12. Entangled Relationships
12. Entangled Relationships
What is a dungeon?
To explain its origin, we must first talk about the demons. Beings now treated merely as fairy tales, myths, or ghost stories.
But we don't need tedious and pedantic explanations. There's no reason to talk at length about things that no longer exist on the surface.
A convenient story - that they disappeared from the surface after being defeated in the Great War.
...If this world were one where a Tsukuru-like game was brought to life, it would be enough to remember it as such a setting.
And the otherworld that occurs when space becomes distorted by their remnants. That is essentially what a dungeon is.
[ Rank: B ]
B-rank is a dangerous dungeon.
Though far from X-rank or A-rank, which require national mobilization, it's still classified as a high-risk dungeon. The reasons for the danger vary from dungeon to dungeon.
Cases where a powerful boss guards the dungeon.
Cases where an enormous number of monsters swarm densely.
What we can learn from this: A dungeon's rank is determined by the magnitude of magical energy it emits. This means the dungeon that appeared near Bellua corresponds to B-rank in either quantity or quality.
Fortunately enough,
The one we've decided to go to this time is the latter.
If it were the former, I wouldn't have even considered taking Isabella. A ragtag group with just numbers - if we're careful, it shouldn't be too dangerous.
"Argor-nim. Ibel-nim. And Noah-nim. Are you saying just the three of you are going?"
"Yes. Don't worry. We just plan to look around the dungeon entrance area and come back. Even for me, it's been a while since real combat."
"Hmm... If it's Noah-nim, I'm sure you'll manage somehow..."
Lynn rested her chin on her hand with a troubled expression.
The Adventurer's Guild was currently at its busiest in recent times. With the appearance of a B-rank dungeon, large-scale party recruitment was actively underway.
And amidst all this, they were saying they'd go into the dungeon with just three people.
"Since dungeon entrances have appeared in over ten locations in clusters, if Noah-nim takes charge of one of them, it would be good for us. I heard measurement results show the interior is incredibly vast."
"Good then. That means just guarding the area near the entrance would be quite helpful. Give us the permit, Lynn."
"...Even so, three people is a bit much. One. Just take one more person. You've been staying at the church lately, right? Perfect timing to recruit a priest. If Noah-nim gets injured and returns, what a huge loss it would be for Bellua...!"
"A priest?"
A priest...
Certainly a reasonable opinion. My life motto is ultimately to live peacefully as a commoner. While going to the dungeon to develop my disciple's combat experience is fine, I don't want to get unnecessarily injured.
After thinking for a moment, the perfect candidate came to mind.
Someone who already has experience forming a party and going to a dungeon,
"Add Elize from Bellua Church too."
"Yep! If it's Priest Elize, I can rest easy too. Then I'll process it as four people!"
I didn't ask for her consent though.
She'll probably come along, whatever.
"Please be careful on your journey. I'll record your departure for two days from now. If you don't return within two weeks, you'll be processed as missing, I should inform you in advance..."
"Yeah, yeah."
"If you'd like to apply for insurance..."
"Insurance is fine."
"If you're considering applying for funeral services..."
"Not needed..."
Roughly long explanations, this and that.
I listened to Lynn's businesslike guidance with a bored expression, letting it go in one ear and out the other, then left the guild.
===
Bellua, which had been extremely peaceful.
This peace had lasted quite a while. Unfortunately, a dungeon appeared, monsters began swarming the area, and adventurers and mercenaries flocked to subjugate them.
Then, paradoxically,
Bellua becomes a vibrant city.
"There seem to be more people at the taverns than usual. Master?"
"Because there are more mercenaries. Those guys. As soon as dawn breaks tomorrow, they'll all take up their swords and leave the city. Among them, some will never return."
Noah added indifferently.
The streets bustling with crowds. Laughter and clinking glasses from every tavern. The sound of someone fighting and others laughing heartily at it. The excitement was palpable everywhere.
"So they play while they can. Eat delicious food, pour alcohol down their throats."
"...So that's why we came out to eat too?"
"Killing two birds with one stone."
Noah, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped. As Isabella, who was following, almost bumped into him and hesitated, Noah slightly turned his head and whispered softly into Isabella's ear.
"Probably most of them will have a woman in their arms tonight. If they don't have a lover, they'll go to a brothel."
"Huh? Why are you suddenly telling me this..."
"I'm saying if you want to do it too, go ahead. Holding back isn't good for your body or mind, disciple."
"Ah, no! Master! I, I only want Master!"
A shout that couldn't quite finish the rest of the sentence.
Noah didn't even pay attention and strode forward quickly. Isabella's right hand stretched out into empty air, unable to reach the distance between them.
"Master is so vexing......"
Isabella recalled the 'Number 1' from that place. The grateful first experience partner who listened to her story. She couldn't deny that she held favor toward her.
