A Humble, Scary-Looking Mid-Rank Adventurer Is Offered Their Bodies by Every Member of a Rising All-Female Party, Begging: ‘You Can Do Whatever You Want With Me, Just Please Spare My Companions.’ - 24

Chapter 24: To the Cave!

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When Balg got up and appeared at the campsite, Sierra and the others had already finished getting dressed and had begun preparing breakfast. As she added chopped vegetables to the pot that was starting to bubble vigorously, Nerva greeted Balg.

“Looks like you slept really well.”

“Morning, Nerva. Lately, I’ve been sleeping strangely deeply.”

Am I letting my guard down?

Balg tilted his head, puzzled by the thought.

“You must be building up fatigue. Did you wake up feeling refreshed?”

“Yeah. Absolutely.”

For some reason, Sierra, whose complexion looked especially radiant, handed Balg some toasted bread. Patema placed bacon and eggs she had fried in a pan on top of it.

“We’re going to train hard again today, right? Eat plenty.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“M-mmph! Th-this is nothing special, y’know!”

Patema wiggled her body as she spoke. Balg didn’t pay it any special mind to it and immediately took a bite of the bread.

“Good morning, Balg-san.”

“Oh, morning to you too, Fana.”

Having just been greeted by Fana, he politely returned it. As always, her priestess outfit revealed glimpses of black undergarments through its daring slits, boldly exposing her plump thighs. Balg pressed his knees together to suppress the stirring in his groin and focused on eating.

“Mmfh~♡”

He didn’t notice Fana watching him with a bewitching smile.

“Here, the stew’s done too. Eat up.”

“Whoa!? Isn’t this a bit much?”

“You’re the biggest one here. You can handle this much.”

A clearly extra-loaded bowl of stew was pushed toward him. The one who had wedged herself between Fana and Balg was Nerva, who looked slightly irritated.

“How rare to see you serving Balg-san a plate yourself, Nerva.”

“W-what!? I-It’s just once in a while! It’s fine, isn’t it?!”

At Fana’s sharp observation, Nerva’s ears twitched, but she tried to brush it off. She practically shoved the meat-piled stew into Balg’s hands and returned to the pot.

“It’s nice that you’re all getting along better.”

“Y-yeah… Though isn’t the distance a bit too close?”

“Isn’t that good?”

Sierra continued smiling innocently at the scene.

“So, what are we doing today?” 

Nerva asked. At her question, Balg paused his spoon and thought.

“…It’s about time we head into the cave.”

With that single statement, the relaxed atmosphere of the campsite tightened. The four members of Aurora Blade all took on the expressions of adventurers. The true heart of the Traga Forest wasn’t its densely overgrown surface, but the complex network of caves spreading beneath it. They had once rushed in recklessly and paid the price. Now, they clearly understood just how foolish their actions back then had been.

But after accumulating enough training, Balg judged that they were ready to move on to the next stage.

“Once we enter the cave, we’ll be staying inside for several days. You’ve got your camping gear ready, right?”

“Y-yes!”

Exploring a natural labyrinth of underground caves as a day trip was nearly impossible. They would need to eat and sleep inside. At Balg’s direction, Sierra and the others had prepared simple camping equipment in advance.

“You won’t have access to plenty of clean water. Living without sunlight puts more strain on the body and mind than you’d think. And from here on out, you’ll need to stay on edge at all times. Are you prepared?”

“Of course.”

The harshness of cave exploration was on an entirely different level. Still, Nerva had already steeled herself. After having been shown that overwhelming strength and utterly subdued the previous day, Nerva no longer doubted his ability. More than that, she instinctively believed it was her role as the lead female to protect the pack leader.

Being trusted by one’s mate was the highest joy a female could know. Without realizing it, she swayed her tail and sent him a heated gaze.

“The footing will be bad. Just like what happened to you, Nerva, anyone could slip. Fana, make sure you’re fully prepared too.”

“Leave it to me.”

This was part of their training, but the risk to life was very real. Fana understood that well and showed no carelessness. Her pack contained everything from first-aid tools to medicines, and she had also gathered medicinal herbs native to the Traga Forest.

All of it was in service to her duty as a priestess, treating injuries properly and restoring both body and mind. Of course, Balg would also accumulate stress under such tense conditions. She believed easing that burden was her role as well. And inside the cave, any sexual relief would inevitably be easier for Sierra and the others to notice. She had no intention of being caught, but the thrill alone made her heart burn.

“And Patema. In the cave, you’ll be especially important.”

“Y-yes. I understand.”

In the narrow confines of the cave, Nerva’s spear and Sierra’s sword would be restricted. That was where flexible magical combat came into play. Just as the two vanguards possessed exceptional skill, Patema too had an unbelievable amount of mana and the ability to wield it. Her talent was remarkable for her age. She was, without exaggeration, a genius.

Moreover, Patema was a small-statured dwarf. In tight spaces, that unremarkable body of hers could actually become an advantage. Even so, being directly entrusted by the man she loved weighed heavily on her. At the same time, she felt joy at the deep trust he placed in her, reaffirming that they were bound by profound love.

“Sierra, I’m counting on you too. Coordination will be even more important in the cave.”

“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

In the end, what mattered most was party cohesion and the leader’s skill. Nerva might serve as the rearguard of Aurora Blade, but the true core was unquestionably Sierra. The party had refined its movements to respond to her voice. If Sierra stayed calm and issued precise commands, the party could demonstrate power greater than the sum of its parts.

To the man who would one day be her lover (and eventually her husband) Sierra made a firm vow in her heart. She wanted to prove that she possessed the strength worthy of standing at his side.

“Alright. Looks like everyone’s fired up.”

Completely oblivious of the very different thoughts running through each of them, Balg nodded in satisfaction. One was thinking of him as a pack leader, as a man burdened with excess desire, as a lover, as a future spouse… He had no awareness of the girls’ feelings at all. 

“With a cave expedition, I need to stay sharp too. If anything comes up, don’t hesitate to speak up right away. This is training, not an exam. I’ll support you properly, so feel free to consult me about anything.”

“A-anything…”

“Support…”

“Don’t hesitate…”

“Consult…”

As he casually said this while clearing away the empty dishes, Balg intended it as a way to ease their tension. What proved fatal was simply that he failed to notice the girls swallowing hard and clearing their throats audibly.

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