The Arena is basically the city's favorite legal casino, and in that ecosystem, monster pups are the ultimate blue-chip stocks.
It's simple math. An adult monster is a one-time use—you throw it in the pit, it dies, end of story. But a pup? You can train it, milk it for years, and turn it into a recurring revenue stream.
Each one starts at fifty copper.
I did a quick conversion in my head. Fifty copper is about a day and a half of back-breaking labor in this world. Meanwhile, these high-tier adventurers just have to show up at the right time and swing a sword once to make bank.
"Hell of a business model," I thought.
I wasn't even mad or jealous. It was just professional instinct. If a system is printing that kind of margin, there's always a way to hack it.
"Hah!"
Evander let out a short, sharp grunt as his blade precisely opened up the Kobold's carcass. No wasted motion. Teeth, claws, bones, hide—every "sellable" part was stripped and sorted in seconds.
I just watched. It wasn't a slaughter; it was an industrial disassembly line. Mid-tier materials are always in demand. Alchemists, blacksmiths, the Arena—everyone wants a piece.
Rowan and I handled the "Standard Juveniles" we took down. That's the rule: you kill it, you loot it. Since Evander and Seraphina did the heavy lifting on the Alpha, they got the lion's share of the payout.
I looked at my little pile of loot. Teeth. Claws. A few bone shards. Estimated value: 10 copper.
It wasn't nothing, but a petty thought crossed my mind: Does this even cover the "emotional damage" Seraphina put me through today?
I killed that thought immediately. Feelings are a variable. They don't belong in a cost-benefit analysis.
The Long Haul
Evander finished the butchery. Per his orders, I started stuffing the materials into the massive backpack—heads, bones, the works. The bag ballooned out, heavy as hell.
Rowan patted the bag, making a dull thud sound. "If this thing leaks, I'm going to assume I'm officially cursed."
"It's heavy," I said. Short and sweet.
Mission accomplished. Tier 4 quest: Success. At least I wouldn't have to worry about rent for a while. My brain started auto-planning the next move. Do I grab a drink to take the edge off? Or save up for some gauntlets to boost my survival stats?
Gear is a long-term investment. Alcohol is short-term anesthesia. I was leaning toward the gear.
"Moving out," Evander commanded.
The trip back was faster since we weren't tracking, but the weight was a nightmare. Moving through dense forest while carrying the equivalent of a small armory is pure physical torture. My leg muscles were screaming for a ceasefire. My werewolf blood kept me going, but that didn't mean it didn't suck.
If I had one regret, it was the Kobold meat. Based on the smell, it probably tasted like chicken. I rationally vetoed the idea, though. No cold storage, zero processing tech, and a massive infection risk.
ROI was too low. Science wins again.
The Torture Test
"Aw, look at our little werewolf. Out of breath already?"
Seraphina's voice drifted in from my side. Before I could even snap back, I felt my pack get heavier. She had leaned her staff right on top of my load.
"Hey," I said, glancing over.
"What? Am I too much for you, little brother?" She smiled, leaning in way too close.
I looked at her... "assets" and thought: Your chest probably weighs more than this entire bag. At that exact moment, my nose caught the shift. Pheromones. Her body temperature was up. Heart rate? Slightly elevated. And she was projecting it—deliberately making sure I'd pick up on it.
She knew. She always knew. Especially with the full moon looming. This wasn't just flirting. This was a stress test for my firewall.
"...No," I lied through my teeth, forcing myself to look away from her chest.
Seraphina's grin widened. The rest of the walk was a masterclass in psychological warfare. She didn't just stay close; she timed her moves for whenever my focus slipped. She'd trip me, lean in to whisper something, press her chest against my arm, and then pull away like nothing happened.
Push. Pause. Observe. Push again.
I stayed calm, analyzing her play. What was she looking for? It wasn't my body. It wasn't even a reaction. She was testing the limits of my self-control.
By the time we hit the village, my conclusion was clear: This woman isn't a flirt. She's a scientist testing a system to see when it breaks. And I was very close to the breaking point.
The Traitor and the Temptation
"The adventurers are back!"
The village elder practically sprinted out to meet us. I dropped the pack and pulled out the Alpha Kobold's head.
"This the one?"
The old man went through a whole cycle of emotions—crying, cursing, thanking us. He handed the quest completion scroll to Evander. The sun was finally dipping below the horizon.
We climbed into the carriage, and the exhaustion hit like a tidal wave.
I'd just closed my eyes when Rowan spoke up. "Arthur, thanks for today, man. For real. I'd be a goner if you hadn't stepped in."
"That tactical roll of yours was pretty professional," I joked back.
Rowan smirked. "I call that 'Strategic Retreating.'"
We were just getting into a groove when Seraphina chimed in. "Little brother... you have so much to say to your friend, but nothing for me?"
I froze. Rowan, being the absolute traitor he is, immediately closed his eyes and pretended to fall asleep.
"It's not like that," I said, trying to de-escalate. "You're... important to me."
Seraphina blinked. "Good."
Without another word, she laid down across the bench and put her head right in my lap.
"Touch me and I'll kill you," she said. Her tone was as light as a "goodnight."
I turned into a statue. The carriage was bumpy, and... look, she's a D-cup. Everything was in motion. Every bump in the road was a sensory overload.
The blood flow in my upper body was starting to fail because it was all going... penis. Seraphina definitely felt the change. There was no way she didn't notice what was happening right under her head.
She loved it. She was enjoying the fact that I wanted her so bad it hurt, knowing I couldn't do a damn thing about it.
I stared into the darkness outside the window, my brain finally snapping.
To hell with being rational. I'm going to get this woman. I'm going to climb as high as I have to, and I'm going to take the power I need.
No matter what it costs.