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.’ - 36

Chapter 36: Explosive Growth

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The exploration of the underground caves of Traga Forest, carried out by Aurora Blade, progressed with surprising smoothness. Nerva, the beastkin with a keen nose, took the lead on alert, Patema constantly kept her staff at the ready, and Fana maintained a backup posture while surveying the situation from above. Above all else, the fact that Sierra, as the leader, was fully conscious of her role as the command center and functioned as the core of the party made a huge difference.

“It’s a swarm of cave bats.”

“Extinguish the light and move quietly.”

The cave bats that had caused them trouble and turned the first day into a chaotic melee were now passed without difficulty, keeping their stamina consumption low. They had clearly grown stronger.

“While you were asleep, Balg, the four of us went over our roles again. Up until now, we relied on instinct for our coordination, but once we clearly defined each other’s strengths and weaknesses, we were able to ensure the effectiveness of our coordination to ensure there was no more waste.”

As they pressed deeper and deeper into the cave, Sierra spoke proudly. Balg was deeply moved by how much the girls had grown while he had been indulging in idle sleep.

Maybe I really wasn’t needed after all.

He even found himself thinking such things.

“See, it’s the same as when you have s-s-sex with Balg.”

“Bfwoah!?”

At the utterly unexpected turn of the conversation, Balg couldn’t help but spit out his breath. Seeing Nerva, who had been on watch, stiffening her ears in surprise, he hurriedly apologized. When he looked toward Sierra, she herself was bright red all the way to her ears, despite being the one who had said it.

“W-What are you talking about…?”

“All four of us have completely different body sizes and preferred positions, right? But each of us can make Balg happy in our own way. Ehehe.”

The up-and-coming young adventurer smiled softly. Faced with how far the once pure and innocent girl had changed, Balg held his head in his hands.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m the main wife, after all.”

“Main wife…? That’s a bit exaggerated.”

“…Yes?”

“…Huh?”

Balg let out a dry laugh, thinking she had come out with something grandiose again. But what came back was a blank, puzzled expression. Just as he began to sense that something was off…

“Balg, come here for a moment!”

It seemed Nerva had found something. When Balg hurried over, tightening his focus, she was crouched on the ground, holding up the lantern’s light. She pointed at the smooth sand piled on the ground.

“These tracks are…”

“Good eye. It’s a Pain Serpent.”

Curving lines were drawn across the sand—the winding trace of a thick, cylindrical body. In this cave, only one creature left such distinctive tracks.

“It hasn’t been that long. If we follow them, we should be able to catch up.”

Balg said nothing. That silence itself was proof that Nerva’s judgment was correct. When Nerva stood up, the other three tightened their lips and nodded. At last, the greatest obstacle of this adventure was approaching. They rechecked their preparations and shared information about the Pain Serpent.

Watching the four of them discuss things with expressions far more serious than before, Balg felt relieved. They were no longer underestimating the cave. They fully understood the dangers involved and were calmly prepared to deal with them.

“Let’s go, everyone.”

At Sierra’s command, the party began to move. Their destination was the deepest part of the cave, the Pain Serpent’s nest.

The venomous snake that reigned at the top of the underground caves of Traga Forest. It was large enough to swallow Balg whole, and its sharp fangs dripped with potent venom. When exposed to that poison, the skin blistered and one was wracked with intense pain hence its name.

“Fana, you’ve got antivenom, right?”

“Yes. I prepared plenty, and I’ve also gathered water.”

If one were poisoned deep in the cave, the suffering would be prolonged. Without a means to treat it, there would be nothing to do but endure until escaping the cave days later. The only lifelines were a priest’s holy magic and medical skills. Of course, if they could avoid relying on those at all, that would be best.

“—!”

Nerva, walking at the front, raised her arm. Receiving the signal to halt, the three behind her stopped and held their breath. The fact that she didn’t speak meant this was a situation requiring stealth. She used their prearranged signals to convey the situation. According to her, there was a pile of dead monsters ahead in the passage. The Pain Serpent’s nest.

“……”

“……”

Nerva looked to Sierra, and Sierra nodded. She pulled a small spherical object from her pack and threw it toward the nest. The moment it hit the ground, it burst, scattering white powder into the surrounding area.

“Patema!”

“—‘O spear of searing flames, pierce my enemy and burn its flesh. Etch wounds that never heal and pain that is never forgotten!’”

