Pern had a problem.

Pern was a lady knight and an S-Rank warrior, one of perhaps ten in the world. Rick, on the other hand, was a man-class lech, the “Failure Adventurer.” She could carry him both in a physical sense and as part of a team.

But she had a feeling that if Rick didn’t want to succeed, he’d find a way to fumble it. She didn’t think that Rick was an incompetent “Failure Adventurer;” rather, he probably was a competent Adventurer who wanted to fail. That was far more insidious.

Still, this was nothing for Pern!

Pern hummed as she packed her bags. She hummed while eyeing her clothing. She hummed while a bag-eyed Constance tried to take a power nap before they left town.

Pern, the S-Rank Adventurer had a great, S-Rank insight!

It is said that there are two great motivators in this world. Carrots, positive inducements that serve as rewards. And sticks, which are the condemnations and punishments. She would poke and prod Rick with the two til she rode him to success.

When it came to sticks, she had sufficiently beaten Rick with the prospect of a promotion.

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However, when it came to carrots, she was somewhat lacking. He needed a ripe, drippy carrot to engage him. Or maybe something like a melon or a peach.

“I suppose… for a man like him… he said he was joking, but maybe he really was interested in this?”

She stood in front of the mirror, half-dressed. Pern knew just what her carrot should be.

Her first impression of Rick had been as a hyper-hormonal, sex-obssessed, grungy, derelict teen. But could he actually just be some kind of virgin dweeb instead? When she was attacked by the King Slime, he had looked away from her, embarrassed, and watched the monster’s other parts. And he couldn’t even handle that cougar fox at the Kitsune Clan either!

In that case, Pern was confident she could eat him right up. She’d find a way to motivate him properly til he’d be crying to do whatever she’d say; no games with vials and slimes.

“Yes… this body is also S-Rank.” She murmured and shifted. “If it’s for the sake of being perfect… then… I’ll…”

Pern breathing was ragged, then deep. “I’ll seize every chance. By the time we reach the caves, he’ll be a brainless, goblin-slaying machine!”

Her S-Rank brain began to crank and steam.

Meanwhile, Constance put her own tired mind to work. Along with Matthew, the banished mage drinking a bitter brew all alone at the bar. Along with a twitchy-tailed foxgirl who loved Rick’s scent. Along with yet another fourth silhouette who is as yet unnamed, and a hidden fifth one too.

Their plotting would all come to a head in the S-Rank Goblin Quest in the Year 1068 of the Rabbit Moon, with implications that would go far beyond a “Pass” or “Fail” or from the Guild.

And Rick had his own vital consideration: “Should I bring along my element-resistant underwear?”