Rurie Harvert arrived at yet another nameless town.

A sister’s habit alone wouldn’t turn heads, but the full-sized coffin strapped to her back certainly did.

Ignoring the stares, she glanced around with childlike curiosity.

“…Hmm, doesn’t look like they’re here anymore.”

Finally getting a lead had taken far longer than expected. People were annoyingly hard to track.

With a small, troubled sigh, she pushed open the doors to the nearest tavern, coffin and all.

Every head swiveled toward her.

She paid them no mind and walked straight to the counter, setting the coffin down with a heavy thud beside a stool.

“One drink, please.”

“Y-Yes, right away!”

The bartender fumbled, but recovered quickly.

Whispers rippled through the room.

A moment later, a rough-looking adventurer slid onto the stool beside her.

“Well now, that’s quite the fashion statement.”

“Is it? I think it’s perfectly ordinary.”

“Hah, not the habit, sweetheart. The coffin. Got a body in there or what?”

“I would never carry a corpse around. I’m just a humble sister.”

“Right, and humble sisters always lug coffins to bars.”

Rurie turned with a sweet smile.

“Actually, I’m looking for someone.”

“Figured. That thing on your back’s a hell of a landmark.”

“Exactly. The person I’m after is rather famous, so I assumed it would be easy.”

“Famous, huh? This town ain’t big. If they were here, we’d know. What’s the name?”

The bartender slid her drink across the counter.

Rurie took a slow sip, lips curling.

“Lynoah Steiler. An S-rank adventurer. Young man. Have you seen him around?”

“Lynoah? Yeah, that kid’s a legend. S-rank at his age? Crazy. But you’re a few days late.”

“Oh?”

“Saw him just a couple days ago. Thought he was on a job, but he never showed at the guild. Then poof, gone. Took off without a word.”

“I see… By any chance, was he traveling with a girl? One wearing a collar?”

“Hm? Yeah, now that you mention it. Had a pretty little thing on a leash. Bought himself a slave, maybe?”

Rurie’s smile widened, almost predatory.

“Fufu… That’s very helpful.”

“Happy to help a beauty like you. Care to keep me company tonight?”

“I’m afraid once I know they’ve left town, I can’t afford to lose the trail.”

“One or two days won’t matter. S-rank like him, guild probably knows where he’s headed. And I’m not half bad myself, if I do say so—”

He reached for her wrist.

His hand froze mid-air, then jerked back as if burned.

Rurie tilted her head innocently.

“Good reflexes. You let go before it fell off. You really do have some skill.”

She stood, finished her drink in one graceful motion, and left payment on the counter.

“I think I’ll hurry along.”

Coffin back on her shoulders, she walked out into the dusk.

That very night, Rurie Harvert left town, moving faster than any ordinary sister had any right to.

The hunt was closing in.

♢♢♢

Several days had passed since Aine and I arrived in Lydin.

We’d immediately ditched the first (extremely suspicious) inn and moved to a proper, decades-old hot-spring ryokan. No weird drawers full of toys this time—just honest-to-goodness healing waters.

We soaked in the inn’s baths, of course, but after a few days we started venturing out to hidden open-air springs deeper in the mountains. Some were man-made, others natural pools fed straight from the source. Each had its own rumored effects: wound recovery, fatigue relief, even chronic illness cures. No wonder nobles stayed for months.

Right now I was alone in one of those wild springs, letting the near-scalding water work on the last of my injuries.

The pain that had lingered for weeks was finally fading.

“…Phew.”

A low grunt came from nearby.

A massive boar-type monster was lounging on the opposite bank, half-submerged, completely ignoring me. Apparently even monsters came here to heal.

Perfect. No people, no interruptions.

“How’s the water over there?”

I turned at the voice.

Aine stood at the edge, body modestly wrapped in a bath towel, sword still at her hip (of course).

She set her scabbard aside and slipped in right next to me.

“Your wounds?”

“Almost good as new. I could take jobs tomorrow if I wanted.”

