Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Suspicious Request (5)
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As we ventured deeper into the forest, Song Ha-eun suddenly showed a strange reaction.
"Uh, uh?!"
"What's wrong?"
"O-Oppa, wait a minute. The spirit..."
"Why? What's the problem? Ha-eun?"
"The spirit... is refusing to move forward."
"...Refusing to move forward?"
Everyone's faces turned uneasy at the news that the spirit was refusing to go any further inside.
'Even a low-grade spirit... refusing? Does that mean there's something ahead?'
At the very least, if a low-grade spirit was refusing to enter deeper into the forest, it meant this request wasn't going to be an easy one.
"...Sister Yu-ju, what do we do..?"
"...For now, let's go a bit further. Even if we can't resolve the issue, we need to find the cause if we're going to have the face to meet the client."
The most ideal choice. With the request's difficulty suddenly seeming to spike, finding the cause and wrapping things up looked like the best option.
Following Seo Yu-ju's decision, we pressed on, and what came into view was a cave.
"This... I'm not certain, but it looks like a dungeon."
"S-Sister.. what now.."
It looked like an ordinary cave from the outside, but we had no intention of entering this dungeon. The very air around it felt murky and ominous.
'Going in there with our group... that'd be suicide. Even with Seo Yu-ju...'
If it was a dungeon Seo Yu-ju knew how to clear, that'd be one thing, but she seemed clueless about this request from the start.
"...We've identified the cause, so let's head back to the mansion."
Fortunately, we'd decided to turn back.
After camping overnight, we finally arrived at the mansion the next morning.
When we reported to the young lady, her eyes went wide at the mention of a possible dungeon, and she began to stutter.
"A d-dungeon?"
"Yes. Deep in the northwest direction inside the forest, we found a cave suspected to be a dungeon. I suspect that's the reason for the undead appearances."
"A dungeon... are you sure?"
"...I can't say for certain, but it's probably a dungeon. It wasn't an ordinary cave. We marked the path on the way back, so it'll be easy to find."
"Th-then, about clearing the dungeon..."
This time, instead of Seo Yu-ju, I spoke up to the young lady. It'd probably be more effective coming from me.
"I'm sorry, miss, but clearing the dungeon is beyond us. We suspect it's not one we can handle at our level."
"That serious?"
"Probably... It's just my guess, but considering how strongly the low-grade spirit refused, I suspect it's a Hero-grade dungeon."
Of course, there's no confirmation. But last time with the Rare-grade dungeon, the spirit hadn't refused, yet this time it did—and Seo Yu-ju had hesitated to enter—so it was likely Hero-grade.
"...I understand for now. Still, accurately assessing the situation will take some time, so please don't leave right away."
This time, Seo Yu-ju responded.
"Then...?"
"Rest here for about a week, everyone. The servants will prepare anything you need."
"...Understood. Then..."
They needed time to assess the situation too, so Seo Yu-ju accepted the young lady's proposal.
'Well... resting a week at the mansion is fine.'
As we left the young lady's office, Hyun-jin spoke up.
"Now... what will everyone do?"
"Ha... fuck, I'm gonna rest. What about you?"
"Hm... Looks like there's a training ground at the mansion too. Should we ask to borrow it?"
"Wow... training here too? You're relentless, impressive."
"Sister, it's better than being lazy."
"True. Hoo, damn~ Should I train too?"
"Better to do that, sister. Moving's better than resting."
"Hey, did you work out on Earth or something? Why do you like moving so much?"
"Uh... no? I just did some light running..."
"Really?"
"Hyung-nim, what about you?"
"Ah... I'm gonna head out of the mansion and check out the city vibe."
"City vibe?"
"Yeah. To see what the atmosphere's like here. I've been out a few times, but haven't looked closely."
With the dungeon discovered, it was definitely necessary to check the city's atmosphere.
'..... Too peaceful.'
Having surveyed the city, it was excessively peaceful for a place with a dungeon nearby. People's faces were full of smiles, and nothing seemed off.
'Well... if there was a problem in this city, regressor Seo Yu-ju would've known.'
No matter how busy she was during this period in her first round, she wouldn't forget a major issue in a single city.
'So the dungeon isn't a big problem?'
Given that only ghouls had emerged from the forest despite the dungeon's presence, it was a plausible guess.
In any case... summing up my impressions so far, the dungeon's atmosphere and the outside world were total opposites.
And one more thing came to mind: Sharis.
'If... that maid is connected to this, there'll be some reaction tonight.'
The news of the dungeon would reach her ears too, and if she was linked to it, there'd definitely be a response.
'...If the chimera returns today with something important, that'd be good.'
I'd just been thinking about the maid when, unexpectedly, she came into view.
'...Why outside the mansion?'
A certain man was talking to her. From his appearance, he looked like a noble's son.
"Sharis. Huh? Don't be like that, just talk to me."
"I said no. If you keep this up..."
It looked like exactly the kind of situation that'd be a pain to get involved in, so I was hurrying to leave.
"Ah... hey! W-Wait a minute!"
'Damn.'
Ignoring the call, I quickened my pace to get away as fast as possible. I was alone right now, and getting dragged into needless hassle would just be tiring.
