-----------------------------------------
[ Chapter Size: 1993 Words. ]
----------------------------------
A lake on the 18th floor of the dungeon.
There were clusters of crystals under the surface of the lake emitting blue light, making the entire lake look like it was lit up similar to underwater lights but a bit dimmer.
The placing of the cluster of crystals was in such a way that the people in the lake would not be much visible.
There were three girls dipping in the lake and a fourth one standing at the edge of the lake, still hesitant to go in.
...
The girls of the Astraea Familia had finished their mission of scouting the 23rd floor.
After reporting the situation of the Tree Labyrinth to Finn, the expedition leader, Maryuu had been asked to stay back to help the research of coming up with a solution of the enhanced monster's poison.
Lyra seeing a chance decided to stay in the tent with the reason of helping Maryuu, in actual, wanting to just fangirl over Finn, grabbed it.
Seeing the pallum stay, Iska also decided to stay, to watch over her.
Alise looking at the other three following her decided that they go out for a dip in some lake to wash off the sweat and dirt from the mission.
Ignoring Ryu's objection, Kaguya and Neze agreed.
...
They had gone deeper into the forest and randomly found a lake farther away from the camp which was moderately lit up and were now soaking in it, except for a certain elf still standing at the lake shore.
"You prude elf, the cold water won't bite you, see we're in the water already, no?"
Looking at Ryu still standing at the lake's edge as if hesitating, Kaguya's teasing voice sounded, making Alise and Neze to look at Ryu and snicker.
It would be strange if those two don't bicker with each other.
"Hmph"
Ryu turned her head to stare at her Kaguya and just snorted, ignoring the black-haired girl.
She knew that Kaguya teasing her was just to make her feel a bit more comfortable.
It's not that Ryu felt that the water was cold or anything, she was a Level 4 adventurer, and most Level 4 or even Level 3 adventurer's wouldn't feel a thing just wearing a thin layer of clothes in a complete frigid zone.
Instead due to her being an elf, she felt a bit uncomfortable undressing in the open.
It was the same no matter how many times she had soaked in lakes or hot springs in the dungeon with her familia members.
Suppressing the uncomfortable feeling inside her, Ryu started undressing.
Just as Ryu finished removing all her clothes, she sensed a presence in the forest behind her.
It seems Kaguya and surprisingly Neze had also felt a presence in the forest, they each picked up a stone and threw it towards the forest shouting,
Kaguya, "Show yourself!"
Neze, "Whose there? Come out!"
Kaguya had detected the presence due to her being trained in assassination techniques and Neze due to the heavy stench of monster blood.
Just as Ryu picked up her weapon, a person stepped out from the trees.
Looking at the person's face fully covered in blood and those blood red eyes which were staring directly at her, Ryu felt a chill pass through her body, making her tighten her grip on her sword.
...
Light felt like he was in hell but at the same time in heaven.
He had just followed the creek upstream and had indeed found a lake, but it was occupied. By the girls of the Astraea Familia, who were bathing in the lake.
Trying to not look at them and make things awkward, Light tried to silently retreat, but he forgot that the girls were all Level 4 who could easily detect his presence.
*swish* *swish* *thud* *thud*
Just as Light took a step back, two projectiles flew past him, striking tree trunks on both sides.
*gulp*
Light gulped, looking back at the holes in the trees behind him.
Just imagining if he was the target and not the trees, the result his mind came up with was not a good one.
Hearing Neze and Kaguya's voice and realizing there was no other option, he stepped out of the trees.
As soon as he stepped out from the trees, Light's entire attention was captured by Ryu who was standing naked in front of him, not paying any attention to the girls in the lake.
Forgetting what he was about to speak, Light was mesmerized by Ryu's naked body completely visible against the light emitted from the lake.
Her sky blue eyes were like gems gleaming aa she looked at him, her pure golden-blonde hair dyed a light green against the light, strands of her golden hair falling over her shoulders.
At that particular moment, her face looked as if sculpted delicately with extra care to make it look as beautiful as possible.
Her pointy elf ears were cute, making him want to reach out and touch it.
Her fair skin did not even have a single blemish, her slender arms complementing her slender legs which were not too thin.
Further down, "Wow, so beautiful..."
...
Looking at Ryu's naked body, my mouth hung open, my mind lost in Ryu's beauty, but only for a brief second.
Gamer's Mind quickly activated and sent a cooling sensation through my mind, calming my emotions and returning clarity to my head.
Looking at Ryu in front of me now raising her sword, I quickly waved my hands to stop her.
"Stop, stop, Lion-san, it's me Light."
I immediately used my sleeves to wipe the blood from my face using so that Ryu could recognize me.
But before Ryu could say anything, an anxious Alise was already next to me.
"Light, what's wrong, why are you covered in blood? Did something happen at the camp while we were gone?"
Alise, recognizing Light, and seeing his blood-stained face, immediately imagined the worse scenario.
