I really miss it.
When I first entered The Dungeon of Cass, I was also thrown into chaos by the Goblins.
Siloque could relate to Cass’s photographer mood; he also wanted to take a picture to capture his sister’s tearful expression.
But he wouldn’t actually do it—too petty, and he might even end up being hated by his sister.
“If even this one feels disgusting to you, then things might get a bit troublesome ahead. There are creatures with flowers growing from their heads, monsters resembling carnivorous plants, and even those covered in wet, slimy tentacles…”
“Yaaah—! Brother, you didn’t bring Hil here just to farm disgusting monsters, did you?!”
Hil shuddered at Siloque’s words, goosebumps rising all over, and swung her Longsword wildly.
“N-no, I didn’t.”
(Guilty).
“Brother, you’re a pervert, a pervert, a huge pervert! Hil will never talk to you again!”
Bringing Hil here was purely because the Man-Eating Flowers in this place were weak monsters.
They just looked creepy, and took half a day to digest a single Explorer.
Occasionally, there would be Explorers who purposely let themselves get eaten, only to cut their way out from inside.
The only problem was that you’d be drenched in stink coming out of its digestive organ, and it was hard to wash off.
This type of monster had flexible moves, decent mobility, a large target area, and was perfect for Newbie Village monster practice.
The Man-Eating Flower had already closed the distance to just three meters from Hil.
Staring up at its massive form, Hil gave up on thinking for a moment.
“Look ahead! Hil! It’s already within your attack range!”
Right. What am I here to do?
Siloque’s reminder pulled her back to her senses. She gritted her teeth.
If I can’t even deal with a monster from Newbie Village, how can I even talk about protecting my brother?
“Waaahhhh—-!”
With a battle cry tinged with tears, Hil aimed her sword at the orange-yellow area beneath the Man-Eating Flower’s petals and swung down.
The Man-Eating Flower lightly retreated, dodging the attack.
Crap, this monster’s evasion is too high!
Realizing her mistake, Hil pulled her sword back to reset her stance, but the Man-Eating Flower seized the opening and coiled her legs with its vines, lifting her up easily with monstrous strength.
“Ah!”
Hil’s entire vision flipped as she was hung upside-down, the monstrous maw of the Man-Eating Flower closing in.
“No… Don’t come near me! Stay away!”
Hil’s eyes widened in terror, her voice trembling.
The gigantic Man-Eating Flower seemed delighted, swaying the dangling Hil left and right as if toying with her, its vines reaching out—but they were severed by Hil’s frantic sword swings.
The damage was enough, just not to the weak point.
Siloque, now adept at tying his long hair into a ponytail, looked like a cool-headed assassin in his windbreaker.
He checked to ensure no other monsters were approaching, then placed his hand on the hilt of the Greatsword at his waist, ready to step in.
Wait.
While it would be nice to show off as a cool and reliable older brother, is it really okay to step in so soon?
This is Hil’s first monster battle. Wouldn’t it be better if she handled it herself?
Letting her gain a sense of accomplishment, and the joy of defeating a monster, would be good too.
Unfortunately, Siloque didn’t get the chance to act.
Hil’s fear didn’t last long.
“Stay away… You can’t hear me, can you!”
The twin-tailed blonde girl let out a roar filled with anger, her panic gone.
She gripped her sword and, with a surge of strength, sliced through the vine binding her legs in a single stroke, causing her body to fall.
Whether it was the effect of the light armor’s agility bonus, or because she played for the Featherball Club at school, Hil spun 360° midair like a diver and descended—
“Hey.”
“Waah—!! Brother?!”
Siloque caught Hil mid-fall.
A faint blush flashed across Hil’s face, but her gaze quickly locked onto the Man-Eating Flower.
She twisted free and lunged straight at the monster, hurling her Longsword into its gaping maw.
“Gaayaaayaa!!”
