Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

Pant-pant-pant!

Thalia reached the heart of the current battlefield just in time to see Zephyr collapse, exhausted but victorious, after taking down the last of the Bearhounds. Her heart lurched as one of the bandits rushed toward the motionless pup, sword raised to deliver a fatal strike.

But before the blade could fall—

CHENGG!

A golden chain lashed out, wrapping around the bandit’s neck and yanking him backward with a vicious jerk. Daisuke swung the Sturdy Club with all his strength, the blow landing with a sickening crack, shattering bones and sending the bastard hurtling through the air before crashing to the ground in a crumpled heap.

“KYAAA~!”

Thalia’s scream only seemed to stoke the man’s fury even further, his eyes blazing with hatred. The bandit, the sharpest of the bunch, charged at her with a spear, intent on impaling the sorceress who had somehow cursed him and his brothers. “DIE, YOU VILE WITCH!”

CLANG!

Sparks erupted as the spear crashed into a familiar shield bearing the menacing visage of an Orc chieftain.

DING!

[The Ironhide Bulwark’s option effect has been activated, inflicting the Petrification Status. The target is now immobilized, and health will decrease by 0.2% per second for 60 seconds.]

Standing motionlessly behind Daisuke, Thalia’s eyes flickered with dread as the bandit’s scream was swallowed by the weight of his stone tomb. In the same beat, the vile man who had tried to force himself on her surged forward, mace raised high, his mouth spitting a string of threats and insults as he closed in with a vengeance.

Without a word, his stern expression concealed behind a black mask, Daisuke effortlessly leapt into a graceful spin. His boot struck the petrified statue’s head, launching it like a projectile that collided violently with the bastard’s face, shattering his features in a single blow.

Thalia’s pulse thundered in her veins as the man she thought had perished now stood before her, his presence utterly dominating as he conquered her fears. He overwhelmed the bandits with ruthless efficiency, crushing them like brittle twigs beneath his heel.

Her lips parted in a breathless gasp as she took in the cold, unfeeling gaze in his eyes, and his even icier demeanor as he avenged her. Watching him, something inside her stirred, blood rushing through her veins and clouding her mind, making her head swim.

“YOU!” the bandit leader hissed as he charged forward on his horse, his face twisted into a fierce scowl. “HOW DARE YOU SLAUGHTER MY MEN! I’LL SKIN YOU BOTH ALIVE!”

Despite the advantage of higher ground, the man was no match for Daisuke’s swift execution. With a fluid motion, he summoned his magic chains and wrapped them around the bandit’s neck. A well-placed Magic Missile sent the horse into a panic, hurling the man into the air.

Without missing a beat, Daisuke yanked the chains, reeling in the bastard with such cruel precision that he was brutally impaled by the spear still gripped in the hands of the petrified bandit.

As blood smeared her vision and the coppery scent of iron filled the air, the final remnants of Thalia’s adrenaline faded. The strain of her bruised muscles and the sharp, searing pain from her wounds crashed down on her all at once.

“Haxks…,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her vision blurred, and the chilling embrace of unconsciousness began to claim her, pulling her into the darkness.

***

SWAAAH~

Thalia stirred awake to the rhythmic pitter-patter of heavy rain. As her eyes fluttered open, she was greeted by the sight of an opaque, low-hanging ceiling. Blinking away the haze, her gaze shifted to the blurry silhouette of a familiar figure. The realization hit her like a warm embrace, and without a second thought, she jolted upright and threw her arms around him.

“Haxks!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with relief. “You’re alright! I was so scared! I thought… I thought you might have—”

Daisuke gently ran his hand over her head, his faint smile radiating reassurance. “It’s alright now,” he said softly. “I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“Hmmh,” she shook her head slowly, a soft hum escaping her as tears welled in her eyes. “I’m just relieved you’re okay,” she murmured. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”

“Forgive me,” Daisuke said softly, his voice laced with guilt. “I should’ve never let them put their hands on you in the first place.”

Thalia pulled back, clumsily wiping her tears away like a child. “No… you were outnumbered. Honestly, I’m just surprised we made it out of that situation at all.”

A faint, rueful smile tugged at the corners of Daisuke’s lips. “I used a potion to heal your wounds,” he informed in a soft tone. “But you should probably change out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold.”

Thalia’s gaze dropped slowly, her face flushing bright crimson when she noticed her brightly colored undergarments clearly visible through her ivory sweater.

Daisuke, clearly flustered, quickly turned his head, scratching his cheek in awkward silence. In the same beat, Thalia instinctively hugged her chest and squeezed her thighs together, caught between a flare of anger and overwhelming embarrassment.

“D-Did you see?” she squeaked, her pout deepening as tears tipped her eyes.

