Angel in a Dream

Eruien had been discussing something with the priestess when the Goddess Body Fragrance Squad suddenly appeared. His expression immediately darkened, and he went on guard.

He shielded the three girls behind him, slowly approached, and stopped ten feet away.

"What are you following us for? Revenge for what happened before? If you dare hurt Ahli and the others, you will taste my wrath!"

Eruien swept his scrutinizing gaze over Marvin and the other three. His entire body was ready for battle, prepared to draw his sword and strike at any moment.

But Marvin found it utterly baffling.

Not only did this guy think he was the hero protagonist, he even took them for villains who had come knocking, coveting the beauty of his harem?

Judging by the mithral plate armor worth at least ten thousand gold on him, his family must have been quite well-off.

Combined with his exceptional talent, his early fame, and the fact that the moment he became an adventurer and set out, he ran into several beautiful girls...

It was hardly surprising that he had developed such an arrogant, conceited personality that looked down on everyone.

Although "Mr. Hero" seemed to have received a god's favor, since the other party had shown hostility, Marvin did not mind teaching him a lesson in harsh reality.

For example, he could use Tasha's Hideous Laughter to lock him down for two hours, letting "Mr. Hero" savor the exquisite experience of laughing until his abs cramped and losing control of his bowels.

Facing a mind flayer, he had to lie low and slowly level up. Nothing wrong with that.

But if he still had to hold back against a mere level-two adventurer, what would be the point of lying low to level up?

Being cautious was not the same as being cowardly.

Even if, just even if, the other party suddenly erupted and his strength greatly increased, Marvin could still escape using Anchor Teleportation.

Marvin and Slicked-back Hair exchanged glances and quietly backed away, opening up the distance.

The medium-armored priest Slicked-back Hair and the heavily armored dwarf warrior Cellar formed the front line to the left and right, creating a pincer formation against the other side.

The rogue Toad had vanished at some point.

That guy was the most ruthless. He had probably already sneaked toward the hero's harem.

Once the fight began, he would use knockout drugs to bring down the three girls, then join Marvin and the others in giving Eruien a righteous beating.

If the Goddess Body Fragrance Squad had truly been a group of villains who disregarded law and morality, the hero and his harem's cheerful adventure tale would probably have turned into a story of the hero being cuckolded right before his eyes.

After their previous conflict, Slicked-back Hair, who was normally smooth and rarely fell out with people, had no pleasant expression for Eruien this time either.

He quietly prepared for battle while giving a disdainful sneer. "What, is the druid herb garden some secret garden where you four meet for trysts? Other adventurers aren't allowed in? You seem to be meddling a bit too much, young man."

Being scorned by the other side, a nameless anger rose in Eruien's heart.

Fortunately, he was not completely stupid. He suddenly realized that the other side had already formed a battle formation without him noticing. If he attacked rashly, he would suffer a major loss.

Moreover, the Goddess Body Fragrance Squad was not a group Eruien could casually provoke.

Their captain, Slicked-back Hair, was a level-four priest.

The dwarf warrior and half-elf rogue were both level three.

And there was that mage!

Although he looked the weakest, Eruien always felt that this guy was his greatest threat.

Facing the greatest crisis since becoming an adventurer, Eruien took a deep breath, his heart filled with a mixture of excitement and fear.

The enemy is indeed strong, but I will never retreat. Because... they are behind me! Angel in my dreams, please grant me strength and courage!

Eruien prayed silently.

Ever since rescuing the priestess Ahli from the kobolds, he had often met a six-winged angel in his dreams.

Eruien had gained powerful strength from the angel. Not only had his physical abilities greatly improved, but he had also learned incomparably exquisite swordsmanship.

This made Eruien even more certain that he was the chosen one blessed by the gods.

These adventurers before me are ultimately nothing more than insignificant stepping stones on my path to great achievements. His resolve hardened once more as he prepared to face this battle.

Just as the tension on the field grew increasingly high, Eruien's priestess companion hurried over.

"Everyone, it's a misunderstanding, all of it!"

She bowed deeply to Marvin and the others and said apologetically, "Eruien means no harm. He merely wants to protect our safety too much.

We'll take the southern fork. May Torm's courage light the road ahead for you all."

Marvin understood her unspoken meaning. She wanted the Goddess Body Fragrance Squad to go north so that both parties could go their separate ways without interfering with each other, avoiding another conflict.

Seeing the priestess forcibly drag "Mr. Hero" back, Slicked-back Hair nodded. "May Waukeen bless you with everlasting prosperity."

"The girl beside that guy is pretty decent. A foolish husband with a wise wife," Marvin remarked sharply.

Although he was certain he could defeat them, the fact that they had not ultimately fought and had resolved the dispute peacefully at least saved him several spell slots and scrolls. It was an acceptable outcome.

"What a pity." Slicked-back Hair sighed.

"A pity that a good girl ended up with the wrong man?"

"No, I just regret that I didn't get the chance to take Eruien's mithral plate armor. I'm a priest of Waukeen, after all. I can't openly rob someone for no reason, can I? Sigh, what a missed opportunity to make up for our financial losses."

After shaking his head and sighing for a while, Slicked-back Hair led the squad onward.

By evening, after traveling thirty-four miles, the squad decided to make camp and rest.

The four set up their respective tents.

The dwarf warrior took his axe and went into the nearby woods to chop firewood.

The half-elf rogue prowled around the camp, setting traps at key locations and scattering beast-repelling powder.

As the captain, Slicked-back Hair began boiling water and cooking.

In the center of the camp, Marvin drew a magic circle on the ground, then took out a small bell and a short length of silver wire.

Next, he began chanting a spell and cast Alarm over the camp.

Many of a mage's spells could be cast through magical rituals. Although they required effort to draw the magic circle, arrange the ritual, and consume additional spellcasting materials, they did not use up spell slots.

Once he finished that, Marvin did not need to worry about any other chores.

The sky had completely darkened. Marvin casually cast a light spell on a nearby stone, then took out a novel gifted by the gnome shopkeeper and began reading by the bright magical light for entertainment.

While everyone else busied themselves, only Marvin had the privilege of resting early.

Only then did he truly understand what it meant that mages were the real masters.

The next few hours passed amid trivial matters such as eating, everyone complaining about Slicked-back Hair's cooking, and the dwarf clamoring for alcohol only to be unanimously vetoed.

Before going to sleep, Marvin took out a scroll and applied Mage Armor to himself.

The spell lasted eight hours, and the Mage Armor he had cast that morning had already expired.

Slicked-back Hair, who saw this from nearby, felt his heart ache.

By Waukeen, what a waste!

A first-circle spell scroll cost at least fifteen gold coins.

The camp now had complete warning measures in place. Even if enemies launched a night raid, they would notice in time. Even if they truly encountered a night raid, they would still have enough time to apply all kinds of buff spells before battle.

"Marvin is far too cautious." Slicked-back Hair shook his head and crawled into his tent.