'Crazy...! Why is she following?'
Quick steps weren't enough, so I started running, but her stats were far superior to mine, and she caught up in no time.
"What.. why following..."
"Hey..! Why are you running away?"
'You don't know?'
Sharis had only just arrived, but the noble-looking guy was panting as he followed behind.
"Huff.. huff.. Sharis..! Where are you... huh?"
The man spotted me and gave me a look that said, "Who the hell is this guy?"
"Who are you?"
'Ha... crazy..'
"...It's nothing. I'll be going now..."
Grab.
"Why are you running away!"
'This crazy bitch, what the fuck!'
"Haha... Maid Sharis? Could you let go of my arm..."
She began lip-syncing her intent to me.
Help . me . please.
'Help my ass.'
"Haha.. you two have a nice talk. I'll be going."
"No, I asked. Who are you! Do you know Sharis?"
'Crazy bastard...'
"Ah... this person came to our mansion for a request."
"A request... so an outsider?"
"Yes. And..."
She suddenly gripped my arm tighter and spouted nonsense.
"I like this person. So please leave."
'What...'
"Sha, Sharis.. what did you say?"
Leaving the man's reaction like he'd misheard, her absurd words nearly made a curse slip from my mouth reflexively.
"What do you..."
"Sharis...! What do you mean? You like this outsider?"
"Crazy.. no, no. This maid is saying something weird..."
"Oppa, is this how you are?! You're abandoning me now?!"
'Fuck, stop the sudden acting.'
"Who the hell are you to Sharis...!"
'Retarded fuck! Can't even tell a poisoned chalice... fuck...!'
Suspecting he might be like this crazy bitch, I checked his status window—thankfully, he was just a normal person. Probably the local noble's son as I'd guessed.
Caught in this unforeseen situation, my anger was on the verge of erupting, and harsh words slipped out before I knew it.
"Ha... why are you using informal speech?"
"What?"
"I'm asking why you're speaking informally."
"You... do you know who I am?"
'Who the hell are you?'
As far as I knew, outsiders weren't nobles or commoners under continental law. In other words, I had no reason to take informal speech from this guy.
Of course, a normal outsider would indeed be weaker than a noble family.
'But large clan members are different.'
In this world, no native could ignore the power of a large clan. Meaning large clan members, even if not nobles, were treated as quasi-nobles.
Large clan executives or masters were practically treated as nobles.
"You know who I am and still act like this?"
"Wh-what? Who are you?!"
'Idiot bastard...'
"...I'm from Eternity Clan."
"E-Eternity Clan?"
As expected of one of the three great clans, his expression turned uneasy at the name.
He was probably thinking something like, "What if this guy's an executive?"
"A-An Eternity Clan executive?"
"...No. Not an executive, just a regular clan member."
At "regular clan member," the man's expression relaxed. He seemed relieved it wasn't an executive.
"Ahem, ahem... I seem to have been rude. I'm Diket Bergen, eldest son of the Bergen Barony."
"......"
With me silent, the man spoke up.
"But... may I ask what your relationship with Sharis is?"
I frowned and glared at Sharis.
'Fuck, stop lip-signaling.'
"...Sigh, truth is, we like each other. So can I go now?"
Seemed easier to just agree and get rid of this bastard quick, so I affirmed his question.
"Ha... you're an outsider, aren't you? Why her? I can't understand...!"
'Fuck, what's not to understand? Take this crazy bitch yourself. Damn..'
I seriously wanted to blow up this city. Starting with that slut, why couldn't they leave a quiet person alone?
"...Young master Diket. My relationship with him is none of your business..."
"Why...! I've expressed my feelings so much! How can you be so firm?!"
'Don't get worked up, bastard. I'm the one constantly blocking your path to hell.'
His eagerness to throw his life into the shitter left me so baffled I could only let out a dry laugh.
I was curious how that expression would change if he learned the true nature of the woman he was confessing to.
"Young master Diket... please stop. I'm grateful for your feelings, but... I can't accept them."
'Detestable bitch.'
It gave me chills knowing this was all an act.
Suddenly, the situation struck me as ridiculous.
One guy was courting a dangerous woman like a moth to a flame, another knew her true nature and was trying to flee, and the crazy woman was clinging to the man fleeing her—this whole mess.
"Sharis!"
Suddenly, he rushed over and grabbed both her hands. For a split second, Sharis looked genuinely annoyed, a flash of killing intent in her eyes that I didn't miss.
She quickly composed her expression and shot me a look that said, "Handle this somehow."
'Damn...'
Slap.
"...Diket. Isn't this behavior rude?"
"...That's..."
"Please leave. We're busy."
"...Sharis. I'll contact you later... I won't give up. I'm serious."
With that, the man trudged away.
The moment he said his farewells and left, I knew I should hold back, but the accumulated stress lately made harsh words spill out at the woman anyway.
"Fuck, what the hell was that?"
"......Pardon?"
She looked stunned, never expecting me to curse, doubting what she'd heard.
"...Never drag me into shit like this again."
Slap.
I slapped away her hand still gripping my arm and headed back to the mansion.