Looking at Alise standing to Ryu, both of them naked, no matter how many times gamers mind tried to calm down my mind I felt like it was of no use.
Alise was incredibly stunning.
Her red hair was sticking against her skin, having just gotten out of the lake, drops of water were still falling from her exquisitely toned body.
My eyes were involuntarily attracted to a drop of water rolling down Alise's breast.
...
"Alise, shouldn't you first think about something else before asking the situation about the camp?"
Kaguya, still in the lake, spoke out in a teasing voice, while looking at the boy's eyes that were trying to look anywhere else but the naked body of the girls and spectacular failing at it.
"Huh?"
Alise, for a moment did not understand what Kaguya was talking about, her mind pre-occupied about the situation of the camp.
But Ryu, standing next to her, instantly squatted down using her hand to hide her breasts, her face turning bright red.
"We're naked." Ryu whispered to Alise in a small voice while reaching for her clothes.
Alise, looking at Ryu who was squatting next to her and looking down at her own naked body without any clothes, also raised her hand to cover her breasts while yelling at Light to get out, her face also turning a color similar to her hair.
...
"Sorry, sorry, I really didn't mean it."
I was apologizing to both Ryu and Alise, especially Ryu who was not even facing me.
"Don't worry, give her some time. Anyway, what happened, why were you covered in blood?"
Kaguya who was now dressed, questioned me asking about my situation.
I had washed the blood off my face from the lake water.
"Ahem, I wasn't able to sleep, so I went on a walk outside the camp."
"Two Almiraj's (rabbit monsters) suddenly attacked me on my walk, fortunately I was able to defeat them, without any injuries. Then I was looking for a lake to wash off the monster blood and I met you girls."
Not able to come up with any good stories or tell them the real reason, I just told a made up lie.
Just as I finished telling it, even I felt that it was absurd.
It looked like Kaguya also thought the same, but she just nodded at me.
Clapping her hands together, Alise spoke interrupting Kaguya from asking any more,
"Okay everyone, let's return to the camp."
"And you Light, as an apology, you'll treat us to a meal in Rivira tomorrow, an expensive one."
Stating that, Alise started walking into the forest.
"Mmm"
I just nodded at Alise, still not able to look at her without remembering the scene from earlier.
Kaguya looked at me with a strange smile and followed behind Alise, and as Ryu walked past me, I swear I could feel her staring at me and heard her mummering under her breath,
"Pervert, pervert, pervert, I'll cut..."
Feeling a chill run down my spine hearing her murmuring, I took two steps away from Ryu just to be safe.
But looking at the werewolf girl now next to me, who was giving me a stink eye and showing her sharp canines, I silently took two more steps away.
...
After reaching the camp and saying good night to the girls, with Ryu still staring at me, I hastily made my way towards my tent near the edge of the camp.
"Fueee"
Taking out a makeshift bed from my inventory, I lay down on it and let out a sigh.
*Guhhhh*
Turning off the Gamers Mind skill, I felt a slight pain in my head, maybe the pain from the mind zero earlier and a slight ache all over my body.
"So Gamer's Mind only stops the side effects, but not the pain caused by it, only decreasing it."
Even if didn't make the pain go away entirely, I was still thankful for the skill, as from what I've heard, adventurers or mages usual faint in case of a mind down.
[ A / N : When you use up all the mind / mana in your body. ]
And fainting in the dungeon when one alone is basically a death sentence.
"It can stop the side effects, that is more than enough.
Plus the mind down is not directly related or the side effect of any skill."
" As for the dull ache all over my body, going directly against Level 2 monsters as a Level 1 and coming out with just some pain in my body is more than worth it."
...
" Status."
I pulled up my status screen to check the changes in my status after the fight.
---------------------------------
---Status-----------------
Level: 12(↑) (1701/2200)
HP: 3000/4400
MP: 10/5400
CON: 44 (2↑)
SPI: 54 (2↑)
Status points: 2
--------------------------------------
So, I had levelled up sometime in between the fight against those Ligerfangs, maybe the extra two stat points I had gotten from levelling up would have helped me then.
I added one point to each constitution and spirit.
----------------------------------
CON: 45 (1↑)
SPI: 55 (1↑)
Status points: 0
-----------------------------------
The effect of adding a point in constitution and spirit was immediate, the dull ache in my body and the slight buzzing in my head were gone.
Rolling on the bed while thinking about how to face Alise and the others tomorrow, I dozed off, my last thought was about the trip to Rivira tomorrow.
-------------------------------------
On the other hand.
Alise, Kaguya and Neze were discussing about the earlier situation.
As Level 4's, they were provided with a separate bigger tent as their accommodation.
Currently, only Alise, Ryu, Kaguya and Neze were there, the other three yet to return.
There were four futons laid next to each other, with Ryu was already lying on hers, completely wrapped up in a bed sheet, still embarrassed about the earlier situation.
The other three were sitting on their futons, Alise to the left of Ryu and Kaguya and Neze on the other side of her.