An Appropriate Dungeon (5)
The feeling of greeting the first morning inside the dungeon was, without exaggeration, the absolute worst.
I didn't get a wink of sleep.
Beatrice descended the stairs with hollow eyes. The corridor that had been such a madhouse yesterday was now utterly silent, as if nothing had ever happened.
To think Sisilia would come into my room like that.
She'd been so startled when Sisilia barged right in. And since she was in the middle of changing, she'd had no choice but to salute in her underwear. The real problem was that Sisilia hadn't returned the salute—instead, she'd just kept staring. Especially at her chest.
So embarrassing...
And on top of that, Sisilia had slept in the same bed. How could she possibly sleep soundly with such an imposing superior lying right there? She'd tossed and turned all night because of it. Meanwhile, Sisilia, who was now rubbing her eyes sleepily as she followed along, seemed to have slept just fine.
Come to think of it, that's weird. Sisilia's no pervert—why would she stare at me in my underwear for so long?
Sensing something off, Beatrice spoke up to Sisilia.
"Um, Sisilia?"
Sisilia responded in her usual flawless manner, as if she'd never looked sleepy at all.
"Yes."
"Is there something you wanted to say to me?"
Sisilia just stared at Beatrice without a word. It felt like she was asking why do you think that?, so Beatrice answered nervously.
"You kept staring at me yesterday."
"No."
"Pardon?"
"When your breasts get big, they get in the way of swinging a sword, so you just stop growing them in your youth. That's all it is—they're not fully grown."
W-what is she talking about?
"I-is that so...?"
"I have even more potential left."
"R-right."
"It would've been nice if you'd stopped growing before you became an adult, too, Beatrice."
I see. So she was staring so intently yesterday because she was dissatisfied.
Beatrice finally understood why Sisilia had fixated on her chest last night. It was a reprimand. A knight's body shouldn't have heavy breasts—they were nothing but a hindrance.
"I'm sorry."
Beatrice bowed her head immediately. But she felt a bit wronged. Halting physical growth was something only a Sword Demon-level knight could do. Not everyone could stop growing at fourteen like Sisilia.
"B-but at my level back then, I couldn't stop it yet. And besides, they were already this big by thirteen, so even if it had been possible..."
"Sisilia?"
Sisilia was starting to fade away.
When they reached the mansion below, everyone had gathered. Their faces all looked terrible.
Sisilia sat in the farthest corner, feeling a twinge of pity. She pulled out the baguette she'd brought down with her and started munching on it.
"I-I'm going crazy. I kept having nightmares, and even when I woke up, I'd wake up in another nightmare. I thought morning would never come."
One apprentice knight clawed at his hair, his voice trembling with terror.
Sisilia looked up like a rabbit. She glanced at Beatrice with subtle anticipation.
Her affinity should have gone up, right?
This dungeon seemed to inflict status ailments if you slept. Sisilia had figured it out and kept watch over Beatrice all night. By now, she must have realized.
But...
Beatrice hurriedly averted her eyes.
She looked downright scared.
...Huh?
"We have to get out of here fast."
"I can't last another day. My mind's going to break."
In the midst of the clamor, Rihaton shot to his feet.
"Sisilia."
Sisilia watched him intently, chewing on her face-sized bread.
"At the very least, tell us when this hell ends. We're all at our limits."
Of course, she had no intention of answering. If anything, she was starting to get a little annoyed. Why don't they get something so obvious?
"S-Sisilia. Please, I'm begging you too."
But at Beatrice's words, Sisilia graciously explained.
"How many rules were there, again?"
"The rules... there are four in total. No way."
Sisilia nodded slightly. Four rules. That meant a four-day limit.
"S-so we have to stay here three more days?"
Why does it always turn into that?
Sisilia genuinely couldn't understand. It meant kill the demon tribe within four days.
"Did everyone enjoy a pleasant sleep?"
Just then, Recardo appeared in the dining hall.
"Oh dear, judging by your faces, it seems you had a restless night."
Anger flushed across several knights' faces. But none stepped forward. They'd learned how terrifying the price for breaking the rules could be.
