Chapter 4. Method to Evade Lyle's Surveillance... Acquired!

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Somewhere in the corrupted zone of the dungeon, black sludge was everywhere. A massive corrupted monster roared and charged at the adventurers in front of it.

"Damn it, why are the corrupted monsters getting stronger these days?!"

Stomping heavily on the ground to dodge the monster's charge, the leading adventurer spat indignantly.

After who knows how long of fighting, he was covered in dust, and most of his clothing was torn, revealing the exoskeleton armor underneath.

"Maybe they know the hero is coming to wipe them out soon?" someone behind him joked, pulling the bolt on his weapon and aiming at the corrupted monster.

"Shit, don't even talk about it. Who knows what that b-hero is even doing? All this time and he hasn't come out once. And we're supposed to count on him to clear these monsters?"

The others just laughed silently, infusing mana into their guns and pulling the trigger.

"Bang!"

The gunshot echoed, blasting a wound onto the monster's body.

"That tough?"

The man's expression changed.

"Damn, it's a mutant!"

In the next instant, the corrupted monster roared, a series of metallic spikes erupting from its entire body.

Driven berserk by the pain, it charged viciously at the squad.

"Boom!"

A brilliant golden sword flash sliced through, a mighty, holy slash shattering the monster's assault in a single blow.

"You alright?"

Lyle turned his head to look at the group, reaching out to help the leading adventurer up as he asked.

"I'm fine."

The adventurer smiled, deeply grateful to the man who had just saved him.

All of this was taken in by Jiang Cheng from afar, a faint smile curling at her lips.

Three years ago, when Lyle was still a boy, he had practiced that sword technique time and again right in front of her.

"Tsk."

Thinking of the Lyle now, trying desperately to keep her from causing trouble, Jiang Cheng curled her lip.

This guy was getting less and less cute. Just a few years ago, when he called her "teacher" so respectfully, he was actually pretty amusing.

"Watch out!"

Suddenly, the adventurer shouted.

Behind Lyle, the monster—driven to rage after another attack—let out a furious howl. Its metal spikes shot toward Lyle.

Lyle spun around, swinging his greatsword in a sweeping arc.

The corrupted monster was annihilated instantaneously by the slash.

"Holy crap, that's strong!" gasped the adventurer behind him, utterly shocked.

Jiang Cheng curled her lip; he was even distracted during the fight and ended up not using the anti-corruption monster techniques she'd devised after days of observation.

If she acted in her capacity as his mentor, she might have reprimanded Lyle.

But since she was now acting as herself, she really did prefer a different approach.

As she walked closer, she heard the adventurer's previous complaints.

A sly smile appeared at her lips as Jiang Cheng strolled over.

One of the adventurers turned and locked eyes with her. As soon as he saw her in her nun's habit, his eyes widened sharply.

A nun's habit? Could it be...

"Didn't you put up an ugly fight there, oh great Hero~ Wouldn't you say so?"

Jiang Cheng curled her lips and smiled sweetly.

"Maybe you'll want to silence the few people who saw you needing two strikes to kill a small fry?"

With a light chuckle, Jiang Cheng lifted a finger, and a drop of fresh blood beaded at her fingertip.

Suddenly, those distant adventurers felt it hard to breathe, as if invisible threads had tightly strangled their throats.

"Jiang Cheng!"

Lyle frowned, shouting in reprimand.

"Let them go!"

"Really now~"

Jiang Cheng replied with a sunny smile.

"They were just bad-mouthing you a moment ago, you must have heard it too."

As she spoke, the wound on Jiang Cheng's fingertip suddenly widened, blood trickling down in streams.

The distant adventurers grunted, "Ugh," the outlines of blood-red marks appearing around their necks.

"Stop it! I don't even care about that,"

Lyle said, rushing up to sever Jiang Cheng's divine technique.

"Alright, alright,"

Jiang Cheng shrugged, withdrawing the technique before Lyle reached her. The wound on her finger healed instantly.

