Chapter 17
Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Clever Dungeon Conquest (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The dungeon exploration proceeded smoothly.
Disarming traps and dealing with the occasional monsters.
The dungeon's traps were trickier than expected, but as Rainy had said, the monsters weren't high-level, so we didn't run into any real trouble.
"Hmm, this is boring."
Laura, who had only been snapping off simple spells from the back and advising on trap disarming, was yawning hugely.
"Hey, let's pick up the pace a bit. This isn't fun—let's clear the dungeon quick and grab some food."
"Sure, sure."
She was the one who'd thrown herself into the dungeon, and now she was whining about it being boring, which was annoying, but she was the daughter of a big spender who'd shelled out 5,000 gold, so I had to play along.
I gave a vague response to her words and subtly probed.
"Um, Lady, you won't tell your family about this, right...?"
The fact that she'd gotten so excited upon seeing the dungeon and charged right in wasn't exactly something to brag about proudly.
So, I looked at her hopefully, expecting her to agree to let the whole thing slide.
"Huh? Of course I'm telling them. Conquering a dungeon is a huge accomplishment. Once Father hears about it, he'll reinstate me for sure, right?"
"..."
Unfortunately, Laura seemed fully intent on actively promoting her dungeon conquest to the family.
A wolf monster suddenly leaped out from a blind spot, and I slashed it down with my sword faintly wrapped in holy power as I racked my brain.
I had to persuade her somehow to stop her from telling the family.
Yumi was reasonable enough that she'd agree to keep it secret, so I just needed to convince Laura.
"Um, Lady?"
"Yeah?"
"In my opinion, it might be best to keep quiet about you entering the dungeon."
Laura stopped in her tracks and looked up at me with a skeptical glare.
She was trying to look imposing, but the height difference made her seem more cute than intimidating.
Her personality was prickly, though—not matching that cute appearance at all.
"Hey, Baron."
"Yes, Lady."
"You're getting a bit cheeky, aren't you? Does a slave contradict his master?"
"Oh, I have no intention of defying you, Lady. It's just..."
"Just?"
"I'm worried you might veer onto the wrong path and come to harm, so this is mere advice from the heart."
"Pre...cious? You think I'm precious?"
Laura gave me a strange look as she scrutinized me.
She seemed to doubt whether I meant it.
I mulled over her question slowly.
Did I really think she was precious?
Of course.
The lady's life was essentially the territory's life.
To avoid the duke's iron fist of fury, she was currently the most precious being to me in the world.
"Yes, naturally. I probably care more about your safety than anyone else in this world."
"Sycophant."
"Pardon?"
"The emperor's handbook says to beware the silver-tongued ones like you the most."
"..."
This was a new tactic I hadn't seen before.
While I was momentarily stunned, Laura smirked.
"Still, I could feel a bit of sincerity, so I'll let it slide!"
"Th-thank you...?"
Maybe because she was in the middle of her growth spurt, she seemed to be going through that stormy phase.
Her mood had flipped completely in that short time.
Right now, Laura looked oddly cheerful.
"So, you think it's better if I don't tell anyone I came into the dungeon, right, Baron?"
"Yes."
"Well... a ruler should heed the advice of her retainers, so I'll accept it!"
"Thank you..."
Laura started humming a tune as she strode ahead.
I hurried after her brisk steps and sliced the neck of a wolf monster that burst from the wall.
***
Deep in the dungeon, the master room.
"Ugh, what the heck are those guys?"
The Succubus Queen Nania—fiery red hair and eyes, with an adorable tail swishing—gnawed at her nails as she peered into the dungeon through the crystal orb.
She had planned to expand the dungeons steadily as the vanguard of the Demon King's army, starting from the most remote fringes of the continent, but right from the start, some weirdos had sniffed her out.
Why were people even living in such a backwater dump?
And why enter the dungeon?
Born to inherit the throne as Succubus Queen, she'd been locked in the abstinence chamber receiving all sorts of training since birth, and this was her monumental first mission—only for it to go completely sideways. Nania let out a deep sigh.
