111. Giant’s Fruit

Perhaps because I pushed myself too hard, all my strength drained away, and I was blankly chewing on a sandwich when my body suddenly grew hotter.

What’s this? Why am I feeling so feverish?

“Hey, doesn’t anyone else feel unbearably hot?”

“Huh? Not at all? If anything, isn’t it rather cold?”

“I don’t feel particularly hot either.”

“It’s freezing…”

“Huh?”

Why am I the only one feeling this heat?

No, why do I feel hot right now? As my companions said, the labyrinth’s air is cold, yet I’m feeling intensely hot.

It’s not the campfire-this heat feels strangely like it’s rising from within.

‘Could it be… Poison? Or a curse?’

Neither.

I drank an antidote and checked for curses, but nothing came up positive.

This burning sensation is fundamentally different-it’s like my insides are on fire.

“Clothes. I need to take off my clothes.”

“Excuse me? Porter, what on earth are you saying?”

“I feel like… if I take off my clothes, this heat will go away…”

Like someone possessed, I began hastily stripping. For some reason, I had a strong premonition that only by undressing would I escape this scorching sensation.

“He’s actually undressing?!”

“Wait, Shion…”

Despite my companions’ protests, I removed the armor Moira had bought me and the helmet I’d been wearing.

Once I took off all my clothes, the heat seemed to fade. So, stripping really was the answer.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?!”

“At least keep your underwear on!!”

“Uh… Porter-nim…?!”

“I’m sorry, truly, but… I think I need to take these off too.”

“This guy’s lost his mind!”

“Saintess! Please put down that scripture! Killing him seems a bit excessive!”

“Lo-Logie! Stop the Saintess…! Porter-nim! Please, stop!!”

In the end, I stripped down to nothing.

Only then did I feel liberated as the heat vanished, replaced by a creeping chill.

“Haa… Haa… The heat’s finally gone… Good grief.”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes. My apologies to everyone. I felt like I’d die if I didn’t take off my clothes…”

“What kind of bizarre quirk is this? What’s going on?”

At the Saintess’s question, I reluctantly offered an explanation.

“Probably… a side effect of the ring.”

“A side effect of the ring?”

“The Ring of Etherealization, right?”

“Yes. That ring has side effects. It seems… one of them is generating heat inside the body unless you undress.”

Most of Rafnel’s creations come with side effects.

For instance, stamina potions that cause erections, stimulants that induce excitement-most of her items have some perverse drawback.

The Ring of Etherealization’s side effect must be ‘compulsive undressing.’

It makes your body unbearably hot until you strip completely, and only then does the effect stop.

At least it’s fortunate the side effect activated long after the battle ended. Had this happened mid-fight, it would’ve been disastrous.

‘And if used wisely…’

It might even serve as a personal heater in freezing regions.

Since the heat keeps rising until you undress, wouldn’t it work perfectly in extremely cold places?

Worth testing.

‘Side effects are what you make of them.’

Just as a stamina potion can double as erectile dysfunction treatment, any side effect can be leveraged for gain if used appropriately.

As Rafnel said, whether it’s abilities or items, the outcome depends entirely on the user’s skill.

“I’ll put my clothes back on now.”

“Yes, yes. Please do. Honestly, what a bizarre side effect.”

“Haha…”

I dressed again. Unintentionally, I ended up showing my companions something they shouldn’t have seen.

Unlike Logie, who’d already seen me naked, I’d committed a great discourtesy to Paramel and the Saintess.

“By the way, Porter.”

“Yes, Saintess?”

“You’re… much larger than I expected.”

“Huh? What is?”

“Hmm. Never mind. Logie would love this.”

“What do you mean?!”

“No wonder you’re popular.”

“Saintess!!”

The Saintess eyed me up and down with amused interest.

Surely not. If even the Saintess takes an interest in me, I’m doomed. My romantic entanglements are already excessive-I don’t need them getting any more complicated.

“Speaking of which, Porter. That giant over there-can you carry it?”

“Well… Taking it whole is impossible, but if you carve it up, I can manage.”

“Then we’ll have to chop it up.”

“Right. If you section it by parts, I can transport it all.”

“In that case, we should discuss the proceeds from selling the giant.”

The Saintess brushed breadcrumbs off her hands and approached the giant’s corpse.

“The Cyclops’s most valuable part is its eye, but it’s practically shattered now.”

“I hear the gallbladder and heart fetch high prices too.”

“Correct. The organs have uses too. Cleaned and dried intestines can be used for leather armor materials, among other things. The hide is also valuable.”

After examining the giant’s body, the Saintess looked at me.

“How much do you want for transport?”

“Half the sale price.”

“Half? Isn’t thirty percent sufficient?”

“From the testicles to the giant’s blood, I can transport everything cleanly. You’ll make a fortune. Even after giving me half, the Church stands to profit handsomely.”

“Hmm.”

“Thirty percent seems too low. Besides, my ally dealt the most critical damage in hunting the giant.”

“True, their attack was decisive. But without me, Raphael, and Paramel, they couldn’t have cast their spell, no?”

“So let’s split it fifty-fifty.”

