Chapter 49 : Come On, Come On

After the hunt, the team began extracting materials. Milly leaned against a tree, watching Tifna carve up the Horned Lizard’s remains.

In games, you just pressed F—instant loot. But this was another world. No shortcuts. Just messy, physical work.

“You’re not helping?”

Milly turned. Idis sat slumped on the ground, ice crystals still clinging to her hair. Her staff lay discarded beside her.

“Too tired. Alva and the others can handle it.”

Milly recalled Alva introducing himself—how everyone called him “Old Man,” even though she’d only heard Idis say it. So she was the source.

“Skinning’s hard labor,” Idis yawned, waving a hand. “Not for mages. And it’ll ruin my robes.”

Milly wanted to point out that magic could make it easier—but given Idis’s lazy state, she let it go.

Nearby, Joseph used his axe to crack open the horn’s base. The clang of metal on bone mixed with Layn’s chanting.

“So… after this, you all go your separate ways?”

“Of course,” Idis twirled a strand of hair. “Split the reward, jingle the coins, back to normal life. Layn has church duties. Alva joined us to earn extra coin—he’s got kids to feed. Everyone’s got their own thing. Though we do hang out sometimes.”

So after returning to Starlight City, she’d live with Tifna? Living with a cute girl? Back in her old world, Milly would’ve thought, Yeah, right—like that’d ever happen.

Now? Sharing a roof meant caution. Watch her words. Avoid suspicion.

“What about Tifna? Does she live with family?”

Tifna didn’t look much older than twenty—about Milly’s original age. This body, though? Definitely the kind that got you arrested immediately.

“She lives alone now. But a month ago, she lived with her brother.”

Earlier, Tifna had mentioned her brother—her mood shifting from excitement to sadness in an instant.

“Did something happen to him?”

Before Milly could ask, Idis continued:

“He left on a dangerous mission—vanished without a word. Half a month later, we heard he’d set out. That same day, Tifna took this job. Thought it’d be quick. Ended up stuck in this forest for weeks.”

They hadn’t just missed the city’s chaos—they’d missed everything for half a month.

Phew. If Tifna stayed unaware of the demon incident, once the panic died down, Milly could lie low. Learn to control her wings and tail. Bide her time until she grew strong enough to face Stacy.

Then—late game, six-item build—she’d return. One slash. Stacy dead.

Milly bit her lip, suppressing a laugh. Imagining Stacy on her knees, begging—too good.

But she couldn’t laugh now. Not while Tifna grieved.

“What’s her brother like?”

Since she’d live under Tifna’s roof, best to know the family.

“I don’t know much. First impression? Powerful. He’s known as the Empire’s Sword Saint—one of the strongest in the land.”

“And compared to him—how strong is Tifna?”

Tifna had said every member mattered. But seeing her casually slice off that horn… soloing the lizard was just a matter of time.

“Tifna’s really strong,” Idis admitted. “But her brother? Still way above her. But hey—she’s got potential.”

Stronger than Tifna. A Sword Saint. One of the empire’s peaks.

He’ll definitely one-shot Stacy.

She hoped for his safe return. And since he used a sword—perfect. She’d have him teach her how to use Broken. Muscle memory helped, but real fights were too rhythm-dependent. Was there a simpler, dumber way?

Yes, bro. Yes. Let the Sword Saint train her. Victory over Stacy? Just around the corner.

Dreaming of her happy future, Milly almost laughed again. But she wasn’t ready yet. Still needed to grow.

Just then, Tifna returned, finished with the loot. “All accounted for. Time to head back.”

“Yay” Idis stretched. “Finally, a nice long bath! What do you say, Milly? Want to soak with big sister?”

Milly stared at Idis’s smirk—definitely thinking something perverted.

But before she could refuse—

Tifna stepped in front of her. “No. I’ll take her back to get settled.”

“Eh? Captain, you’re mean! You don’t want to share Milly? Come bathe with us! Come on, come on! My bathhouse is huge!”

Ignoring Idis’s whining, Tifna gathered the materials. After a final check, she looked over her team.

“Mission complete. Return to Starlight City.”

The journey back was cautious—avoiding monsters. At the forest’s edge, Milly spotted what looked like a驿站—a rest stop.

They rented three carriages. According to Tifna, they’d reach the city by nightfall.

Wrapped in a cloak Tifna lent her, Milly curled into a corner of the carriage. When asked, Tifna assumed she feared being recognized by her “kidnappers.”

Inside, Idis kept inviting her to bathe—ignored in perfect sync by the others.

As dusk fell and Starlight City’s silhouette rose on the horizon—

Milly shivered.

Her hand flew to her collarbone—where the thorn sigil burned.

Like someone was watching.