Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Temple of Trials
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"Are we really going this way?"
"Sigh, have you always been so gullible, Ken? Or do you not trust me?"
"Um... sorry."
After our date, Diena and I had grown close like friends.
Whether it was because we'd shared our honest feelings with each other, or because we were deliberately ignoring those special emotions in our hearts by calling it friendship...
Either way, we'd gotten so close that I could speak casually to her now.
Diena seemed to see me as just a comrade who'd escaped prison with her.
'Still, it kinda hurts.'
If I'd been rejected by Rapne, Emily, or even Mary, my heart would have felt torn apart.
And if the reason for that rejection was a mistake about the other person's gender, it would hurt even more.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No, it's nothing."
"Don't get distracted. You might trip over a tree root."
Diena was still leading the way like a man, even though she was a woman.
Right now, Diena and I were walking through the forest.
The reason was that at the end of this path lay ruins where her great-grandfather had hidden the blueprint for crafting a magic sword.
And so, we ended up trekking through this nameless forest.
For reference, this forest was near a village about two days' walk from the one where Diena and I had gone on our date.
I'd asked the other three to wait back in the village.
Five people together would draw too much attention, so Diena and I decided to come alone.
It was just a matter of finding the blueprint, after all.
Rapne had grumbled a bit, but ever since we'd promised to marry, she seemed less resistant to being apart from me.
Thanks to that, Diena and I were peacefully walking through the forest.
'Good call leaving the other three behind.'
The mountain path was pretty rough.
It wouldn't feel right making my girls walk a trail like this, so coming with just Diena was the right choice.
Diena didn't mind the rough terrain anyway.
"That's a kinda rude smile."
"Huh? Is it? I was just smiling."
"Like you don't care what happens to me..."
Women's intuition is scary.
"W-Well, isn't that how it is? I'm a guy, so it feels like we're just friends."
"Um, y-yeah, I guess so."
To reassure her not to feel bad, I reminded her of my gender again, and Diena nodded while turning her head away.
She shot me a sideways glance, her cheeks flushing pink for some reason.
H-Huh?
Being a guy... should make it okay, right?
"We're here."
"Oh, this is it."
Ignoring the awkward atmosphere that had somehow settled in, we kept walking through the forest until the ruins Diena had mentioned appeared before long.
"It really looks like a temple."
"It's not just like a temple—it is one. A temple to a forgotten goddess."
With Diena's added explanation, I could now clearly see the symbols of the goddess, Lillias Kingdom's national religion, carved all over the place.
A temple beautifully crafted from white marble-like material.
But its entrance was embedded in a cliff, so the temple itself didn't seem that large.
"But why was it forgotten? Isn't that not allowed for a temple?"
"Because it wasn't built for the goddess."
Like a pro ruin raider, Diena deftly made torches, lit them with magic, and handed one to me.
Then we cautiously entered the dark temple interior.
The flickering torchlight softly illuminated our surroundings.
"Temples like this are scattered all over Lillias Kingdom. They've been used since ancient times to hide items related to the goddess."
Sure enough, there were quite a few such places in the game too.
At first, you'd think they were just ordinary dungeons, but clearing them would reward rare items tied to the goddess.
'So that's the story behind them.'
The dev team loved hiding lore for players to discover, so learning facts like this wasn't uncommon.
Wait a sec, that means...
"...There aren't monsters inside the temple... are there?"
"Oh, you know your stuff. Yes, magical beasts artificially created by the goddess's power guard the treasures."
Just as I'd feared.
If this was one of those simple dungeons dedicated to rare items that popped up often in the game...
There was always a special monster guarding the item at the end.
'Should've brought the other three...'
I'd thought it'd just be grabbing the blueprint, but combat seemed inevitable—and tougher than expected.
'Well, I can probably handle it solo anyway.'
No room for complacency, but honestly, unless it was a serious boss monster, I could take it alone now.
After my diet, I could handle even the high-floor monsters in Tarros Tower with ease.
Monsters in some backwater dungeon like this would be a breeze.
Shrieeeek!
As expected, once we descended from the temple entrance underground, a simple maze appeared along with monsters.
I drew my familiar sword and dispatched them in seconds.
"Ooh, is that a Base Sword? Nice craftsmanship. Where'd you get it?"
"Ah, I made this one myself."
"You made it? This?"
After wiping the blood off my sword, Diena examined it and looked at me in surprise.