She'd only meant to teach them a lesson anyway, and also to give Lyle a warning about fighting seriously—never intended to really kill anyone.

"Phew,"

Lyle stopped in place, breathing a sigh of relief.

"There, just scaring them a little and look at you, panicking,"

Jiang Cheng laughed lightly.

"Yes, indeed, our noble Hero~"

Jiang Cheng mocked with a smile.

"Well then, in the future our hero must strive to fight even more perfectly, yes?"

"......"

Lyle was silent for a moment before answering, "Alright."

This woman is getting more and more dangerous. He really needed to keep an eye on her.

"Sorry, lady Saintess."

The group of adventurers, now able to breathe again, quickly hurried over and greeted Jiang Cheng respectfully.

"Hah, you do know your place. But you didn't insult me, so what's there to apologize for?"

Jiang Cheng smiled, her meaning unmistakable.

The group paused, then hurried to Lyle and greeted him respectfully.

"My lord hero, we..."

"It's nothing,"

Lyle waved a hand.

"I never chose to eradicate monsters and demons for anyone's praise."

"So, just as I don't do it for praise, insults don't mean anything to me either."

"Hah."

Off in the distance, Jiang Cheng gave a sarcastic laugh but didn't say anything.

"You really are a noble person, hero. We won't bother you any further," said the group before quickly turning and departing.

Jiang Cheng sneered, turning to Lyle and smiling.

"Shall we continue onward, my hero?"

Lyle nodded, saying little, raising his longsword and leading the way deeper in.

The journey was much smoother after that. With Lyle fighting more seriously under Jiang Cheng's scrutiny, he dispatched corrupted monsters with ease.

He even made use of the knowledge gained these last few days, using special items to lure and eliminate several corrupted monsters.

Eventually, the two of them reached the deepest part of the dungeon's corrupted zone.

Here, black sludge spread everywhere, tainting the entire cavern.

Ahead stood a crooked sign: Danger Ahead.

"Alright,"

Jiang Cheng suddenly stopped Lyle, "Let's prepare a bit more before going any further."

The depths of the corrupted zone ahead were not to be entered lightly. In the original story, Lyle first suffered a loss right here.

Besides, if she wanted to expose the conspiracy of this so-called God of Adventure and obtain the most primordial of blessings, the trial couldn't be finished too quickly.

"But..."

Lyle frowned, looking into the depths of the corrupted zone.

He was eager to complete the trial, hoping to find the people he was looking for as soon as possible.

"Be good, alright, my dear hero~"

Jiang Cheng narrowed her eyes with a sweet smile.

For some reason, a strong sense of danger rose inside him. Lyle instinctively agreed to Jiang Cheng's suggestion.

"Alright, then,"

Lyle nodded and followed Jiang Cheng outward.

He didn't notice that as they retreated, Jiang Cheng, hidden from his view, slipped into the depths, scooping up a chunk of black sludge.

............

Back in his room, Lyle said nothing, repeating the after-battle review habit his teacher had instilled in him.

In his memories, that ever-serious, cute mentor—every time he failed to reflect—would furrow her beautiful brows ever so slightly, an expression that made the adolescent Lyle utterly smitten.

Until later... that cruel scene replayed again in his mind.

Inside the teleportation array, as its glow shone, his teacher turned away, walking toward several powerful, flying demons—without so much as looking back.

"I'll find you, all of you. I'll kill every last one of the demons..."

Lyle muttered to himself in a low voice.

"Finally done," on the other side, Jiang Cheng looked at the humanoid shape she'd formed from the black sludge and smiled.

She cut a large gash across her palm, pressing it to the mud figurine's head. Blood poured down, and the figurine gradually took on Jiang Cheng's appearance.

Divine Art—Homunculus, complete. Now, when she sneaked out, this doppelganger would fool Lyle completely.

For example... tonight, she planned to go out.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Homunculus for a divine art?【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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