Inferno Knuckle gathered his strength and unleashed a blazing straight punch, knocking the Long Fang Tiger back just far enough for him to glance toward the source of Lilith's scream.
His heart pounded as he saw Kai and Lilith being ambushed. But when he noticed it was just a swarm of lesser monsters, he felt a flicker of relief. Both sidekicks were experienced—they could handle it. Then he saw Solstice abruptly abandon his fight with the Horn Wolf to rush toward Lilith, leaving the monstrous beast behind.
Inferno Knuckle's gaze snapped back. The Horn Wolf chased Solstice for a few steps before suddenly shifting direction—lunging toward Evermoss. Locked in combat with the swift Wind Fox, Evermoss had no time to notice the danger. She only realized it when Inferno Knuckle's voice thundered across the battlefield: "Evermoss, behind you!"
Though unclear what was happening, Evermoss reacted instinctively. She summoned vines from her broom to shield her back. But the hasty defense was no match for a full-force lunge from the Horn Wolf. The impact still sent her crashing to the ground.
Despair clenched at Inferno Knuckle. Evermoss wasn't built for close combat, and now she was beset by two Elite monsters. With a roar, he blasted flames from his fists to launch himself like a meteor toward Evermoss. He slammed into the Wind Fox mid-attack, disrupting its strike, but the Horn Wolf was still looming—its claws poised over Evermoss's pale, slender neck.
The sound of claws tearing flesh rang out, mixed with the clang of metal on bone. Inferno Knuckle's eyes widened as he saw Evermoss's sidekick, Kai, shielding her with his body.
He was just a student, but a genius in live combat. The moment Solstice abandoned the Horn Wolf, Kai understood the risk it posed to the other two heroes—especially Evermoss, the most vulnerable. Without hesitation, he had rushed to her side—and he'd been right.
The beast's claws dug deep into his abdomen, but Kai's blade pierced the monster's left eye in return.
Confirming Evermoss was still safe and sound on the edge of his sight, Kai grinned as he used his last strength to swipe his weapon to the right, slicing through its socket wall, taking the other eye of the Horn Wolf before falling back.
Evermoss caught her fallen sidekick, her face contorted in fury and guilt. Her vines swelled violently, wrapping the Horn Wolf in a crushing grip until it stopped moving.
Solstice's face turned pale. He had just returned in time to hold off the Long Fang Tiger that Inferno Knuckle had abandoned to save Evermoss.
Inferno Knuckle tightened his grip around the Wind Fox's neck. The creature was known for its speed, but now, trapped in his arms, speed was completely useless. It thrashed and struggled, but its efforts were futile. Flames surged from his hands, searing through fur and flesh. He felt the monster go limp, its life extinguished by his fiery wrath.
He dropped the charred remains and turned, scanning the battlefield. Solstice was holding his ground against the Long Fang Tiger, and Evermoss was cradling Kai, her vines still wrapped around the lifeless body of the Horn Wolf. Relief mingled with the ever-present tension of battle. They had survived—but the cost was steep.
Inferno Knuckle sprinted to Kai's side. "Hang in there, Kai!" he called hoarsely. Blood soaked the ground. Evermoss was already treating him with a Cure Kit, her eyes brimming with silent despair.
"He's strong. He'll pull through," Inferno Knuckle said, more to convince himself than anyone else. The battle wasn't over. The Gate was rumbling violently—any moment now, the boss might emerge.
"Solstice, Lilith, stay with them!" he commanded. "Evermoss, keep Kai stable. I'll handle the gate."
He vanished into the portal. Each Gate had a transfer zone inside, with a Dimensional Core at its center. Destroying it would shut the Gate. But the space was crawling with monsters pouring in from the other side.
Inferno Knuckle felt lucky they had dealt with three Elites outside—facing them here would've been far worse.
Even so, the swarm within was no joke. But this was exactly what his F-rank skill was for.
"[INFERNO DRIVE]!" he roared. Flames surged from his fists and enveloped his body. He launched himself like a fireball into the crowd, scattering monsters with each explosive landing.
He charged forward, barreling toward the Dimensional Core while continuously launching devastating punches to blast everything in his way. That's right: to blast them away, not to knock them down. He knew all too well how dangerous it would be if the bodies began piling up and blocking his advance.
So while it looked like a chaotic flurry of blows, each left hook, right cross, and uppercut was precisely calculated.
Still, the sheer number of monsters relentlessly slowed his advance, tightening the encirclement. From large strides at first, Inferno Knuckle was soon reduced to a slow, steady march—punching with fierce force to clear a path.
He didn't waver. [INFERNO DRIVE] didn't just boost his offense—it fortified his defense as well. Though it only lasted three minutes, that would be enough. Enough to reach the Dimensional Core and destroy it.
When the Core finally came into view, a flicker of flame lit his eyes. He unleashed a spinning punch to scatter the surrounding monsters, creating an opening to unleash his final, decisive blow.
His right fist flared with dazzling intensity as it rocketed toward the Core.
A thunderous explosion erupted, shaking the space. A blinding light swallowed everything.
Inferno Knuckle was hurled back—not by the impact with the Core—but by another punch.
