Chapter 279
Chapter 279
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 279
Chapter Title: Short Respite 279 ? Short Respite #1
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Rumble rumble.
Cracks began to spiderweb across the ground here and there in the flower field. As if sensing the ominous portent, the massive ants and bees scurried frantically toward the entrance and fled.
Buzz buzz.
Whirr whirr.
They say it's common for beasts to escape first from a collapsing ship—or in this case, a dungeon on the brink. These creatures must have realized their home was crumbling.
Which means we should get out of here fast, too.
"Where is Vice Vane?"
I asked. Antiope and Hippolyte were here, but the inquisitor who'd insisted we come—Vice Vane—was nowhere in sight.
Hippolyte answered.
"That man went ahead. Looks like he couldn't withstand the flower pollen swirling around this place in the end."
I see.
With all sorts of flowers and plants crammed everywhere, the atmosphere was thick enough to overwhelm any ordinary person.
Even me, who'd been acclimated to all kinds of flora since childhood, felt an itchy tickle that threatened endless tears and sneezes from the sheer volume of pollen.
"Anyway, let's get out of here ourselves."
In the end, we hurried out through the rift that served as the dungeon's entrance. The moment we stepped outside, the burrow's mouth collapsed completely behind us, sealing off any chance of return.
"My, my cherished garden has collapsed...!"
Doris the Honey Water Nymph, tucked into my side, cried out in shock. Her mind must have been reeling from the destruction of her home of over a decade.
Whirr whirr.
The massive swarms of honeybees circling above our heads soon scattered in all directions, each vanishing from sight.
They seemed thrilled to escape after so long in captivity, embracing their freedom. Of course, that's just my guess. Who knows what bees really feel.
In the end, Doris the Honey Water Nymph was left abandoned by both her dungeon and her "friends" the bees, slumping like a frail child.
"My friends... abandoned me...."
*
*
*
Thanks to the carriage, we made it back to Sodomora in no time.
We'd set out from the city toward the dungeon around lunchtime, finished up quickly inside, and returned before evening.
"Then I'll handle the report. I want to wash off this pollen smell clinging to me, too. Butterflies keep sticking to me."
Bees and butterflies kept latching onto Hippolyte, leaving her frowning in annoyance as she waved them off with her palm.
I nearly said, "Maybe they think you're a flower," but bit my tongue, sensing the mood would sour.
Antiope chimed in.
"They probably think you're a flower, sis. Like this."
"Don't say useless things, Antiope. Anyway, it was a pretty gruesome dungeon. I never want to go back."
Hippolyte clicked her tongue like someone who'd just escaped hell. Was it really that bad?
Vice Vane had spent the entire carriage ride back coughing and sneezing nonstop after stepping foot in there, so that greenhouse-like space must have been a real ordeal for others.
"Sis, wanna hit the bathhouse together? It's been a while."
"Not a bad idea."
With Antiope and Hippolyte taking on the tedious report, I was free to handle my own errands without swinging by the guild.
"See you later."
As I waved casually to the group, Hippolyte added one more thing, as if she'd almost forgotten.
"Hassan, come to the guild building first thing tomorrow at dawn. We'll probably discuss your promotion then."
"Oh."
Come to think of it, they'd promised a promotion to Silver Tier if we cleared this dungeon.
"I didn't really do much this time. You sure it's okay?"
"Pretext is what matters. We'll have a record of smashing the dungeon, so we can spin it however. And—"
Hippolyte brushed a butterfly off her forehead with her palm and continued.
"Didn't you feel anything when you stepped in there? Withstanding that intense pollen forces your aura into operation, you know."
I'd only felt that ticklish itch—nothing special. I pondered for a moment, wondering if there was more to it.
"It's just that you didn't notice. You're already using aura, Hassan. Seems like you're mostly channeling it into defensive applications."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You could say you've unconsciously wrapped your body in qi. In some ways, it's a natural talent. Train it well so you can wield it freely."
Wrapped in qi?
