Chapter 39 : The Virgin Guardian’s Evolution

‘I need to stay alert. The monsters are getting stronger—more persistent, faster… Even though the mission was marked as “Easy” due to the high reward, I thought it would be manageable… But this time, I’m alone without Senior Teresa, so I really need to stay sharp.’ 

Getting hit like when he fought the deer monster would be a disaster. 

There was no one out here in this desolate plain to help. 

Imagining himself becoming monster food, Iris tensed and scanned his surroundings. 

After a few steps, several wild boar monsters appeared, snorting angrily. 

Judging by their expressions, they seemed to have realized their comrade had died and came seeking revenge. 

‘If your comrade doesn’t die, I will. Sorry, but you’re going to have to die too!’ 

Iris thrust his hips, twisted, and danced in dazzling movements as he fought fiercely. 

He struck down with his whip with great force, 

“Quack!” 

Twisted his waist flamboyantly, smacking a monster with the pincer holding a rock, 

“Squaaawk!” 

From between his thighs, he unleashed a long flute that sprayed yellow chain-like fur, turning the boars into porcupines. 

“Squeee…” 

Then, he groped every last one of the dead boars. 

After slaughtering four of them, Iris felt lighter—clear proof that he’d leveled up. 

With a proud expression, he checked the passing messages. 

Virgin Guardian’s level has increased. 

Strength increases. 

Your body becomes more agile. 

Stamina increases. 

A mysterious energy fills your body. 

Virgin Guardian’s level has increased. 

Strength increa— 

‘Oh! I leveled up twice. I guess killing four level 10 monsters did the trick?’ 

Iris clenched his fist and let out a cheer. 

His Virgin Guardian level was now 9. 

At this rate, he’d definitely surpass level 10 by the end of his mission. 

Since HP and MP fully restored upon leveling up, he didn’t need to use potions. 

Also, it felt like more fur was flying out when he used his skill. 

Maybe its skill level had increased… He checked the next message. 

[Skill Proficiency Increased] 

[LV.1 → LV.2] 

A larger amount of fur now flies out more quickly. The fur is sharper. 

[Skill Mastery Improved] 

[LV.5 → LV.6] 

The skill evolves. 

‘Huh? The skill evolves?’ 

When he checked the next message, he could see the evolved skill. 

[Skill Evolves] 

[Skill name changes] 

You can now freely use both pincers. 

So skills really did evolve. 

He’d guessed that both the fur and pincer skills might evolve if leveled up enough—and it turned out to be true. 

If he could use both pincers freely, he could attack two monsters at once. 

Was there a final evolution, too? 

If so, could he eventually have ten pincers…? 

Iris imagined squid-like pincers sprouting between his legs and attacking monsters. 

Already grotesque—would it become even worse? 

The thought made him want to faint, but he tried to focus on the fact that he was getting stronger. 

That was the only way to stay sane. 

He repeated to himself for the thousandth time the famous quote: “The one who wears the crown must bear its weight.” 

“Ugh!” 

Iris glanced around, then cast his newly evolved pincer skill. 

Like doing a Kegel exercise, he squeezed his lower muscles and thought, Come out, twin pincers!

Then, from beneath his skirt, chains popped out and formed into large pincers. 

How to use these…? 

Iris looked at the wobbling twin pincers with a conflicted expression. 

He twisted his waist to the left, wanting to use the left pincer—and the left pincer extended as he wished. 

The evolution had given it more reach. 

He picked up a rock with it and looked at the pincer with mixed feelings. 

‘It’s useful, but having two just makes it even uglier.’ 

No—he shouldn’t think that. 

The Virgin Guard seemed to read his thoughts sometimes. 

If he kept calling it ugly, it might get upset and run away someday. 

Determined not to insult it again, he flicked his waist to the right, and the right pincer extended with a clack. 

‘So this is how it works. Open both!’ 

He commanded mentally, and both pincers spread wide. 

Like stretching, he lifted both high. 

Thanks to the chain forming the shape only after emerging, the hem of his skirt didn’t lift. 

Though chains crawling out from between his legs was grotesque, at least it didn’t expose his underwear. 

A small mercy. 

‘Maybe because I leveled up? I moved faster than before—it was manageable. It’s tough alone, but not impossible.’ 

Once he finished checking the evolved skill, he read the remaining messages. 

[Skill Mastery Increased] 

[LV.5 → LV.6] 

You can now see exploration results much faster. 

Also, once you’ve scanned a target, you can recheck their status window just by looking at them. 

‘Oh! Great news. Now I won’t need to grope Laika again to see his status.’ 

Maybe it was thanks to groping all those monster corpses. 

His back skill had finally reached level 6 and gained new functions. 

If he’d known he could level it up by using it on dead monsters, he would’ve done it sooner. 

Still, better late than never. 

Now that his level had increased, maybe… 

Iris muttered in his mind that he wanted to use his back skill together with Virgin Guard. 

[Skill Cannot Be Used Together] 

To use it with Virgin Guard, raise your skill mastery. 

‘Still not enough skill level… I wonder when I’ll be able to transfer freely. I really don’t want to keep groping monster bodies!’ 

Iris grumbled—then froze. 

If he didn’t want to grope monsters… what about Laika? 

Did he want to grope him? 

He tried to convince himself he’d hate it just as much, but… he didn’t feel that way at all. 

Instead, imagining himself groping Laika made him feel hot. 

Iris slapped his reddening cheeks loudly. 

‘If I used chains, Laika would definitely notice. Using my hands would be way more natural!’ 

Yeah, that’s it. 

That’s the only reason. 

Imagining what Laika might do to him tonight, Iris smacked his cheeks again and refocused on the mission. 

After stepping over the boar corpses and crossing a shallow creek’s culvert, he arrived at a ravaged potato field. 

There was a hole the same size as the previous ones, and the moist soil around it suggested it had just been dug up. 

‘I feel like there’s a monster nearby…’ 

While drawing his whip and staying alert, the corner of the field bulged—and two mole-like monsters burst out. 

He quickly lashed out with his whip, but the mole monsters, mid-jump, scurried sideways. 

They looked like large moles with brown fur. 

Luckily, these ones seemed slower than the boars—easier to catch. 

Iris swung his whip at the moles’ backs. 

“Kek, keeek!” 

‘Maybe because they’re slower? This seems doable… let’s see.’ 

They crawled around and had thick brown fur, making them look like real moles—totally weak. 

Iris crouched down and touched one to raise his exploration skill. 

Just as the message said, the result popped up the moment he made contact. 

[Exploration Result] 

Furry Mole – LV.11 

[Skills] 

Body Slam – LV.12 

Crawling Fast – LV.9 

Burrow Up – LV.11 

Dig In – LV.13 

Drag Underground – LV.10 

Create Spikes – LV.7 

Disguised Harvest Theft – LV.9 

[Status] 

Surprised / Annoyed / Wary 

‘Oh, it shows up the moment I touch it. This is amazing.’ 

This is why he kept leveling the skill—totally worth groping all those monster corpses. 

The Furry Mole had a surprisingly decent skill set. 

The Drag Underground skill in particular intrigued him. 

It seemed like a skill he could use without needing Virgin Guard, and it’d be very handy in battle. 

Just then, the mole monster’s eyes turned bright blue—and it grabbed Iris’s hand. 

A split-second later, it tried to drag him underground.