As the sparks receded, a figure appeared in front of the Dimensional Core.
A lion.
A lion standing upright on two legs.
All the color drained from Inferno Knuckle's face.
Just like superheroes, monsters had ranks. The ones they had fought until now were all unranked or F-class. Even the three powerful ones outside the Gate had only been F-Elites.
Normally, even if a boss emerged from such a Gate, it would still only be an F-rank boss. Inferno Knuckle had assumed that, in the worst-case scenario, he could still handle it with support from Evermoss and Solstice.
But a lion standing on two legs? That was a trait only E-rank monsters had, and what's worse, this was an E-rank Boss.
And there was no way an F-rank team could handle that.
—
"We immediately retreated after that," Inferno Knuckle ended his story with a shrug. He'd thought this was just a reality show with an easy side mission for a quick buck—but it had turned into something much bigger.
"We contacted the Committee. They said the nearest E-rank hero is on the way, but he's not exactly close. For now, our job is to hold the field and contain the small monsters." He added, "The boss will take time to adapt to this dimension before it can exit the transfer zone. So for now, we're safe."
Shadow slowly digested the information: their names, powers, enemies, the mission. The Gates, transition zones, Dimensional Cores, and the monsters pouring out—it all resembled the Dungeons in her previous world. But this explanation… made a lot more sense.
Shadow also learned this body's name, or in fact, her new name: Mai. She was still not sure why she was in this body and where the original soul had gone, but she guessed she would live under this name for now.
A low growl interrupted her thoughts. Mai turned to see Inferno Knuckle clutching his stomach, sheepishly smiling. "Sorry… guess I'm starving."
Mai stood and walked toward the fire. "I'll cook something," she said.
The livestream feed focused on Shadow—now known as Mai—moving gracefully as she prepared the meal. Steam rose from the stainless steel pot set over the fire.
Mai gently placed the instant noodles into the boiling water, letting them cook until tender. She then used a pair of chopsticks to lift the noodles out, placing them carefully on a clean, washed leaf set aside as a makeshift plate.
[Whoa, this room's got quite a few viewers.]
[The others are all resting, so we just check it out.]
[Been here since the beginning. Watching Mai is kinda healing, not gonna lie.]
[Y'all watching a superhero show for healing? LMAO. You missed some wild shit earlier.]
[IKR? Rewinding now. Can't believe it was an E-rank boss.]
[Another Gate evolved? That's like the third time already. Wtf's going on?.]
[Which E-rank superhero is coming? Hope it's Gothic Sailor.]
[Nah, she's streaming in Neu Yoke. Boltcrack might show up—he's near.]
Unaware about the discussion about the upcoming E-rank superhero, Mai opened a package of leaves she put under the tree shade before, revealing pre-marinated quail meat inside. She cut a small piece of fatty meat and placed it in the hot pan, rendering the fat to create a base of oil. The sizzle caught everyone's attention, and the viewers could almost hear the sound through their screens.
Mai added the quail meat to the pan, the rich aroma intensifying as it seared. She then began adding herbs and spices in a precise, practiced order, though it was a mystery to the viewers. The fragrant scent of the cooking meat and herbs filled the air, drifting towards the camp inhabitants.
Evermoss looked up from Kai's face out of curiosity. Inferno Knuckle held his growling stomach. Lilith took a deep breath, while Solstice's expression remained stoic, though his eyes betrayed a hint of interest.
[Look at Knuckle's face LOL]
[Man's about to cry.]
Mai added the pre-cooked noodles to the pan, tossing them with the seasoned meat and herbs. She finished with another sprinkle of seasoning, ensuring every strand was coated with flavour, and added some green on top with chopped wild thyme.
[That smells amazing through the screen.]
[Do they deliver?]
[This is healing content fr.]
[Name of the show, y'all: A Day as a Sidekick.]
[Sidekicks cook too. Makes sense tho.]
After portioning the stir-fried noodles onto five clean leaves, Mai poured more bottled water into the pot. Into it she added the remaining quail meat, wild herbs, and greens to simmer into a soup.
She handed a plate to Inferno Knuckle, who devoured it with gleeful moans. "This is amazing, Mai," he mumbled between bites. The moment the first bite hit his tongue, his whole body arched in exaggerated bliss.
[I bet she paid Knuckle for that overreaction. Gimme a bite or it's cap.]
[Is this even a hero show anymore? Cooking anime vibes.]
[Watched Mai slurp noodles this morning and got tempted—went out and bought the same pack. Now she's cooking quail stir-fry noodles and my sad bowl smells like cardboard.]
[^Same, but I added sausage and a fried egg hahahaha]
While everyone in the chat room was showing off their lunch, Solstice stepped into the frame and coldly said to Mai, "Hey. Give me some of that."
Mai's eyebrow lifted slightly, but she said nothing. She simply gestured for him to help himself and continued stirring the soup.
[Solstice's tone was kinda rude, wasn't it?]
[What do you mean rude? That's just his cool personality.]
[That attitude is called "cool"? Pfft, good-looking people really get flowery words for everything.]