Well, even if the dungeon was discovered, she could just kill the intruders, then rebuild elsewhere.
As long as the dungeon core—the magic stone—was intact, she could create a new dungeon anywhere at any time.
The problem was that those two didn't look like they'd go down easy.
She'd crammed the place with every trap technique from the demon world, yet the blue-haired woman dismantled them like they were cake.
The man at the front seemed to be a holy knight, his sword cloaked in faint holy power with unnatural might.
Every time his sword flashed, the werewolves she'd painstakingly raised were butchered. Seeing him cut down werewolves—which could even beat orcs—like they were puppies was unbelievable even with her own eyes.
"Why do guys like that have to show up on my first mission!"
Nania, seated on her jade throne, slammed it in frustration.
"Ugh..."
She clutched her buzzing hand and winced in pain.
"Are you alright?"
"Ugh..."
The succubus serving as her advisor rushed over to check Nania's hand.
Even if succubi lagged behind other demons in physical prowess, a demon was still a demon.
Compared to her exaggerated agony, Nania's pale hand was perfectly fine.
As the advisor's eyes narrowed at the unscratched hand, Nania yanked it back and gave an awkward smile.
"S-so... how do we deal with them?"
It was Nania's excuse to cover her dramatics, but the advisor let it pass without nitpicking.
"The solution is simple. Just send in the werewolves all at once."
Nania frowned at the advisor, who adjusted her glasses smoothly.
"That's a bit..."
"Why on earth are you sending werewolves one by one? Even the strongest intruders couldn't handle them all at once."
"Because... that's cheating..."
"..."
"We're not humans or mindless beasts. In a life-or-death fight, it has to be fair and square."
The advisor had plenty to say but held her tongue, reminded that Nania was her superior.
Instead, she sighed deeply and offered an alternative.
"Fine, then. There are two of them, so we'll send two at a time?"
"Ah, that works."
"...Then I'll send two at a time."
"Yeah, do whatever you want, Advisor!"
Nania had only ordered two at a time—no instructions on the intervals.
The advisor's eyes gleamed sharply.
***
"Wow, this dungeon is huge. We've been walking forever, and it doesn't end."
"Yeah... The markers on the walls aren't repeating, so it's not a maze..."
A good amount of time had passed since we'd started roaming freely inside, yet we kept seeing the same scenery.
The sporadic monsters posed no threat, but the unexpectedly drawn-out exploration nagged at me—we hadn't brought food or water.
I'd assumed the dungeon under the back mountain would be small due to physical limits, but it far exceeded my expectations.
Rustle.
That's when faint monster presences stirred from both sides.
I reflexively swung my sword toward them.
Kyaaang!
The monster that lunged out let out a short death yelp as its headless body crumpled.
I'd brought my sword just in case of wild boars while hiking, and it had been a godsend.
I probably could've won barehanded, but protecting Laura while fighting would've been tough.
Laura kicked the headless corpse repeatedly.
"I'm so sick of these damn mutts."
"...Yeah."
It was crude language for a duke's daughter, but after popping out all day, her stress had built up.
Kyaaang!
Another monster cry echoed.
I instinctively pulled Laura into my arms and blocked the charging beast with my sword.
The monsters, which had appeared at steady intervals until now, changed tactics and came pouring without respite.
Two, four, six, eight.
The numbers swelled in an instant.
Thank goodness the passage was narrow; in open space, it would've been rough.
While I tensed at the growing numbers, Laura spoke confidently.
"Now it's getting interesting."
She grinned in satisfaction and slipped out of my arms.
Then, as if all her prior spells were child's play, she unleashed an immense chill from her body.
The dungeon's temperature plummeted in a heartbeat from her icy aura.
"Kyaaang."
The monsters bristled their fluffy tails, sensing the threat.
Laura poked my back and declared with brimming confidence.
"Slave, just hold on a bit. Your master will clean them all up."