“Tomorrow?! You really are a workaholic. Though I guess I can’t talk…”

“I did leave a bunch of requests hanging. Someone else will pick them up. Right now I’m focusing on healing—like you said.”

“Good. My arm’s pretty much back to normal too.”

Her arm had been broken not long ago. The speed of her recovery was unnatural, probably related to the collar. We still didn’t know the full details. We’d been running too long to properly investigate.

Once I’m fully healed, we really need to figure out how to get that thing off her for good.

“When you’re a little better,” she said, “I’ll be your rehab partner.”

“Rehab?”

“Sparring, obviously. You haven’t swung a sword properly in weeks. We’re fixing that before you even think about work.”

“I’m not bedridden. I could fight right now.”

“Nope. Overdoing it and reopening wounds is not happening on my watch.”

“You worry too much.”

“Prove you’re fine, then. Right here.”

Her eyes flicked to the swords we’d both brought.

I grinned.

Aine realized what she’d just suggested and immediately backpedaled.

“W-Wait, sparring in a hot spring is insane! What’s the point of coming here if we’re just going to fight?!”

“I won’t go hard. Just a light dance. I’d never actually hurt you.”

Her eyebrow twitched.

“…Fine. Light sparring only. And I’m not planning to hurt you either.”

She stood, re-wrapped her towel securely, and drew her blade.

“On your feet, Lynoah. I’ll show you my serious side.”

(She just said she wouldn’t hurt me, yet here comes “serious mode.” Classic Aine.)

I drew my own (still-new) sword and took stance.

It had been far too long since we’d crossed blades like this.

I was honestly excited.

“Here I come—”

Water exploded as I lunged.

The footing was terrible, but I closed the distance in one burst.

Aine met me calmly, parrying three probing strikes with insulting ease.

Then she countered.

I twisted away and answered with a flurry.

Her form was flawless—beautiful, decisive, no wasted motion.

I could watch her forever.

But I had to match her.

I wanted to catch методы her, surpass her… and protect her.

That desire was why I became a swordsman in the first place.

Our blades locked, faces inches apart, steam curling between us.

“…As expected,” she breathed. “I thought I’d have the advantage after your injuries, but… not even close.”

“I’m happy too. Getting to cross swords with you like this…”

“You won’t be smug for long—hyah!”

She broke the lock and leapt back.

We circled, then burst together again—out of the water this time, bare feet on stone.

Sparks flew.

Faster. Faster.

I wanted this moment to last forever.

The end came suddenly.

CLANG!

My blade stopped a hair’s breadth from her throat.

She froze, eyes wide.

“…I thought I could last longer than that,” she muttered, half-laughing. “Are you sure you’re still recovering?”

“Recovering or not, I trained so I could fight anytime.”

“What kind of insane training regimen do you even—never mind. My loss. But next time I’m winning.”

We grinned at each other, adrenaline buzzing.

Who would’ve thought a healing trip would give us something this exhilarating?

Aine’s towel chose that exact moment to slip.

It fluttered to the ground, leaving her completely bare.

I reflexively looked away.

She just sighed.

“It’s not like you haven’t seen everything already… We’ve done way more than look…”

“I mean—true, but—”

“I’m not telling you to stare!”

I turned back to sheath my sword and give her privacy.

The boar monster had wandered off at some point. We were alone.

Time to get out of the water anyway.

Then—soft warmth pressed against my back.

Aine’s arms slid around me from behind.

“…Your scars really have increased,” she whispered, fingers tracing the marks.

“Adventuring hazard. I’m fine now. You’ve got your own from your knight days, remember?”

“That’s different…”

I turned around.

She hadn’t bothered picking up the towel.

Her skin was flawless—no major scars, just smooth and perfect.

My gaze unintentionally drifted lower.

And… well.

The fight, the adrenaline, the naked childhood friend hugging me…

Certain parts of my anatomy were no longer relaxed.

Aine noticed immediately.

Her blush reached her ears.

“U-Um… this is kind of my fault too, right…?”

“You don’t have to take responsibility or anything—”

“But… maybe I could… help? With my hands… or whatever…?”

She was offering a handjob.

In a hot spring.