Frankly, my contribution to the hunt was negligible.

But Helena was the one who blew the giant’s head off.

No matter how much the Saintess and Raphael tied down the giant’s legs by throwing themselves at it, the finishing blow came from Helena.

Thus, demanding half was justified.

‘Pioneering the underground city requires massive funds. Asking for half is only fair.’

The Saintess studied me silently before nodding.

“Fine. Halsi did perform admirably. Let’s proceed.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. It’s Halsi’s achievement, not yours.”

We agreed on a clean fifty-fifty split.

Of course, a verbal agreement isn’t binding, so I plan to formalize it with Guild Leader Moira as witness once we return.

“For now, let’s rest. We’ll process the giant tomorrow.”

“Saintess… You’re not planning to sleep again, are you…?”

“Meditation suffices.”

At Paramel’s concerned words, Fria brushed it off as nothing.

‘How many days has it been since she last slept?’

Since the heretics appeared in force, she’s barely slept.

Being semi-transcendent must allow her to endure such grueling schedules without rest.

“Paramel-nim. I’d like to set up a shower tent. Could you assist?”

“Y-Yes. Just a moment.”

Everyone was drenched in blood.

It’s best to wash it off quickly-left unattended, it attracts bugs and risks skin infections.

“Without Raphael… This is tough.”

“Indeed.”

Raphael’s strength made tent setup effortless.

His absence is keenly felt now.

“Done.”

“You go first.”

“Are you sure…?”

“Yes. I’ll wash last.”

I yielded to Paramel. He looked like he might collapse any second, so letting him wash and rest seemed best. Besides, I prefer washing leisurely.

While the others bathed, I stared at the campfire until Halsi woke.

“Hey. Got any water?”

“Here. How’s your body?”

“I’m done for… This flesh is ruined. Can’t use it anymore.”

“I figured…”

Helena said her Apostle body was beyond repair.

Overusing 10th Circle magic had completely destroyed her mana circuits. She’ll need a new body.

Still, her flashy performance secured us half the giant’s sale proceeds, so it’s a win. She probably pushed herself to 10th Circle deliberately to maximize profits.

Helena acted with calculated self-interest.

“Once we return, pick a criminal slave.”

“Make it a woman this time.”

“Prefer a female body?”

“Yeah. Lived as a woman all my life. A man’s body is just… inconvenient. Peeing with that dangling thing is a nuisance.”

“Haha…”

Forced gender reversal must’ve been rough.

‘Need to buy a female slave.’

A criminal slave with magical aptitude, preferably.

‘Need a body for Roy too. So many expenses.’

But selling the giant and dead trolls should net a hefty sum. With the right buyers, money won’t be an issue.

“Shion. Your turn to wash.”

“Ah, yes. One moment.”

Logie, damp from her bath, called for me.

My turn, it seems.

“Off to wash?”

“Yes. Halsi, want to join?”

“Nah. This body’s done for. Better off dead.”

“Ah…”

“Anything you need before I go?”

“Not really.”

“I see. Lend me a dagger then. Staying in this burnt-out body hurts like hell.”

“…Here.”

Helena took the dagger and slit her own throat.

The pain must’ve been unbearable-existing as a spirit was preferable.

“Gahk!! Shion! Why did Halsi…?! What happened?!”

“Well…”

Logie was stunned by Helena’s sudden suicide.

I explained the situation.

“Ah… Couldn’t endure the pain…”

“Yes. Must’ve been agony.”

“Can’t be helped. Some inquisitors choose death over suffering too. What a shame-our party shrinks again.”

Logie gazed somberly at the dead Apostle.

I stored the Blue Apostle’s corpse in my inventory.

-Perhaps this is better.

‘You’re here.’

-Got lost briefly. Where’s Roy?

‘Asleep. Must’ve overexerted himself.’

-I see.

Roy took some damage when I forcibly pulled him during our escape.

Now he’s silent, deep in slumber.

‘Meant to leave Roy in the labyrinth. Plans change.’

Originally, I planned to seal Feinela’s soul in a vine bean and leave Roy to guard the central section.

But with Roy out of commission, Feinela must defend it alone.

‘If only that heretic would cooperate.’

Bound by chains, he can’t scheme, but without supervision, he might slack off.

Unfortunate, but unavoidable.

‘Before washing, let’s feed the bracelet some giant’s blood.’

No point getting bloody again post-shower, so I’ll saturate the bracelet first.

I stabbed the torn giant hide to draw blood.

The Bracelet of Growth boosts stats by consuming monster blood.

Troll blood raised stamina, orcs enhanced strength, goblins sharpened senses.

What stat will the giant’s blood enhance?

As I dipped the bracelet into the blood pool, it began trembling.

An unprecedented reaction.

“W-What the?!”

Startled, I tried pulling back, but Helena stopped me.

-Wait! Hold on! It’s… absorbing differently this time!

‘Huh?!’

Helena sensed something.

I waited, letting the bracelet drink its fill.

After three minutes, the trembling ceased.

Simultaneously, a flower bloomed and withered on the bracelet, leaving behind a vivid red fruit.

“This is…”

What?