But,
Somehow, she felt an inexplicable guilt at the thought of mixing bodies with another woman while having Master, Noah. So she couldn't bring herself to visit after that.
At the same time,
Part of her felt sorry, thinking maybe 'Number 1' was waiting...
A confused, dizzying heart that couldn't decide one way or the other.
"......"
Isabella slapped her own cheeks with both hands. Since Master is important now, she steeled herself thinking there's no choice, and hurried after Noah with quick steps.
"Master! Let's go together!"
===
Mr. Bread's restaurant was still worth the money.
While grilling pork or beef is nice, ingredients like lobster are bothersome to prepare yourself, so eating out is better for mental health.
As long as your wallet allows, don't skimp on food. That's one form of a commoner's life, I suppose.
Additionally, I drank alcohol as a bonus today. And as a result,
"Uhehe... There are two Masters... Hehe, two Masters..."
"Tsk. All strength. Your alcohol tolerance is truly pathetic."
I sighed while looking at Isabella sitting across from me, grinning foolishly. With a Gift specialized in physical abilities, I thought she'd be able to hold her liquor...
I'm still perfectly fine, after all.
"Huh? I-I'm not drunk yet? I can drink mooore?"
Typical drunk person talk.
The type whose tongue is so tangled their pronunciation is slurred, yet full of enthusiasm. But I suppose this level is cute. I lightly ignored my disciple's nonsense and waved my hand.
Soon, Mr. Bread's daughter, Marie, approached with an exasperated expression.
"Marie, the check please."
"Ugh, Noah-nim. How many drinks did you have? This person seems completely gone..."
"She insisted on drinking and ended up like this. Taking her back will be a chore."
Marie looked at Isabella pityingly and handed over the receipt. I told her to stop drinking, but whatever.
I shrugged and examined the receipt.
"Hmm, lobster special with premium liquor set... I'll take 2 gold coins and give you 3 silver coins back."
"It was a good meal. Marie. Please tell Bread too."
"Yep! Please come again!"
[ Magic that enhances strength ]
I supported Isabella and left Mr. Bread's restaurant. She was still drunk, unable to control her own body. To make her master support her like this.
How utterly insolent.
The taverns still leaked the boisterous voices of men. But the sun had set, the street stalls had all disappeared, and the windows of surrounding buildings were all closed with almost no light visible.
Only the lanterns spaced 10 meters apart and the high moonlight illuminated the path.
Even such nights are familiar to me.
"...... I-I can walk by myseeelf."
"Yeah, right."
In the distance, the church spire was faintly visible.
How many more minutes would we have to walk to reach the church? Making such tedious calculations is a pedantic way of thinking, no matter how much time one has.
First, I need to sober her up...
To do that, I turned my steps and took Isabella into a secluded alley where even the lantern light didn't reach. In darkness where no one's gaze could reach, I pushed Isabella against the wall,
"Ibel."
"Mas... ter?"
Our gazes illuminated each other's pupils.
"I'm going to kiss you until you come to your senses."
"Ghk...!"
A kiss with the strong scent of alcohol.
At first, the fool just blinked blankly. With pupils dilated and a dazed look, as if unaware of what was happening to her...
She wouldn't notice if someone carried her away.
Chuup... Chup... Chuup...
Not a light peck but a deep kiss mixing tongues and exchanging saliva.
Pressing Isabella against the wall, close enough for our navels to touch, intensely.
Pushing my tongue between her parted lips, persistently exploring.
"Chup, chuup...."
"Huh...?"
"Haup... Puha... Haup... Tsk...."
Vitality gradually returns to the dazed eyes. Pupils gradually enlarge. Meanwhile, unable to close her mouth, saliva naturally drips around Noah's chest area.
One intense kiss until we're out of breath.
When our lips parted, a shining thread of saliva glimmered in the air before snapping with a 'tuk'. A distance where our noses almost touch. Exhaling, our breaths tickle each other's chins.
And, we make eye contact.
"Ibel."
I called again. I needed to check if she had come to her senses.
"...Yes."
"Are you sober now?"
"...Not yet."
"Shall we do it once more then?"
"...Yes."
And immediately, our lips meet again.
This time, lightly overlapping upper and lower lips. Not inserting the tongue.
Chu, chu, chu.
Instead of sticky sounds, the ticklish sound of skin touching and separating. The sensation of skin sticking and unsticking from each other's saliva when lips touch and part...
It stimulates the skin quite pleasantly.
Moving lips, mixing breaths, colliding again...
We repeat several times. And I ask again.
"Are you sober now?"
"I don't know. Master."
"So greedy. My disciple is."
Two days before going to the dungeon.
Probably the time when many mercenaries would be holding women.
I took Isabella's hand and left the alley. The direction our steps headed was the complete opposite of the church.