Ch.100Reward-Giving(?) NPC. (1)

The black fog, which could have been called a small mountain, gradually disappears.

“Phew. Gore, are you okay?”

[If you don’t give me a real reward this time, I’m seriously going to sulk. And if you try to substitute it with an item, I’ll really, really sulk and sneak into your room while you’re sleeping.]

[Slime Golem: Level 403]

[HP: 27,220]

“Sigh… Alright, I’ll definitely give you one.”

Unlike usual, Gore has completely collapsed on the ground. After tanking that powerful fog without any support, he must be truly exhausted.

Wait a minute. Did our golem’s level increase by more than 200? Don’t tell me. Did we get experience points from a level 1200 enemy? Golems didn’t get experience in the game, though?

Oh, um. Sweet?!!

[Level up!][Level up!][Level up!][Level up!][Level up!][Level up!][Level up!]…

[-Profession: Mountain Keeper NPC- Level: 552 Name: Jack. Age: 19.]

Oh shit. I’ve gone up by more than 150 levels too. This is truly unexpected luck?

“…You two are really amazing. To think you could fight something like that. I really, really couldn’t have imagined it.”

[-Profession Striker-: Level 142 Name: Miho. Age 19.]

…Fuck. Wait. Even she, who only landed the final blow, gained almost 100 levels? This feels a bit unfair?

We probably couldn’t have won this event without her, but still, we’re the ones who did all the hard work.

I sit down, watching the black fog dissipate. Miho approaches Gore, who’s sprawled out on the ground, her already luminous golden eyes sparkling even more.

“That was really, really amazing! This is what a real adventure is! This is what a battle between the strong looks like!! And…!!”

“Haa, what are you so excited about? After killing a beast-like person, does the beast’s blood start boiling…”

“No. For Ira’s sake. I realized this was truly a battle fought by protectors.”

…What is she suddenly talking about? Miho, who suddenly spoke with a serious face, gives me an eye-smile when I frown.

No way. Don’t be deceived by such talk. She’s a troll that can’t even be compared to Ray. Plus, she’s a lesbian. She’s trying to trick me and ultimately get to our kids.

After confirming that the black fog had completely scattered and disappeared, I silently got up from my spot. Unlike women who would cling to me and beg to be held when they collapsed beside me, Gore stood upright on his own two legs.

“Alright. Let’s go back. After hearing things I shouldn’t have, I really want to hear Ira’s voice. Besides, I have a jinx about dungeons, so resting here is definitely not an option.”

“A jinx?”

[Ah. You mean the dungeon will collapse. Indeed, it’s impressive that it’s held up this long.]

The black fog and the spirits’ crazy antics. Me breaking the pillar, and even Gore’s enlargement and the enemy’s bombardment—this dungeon has sturdily maintained the battlefield through it all.

Actually, I had a plan to collapse the dungeon and bury the black fog if we couldn’t defeat it. Seems like that strategy wouldn’t have worked anyway.

So we turned our backs on the battlefield and began to walk away…

[A talent… that appears… once… in 1000 years…]

“Miho?”

“What?! No, it wasn’t me!!”

[Master. Over there.]

A voice reached us as we were about to leave. Gore pointed to the source of the voice with his finger, and I quickly turned my head. Damn, did we really need the protagonist after all?!

What I saw was the black fog, no, the upper body of a person made of black fog.

I don’t know where it sold its lower body and head, but if it flies at us like that, it would be a real horror game?

[Dan…gerous. Talent. Child with abundant talent. Your… sister. Danger.]

“…What?”

But contrary to my shallow worries and concerns, a much more serious statement flies in. What is it saying? Sister? Ira?

[I…ra. Prin…cipal. Talent… targeted… protect. Re…venge… tha…nk…]

That was it. As if it had used up its last bit of strength, the black fog couldn’t even maintain its upper body and scattered, disappearing into the dungeon.

Fuck. What was that about? Did it say “thank you” at the end? No, there wasn’t a scene like this in the game…

“Gasp…! Could it be.”

“What? Did something click for you?”

After the creature’s words ended and I was standing there dumbfounded, Miho covered her mouth in surprise and widened her eyes.

“Don’t keep me in suspense. What did it mean?”

“W-well! When I infiltrated the academy on your orders that day…”

Miho’s explanation was simple.

Ira’s information as a recommended student was being passed to the principal, and the principal was muttering something to himself before slamming down the recommended student paper that had been handed to him.

Damn. Why are you only telling me this now?!!

“Damn it, Gore!!”

[Even at full speed, it will take 20 minutes.]

“I’m sorry!! I’ll run at full speed! I’m sure I can reach there within 40 minutes…!!”

“Let’s get outside first!!!”

I traversed the dungeon at a speed equal to, no, greater than the day Ira screamed, and emerged outside.

The sun was starting to set, and the sky was turning red. Our battle must have lasted for several hours.

This means there’s a possibility that they’ve already reached Ira, fuck. Please!!

“Gore!! Enlarge!! Maximum!!!”

[I can’t maintain it for even 5 seconds right now.]

“3 seconds is enough!! Pick me up and throw me!! Throw me into the city!!!”

“Eh?!!”

[…Understood.]

I immediately jumped in place, and Gore raised one hand to catch me, then enlarged.

-Whoosh!!! Thud! Rumble!!

[Safety calculations are impossible.]

“It’s an order!! Throw meeeee!!!!!”

From Gore’s hand, I looked at the city barely visible beyond the horizon, shouting as I gazed toward where Ira should be. And then I was flying through the air.

*

Before Jack met the principal.

“So, the continent of the Holy Church…”

“Mmm, Ragni sis.”

“Ah, yes. Well, let’s stop here for today. You did well.”

