Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The Warrior Rests
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While some members of the Elder Council were conducting their final checks, Balak's group began wandering around the city again.
They also remembered that Karian was planning a massive fireworks display in the city.
Just in case Ferguson and Balak weren't familiar with fireworks, he explained them.
"Oh... so you mix metal powders with gunpowder and shoot them up like firecrackers?"
"It's incredibly beautiful, like flowers blooming in the sky, and I know a great spot to watch from. How about we go check it out?"
"Sounds good!"
With that, they teleported to the area around the city's tallest tower. Since they still had some time to kill,
they strolled through the shopping district, snacking a bit here and there while chatting about this and that.
"Heh... I never would have guessed you had a pet, Lord Balak. What kind of animal was it?"
"A slug."
"A slug?!"
"Why is everyone so shocked?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
"Heh heh heh. It's only natural for them to be surprised. People usually think of cats or dogs when you mention pets."
Bellesa and Karian recalled the slug from the 10th floor of the dungeon.
It was unusually massive in size, to boot.
And it made a 'meow' sound like a cat.
Just to be sure, they asked about the details.
"Its name was 'Pangpang,' and it was enormous. And this might sound weird, but my slug really did meow like a cat."
"Huh?"
That meant the slug on the 10th floor was this guy's pet!
─Realizing this, the two decided to send that slug back to Balak if the opportunity arose.
By then, the fireworks were about to start, so they headed to the tower entrance.
Of course, guards were stationed at the entrance.
But the moment they saw Balak's group, they permitted them to go up.
"Seeing this really drives home that we're special honored guests."
"You're telling me."
"You could visit this city more often to really feel it."
"Lady Bellesa is right. And the special guest privileges aren't limited to this event."
"Oh? So Dampir and Ophelia, who didn't attend the gathering, get them too?"
"Of course."
Balak listened to the details about the city's special guests and soon used the teleport device inside the tower to reach the top and secure their spots.
And shortly after...
Piiiing!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Vibrant, colorful flowers bloomed in the sky.
Though those flowers vanished as fleetingly as a dream,
their momentary beauty was so profound
that it left a lingering impression on everyone.
'Just like me.'
Bellesa felt those ephemeral flowers were like herself and came crashing back to reality.
She gazed at Balak, who was calmly enjoying the fireworks beside her with a serene heart.
'What a wonderful man...'
During this gathering, Bellesa—who had gotten acquainted with Balak—had volunteered to guide him, ready to handle any sudden issues that might arise.
But Balak was far more well-behaved than she'd imagined.
Honestly, she'd thought he was some muscle-headed brute yelling, "Hey! Enemy!! Fist!! Incoming!"
Yet he had a pet back in the day,
got along great with the other bosses, had a straightforward personality, and surprisingly high social skills.
Did a great guy like this really have to end up with an old woman like her, whose past was a mess?
She didn't think so.
And... there was a very young, wonderful woman approaching him right now.
The Demon Lord Arethia!!
Oh my god!! A pure-hearted girl radiating such fresh innocence!!
It was enough to make NTR-obsessed Bellesa itch.
But she started furiously calculating.
'That Demon Lord is an administrator, right? Then this is a golden chance for one of them to side with us.'
After mulling it over, Bellesa thought...
Was she really going to let such a sweet, upstanding man get snatched away that easily?!
Absolutely not!!
'Yeah, Demon Lord! Prove you deserve him... show me that pure love!!'
She suddenly turned into the ultra-picky mother-in-law of a doting son.
She decided she'd have to mess with the Demon Lord a bit when they met later.
The fireworks were winding down by now.
They were about to tour the city together,
but a signal came through to Bellesa and Karian.
It was a warning that the administrators might invade tomorrow.
Bellesa and Karian quickly shared thoughts via magic.
'We should probably just send Lord Balak and Ferguson back, right?'
'Yeah, I think so. Good thing I already made plans with him for tomorrow. I'll take them to the hidden chimera training grounds before the administrators can bother his group.'
'Ooh! Brilliant idea.'
The city was too vast to see in just one day anyway.
