Volume 1, Chapter 17 – Cuteness Is the Essence

Why insist on running dungeons?

Well, it’s not because of some obsessive-compulsive habit. In truth, the benefits of dungeon runs aren’t something that can be appreciated just from doing them casually.

If you put it that way, doesn’t that sound contradictory?

Not really. Dungeons do grant experience points faster than ordinary leveling, but that’s usually where people’s understanding of dungeons stops.

What most players never pay attention to is the existence of the Dungeon Leaderboard, a system that hides a reward mechanism unknown to the average player.

Only high-level players, or those who have once made it to the top ranks of the leaderboard, actually know about it. For most others, it’s simply irrelevant.

The Dungeon Leaderboard ranks players based on their dungeon-clear time. The faster the completion, the higher the ranking. And the higher the ranking, the greater the rewards granted by the System.

“Mm, Xiaoyin, not far from here is one of the four beginner dungeons, the Spider Cave.”

Bringing Tianyin to the nearest dungeon portal, Xingyu Muxi pointed her slender finger at a transparent vortex floating in the air, that was the portal.

“So that’s a portal?”

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Tianyin widened her curious eyes. To be honest, the portal before her looked more like a miniature cyclone hanging in the air.

“But, it looks kind of pretty…”

“Of course it does. It’s not something you’d ever see in the real world, after all. Anyway, Xiaoyin, we’re about to go through that portal and enter the dungeon~”

“Mm, got it. So that’s the dungeon’s entrance.”

Tianyin nodded obediently.

There were a few other players near the portal too. The reason was simple, they were looking for party members to run the dungeon together.

When they spotted Xingyu Muxi and Tianyin approaching, several players’ eyes lit up, and they immediately came over.

“Hey there, pretty lady, little miss! Want to join us for a dungeon run? Our team’s average level is already 9, we can clear beginner dungeons super fast~”

“Wanna party up? We’ve got a few dungeon experts here, we can easily carry you through. How about it?”

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Several players chattered around Xingyu Muxi, asking if she wanted to team up. Meanwhile, Tianyin instinctively hid behind her, one small hand clutching tightly at Muxi’s clothes, looking shy and afraid of strangers.

“Could you move aside?”

Noticing Tianyin’s timid reaction, Xingyu Muxi couldn’t help but find it a little amusing, but she still chose to play her part as the older sister. With a calm face and indifferent tone, she said,

“If possible, please don’t block our way to the dungeon.”

Her tone was flat, yet her words were unexpectedly polite.

The players froze for a moment.

“Oh, so you already have a party?”

One player’s expression turned regretful.

Of course, that wasn’t exactly the truth.

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But Xingyu Muxi didn’t bother explaining. If they wanted to assume that, it was better that way. No need to explain if it stopped them from being bothered further.

As soon as that one player voiced his guess, the rest of the group made similar disappointed faces but sensibly stepped aside.

“Xiaoyin, they’re gone now~”

After the players left, Xingyu Muxi reached out and gently patted Tianyin’s head, who was still hiding behind her.

“Uu… sorry, Sister Xiaomu. When I saw all those people coming over, I just couldn’t help but hide behind you…”

“This is so embarrassing…”

Embarrassing didn’t even begin to cover it.

After all, Tianyin used to be a boy. Yet now that her body had become small and delicate, even her courage had shrunk with it.

Just a few unfamiliar players coming up to talk was enough to make her nervous and afraid.

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So embarrassing…!

“Well, I think Xiaoyin’s like this is actually really cute~ Nothing to be embarrassed about at all.”

Xingyu Muxi comforted her, her tone perfectly natural.

After all, Tianyin’s adorable looks already determined that no matter what she did, it would only make her seem even cuter.

Cute…

“Alright, don’t overthink it. Next up, we’ll be trying out the dungeon, Xiaoyin.”

“Mm.”

Tianyin made a small sound in response, agreeing with Xingyu Muxi’s words.