While the squad members waited for their equipment to be customized, they had some free time. Aqua and Megumin had secretly slipped away, while Kazuma seized the opportunity to learn Lich-type skills from Wiz.
He particularly wanted to learn〘Drain Touch〙again, since it had proven quite useful. Though Aqua had adamantly prevented him from learning it before, her absence meant no one could stop him now. After informing the others, he hurried to Wiz's Magic Item Shop.
He did wonder how Aqua would react when she discovered this.
Only he and Darkness remained at the Adventurer's Guild, sitting in awkward silence that begged to be broken.
"Darkness, has your armor customization been completed?" Adam ventured.
"Yes, I settled everything with Bill yesterday — it's all arranged." Darkness replied, fidgeting with her casual attire.
The intense stares from nearby adventurers left her feeling both bashful and thrilled.
It was understandable. In her casual clothes, Darkness exuded elegance — fair skin, refined features, and an alluring figure. At first glance, she appeared to be a stunning ice beauty. Despite her questionable abilities, she remained undeniably gorgeous.
Of course, that was merely judging by appearances. Some beautiful people would be better off silent; others would be better off less perverted.
"Hey, Adam! I can tell you're thinking something rude!" With the uncanny accuracy of female intuition, Darkness immediately sensed his mental criticism.
Adam simply sipped his juice in silence, neither confirming nor denying, while appreciating the beauty before him.
"Say something!" She demanded, squirming, "You're making me feel shy!"
"Oh, Darkness is truly beautiful, and these clothes suit you perfectly. I'm moved." He deadpanned.
His obvious insincerity only excited her more.
This girl is hopeless. Who knows what will become of her.
Just as he was thinking this, the adventurer's guild door burst open with a bang, causing all the adventurers to turn toward a panicked man rushing in.
"Emergency quest! Emergency quest!" The man stood at the door, panting heavily, "A modified tentacle monster has escaped! I need all male adventurers to help!"
His voice echoed through the entire guild hall.
"Modified tentacle monster... what's that?" Adam asked, puzzled.
Those familiar with tentacle monsters would understand, but for the uninitiated — no, better not explain further.
But given what he knew of tentacle monsters from certain type of literature, plus that ominous "Modified" prefix, he sensed something deeply concerning.
—A threat specifically targeting women!
No wonder they were only calling for male adventurers.
"A modified tentacle monster only attacks women." Darkness explained eagerly, "It uses its tentacles to do unspeakable things to them. They say some perverted magic user created it — it's the enemy of womankind!"
Wait... "unspeakable things" — could it be what he was thinking?
And that perverted magic user had to be one of those "heroes" Aqua sent over!
"Thanks for explaining, but Darkness, why do you look so excited?"
"Because I want to join the hunt!"
Though admirable, still...
"Wait, Darkness!" Adam grabbed her arm as she tried to leave, "It specifically targets women, remember? And you don't even have your equipment!"
"That makes it even better!" Her face flushed red, "Without equipment, it'll be more convenient for the monster to violate me. I'll probably scream with delight..."
She drifted off into her fantasy of being attacked by the creature.
First slime play, then getting eaten, and now tentacle bondage? Her year-round dedication to perversion was truly remarkable!
She was really something else!
"Even so, I can't handle this alone. Please come with me, Adam!" Darkness pleaded earnestly.
Go with her? To what — watch her get tormented by a tentacle monster?
In the end, he agreed, worried she might sneak off alone to find it otherwise and get herself into real trouble.
Though he went along, he had already decided: The moment they spotted the monster, he'd blast it away with〘Explosion Magic〙before Darkness could get anywhere near it.
After leaving the Adventurer's Guild.
"So, how do we find it?" Adam asked Darkness, admitting his inexperience with monster tracking.
"Let me think about it." After a moment's consideration, she continued, "The modified tentacle monster must be lurking in some dark corner where there aren't many people, waiting to grab a passing female adventurer and drag her away to do all sorts of indescribable things!"
As she spoke, Darkness grew visibly excited. Adam knew she was imagining herself as the unfortunate victim in this scenario.
The quest giver's information hadn't mentioned any of what she described — the modified tentacle monster was actually quite weak, though it did have a peculiar effectiveness against women.
"Sorry to interrupt your fantasy, but I should ask — what do you plan to do after we find the modified tentacle monster?" Adam asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.
Darkness replied matter-of-factly, "Of course I'll take it home as a pet!"
Hope instantly shattered!
Pet? You want to keep it as a pet? The kind you not only feed and bathe but also 'play' with?
He pinched his brow, feeling a headache coming on, "It's a monster — a tentacle monster! Our squad has three female members out of five!"
"Don't worry, I won't let Jester harm anyone!" Darkness thumped her chest confidently.
You've even named it already?!
This only strengthened Adam's resolve to blast the modified tentacle monster into oblivion!
Whether due to his iron determination, the monster's powerful survival instinct, or simply Darkness's bad luck, they circled the starter village three or four times without spotting even a single tentacle.
"Let's head back for today, Darkness." As evening fell, Adam figured Aqua and Megumin should have returned by now.
"I suppose." Darkness replied dejectedly, disappointed at not finding the monster.
Just then, Aqua and Megumin appeared in the distance.
"That was a beautiful Explosion Magic, Megumin!"
"Hmph hmph, that's my pride and joy Explosion Magic!"
From their conversation, it was clear they had completed their daily explosion task.
"Yes, that weird wriggling tentacle monster was blown to pieces in an instant!"
"Hmph, before my supreme explosion magic, even the Demon King..." Just as Megumin was about to boast more, she spotted them, "Hey—! Adam, Darkness!"
"Yo, Megumin and Aqua, you're back too! Perfect timing, let's head back together." He greeted them.
"Um, about that 'weird wriggling tentacle monster' you mentioned..." Darkness asked anxiously, a sense of dread growing in her heart.
Megumin flicked her magic cloak proudly and declared, "There was a tentacle monster wandering nearby. I, the great Arch Wizard, took it as the target for my daily explosion and eliminated it!"
Upon hearing this news, Darkness collapsed to her knees in despair, muttering "Jester, Jester, Jester..." with a face full of anguish.
Her deep attachment to this pet she'd never even met was painfully obvious.
"Um... did I do something wrong?" Megumin asked hesitantly, a hint of guilt in her voice.
"Not at all, Megumin — you did perfectly!" Adam assured her.
"Eh?" Her confusion only grew at his response.
Watching Darkness's devastation, Adam couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy.
"Don't be so down, Darkness. If you really want one, we could ask that magic user to create another—" Before he could finish consoling her, he noticed her face had turned bright red, her body trembling with excitement.
"This feeling... this exquisite sense of loss, the agony of losing a beloved pet... so this is what being cuckolded feels like?! It's incredible—!"
This girl really is beyond help!
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