[S2] Chapter 26: Dungeon Raid

LUNA

"May I use the internet?"

"Why?"

"I want to get a picture of the country's capital."

"We're heading there in a few days, so why look at pictures when you can explore it in person soon?"

"I have my doubts about being able to walk around the city freely."

Oh, I'm so stupid. Kajsa and I have been living together for several weeks now. Still, I occasionally say such inconsiderate things because I forget who or, rather, what she is.

"Okay, do what you want, but use your own account."

"Of course, thank you."

It's already afternoon, but there's nothing to stop me from making myself another cup of coffee. Since I left my old guild, I've regained a lot of my free time and no longer have to be online all the time to post cute photos of myself in magical girl dresses, but in return, I now live alongside a demon from a different world.

After Lilith called, I had a bad feeling. It is not necessarily logical to explain why I accepted the offer to change guilds and take care of Kajsa. At first, I tried to explain it with my feeling of guilt for killing Kajsa's companion. The fact that I sometimes catch Kajsa crying at night doesn't make it any better, but I'm convinced that's not it.

At the moment, I'm content with the thought that all this has given me a chance to return to my roots. The childish wish to protect our world made me become one of the strongest witches in our country, after all. However, the realization that I am alone on this path has led me to work in this fake world of Magical Girls. And now I'm involved with probably the most fearsome witch I've ever met.

I am impressed by the way Miko, Kayla, and Eliza treat Lilith as if she were an average person. But then again, I am not surprised at all. Kayla and Eliza can be accused of naivety and ignorance, and Miko has been with Lilith since she was a child.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Weren't you going to look at pictures?"

"I did, and now I'm looking at you."

Kajsa is lucky to be so charming. At first, she seemed like a frightened, abused wretch who would end her life if she could. It was hard for me to imagine that she could be more dangerous than the demon we met in the dungeon. If I can believe Lilith's words, Kajsa was only questioned a little and then provided with seals that restrict her freedom a lot.

Despite her somewhat slave-like status, she has accepted all of this much faster than I ever could have. That may be because I don't discriminate against her in any way and try to integrate her wherever I can.

Conveniently, she understands our language, while she can neither read nor write it. We use the same words, but our letters are not even remotely comparable. I will probably never get an answer to the question of how this came about.

"So, what's going on?"

"I took pleasure in the fact that I am allowed to live with you."

"You're lying, Luna."

"I'm not."

"Prove it to me."

We hold eye contact for way too long, my heart rate quickens, and I get a little too excited.

"I'm sorry, I can't. You'll just have to take my word for it."

I jump up from the sofa and make my way to the kitchen to make the coffee I almost forgot about. Sometimes, a tension between us arises that can only be described as sexually loaded, not that I necessarily yearn for her.

Still, I can hardly ignore having someone as beautiful as Kajsa around. Sometimes, I just want to tell her that we should do it. What's stopping us?

Shit, I need other thoughts before I actually get in the mood.

KAYLA

My browser's search history has never been cleaned as regularly as it has been in the last few weeks. Not because you would find anything dirty there, but rather because of the desperate questions about whether my relationship is progressing normally.

What struck me most during my research was that Miko and I felt like we had skipped 2-3 steps in some areas, while in others, we were still in the starting blocks. For example, we have no problem hanging out together. Last month, I was in her room more than in my apartment. Equally strange is that we hardly ever argue and always make sure to be there for each other.

However, the other part of a relationship, the part that includes physical contact, kissing, and all that stuff, is somewhat neglected. I, for one, have always had problems imagining myself with Miko in such situations, and she is not exactly a person who seems too interested in the exchange of bodily fluids either.

"How do I look?"

Miko is wearing the new uniforms that Lilith has provided for our guild. She wants us to be recognized as a clearly identifiable unit during the Dungeon Raid. I'm not quite sure what to think of our new outfits yet. Basically, they are black dresses with sleeves, finished with a white bow and a white belt around the waist. The skirt is quite wide and a bit stiff, but Luna has already assured us that mobility should not be a problem. But back to Miko's question... how does she look?

I let my eyes wander up and down a few times. Although the uniform does not fit that closely, it still emphasizes Miko's body quite well. It is a little tight around her chest, the belt shows how thin her waist is, and the knee-length skirt at least partially presents her perfectly shaped legs. There are matching knee-high socks and tights for the uniform, but Miko isn't wearing them right now, which is why her feet and legs are on full display for me to admire.

I wonder what she's wearing under that dress.

