Just Calm Down (5): A Knight's Idea of Rest
Leaving behind our chaotic first encounter with the Crown Prince, we arrived at the dungeon entrance under Adelaide's guidance.
"See? I told you so, didn't I?"
"I was praying it wouldn't be the case, but it really turned out like this."
Fortunately, the Lucky Cow Dungeon wasn't too far from the Empire. However, perhaps because it had already been cleared, the dungeon had collapsed catastrophically, leaving behind nothing but a hollow skeleton.
It was a complete ruin, no longer worthy of being called a dungeon. Only its pitiful debris lay scattered bleakly across the landscape.
"The moment you defeat the dungeon boss, the dungeon collapses immediately."
"Then what happens to the items that were still inside?"
"Well, I'm not entirely sure since it's just something I heard, but I think they vanish along with the dungeon itself."
My heart didn't just ache; it felt as if it were shattering into a million pieces. I had expected this to some extent, so the shock was somewhat mitigated, but that didn't stop me from feeling absolutely devastated.
'Why did I have to find the boss room right then and slay the Lucky Cow King?' The thought of all the loot I had left behind kept dancing before my eyes, making my mood even more complicated.
"Are you really that disappointed?"
"……I am fine. It is entirely my own doing."
I muttered weakly, taking a small, quiet breath.
"But hey, you still got the loot from defeating the dungeon boss."
"Indeed. I obtained some highly valuable items."
"That alone is a massive win, so don't be too sad."
"You are right. Besides, there are plenty of other dungeons out there."
It was undoubtedly a painful loss. But I couldn't just sit around wallowing in despair forever. According to Adelaide, there were countless dungeons scattered all over the world. Rather than wasting time grieving, it was far more constructive and efficient to find the next dungeon and start farming.
"I'm glad to see you've cheered up a bit."
"Thanks to you, I've regained my senses."
"Then, shall we take a break now? I'm exhausted, and I'm so hungry I don't have an ounce of strength left."
After muttering those words weakly, Adelaide immediately crouched down on the spot and let out a heavy, deep sigh.
"Thanks to the scene you caused, we managed to slip out of the Empire relatively easily, but it's still incredibly tiring."
"Where is the nearest dungeon from here?"
"……Pardon?"
At my nonchalant question, Adelaide, who had been hanging her head, suddenly snapped it up a beat late. Her face gradually paled as she slowly furrowed her brow.
"Y-You don't mean we're leaving right now, do you……?"
"Of course. Even if we rest, we rest inside a dungeon."
Since we had caused quite a massive scene, the chances of the Imperial Army immediately pursuing us were extremely low. But we couldn't afford to let our guard down. You never knew what might happen. Even if we were to rest, it had to be inside a relatively safe dungeon.
"Your head really is filled with nothing but dungeons……."
"It can't be helped. Right now, the inside of a dungeon is far safer than the outside."
"I honestly don't understand why you love dark, damp dungeons so much."
"I don't love the dungeon as a space; I love the items that come out of it."
It was an honest answer, delivered as I calmly scanned our surroundings, which were dense with trees and bushes. Hearing this, Adelaide let out a dumbfounded chuckle.
"Of course you do. It looks like the exact same thing to me, but……."
"Did dungeons become a trauma for you?"
"What?"
"After what you went through in that dungeon, it wouldn't be surprising if you were traumatized."
Adelaide had died once in a dungeon. And that was only a few days ago. Telling her, whose mental wounds had yet to heal, to go back into a dungeon might seem incredibly cruel. But realistically speaking, considering all our circumstances, the only option left for us was a dungeon.
"I understand how you feel. No one in this world could remain unfazed after experiencing something like that."
"Ah, no… It's not really a trauma……."
"You must shudder at the very thought of a dungeon, yet you still guided me all the way here. I think that is truly admirable."
"That's……."
"But do not forget, Adelaide. You have me by your side."
I had expected this kind of situation to some extent. Adelaide wasn't an adventurer like me; she was an ordinary duke's daughter. Having lived a life far removed from combat, a dungeon cloaked in the terror of death would naturally be a repository of her most horrific memories.
However, I couldn't just give up on Adelaide. The difference between having a Guide and not having one was like night and day.
"Didn't I tell you earlier? I will pave the way, so all you need to do is follow closely behind me."
"W-What is this all of a sudden… Stop it, it's embarrassing……."
"I am not just saying this. I am more serious right now than I have ever been."
"What could you possibly like about someone like me……."
With an excellent Guide, I wouldn't have to waste time in useless places. Since I could spend the saved time farming longer in dungeons, what could possibly be a more efficient investment than this?