Ragni had been lecturing Ira for nearly three hours on subjects likely to appear in the academy entrance exam, and Ira had been listening attentively with bright eyes.

However, a 12-year-old girl was still too young to sit at a table for too long.

Seeing Ira stretching her words and rubbing her eyes, Ragni quietly closed the book, patted her head, and stood up.

“You worked hard. Was it difficult?”

“Mmm, I like it when sis teaches me, it’s fun.”

I asked if it was difficult, but she says it’s fun. She must be really sleepy.

I stretched out my arms to Ira, making it easy for her to be embraced, and Ira wrapped her arms around my neck without hesitation. Ah, it really feels like having a little sister.

“Well, I’m glad you found it fun. As expected, smart Ira is different.”

“Ehehe.”

“But you should tell me quickly if it’s hard. Studying until you’re sleepy like now isn’t helpful.”

“Mmm. I know.”

Patting the back of Ira, who was burying her face in my shoulder and blinking sleepily, I head to my room on the first floor.

Originally, Ira shares a room with Jack on the second floor, but I’m the only adult in the house right now. It’s better to have her sleep in my room for protection and safety.

After laying Ira on my bed and covering her with a blanket, she yawns widely and smiles at me.

“Ragni sis smells nice.”

“Oh my. That’s a nice thing to say. Should we sleep together from now on?”

“Mmm, I want to sleep with big brother.”

“I see, that’s a bit disappointing. Or maybe I could join you both later?”

“…That’s, ehehe… let’s do that…”

The process of gradually increasing Ira’s affection is progressing smoothly. At this rate, even if I marry Jack, Ira surely won’t object.

Once I’m prepared to hear from Jack’s own mouth what he’s carrying and hiding, and to assist him, I can definitely become his official wife.

‘If I become the official wife, I could accept Ray as a guard knight and nanny.’

And when I get pregnant, I could temporarily lend my place as his bedtime companion. After all, Jack is a healthy man. Plus, he himself said in a drunken confession that he’s been holding back around us. I don’t want to force that aspect on him.

Ah. What a woman I am, quite a good woman, aren’t I?

Besides, although Ira spoke harshly to Ray earlier, saying “Are you going to play at home while big brother works?” was actually an indirect way of saying she wants to continue being together in the future.

In other words, for Ira, Ray is already someone who naturally belongs with them. Forcibly pushing away such a woman would only subtract from the sister-in-law points I’ve accumulated so far.

‘Still, I really do want him all to myself…’

As I was thinking about various things while patting Ira’s stomach, who had started to fall asleep, soon only Ira’s gentle breathing filled the room.

‘Hmm, should I prepare dinner before Jack returns?’

I’ve never cooked before, but I’ve seen Gore and Ray do it, watched people do it at the market, and I know enough in theory.

As I quietly leave the room and head to the living room…

-Click.

“…Ha. Did they target the timing when Ray was gone? No. Looking at the timing, they made her leave and then came? It seems I’m really being followed?”

Drawing the gun I always carry at my waist, I look around. There’s nothing unusual in the house, and almost nothing has changed. Except.

“You there. Come out. If you don’t come out right now, you’ll all die without knowing what hit you.”

With my back to the door of the room where Ira is, I quietly murmur.

The arrangement of furniture, doors, and window curtains. And even the very small traces of sand on the floor that had been cleaned by Ray in the morning. Ragni didn’t miss even the tiniest changes that others would never have noticed.

“One, two. Four? Ha. This is ridiculous. You sent four people to capture one cute little girl and one weak, pretty woman like me?”

“””……”””

“How did you know?”

-Step, step.

One man coming down the stairs from the second floor where Jack and Ira’s room is, and three others who were hiding behind various pieces of furniture appear simultaneously, asking how I knew about their intrusion as if they couldn’t understand.

What is this? Are they idiots? If this is the standard, then Jack, who constantly calls himself an idiot, might actually be normal?

“If you hoped I wouldn’t notice after leaving so many traces, should I take it that you know nothing about me or Ira?”

“Traces?”

“I’m too lazy to explain everything. And you. I answered one of your questions, so you answer mine. Who sent you?”

“You don’t need to know. If you don’t resist, only good things will happen.”

“It might be a bit rough, but. Heh.”

“We promise not to touch the little girl. How about it, miss?”

Sigh. Truly, all men are beasts. I’ve read such things in books, but after seeing only Jack and then seeing men like these, I really think it’s true.

All of them looking at my body, specifically my chest, as if they’re licking it with their eyes. It’s utterly disgusting.

Ah. I was dressed a bit lightly because I’m at home, how annoying.

“Sigh. The man I want to give a chance to is still putting up walls, but why do bugs like you always swarm around? Do I spray some kind of pheromone or something?”

“Just get ready to whimper under this bug’s ass.”

“Oh my. So you know you’re a bug?”

“……”

Seeing them all draw daggers and slowly close in on me, but you know what? I’m not scared at all.

If it were the old me, I would have already given up my virginity here.

“Hehe. Thanks to Jack. Ah, good timing. I’ll use you for an experiment.”

“…What?”

“Ha. Is she crazy?”

“Doesn’t matter, her looks and body are killer.”

Without any knowledge about guns, I smile, raising the corners of my mouth as I watch the men slowly approach. Shooting all of them in the head would be no trouble at all.

In fact, I’m confident I could finish them all within 3 seconds.

However.

“Cleaning up would be a hassle, and Ira is sleeping, so let’s start by breaking all your necks first?”

Eyes curved like crescent moons, with red pupils glowing within.

Facing four men, far from being intimidated, she emits an aura that seems to completely dominate the space, causing the approaching sturdy men to hesitate.

[Skill: Ruler’s Aura.]

[Skill: Heaven-sent Talent.]

And she charged toward them as the very small and precious queen (mistress) of her own domain.