The Most Beautiful in This Universe (1)
The Most Beautiful in This Universe (1)
There was no such thing as a hidden room on the 20th floor. I realized that fact and looked at the children.
"Should we head back for today?"
"What time is it?"
"It's still pretty open. We could probably get to the 25th floor."
"Then shall we give it a go?"
The children's opinions aligned. I stepped onto the stairs and went up. No monsters that could threaten us appeared on this floor.
Upwards like that, the 21st floor, the 22nd floor, the 23rd floor. All the way to the 25th floor.
And when we arrived at the 25th floor, I realized the air had changed. Something about the atmosphere was different.
My intuition started tingling sharply.
Shortly after, something flew at us from beyond the darkness.
Clang!
From the sparks created by the impact with my sword, I could immediately tell what it was.
'An arm?'
It wasn't a stretchy man, and the flying arm quickly returned to its place. Seoyun, having spotted the monster, used her ability from behind to freeze the monster solid.
Sure enough, the monster froze solid without even putting up resistance. Her cheat ability worked sufficiently even on this floor.
"Nothing special."
As Seoyun said that and walked forward to pick up the Magic Stone, I sensed something strange and yanked her back.
Swipe!
The monster's tongue flew out. The monster, frozen solid, had opened its mouth wide and was rolling its eyeballs around as if regretful.
I slammed the head of that frozen-solid monster, shattering it. After confirming the monster had completely turned into a Magic Stone, I looked at Seoyun.
"You okay?"
"...Yeah."
A trickle of blood flowed down Seoyun's cheek. Seeing that, Aram immediately used her ability on her to heal the wound.
However, even though the wound was healed, Seoyun still couldn't get up.
"...Should we go down?"
Nod.
Holding her, who couldn't even open her mouth, we exited the dungeon.
After coming outside, Dojin immediately checked Seoyun's condition. Unusually for her normally composed self, her entire body was trembling.
"You okay?"
Nod.
Seoyun once again quietly nodded her head without a word. A moment later, having regained her composure, she stared blankly up at the sky and spoke.
"...I want to stop here."
"Stop what?"
"Going up."
Previously, she had said. That she had no intention of seeing the end of the dungeon. Back then, Dojin was a bit hurt, but he didn't try to persuade her.
After all, she wasn't accustomed to fighting. She just wielded the ability she possessed.
Even soldiers who have received combat training often suffer from PTSD, so what about a mere high school girl like her?
But this time, he tried to persuade her. Her ability was too precious to just let her give up like this.
"Still... your ability still works, though."
"Yet I got hit. From now on, I can't advance with just my ability."
"But..."
"Dojin-a. Do you know why I said I wanted to climb the dungeon?"
"...Why?"
"Because it's safe."
Saying that, she smiled slightly. A smile that only lifted the corners of her mouth, devoid of emotion.
"With my ability, I can earn money safely and easily, without getting hurt. That's why I entered. Under rational judgment."
It was indeed true. Until now, there had not been a single time her ability hadn't worked, and she had indifferently slaughtered monsters like a machine.
You couldn't really call that combat. It was ambiguous to even call it slaughter. You'd have to call it literally, work.
Even a high school girl who had lived a life far removed from fighting could handle simple tasks.
"But now it's different. I... originally, things like fighting..."
"...I understand."
Dojin understood her feelings. He didn't need to read her mind. He had been so captivated by her powerful ability that he hadn't even considered the fact that she herself was just a delicate high school girl a few months ago.
He looked at the other two and spoke.
"What about you two? If you want to give up too, do it here. As Seoyun said... there's no guarantee you won't ever get hurt from now on."
"...Um, then. Me too."
Aram raised her hand. Dojin nodded, saying he understood. After all, the ability she possessed was rather difficult to utilize inside the dungeon.
As was the case on the 10th floor, it was only about taking on the injuries of her teammates in her place.
In fact, it was psychologically more comfortable for her to wait safely in the city.
"Eunha, you?"
"...I'm okay."
"Are you really okay?"
"I don't really know how to do anything else anyway. I'm not much help, but..."
Her answer moved Dojin, but Dojin nodded silently without showing it.
Originally, women weren't genetically advantageous in fights. Moreover, Eunha, who was nearly half the size of others, even more so.
Seeing such a girl showing happiness about being involved in fighting wasn't really a good action.
"Then let's head back and rest for today, and Seoyun, you... should I come find you later?"
"...Yeah."
"Okay, see you later."
Saying that, Dojin parted from the three and headed towards the Guild. At the Guild, Pion greeted him but then tilted her head.
"Oh? Dojin-nim? Is something the matter...?"
"...Why?"
"The atmosphere seems a bit... today. Did you perhaps have a disagreement with your teammates?"
You're quick to notice, thought Dojin, realizing she was someone who had worked at the Guild for years and encountered all sorts of adventurers.
She must have faced numerous problems while working, and he also thought that adventurers must have sought help from her or the Guild.
Dojin, lost in thought for a moment, honestly revealed the situation within the team to her. Upon hearing that the powerful Skill Holders Seoyun and Aram would quit being adventurers, her expression stiffened momentarily before she nodded as if understanding.
"I see, such a problem..."
"Is there any method, perhaps?"
"What kind of method?"
"Like a way for the two to return to the dungeon."
"Dojin-nim. I think you might be misunderstanding something... Our Guild has no means to force adventurers. Let alone high-rank adventurers..."
"Is that so..."
Seeing Dojin's expression, Pion chuckled and advised him.
"Well... originally, someone who has retired from being an adventurer once doesn't easily return."
"Really?"
"Yes. After all, retiring means... they can no longer go on adventures. Whether it's due to health problems, or mental problems..."
"That's true."
"Originally, what kind of problem is Dojin-nim worried about?"