The idea thought pops into my head. Without thinking twice, I walk over to her, grab the skirt of her dress, rub the fabric with my fingers, and then lift it up quite casually. Before my eyes can catch a glimpse of her panties, she grabs my arm. I look at her face, slightly alarmed. Unlike expected, she does not seem angry but rather embarrassed.

Damn, why do I enjoy this expression so much? She did not say that I should not go on. Instead, it seems like she wants to take a little time to prepare for it. My heart is racing, and my breathing is a little labored. I'm not overstepping any boundaries here, am I? She would have said no, wouldn't she? In slow motion, I continue to lift her skirt, my eyes glued to her legs. The absolute silence, disturbed only by our loud breathing, is quite awkward, but neither of us is going to change anything about this situation.

Miko is wearing black…black shorts.

It is difficult for me to hide my disappointment, and it is equally difficult for Miko to hold back her laughter. However, she makes little effort not to show me how much she had played me. With a big grin, she continues to hold her skirt up.

"I... I can't take it anymore!" Miko throws herself on the floor, laughing so hard that I'm worried she might suffocate.

"This is emotional abuse."

"Says the one who wants to look up my skirt."

"I'm your girlfriend."

"If you want to see my panties so much, just ask me."

Miko wipes tears from her eyes and stands up again while I sit down on her office chair. I am feeling deeply humiliated. A moment later, I hear something light fall to the ground. I don't bother to turn around, only to have her shorts flung at my head.

"Go on, you wanted to peek. All you have to do is turn around. My skirt is lifted all the way."

"Now I don't want to anymore either."

"That's a lie."

She's right. Nevertheless, I'm too proud to give in now. We sit tight for 30 seconds before I'm once again targeted with a projectile. I reach for my shoulder, where the unidentified object has landed. My fingers recognize lace when they touch it, but I still spread out my catch in front of me. A pair of black panties.

“Idiot,” Miko mutters.

I quickly turn around and almost fall off the chair. I just catch a glimpse of Miko as she disappears into the bathroom before she shuts the door and locks it. I couldn't see her face, but I would have spotted her glowing red ears from a hundred meters away. Maybe she's not so different from me after all. I probably worry too much about this particular aspect of our relationship.

◇◆◇

Just two months after surviving my second mission, we headed off to the Dungeon Raid. An annual event for guilds that takes place between September and December, where numerous dungeons are destroyed to suggest a safe Christmas season and a peaceful start to the New Year.

In my ignorance, I have managed to never have heard of this event, but I have also always tried to keep all things related to magic out of my life.

However, neither the guild nor I spent the last few weeks sitting around doing nothing. Even though Miko and I were still trying to figure out our relationship, we didn't let ourselves get too distracted and kept on training. We also completed a few smaller missions in record times thanks to our new additions, Luna and Kajsa.

My role as a healer was not really in demand, but every new dungeon was an experience for me. Even though I can't make sense of the entirely random designs of these places. A desert, a castle, and a swamp were the last three dungeons we got teleported to.

"When we arrive at the hotel, everyone takes their suitcase. You will move into your rooms and at 3 p.m. we will get together for a meeting on the sixth floor. Please check the guild chat regularly in case there is a change in plans. The opening ceremony is at 8 p.m. tonight. We will attend together, but more about that later."

Lilith has already given the same speech several times during the three-hour drive. I have no idea why she is so nervous. It is as if she doesn't trust us to behave appropriately. I have no idea what kind of image our guild is supposed to project, so I'm also curious to see how we will be received by all the other mages and witches. It can't be any worse than the first week at the Magic School, where we were basically treated like aliens.

"And another important piece of information. If anyone dares to be rude to Kajsa, let alone show any aggression towards her, you have permission to punch them in the face."

Kajsa is one of us. I can't exactly say that we have a particularly close relationship. Still, I've spent enough time with her to accept her for what she is. A valuable part of our guild and a respectable person.

"You don't have to go that far and hurt someone for me."

"We don't have to, but we will so stop complaining!" Luna orders and Kajsa responds with a silent nod. The two seem to understand each other well. Luna never came across as a very dominant character, but she fits the role quite well.

A few minutes later, I realize that we have arrived in the capital, especially from the agonizingly slow traffic. The whole high-rise buildings and crowds of people around confirm the picture. The only time I was here was on a school trip in middle school. I know why I live in a relatively rural area; I already can't stand all the hustle and bustle just by seeing it from the car.