While blushing like a tomato.

I swallowed.

“You sure?”

“…You’re not allowed to refuse after everything you put me through at that last inn.”

Fair point.

“Then… I’ll leave it to you.”

She actually looked shocked that I accepted so quickly.

Then she puffed out her bare chest. “R-Right! Leave it to me!”

She dragged me behind a large rock (just in case someone showed up), sat me down, and—to my eternal confusion—knelt seiza-style directly in front of me.

Her eyes locked onto the problem at hand.

Total silence.

“…Aine?”

“I-I’m not nervous or anything! Just… figuring out the best technique!”

She made little air-stroking motions, psyching herself up.

Finally:

“…Okay, here goes!”

Her trembling fingers wrapped around me.

She started moving—slow, gentle, and hilariously inexperienced.

“Does it… hurt?”

“No, feels good.”

She frowned in concentration, like she was defusing a bomb.

“Is this… actually pleasurable?”

“…A little tighter and faster would be nice.”

“L-Like this?”

“Yeah—exactly—”

It was adorable watching her put 100% effort into her first handjob.

But she was kneeling way too close.

“Aine, you should move back a bit or—”

“Huh? Wait, are you already—?!”

Too late.

With a strangled groan I came—right across her startled face.

“Kyaa—?!”

She recoiled, hands frozen mid-stroke, eyes wide, cheeks and forehead now decorated in white.

For a long moment we both just… stared.

Then she slowly wiped her face with trembling fingers, expression caught somewhere between shock, embarrassment, and reluctant pride.

“…Guess that means I did it right?” she mumbled, voice tiny.

I could only nod dumbly.

Best. Rehab. Ever.

I came right on Aine’s face.

For a second she just blinked, utterly stunned, white streaks dripping from her cheek and forehead.

Then realization hit.

“…S-So?” she asked, trying (and failing) to sound confident. “Was it… good?”

“Yeah… really good,” I managed.

“But…?”

“But now we both need another bath. Especially you.”

Aine looked down at herself, finally registering the mess, and her ears turned scarlet.

“…R-Right. Good point.”

The post-nut awkwardness settled in like clockwork. We silently rinsed off in the spring, pretending the last five minutes hadn’t happened.

A little while later, fully dressed and acting like nothing occurred, we started back toward the inn.

“Your sword arm hasn’t dulled at all,” Aine said, falling into step beside me. “Honestly impressive.”

“Stamina’s still a bit off, but I’m combat-ready.”

“You’re already talking about work again… Take it slow, will you?”

“I’ve rested plenty. Gotta keep the body moving or I’ll really get rusty—”

“Um… excuse me?”

A gentle female voice cut in from behind.

We both spun around.

A nun in black habit stood a few paces away.

At first glance, perfectly ordinary church attire. At second glance, the massive pitch-black coffin strapped to her back made her anything but ordinary.

Most unsettling of all: we hadn’t sensed her approach. Not a footstep, not a breath. Nothing.

My hand was on my sword hilt in an instant, shifting to shield Aine.

The nun raised both hands placatingly.

“Please, I mean no harm! I was simply asking for directions…”

“Directions?” I repeated warily.

“Yes. I’m looking for the famous hot-spring town nearby, but somehow ended up lost in these woods. I felt people nearby and thought I’d ask.”

Aine stepped out from behind me. “There’s no one else around.”

“Aine, stay back—”

“It’s fine. The town is straight down this path,” I told the nun.

“Oh, how wonderful! Then I was closer than I thought. Thank you so much.” She gave a graceful bow. “My name is Rurie Harvert. And you are…?”

“Lynoah Steiler. This is—”

“Aine Krosinte.”

Rurie’s smile didn’t flicker even slightly at the names.

“Then perhaps fate will let us meet again. Take care.”

With that same serene smile, she turned and walked away, coffin swaying gently on her back.

Only when she vanished into the trees did we both exhale.

“…That was way too close for comfort,” Aine muttered.

“She erased her presence completely. I didn’t feel a thing until she spoke.”

“And no reaction to my name at all… Maybe it really was just a lost sister?”

