Their Salvation
Killing the princess who tried to deceive and use me in the hot springs would have been easy for them. But actually killing someone myself was far too difficult for me.
Especially since, even if she betrayed me, she had been my friend...
In the end, this weak side of me chose to exploit her background to the maximum.
Even if this was the Shelter, a princess would have considerable authority. When the imperial family's retainers and members relocated here, they must have brought valuables with them.
I'd use Sticky to get those for myself.
The imperial family surely had plenty of rare items I couldn't easily obtain.
'Maybe even potions or something equivalent.'
With that, I ordered Sticky to bring me treasures from the imperial family that would be useful to me.
Anyway, after sending Sticky out of the dungeon like that,
I quietly waited for her in the hot springs, lost in thought.
Sticky wasn't right in the head.
Honestly, I'd thought something was off since our first chat… Maybe she'd been twisted from birth?
Hanging around her might warp my own mind.
"What the hell turned Sticky into that? There must be some backstory, right?"
As I muttered to myself, her voice came from behind.
"…Yeah, no defending that taste. Anyway, you got back faster than I expected."
Saying that, Sticky began pulling items one by one from her subspace bracelet.
"Wait, hold up!! Hair loss medicine?!"
I-is this for real? If it is, they've surpassed the realm of gods.
While gallery lurking, I'd searched otherworld posts out of curiosity about curing baldness here.
(Bald crown pic)
It's my head—how high-level holy magic to fix this?
How mighty was the ancient Empire to cure baldness, untreatable even by holy magic?
Baldness was common sense as incurable here… but the imperial family had already made a cure!!
"Mi… miracle…? Even dead follicles regrow?"
"…True. Still, this is amazing?"
Just look at Yeomje—his scalp's thinning. He'd love this.
"……Fine, two weeks off."
She was my betrayer, but ultimately the savior of current and future baldies shedding hair.
'Can't deny that merit.'
…Come to think, Grandpa's crown is shiny too… Gotta use this elixir bath before mine thins.
"Argh, Sticky, it's ultimately your fault!!"
If she hadn't assassinated the crown prince…
'Haa… But even without her, supplies wouldn't last that long.'
Sticky just chose survival back then.
Potion bath dreams popped.
Guess I'll have to hit the surface for ingredients myself…
She pulled out an ornate golden necklace.
"What's this?"
The princess's eyes curved slyly, a mischievous grin—like a naughty imp.
Her words froze me. Did she sniff out Luna? Maybe she knew my identity all along.
As I glared to interrogate, she cut in.
"You…."
Feeling my gaze chill, she hurriedly added,
True—the artifact was fusing into her flesh.
"…Watch yourself from now on."
She switched to a pitiful, teary-eyed gaze, clinging subtly—almost swaying my heart.
'Hah, face like flipping a mask.'
Not just expressions—subtle gestures, micro-changes—she wielded seduction effortlessly.
If I'd fallen for her, artifact or not, she'd have manipulated me blind.
'…Demoness.'
If she weren't a crazy perv or if I lacked Luna, it'd have been dangerous.
"Hey, stay at least two steps away from now on. No approaching."
"So, what's the necklace? Explain."
She handed it over with an explanation.
"…Smart workaround. No tricks in it?"
…No potion, but a stopgap.
Whether Luna accepts is another issue.
Would she want solo relief from pain?
"Anything else?"
Sticky pulled a massive white pillar-like thing from her bracelet.
"What's this?"
After parting with Sticky, I headed to Elise's magic classroom.
"Elise. The world's full of weirdos."
After that, I made the new elixir bath right away.
Three days of testing its effects,
"Dungeon Master, behold!!! My haaaaair!!!!!"
Yeomje tore at his head with both hands, but not a strand fell.
Watching, Dragon Mask Padak, the dwarf trio, and I chimed in.
"Unbelievable. Follicles truly fortified. Checked with inner sight—even new growth is thicker. Hair loss curable?"
"Right? We're free from bald terror now."
"Hmmm."
The dwarves shrugged indifferently…
Dragon Mask Padak noted,
Anyway, time to open hot spring experiences and new raid bosses.
Pulling items from the imperial vault to fuel dungeon growth should balance rewards.