After having a good rest, Leader and her men were full of energy and high in spirit, adding the fact that most monsters were awake and active in daylight, leader decided to just push straight to the heart of the next to last nest, there was no need for greater taunt till then, most monsters will be drawn by the sounds of battle and smell of blood left behind by the hunters intruding on their nest.
Since the party choose the riskier way, Dustan had to put on his armor, it was a piece of magnificent orcish smithing, thick and ugly, just like its wearer. Dustan looked like he was a hulking giant before when he waded into monsters bare chested but now he looked more like a hulking metal demon that was plowing through monsters, while Balin had an put on another magnificent piece of dwarven armor, it looked silver and holy, a contrast to the one Dustan had on him, Balin switched the hammers for short heavy axes, that were glowing with the same silver light as the armor, most likely a set piece. Bai on the other hand wore a matching set with Lucian, dark, weightless and elegant.
Meanwhile Leader had a pure white silk priestess robe that somehow seemed more protective than the armor dustan had on, once she had the hood on her head and the holy light around her, she looked like an angel of mercy, while Fae had on her a green dress that gave the feeling she was wearing tree leaves, fragile yet full of life and energy, the green glow marked her for an elf of the forest, those who are beloved by nature.
As for weaponry, other than Dustan who kept his blunt axes, and Balin with his short heavy axes, Bai and Lucian each changed to a pair of daggers that looked sharp enough to tear apart space itself, Fae took out a staff that was crowned by a fist sized emerald, while Leader took a staff decorated by gold and crowned by big ruby encased in a crystal and inlaid in a silver cross, it looked like something that a pontiff would use as a walking stick or hold in ceremonies.
While marching through the nest and its monsters, once in a while you could hear conversations in the midst of battle, although the party was taking this seriously, it did not seem to keep them focused on the monsters long enough to forget horsing around like idiots, such conversations would make those who listen to them seriously doubt the mental health of the group.
"Leader my love, it hurts my heart not to hear the excited squeals of little girls wearing matching skirts, can you help me with that? the youngsters never listen to me" this prompted a snicker all around the battlefield, even a few chuckles and a laugh somewhere. before Leader could answer the silent Lucian from the back answered almost immediately "i don't squeal for such small things master Balin, but, i will squeal if you start getting lovey-dovey with your beloved husband, you two look like you are going on a date with all the contrast and dashing armors you have on" that drew more laughter, even a smile from Fae who was so irritable at the moment. "okey stop it you two, fights between couples are prohibited, that said, i do like the idea of little girls squealing at a lovey-dovey couple, thus you may proceed and entertain your queen" answered Leader.
it is understandable if the group was just trading jokes and insults, but actually putting the battle aside to act out a love scene with squealing at the back ground was out of the question, those who thought that did not know how bored the demonic party of 6 were, as elites who prowled the 20th floor in the dungeon, level 5 monsters were naught but a mere annoyance, they could survive even when tired, starved, sleepy and out of mana, as for putting on better armor and using better weapon? all for the sake of efficiency, their riskier act was only in the point of view of the supporters who were only trained up to the 6th or the 7th level before being dispatched as guards and soldiers.
Thus the stun on those faces could be imagined when a hulking metal demon put his axes aside and picked up the magnificently holy dwarf, sent it up in the sky in a display of armored upsy-daisy, then smooched the helmet of the helpless dwarf, this scene was as promised accompanied by two armor matching high pitched squealing little girls with their hands on their cheeks and a "kyaaaaa!" resounding way further than it should. Leader was holding her tummy and vibrating from holding back laughter, while Fae flat out did a spit take and laughed mid chant.
In the near future, a legend will spread in the barracks of backwater cities, it speaks about a demonic party that had squealing girls who like to wear matching armor and a dwarf who could play upsy-daisy with a fully armored orc, they had a magician that could laugh mid chant and not break it and a priest that could chant silently by holding his tummy and shivering, well those who witnessed the scene were either so shocked they believed that the squealers were actual girls and the lovey-dovey ones were an actual couple, according to them, those guys were demons in disguise, otherwise how could they clean up 8 nests in less than 36 hours while having enough rest and sleep to go about horsing around in the middle of battle.
In the academy Yunan took Leol back to the dorm room to rest, they had delayed the training to the afternoon instead, just as the two were about to open their books to read and study a bit, a knock came to the door, Yunan went to open it. it was a missive from the guild about a change in his studies, the messenger took his leave right after delivering the letter.
Yunan opened the letter and sat on his bed to read it, it gave him a frown. "what is it?" asked Leol as he snatched the letter " i got new teachers" responded Yunan, still frowning, while Leol read the letter out loud. " Mr Yunan please be advised about a change in your instructing team, starting from monday, the current party that instructor Bai is part of will be co-instructors, and will share the responsibility of being your instructors as part of the teaching adventurer program."
"This is a special case that we deem as a necessary step in the evolution the program towards better nurturing of future talents. As part of the special case, you will be allowed to leave the academy and the city, for practical experience, as well as on field observation and any other reasons deemed as necessary by your teachers. We hope you would enjoy and grow into an elite adventurer in the nearest future" Leol stopped reading and heavily sighed.
"So we can't become classmates huh" Leol was sad about this point, he now realised he missed his chance to be part of something that would be written in history. "seems like we were a bit late, well it does not matter much, if we keep working out and studying together, you can still learn a bit more" Yunan tried to encourage his friend.
The letter has just given them a glimpse of what adventurers could enjoy if they become strong enough, special cases were probably the compromise the guild makes to accommodate the elites that single handedly bring more riches and solve more quests than armies of ordinarie adventurers who become content with staying alive and safe in the upper levels of tartarus.