“Doubtful. Normal nuns don’t carry coffins like backpacks. That kind of strength isn’t human.”

Aine grimaced. “And what’s inside it…?”

“I don’t want to think about it. Either way, she’s dangerous.”

I looked toward the town.

“We’ve stayed long enough. A few more days to be sure I’m fully healed, then we leave Lydin.”

Aine nodded, expression hardening.

After that strange encounter, the peaceful hot-spring vacation was officially over.

Trouble had found us again.

♣♣♣

We were on the mountain path back to town when raised voices drifted from the forest.

A boy’s desperate shout cut through the trees.

“Let me go! If no one else will, I’ll go myself!”

Aine and I exchanged a glance and immediately veered off the path.

In a small clearing we found four burly miners holding back a frantic teenage boy. Pickaxes and lanterns lay scattered around an open mineshaft: clearly a magistone dig site.

Aine stepped forward.

“What’s going on?”

One of the miners looked relieved to see armed strangers.

“We were excavating deeper in the cave when we heard this low, rumbling growl. Everyone bolted, but… one guy didn’t make it out. The kid’s his son.”

“I’m going back for my dad!” the boy screamed, struggling.

“We can’t just charge in blind!” another miner shouted. “We don’t even know what it is!”

Aine’s eyes hardened. She turned to me, voice low.

“Lynoah.”

“I know.”

She didn’t need to say it. A former imperial knight couldn’t ignore someone in danger.

But I hesitated.

The monster had growled instead of attacking outright: intimidation, not predation. And the collar on Aine’s neck hadn’t triggered today.

If it did while we were deep in a dark cave…

I pulled her aside.

“I’m against both of us going.”

“What? Why?!”

“Listen. The monster is probably just guarding territory. We could wait for proper adventurers—”

“That’s not like you at all!”

She was right. It wasn’t.

But the risk to her was real.

Then she hit me with the killer question.

“If our positions were reversed—if you were the one who might lose control at any moment—would you just walk away if I told you it was too dangerous?”

Checkmate.

I exhaled, took her hand, and walked back to the group.

“We’re adventurers. We’ll get him out.”

The boy’s eyes went wide.

“You’re… really going in?”

I nodded.

“Lynoah Steiler, S-rank. My partner, Aine Krosinte. We’ll bring your father back.”

Aine’s relieved smile was worth every risk.

We left the miners at the entrance and plunged into the tunnel.

The only light came from half-dead lanterns the workers had dropped.

I scooped Aine into a princess carry without breaking stride.

“H-Hey!! Warn me first!”

“No time. This is fastest.”

She opened her mouth to protest, then realized I was sprinting through near-total darkness without slowing or bumping a single wall.

“…How are you even doing this?”

“Old training with Ralha. I’ve run caves blacker than this. Just trust me.”

She huffed but wrapped her arms tighter around my neck.

A low, rumbling roar echoed ahead.

“Put me down the instant we engage,” she warned.

“Promise.”

The tunnel opened into a wider chamber.

A massive black silhouette lunged from the darkness.

I ducked under a sweeping tail, rolled forward, and set Aine on her feet.

She drew instantly, taking my back.

Pitch black. No silhouettes, no details. Just killing intent and the faint drip of water.

The creature went perfectly still, waiting for an opening.

I relaxed my stance completely.

“Lynoah…?”

I closed my eyes.

If it wanted an opening, I’d give it one.

The air shifted.

I leapt straight up.

A heavy tail whipped through the space my head had been a heartbeat earlier.

“From behind with the tail. Smart.”

I landed, felt the flow of its breath, and brought my sword down in a single vertical slash.

Once. Twice.

A wet thud, then the heavy collapse of a body.

Silence.

I sheathed my blade.

“It’s dead.”

“…You’re kidding. I literally did nothing again!”

Aine’s indignant voice echoed in the dark.

I laughed.

“We still have a miner to find. Come on.”

I took her hand and led her deeper, following the faint smell of blood and the echo of a weak, terrified groan.

Father and son would be reunited before sunset.

