Chapter 15: Spotless.

The mid-level of the C-rank dungeon Howling Mine.

This was the lair of goblins and cave bats.

The air was thick with the rusty tang of iron and the foul stench of monster excrement. Scattered across the ground were fragments of bone—remnants of either past adventurers or long-dead miners.

“Keep formation tight.”

Hill’s voice was low, issuing the command.

Her current body’s voice was soft and sweet, almost lacking in intimidation, yet the cold, calm glint in her eyes still carried the unmistakable authority of a captain.

However, the current formation was… rather unique.

Leading at the very front was Alyssa in full battle regalia.

Right now, the female knight glowed like a giant lightbulb, radiating golden radiance from head to toe.

Phyllis had stacked triple buffs on her: Radiant Shield, Physical Hardening, and—most crucially—Malice Attraction.

In the dim mine, she was practically a living target. Any monster within a hundred meters that wasn’t blind would see her first.

“Um… Phyllis?”

Alyssa hefted her heavy iris-crested shield, shifting uncomfortably and craning her neck.

“Isn’t this light a bit… too bright? I feel like a walking bonfire.”

“This is necessary tactics, Miss Alyssa.”

Phyllis walked at the very rear of the formation.

Positioned to oversee the entire group while keeping Hill’s back firmly in her line of sight.

Her voice rang clear and distinct in the echoing tunnel.

“Goblins are creatures that bully the weak and fear the strong. If you don’t make yourself conspicuous enough, they’ll try to flank and ambush Hill and Nya. As a noble knight, isn’t drawing enemy fire your honor?”

“Honor…”

The word seemed to flip a switch.

Alyssa’s gaze instantly turned steely.

“You’re right! I absolutely cannot allow filthy monsters to get within half a step of the Captain! Come on—let the storm rage even fiercer!”

Hill, walking in the middle, listened to this exchange and her mouth twitched faintly.

Phyllis… is this brainwashing?

And she’s so good at it…

Ten meters ahead of Alyssa, Nya crept along the wall like a gecko, moving in utter silence.

“Tripwire ahead nya.”

Nya glanced back and signaled with her hand.

“Linked to a ceiling rockfall trap.”

“Well done.”

Hill nodded.

“Can you disarm it?”

“Piece of cake nya!”

Nya drew a rusty little knife and deftly severed the nearly invisible thread.

A soft click—the mechanism disengaged.

“Excellent.”

Phyllis smiled and nodded, then reached into her pouch and flicked a small piece of jerky toward Nya with pinpoint accuracy.

“Your reward.”

Nya caught it mid-air, stuffed it into her mouth without caring about cleanliness, and chewed happily, face glowing with contentment.

Under Phyllis’s training, she seemed to have fully adapted to the simple logic of: work → get fed.

“Gya! Gyagya!!”

A piercing screech shattered the silence.

With the trap disarmed, dozens of goblins poured out of the cavern hall ahead—rusty shortswords and crude stones in hand.

They had planned an ambush, but now that they were exposed, they charged.

“Enemy contact! Twenty-plus!”

Hill drew her mithril shortsword, eyes sharpening.

“Alyssa, hold the front gate! Nya, flank and harass! I’ll cut in!”

“Leave it to me!”

Alyssa roared, slamming her shield into the ground with a resounding boom. Golden holy light erupted.

Divine Taunt.

The goblins that had originally been rushing toward Hill suddenly had their eyes turn blood-red. Like they’d lost all reason, every single one pivoted and screeched, hurling themselves at the glowing metal can.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Stones and rusted blades rained down on Alyssa’s shield and armor.

Under normal circumstances, this density of attacks would have strained even a knight.

But today, Alyssa was astonished to find she barely felt the impacts.

“So light…”

She marveled inwardly.

Phyllis’s Physical Hardening was absurdly powerful.

She didn’t feel like she was wearing armor—she felt like she was a fortress.

“Now, Hill!”

Phyllis’s voice arrived at the perfect moment.

No reminder was needed—Hill had already moved.

With every scrap of aggro pulled onto Alyssa, the path before Hill was wide open.

No monsters looked at her. No stray projectiles flew her way.

She might as well have been strolling through her own backyard.

“Wind…”

Phyllis’s staff moved in a gentle arc.

Wind’s Blessing—Full Acceleration.

Hill felt her feet lighten. Her entire body became a silver afterimage.

She plunged into the goblin flank like death’s own scythe.

In this moment she needed no defense, no parrying, no dodging.

Because no attacks came.

Schlick!

The first goblin’s head flew off.

Hill felt no resistance as her blade passed through flesh.

Phyllis’s Edge Sharpening buff had turned the mithril sword into something that cut iron like mud.