The Man-Eating Flower let out a plant monster’s characteristic scream, stumbling backward as it tried to pull out the sword with its vines, exposing the orange-yellow weak point beneath its petals.
Though the massive Man-Eating Flower tried to react to the approaching Hil, extending all its vines, before they could bend, the girl’s right fist flashed like lightning.
A silent jab struck the target cleanly, causing the Man-Eating Flower’s body to stiffen from the impact and its vines to slow.
Her hand was encased in Gauntlets—serving as makeshift knuckles.
Hil pressed forward, drawing back her right hand to deliver a barrage of blows, each punch faster than the last.
A faint golden glow enveloped her fists, activating the Gifted Ability: Superhard Material.
“Gaayaaayaaayaa!!!”
“Gaaaya!”
“Gaa…”
The more she pummeled it, the quieter the Man-Eating Flower’s screams became, with more green liquid spraying from its body.
The stem was battered full of holes, and the monster was beaten to death on the spot.
Wow…
Siloque broke out in a cold sweat, speechless.
Strong…
She might be a bit terrifying when angry, unlike her usually docile appearance.
Though, it was also a little cute when she’s mad.
“ーー?”
A new plant scent wafted through the air.
He sensed movement nearby and looked around…
“Huff… Hil did it! Did you see just now, brother!”
Covered in sticky green sap, Hil turned excitedly to Siloque with a radiant smile, waving vigorously.
Siloque’s expression turned grim as he drew the Greatsword from its sheath.
“Eh?”
Hil was startled by Siloque’s deadly serious expression.
But Siloque wasn’t facing Hil.
He stepped forward and, with a flash, sliced at her feet.
“Gaayaaayaaayaaーー!!”
The vine at Hil’s feet was severed, and a new Man-Eating Flower had silently sprouted about five meters behind her.
“Even after defeating one, you need to watch your surroundings, Hil.”
Siloque moved in a flash, piercing the monster’s weak point with his sword, bringing it down instantly.
“Oh, Hil understands!”
Hil looked up to him in admiration, jotting notes into her little notebook.
Since everyone else’s Lv was higher than mine, I could only get satisfaction from showing off in front of my little sister.
I really am a bit petty…
Siloque glanced at the pulverized remains of the Man-Eating Flower—no, minced meat—Hil had created.
At least, in the end, she did finish it by herself.
Up until now, she was just a middle schooler, chatting in class about exams—not aiming to be an Explorer, and her training was nowhere near those targeting the Strategy Group or being groomed as Explorers from a young age.
The process was a bit rough, but Hil still managed to defeat her first monster in actual combat.
“Well done, Hil.”
He extended his palm to her.
Hil seemed to realize something as well, closed her notebook, and wiped her hands clean.
Pa!
A celebratory high-five for her first monster defeat.
“This is what your brother does every day in The Dungeon, Hil. How does it feel?”
“Umm.”
Hil crossed her arms and thought for a moment:
“Hil panicked too much at first, then ended up overdoing the damage in the end. It’s easy for enemies to exploit that. Being able to take down monsters quickly and still stay aware of your surroundings like brother would be better.”
As she spoke, Hil seemed a bit regretful.
“Well, it was your first time. Being scared is only natural.”
“You’re much better than your brother, Hil. My first time in The Dungeon, I got chased around by Goblins.”
“Wasn’t that because you pulled a whole mob onto yourself? Serves you right.”
“You still have the energy to mock me.”
“Hehe.”
Hil giggled.
Siloque took out a Quick-Dry Towel from his wrist device.
He wiped Hil down a few times, and the towel instantly absorbed all the grime, cleaning off the sticky liquid perfectly.
“Uuuh!”
A jolt like an electric current ran through Hil’s body, making her go numb and collapse onto the grass.
“Brother? What’s happening to Hil’s body? It feels weird…”
Why…
Why is this happening…?
The girl’s white neck flushed red with pleasure, her eyes hazy and moist, and her breathing became strangely heated.