And I’d kept both of Aine’s most precious things intact:

Her life. And her pride.

☆☆

We found the missing miner cowering behind a pile of broken crates, trembling but unhurt.

The monster had never actually chased him; it had just roared to drive the intruders away. Hiding deeper had ironically saved his life.

I carried him out while Aine guarded our rear.

“…I never thought a monster would show up like that,” the man muttered as we walked.

“Caves are never truly safe,” I replied. “Even checked ones can have new visitors.”

Aine added, “Next time, have the guild sweep the whole network, not just the entrance.”

The man nodded sheepily.

When the literal light at the end of the tunnel finally appeared, he practically wept.

“We’re out… I’m alive…!”

I turned to call Aine.

She was on her knees, breathing hard, face flushed even in the dim glow.

I understood instantly.

The collar had finally activated.

The miner, oblivious, thanked us profusely and jogged toward the waiting crowd.

The moment he was gone, Aine let out a shaky sigh.

“…Worst possible timing.”

“Actually, best possible,” I said quietly. “If it had hit ten minutes earlier, we’d have been fighting while you were like this.”

She managed a weak laugh. “…Fair.”

Outside, people were waiting. We couldn’t let them see her in this state.

I knelt in front of her.

“We’ll take care of it right here. Quick and quiet.”

“H-Here…?! But voices carry, and—”

I pulled a clean handkerchief from my pocket.

“Bite this.”

She hesitated only a second, then obediently took it between her teeth.

I moved behind a bend where the light barely reached—just far enough that no one would see, close enough that we could still hear if someone approached.

Her eyes were already glassy, pleading.

I kept my voice calm.

“This’ll be fast.”

I slipped off my gloves, gently tugged her underwear down to her knees.

Even in near-darkness I could see the glistening threads of arousal stretching as the fabric peeled away.

She was drenched.

I coated my fingers first, sliding them along her outer lips until they were slick, then eased my middle finger inside.

“Nn—!”

A muffled whimper leaked past the cloth.

I found the spot just inside and slightly forward—the one that always made her legs buckle—and pressed firmly, rubbing in steady circles.

No teasing. No dragging it out.

Just efficient, merciless stimulation.

Her free hand clamped around mine, squeezing hard with every stroke.

I threaded my fingers through hers and squeezed back.

You can do this. I’m right here.

Her breathing turned ragged.

Her hips started rocking on their own, chasing my hand.

I could feel the exact moment she crested—her walls clamped down, her whole body jerked, and she let out a long, shuddering moan into the handkerchief.

I kept the pressure steady until the last spasm faded, then slowly withdrew.

A final strand of her release clung to my finger before breaking.

I wiped her clean with a fresh cloth, gentle and thorough.

She tried to protest—“I-I can do that myself…”—but her voice was too small, and she let me finish.

When I helped her stand and pull her clothes back into place, she leaned heavily against my chest for a moment.

“…Thank you,” she whispered, barely audible.

I pressed a kiss to her sweat-damp temple.

“Anytime.”

We stepped out of the cave together, faces perfectly composed.

The miners and the boy rushed forward, tears and gratitude spilling everywhere.

None of them ever knew what had really happened in the darkness behind us.

And that was exactly how it should be.

♢♢♢

The tavern was a roaring mess of clinking mugs and grateful miners.

“To the heroes! Kanpai!”

[TN: means “dry the cup” → “cheers!” / “bottoms up!”]

Another round of cheers. Aine and I were crammed at the best table, surrounded by half-drunk men trying to pour more liquor down our throats.

“You two are insane! Charged straight into that cave like it was nothing!”

“The monster was only one, so it wasn’t that big a deal,” I said.

“And you, little lady, adventuring at your age? Badass!”

Aine laughed awkwardly. “W-Well… something like that.”

Eventually the rescued miner arrived with his son.

The boy ran straight to Aine, face red.

“Th-thank you… for saving my dad.”

Aine ruffled his hair. “Of course. But next time, no running into caves alone, okay?”

He nodded furiously.

The father bowed so low his forehead nearly hit the table. “We owe you our lives.”

