Chapter 5: A battle that cannot be won even with a falling green plum

“Give up. You’re no match for me. That scroll belongs to me.”

Among the crowd, a tall man gripped a massive axe, lowering his head as he spoke to the red-haired girl before him.

Step.

But she was clearly unwilling to concede. She struggled to her feet, ready to keep fighting. “No, I have to get it.”

Sigh.

Watching the girl pushing herself, the man knew that if he didn’t knock her out completely, she’d keep pestering him later.

“Sorry, I never meant to hurt you.”

With overwhelming force, the axe swung down from above, as if to cleave the girl in two.

She nimbly dodged aside, but a swift sidekick caught her off guard, sending her flying several meters away, nearly endangering some bystanders.

“Have you surrendered?”

“Why be so stubborn? Surviving in the Dungeon is mercy enough.” The man sighed deeply, striking down again. This time, the girl lacked the strength to escape.

As everyone closed their eyes, bracing for the splash of blood,

the massive axe suddenly halted midair, as if blocked by some unknown force.

Then, to everyone’s astonishment, the axe—and the man holding it—were flung high into the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

With a loud boom, dust rose, and the man lay unconscious.

“Ah? What’s going on? Does she have backup, or some kind of survival item?”

Those who knew better had already left long ago. Regardless of the answer, such power was terrifying to ordinary people.

One more look would mean certain disaster.

Besides, the result was obvious—the girl had won.

Gradually, the crowd dispersed, and the street that had been packed tight instantly felt spacious again, as if nothing had happened.

In the Dungeon, scenes like this were an everyday occurrence, playing out countless times each day.

Once everyone’s attention had fully shifted away, Tina and Princess Lia approached, concerned about the red-haired girl’s injuries.

After resting, she could still walk on her own, but she cared more about the scroll in the man’s hand than her own life.

“Thank you for saving me,” the girl said.

“Eh? Why? We didn’t do anything, did we?” Lia asked in confusion. She had intended to help but didn’t know who had intervened first.

“Is that so? I could’ve sworn some kind of strange power came from your direction just now… Ah, whatever. Thanks for your concern.”

The red-haired girl paused, then began scrutinizing the two.

They had worn cloaks and masks before arriving, so they shouldn’t have been recognized.

Yet, after locking eyes with Tina, a faint smile crept across the girl’s cheeks.

“Heh heh, it really is you.”

“?”

At that moment, Tina inexplicably felt nervous.

Was she really discovered the first time she used the Witch’s power? No way.

The technique she had used was called [Invisible Hand].

The effect was exactly as the name suggested: an unseen, intangible hand.

“Don’t pretend, Tina dear. I know it was you who saved me.”

The red-haired girl drew close with an intimate air, leaving Tina bewildered.

“You know me?”

To Tina’s surprise, the girl stiffened as if struck by lightning.

“You’re kidding, right? Tina dear, you don’t remember me?”

“Uh… I think… probably don’t remember.”

“Waaah~ Tina dear, was there never a place for me in your heart? We haven’t met for only a few years, and you don’t recognize me anymore!”

The girl was close to tears, no longer caring about the scroll in her hands.

“Hey, Tina dear, it’s Phyllis. Do you remember when we were kids?”

Back then, you played at your house, and I played at mine.

“?”

Wait, do we actually know each other?

“Ahem.” Maybe realizing she was rambling, Phyllis paused to gather her thoughts, then brought up the most memorable thing in her memory.

If she said it, Tina would surely remember.

“We were even promised to be betrothed as kids!”

“Huh?”

Both Tina and Lia were stunned.

A fated childhood sweetheart?

“Sorry, Phyllis, but I really don’t remember. And doesn’t that just sound like childish nonsense anyway?”

Tina could understand—probably as kids they didn’t understand, and heard adults say that marriage meant you could always play together, so this joke was born.

“Besides, we’ve all grown up now. The past is the past; the present is the present. Some ideas need to change, don’t they?”

“Growing up means nothing! I still… still… like you so much, Tina dear. If you’re willing, we could be together even now.”

Tears brimmed in the girl’s eyes, making her look so pitiful that no one could bear to hurt her further.

“But…”

Faced with Phyllis’s relentless clinginess, Tina was at a loss.

If this were a game, a childhood sweetheart dropped from the heavens like this would be unstoppable.

But this was reality, she couldn’t be in two places at once.

Tina cast a pleading glance at Lia, who responded with a displeased look and turned her head, as if saying: handle your own mess, you fool! No sympathy here!

Did she really have to hurt a childhood sweetheart who’d been betrayed so many times? Even though this whole thing had nothing to do with her.

Eh, I have an idea!

“Phyllis, actually… I have already become this lady’s property.” Tina moved to Lia’s side, speaking in an extremely pitiful tone.

“Hey, what are you talking about?” Lia immediately sensed something was wrong.

Was Tina trying to pin this on her?

“What?” Phyllis’s eyes suddenly lost their sparkle. “W-What do you mean by becoming her property?”

“It means that whatever she tells me to do, I have to do it. Everything is a task assigned by my master.”

“She’s rich and powerful, and forced me to sign a contract. Only when I fulfill her goals will she release me and grant me freedom.”

“Ugh, that woman is so mean! Tina dear, tell me what she wants you to do. I’ll do everything I can to rescue you!”

“Well… she wants me to help investigate the Moonmist Sect, but I haven’t found any leads. I’m just constantly exploited every day.”

“That’s right, that’s exactly it, Little Redhead.” Lia suddenly blurted this out, leaving Tina speechless.

“If you can’t find the Moonmist Sect, she’ll keep you here helping me for life. I’ll assign you endless tasks every day until every last bit of your value is squeezed dry.”

Lia looked at Phyllis with a calm, detached gaze—one that made Phyllis afraid to say more.

She really seemed like some big shot.

“N-No problem, Tina dear! I have clues here. I’ll definitely rescue you from her clutches!”

Phyllis handed a token to Tina, and on closer inspection, it was a Bone Whistle.

“Tina dear, in the Dungeon, whenever you blow this Bone Whistle, I’ll rush to your side immediately. Now, I’m off to look for information. If I find anything, I’ll come to you. You must wait for me!”

The red-haired girl hurried off, not wanting Tina to stay near this unknown woman for even a moment longer.

Tina dear belongs only to me!

Meanwhile, Tina exhaled in relief.

She had finally gotten through it.

Her genius idea to redirect emotional issues into tasks was brilliant.

“Fun?”

Lia’s tone remained unchanged—still lofty and superior.

“Eh? She’s already gone. Don’t get too caught up in the act, Princess.”

“Oh, really?”

Lia admitted that when Tina said she was her property, a strange impulse welled up inside her.

For a fleeting moment, she thought that maybe making it real wouldn’t be so bad. She wanted to see just how ridiculous Tina looked, thinking she was clever but actually dragging herself into trouble.

She wanted to watch Tina weave this lie for Phyllis, knowing that she’d have to obey reluctantly just to keep the lie going.

No, what am I thinking?

It feels like some strange fetish is awakening inside me.

“Hey, Your Highness, let’s follow her for a bit. I have a feeling Phyllis’s scroll might be something extraordinary.”

Tina tried to pull Lia along, but the latter stood frozen in place.

“What will you call me now?”

“Umm… M-Master, let’s go…”

“Good.”

That’s the feeling.

The girl’s shy voice, uttered with overwhelming embarrassment, is truly the most delightful thing in the world.