Chapter 15: Miao Miao Niya is a Keycap

“So you survived the Ironmelt Demon’s point-blank self-destruct? And came out perfectly fine?”

Hearing Meng Linna’s story, Peggy questioned her own existence.

The Ironmelt Demon was a B-rank monster.

Not only did they push it to self-destruct, they survived it?

Meanwhile, she’d been knocked out for half a day from one kick.

“To be precise, I didn’t survive it. Na Naya did.”

Meng Linna glanced at the dramatic Peggy.

She disinfected Na Naya’s arm with alcohol.

“Don’t move. I’m treating you.”

“If possible, I’d rather you left me alone.”

Having her revenge target bandage her wounds didn’t sit well with Na Naya.

Maybe it was the sting of alcohol on her cuts.

“You got hurt protecting everyone. How could I ignore you?”

Meng Linna ignored Na Naya’s protests.

She finished the painful disinfection and took out her holy seal.

Miao Miao Niya recruited their team mainly for Meng Linna’s potential as a healer.

Now it was coming in handy.

Meng Linna could use her past-life knowledge to cast advanced spells like Sunlight Healing.

But only high priests could learn that.

So, even with Na Naya wincing in pain, Meng Linna could only use a slow-healing spell.

“Wow, it’s actually working!”

Peggy, seeing a miracle spell for the first time, watched Na Naya’s wounds close.

Her eyes widened with curiosity.

“It’s slow, though.”

Meng Linna increased the magic output to her seal.

“In a fight, this healing speed would be useless.”

“But you’re both nuns. Doesn’t Miss Na Naya know healing spells?”

Meng Linna was just a D-rank faith warrior and knew useful spells.

Surely Na Naya, a C-rank warrior, knew more?

“Sadly, I’m a combat nun. I didn’t study healing spells.” (TN: Like a STR/Faith build in Dark Souls or Elden Ring)

If she had, she wouldn’t be at Scumbag Sister’s mercy.

Na Naya felt some regret.

“How’s your wound, Miss Na Naya?”

The lead student approached.

“Thanks for your heroic actions. Without you, we’d have been wiped out down there…”

“I’m fine.”

Na Naya forced a smile.

“Just doing my duty.”

“Really, thank you. I even suspected you of stealing mithril before…”

The lead student’s face was full of guilt.

Meng Linna snickered inwardly.

“As long as everyone’s safe.”

Na Naya waved it off, acting unbothered.

“By the way, there’s something else. After you escaped, the dungeon completely collapsed.”

“Collapsed?”

Not just Meng Linna—Peggy’s face fell too.

If the dungeon collapsed, was the survey over?

As if reading their minds, the lead student looked troubled.

“This might be unexpected. But our advisor sent word. The survey’s done. A carriage will pick us up for Yanan later.”

“What! No way!”

Meng Linna’s face showed frustration.

A safe job paying one silver coin a day, gone?

She’d hoped to milk it a few more days.

Her next high-paying gig might be ages away…

“Sorry.”

The lead student knew their thoughts.

But she was just a worker under her advisor.

“The guild will send people to clear the dungeon. Maybe they’ll need adventurers later.”

“Mm.”

There was nothing more to say.

***

“Three days on the job, so three silver coins total.”

Miao Miao Niya held up three silver coins.

“But you pre-drew three days’ pay, so nothing’s left.”

Meng Linna watched Miao Miao Niya make the coins vanish like a magic trick.

She was fuming.

“Didn’t you say it’d be at least seven days? Why backtrack now? You forced me into this job!”

Sure, the pay was good.

But that didn’t change that Miao Miao Niya coerced her.

“Well, it’s a special case… Come on, don’t glare at me! This counts as the guild breaking contract, okay?”

Saying this, Miao Miao Niya pulled a bag labeled “breach penalty” from under the desk.

“So if I didn’t say anything, you wouldn’t have given me this?”

Meng Linna weighed the bag.

At least ten silver coins.

This sneaky cat…

“Oops, my memory’s not great!”

Miao Miao Niya tapped her head, feigning innocence.

“With that act, you must’ve shorted their penalties too.”

Meng Linna realized this keycap wouldn’t scam just her.

“Fork some over, or I’ll tell them!”

“Too bad, they already got theirs!”

Miao Miao Niya licked her paw, eyeing Meng Linna like she was a fool.

“You’re overthinking it.”

Her hopes for extra cash were dashed.

“Oh.”

Meng Linna lowered her head, disappointed.

She pulled out the monster materials from the dungeon.

“These are my monster drops. Can you tally them? I need to sell.”

“No problem.”

Miao Miao Niya took the materials.

For her actual job, this catgirl was reliable.

“Five silver coins total. Want to submit some for rank-up? You’re close to C-rank adventurer status. It’s time to turn in materials!”

“Rank-up needs materials?”

Meng Linna frowned.

She’d never heard this.

Was this sneaky cat making it up to scam her?

“Rank-ups are serious business. If everyone could just apply for a test, it’d mess up guild operations. To ensure you’re ready, you need to submit matching monster materials before the test.”

“It’s basically a testing fee.”

Despite Miao Miao Niya’s long explanation, Meng Linna saw through it.