Chapter 2: First Climax (18+)
Cecile was a beginner adventurer. Because she had nothing to do in her village, she aimed to become an adventurer in a bigger city. She hoped she would strike it rich after killing dragons and demons. However, fate said otherwise. Even after enrolling in adventurer school, she only managed to kill beginner-level monsters such as slimes and goblins. She didn't have any special skills. Those who strike it rich often have special skills given to them from birth.
Still, she persisted. Nevertheless, lady luck wasn't in her favor. The carriage she was guarding was attacked by bandits, and her entire team was wiped out. The only reason she survived was because she was so weak that the bandit could go easy on her.
Then, the knights saved her. She now knew how high her goal was. She caught a glimpse of Captain Sheena's skill. It was divine. The bandits that easily beat her were chopped into pieces in mere seconds. She was unconscious at the time, so she was worried that the bandits had put some of the bugs in her too. However, Captain Sheena assured her that if they put such a lewd bug in her, she wouldn't be able to talk or converse calmly, so she and the other two girls the bandit captured were not given any of the antidote.
"Hah... I got no money for two days, and the quest also failed. The penalty is harsh... I have to search for a new party again tomorrow..." Cecile whined at the inn's restaurant while dining. It was her third plate and her stomach still screamed that she was hungry. In this harsh world full of monsters, both adventurers and knights died by dozens every day. Cecile knew that she was lucky to be saved by the knights. She would suffer a fate worse than death at the hands of the bandit if she wasn't.
"Aren't you adventurers? How come you lost to bandits?" The innkeeper didn't pity but chided her. She knew Cecile was a beginner. Thus, she didn't scold her too harshly. However, one of the adventurers' main jobs is to escort merchants and civilians against bandits and monsters. It would trouble the populace if an adventurer was known to lose to bandits. Knights will only be dispatched when things are dire, after all. While they are powerful, most knights are too arrogant to guard mere caravans or traveling merchants.
"Excuse me, can I order another bread?" Cecile said as she emptied her plate. She was strangely famished today. She thought it was because she barely ate when she was imprisoned by bandits, but it was her fourth plate when usually she only needed one.
"Sure, here you go. This is the last one, alright. Eat up, build your muscles, and don't lose to bandits anymore. All right. This last one is on the house." The innkeeper smiled as Cecile bit through the bread, her thanks muffled by her stuffed mouth.
"Thank you, innkeeper. I am off to bed now. I am tired." Cecile bid her goodbye to the innkeeper and went inside her room. The room she rented was cheap and had thin walls. There was only one bed and a simple lock.
She locked her bedroom and was about to drop onto her bed, but at that moment, she felt something moving inside her.