Dungeon of Lust: Managing Otherworldly Beauties

Chapter 165: Tension

Awilix didn’t hate Toy. Not at all.

In fact, the goblin was one of the few that Awilix actually got along with. Though any bond that was there had probably been shattered.

Awilix... as Vale knew her to be, was a tried and true pragmatist and utilitarian. Even if unintentionally, it was in her feral, bestial nature to want to increase her chances of survival.

Letting go of the runt was one way to conserve resources for more pressing needs.

Even if Awilix hadn’t thought of all the factors, maybe even thinking upon only a matter of strength, from a logical standpoint, Awilix was right.

But from an emotional one...

She was wrong, dead wrong.

Salome’s glare stiffened, and her eyelids tightened — a hatred restrained behind the fiery pink wall. Salome spoke:

"Kitten... I knew you were dumb, but this dumb? Even I’m a little baffled."

Vale began to speak up to try to cut the tension, but Salome cut him off.

Salome stepped toward Awilix and continued:

"Fight her then."

Awilix’s brow rose.

"Huh?"

Toy, who’d been over in the corner, trying her best to stifle her tears, shied away when her master looked at her.

"You heard me... If you think she’s so weak. Fight her. Test her strength."

Awilix hissed at Salome, then looked over at Toy and used her second question:

"Toy, you know you’re useless, right? You know you’re weak, right?"

At Awilix’s words, Toy failed to stifle her tears any longer; they began freely flowing down her face.

Awilix laughed.

"That’s quite the answer."

Vale approached the cat and loomed over her.

"That’s enough, Awilix. What do you have against her?"

Awilix yawned, then lay on her back and looked up toward Vale.

"Nuthin’. You said I could ask everyone a question, so I just asked what was on my mind. Speaking of that... what about you, Vale? What do you think of Salome keeping Toy around?"

Vale stayed silent for a moment. Letting his eyes drift from Awilix to the silently weeping Toy, then back to Awilix.

"What do I think of Toy being kept around? I’m quite content with her presence."

Awilix chuckled.

"You said you wouldn’t lie."

Vale smiled warmly as he looked toward the goblin.

"I didn’t... I will admit she may not be the strongest or smartest. But, either way, she’s important to me and this dungeon."

Salome’s agitation eased as Vale spoke.

"Not to mention... I’ve already walked over enough corpses of my enemies, I don’t want to walk over my comrades just for something as petty as self-preservation."

Vale slowly walked over toward the goblin.

But as he got closer, he saw an odd look flare in Toy’s emerald eyes. Toy got up off her bed with tears still falling down her face.

Vale reached out to the small goblin.

"Hey..."

Toy ignored Vale, walked by him, stopping just before the foot of Awilix’s bed.

"I think I’ll answer your question..."

Awilix gave a ferocious glare to the goblin.

"Oh?"

Toy spoke slowly, pain etched in her voice. But beneath that pain was a sprout of confidence.

"I know I’m weak. I know I may remain the weakest of us. I know I may be useless at times. The gap between us will only keep widening. Even still..."

Awilix mocked Toy.

"’Even still’ what?"

"My master has placed her trust and faith in me. She chooses to keep me around. Therefore, I will not betray her expectations. Fight me, kitten... I dare you."

Awilix hissed:

"What did you call me?"

Toy wiped away her tears and gave Awilix a feral smile.

"Kitten. Something wrong with that?"

Salome’s expression lit up, and she let out a light laugh.

Awilix growled as she lurched out of the bed.

"You don’t have the strength to talk down to me like that... Fine then, let’s fight."

***

Vale...

Vale wasn’t the happiest person right now. Not with two members of his Legion currently at odds with one of those members hating literally everyone but him.

’Why is there so much internal strife in the Dungeon of Lust?!’

Salome and Ximena. Awilix and... everyone. Everyone and Mias...

However, Vale didn’t see what was currently happening as necessarily a bad thing.

’In fact, I’d say this needed to happen...’

Well, ’needed’ was a bit of a stretch; however, it felt as if something silent had finally been addressed. Something that if left unsaid would only stretch a hidden wound.

Revealing the wound now would allow it to either mend or tear asunder...

This fight would play a major role in how that wound developed.

If Awilix completely thrashed Toy with ease, then Toy would fall into a mental hole much too deep to climb out of. One that would only be dug deeper if Salome or Vale reached their hand in to help.

Vale was almost certain that, maybe not purposefully, but the goblin would die in the near future if the battle went that direction...

If Toy won, then all was well, and Awilix would be more respectful toward her as well as determined in her own training rather than relying on pure instincts.

’How many more injuries until she realizes that fault of hers?’

While Toy winning was probably ideal...

’I doubt it’s possible.’

Nothing Awilix said was wrong...

While perhaps Toy was stronger than Awilix thought, there was still an immense gap in strength between them, and Awilix didn’t even know what the hell her Aspect did.

To Vale’s knowledge.

So that gap would only widen if the cat trained in earnest...

What Awilix did know was Eclipse.

A dreadful ability, versatile in its use. One able to block all sight.

Toy possessed no Trait at all, relying on her honed ability and [Featherweight] Aspect.

Her battle sense had improved mightily, but Vale had severe doubts that it matched Awilix’s intrinsic physical ability.

Vale heaved a hefty sigh as he cleared the warriors out of the training room and stood against the wall, Salome alongside him.

In the middle of the room, Toy stood with her dagger in hand facing Awilix.