Did that mean I could finally wield iron now?
All those beatings from Geon’s friends, using me as a sandbag to temper iron rods, hadn't been for nothing after all.
With that, the Amazon sisters vanished into the distance—probably heading to the guild.
Vice Vane, who'd been watching alongside me, spoke up.
"Then I'll take this little one and see her home."
"Is that okay? You look pretty rough."
"Hachoo!"
Vice Vane had the little Samaritan Kiri on his back. His face was massively swollen around his eyes, nose, and mouth.
It was like a severe allergic reaction. He'd been handsome enough before, but the gap made him look comically ridiculous now.
Doris the Honey Water Nymph, peeking out from beside me while eyeing the city, boldly shouted.
"That's the price for barging into Lady Ceres's domain! Serves him right for falling to the man-repelling pollen!"
"Ah, so it was man-repelling pollen. Very nymph-like. Pfftchoo— Why am I suffering more than the Amazons, h-heh, hehhh—."
I put some distance between me and Vice Vane, who kept coughing and sneezing. Hygiene wasn't great in this world, so social distancing seemed wise.
Men passing by him started sneezing and hacking too, no doubt from the pollen drifting off his body.
"I'll head off first to make my report, then. Without you, Samaritan, this would've been much tougher."
"Good work."
And with that, I parted ways with Vice Vane too.
Normally, you'd share drinks and debrief after conquering a dungeon, but everyone was busy, so they all just peeled off one by one. Kinda disappointing.
Now, the only one left by my side was this weird Honey Water Nymph.
"City, a city. Dangerous. Theseus said small nymphs like me might get captured by people, so we must be careful!"
Doris huddled by my leg, trembling as she watched passersby.
Even after years in isolation, she seemed aware of how nymphs were treated in society.
Paranoia roamed around fearlessly on her own lately. This one might actually be smarter in that regard.
*
*
*
I headed not to the north gate, but the west.
Luna's cottage, after so long, was as charming as ever, brimming with a tidy little garden and cozy touches.
Ding-a-ling.
I considered just walking in, but rang the bell at the entrance instead. Someone came to the door.
"Who is it? This is private property.... If you want to enter, you have to pay a toll to Lady Paranoia, the border countess of the yard...."
It was Paranoia, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Doris, who'd been hiding and shaking behind me, suddenly yelled.
"Ahh—! A real nymph! A real nymph!"
"See? I told you, no lie. I said your friend was here."
Doris, who'd abruptly lost her dungeon—her home—had nowhere to go.
Releasing her into the streets risked a honeybee uproar, so I figured I'd keep her for a day.
She'd gotten anxious, thinking I'd sell her off somewhere.
To reassure her, I'd explained there was a nymph like her where I was headed. She hadn't believed me until now, face-to-face.
Paranoia was just as shocked.
"Ahh! Mr. Hassan! That's a nymph...!
Paranoia and Doris strode toward each other like they'd planned it, then pressed their foreheads together.
Smooth.
Two similar-looking little women forehead-to-forehead—it was an eerie sight. According to Echo once, this was how nymphs greeted each other.
They held it for a while, then stepped back. Paranoia spoke first.
"I'm Paranoia, the Ditch Water Nymph...!"
"I'm Doris, the Honey Water Nymph!"
"Honey Water Nymph? Can you control bees?"
Paranoia acting knowledgeable suggested "Honey Water Nymph" was a real thing among nymphs. I'd thought it was made up.
"First time seeing a Honey Water Nymph in person...!"
"Yeah! That's right! But my Bashkir honeybees all flew away...."
"Bashkir honeybees! You tamed incredible bees...! For them to fly off—such a shame...!"
"Not just Bashkir honeybees—I had hornets too! So many, enough to build hives!"
They chattered away, but I could barely follow. From the vibe, nymphs clearly shared some unspoken understanding.
Then Doris rummaged in her bosom—swish swish—and pulled out the wooden vial the bees had left me earlier. She offered it to Paranoia.