"Do you have crafting skills, Ken?"
"Yeah, lately I've gotten pretty famous as a crafter. You must not have heard in prison."
Not bragging, but in Lillias Kingdom, anyone into weapons has probably heard of Ken Fineshtein by now.
Diena, who'd been locked up, blinked with sparkling eyes like it was her first time hearing it.
"That's impressive. Crafting swords like this at such a young age..."
"Heh, pretty great, right?"
Her praise made my shoulders puff up; I struck a cocky pose with hands on my hips.
But Diena suddenly looked downcast.
"Wh-Why?"
"No..."
Then came a soft sniffle from the darkness.
"I was just thinking... how great it'd be if you were a woman..."
Looks like she had a thing for girls with good handiwork skills.
As her girlish feelings resurfaced again, I ignored it and pressed on.
Times like this called for combat.
Once you get moving and sweating, the bad memories fade, leaving only the good sensation of your body in motion.
And so, Diena and I boldly descended the temple in search of the blueprint.
'Deeper than I thought.'
Like in the game, these dungeons usually went downward underground.
Defeat the boss on the final floor, then use a warp statue to return to the surface.
Dungeon difficulty scaled with depth.
This temple felt like mid-to-late game level—challenging enough.
Of course, with my strengthened abilities, it was no big deal.
Plus, Diena's sharp scouting spotted every trap, letting us advance smoothly.
We reached the entrance to the 4th floor.
"Ken, the guardian of this temple is on the next floor. It's nothing like the regular monsters—be careful."
"Got it, don't worry."
In our makeshift two-man party, I handled combat while Diena scouted.
If I went down, the party wiped.
With the boss fight ahead, she was extra cautious.
'Eh, even the boss should be fine.'
Simple dungeon bosses had two patterns.
One: pure stats combat.
Two: puzzle where you meet specific conditions to clear.
I was confident in both.
Combat went without saying, and puzzles were easy for someone who'd cleared the game multiple times.
Leaving worried Diena behind, I confidently descended to the next floor.
Then.
🗿 Guardian's Voice 🗿 "The upstairs was noisy... so there were intruders after all..." 'Puzzle pattern, huh.'
Combat bosses didn't bother with dialogue.
They jumped straight into battle.
Monsters with lines like this were usually puzzles.
'I can take it easy then.'
I advanced, lighting the way with my torch.
The moment I did.
Vwwwing.
"Wh-What?"
"Ah! K-Ken!"
A purple barrier-like transparent film spread out from the floor tile I'd stepped on.
I was trapped in a space about a square yard wide.
"I told you to be careful...!"
"Ah, haha... sorry..."
Caught in the trap so spectacularly, I bowed my head to flustered Diena in embarrassment.
But it was fine.
For a puzzle, Diena could solve it even without me.
And my voice could still reach her.
So I'd just advise from the sidelines.
🗿 Guardian's Voice 🗿 "Well come, foolish humans..." At that point, trapping one party member seemed to be the trigger, as the dungeon boss's voice continued.
🗿 Guardian's Voice 🗿 "I am the guardian commanded by the goddess to test those who fall to temptation..." Torches on the once-dark walls lit up one by one.
A wide space revealed itself around my trapped form.
Diena was right up against me on the outside, and ahead of us trapped pair...
A massive statue loomed, gazing down with three gleaming eyes.
🗿 Guardian's Voice 🗿 "I shall impose a trial upon you. Pass it, and I will grant what you seek." 'Easy puzzle.'
Puzzles that framed it as a 'trial' like this weren't too hard.
"Wh-What do we do, Ken? I-I..."
"Don't worry, Diena! No one's hurt, and I can still help with my voice."
"K-Ken..."
She blushed at my reassuring words, gazing at me.
Um... that look feels familiar.
The boss monster's dialogue continued.
This was the final clear puzzle for the dungeon.
And it was...
🗿 Guardian's Voice 🗿 "Woman, I see the desire in your heart..." "E-Eh, m-me?!"
The statue addressed Diena with its three eyes, and when she was suddenly mentioned, she panicked and pressed right up against me.
Her face stiffened at the statue's next words.
🗿 Guardian's Voice 🗿 "Forsake the treasure, and I shall grant your wish." ...Huh?
🗿 Guardian's Voice 🗿 "I will make that man... your woman." "...Huh?"
Diena's voice sounded tempted for a split second, leaving me stunned as I turned to her.