Chapter 17 "Sparring Rewards"

The Goblins then helped their sparring partners to get on their feet.

Mr. Kross could be seen wagging his tail and jumping upon their victory.

Ms. Maria's party expressions were all down in the gutter... They've lost the sparring session against low-level mobs and player. On top of that, they have to give their hard-earned item to Ioki.

Frustration could be seen on Ms. Maria's face as she bit her nail. Rosaria could be seen sitting on the ground, covering her face while Sweet Lily assured her it was not her fault.

The same could not be said about the other party as they were having a discussion on what needs to be fixed based upon their clashes with the Fortune Squad.

The Priest assured his party that they were doing their best for their current level, it's just their opponent was Ioki...

The Archer argued back, "No! We could have worked better! If just I chose Thief as my job instead of Archer..."

"If this, if that! We've lost... There is nothing more to it... We agreed when we started to play together on this lineup. It's just we haven't adjusted well to the game..." The Warrior replied with teary eyes.

When the Goblins see them arguing, they approach them.

The Goblins tapped their shoulders and raised their thumb as if commending them.

Upon seeing that the Goblins smiled, the party smiled at back at the Goblins while giving them thumbs up as well.

Deal's a deal. Ioki approached Ms. Maria's party slowly while they raised their head and glared at him.

Their adoring expression of Ioki changed this time as if they saw a villain.

"So... The deal? My rewards?" Ioki carefully opened his mouth.

"Ughh... I'm sorry you are seeing us in this state..." Ms. Maria replied while she opened her inventory.

She took the Diamond Chest and gave it to Ioki.

"Magician's Tomb Diamond Chest | Grade: Mythic

A chest from Magician's Tomb dungeon; upon opening it, a higher chance of greater loot quality will appear. (Items grade minimal would be Epic grade.)"

Ioki took the chest, but he had a hard time as Ms. Maria held it as hard as she could...

Seeing the chest changed hands finally, their expression saddened.

"I believe you still owe me something?" Ioki asked with a smile.

Ms. Maria then took the Rock Turtle's Essence and the Monk Skill Book and gave them to Ioki with a heavy heart.

"Rock Turtle's Essence | Grade: Rare

The essence of Rock Turtle.

Upon consuming, will give Rock Skin (Passive), Con +3."

"Skill Book: Air Punch | Grade: Rare

Monks learned to channel their inner energy and distribute it on their fists, obliterating the enemies in their path.

Skill: Air Punch

Sent a wave of energy through your fist.

(Damage scales with Level and Strength.)

Cooldown: 10 seconds"

"Woah, I got all these items on my second day in Ashen Fantasy..." Ioki stared at the items he just received.

The Goblins slowly crowded Ioki again and chattered.

"Loots..."

"Shiny loots..."

"Jewels!"

While Fortune Squad's mood was at its peak, the other parties were not...

Upon seeing this, Ioki felt something in his heart, something that rubs him in the wrong way.

Yes, he won the sparring session.

Yes, the Fortune Squad reached new levels and became stronger.

But... Why doesn't he feel happy at all when seeing the other's faces... This is supposed to be something to be celebrated; the mood should be festive. So, why is it so gloomy in here?

Ioki then slowly returned the Diamond Chest to Ms. Maria, "Big sis... Here, take this back."

Ms. Maria's eyes went wide seeing Ioki returning her Diamond Chest.

"Eh, eh, eh? Wait... Why are you giving this back?" She asked in confusion.

"I promised to give the people that sparred with my squad to be rewarded in my LIVE, right?" Ioki replied, "I mean, big sis made the bet, so I'll keep the essence and the skill book! But, I'll return the Chest---"

Before finishing his sentence, Ms. Maria hugged Ioki, "IOKIII YOU ARE THE BEST! BIG SIS LOVES YOU!"

She hugged Ioki so tight that her chest squeezed Ioki's face in between.

"MMMHH!! MMM!!!" Ioki started to have a hard time breathing, so he tried to push her.

After she hugged Ioki for what seemed like almost an eternity to him, she finally let go to reveal a boy with a bright red face gasping for air.

"Se---seriously! Wh---why did you give me your chest in return!?" Ioki yelled while stuttering.

Seeing this happen, the others laughed.

The once-cold air of the night slowly warms up as laughter can be heard, they start to tease Ioki even more.

Ioki went to the other party and took out 60 Golds from his inventory. After he inputted the amount and pressed the confirm button, a purse out of leather appeared out of thin air with coins sound clanking inside.

"Here, the rewards for having the spar with me. Thank you for coming; please buy yourself new equipment and such to make yourself stronger!" Ioki said while giving the purse to the Warrior.

"We can't take this! We didn't even help a bit!" She replied.

"If you didn't come here, then the last fight would be boring," Ioki smiled as he forcefully gave the purse to her.

The party bowed and yelled, "Thank you very much!"

"Isn't that unfair? Where are our rewards?" Sweet Lily asked from a distance.

Ioki approached them with an embarrassed expression, "Y---your reward is... Me..."

They stared at each other before smiling from cheek to cheek; their sad expression turned into something else...

"Turn off your LIVE," Rosaria pointed at the sphere.

"Eh... Why?" Ioki asked.

"You see, just listen to her. Be a good boy and turn your LIVE off!" Sweet Lily put her hands on Ioki's shoulders from behind.

Ioki looked at the sphere and said, "Umm... I'm sorry, but they asked me to turn it off, so I umm... See you later, big brothers and sisters."

He hesitantly turned off his LIVE.

Suddenly, Sweet Lily's hands dropped on Ioki's waist and she hugged him from behind.

"Ah!" Ioki was shocked.

While Ms. Sarah could be seen slowly approaching Ioki with a lewd expression on her face. Her breathing could be heard getting heavier as she closed into Ioki.

Suddenly, she got pushed away.

"You hugged him before! It's our turn now," Rosaria said with a commanding tone.

Rosaria then slowly put her hand on Ioki's head, her fingers delicately moving through Ioki's hair.

"Aaahh, pl---please stahp!" Ioki tried to talk, but his words couldn't come out entirely because the stimulation on his body was too much for him to handle.

"A---ah... I guess this is our cue to say goodbye! Thank you so much for the guidance!" The Warrior shouted.

They ran away after bowing. The Mage, with her jaw dropped, watched them while her face slowly turns red.

The Warrior returned and dragged her away.

"W---wait!" Ioki stuttered.

"So, 100% sensitivity huh?" Sweet Lily whispered to Ioki's right ear.

The soft, teasing voice of her whisper sent shivers down Ioki's whole body as her hands slowly moved on his waist.

This is going to be the hottest dawn for this boy's 3 days in Ashen Fantasy.