"Condensed honey! Eat this, become a Honey Water Nymph, and gather bees with me again!"
"Th-this is—."
Paranoia's face turned unusually serious as she took it.
"This is incredibly precious...!"
Bored of just listening, I subtly asked.
"What's so special about it?"
"Bashkir honey nectar...! If a Ditch Water Nymph like me drinks it, I can evolve into a Honey Water Nymph...! I'd be able to handle bees...!"
"What? Evolve?"
Nymphs evolve? As I pondered, Paranoia elaborated.
"Ditch Water Nymphs have infinite potential...! Through various mediums, we can evolve into new nymph types...!"
"So, drink this nectar, and you become a Honey Water Nymph?"
"Yes...!"
"Ah— Got it."
It's an evolutionary stone. Ditch Water Nymphs are like Eevees. Use different stones for different evolutions.
Nymph evolution, huh.
I got curious.
"Then drink it. Let me see you evolve into a Honey Water Nymph or whatever."
"It's not that simple...! Choosing a path is a grave decision...!"
"Why get mad?"
Was she upset I'd force an evolution? Push it, and you'd get backlash—like a SkullGreymon. Made sense.
Paranoia handed the nectar back to Doris.
"Someday, I'll drink hellfire river water and become a Hellfire Imp. So I can't be a Honey Water Nymph...!"
"What a shame.... But Hellfire Imp? That's just a legend!"
The two nymphs kept babbling in their incomprehensible world.
Doris even laughed, forgetting her earlier fears of the city and the new world. Nothing reassures like meeting a compatriot in unfamiliar lands.
"Hey, Paranoia. Get along with your friend."
"Ah, Mr. Hassan. Won't you see Lady Luna? She's bathing now, but wait a bit...!"
Luna's name made me glance down at myself. Bee attacks had torn my clothes, messed my hair, and pollen dusted everywhere. No way I'd show up like this.
"I'll come back later."
"Black hair! I'll get back what you stole!"
"Swerve, I didn't steal it. Paranoia, socialize her a bit anyway."
I left the chattering nymphs behind and hit the streets again. Walking alone, fatigue started crashing in.
Crash at an inn, then guild tomorrow, right?
That Samaritan kid—did she do the errand I gave her and sneak into the dungeon? How'd she even get in?
Steal a map while I slept? Why so reckless?
Lost in those thoughts, I reached a quiet north-gate inn. The middle-aged innkeeper, wiping bowls indifferently, spoke as I headed upstairs.
"Someone was looking for you. Probably waiting upstairs."
"A guest? Any idea who?"
"Dunno. Seemed like a refined lady."
Refined lady? Who? Who could it be?
The refined women I knew were the baron's daughter, the count's daughter Enya whose feet I'd massaged recently... Maybe one of them?
Why?
Puzzled, the innkeeper added,
"Looked pretty old—like an old lady. Anyway, she's been waiting since earlier. Go on up."
Old lady? Grandmother?
I knew plenty of old men, but no grandmas. Mildly curious, I opened my room door.
In the dimly lit old inn room, I spotted a shadow draped in a black robe.
"Uh, who are you? You wanted to see me?"
The guest rose smoothly from the chair. Called an old lady, but tall—about my height.
"Who're you? Why'd you want to see me?"
"No resemblance at all. But you do. In your rudeness."
"Huh?"
"The honeybees whispered to me, child. I know you now. You know me too."
Bees whispered? Talk to bees? No such thing. Cult recruiter?
The merchant said no peddlers, but innkeeper messed up. How to shoo her out? Bad look, evicting an old woman.
Swish.
As I agonized, the guest removed her hood.
Revealed: white hair elegantly pinned with accessories, a kindly wrinkled face, deep amber eyes.
Regal as an aged queen. Maybe literally. Haughty yet chilling expression sent a shiver down my spine.
Just entering old age? Oddly ageless—old yet young.
Stranger, of course.
"Who the hell are you?"