When Bellesa suggested Balak get some rest again, Ferguson—who was concerned for his brother's health—agreed, and in the end, Balak's group returned to the fortress.
The next day, Bellesa—grinning from ear to ear as she prepared to escort them to the chimera training grounds—left first, while Karian and Ferguson went their separate ways.
Left alone, Balak returned to his quiet room and lay down on the bed.
************
The next morning.
A massive surge of mana stormed through one of the rooms.
And the man inside shouted.
KABOOOM!
"Is this what true rest feels like?!"
This overwhelming refreshment!
Had I never truly rested until now?!
Come to think of it, before entering the dungeon, I was so anxious about not reaching my desired level that I couldn't even sleep properly.
After entering, fatigue debuffs meant I only rested a few minutes after battles or training.
But this time was different!
At this gathering, I'd realized that the dungeon merchant factions and similar beings were truly walking alongside me.
And in the dungeon, my family was with me!
Ahh... this is mental stability.
True comfort.
Even stray thoughts had vanished entirely!
With my now crystal-clear mind, I circulated the mysterious energy.
Two stars I'd never managed before now orbited my fist.
And I could see it!!
The path to the next realm, faintly visible!
"Hahaha! The truth was right under my nose!"
I need to take true rests like this more often.
As I checked my body, a knock came from the room door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Excuse me. Is everything alright in there?"
"Oh, sorry about that!"
A woman's voice he'd never heard before came from outside.
Probably one of the cleaning maids wandering the fortress?
His room was a mess anyway, so he opened the door to ask her to tidy up ahead of time.
"Hueeeek..."
"Hm?"
Thud!
The maid in front of him took one look at him, nose gushing blood, and collapsed to the floor.
Oh right. He hadn't bought any clothes outside, so like last time, he was in shorts.
And judging by the dream demon's reaction before,
and this maid's now...
Was this outfit such a big deal in this era?
No, what value could a man's body possibly have...
Anyway, as he reached out to check if the dazed maid was okay,
"Waaait a second, Lord Baaaalak!!"
"Bellesa?"
Pew!
The dream demon suddenly appeared and whisked the maid away somewhere.
An awkward silence followed.
But in the spot where the maid had been, there was a scrap of paper.
[ I'll come by at 9! ]
A note left by the dream demon?
They'd made plans yesterday but hadn't set a time, so that worked out.
It was 8 now, so he'd just wait an hour.
***************
After rescuing her subordinate, Bellesa quickly checked on her.
"S-Sweetie, are you okay?"
Shake shake.
"Just... go home and rest up today instead of working..."
"Yesss..."
Thud...
The maid assigned to Balak's room this time—the succubus—was one of those who'd been caught in Bellesa's fantasies before.
So if Balak had touched her directly just now...
Oh dear.
She would've rocketed straight to heaven.
Anyway, Bellesa refocused her own shaken mind after that brief glimpse of Balak.
'Today's a crucial battle day! Get it together!'
This was a turning point for the dungeon's interior.
With administrators potentially invading at any moment,
she needed to swiftly hide Balak's group in a secure spot on this floor.
Bellesa quickly began organizing the 50th floor with her friends.
"Move it, hurry up!"
"""Yes, ma'am!!!"""
They evacuated everyone except essential personnel to shelters and finished all preparations before Bellesa went to Balak.
"Ooh! Bellesa, you're here!"
"Hehe... sorry about just now. It was an emergency."
"I see. That happens. Anyway, we're heading to that training ground now?"
"Yup! Oh, and how about bringing Ferguson and Orek too?"
"My brothers?"
Balak pondered it.
But he leaned toward the idea that every man should tour an army base once.
He went to Orek first, who was suffering hangover hell.
"Ughhh!! S-Sor-ryyy!"
"It's fine. Just drink in moderation next time."
"Ugh..."
"Um... Lord Balak, should I cast a hangover cure on Orek?"
"Just partially, please."
With Orek somewhat recovered,
Ferguson was already doing his morning workout.
Bellesa quickly led Balak's group to a bizarre space deeply hidden by the supreme beings.
The subordinates of bosses from the 95th floor and beyond waited in the city, each at their posts.