The Fire Lance was unleashed. Along with her flawless chant, magic took form, and a spear of flame plunged into the cloud of powder. The next instant…

DOOOOOOM!

A deafening roar and a vivid explosion of fire shook the cave. Scorching heat licked the rock walls. A magical wind was immediately sent forth, clearing the smoke. What stood there was a giant snake, its entire body charred black.

“The scales are damaged! Let’s go!”

Nerva leapt forward in a single decisive burst.

The Pain Serpent’s threat lay not only in its venomous fangs. The thick scales protecting its body formed a natural suit of armor, impervious to ordinary blades. That was why Sierra had first thrown a pouch filled with powder, and Patema had ignited it to cause an explosion and roast the snake. This was a countermeasure Balg had taught them.

Incidentally, when Balg hunted one alone, he threw the powder pouch and then tossed in a torch.

“SHAAAaaa!”

Having been engulfed in flames while feeding, the Pain Serpent was naturally driven into a frenzy. Exposing its seared flesh, it roared savagely, glaring at Nerva and the others with blazing red eyes.

“Seeeaaah!”

Like lightning and gale, Nerva’s spear strikes had grown sharper. Having overcome agony that felt as though her brain were being destroyed, her thrusts were ferocious. The keen spearhead aimed for the Pain Serpent’s eye. But the serpent also bared its venomous fangs and lunged to bite.

At that moment…

“Haaaaaaaah!”

A girl dashed forth like the wind. Her blonde hair streamed behind her as she closed the distance in an instant. Her sword sank deeply into the soft flesh where the scales had peeled away.

“Juaaaah!?”

The Pain Serpent reared back and writhed in agony as its nerves were directly severed. But the pain did not end there. Keeping her sword deeply embedded, Sierra dragged the blade along the serpent’s body. The sword tip ground against its spine. The giant snake was being filleted alive into three pieces. Unable to endure it, the serpent turned its attention to Sierra. Its long, supple body bent freely, allowing its head to swing toward her. However…

“Do not forget about me either! ‘Waver, twist, and tear apart. The wind is an invisible spear that pierces all things. Carve wind holes with that pain!’”

A hole opened in the thick body as it rose. The spear of wind, fired with force from the tip of Patema’s staff, ripped straight through it. Dark red blood sprayed, splattering Sierra. She did not flinch and continued to press her sword forward. Even so, the Pain Serpent’s vitality was formidable. Despite having half its body torn apart, it had not lost its fighting spirit.

“Just drop dead already!”

Nerva roared. The tip of her spear pierced the snake’s throat. As the giant serpent let out a scraping scream, Sierra’s sword reached its heart.

“Haaah!”

Sharp steel pierced the thick mass of muscle that continued to pulse. Fresh blood gushed forth, spraying the surroundings and further staining Sierra’s white skin. And then…

“Sha… ah…”

Slowly, the giant snake collapsed. When its massive body—far heavier than Balg—hit the ground, a tremor like a small earthquake rippled through the area.

“Hah, hah.”

“Did we manage to take it down…?”

Breathing heavily, Sierra pulled out her sword. Nerva wiped the blood from her spear and exhaled deeply. Just as they began to grasp reality and surrender themselves to the wave of triumph that washed over them, but…

“Don’t let your guard down!”

Balg’s fierce shout rang out. Sierra’s eyes flew open as she looked at the lifeless Pain Serpent. All around them were countless corpses of devoured monsters. There were far too many of them and this Pain Serpent’s belly was large… Much larger than the tracks they had followed here. This couldn’t be—

“—! This is!?”

Sierra withdrew her sword and split open the belly. What spilled out along with the organs were white eggs. This Pain Serpent was female…. And pregnant. If so….

“Juaaaah!”

“Kyaaah!?”

Fana screamed. A massive shadow burst out from the darkness.

“This is bad! It was a mating pair!”

Nerva cried out in shock. What appeared was a Pain Serpent even larger and more muscular than the one they had just slain. It was obvious that this was the mate of the fallen female. What someone who had lost a loved one would do was the same across all species. Baring its fangs and laying bare its hostility, the Pain Serpent lunged. Its venomous fangs closed in on the stunned Sierra. Nerva wouldn’t make it in time.

“SIERRAAA!”

The massive body slammed into her, sending her flying. In the shaking blur of her vision, Sierra’s eyes widened. Wielding a great axe, Balg had leapt in and shoved her away with brute force. And then, as he took her place…

“Ba—!?”

Balg was swallowed.

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