We drank, we ate, we laughed. Seeing everyone so genuinely happy… it felt good.

Really good.

If I’d prioritized Aine’s safety above everything and walked away earlier, this scene would never have happened.

I glanced at her, smiling at a miner’s terrible joke.

Yeah. Protecting her body wasn’t enough. I had to protect her heart too.

After a few hours the alcohol started hitting.

Aine fanned her flushed face. “It’s… getting hot in here.”

Her hand slipped into mine under the table.

“…You okay?” she whispered.

“I’m fine. You’re the one who’s red.”

She squeezed my fingers. “Your hand’s burning too… and it’s pretty late. Wanna sneak out?”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

We made our excuses, slipped out into the cool night air, and started walking back through the quiet streets, hands still linked.

Aine suddenly went very still.

“…Lynoah.”

“Hm?”

“You’re… still holding my hand.”

Oh. Right. We’d been like this since the tavern.

She was staring at our intertwined fingers like they were some alien artifact.

I couldn’t help grinning.

“What, embarrassed to hold hands in public now?”

“Sh-shut up! It’s different when people can see! When we’re alone I can do whatever I—”

She cut herself off, realizing what she’d just admitted.

I tugged her closer until our shoulders bumped.

“You just said ‘when we’re alone, anything goes,’ right?”

“W-Well, yeah, but—”

“Then I know exactly what I want to do once we’re back at the inn.”

She eyed me warily. “…Which is?”

I leaned in and whispered, clear and shameless.

“I really, really want to fuck you senseless.”

Dead silence.

Aine’s jaw actually dropped.

A perfect, cartoonish “…Huh?”

I’d never seen her make that face before.

And I decided I liked it a lot.

So I just smiled, gave her hand another squeeze, and kept walking toward the inn like I hadn’t just dropped the most direct line of my life.

Behind me, I heard the frantic patter of her footsteps as she hurried to catch up, face no doubt the color of a ripe tomato.

Tonight was going to be fun.

♣♣♣

The second the inn door clicked shut, I pushed Aine down onto the bed.

The sunset bleeding through the window painted her face in warm orange. She stared up at me, eyes wide, cheeks already flushed.

“L-Lynoah? How about a bath first? Calm down a little?”

She was trying so hard to sound composed.

I was definitely drunk. Normally I’d never be this forward, and she clearly wasn’t in the mood yet.

But her heart was racing anyway. I could feel it through her wrists when I pinned them above her head.

“Bath… we can do that after,” I murmured, leaning in until my lips brushed her ear.

“After what?” she squeaked.

“You know exactly what.”

“Hyah—?!”

I kissed her before she could protest again.

She squirmed, tried to push me away, but I caught both her hands in one of mine and held them firm.

“Mmph—! Mmmph—!”

She made the cutest muffled noises against my mouth.

I slipped my tongue inside, tasting the faint sweetness of the fruit wine she’d had earlier.

Her whole body shivered.

When I finally pulled back, a thin string of saliva connected us for a second before snapping.

She was panting, eyes glassy.

“…You barely even fought back.”

“S-Shut up! I’ll get really mad—!”

“I’m not joking, Aine. I’m dead serious.” I lowered my voice. “You’re the one who said ‘when we’re alone, we can do anything,’ remember?”

She went silent, cheeks burning hotter.

Because she knew I was right.

I loosened my grip a little, guilt creeping in.

“…You’re right. I am drunk. Forcing you when you’re not in the mood is wrong. I’ll stop—”

“I-I never said I didn’t want it!” she blurted, then slapped her hand over her mouth like she couldn’t believe the words had escaped.

A beat of stunned silence.

Then, quieter: “…I was just surprised. That’s all. I’m not… against it. With you.”

My self-control snapped like a frayed bowstring.

I slid my hand up her thigh, slow and deliberate.

“Nn—!”

Just the brush of my palm made her twitch.

I traced higher, feather-light, watching goosebumps bloom across her skin.

She tried to close her legs on instinct. I nudged them apart again with my knee.

“Look at me, Aine.”

She peeked through her fingers, face crimson.

