Chapter 12: It’s Not Revenge for Someone Like You

“Would you believe I’m really trying to change?”

Meng Linna offered the roasted chicken.

“I know just saying it lacks sincerity. But if you want, I can prove it with actions.”

“Heh.”

Na Naya took the chicken and bit into it fiercely.

“Trust you again, just to get fooled again? Back then… I was blinded by stupidity.”

Meng Linna grabbed her hair in frustration.

“How about you get back at me? Do to me what I did to you!”

“Oh?”

Na Naya turned to look at her, eyes full of mockery.

“For a pervert like you, that wouldn’t be revenge. It’d be a reward.”

“I’m not…”

Meng Linna lowered her head.

Realizing she couldn’t earn Na Naya’s trust yet, she started eating.

Trust was easy to destroy.

Rebuilding it was the hard part.

They ate in silence.

The camp was filled with the crackle of the fire.

And the sounds of two pretty girls eating chicken.

Realizing there was no juicy gossip to hear, Peggy’s tent erupted with loud snoring.

It was a small flaw of Peggy’s.

But Meng Linna was used to it by now.

She tossed the leftover chicken bones into the fire.

Clapping her hands, she stood up from the stump.

“You take the first half of the night. I’m going to bathe and sleep. Wake Peggy for her shift.”

Na Naya didn’t reply directly.

She just hummed softly, eyes fixed on the fire, lost in thought.

***

Having a river near the camp was a blessing now.

Bathing was no issue at all.

Meng Linna wasn’t a clean freak.

But she couldn’t stand sleeping sweaty.

Even if there was no bed here.

After checking no one was around, she slowly slipped off her dress and set it aside.

Dungeon surveying was exhausting.

The mental strain was intense.

Most others had gone to sleep early.

Only Na Naya was on watch.

No random passersby either.

She slowly peeled off her black cotton stockings.

They had a strange tightness.

Maybe they didn’t fit her curvy legs well.

But the moment she took them off, the tight feeling vanished.

That instant of relief was oddly thrilling.

As a man, Meng Linna had resisted wearing women’s clothes.

But the convent’s strict dress code for nuns was something she knew well from her bishop days.

She’d grudgingly followed it.

And somehow, she’d gotten used to women’s clothes.

Human adaptability was wild.

Looking at her panties and chest, Meng Linna’s mind blurred.

‘Haven’t I fully adapted to women’s clothes?’

She unhooked her bra from behind.

Free of all gear, she dipped her toes into the river.

The early summer heat didn’t touch this river.

The fast-moving water was slightly cool.

It made her worry it might be too cold.

Yet the coolness contrasted with the heat, teasing her senses.

The river wasn’t deep.

After testing the temperature, Meng Linna eased her body in until her toes touched the bottom.

The coolness was irresistible.

Especially in this heat.

Meng Linna, a creature who hated heat, fell in love with it instantly.

But a girl’s body was such a hassle.

Enjoying the cold water, she worked shampoo into her long hair.

Long hair was pretty but a pain.

The cost of shampoo and conditioner alone was a fortune.

And that wasn’t the only change being a girl brought.

Like the non-streamlined weights on her chest.

“Motherhood, huh!”

Meng Linna cupped her chest.

She didn’t care much for them.

If she could, she’d rather they were on someone else.

So inconvenient.

“Really into big chests?”

A familiar voice came from behind.

“I thought you’d prefer smaller ones.”

Meng Linna instantly crouched, hiding her body under the water.

“You’re still so shy.”

Na Naya sat nearby, laughing.

“We’re both girls. Scared of being seen?”

“You don’t get it!”

Meng Linna curled up tighter.

“It’s not about being a girl! Anyone who’s fine showing their body to others is an exhibitionist!”

“Mm, you’re right.”

Na Naya nodded.

She slowly peeled off her white stockings.

“You still love staring at my feet.”

Noticing Meng Linna’s intense gaze, Na Naya teased.

But compared to before, she was less flustered, more wary.

“No way!”

Meng Linna looked away.

What, everyone thought she was a foot fetishist?

She should lick all these girls’ feet to prove she, Miss Meng, had zero interest in them.

“Still so stubborn, Scumbag Sister.”

Na Naya lost interest in arguing.

She dipped her feet in the river.

Seeing her relaxed expression, Meng Linna couldn’t help but point out.

“You’re supposed to be on watch, but you’re soaking your feet?”

“What’s the issue? The camp’s in clear view from here.”

True enough.

The river was close to the camp.

Any monster attack would be obvious.

“By the way, where’d you hide the ore?”

With no one around, Meng Linna’s curiosity got the better of her.

“When the student said she’d check, I really thought we were busted.”

She still felt shaken thinking about it.

“All thanks to something you shouldn’t know about.”

Na Naya glanced at her, too lazy to explain.

But Meng Linna knew she meant the system.

“Got it.”

Meng Linna’s voice sounded sour.

“Pretty convenient, huh? Handles everything.”

“Not everything.”

Na Naya shook her head, staring at Meng Linna’s face.

“Like a certain someone who keeps clinging to me.”

“…”

Meng Linna didn’t reply.

She just pretended not to understand.