An Unexpected Embrace and a Premature End to the Day

“Do not call me ‘Ayachan’; it’s utterly repulsive!”

‘Honestly, what kind of respectable person deliberately tacks on ‘chan’ when addressing someone?’

Even Aya Tone, a seasoned otaku herself, found the term sickening.

Yet, despite her revulsion, her hands moved without a hint of hesitation.

She swiftly dropped the magic crystal into her storage pouch.

‘It’s far too large to carry comfortably…’

“Alright, Ayachan…”

“Hmm…?”

“Ah… no! Nothing at all!”

Noticing Aya Tone’s expression suddenly cloud over, Fu Ling swiftly diverted the conversation.

“Your timing is perfect; Miss Ning was absolutely determined to go in and find you. Had we not restrained her, she would have undoubtedly snuck inside!”

“Sister Ning?”

Aya Tone’s brow arched in a slight query.

‘Why would she need to come looking for me without any apparent reason?’

Aya Tone possessed a clear understanding of her own allure.

It certainly had not reached the level where a mere glance could drive someone to the brink of despair, or incite them to declare their undying devotion.

“Sister Ning, is there something you needed to speak with me about?”

Unable to decipher the woman’s thoughts, Aya Tone opted for a direct approach.

As Aya Tone approached her, Ning Fan Ying’s eyes glimmered, and her lips curved into a relieved smile.

Her body surged forward instinctively, pulling Aya Tone into a tight embrace.

“You’re alright,” she murmured softly into Aya Tone’s ear, “that truly is wonderful…”

The sight of Aya Tone emerging had finally eased the heavy anxiety that had plagued her heart.

“Erm… what could possibly happen to me?”

Aya Tone, caught in the sudden embrace, felt utterly baffled.

It was merely an A-rank dungeon; if she were to somehow fail spectacularly, Fire Finch would undoubtedly mock her for years if she ever found out.

Then, a few months later, Fire Finch would surely resurrect the old grievance.

‘Ugh, the mere thought is dreadful…’

“You… ah…”

Aya Tone abruptly fell silent.

She realized the body holding her was trembling uncontrollably.

Soft, muffled sobs emanated from behind her head.

‘Seriously, Sis, why are you crying so profusely?’

‘Anyone unaware of the situation would assume I had perished…’

Yet, Aya Tone, possessing a degree of emotional intelligence, knew better.

‘Uttering such a disheartening remark was simply out of the question.’

“There, there now~ don’t cry~”

Reaching around from behind, Aya Tone encircled Ning Fan Ying’s back with her arms, gently stroking it.

Ning Fan Ying, still weeping softly, leaned against her, releasing the deep-seated fear she harbored from past experiences.

Despite Ning Fan Ying’s considerably larger stature, to any observer, it appeared as though Aya Tone was the one embracing and comforting her.

And in truth, that was precisely the dynamic.

‘…’

Aya Tone felt a pang of helplessness.

Xiao Jiu, too, used to be this way, bursting into tears at the slightest provocation.

It was only in recent times that she had become less prone to weeping.

‘She had never anticipated that a trip to the Imperial Capital would lead her to relive the experience of comforting a ‘little girl’.’

‘It was quite peculiar…’

The others refrained from interrupting the pair, instead observing the unfolding scene with keen interest.

‘Wow~’

‘This truly is a prime spectacle for gossip.’

‘Is it not far more captivating than those melodramatic television dramas?’

‘The only pity is that their hands are empty, without a single bag of sunflower seeds.’

Fu Ling, however, was far more direct. Capitalizing on his advantageous vantage point, he swiftly captured two photos with his phone.

He then promptly uploaded them to a group chat titled “Magical Girl Fan Club.”

[Note: Big Sister Ayachan seems to be receiving comfort.]

Not long after the message was sent, the entire group chat erupted in a frenzy.

Users began tagging him incessantly.

[Tentacle Monster: @Fu Ling, quickly provide the address!]

[Level One Monster Executive: Ayachan!! My darling!!]

[Executive Two: I’m so envious of that older sister…]

‘…’

Every member within the group chat envied Ning Fan Ying, who was currently being comforted by Aya Tone.

Some had even begun to meticulously analyze Fu Ling’s whereabouts, scrutinizing the scenery visible in the photographs.

However, none of this was of any concern to Fu Ling.

Having sent the pictures, he promptly switched off his phone.