And the strangest part—

The instant foul blood sprayed, an invisible Repelling Wind barrier snapped open around Hill, blasting every drop of gore away.

Hill danced through the horde.

Silver hair fluttering, skirt swaying.

Five dead. Ten dead…

By the time the last goblin fell, her breathing hadn’t even quickened. Not a single drop of blood stained her pure white armor.

The fight was over.

“Haa…”

Hill sheathed her sword and looked at the carpet of corpses, a complicated mix of emotions and a faint sense of dissonance rising inside her.

Too easy.

So this… is what having a perfect team feels like?

No need to watch your back. No need to fear injury…

No need to worry about getting dirty.

Killing had become simple harvesting.

“Everyone alright?”

Hill turned.

“Fine!”

Alyssa poked her head out from behind her shield.

Her armor was covered in dents and green blood, looking utterly battered—but her spirit was sky-high.

“That was exhilarating! I’ve never tanked so comfortably before! Phyllis’s support is godly—I feel like I could hold off a dragon!”

“Nya’s fine nya!”

Nya dropped down from the ceiling.

She’d spent the fight pelting stones from above—unscathed.

“Good.”

Hill walked toward Alyssa.

“You worked hard. Your armor’s filthy—”

She reached out to brush a chunk of rotten flesh off Alyssa’s pauldron.

“Don’t touch.”

Phyllis’s voice cut in sharply.

She stepped forward swiftly, seemingly casually placing herself between Hill and Alyssa.

“Hill, don’t. Goblin blood carries bacteria and parasites.”

Phyllis’s face was dead serious.

“Your hands are for holding a sword, not handling trash.”

She turned to Alyssa with a professional smile and flicked her staff.

“…Cleansing.”

A stream of water washed over Alyssa’s armor, rinsing away the filth.

“Miss Alyssa, as the front-liner, getting dirty is your badge of honor. But until you’re completely clean, please stay at least three meters away from Hill. Hill is very sensitive to odors.”

“Ah… I’m sorry!”

Alyssa hurriedly stepped back, face full of guilt.

“I was careless! I almost stank up the Captain!”

Hill: “…”

Honestly, she didn’t care at all. Back in her previous life, who didn’t finish a fight covered in blood?

But seeing Phyllis’s “this is for your own good” expression, she swallowed her words.

“Alright, let’s rest for a bit.”

Phyllis took a folded velvet cushion from her spatial bag and spread it on a clean rock.

“Hill, sit here.”

Then she produced a water bottle and a handkerchief.

“Are you tired from swinging your sword? Here—wipe your sweat.”

Hill hadn’t even broken a sweat.

She obediently sat, letting Phyllis fuss over her like a doll, gently wiping her forehead.

She glanced over…

Alyssa was leaning against the wall, chugging coarse barley ale.

Nya was squatting among the corpses, rummaging for valuables.

Everyone was doing their part.

And herself…

Hill looked down at her own fair, spotless hands.

In this party, she was held highest, protected best.

Was this really called fighting?

Was she really getting stronger?

“What’s wrong, Hill?”

Phyllis instantly sensed the shift in mood.

She knelt, took both of Hill’s hands in hers, blue eyes brimming with concern.

“…Nothing.”

Hill shook her head, dispelling the stray thoughts.

“I just feel… it’s really good to have all of you.”

“Yes.”

Phyllis smiled.

She pressed her cheek to the back of Hill’s hand, voice soft as an angel’s whisper.

“We’ll handle everything.”

“Dirty work and heavy lifting go to Alyssa. Dangerous scouting goes to Nya.”

“Hill only needs to stand in the safest place and swing her sword the most beautifully.”

“That’s enough.”

Yes.

That’s enough…

You don’t need to know the warmth of blood, the pain of wounds, or the ugliness of hearts.

You only need to stay with me forever, always so radiant and perfect.

From deep in the dungeon came a low, guttural roar.

The boss of this floor—the Ogre Warlord.

“Looks like the big one’s here.”

Hill stood, the confusion in her eyes replaced by battle intent.

“Prepare for combat!”

“Yes!”

Alyssa raised her shield.

Nya drew her daggers.

Phyllis stood behind Hill, gazing at that silver back.

Her fingers moved subtly.

A very discreet Weakness curse flew silently toward the depths.

Alyssa might be tough, but what if the ogre’s strength was too great and the shockwave damaged Hill’s eardrums?

Better weaken it by 30% first.

As for loot… let this become another reason for Hill to rely on her even more.

“Wind’s Blessing—Full Power.”

Phyllis chanted softly.

…

In this dark underground world…

The pure white angel’s web was growing tighter, more inescapable.

Drawing the lovely silver kite ever deeper into its embrace—without her ever realizing.