"Too easy!"
Aurelia mumbled with deep dissatisfaction as she saw a huge figure drop to the ground with a thud.
Its robust body was burned severely, sliced countless times, and pierced by multiple arrows.
The Goblin Chieftain looked beyond dead.
In fact, the poor guy hadn't even managed to properly attack before he was killed. The same was true for his army of goblins behind him, sprawled everywhere with no sign of life.
"Yeah, too easy, all because of one person."
Sylvia heard Aurelia and spoke, while giving a side-eye to Soren.
"Are you... praising me or...?"
For a moment, Soren was confused when he felt the piercing gaze. And this time, it wasn't only from Sylvia, but Aurelia, too, who looked quite dissatisfied.
After all, the very reason she had joined this team was to see Evan's abilities. But now...
Aurelia tried hard to ignore this guy who had already decided to give up on her, yet found it increasingly difficult.
Why did she find him a bit irritating?
"Ahem...it's good that it was easy. Guys, don't forget this is our first time inside. Our goal is to hone our teamwork and skills."
Fortunately, Evan came at just the right moment and cleared his throat slightly, easing the tension.
To be honest, he also felt that the boss had been lacking. But he could understand Soren's reasoning.
"Yeah, you're right. It was a bit of fun leveling up, and look, I even learned a new skill."
Sylvia immediately nodded, came close, and enthusiastically demonstrated her new ability to Aria and Aurelia. Beautiful green petals sprouted and spun around her, an active AoE skill she gained upon reaching level 15.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
She asked, to which Aria woodenly nodded, her eyes filled with slight jealousy. After all, all she got after leveling up was to summon one more golem, unlike her.
Aurelia, on the other hand, simply ignored everyone and got ready to teleport out of the dungeon.
"Yeah, it looks quite beautiful."
Just as Sylvia was satisfied with Aria's reaction and about to cancel her skill, she heard a faint voice right beside her ear.
"Eekk.."
For a moment, she was totally surprised and quickly turned around, only to see Soren quite close. This bastard didn't know when he arrived behind her without her knowledge.
For a moment, Sylvia felt a slight tingling sensation on her bum, making her face go red in shame.
"You..."
"Why is there still no portal?"
Just as Sylvia was about to get angry, she suddenly heard the bewildered voice of Aurelia from her side.
"What do you mean?"
Evan, who was cleaning blood off his sword, asked in confusion.
But when he looked around and really saw that there was no portal around, even after defeating the boss monster, he understood her concern.
"Maybe...we have to go to its lair?"
Evan wasn't sure, as this was the first time he entered a dungeon.
"No, as long as you killed the boss, the portal leading you outside should appear near the hunter. It is basic knowledge."
But Aurelia shook her head, her face turning grim and confused. For a moment, she even thought the Goblin Chieftain might not have been the boss of this dungeon.
"What happened?"
At this time, Sylvia and Aria also realized there was something wrong. For a moment, everyone was confused and alert to their surroundings.
'Is it starting?'
Only Soren seemed quite relaxed, although he didn't show it on his face.
Just as Soren had that thought, suddenly the area around them lit up brightly.
No, it seemed the ground beneath them lit up all of a sudden with a magical formation.
Then, before they could even react, all of them suddenly felt a strong pull from somewhere, just like the feeling they got when using the portal.
In an instant, all of them understood that they were getting forcefully teleported.
"Be careful!"
Only the strong warning of Soren lingered in the air as all of them vanished from their location.
"Eek..."
Well, except for the faint cry of Sylvia, of course, who, to her own stunned disbelief, suddenly found herself pressed against Soren's chest, his arms locked around her, one hand firm on her waist.
Unfortunately, this time too, she could do nothing as her body once again traversed the void before she could say anything, just like before.
Clearly, Soren had gotten bolder as he didn't even try to hide this time.
....
"Leave me alone!"
The teleportation felt exactly the same as before, only this time it dragged on longer. Then, in a flash, all five of them arrived in an unknown place.
Before Sylvia could even look around, she shouted angrily from inside Soren's arms and shoved hard against his solid chest.
She was sure he was taking advantage of her again.
"Shh... be careful."
But to her surprise, Soren did not let her go as she expected. Instead, his arm tightened around her waist even more firmly. Then he kicked off the ground with sudden force, leaping high into the air while still holding her.
*Bang!*
*Roarrrr!*
A huge roar exploded right behind them.
Only then did Sylvia notice they had been standing on a wide platform of cracked ashen rock, surrounded by roaring flames.
No. It looked that way because a monster's attack had just scorched the entire area.
In an instant, Sylvia felt stunned. If Soren had not pulled her away, that blast would have severely injured her.
"Aria, summon your golems. Fast."
Sylvia heard Soren's voice again, but this time he was speaking to someone else.
To the other girl, who was also held tightly in his arms, just like her. It seemed she wasn't alone in being hugged this time.
Aria Luna.
From the way Soren carried both girls, one under each arm, dodging the attack with pure strength, it was clear he was not taking advantage of her at all.
"O-okay..."
But that did not stop Aria from feeling shy. Sylvia saw her duck her head, avoiding eye contact, cheeks flushed red as she quickly followed Soren's order and summoned her golem.
Even so, Aria's arms stayed wrapped around Soren's neck for balance. Her full, soft chest pressed even more firmly against him now, rising and falling with every quick breath she took.
Seeing her like that, clinging to him so naturally, embarrassed yet completely trusting, Sylvia suddenly felt a pang of jealousy for no reason.