As they continued their journey, the road gradually widened and became smoother, with more pedestrians and steam-powered vehicles appearing along the way.
Before long, they encountered a second group of "locals" that left them in awe.
It was a procession of miners pushing rattling ore carts.
The carts were pushed by burly, muscular human men, each of whom should have embodied strength itself. Yet their faces were pale as wax, dark circles ringed their eyes, and their steps unsteady, as if they were drained of all vitality, like spent medicinal herbs.
The gazes they directed at the procession leader ahead were filled with a burning desire, yet mingled with a bone-deep fear.
The leader of the procession was an entirely different being.
She was a tall, striking woman clad in daringly cut leather armor, which served more as a means to flaunt her physical assets than as actual protection. Her taut, wheat-toned abs and astonishing cleavage were brazenly exposed to the air.
Fiery red hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, exuding a fierce and spirited air.
Most eye-catching were the pair of furry, alertly twitching red fox ears atop her head, and the large, fluffy tail that swayed rhythmically with her stride behind her.
"B-beast... beastfolk?" Xia Lian gasped, holding her breath, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
The fox-eared woman noticed them too, her gaze sweeping over the four girls before settling on Lin Qingyue's strikingly pink hair for two seconds.
Her expression held no hostility, only the curious scrutiny one might give a rare species.
"Wow!" Lin Xiyue's eyes lit up. "Real ears and a tail—and they're moving! I really want to touch them!"
Under the dual rules of "Truth" and "Echo of the Heart's Abyss," this heartfelt desire blurted out without reservation.
Oh ho?
The smile in Lin Qingyue's eyes instantly flared.
My dear sister, you never disappoint! Always knowing exactly where to strike for maximum chaos!
The clattering convoy ground to a halt.
As the male workers pushing carts saw their leader turn her attention to the black-haired beauty, smug grins spread across their faces.
The fox-eared woman turned, a predatory smile curving her lips. She sized Lin Xiyue up and down with evident interest, her gaze lingering on her muscular thighs and ample chest.
"Little sister, wanna touch my tail?" Her voice was husky and seductive, dripping with vanity.
"You can! This tail is universally recognized as the best-maintained in Blackrock Stronghold! Come to my quarters tonight. If you please me, you can touch more than just my tail—anywhere you like!"
Lin Xiyue: "!!!"
Lin Qingyue remained silent, merely nudging Su Wan with her elbow.
With a glance, she gestured toward the fox-woman who was shamelessly flirting with Lin Xiyue, then turned back to Su Wan with a meaningful look, as if to say, "Just going to watch?"
"Shut up!" Su Wan snapped, her expression darkening.
The cold rebuke wasn't directed at the tactless Lin Xiyue, but rather at the fox-eared woman.
Su Wan darted forward, yanked the still-unreacting Lin Xiyue behind her, and glared with icy fury. The surrounding air temperature plummeted several degrees.
"Keep your mouth shut and stay away from her!"
Ice and fire clashed violently within Su Wan's veins.
Under the influence of the desire-amplifying rules, the woman's raw, feral aura and blatant invitation had ignited the powder keg of Su Wan's possessiveness and sense of crisis.
The fox-eared woman raised an eyebrow, showing no anger. Instead, she flicked her tongue and licked her lips with evident delight. Her gaze darted back and forth between Su Wan, the protective little cat, and the utterly bewildered Lin Xiyue, a knowing, wicked grin spreading across her face.
"Oh? So she's already spoken for? What a pity... such a promising little seedling."
"But... I love loosening the soil in other people's gardens. Competition makes things much more interesting, don't you think?"
She issued a blatant challenge to Su Wan.
"Little sister, how about we make a bet? Tonight, let's see whose room she ends up in."
"Just a reminder, once a Fire Fox Tribe's 'mark' is left, its scent is notoriously difficult to wash off," she said, her gaze sliding over to Lin Qingyue, who was nearly identical in appearance to Lin Xiyue. Her eyes gleamed with amusement as she added, "Since that one's already taken, this pink-haired sis... she looks pretty good too. Wanna consider it?"
"Sisters' double dipping... that's my favorite."
Lin Qingyue showed no displeasure whatsoever. Instead, she actually paused for a couple of seconds, as if genuinely evaluating the proposal.
Then, bound by the rules of "Truth," she candidly replied to the invitation:
"That's a bold idea. I admire your directness."
"But... I'm sorry, I prefer Elves."
Her tone shifted as she glanced up and down at the woman's height, adding matter-of-factly, "Besides, you're not tall enough, and your figure isn't voluptuous enough to meet my standards."
