Alright, if I’m going to do this, I’ll need to be careful every step of the way… Somnu reminded himself as a nervous smile formed on his lips. Otherwise, I’m a goner.

  The scarecrow knew how much danger his spontaneous plans put him in, but he didn’t have any other choice. Thankfully, he would have some more help this time around, even if his newest idea was nothing short of suicide.

  Either way, he resolved himself to take action to ensure everyone’s survival here. To make sure no one was left behind.

  To do that, he needed to take the first steps as quickly as possible.

  And so…

  [Serpent’s Summon!]

  “Hiss.”

  “?!”

  “You take this and keep it on you!” Somnu blurted out as he summoned his newest companion and put it in Mathros’ hands. “It’s a bit shy, but I have a feeling you two will get along just fine.”

  “What are you…?!” Mathros let out, turning off his wind skill so as to not harm the little creature he was holding. “You had more familiars? Are you really a farmer?”

  “Y-yeah, snakes are very helpful to farmers, you know?” Somnu scratched the back of his head.

  When he was asked about his Aspiration ability, he chose to go with farmer instead of scarecrow. Partly to hide his secrets from people he had just met, but more so because Somnu knew how others usually reacted to his infatuation with scarecrows.

  “That thing is giving me the creeps! It’s looking at me like I’m its food…” Lulu took a step back as she noticed the serpent’s gaze, then she remembered. “Never mind that! We need to help Benji!”

  “I’m on it!” Somnu took off running towards the south side, aiming for the cave the party had come through. “Mathros, I don’t know how time works where you come from, but count to 100 and then follow me!”

  “What…? Tell me the plan!” The captain of the party shouted after the scarecrow, but he soon realized how fast Somnu was going. He could easily beat even Lulu the runner in a race.

  “Remember, don’t rely on your compass! Just follow my familiar!” Somnu called back, arriving at the entrance of the cave.

  He watched as Benji and Almon were trying their best to run away from the slithering figure of ooze and slime behind them. The tank was clearly injured, but he ignored his pain and hopped forward, all the while jumping over forming whirlpools, barely keeping a few meters between him and the beast.

  Despite not being the target himself, Almon was supporting Benji and helping him every step of the way. Seeing that, Somnu wondered if his suspicions about the man hiding his face were unfounded.

  And just when the Nightmare Creature was finally about to reach them…

  [Hollow Gaze!]

  “!”

  Suddenly, the Dreadbeast turned around, its instincts forcing it to find the source of the overwhelming pressure invading its perception.

  Then, it found it. Two glowing violet eyes glaring at its very being, like a predator watching its prey.

  However, the Nightmare Creature wasn’t a simple monster. It wasn’t prey, it was a fellow predator. And so, it turned back to hunt its own prey again after they gained more momentum.

  Crow-Shit! It’s not strong enough… Somnu thought, keeping his skill active.

  Even if he had asked Benji to cancel his [Taunt] skill, the enemy was dead set on hunting him down now. He was the closest to it, and the one who had most affected it.

  Unlike [Taunt], Somnu’s [Hollow Gaze] was meant to scare away, rather than attract. However, Somnu had hoped that considering he was trying to scare away a Dreadbeast, a creature above his level, it could be seen as a sort of challenge to its dominion.

  It hadn’t worked, and the scarecrow knew why. He didn’t have enough strength, he wasn’t exuding enough fear to challenge the Dreadbeast.

  And if he wanted to do that…

  Stolen story; please report.

  Dammit! I’ll never hear the end of this, but it’s the only way to increase that part now! Somnu clenched his fists for a moment, then let them go.

  He gave in. He took off Grudgekeeper.

  Somnu stood completely naked, with only [Hollow Gaze] to accompany him, now boosted by the combination of [Naked Prince] and [Fated Terror].

  How about now, you stupid slime?! You like what you see?! There is no way to restore my reputation now-

  “?!”

  Almost instantly, the slime monster turned around again, and wasting no time whatsoever, immediately jumped high across the arena. It almost looked as if it had flown from the right side to the south in pursuit of something much more appealing.

  What…?! Hold on! That’s way too fast of a change!! Making sure his skill was still active, Somnu’s eyes widened in shock as he saw the giant blob of chaos descend towards him.

  THUD!!

