[Don’t eat what she gives you, it might be drugged, and once you drink it, you won’t wake up.]
(Makes sense…)
After hearing the system’s advice, Milora carefully took the teacup but didn’t drink it.
The other team members walking behind them also looked at them curiously.
“Don’t like it? Should I switch to green tea?” Torina asked enthusiastically.
“It’s not that I don’t like it, but… if we drink tea here, who’s going to scout ahead and check for traps?”
“No problem, ᛊᛞᛗᚷᚩᛗᛇᛖᛉ.” Torina pulled off her thin veil, muttered some runes, and the veil immediately twisted and reformed into a silver-white humanoid shape, crackling with electricity as it floated forward.
This veil was something she brought from home, modified with multiple runes, and as versatile as a Swiss Army knife.
“Why didn’t you use this good stuff before?” Milora asked, puzzled.
“It burns magic power, and I was lazy before.”
“………”
————————
And so, the maze exploration continued.
The group moved through the damp forest, occasionally encountering other adventurer teams, but mostly running into monsters.
The most common were “Saprophytes,” humanoid creatures about 1.5 meters tall, covered in mushrooms and wood ears.
They moved in groups, had low attack power but strong vitality, like plant versions of goblins.
“Trash, trash, all trash! Get lost, you garbage!” Lanifi’s large shield easily blocked their attacks, and her spiked hammer took them down one by one, posing no threat.
“Flames, purify everything.”
Laxis’s fire magic was a natural counter to plant-type monsters, and a few small fire pillars turned them into charcoal, rapidly increasing her kill count.
Meanwhile—
“Come on, Milora, red bean paste snacks~”
“Uh, isn’t eating during a battle a bit…”
“If you finish, there’s a reward; if not, there’s a punishment~❤”
On the other side of the team, Torina enthusiastically tried to feed Milora snacks, while Milora, looking troubled, kept dodging.
…
…
After moving forward a bit more, they passed a river covered in green moss, where several large crocodile monsters called “Swamp Moss Crocs” leaped out of the water.
These monsters were among the stronger small monsters, with poisonous teeth.
“Blue Silver Bind!”
Archery was a common talent among elves, and Patty used her hunting bow to shoot green arrows.
The Swamp Moss Crocs hit by the arrows were entangled by plant roots, temporarily restricting their movement.
“I-I’m going in!” Ji Xue drew her unique Eastern sword.
Despite her delicate appearance, it was hard to imagine how she would fight the monsters.
Like Milora, she came from a civilian background, but only Milora was treated like a servant.
Few bothered the shy and socially anxious Ji Xue—why?
The answer was simple.
Because she was strong.
“Hawk Pierces the Forest!”
A swift and agile strike like a raptor pierced the head of a crocodile bound by roots.
“Rain of Pear Blossoms!”
Dense and precise slashes tore open another crocodile’s belly.
“Wolf Hunts the Rabbit!”
She threw her flying sword in reverse, nailing the third crocodile’s head.
In an instant, she had dealt with several tough-skinned monsters.
Meanwhile—
“Is it getting a bit hot? Should I lower the temperature of the ice rune?”
“No need, I might catch a cold.”
“Don’t worry, if you catch a cold, I’ll take care of you, personally.”
“No need!”
Torina seemed genuinely concerned about Milora overheating, leaving Milora at a loss for words.
…
…
After moving forward a bit more, they reached a clearing with tall trees.
“Hisssss!!!!!!!”
A giant python as thick as a tree trunk fell from the trees, covered in disgusting worms! The “Gu Python” was an elite monster that could coexist with a large number of poisonous insects.
It was not poisonous itself but could convert the toxins of the insects for its own use.
Its snake skin was as tough as tanned leather armor, and its thick body could easily crush rocks!
“A Gu Python… leave it to me! Naji, bless me!” Anna-veil ordered.
“Got it~~” Naji clasped her hands together to cast a holy spell (this spicy nun only seemed holy when casting spells), and a gentle holy light covered the tip of Anna-veil’s famous spear, Cassius.
“Come on, you stinking beast!”
“Hissssssssrooooooarrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!”
Anna-veil charged with her spear, the spear tip, empowered by her strength and the blessing buff, slammed into the Gu Python’s body like a battering ram! The monster was not to be outdone, opening its toxic maw to attack her! As they clashed, the shockwave blew away all the grass and trees on the ground!
Boom boom boom boom boom! In just a few seconds, the spear and snake fangs collided dozens of times! The splattering venom was dispersed by the aura from the spear, while the Gu Python’s thick scales and muscles withstood the spear’s thrusts.
As Anna-veil and the python locked eyes, the battle resumed!
Meanwhile—
“Here, my low-power lightning rune can effectively relieve neck and shoulder pain, want to try?”
“No thanks, it sounds a bit scary!”
“I use it often myself, after all, with such a heavy load on my chest, shoulder pain is inevitable.”
“Are you mocking me for being small…”
“Normal size, very nice shape.”
“Sexual harassment!!!”
Torina was fawning over Milora, making the latter blush.
“——What are you two doing over there flirting!? The rest of us are fighting monsters!!!!!”
Anna-veil couldn’t take it anymore, channeling her anger into power, and used her ultimate move “Thousand-Pound Thrust” to pierce the Gu Python’s heart! But she didn’t even bother to check the monster’s loot, storming over to separate Torina and Milora.
“What are you doing, Anna-veil…” Torina was a bit displeased, don’t interfere with my plan to rewrite the group wipe plot!
“I should be asking you what you’re doing! Are you possessed or something!? You’ve been hovering around her since we entered the maze!”
Anna-veil was furious, looking at Milora as if she were a mortal enemy.
“Because… didn’t I say? I was too irresponsible before, causing Milora to be bullied all the time, now I want to make it up to her.”
“But you have to consider the time and place, right!? This is a maze, not a resort! We’re still fighting monsters!”
“Didn’t I often slack off before… and you never said anything, why do you have a problem with me spending time with Milora now…”
“Before is before, now is now! In short—in short, it’s just not okay!”
“But you’re the vice-captain, right? Look, aren’t you commanding well? The person I trust the most is you❤”
“Eh eh!? Ah, really??”
“Really.” (←not really)
Anna-veil’s face lit up for a moment—but she quickly put on a stern face, letting out a stiff cough.
“Ahem, don’t think you can get away with it! Since we’re in the maze, put in some effort! Milora too! Whether or not everyone owes her, since she’s part of the team, she should come fight monsters now!”
“But…”
“I want to fight! Let me fight monsters! I’ll even scout and check for traps!!!”
Torina hesitated, but Milora was eager, for the first time finding the arrogant vice-captain so agreeable.
Anyone would do, just make this woman behave!!!
