Dungeon Overlord: Monster Girl Harem!
Chapter 187 - 187: The Dragonoid's Delicate Heart

The sound of swords clashing echoed through the village—two fighters clashed like thunder near the broken cliffs at the edge of the dark elf outpost. Dust kicked up from the ground. Sweat rolled down her back. Her chest rose and fell in sharp bursts as she parried the last strike and drove her heel into the opponent's gut.

"Big-Sister's too fast!"

The dark elf hit the dirt with a grunt. Not hurt—just stunned, once again.

Asuka spun the blade once, letting the weight settle across her shoulders as she exhaled. The giant nodachi rested against her back like it belonged there. Her tail swayed lazily, flicking as she adjusted her footing.

Another one of them whistled. "That's twenty-three wins, isn't it?"

"No one's beaten her all week…"

"Even, Captain Nyxara only managed to draw."

Asuka wiped her brow, trying to ignore the pride swelling in her chest. They'd started calling her Big-Sister a few days ago—half teasing, half reverent. She didn't hate it. They weren't fawning for no reason. These women were all fighters. Every spar left her muscles bruised and her blood pumping, but she hadn't felt this alive in weeks.

Still...

Her eyes drifted toward the edge of the outpost, where the training fields turned to shadowed halls. Erina had gone off with Nyxara again.

That girl had changed.

She used to be soft. Clingy. All shy glances and smooth words. But lately? She kept doing her hair in those weird braids, touching her face like she was checking if her makeup had smudged. She even shaved her crotch now.

She didn't use to.

Asuka hadn't even noticed at first. Until she caught a glimpse during bath duty, and her tail twitched.

"Why's she doing all that?" she muttered, low. "Who's she trying to impress?"

No, this question didn't need an answer, because Asuka understood the one whom Erina wanted to impress.

It was the same man she wanted to impress.

It didn't make sense. Erina wasn't built like her. She wasn't muscular. She didn't fight like a beast. But she still kept sneaking off to train. To impress Nyxara. To change.

Is it because she thinks that's what he wants?

Asuka bit the inside of her cheek.

Is he already bored with me?

"Oi!"

One of the younger dark elves waved from the camp's edge. "There's a message for you! From the Embervale citadel!"

"It's probably from that succubus—" Asuka complained, spitting her water on the ground.

"N-No...! It's from our master!"

Asuka's change was instant, her tail slapped the ground, before she rushed towards the dark elf and leapt into the distance.

Her heartbeat stumbled once.

She landed near a small stone altar where the message had been delivered.

A sealed letter waited atop the black plate, bound in red string, wax pressed with the sigil she knew too well.

Leonhardt's.

Her tail lowered. Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked it up. No one said a word as she turned, walking past the others, back to the small tent she shared with Sylvie and Erina. But neither was inside.

Good.

She dropped to her knees and opened it carefully.

The parchment smelled faintly of cinders and something more—him. That strange, intoxicating scent that always clung to his clothes after a battle. Her fingers tightened as she began to read.

—

Asuka

You're probably covered in sweat, or planning to fight some dark elves right now, but that's fine... that's what I love about you.

The reports say that you've been working hard, but I know how lonely you can get.

Don't worry... I miss you too.

After my next meeting is complete, and I return from the dungeon meeting, I will make time for us to go somewhere together, alone.

Try not to get too jealous of the other two.

Otherwise, I'll punish you when we next meet.

And for the record—

I don't care if your hair is a mess—you are covered in wounds, scars and smell like sweat from fighting.

To me, that is part of your charm, so go wild and have fun.

You're already mine, so it's too late.

Your beloved

Leonhardt.

—

Asuka's chest throbbed while reading the letter—her worries all faded like sugar in a hot tea, and she couldn't help but smile.

She clutched the letter and rolled on the stones, hitting the ground with her tail while swooning to his words.

"He didn't forget me~ he wants to date me~ hahaha!"

Asuka stepped out of the tent, letter folded neatly in her grip, like she wasn't afraid it might burn her skin if she held it wrong.

She walked past the fire pit, past the racks of spears and salvaged weapons. A few of the dark elf trainees bowed their heads, but she didn't acknowledge them. Not today.

She needed to breathe.