‘What an absurd notion; engaging in idle banter with those rascals held no candle to the profoundly healing sight unfolding before him.’

“Er… Sister Ning, might you be able to stand up now?” Aya Tone tilted her head, murmuring softly into Ning Fan Ying’s ear.

Her legs had begun to feel rather numb from being held in that embrace for such an extended period.

As for being publicly hugged and comforting Ning Fan Ying, Aya Tone felt absolutely no discomfort. After all, her current identity was female.

‘What difference did it make?’

‘She had grown quite accustomed to this degree of physical closeness.’

‘…’

‘To speak further would only invite more tears.’

‘These were lessons forged in blood and anguish, thus best left unspoken…’

Regrettably, Aya Tone’s familiarity with such situations did not extend to Ning Fan Ying.

At that moment, Ning Fan Ying also seemed to regain her composure.

However, her burgeoning shyness was quickly overshadowed.

“Could… could we just stay like this, please? Just for a little while longer…”

“Alright, then.”

Aya Tone, for her part, remained unperturbed.

‘She merely considered it the diffidence of a young woman.’

Glancing up at the sky, she noted that it was approaching five o’clock.

Turning to the group, she announced, “Let us conclude for today. Everyone, please gather at the guild early tomorrow.”

“What?”

The collective response was a stunned silence.

‘They were still engrossed in their ‘melon-eating,’ so why were they suddenly dismissed from work?’

‘They had only just completed one dungeon!’

‘What of the second half?’

The work of an adventurer was not bound by specific temporal constraints.

Whether it was morning or the dead of night, the dungeons remained perpetually open.

As long as one desired to continue, the guild would not impede them or enforce mandatory rest.

At most, they would offer a mere caution.

Ultimately, one’s life was their own to command.

‘It was an undeniable truth that good counsel rarely swayed those determined to court danger.’

“Miss Aya Tone, the hour is still early, and our energy reserves remain entirely sufficient. Perhaps we should seize the opportunity and strike while the iron is hot?”

“Precisely,” another chimed in, “my rhythm is only just beginning to settle.”

“There remains half the capacity within my storage pouch; we are perfectly capable of continuing.”

‘…’

The others, too, gazed at Aya Tone with ardent expressions, their intentions clearly etched upon their faces—they yearned to press on!

After all, such chances, where a formidable expert led them, allowing them merely to gather resources, were exceedingly rare.

Furthermore, the rewards gleaned from the expedition were calculated at their full value.

Following a single A-rank dungeon, each individual could reliably secure a minimum of two to three hundred thousand.

Such a fortuitous occurrence was akin to manna falling from the heavens.

‘Rest?’

‘How could individuals of their age possibly afford to rest?’

“There’s no need to rush.”

Aya Tone subtly indicated Ning Fan Ying, who still appeared somewhat unsettled.

‘The poor young lady is in such a state, and yet you all remain so tactless.’

‘It serves you right to be perpetually single!’

Nevertheless, she merely offered a veiled hint, ensuring Ning Fan Ying remained unaware of the underlying meaning.

“It is commendable to possess such drive, so tomorrow we shall undertake something significant. Ensure none of you falter prematurely.”

Though they had only conquered a single dungeon today, in Aya Tone’s estimation, it sufficed.

‘She considered it an opportune moment for the group to harmonize and acclimate to one another.’

She had, in fact, deliberately moderated her pace to ensure they could keep up with her.

Otherwise, the Minotaur might not have even had the chance to make an appearance.

“Let us conclude our endeavors for today.”

“Tomorrow, the true spectacle awaits.”

“…Understood!”

The group’s brows furrowed slightly, a clear sign of their lingering reluctance.

Nevertheless, they dispersed from their positions.

The individual before them was, after all, the designated leader, the absolute authority within the team.

Moreover, Ning Fan Ying was demonstrably not in her optimal condition.

Since the leader had declared tomorrow, their priority was to return and submit the resources they had gathered.

Once the adventurers had dispersed, Aya Tone extended a hand and gently patted Ning Fan Ying, who still clung to her with lingering reluctance.

“Sister Ning, our work here is done.”

She still needed to hurry back and place a call to Fire Finch.

Considering the valuable lesson learned this very morning, Aya Tone genuinely feared that Fire Finch might have overlooked picking up Xiao Jiu from school.

Information relayed from Big White indicated that Xiao Jiu had not yet returned home, a fact that stirred a growing sense of irritation within Aya Tone.