnoll females either. Remember that."
I moved forward, cutting down more gnolls. That way, I gradually returned to my original position, making people look at me.
Having the mage and healer support from behind was reassuring. Both of them admired me while providing support.
"Lady Zara, you're amazing as expected!"
"But Lucian is no joke either? Was he always like that? He's really flashy."
We fought for a long time. Then, I suddenly felt a killing intent I had never felt before.
At first, I thought a monster that could manipulate cold energy had appeared.
"Oh? Look over there!"
Someone shouted. An old orc with an eye patch appeared.
He took advantage of the chaotic battle to ambush Alpa, instantly slashing his flank with a straight sword.
"Kkeuhaak!"
The orc, with his muscular and sturdy physique, rushed towards Zara like the wind, contrary to his build.
Zara quickly raised her sword to guard, but it wasn't enough.
'No, I have to screw her later! That fucking orc bastard!'
Zara, exhausted from fighting excessively. The orc was menacingly pressuring such a Zara.
Soon, the distance between them widened, and the moment Zara's stance broke.
"Die."
The orc raised his straight sword. I threw myself into the gap.
I barely managed to defend against the orc's attack. But perhaps because the orc's specs were high, I rolled down the steep hill after blocking it.
"Uh-oh? Ugh!"
"No, Lucian! Cheh!"
With Zara fighting the orc as the last thing I saw, I helplessly fell down.
"Uwaaaak!"
I kept falling, hitting against branches, getting scratched, scraped, and cut.
This was utterly insane. Then I got caught on something.
"Kek!"
I had survived by getting caught on a large branch. I barely regained my senses and climbed down.
It was an unfamiliar place overgrown with bushes.
"I'm fine, Goddess. Thank you for not intervening. Just masturbate while watching me get stronger."
This foxy Goddess. So she was doing it after all?
Anyway, where exactly was this place?
'I need to rejoin the group quickly. Otherwise, I'll be disqualified!'
That worm Alpa wouldn't wait for me. I had to somehow make my way out alone.
First, I decided to leave this place. As I tried my best to find a path, I discovered an abandoned house.
It was a crumbling house, but I went inside to rest. However, there was an anvil sitting alone in the middle of the house. An anvil that glowed strangely red.
'Oh, is this a hidden treasure! The Anvil of Evolution that raises item grades by chance, though only once!'
Awesome, I'm seeing it here. From what I read in books. This is supposed to appear only near the capital city.
I immediately checked my items. What should I put on it to enhance?
'Using Dawn would lower the chance of enhancement because its inherent grade is high. Then it's either the boots or the amulet.'
After contemplating, I placed the amulet on it.
'I want to increase my damage when using skills.'
As I placed the Goblin Shaman Amulet, the anvil glowed, and the amulet's form gradually began to change.
And a moment later, the anvil lost its light and crumbled. I grabbed the amulet.
The amulet had changed, now feeling more intricately crafted with metal. It wasn't just its appearance that changed.
[Heretic Mage's Amulet]
Rarity: Limited Edition
*Unique Passive Effect 'Calm Stance': Nullifies low-quality mental interference.
*Unique Passive Effect 'Spirit Burst+': Efficiency increases by 50% every time Ki or Mana is activated.
「An amulet that has been enhanced once. It even emanates a mysterious aura.」
Ooh, its grade went up and its specs improved! With this, I might even be able to fight the orc head-on?!
'Kyaa, enhancement successful! Uht, Uhoooht!'
Looking forward to the next time with the anvil, or other hidden treasures, I moved forward vigorously.
***
A very gloomy place in the Ravenscoft territory.
This place, once a tavern, had become a ruin and was being used as a secret meeting place.
A slick-looking man brought a burly black man and spoke.
"Our time is coming soon."
"The underworld is almost pacified."
"This time, I will screw the Lady of the Manor, Fiora, and take her as my woman. And I will become the new Lord! Hahaha!"
Another desire was growing.