The worried boar raised its cleaver, the blade glinting under the dungeon's dim light.
Mord's pupils shook, shrinking to pinpricks. His body twitched, struggling—but the unbearable pain left him paralyzed, like a broken puppet.
The beast swung downward.
Then—
Just as the cleaver hovered an inch from Mord's neck, I hurled a fireball straight into the boar's right face. The explosion rocked its skull, flames licking its mangled fur as it roared in agony. Smoke billowed between us, shrouding its vision. Perfect.
I didn't waste a second.
Dashing forward, I slapped charged papers onto its hunched body, the magic circles humming faintly before I yanked Mord aside.
Why save him?
Well. You already know the answer.
Excitement.
Keeping him alive meant more chaos, more schemes—more fun. If he really was plotting against me, then oh, what a delicious challenge that would be. And if not? No loss. Either way, I still got to fight this overgrown pig.
The boar swung its cleaver sideways, using the flat of the blade to disperse the smoke. But Mord was already gone, dragged away by Lisa, who strained under his dead weight.
Now, only I stood before the beast.
It growled, fury burning in its eyes—yet its brows twisted in something like grief. Hah. Why had I ever designed a monster so… funny? Uncanny, also.
Thanks to Lisa's healing, my wounds had mostly closed. My mana, though? Only half remained. Enough for a fight—but I'd need Sasha's buff to tip the scales.
No time to hesitate.
I charged.
The boar leaped, soaring high before crashing down like a meteor. Fireballs? Useless. It deflected every one with its cleaver, the steel singing as it cut through magic like paper. I barely dodged, rolling aside as the beast's landing shattered the ground, leaving a crater where I'd stood.
For a second, doubt flickered.
Was this really the world of my novel? This one is stronger than the worried boar I had originally written.
But—heh. Did it matter? Even if this was hell, I'd carve my own path through it, drenched in adrenaline and grinning all the way.
I lunged behind the boar, channeling mana into the paper on its back.
Boom.
The detonation launched the beast into the air, slamming it against the dungeon wall. Its cleaver clattered to the ground.
Not over yet.
It scrambled up, shaking off debris, then lunged—too fast. A brutal headbutt smashed into my ribs before I could react. The pain was blinding, but I gritted my teeth, riding the momentum as I flew backward.
Midair, I flung more fireballs—distractions. Then, landing smoothly, I drew my dagger and rushed in.
The boar swung a meaty fist. I weaved under it, blade poised to stab its skull—
Wrong move.
Its rough palm clamped around my head. Panic flared, but I forced it down, stabbing its forearm instead. The beast howled, hurling me aside like trash.
I hit the ground hard, coughing blood.
A glance at the others: Mord, still unconscious; Lisa, panting as she healed him; and—
Sasha. Finally awake. Finally ready.
"Sasha! Buff! Now, or we all die here!"
"O-okay!"
Perfect.
With her magic layering over mine, I'd have just enough mana left for the final blow.
Keke. Now the real fun begins.
The double buff surged through me, muscles humming with power, fatigue melting away. But. ten minutes. That's all I had.
The boar ignored me, lumbering toward its cleaver.
Good. Let's end this.
I sprinted, faster than before, lighter than air. The beast swung—I kicked the blade mid-arc, staggering it. Then, channeling mana into my shin, I drove my foot into the paper on its ribs.
Another explosion.
The boar flew. I chased.
No mercy.
Fists rained down, a relentless barrage—until a sudden kick from its donkey legs sent me skidding back.
Time was running out. The buff was fading.
We clashed again, blow for blow, until—
Snap.
My body gave out. Muscles screamed. I couldn't move my arm.
The boar saw its chance.
An uppercut launched me into the air. I crashed down, blood spilling from my lips.
Above me, the beast leaped, cleaver raised high, poised to split me in two.
I grinned.
Reached out.
And—
Grabbed its balls.
They exploded.
The boar soared one last time, lifeless, eyes bulging, mouth frothing.
Thud.
It landed, crotchless.
Silence.
Lisa and Sasha stared, horrified.
I lay there, grin stretching ear to ear, body broken but alive.
This—this was what I craved. The rush of victory, the thrill of cheating death.
"H-Help."
The pain was excruciating.
Worth it.
We slept in the dungeon, recovering. By the time we woke—whether it was the next day or mere hours later, I didn't care—we explored the remaining depths, finding the foolhardy adventurer's skeleton and his meager belongings.
Back in town, Mord seethed in silence. Good. Let him plot. I'd be waiting.
We got to the town's hall and collected our reward—ten aurora, a gold coin stamped with a dawn motif. This is enough for a caravan to the capital.
Then, three days later—
"Would you like to come with us?"
Lisa's voice was shy, but her eyes held worry.
Were they planning to kill me on the road? Or had they grown attached?
Hah. Either way—
"Sure."
With my day free. I got straight into the inn, in my room to train myself.
My body was still too weak. The battle had proven that. Without Sasha's buff, I was nothing compared to Mord.
Irritating. Unacceptable.
I trained until my muscles burned, then practiced magic until my mana ran dry—fireballs, detonations, every spell I could muster. To gain experience and understanding.
As a 1st circle mage with a C grade aptitude and a weak body, this is all necessary.
Midnight came. I slept.
The next morning, Mord played his "usual self", if he wasn't really acting. While Sasha clung to him like a lovesick pup. Lisa stayed quiet.
At a glance? A generic adventurer party.
But I knew better.
We bid farewell to kreig and the carriage rolled toward the capital, I leaned back, grinning.
What challenges awaited?
I couldn't wait to find out.