She stopped at the edge of the outpost wall, just where the trees began to curl like claws up the mountain slope. Her eyes traced the blackened horizon, that endless dark canopy of mist and treetops.

The wind was cold up here. Sharper. But it felt good. She opened the letter again. Just once. Reading it slowly to let every word crawl into her chest.

"You're already mine, so it's too late."

Asuka exhaled through her nose, ears twitching.

"…Damn right I am."

A soft crunch behind her made her glance over her shoulder.

Sylvie stood a few feet back, her pale-blue hair swaying gently in the wind. She looked half-frozen as always, arms wrapped around herself, white frost clinging to the edges of her robes. A small scroll peeked out from her sleeve—clearly the same kind of letter.

She didn't say anything.

Just walked to Asuka's side and sat down.

"…Yours too?" Asuka asked without looking.

Sylvie nodded, gaze fixed on the trees. "He said he missed me, and wanted to hug me to sleep."

"Tch."

"...He also said I should stop crying whenever I hug his pillow."

Asuka blinked. "You cry?"

"…No."

They sat in silence for a while. The wind picked up. Somewhere far below, the faint echo of clashing steel reached their ears—training continued without them.

Asuka rubbed the back of her neck.

"You think Erina got one too?"

Sylvie didn't answer.

But they both turned when they heard the familiar hurried footsteps.

Erina rushed out from the inner barracks, cheeks flushed, braid bouncing as she nearly tripped over her robe. She held a letter, too. Clutched like it was sacred.

Asuka! Syvlie!" she called, breathless. "Did you…?"

Asuka nodded once, lips twitching.

"Got it hours ago."

Erina's eyes shone. "He said he was proud of me… that he saw the training reports."

Sylvie tilted her head. "You blushed."

"I didn't!"

"You did."

Erina huffed and folded the letter against her chest. "He said he likes that I've started caring about how I look... That he noticed my efforts..."

Asuka flinched—just a little.

The change in Erina made even Sylvie confused... Erina never used to look so excited or happy when she spoke about Leonhardt.

Although they knew she found him attractive, the tone and words sounded more like someone in love than a normal reaction or action.

'...'

Part of Asuka's joy faded. She didn't understand why Erina felt different to Sylvie. What caused her to react so aggressively, she didn't know.

Erina didn't notice.

Or maybe she did.

But her tone softened. "He misses all of us."

Sylvie looked between them, and for once, she didn't tease.

"I think he really means it," she said.

Asuka didn't reply.

She stood, nodachi shifting on her back.

But when she turned to head back toward the training field, she paused.

"…I'm glad he sent them."

Her voice was low. Quiet. Like she wasn't used to admitting something out loud.

Erina stared at her back.

So did Sylvie.

And in that small, wordless moment, they all knew.

They were still his.

But that didn't mean the doubt wouldn't creep back.

Or that the war wouldn't harden them.

Only that, for now, the words were enough.

They returned to the training field in silence.

The dark elves had resumed drills—blades flashing, feet moving in tight formations over the obsidian floor. When Asuka stepped onto the platform, several of them perked up, eyes bright with recognition.

"Big-Sister!" one shouted.

Another grinned. "She's back! Let's see if her swing still breaks bones!"

Asuka smirked, her mood shifting slightly. The doubts didn't vanish, but the energy here always cleared her head. Combat. Muscle. Simplicity.

Sylvie drifted to her usual corner of the field, fingers already freezing the edge of her staff, while Erina paused, eyes scanning the distant ridge.

Something prickled.

Not fear. Not magic.

Just… awareness.

A shadow moved behind the trees at the far edge of the slope. Tall. Broad. Silent.

Erina blinked.

It vanished.

"You're staring again, little priest," came a voice like cold iron wrapped in silk.

Nyxara stepped into view from the shadows of the overlook. Her violet hair was braided into a tight crown, and her green eyes sparkled with something between menace and amusement.

"You sense them, don't you?"

Erina frowned. "What?"

"The orcs," Nyxara said. "They're watching again."

Sylvie's ears twitched.

"They always watch before they move."

Asuka cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders.

"Then let 'em."

Nyxara's smile was razor-thin.

"Good. You'll get your wish soon."

Then she turned, cloak trailing, and left them with the wind and steel and an approaching storm.

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