<h4>Chapter 54 : Tears of Dragon Girl</h4>


    「GUHAHAHAHA!　Did you see that shield skill, Tama?」


    Inside thebyrinth’s 2nd floor, an orc flew across the area, courtesy of Ste.


    Today she was in very high spirits, and it reflected on how enthusiastically she wielded her new weapons.


    Ste’sbat style couldn’t be described as anything less than savage. The moment she spotted an orc, she rushed at it immediately and swung her greatsword down.


    The second orc within her sight became a victim for the shield, flying away from the powerful impact of her charging attack.


    The only orc left standing looked at itsrade’s fading figure with a dumbfounded expression.


    Ste did not miss the opportunity to whack it with her sword while the orc was distracted.


    DOPAN!!


    The orc’s head was obliterated by that strike, fresh blood spurting from the headless neck. Seeing that, Ste smiled with pride at her handiwork and dashed forward.


    Her next target was the orc that got blown away from her charging attack. It stood in ce in a daze, perhaps because its head hit the wall.


    「Hm. You can’t even keep your guts in front of your enemy… This is why you fools will always be a small fry.」


    Ste’sment fell on deaf ears, as she attacked before she even finished speaking. There is no need to describe what happened to that defenseless orc’s head.


    Thebat style was the same for every monster encountered. It made Tama exasperated that the shield wasn’t even being used for defense.


    Aria and Vulcan both winced every time they witnessed Ste’s savagebat style and aggressive personality.


    「Even knowing she’s a Dragonewt, I didn’t expect her to be so powerful.」


    「Hunya~… I’m powerful, but even my power as a tiger-eared person is nothingpared to hers, nya~n.」


    They knew they were no match for Ste’s herculean strength. Aria’s speed-focusedbat style aside, even Vulcan with the power of the Tiger-eared people coursing through her stood no chance.


    As they spoke, a wicked smile appeared on both their faces. They just remembered a monster that might give Ste a bit of a challenge.


    And that monster just happened to nest in thisbyrinth’s 3rd floor…


    ◆


    The 3rd floor of thebyrinth was even colder than the second one. Suddenly, grotesque creatures appeared along with a weird crawling sound.


    Wiggle wiggle wiggle~


    『Uhh… What is that? I have a bad feeling about th-…!!!!』


    Fear made her body tremble as she said those words. When ying hide-and-seek with Tama before, she had used a different route. This was the first time she encountered this particr monster.


    Its name is Looper, a resident of the deeper floors of thebyrinth.


    The several tentacles that made very suspicious movements around its body were not satisfied with just seizing their prey.


    If the captured target was female, the tentacles would slip inside her clothes and sexually assault her.


    This was the monster that had cornered Aria into awakening her derivative skill《Gale sh》.


    Ste, as a former monster, instinctively understood that this monster was the enemy of all women.


    『EE!!! This disgusting monster! Victory goes to those who strike first! 』


    While saying so, Ste leaped towards the Looper. She nned to finish the fight in one hit.


    BYUUN!


    However, the wriggling tentacles made a cutting sound as they moved around, baring their fangs at Ste. Contrary to their appearance they were surprisingly nimble and flexible, like a whip.


    「What!? 」


    Ste was surprised since she never expected the Looper to exceed her in terms of range and speed. Incensed, she mowed down the iing tentacles with her sword.


    She tried sweeping them all in one go with a wide AOE attack.


    「HOW DARE YOOOOOOUUU!! 」


    A greatsword wasn’t mean for cutting, but it could dispose of those tentacles just fine.


    Thus, Ste achieved her goal.


    After she had disposed of the tentacles, Ste went for the main body, thinking the battle was over.


    The Looper, seeing its enemy fast approaching, gave a loud screech.


    『PIGIIIIIIIII!! 』


    From both sides of the creature, more tentacles wiggled out.


    Two of them headed straight for Ste.


    She did not cower and continued heading for the Looper with a mighty cry.


    「UGAAAAAAAAAAA——!! 」


    Just as the others wondered what she’d do next, the Looper’s tentacles managed to catch and disarm Ste, wrapping themselves around her arms.


    With Ste incapacitated, Aria and Vulcan started panicking.


    「Ste-chan, what are you do-!? 」


    「This is bad, nyaa! The fear made her drop her weapon, nya! 」


    They started running toward Ste in an attempt to help.


    They wouldn’t let theirrade be raped right in front of them.


    Meanwhile, Tama did not move as he pondered about Ste’s inactivity.


    (Did being caught by those tentacles trigger a bad memory?)


    He noticed Ste waving her arms around in a way simr to the strikes she used on him before.


    She got scared of the tentacles and her instinct overruled her reason. In short, she was trying to move as if she was still a dragon.


    (This is bad! She’s still in her Dragonewt form. I can’t let her hit those two while they try to help her! Can’t be helped…!)


    Left with no other choice, Tama unleashed his most adorable purr.


    「Nya~n!!」


    Tama invoked a certain skill.


    Several tentacles appeared, the same tea-striped tiger coloring as his fur.


    Tama got that skill after eating a Looper a long time ago.


    It was called 《Summon Tentacles》.


    Shuba!


    Each of those striped tentacles rushed at hisrades at ultra-high speed.


    One of them reached Ste and wrapped itself around her, while another released her greatsword from the Looper’s tentacles.


    The remaining two gently captured Vulcan and Aria, being very careful as to not hurt them.


    Both of them were caught off-guard by the iing tentacles but, as they noticed those came from Tama, both women soon rxed. Their only response was a nod.


    After ensuring all hispanions were safe, he called the tentacles back and roared for the second time.


    「Nyan! (《Water Howling》)」


    This time it was his inherent skill, the 《Elemental Howl》, 《Water Howling》.


    Its ultra-highpressed water shot straight at the Looper, which released a desperate cry.


    DOPAN!!


    Tama’s attack pierced it right in the center.


    『Prick…………』


    The Looper gave thest grumble as it died.


    With that over, Tama turned his attention to Ste, who was still swinging her arms around. As expected, she had lost her cool and was having a panic attack.


    He sent a telepathic message, hoping to calm her down.


    ——Calm down, Ste.


    —— I’ve finished the Looper already. What happened? I never expected a former dragon like you to lose her cool against such a weak monster.


    —— …


    Tama was shocked by Ste’s weak reply. The reason for her panic just now… Steemed from the enemy who bisected her with a ming sword one month ago.


    In other words, he was the source of her trauma.


    —— Stop with that weak attitude. I can’t say anything about that fear as I’m responsible for your trauma. But now you’re under my protection. Feel free to fight to your heart’s content.


    As a man and as the one who caused her trauma, Tama couldn’t stand seeing her behaving in such a pathetic manner. That’s why he decided to protect her.


    From now on, it was his duty as a man to protect Ste.


    Tears spilled from Ste’s eyes as she heard Tama’s resolution. She gave him a wholehearted smile.