[Being polite to a slut like Mai would only encourage her. Better to stay distant.]
[What did Mai even do for y'all to hate her this much?]
[She stuck her nose into Solstice and Lilith's relationship. Basically offered herself up as the side chick. Isn't that reason enough?]
[Wait for real? She doesn't look like that kind of girl. And Solstice and Lilith are a thing?]
[Not just a thing—they've been engaged since childhood. Mai just showed up from who-knows-where trying to steal her little sister's fiancé.]
[No way, seriously?!]
Unaware she was being exposed for a scandal she didn't even know about in the chat. Mai glanced toward Evermoss's tent. Then she picked up another block of noodles, crushed it, and dropped it into the soup pot.
Solstice's gaze shifted toward the thickening soup. He jerked his chin. "Give me that too."
This time, Mai responded with a cold, flat, "That's not for you."
Solstice's brows furrowed. His voice turned even frostier. "Don't be selfish. Just make another portion. Leave that one for Lilith—she's your sister"
Mai said nothing, nor did she spare him a glance.
Being ignored, Solstice's expression darkened slightly, then shifted as if he'd figured something out. His voice now tinged with contempt: "If you're trying to get my attention, this kind of stunt won't work."
Hearing that, Mai looked at him and gave him a once-over from head to toe. Still silent, but her eyes clearly said, Where the hell does this guy get his confidence?
That look made Solstice's lips twitch, but he still maintained his cold tone. "Don't make me repeat myself."
Mai stood up, arms crossed, silently facing him.
Solstice was momentarily taken aback by her defiance. His face darkened further, and he stepped forward—but stopped when Inferno Knuckle also stood up.
At that moment, Lilith appeared behind Solstice, timidly tugging at his sleeve. "Don't do this. She worked hard on the food. I'm fine—I can eat anything."
Solstice turned and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Lilith, you're too kind. She got a tiny scratch and used it as an excuse to skip the mission. All she did was cook—what's so hard about that?"
Lilith gently said, "We're all part of a team. We divide the work. Every role matters. There's no point in comparing like that."
Solstice looked at her with an expression that was three parts helpless, seven parts fondness. "You're so kind… I honestly don't even know how to explain it to you."
Then his face turned cold again as he looked back at Mai. "Sure, every role matters—but some are heavier than others. You think she compares to you?"
Mai stood there, arms still crossed, watching the two of them play out their little drama. She said nothing, showed nothing—just observed in silence. Her detached, almost theatrical attitude made them both feel awkward.. Solstice expected her to quietly obey. Lilith expected her to snap in frustration and act out. But she did neither, and her silence left them unsure how to continue the act.
Meanwhile, the chat was quite lively.
[Solstice has a point. Some people do carry harder.]
[I mean... he's not wrong, but damn bro, tone?? 😬]
[He said what needed to be said. Their mission is to conquer the Gate, not run a food blog. If you're the chef, do your job and cook—simple.]
[Okay but did he have to say it like that? Bro turned a team meal into a soap opera 💀]
[I respect the honesty tbh. Sometimes people do need to get called out.]
After a while, when neither of them spoke again, Mai turned away and picked up a portion of stir-fried noodles along with the pot of soup.
Seeing this, Solstice muttered, "Would've been better if you'd just known your place from the start."
But Mai simply walked past him—heading straight toward Evermoss's tent, where Kai had just woken up.
The two of them froze. Their expressions twisted with shame. The soup was for Kai. And they both knew... he got hurt because of their mistake.
In the grand hall of the Goldvale estate, the family once again gathered at lunch.
Mr. Goldvale grumbled, visibly annoyed that Mai hadn't prepared an extra portion of soup for Lilith. "What kind of sister neglects her younger sibling and leaves her in such an awkward spot?"
Mrs. Goldvale's brows drew together. "And what's this about Mai meddling in Lilith's relationship with Solstice? When did she even have the chance to approach him?"
Victor shrugged carelessly. "Who knows? Maybe she's jealous that Lilith has a fiancé like Solstice, while she's stuck with that cripple from the Ashbourne family. She probably tried to cozy up to him and got brushed off. Just look at the way Solstice treats her—that says enough."
Mrs. Goldvale exhaled slowly, her frown deepening. "If she truly tried to interfere with Lilith's engagement, that is beyond disgraceful."
Yet even as he spoke, a doubt nagged at Victor. He hadn't fabricated this rumor, nor had he told the media team to spread it. So who had? Could Mai have made other enemies?
Victor glanced at his father, suspicion flickering across his mind, then quickly pushed the thought aside. Yes, the livestream was orchestrated to target Mai, but his father's intention was different: to quietly confirm to the public that Mai was the true-born daughter of House Goldvale. That way, Mai could be married off to the crippled Ashbourne heir without anyone accusing the Goldvales of deceit. More importantly, it would free Lilith from the Ashbourne betrothal and clear the path for her to pursue Solstice, the Pendragon heir.
Victor racked his brain, but he couldn't think of anyone else who stood to gain from dragging Mai through the mud. Who would benefit from painting her as a homewrecker? A name surfaced faintly in his thoughts, but he dismissed it at once.