“That dwarf cared for me… like the father I never had,” Tiphanna said with a bittersweet smile. “He made me feel special despite being an elf with fire magic instead of wind. He taught me everything I know about blacksmithing… and how to stand up for myself. When he passed, I moved to Lunarel and opened my shop—to carry on his legacy.”
Daisuke kept silent, reflecting on her words.
“…So, you see,” Tiphanna continued slowly, her voice soft and heavy with regret. “The reason I couldn’t use wind magic is because I no longer have the means to. That ability came from a relic, and it was destroyed during the fight with the Treant.”
“I’m sorry,” Daisuke murmured. “If I knew, I would’ve been more careful.”
The elf shook her head with a rueful smile. “If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. If I hadn’t kept the truth from you in the first place…”
“It’s okay,” Daisuke cut in gently. “People tend to keep personal things to themselves. And, in the end, everything turned out fine, didn’t it?”
“…Yeah.”
“We’re both still standing,” he added, offering a reassuring smile. “We just need to make it through the night and head back tomorrow.”
Tiphanna glanced around, a slight smile tugging at her lips. “Well, by the looks of it, getting through the night won’t be an issue. This tent’s incredibly... convenient.”
“It better be, considering the ridiculous price tag,” Daisuke muttered in return.
DING!
[Veilhaven Tent]
[A durable, high-quality tent spacious enough to comfortably house three occupants along with essential utilities. It regulates heat, muffles sound, and traps scent. Repel Incense is woven into its fabric—undetectable to humans, but wards off monsters. Enchanted to blend with its surroundings when danger nears. Perfect for travelers seeking security and discretion on the road.]
All of a sudden, Tiphanna’s tummy grumbled and her eyes widened in embarrassment, her face turning beet red.
A finely stitched tunic woven with threads imbued with fire magic. Its wearer can feel a gentle warmth that enhances resistance to heat-based attacks, making it ideal for venturing through fiery terrains or facing flame-wielding enemies.
▪︎ Fire Resistance +8%
▪︎ Slightly reduces burn duration from fire attacks.
Conditions of Use: Lvl 5+ | Female | Strength 7+ | Stamina 3+]
“How about we grab something to eat?” he murmured, holding the tunic out in front of her. “I’ll turn away while you get dressed.”
“Thank you,” she muttered shyly, reaching for the garb. She then cautiously rose to her feet, keeping a careful eye on his face to make sure he wasn’t trying to sneak a peek.
But as she drank in his panty-dropping good looks, she found her gaze trailing over his irresistible lips, the curve of his chin, the hard surface of his chest, and the uneven valleys of his defined abs.
She swallowed nervously as her gaze drifted lower—
Then she squeezed her eyes shut and turned around, her heart hammering in her chest.
No, I can’t! she squeaked, her nerves completely unraveling.
Slipping into the tunic, she scooted over to the fire with the intention of plucking her shorts from the clothesline, but they were still dripping wet from her plunge into the icy pond.
A flush crept up her neck as she thought about how he had not only touched them, but had peeled them from her body, his butterscotch eyes likely lingering on every inch of her as he did.
Tiphanna bit her lip lasciviously and squirmed, squeezing her thighs together. As her body started liquefying, threatening to seep into the ground, she shook off the thought and tried steadying her racing heart.
“Okay. I’m done,” she informed, her ears still flushed.
By the time she turned back around, Daisuke was already on his feet and garbed in a sleeveless shirt and pants, likely plucked from his host of tricks.
“…That was fast,” she murmured beneath her breath, a tad disappointed.
As he approached her, his muscles rippling beneath his honey skin, she lowered her gaze shyly and tugged down at the hem of her tunic, hiding her undies.
Daisuke glanced down at her bare thighs. “I’m sorry, but the tunic’s all I’ve got.”
“Nhmm,” Tiphanna hummed, shaking her head dismissively. “You’ve already done more than enough by saving me. By the way,” she added, pointing to the familiar glowing material suspended within a sturdy metal casing. “Isn’t that another Molten Core?”
“Yeah,” he confirmed, summoning a stock pot and utensils and setting them on a makeshift table. “I had a spare. Thought I’d use it for some extra heat.”
Tiphanna smiled awkwardly, watching as he ladled the already cooked soup into a bowl, the delicious aroma filling the tent. “…You’re about the only person I know who would use such a valuable material as a mere fixture. Your resourcefulness is... beyond reason.”
“Then would you prefer normalcy?” Daisuke muttered, handing her the bowl.
The elf accepted it with both hands, a soft nostalgia in her gaze. “Not at all. That resourcefulness is probably what kept us both alive through all of this.”