[Ding! The Host has successfully stoked the flames, appreciated a unique worldview, and voiced outrageous opinions, resulting in immense physical and mental satisfaction! Elation Value +688!]
"What a pity!"
The fox-eared woman's smile froze, choked by this bizarre and stinging refusal.
She clicked her tongue, shot Lin Xiyue a meaningful wink, and led her group past them.
A pungent mix of sweat, metal, and hormones lingered in the air.
Xia Lian's cheeks burned, feeling like she was about to be steamed alive by the brazen exchange.
Yet her professional instincts still kicked in, unconsciously analyzing: "That fox-woman's stance looks casual, but her lower body is incredibly stable, and her muscles are coiled with explosive power. That massive tail isn't just for show; it could whip out like a lash at any moment. She's an extremely dangerous opponent. —Oh my god! What am I even thinking?! Why am I analyzing this?!"
Lin Qingyue watched the fox-woman's retreating figure, pinching her chin thoughtfully.
Western fantasy + steampunk + beast-eared girls... plus women openly "selecting consorts" in the streets, while men remain conservative and reserved?
Does this Dungeon have a few too many elements going on? Still, it's pretty exciting.
Though they seem to have a particular reaction to my pink hair.
She had clearly seen the fox-woman's gaze earlier—a look of recognizing a "rare kin."
This reminded her of the aesthetically twisted Kobolds from the previous Dungeon.
Thankfully, this world's "Pink Hair Special Attack" seemed to be benign.
On the road ahead, beastfolk with cat ears, rabbit ears, and even delicate deer antlers sprouting from their heads were commonplace.
Human and Beastman women alike dressed in daringly revealing outfits, flaunting their figures as their most prized assets. They strolled confidently, unafraid to gather in groups, sizing up passing men with open commentary and even blowing sharp whistles to publicly invite them for a night of pleasure.
It felt like a grand hunting party in full swing.
One could even spot pairs of women holding hands and kissing sweetly in public, as if this were the natural order of things.
Meanwhile, the men they targeted were dressed conservatively, moving hurriedly as if desperate to bury their faces in their collars and flee at top speed.
When these women noticed Lin Qingyue, they would often cast curious glances, and then...
A cat-eared woman with a scorching figure directly blocked their path, her eyes blazing as she stared intently at Lin Qingyue, licking her lips.
"Hey there, pink-haired cutie," she purred, her voice silky. "Your steps are as light and graceful as those of the Cat Tribe. Care to visit my shop? My pet rat does backflips!"
Before Lin Qingyue could answer, a grease-stained, muscular human blacksmith shoved the cat-eared woman aside.
"Don't listen to her! What's so exciting about a pet rat? Sis, come to my place! I just forged a spring-loaded bed—I guarantee you'll know what 'explosive power' truly means!"
"Rude! A rare beauty like this deserves only the finest silk sheets and down comforters in the city!" a rabbit-eared girl shouted, her cheeks flushed but her voice ringing with newfound courage. "My family runs an inn—I've reserved the best room on the top floor just for you!"
"Move aside! My grandma says hair this color belongs to the legendary Cherry Blossom Spirit—she brings good luck! Sis, come home with me! I'm willing to give you all my savings!"
In an instant, Lin Qingyue and her companions were surrounded by a swarm of fiery, passionate women.
Bold and direct invitations surged like a tidal wave, all aimed at the most conspicuous feature: her long, pink hair.
These brazen remarks made Xia Lian feel like she was sitting on pins and needles, like a small white rabbit surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves.
Lin Xiyue, ever eager to stir up trouble, leaned close to her sister's ear and whispered with suppressed laughter, her voice barely audible to anyone else, "Sis, you're so popular! Why don't you just stay out tonight?"
Lin Qingyue waved dismissively, meeting the eager, lustful gazes with a gentle, helpless smile. "Thank you all for your kind attention."
Under the "Truth" rule, she revealed a fact that stunned everyone into silence.
"Unfortunately, I already have an evening engagement."
[Ding! Host has become the center of attention, caused a minor commotion, and gracefully extricated herself, experiencing profound mental and physical pleasure. Elation Value +666!]
"Sis, who are you meeting tonight? How come I didn't know?" Lin Xiyue asked, her curious gaze sweeping toward the Ranger beside them, who seemed to want to disappear. "Could it be Xia Lian?"
"N-not me..."
Xia Lian was thrown into a panic.
Lin Qingyue smiled enigmatically. "It's a secret!"