"I do not think it is a matter of whether I like you or not."
"……What?"
"At any rate, that is why I lent you the items I obtained earlier. I hope you will use them to support me reliably from behind."
The moment I finished speaking, Adelaide tilted her head in sheer bewilderment.
"Lent them to me? Do you mean this robe and these accessories I'm wearing right now?"
"Yes."
"But these are the things you snatched from His Highness the Crown Prince. Didn't you give them to me?"
"I did not give them to you; I lent them. To increase the survival rate of my party member."
I had equipped Adelaide with all the items I had plundered from the Crown Prince. As long as I was by her side, she would rarely be in any actual danger, but it was always best to prepare for any contingency. Besides, none of these pieces of equipment possessed effects attractive enough to warrant me wearing them myself.
"To think you only lent them to me……."
"If better items drop later, I will let you have those instead."
"What am I, your personal inventory slot?"
"In any case, giving them to you has increased your survival rate, so I consider it a win-win."
I replied calmly, giving a slight nod.
"I really can't read you at all. I have absolutely no idea what's going on in that head of yours."
"There is no need to think too deeply about it. For now, our top priority is entering the next dungeon."
"Dungeons, dungeons, dungeons… I think I'm going to develop a neurosis……."
She still didn't seem fully prepared mentally, but it couldn't be helped. Staying outside any longer would only increase the risk of running into the Imperial Army. If that happened, it would lead to all sorts of headaches. I couldn't afford to waste any more time on useless matters.
"If my memory serves me right, the nearest dungeon from here is probably to the north."
"I see. Then let us depart immediately."
The moment Adelaide finished her sigh-laden sentence, I scooped her up in my arms without a single shred of hesitation as she sat crouched on the ground.
"──?!!"
"Tell me if you are uncomfortable. I will set you down immediately."
"W-What are you doing all of a sudden?!"
"Didn't you say you were exhausted earlier? I am still perfectly fine, so we will travel like this."
It was my very first time carrying someone bridal-style. It felt incredibly awkward and unfamiliar, but I couldn't just force an utterly exhausted Adelaide to walk.
"How did you even remember something I just muttered in passing……."
"Recover as much of your stamina as possible before we reach the dungeon. Consider this your rest period."
"……."
Adelaide mumbled something quietly, burying her face deep into my chest. Soon, as if resigning herself to her fate, she let out a deep sigh and completely relaxed her body in my arms.
'Did he only remember because it was related to the dungeon……?'
"By the way, regarding when we encountered the Imperial Army earlier."
As I dashed through the forest path in the direction Adelaide had indicated, a sudden thought crossed my mind.
"Why bring that up all of a sudden?"
"I believe I heard them say you framed the Saintess."
At my casual remark, Adelaide immediately showed a look of displeasure for some reason and turned her head away from me.
"I never framed her. Everyone is just misunderstanding."
"No, that is not what I meant. What I want to know is, what kind of work does the Saintess of this world usually do?"
But her annoyance was short-lived. At my follow-up question, she turned her head back and stared blankly at me.
"What kind of work she usually does?"
"Yes. Is she a healer, by any chance?"
Saintess equaled priest. If my theory was correct, the Saintess was bound to be a priest-type healer who provided heals from the backline. Now that I had formed a party, a healer was an absolute necessity.
Facing unknown dungeons ahead without a healer was far too reckless. There would definitely be a limit to how far I could brute-force my way through with raw levels alone.
"A healer…… Well, Her Holiness does perform miracles of healing, but her abilities are far too vast to simply call her a healer."
"Does she apply buffs as well?"
"Buffs? Ah, if you mean blessings that increase stats, then yes, she does."
As expected, the Saintess was indeed a priest-type healer. A figure of her stature would undoubtedly possess recovery spells and buffs far superior to those of an ordinary priest.
"I would certainly love to meet her sometime."
"I'm just asking to be sure… but you aren't planning to recruit her, are you?"
"I intend to try and persuade her, though I have no intention of forcing her."
The moment I finished speaking, Adelaide's face turned completely pale.
"A-Are you serious?! Knowing what the relationship between Her Holiness and me is like, how could you……."
"I do not know. You have not explained the details of that matter to me."
"Ah, is that so?"
"Yes."
Realizing the situation a beat late, Adelaide finally let out a deep sigh of relief. Nevertheless, she still couldn't hide her flustered expression and shrank slightly in my arms. Just what on earth had happened between her and the Saintess to make her recoil in such terror?
"Well, it does not necessarily have to be the Saintess. What I need, first and foremost, is simply a healer."