Daisuke summoned two wooden stools for them to sit. “I had to pull out every trick in the book to defeat both monsters. And of course, it was just my luck that they were both armored.”
“Mmm… delicious,” Tiphanna murmured in delight, her eyes lighting up after her first bite. “Did you really make this yourself?”
Daisuke nodded.
“Is there anything you can’t do?” she asked, her tone filled with genuine admiration.
Daisuke let a smile slip onto his face. Cheeks flushing, Tiphanna instantly looked away, completely disarmed by his handsome face.
She cleared her throat, refocusing. “I’ve seen how you struggle with heavily armored foes, which is why crafting your next weapon is so crucial. And, I take it you managed to secure Glacium Heartwood from the Treant?”
“Yeah,” Daisuke confirmed.
“Perfect!” Tiphanna chirped, beaming with excitement as she eagerly scooped up another spoonful of soup, clearly satisfied with the progress.
“…Tiphanna,” Daisuke started.
“Call me Tiff.”
“…Tiff,” he corrected, still adjusting to the name. “I’m curious… how did you end up involved with the orphanage?”
The elf lowered her gaze to her empty bowl, her expression thoughtful. Then, with a sheepish smile, she met his eyes. “Well… I may have thrown an axe at a customer’s head.”
“Whoa.” Daisuke blinked in surprise. “Wait… what?”
“Several customers, actually,” she admitted, looking even more ashamed.
He let out a low whistle. “Damn. Must’ve really pissed you off.”
“…The last guy walked out with a clean strip shaved down the middle of his head,” she muttered. “His friends started calling him ‘Baldy.’”
Daisuke barely managed to suppress a snicker.
“I think that upset him more than the actual attack,” she said, carefully accepting the freshly refilled bowl. “Looking back, I got lucky—they were adventurers, so they reported me to the guild instead of the city guards.”
Daisuke frowned. “Okay, but I’m still lost. How does nearly scalping some guy and getting reported to the guild tie into the orphanage?”
“As punishment for my outburst, I was ordered to undergo counseling at the church to work on my anger management.”
“Ahh. And that’s when you met Sister Aeliana.”
“Yeah. After Dagnar—my father—passed, I lost my way. Our home in the forest was destroyed by monsters, and his dagger was the only thing I had left of him. I drifted into the slums of Lunarel, barely scraping by.
Looking back, I think anger became my coping mechanism. I blamed the world for everything that had been taken from me, and in my frustration, I made choices I wish I could take back.
But Sister Aeliana… she gave me direction. And I listened—because she had already walked the same path I was on.”
“Wait… you mean at some point she had lived in the slums too?” Daisuke asked.
Tiphanna nodded. “Yes, until the church took her in.”
“I see.”
She exhaled softly, her fingers tracing the rim of her bowl. “My father’s dagger reminded me that blacksmithing wasn’t just a means of survival—it was his legacy. The one thing he left me, not just to make a living, but to remember him by.”
“When I opened my shop, Sister Aeliana spoke to the church and secured a small donation. I combined that with what little I had saved, and together, we bought the building that became Twinkle Orphanage.”
Daisuke’s eyes softened with a hint of sentimentality. “And what made you decide to start an orphanage?”
Tiphanna paused before she spoke, her grip tightening around the bowl. “Sister Aeliana and I know what it’s like to be outcasts… to feel alone, afraid, hungry, and cold. More than anything, we know what it’s like to long for a place to call home. A place to belong.”
Daisuke’s eyes narrowed, the elf’s resolve making him recall the words written in Cedric’s journal:
— I spent the entirety of my life discovering this gift, and you will spend yours sharing its many blessings with those who desperately need it. Though we may not be related by blood, you will henceforth become my successor. Never diverge from the righteous path you have chosen.
What exactly is the ‘righteous path’? Daisuke wondered. And why do the goddesses keep involving themselves with me? Is this Jupiter’s doing, or am I actually getting special treatment? …No way—don’t tell me Congenial Denizen works on celestial beings too.
Tiphanna scooched closer. “You’re as warm as the fire.”
Daisuke glanced at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. “That’s probably thanks to a new skill I picked up.”
She gave him a deadpan look. “Is there seriously anything you can’t do?”
“Don’t jinx it,” he chided. “But with any luck, we’ll root out the corruption and make the city safe again—for you and Sister Aeliana to keep chasing your dream.”
The elf’s grin widened. “And I’ll make sure you have the right tools to make that happen.”
Daisuke nodded toward her empty bowl. “Refill?”
“Yes, please!”
DING!
[The quest «Gathering Glacium Heartwood» has been completed!]
[25,000 Experience Points have been acquired.]
[Affinity with Tiphanna has increased to the maximum.]
[145 gold has been acquired.]