“…Well… given the circumstances, it was kinda hard not to,” Daisuke murmured back regretfully.

Thalia’s eyes widened in shock, her embarrassment so overwhelming she wished she could crawl into a hole and disappear. Her hand shot up, poised to deliver an undeserved slap, but as her forearm brushed against soft, downy fur, a calming sensation froze her in place. She paused, her hand lingering mid-air, and glanced around in confusion.

A startled gasp escaped her lips as she took in the sight of a massive creature, its size dominating more than half the room. Part of her screamed to flee, but her instincts urged her to mirror her savior—remaining calm and perfectly still.

“I-Is this… a Mithrilcrest Deer?” she whispered, her voice barely audible, eyes wide with awe and a tremor of disbelief.

Daisuke glanced up at the tranquilid, peacefully nibbling on the small stack of fruit he had prepared. “She was being hunted by a monster,” he explained. “So I took her in to protect her until I can find a safe place for both her and her unborn fawn to live in peace.”

“S-She’s going to be a mother?” Thalia asked, her face lighting up with enthusiasm as she tenderly stroked the gentle giant curled around them. “Thank you for keeping me warm,” she whispered, her smile full of gratitude. After a moment, she spared Daisuke a shy sidelong glance. “By the way… where exactly are we?”

“We’re still in the forest,” he replied coolly. “It’s dark and pouring out there, so I thought it would be best to set up a tent and spend the night here. You still want to visit the cemetery, right?”

Thalia pressed her lips into a thin line and lowered her gaze. “But… after what I put you through—”

Daisuke shrugged and gave a small shake of his head. “When you become an adventurer, you might as well change your name to ‘trouble’—it follows you wherever you go,” he said with a wry grin. “Running into a few bandits is just part of the job.”

Thalia glanced at him from beneath her lashes, her cheeks tinged pink. “Thank you,” she murmured softly.

Daisuke nodded, his gaze shifting to the deer as it finished its meal and grew increasingly restless in the confined space. With a quiet word of appreciation, he gently lifted the slumbering Zephyr from the deer’s back and returned the creature to his inventory—much to Thalia’s astonishment. After resting the pup down, he then turned his attention to her, noting that the clerk had immediately begun feeling the effects of the tranquilid’s absence.

“Y-You mentioned getting out of these wet clothes,” she stammered, hugging herself tightly as a shiver ran through her. “But I don’t have anything else to wear.”

In response, Daisuke summoned a length of perfectly tanned monster hide, draping the thickly furred material over his arm like a robe. “I don’t have anything that would fit you, but this should keep you warm enough,” he said, his tone calm. “I’ll start a fire while you get changed.”

“Th-Thank you,” Thalia murmured, her voice soft and sheepish as she accepted the hide, still clutching one arm across her chest. The material was as white as snow, warm to the touch, and smooth like fine silk, almost like a giant pajama tailored for a human.

“I picked it up further north from a monster called a Polar Hare,” Daisuke explained as he methodically began materializing the necessary resources for a fire—rocks, wood, tinder, and a flint stone.

“I’ve heard of them,” Thalia replied, her tone impressed. “Their pelts are highly sought after by dignitaries for their exceptional quality. Given how elusive they are, I’m surprised you managed to hunt one.”

“Guess I was lucky.”

“By the way,” Thalia said, walking to the back of the tent and setting her boots aside. “I’ve never heard of a magic bag that can store a monster while it’s still alive. Is it a special kind?”

“…You could say that,” Daisuke responded, keeping his gaze ahead as he arranged the large rocks in a neat circle.

Thalia furrowed her brow, her thoughts swirling. He says that so casually, but if even a basic magic bag is so ridiculously expensive, how much could a special-grade one possibly cost? And how does someone like Haxks, an E-ranked adventurer, manage to get his hands on such a rare and valuable item?

E-rank, she thought with a quiet sigh, her chin lifting as her jacket slipped from her shoulders and pooled at her feet. Her caramel eyes gleamed and a warmth spread across her skin as she remembered how effortlessly he had wiped out the bandits. She was no stranger to violence, nor was she fond of it, but the way he maneuvered with grace and finesse while protecting her was nothing short of breathtaking.

Her breasts rose and fell in a sinuous fashion as she pulled the dress over her head, hard nipples protruding against her bra. Bending over, her curvaceous posterior filling her panties, Thalia slowly peeled the damp stocking down the length of one creamy leg before moving on to the other.

Surreptitiously, she stole a glance at Daisuke as he busied himself preparing the fire. She couldn’t help but feel a hint of disappointment that he didn’t attempt to sneak a peek, but as she unhooked her bra and her breasts spilled out, she wondered if her nerves would have been able to shoulder the embarrassment.