  BLOOOOP-BLOOOOOP!

  As the monster crashed where Somnu had just stood, it immediately followed him into the narrow cave he had run into.

  ***

  “...” Everyone left in the now monsterless arena stood motionless with half-agaped mouths.

  “What did he just do?!” Lulu raised an eyebrow as she moved her feet again. “And why was he naked?! He’s a full fledged pervert after all!”

  She and Mathros had finally resumed their run towards the other two party members.

  “...” The lizardman stayed silent as his brows narrowed slightly. Still holding onto the serpent familiar, he simply exchanged eye contact with it.

  “Benji, are you okay?!”

  The second they made it to the other two, Lulu asked when she saw Benji sitting down with his back leaning on the wall.

  “Y-yes, the cool rocky walls here feel good…” The tank muttered, enjoying the little chill on his torched back. “Where did Somnu go?”

  “That guy said he had a plan and just took off, without his clothes no less.” Lulu crossed her arms, then quickly narrowed her eyes when she saw her own burn marks on them. “I don’t know what he’s planning, but whatever it is, he can’t do this on his own…”

  “...”

  “You’re right, but what else can we do now?” Noticing Benji’s silence, Almon seemed to voice everyone’s thoughts.

  A moment of silence overtook the original party. They were basically freed. The cave leading to the exit was a few floors up, and there was nothing more blocking it now.

  All they had to do was get up there with Mathros’ wind powers, and they would be completely freed from the cavern they had been trapped into for close to two months.

  “I’m not standing here and doing nothing, I’m running after him.” Lulu finally broke the silence, her expression turning from complicated to clear determination. She slowly rubbed her burnt arms, then lowered them with clenched fists.

  “Then, I’ll come with you.” Benji said through his pain, trying to get up.

  “Benji, you can barely walk. You need to stay here.” The bunny girl crouched down and forced the tank to lower himself back to the ground.

  “But-!”

  “No buts! I’m faster anyway, Mathros and I can go help, while you and Almon can stay here and wait for us.” Lulu bonked Benji on the head, then slowly unraveled her hand and patted him. “You did good, Benji. You protected us, but you got broken bones and your back is completely burnt, you have to rest until you get the rewards from the monster and can level up.”

  “... Fine.” Benji gritted his teeth and finally gave in. “That guy promised anyway, but please be careful, Lulu. I don’t want to lose you… We still…” Trailing off, Benji dropped his gaze, avoiding eye contact.

  “Y-you worry too much!” Getting up with her eyes turned, Lulu immediately turned back to look at her captain who seemed unusually quiet. “Mathros? Are you keeping the time?”

  “Hmmm? Yeah, this little one seems to be keeping track.” The lizardman absent-mindedly replied back, still looking down at his hands where the serpent was.

  “Has it reached 100 already?” She asked, noticing the other two behind titling their heads in confusion.

  “Yes…” Mathros replied without moving a muscle.

  “What?! Then let’s go already!” Lulu took a few steps away, then noticed there were no other movements beside her. She turned back and looked at the lizardman. “Mathros?”

  However, the explorer stood in silence, looking down at his palm.

  His compass was aiming north, the opposite direction to where Somnu was.

  ***

  “Fala!”

  “Caaw!”

  As soon as he called for her, the crow immediately summoned herself from a cloud of black smoke.

  “Sorry you had to stay out of the fight until now, but I need you for what comes next.” Somnu said, running at full speed through the narrow cave, still in his bathing suit.

  “Caaw!” Fala let out in agreement as she flew beside him.

  GLOOOPPP! SCHLOOORPP!

  Behind them, the massive slime creature slithered through the rocky cave, each of its distorted faces moved in closer and closer as they fought against each other.

  “Caaw?”

  As she flew next to him, even Fala seemed to be questioning what her master’s plan was this time. How he was planning to get rid of the Nightmare Creature pursuing them, and stealing their very lifespan.

  “I need you to bear the pain with me for a bit. I know, it’s dangerous, but it's time to face one of my fears again.” Somnu put on a nervous grin. “It’s time to go for a dive… Even though I still can’t swim…”

  He was headed straight for the cursed lake.

  Here's the Patreon link for those who can't wait and want to read 30+ chapters:

  Rating and Leaving a Review goes a long way to support the series!

  !