Recardo licked his lips as he scanned their expressions.
"Um, butler."
"Yes, guest? Do you have a question?"
"First, allow me to express my gratitude."
Beatrice's face was tense. Sisilia watched her with intrigued eyes.
"For allowing us, who were lost last night, to stay in this mansion."
"Ooh—"
Recardo clapped once, feigning deep emotion. Then he bowed dramatically, sweeping his arm wide.
"I'm honored you appreciate it."
"But now that morning has dawned—"
Beatrice swallowed hard.
"...we'll be on our way. Staying any longer would be terribly rude."
Recardo had called them "guests." And looking closely, the "rules" were all things one could reasonably demand of guests. So, as guests, announcing their departure should be fine, right?
Smart girl.
It was an excellent approach. There were two ways to "clear" a dungeon: logic-breaking and head-breaking. Sisilia called them nonpa and daepa for short.
"What a polite guest."
Recardo pretended to wipe a tear with his glasses. No tears appeared, of course. Demons didn't know how to cry.
"Yes."
"...!"
The knights' eyes widened in shock.
"Personally, I'd love for such rare guests to stay longer, but if you insist, I can't very well stop you."
"I-is that true? You'll just let us leave?"
Recardo smiled brightly.
"Of course. Haha, this is awkward. I'm not the one holding you here... You all came to this mansion of your own accord, didn't you?"
"Th-then we'll head out right now."
"Yes, safe travels."
The knights exchanged glances.
Really? We can just leave like this?
Even Beatrice, who'd come up with the idea, felt uneasy.
"However."
Of course, clearing a dungeon with nonpa wasn't that simple.
"You do have to pay the 'price,' don't you?"
"...Price?"
"Naturally. This is a mansion on quite expensive land. And didn't you guests receive rather lavish treatment yesterday?"
Recardo's eyes twisted with disgust.
"You can't just enjoy that without compensation. With rights come responsibilities, after all."
"Wh-what nonsense..."
The knight who'd started to shout lowered his voice.
"How is that 'treatment' by any stretch?"
"It was treatment. Or are you insulting the loyal servants of this mansion?"
Recardo's tone turned somewhat eerie. The flustered knight waved his hands.
"That's not what I—"
"Pay the price, and you're free to go."
"Then what exactly is this 'price'?"
Rihaton asked relatively calmly.
Recardo gazed at him and smiled quietly.
"What else? Lodging fees, of course. You've stayed one night, so just pay for that."
"Money's no issue."
Rihaton pulled a gold pouch from his pocket. The others followed suit. A considerable number of pouches piled up on the table.
"Very well. We'll take the lodging fee and return the rest."
Recardo approached the table leisurely. He picked up one pouch and peered inside.
"Hmm."
"...Not enough?"
"Hahaha!"
Recardo let out a short laugh, as if mocking them.
"What meaning does human money hold for me that you'd pay with this?"
Rihaton clamped down on the excited knight's mouth.
"...We don't have demon money. No other options?"
"Of course there are. If you lack money, just give something of equal value."
Recardo spun around delightedly.
"Fortunately, everyone here has exactly what I want."
His smile grew increasingly cruel.
"Hearts."
"...!"
"Pay just one heart for the night's stay, and I'll let you all go."
It was essentially demanding one sacrifice.
Everyone froze stiff. Countless conflicts played across their faces. Beatrice's conflict, however, seemed a bit different.
It'd be fun to wait for the cute newbie's answer.
What would Beatrice say? Sisilia was genuinely curious and excited.
But if it ends there, it'd just be scraping by to survive.
The corner of Sisilia's mouth twitched up.
That would be enough.
For a true newbie, anyway.
The knights who surpass their limits need to prove more than that.
Time to drop a hint.
"Then."
Sisilia dropped her bread and spoke in a calm tone.
Feeling all eyes on her, she looked at the bewildered Recardo and said,
"You mean your heart will do."
Recardo's eyes flooded with fear in an instant. Hope sparked in the knights' eyes.
Sisilia crushed it immediately.
"Kidding."
Hm. Too obvious a hint?
Sisilia resumed eating her bread. That was practically giving away the answer key.