“Why are you hiding?”

“Because… it’s embarrassing…”

“I’m only touching your thigh. We do way more embarrassing things literally every day.”

As if to prove my point, I slipped my hand under her shirt, fingers gliding over her stomach, then higher—stopping just short of her breasts.

She whimpered.

I circled one nipple with the pad of my thumb, barely grazing it.

Her back arched.

I kept teasing—circling, flicking, never quite giving her what she wanted.

She started trembling, breath coming in little gasps.

I leaned down and whispered against her neck.

“You’re soaked through your panties already, aren’t you?”

A choked moan.

I finally pushed the damp fabric aside and lined myself up.

She was dripping, trembling, legs spread and held open by my hands under her knees.

“I’m putting it in.”

She bit her lip, nodded frantically.

“Y-You said… anything goes, right…?”

I slid inside in one slow, deliberate thrust.

Her walls clamped down instantly.

“Nnh—ah—!”

I didn’t give her time to adjust—just started moving, deep and steady.

The angle, the way her underwear rubbed against her clit with every stroke, the fact that we were both still half-clothed—

It was filthy. It was perfect.

She came first, suddenly, violently, whole body seizing around me.

I followed right after, burying myself to the hilt and spilling inside her with a low groan.

When I finally caught my breath, I rested my forehead against hers.

“…That was incredible, Aine.”

She was limp, flushed, utterly debauched—and smiling.

“Yeah… me too.”

Even half-forced, even messy and clothes half-on…

When it was him, she realized she didn’t mind at all.

In fact, she kind of loved it.

♡♡♡

Night had swallowed the mountains.

Deep inside the now-sealed mining tunnel, a single lantern bobbed through absolute darkness.

Rurie Harvert walked alone, the little flame painting faint gold on the black coffin riding her back.

“No light at all… and yet he charged straight ahead without hesitation.”

She sounded almost admiring.

The path was rough, half-collapsed in places, littered with loose stone. An ordinary person would have fallen ten times over.

But Lynoah Steiler had sprinted through here carrying his partner, found the monster, and killed it cleanly. All without a single scratch on either of them.

Rurie stopped where the fight had ended.

A headless black beast lay sprawled across the ground, neck severed with surgical precision.

She crouched, running a gloved finger along the cut.

“Perfectly clean. Not a single wasted motion. In total darkness, on terrible footing… Yes. Top-tier even among S-ranks.”

A satisfied smile curved her lips.

“That’s more than enough data.”

Her original target had been the collared girl, Aine Krosinte. But the boy protecting her had turned out to be an unexpected jackpot.

Rurie stood, brushing dust from her habit.

“Approaching them again at the hot springs would be too obvious… I’ll need a more natural opportunity.”

As she turned to leave, low rumbling growls echoed from deeper in the tunnel.

Three more of the same black creatures emerged, surrounding her.

“KoOOOOOOOO…”

“Ah… you came looking for your dead friend?” Her smile never wavered. “Or perhaps something—or someone—drove you out here?”

Realization sparked behind her gentle eyes.

“Fufu. Perfect. Adventurers love nothing more than a sudden monster outbreak, don’t they?”

One lunged.

A flash of crimson.

Its head spun through the air, eyes still wide with confusion.

Rurie speared the flying head mid-rotation, letting blood run down the shaft and stain her pale hand scarlet.

The second tried to flee.

She flicked her wrist; the spear whistled, and another head tumbled.

The last monster froze, trembling, all will to fight gone.

Rurie walked forward slowly, twirling the weapon to shake off the gore.

“You attacked first, yet you try to run? How rude.”

One lazy thrust.

The third body dropped.

She planted the spear in the ground and glanced toward the higher peaks.

“Creatures like these don’t normally appear at this altitude. There must be something—or someone—driving them down the mountain.”

Her smile widened, sweet and terrible.

“I should hurry. Wouldn’t want any other troublesome people to reach them first.”

With that, the black-clad sister melted back into the night.

Behind her, moonlight glinted on three headless corpses, and the scent of fresh blood drifted on the wind.