Chapter 141

The dungeon turned out to be considerate of their situation. The first reward Natalie pulled out was two vials of red liquid. Health potions.

Seeing how the two of them didn’t have a healer on standby, and the challenge had taken their consumables, the alchemical concoction would be their only way to patch themselves up. They’d both taken nicks and bites from the scurrying crystal spiders, though nothing serious. Natalie took a small sip, then handed the rest of the first potion to Ana. Cuts and scrapes cleared away on both of them.

The second vial, she would have to carry around. Another detriment to adventuring naked—no belts and pouches.

Next out was a bit more surprising. Not because it was an uncommon drop in the dungeon, but the disproportionate quantity of the item. Natalie hefted up a decently sized canvas pouch weighed down by a mass of clinking coins. Her eyes widened, seeing it. Even if the coins were made from a less valuable metal, it would be worth several times a normal loot chest’s haul—more than they would earn in a boss fight, even.

“I think the dungeon’s tempting us to continue,” Ana said, a hint of amusement in her voice. “That weak of an encounter, for that many coins?”

Natalie undid the string holding the bag closed and peeked inside. Her surprise grew. “There’s even some silver mixed in.” She’d half expected it to be all bronze.

Ana leaned forward to peek inside, and her sudden proximity reminded Natalie of their nakedness—and swapped bodies. She did her best not to fidget as Ana’s shoulder pressed into hers.

Natalie wasn’t used to being the shy one. The thing was, Natalie didn’t even know whether Ana was being confident or clueless. It was honestly one of the reasons Natalie was so off-foot. She couldn’t read her.

Plus, there was the elephant in the room. Or rather, the cock in the room. Ana’s cock. Which would probably be used on Natalie. Because why else would the body swap have happened? Natalie was simultaneously coming to terms with that, and doing her best to ignore it.

Natalie cleared her throat, tied the bag up, and took a step sideways to get some space between them. She hoped her blush didn’t show.

“Even if that’s it,” Natalie said, “it’s a good haul. But I bet there’s more.”

Ana made a noise of agreement.

Natalie set the bag aside, along with the health potion. She closed the chest and opened it, peeking inside to see if the dungeon had anything else in store.

A vial of sparkling pink liquid sat at the bottom. Natalie nearly winced. The color pink rarely boded something good. Or, at least, boded something normal, and Natalie could use some normal right about now.

Potion of Permanent Minor Furor

Rare

Lv. 2

Effects

- Permanently raises furor by a small amount.

Description

A potion imbued with the essence of a waking goddess.

Natalie read the effect in stunned silence. Even Ana’s eyes widened in surprise.

“That’s ... interesting,” Ana said. “The essence of a sleeping goddess? That might be the only concrete evidence for the Reverie that I’ve ever seen.” She hesitated. “Though nothing says the dungeon needs to tell the truth. The description could mean nothing.”

Natalie had nearly forgotten about ‘the Reverie’, the possible rising of a goddess of lust, and the implications behind her class and its bestowal. She was just trying to survive her first year at Tenet, and the complicated dynamics arising—both personal and professional. The ‘big picture’ stuff seemed oddly unimportant in the face of all that. But being slapped with a reminder was—well, startling.

“Is the dungeon trying to tell us something?” Natalie asked, sending a concerned glance to Ana.

“Who knows? Even if it isn’t, it’s still fascinating.”