"...What kind of problem, you ask?"
"Yes. From my perspective... it doesn't seem like Dojin-nim considers the others quitting adventures as the problem..."
Hearing Pion's words, Dojin stopped as if struck by a realization, staring blankly at Pion.
A moment later, having finished his thoughts, Dojin slowly opened his mouth.
"...Right, that's true."
"I may not be able to reinstate adventurers who have chosen to retire, but if it's another problem, I might be able to help somehow?"
"For example?"
"For example... if the problem Dojin-nim is worried about is the worry of whether you can climb the dungeon alone."
Pion took a deep breath and met his eyes.
"Dojin-nim can just raise comrades yourself."
Isn't that easy?
Looking at her grinning face, Dojin thought he had made the right choice by consulting her.
Returning to the mansion, I headed straight for Seoyun's room. When I knocked, she quietly told me to come in, and I carefully opened the door.
Seeing her sitting on the bed hugging one leg, I cautiously approached her.
Sitting on her bed, feeling her skin brush against mine, I looked at her.
"What do you plan to do if you retire?"
Hearing my words, she was slightly surprised and asked in return.
"What? Retire?"
"Yeah, the adventurer job. You said you're quitting...?"
"When did I?"
Seoyun tilted her head as if she had never said such a thing. Seeing that, I wondered if what happened earlier was my misunderstanding and tilted my head as well.
"...Earlier, you said you won't go up anymore?"
"Yeah. I said I won't go up anymore."
"Isn't that the same as quitting...?"
"No, it's not."
Seoyun's words were like this. What she gave up was the task of conquering the dungeon. That is, going above the 25th floor.
She has no intention of quitting dungeon exploration.
"Why would I quit this job? I have no other way to make a living besides this."
Listening to her and thinking for a moment, indeed. She said she would quit hunting, but she never said she would quit the work.
And she has never once been hunting until now. From her perspective, everything she has done so far was merely a series of tasks.
"...Then, the dungeon."
"Of course I'll keep going. Ah, I'll go together up to the middle part. Take care of me."
"Ah, yeah."
Next thing, I slowly read her thoughts, checking if her heart was hurt.
"Are the hurt places okay?"
"They're fine. They're already healed."
"But you were trembling so much back then?"
"...I was just a little startled."
─I originally can't stand scary things alone, you know.
"Ah... is that so?"
While reading her thoughts, I realized an unexpected fact. Realizing she had no physical or mental problems, I got up to leave the room.
Squeak.
"...Where are you going?"
"No, I'm going back to my own room now..."
"You came all the way here and then...?"
"...I haven't gotten tired of it yet."
"Then you can go longer, I guess."
"The others will probably be coming back soon."
"It's fine. Soundproofing is easy to do."
Sigh, I let out a light sigh and was slowly pulled by her hand, falling onto the bed. Her body, icy cold from overusing her ability, was as hot as a fireball.
[Sister Iris. May I hear an explanation regarding this period's expenditure records?]
"It is God's will."
[...And ordering unnecessary interference with the Magic Tower as well?]
"It is God's will."
[You're not trying to pick a fight with me, are you?]
"Then that is also God's will."
Grin, the Saintess smiled and conversed with the Pope on the other side of the crystal ball. The Pope trembled for a moment, then let out a small sigh so it wouldn't be heard.
[Please note that God's words do not reach you alone.]
"You're speaking like a jilted ex-girlfriend, Pope-nim."
[...Where did you learn such frivolous speech?]
"I learned it all from the esteemed Pope-nim, of course."
[Hey! You...]
Click.
The Saintess cut off the communication before the Pope's noisy nagging could continue. Charlotte, who had been watching from the side, looked at the Saintess with a worried expression.
"Is that alright? With His Holiness the Pope and so..."
"What does it matter? I'm the Saintess now. Don't you think it's been too long since the previous Saintess even took the Pope's seat and has been holding onto it?"
Saying that, the Saintess received various reports from Charlotte. They were mainly reports about Dojin.
Listening to the reports, the Saintess threw herself onto the bed and tossed off the shabby nun's habit. Tossing off the stuffy veil, gloves, and stockings. In an instant, now in her underwear, she rolled around on the bed and conveyed her thoughts to Charlotte.
"Lotte-ya."
"Yes, Saintess-nim."
"In your opinion, do you think I'm doing something wrong?"
To that, Charlotte couldn't answer easily. Saying she was wrong wouldn't do any good. 'If you're so smart,' or 'if you knew it was wrong, why didn't you stop me?' She was bound to hear only such clichéd remarks.
But merely praising her and saying she did well here wasn't a virtue of a good subordinate either.
She hesitated over how to answer, not realizing that the very act of worrying like this was itself an answer.
"Sigh, I see. I raised my child wrong..."
"...I am not your daughter, Saintess-nim. After all, haven't you never had relations with a man even once, Saintess-nim?"
"Virgin birth, ever heard of it? Virgin birth? You're like the daughter I've held in my heart since I saw you at the orphanage."
"If you're the mother, I'd refuse from my side."
"Tsk!"
The Saintess used the bed's elasticity to quickly sit up. In that moment, her chest swayed greatly.
Sitting up like that, hugging one leg, she met Charlotte's eyes.
"If I made the wrong choice, the gods would have punished me from the start, right? Don't you think?"
"...Their will is not something one like me can rashly judge."
"Words are just words, words. Even I, the Saintess, often only hear things."
However, she was certain. Through years of communicating with the gods, her opened eyes held the power to read Idea.
'Please grow up quickly.'
She recalled the shadow of Dojin she saw during the festival. A shadow that, unlike ordinary people, swallowed everything like a black hole.
A seed that, though still small, will grow as vast as the gods.
'And thus, save me. I shall protect your existence.'