Her palms grew slick with sweat. She pressed her back against the wall, breath shallow, and tried to think.
Okay. Okay, don't panic. Think like an adventurer. I can't take them together… so I need to separate them. But how?
The goblins were too close, too alert. If she threw a rock, they might all come running. If she made a noise, it would only turn into chaos. She bit her lip, eyes darting nervously.
Then, an idea so shameful it made her ears burn crawled into her mind.
No… no, I couldn't… that's… too embarrassing. I… I'm not that kind of girl…
Her thighs pressed together involuntarily, her whole body trembling. Yet the thought refused to leave.
But… if it works… if it lets me fight them one at a time… then maybe… maybe I have to.
She swallowed, cheeks flaming. She slipped further back into the corner of the cavern, where shadows cloaked her form. Then, taking a breath that felt like leaping off a cliff, she turned her back to the goblins. Slowly—terrifyingly slowly—she bent forward, grasped the wall for balance, and pushed her hips out into the flickering light.
Her face was crimson. Her whole body screamed at her: Don't do this, it's humiliating! You're an adventurer, not some… some lewd temptress! But her body moved anyway. She gave the faintest sway of her hips, a tiny wiggle that made her heart lurch into her throat.
The effect was immediate.
One of the goblins stopped grunting mid-sentence. His yellow eyes caught on her silhouette. His nostrils flared, his tongue darted over his jagged teeth, and he let out a guttural growl. The other two glanced at him, confused, but he was already moving. Slowly, almost drunkenly, he stalked forward, weapon forgotten at his side, gaze locked only on her.
Her breath hitched. It's working… oh gods, it's actually working…
She felt a pulse of excitement deep in her belly, mixing with the shame, making her legs weak. She wanted to laugh in giddy relief, yet scream in mortification all at once.
No, no, stop feeling like this! This is disgusting… humiliating… She bit her lip hard enough to sting. But if it's what I need to win, then… then I'll do it.
As the goblin drew closer, she suddenly jerked upright and bolted deeper into the tunnel, her branch clutched tight. Her boots slapped the stone, the sound echoing through the cave. The goblin snarled and gave chase, his steps clumsy but fast.
Her heart raced wildly, her plan unfolding. She didn't dare look back—she could feel his presence, the heat of his pursuit. She ran until the tunnel narrowed, then spun around, planting her feet, branch raised like a spear.
The goblin stumbled right into range, confused by the sudden stop. With all her strength, she thrust the branch into his chest. The impact knocked him off balance, and before he could recover, she swung down with a crack, slamming the crooked wood against his head.
He crumpled with a strangled squeal, weapon clattering to the ground. Selvara stood frozen, panting, staring down at the limp body.
"I… I did it," she whispered, voice trembling. Her hands shook around the branch. "I actually… beat him."
But her body wasn't calm. Her chest heaved too fast, her skin tingled too sharply. Heat pooled in her stomach, confusing her.
Why… why does this feel… good? I should be horrified. I should feel sick. I… I lured him like some… some dirty temptress…
She pressed her thighs together again, face flaming, and forced out a nervous laugh. "S-so shameful… what a disgrace… ha ha… what am I even doing?"
Her body twisted slightly, an unconscious wiggle of joy that betrayed the truth she refused to say aloud. Deep down, despite the embarrassment, something about the victory thrilled her. Something about outsmarting him with her body, then striking him down, filled her with a bubbling happiness that made her want to laugh and cry at once.
I'm awful… I'm a mess… but… but I won, didn't I? That's what matters… right?
She crouched down, hands trembling, and pulled one of the goblin's ears free as proof. Her fingers shook as blood smeared her palm. She tied the ear to the small bundle she carried and stood again, cheeks still burning.
In the distance, she heard the other goblins grunt in confusion, wondering where their companion had gone. She swallowed hard.
"One down," she whispered to herself, gripping her branch tighter. Her voice cracked with both nerves and secret joy. "J-just nine more…"
Her heart thudded wildly. Already her plan was forming again, shameful and brilliant all at once.
If it worked once… it can work again. Even if I hate it… even if I pretend to hate it…
She giggled softly, then quickly slapped her hand over her mouth, horrified by the sound.
The hunt had only just begun.
She crept deeper into the cavern. More goblins gathered in twos and threes, too dangerous to face at once. So she repeated her humiliating trick.
Second goblin.
She pressed herself against a wall, arms squeezing her breasts until they spilled together. The nearest goblin froze, drool spilling from his mouth. She darted away, leading him into a narrow corridor. One hard strike with her branch to his temple—he fell, twitching. Another ear claimed.
Third goblin.
She crouched low at a corner, her hips swaying slowly, her backside framed in the dim light. The goblin could not resist, stumbling away from his companions. When he reached for her, she spun, smashing the branch into his jaw. He collapsed with a groan.
Fourth goblin.
This time she tilted her body forward, arching her spine, her chest bouncing as she pretended to stumble. His eyes locked to the motion, his steps heavy and eager. She lured him around a bend, then rammed the stick into his gut. He fell wheezing, easy prey.
Fifth goblin.
She stood half-hidden behind a rock, whispering timidly, "S-so shameless… c-come…" while giving the faintest wiggle. He came rushing, snarling, but her branch cracked across his skull before he could touch her. Another body on the floor.
Sixth goblin.
Her face crimson, she cupped her breasts together with both arms, biting her lip in mortification. The goblin broke ranks, laughing obscenely, chasing her into a side tunnel. She pivoted, branch swinging like a club, and sent him sprawling.
Seventh goblin.
She leaned against the wall, sliding her hands down her thighs, turning her body just enough to flash her curves. The goblin grunted and wandered toward her, alone. She slipped behind him and struck the back of his head. He fell before he even knew what happened.
Eighth goblin.
Exhaustion weighed on her, but she forced herself to bend forward, hips swaying one more time. The goblin chased, predictable as the rest. She led him into a dead end and rammed her stick under his chin, finishing him with two more strikes.
Her breath came shallow, sweat dripping down her neck. Eight goblins had fallen already, and her legs felt like lead. But it wasn't only exhaustion—her body was burning. Each time she had wiggled, squeezed, or bent forward to lure them, her curse had stirred hotter inside her, twisting her skin with waves of shameful heat.
Her thighs pressed together as she leaned against the cavern wall, clutching the branch weakly. I can't keep doing this… my body… it's too hot…
The last goblin shuffled into sight, heavier, broader than the rest. His yellow eyes glimmered with hunger as they landed on her flushed form. She should have readied her stick—raised it, fought like before. But instead, her mind whispered treacherous thoughts:
Let him grab you… just once… let him take hold…
Her lips trembled. "N-no… I won't… I can't…" she whispered to herself, shaking her head, but her hands didn't lift the branch. Her knees locked, frozen between resistance and surrender.
The goblin snarled, charging the last steps. She gave a token yelp—soft, almost playful. "O-oh no… h-he got me…"
His claws seized her wrists, yanking her tight against his foul chest. The sudden heat of contact sent shocks down her spine, her body arching despite her feigned struggle. She twisted, but her strength was half-hearted, her words trembling out in broken gasps:
"L-let me go…! N-not like this…!"
Inside, her thoughts betrayed her: Yes… hold me harder… crush me…
The westling had begun.