Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: 11. After the Dungeon. (2)
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Groan.
Allen slowly opened his eyes. As his hazy vision gradually sharpened, a reddish floral pattern touched his retinas. ...It wasn't the damp, gloomy cave ceiling, but the ceiling of a luxurious room.
......A dream......?
For a moment he thought so, but the faint muscle ache he felt as he propped himself up snapped his mind awake. He sat there blankly for a bit before suddenly chuckling like a madman, stifling his laughter.
He had survived in the end. Somehow, he had made it back alive—.
He climbed out of bed and stepped onto the terrace. As the warm morning sun soaked into his body, a profound peace settled over him. ...The bitter, unrelenting chill of the monster den was gone.
After standing on the terrace for a long while, basking in the sunlight, he returned to the room. His aimlessly floating heart settled as if by magic.
...Two dead, and one injured.
The two dead were the faint-hearted believer Dmitris and the superstitious Nora. The axe-wielding Cabrioldi had been badly hurt, but fortunately his life wasn't in danger.
Regrettable, but it was all in the past. After silently wishing peace for the departed souls once in his mind, Allen transformed into a ruthless merchant in an instant.
Compensation for the two lives lost, medical bills for the injured, the rest of the employment fees, living expenses, and so on.... His head buzzed with number-crunching.
At that moment, there was a knock knock. Allen, who had been sitting on the bed racking his brains, turned to the door.
- Leader, it's Aiden. Are you up?
"Yeah, come in."
Aiden entered the room and made no effort to hide his joyful smile toward their now much-improved leader.
"How's your body feeling?"
"A good sleep in a comfy spot fixed me right up. It wasn't like I was on death's door anyway."
"That's a real relief."
"The others?"
"Everyone else is fine too. Even that brute Cabrioldi is all healed."
Allen nodded lightly. Then Aiden's lips slowly curved upward.
"But from what Kallisman said, it was no joke. You're amazing, really. How'd you even think to survive that?"
"...You telling me to go die?"
"Nah, pure admiration. Taking down the queen monster in that state...."
"What choice did we have? If we didn't, we'd be the dead ones. Had to charge in blind. ...And honestly, we got pretty lucky too."
"Well, whatever. Leader, word of you has spread everywhere."
Rumor.
"...I just hung back in the rear and didn't do much. The crew did all the fighting."
"The fact that you pulled those people together into one unit—that's you, Leader. You think that's easy?"
"You're just slapping gold leaf on my face. The crew busted their asses too."
"Mercenaries don't need any of that. Words are cheap—just heap on plenty of these instead."
Aiden grinned and formed a coin shape with his thumb and forefinger. Allen let out a puff of laughter and shook his head.
"Sheesh. Yeah..., once we've got some breathing room."
"Breakfast is all set up. Wanna head over together?"
"Sure, let's go."
The two headed to the dining hall. The rest of the crew was all there. Feeling a strange swell of emotion, Allen went to each one, patting their shoulders and backs as he praised their hard work.
They'd already gotten the full story from Kallisman and Elena anyway, so no need for him to ramble on. Just answer honestly if they asked about his condition.
Allen ate his fill until his belly was stuffed, then returned to his room.
As he shut the door with a click and sank back into the quiet, he felt with every inch of his skin that he was truly back. ...It was much like the sensation he'd had waking up the day after discharge.
It's really over..., that exact feeling.
Leaning against the door to savor the moment, he snapped to attention at another knock knock. Wondering who it was, he flung the door open—and two plump mounds of flesh jumped right into his view.
It was the busty mage.
"...Elena?"
"Um, do you have a moment...?"
"Ah, yeah. Come in."
True to her noble blood, she glided in with elegant steps. The moment the door clicked shut, she whirled to face him directly.
"Thank you for saving me back there. Things were so hectic, I... sorry it's late."
"I didn't do anything special. Truth is, I'm the one who's grateful. Without you, we'd all be goners. Seriously, thank you. It's all thanks to your hard work honing your magic."
"...Still."
The two locked heated gazes. The air grew thick with tension. They could still vividly recall that embrace of shared relief from before.
"Yeah, we all did great. Everyone pulled their weight."
"Yes...."
The man and woman stared at each other for a long moment. Then their faces slowly drew closer....
Their lips met. It began with a couple of light pecks, then their mouths parted and slick tongues tangled.
Allen seized the busty mage's lewd tits and gave them a gentle squeeze. A sultry "Mm" escaped her nostrils in a hot rush.
As their kiss grew from sticky and thick to dense and obscene, there came another knock knock, right beside them.
—!
They jolted apart in shock and hastily straightened their clothes.
- Allen, Leader. It's me, Viola.
Ah—!
"One moment, please wait."
Allen gave himself and the busty mage a final once-over, then opened the door. Viola's eyebrow arched slightly at the sight of the guest inside.
"Oh, you had company. Sorry about that."
"No, no. We just wrapped up. You two talk. I'll head out then...."
The busty mage kept her eyes demurely lowered as she spoke, then swiftly slipped out of the room. Leader Viola glanced briefly at her retreating figure before stepping inside.
"I didn't interrupt your rest, did I...?"
"Not at all. I've had plenty. Have a seat."
Allen escorted his esteemed guest to the table. Regrettably, there was no tea to offer.
"Only water on hand right now."
"It's fine. I already had some tea."
"Ah, got it."
The brief silence was broken by Leader Viola.
"Feeling better?"
"Just exhaustion, so a solid night's sleep cleared it right up."
Though she recalled him looking half-dead and wheezing, Viola didn't voice it.
"Glad to hear it."
"How's Alex?"
"Fine, up and about."
"Tell him thanks for watching my back."
"Will do."
Another pause followed. Tea would have given him something to sip through the quiet, but with no cup in reach, Allen could only rub his hands together with the sly greed of a money-grubbing merchant.
"So, what brings you...?"
"The Marquis wants to see you, it seems. Probably heard about the queen monster."
"Ah, I see."
"And you'll discuss the commission fee there too."
Allen's eyes flashed at the words "commission fee." An inevitable reaction for a money-lover like him.
"It won't be a tough meeting, so no need to worry. I'll be right there with you."
"Understood."
Viola's gaze settled on Allen's number: 522.
(Very desperate. Strong possessiveness detected. Satisfied with her own performance. ...)
In truth, he had seen right through it.