The hotel we are heading to is quite huge, and many years ago, it was one of the largest and most advanced in the country. Nowadays, according to online reviews, it is only a shadow of its former self. Clean and relatively modern, but absolutely no charm left. That is probably why it is affordable for the ministry. Who would have expected that all the guilds who risk their lives day after day deserve a more luxurious place to stay.

Much like a little family, we walk after Lilith and Eliza through the entrance to the check-in. We had already met a bunch of people in the parking lot; some of them greeted Luna, but that was about it in terms of interaction. Either we're not as famous as I thought we were, or their respect is simply too big to approach us.

By the way, I think all of us look pretty good in our uniforms. The different colored suitcases we drag behind us destroy the image a bit, but I can ignore that for now. Standing in the entrance area, we wait while Eliza takes care of getting us key cards for our rooms and the meeting space. While Lilith and Miko look around, one is hoping to see a familiar face, and the other is hoping to avoid any people.

Luna and Kajsa seem to want to keep a low profile, and to a certain extent, I can sympathize with them. Luna is a former idol of the magical world, and Kajsa is an absolute rarity. Allegedly, there are already more demons and non-humans in other guilds, but it is unlikely that they will ever be seen.

"Come on, girls, we're on the fourth floor. Three rooms, two of them with double beds and one with single beds."

"Double bed, please," Luna says unabashedly, holding out her hand to Eliza, who passes her a key card. Miko and I, for our part, just keep quiet and follow the others into the elevator. When we arrive on our floor, Eliza also gives me a card. Contrary to our expectations, our rooms are not directly next to each other, which is why we gradually leave the others behind since ours is the furthest from the elevator.

I hold the card against the field under the handle and open the door to our tiny room. When I see the double bed, I'm not sure if I'm really happy about it. After all, Miko is a living heater, even though the nights are definitely colder now than in June when we held our training camp.

"I'll take the window side," Miko announces and pushes past me into the much too narrow entrance area. Once there, she tears open the curtains and looks down before quickly closing them again.

"What's wrong? I ask.

She sighs and lets herself fall backward onto the bed. I leave my suitcase by the door and take a look out of our window, which explains her reaction. We are on the side facing the street and the outside area of the hotel. That means that people are constantly passing by and can look right in at us. Hmm, somehow, the thought excites me more than it bothers me.

"Then we just can't walk around naked in here. That's a shame, isn't it?" I say sarcastically, only to see a genuinely sad-looking Miko.

Wait, what was she planning? Only now do I realize that we will be living here together for the next few months. Is it possible that she has imagined that we might become… active?

"We don't need daylight," I whisper.

"What for?" she asks in a similarly low voice.

I say nothing and walk back to my suitcase.

◇◆◇

"Are we allowed to smile?"

"What kind of stupid question is that? Of course." Lilith whispers sharply.

While I still felt incredibly cool when we arrived at the hotel earlier today, I'm starting to get a bit nauseous now due to the excitement. The queasy feeling in my stomach could also be because we are taking the elevator to the ground floor right now, but who knows?

We march out in formation from the automatically opening doors. Lilith walks ahead with Eliza, followed by Luna, then Miko and I walk side by side, and Kajsa closes the line. Initially, our plan was to take Kajsa into our midst to protect her from any idiots. Still, she insisted on remaining at the back.

Since I don't want to constantly pull out my phone, I'm wearing a wristwatch for the first time in ages. With a quick glance, I confirm that the opening speech of the Dungeon Raid is... already over. Lilith does not want to admit that she has any ulterior motive for our late appearance.

Fortunately, the other people in the large dining hall are also actively walking around and chatting with each other; in my imagination, everyone would be sitting at their tables in dead silence, looking at us with annoyance as we walk by.

A quick reality check. We are absolutely unimportant. Either that or the hundred or so people present are very good at secretly throwing us looks. Actually, I get the feeling that we are being ignored. Arriving at our table, Lilith turns to us and grins happily.

"That was a perfect entrance. Well done."

We look at her in collective dismay without saying a word, and then, before we can sit down, a small group of people approaches us. It takes a moment before I recognize Wace among them. All the others are strangers to me.

The man at the front, with long blond hair, red eyes, and a blue suit, smiles at us and begins to speak. "What a pleasure to see you, Lilith, and, of course, all of your friends." somewhat awkwardly, he raises his hand and waves at us.

Lilith and he shake hands, then she turns around and holds her hands in front of him as if she were presenting a product to us.

"For those who don't know, this is Jora. The king of mages."