Chapter 265: The Deepening Secret of the Dungeon
Chapter 265: The Deepening Secret of the Dungeon
Fortunately, I was able to remember that the day I met Alicia was the same day I first met Leia at the guild, so the misunderstanding was easily cleared up.
I had met Leia around lunchtime, which meant I couldn't have been at the Arachne Clan House for very long.
Besides, if I had given in to temptation back then, I wouldn't be here like this right now.
“Honestly! How could you not trust me! I’m disappointed in all of you!”
After clearing everything up, I pretended to be angry. In response, my girls all wore apologetic expressions and clung to me.
Seeing them on the verge of tears as they held onto me, I couldn't help but let my anger melt away.
How could I stay mad when the girls I love are acting like this? If I let my guard down for a second, I feel like my expression would go completely slack.
But to enjoy the situation a little longer, I deliberately tensed my facial muscles and maintained my angry look.
“My apologies. You are forgiven. Yes. I shall pat your head.”
No, wait. You enjoy patting my head more than I do.
Well, I guess I enjoy it too.
“I’m really sorry. What can I do to make you forgive me? I’ll do anything you ask.”
“Anything I ask?! W-Well, since tonight is Sara’s turn… Ahem. It’s not like I’m angry because I want something.”
That was close. My mask almost slipped.
No, wait. Even if my mask slips now, would it be more beneficial to use this chance to make all sorts of demands of Sara?
“I’m sorry, Guwon. I was also…”
“Ah, no. You have nothing to be sorry for. Yes. If anything, I am the one who should apologize.”
“G-Guwon? Are you that angry?”
Leia looked up at me with a slightly shocked expression as I used formal speech with her.
No. That formal tone just… slipped out for some reason. Yes. It just came out.
My angel is truly at her best when she’s this gentle.
To think I was once curious about what this angel would look like when she was angry.
Let’s never harbor such an absurd curiosity again. Ever.
But that aside, isn’t it a bit much that no one stepped in while the three of them were grilling me?
Silvia, well, I can let her slide. She didn’t express it, but considering her position, she was probably jealous, too.
But the elder sisters from the Mage Association… No, maybe I should be grateful they didn’t join the attack, shouting something like, ‘How dare you betray Lady Diana!’
No matter how close I’ve gotten with them lately, my bond with them is insignificant compared to Diana’s.
I’m really lucky to be alive.
After the misunderstanding was fully resolved, we returned to the mansion.
It seemed I wasn’t the only one who had missed the sunlight after spending several days in the ant nest.
Without anyone suggesting it, we all naturally gathered in the garden to sunbathe.
First, Leia leaned against a large tree in the garden. Then, blushing slightly, she looked at me and patted her thighs.
That gesture means what I think it means, right?
Without hesitation, I laid my head on Leia’s lap and flopped down.
I think this every time I lie down like this, but damn, they’re powerful.
We were already under a tree, but Leia’s enormous breasts created an even more perfect canopy over my face.
This was a view only Leia could create.
A sight only an angel could create. Does that mean this is what heaven looks like?
As I was savoring my slice of heaven, Sara and Diana snuggled up against me on either side.
“You’re letting Leia steal all your attention again. You can’t forget about me, you know?”
Was it because she felt bad for treating me so harshly just a moment ago? Unlike her usual self, Sara suppressed her jealousy and spoke in a cute tone.
She placed her thigh over one of my legs, crossing them and pressing her body tightly against mine.
“D-Don’t you forget about me, either!”
Seeing Sara, Diana seemed to decide she couldn’t lose and hugged me tightly.
However, perhaps aware that she lacked the volume of Sara or Leia, her posture was strangely unconfident.
It almost looked like she was trying to avoid pressing her chest against me.
It’s okay. You have your own unique charms.
With that thought in mind, I put strength into my arms and hugged Diana back tightly.
Only then did Diana flash a brilliant smile and start nuzzling her cheek against my chest.
“Hmph. Hmph. You really are something else. Am I really that wonderful to you?”
The moment I’m nice to her, her confidence skyrockets and she starts getting cocky.
Then again, she’s always been the type to be overflowing with self-confidence.
When she acts like this, it’s just human nature to want to tease her and make her sullen again.
Well, she’s cute, so I’ll let it go. I’ll save the teasing for later. Yes, for tonight.
“Silvia. You come over here, too. Don’t just stand there.”
Surrounded by my three girls, I turned my head slightly to speak.
In the direction I looked, Silvia was watching us from afar with an envious expression.
With half her body hidden behind a tree, she looked exactly like a stalker.
“M-Me?! B-But where…”
Where? Why are you looking my body up and down while asking that?
Ah, don’t tell me…
“Hey. When did I tell you to cling to me? I just meant you should come closer instead of standing over there.”
“Ah, y-yes! I-I see.”
Just as I thought.
It seems Silvia was thinking about our “special training” again.
No matter how much you remind me of a cute pet, I have no intention of hugging and cuddling you while I’m already tangled up with my girls, you know.
Finally understanding my true meaning, Silvia approached and sat down with a look of slight relief, but also a hint of disappointment.
She’s the one who flails and tries to run away whenever I actually hug her. And yet, look at her, disappointed that I didn’t offer to.
Anyway, this is good. This is perfect.
Sunbathing while surrounded by four beauties. This is a privilege reserved only for those who have achieved a true harem.
In this moment, I am closer to being the Harem King than any other man.
I feel like I’ve achieved the dream I had when I first came to this world.
Have I really become the Harem King?
No. I can’t be satisfied with just this. A true Harem King would follow this up with a group bath…
“Now that everyone is gathered, there is something I wish to discuss once more.”
Just as I was setting a new goal for myself, Diana, who had been wearing a blissful expression beside me, suddenly spoke up.
“Hm? What is it?”
“It is about the magic stone we researched.”
With that opening, Diana began to explain.
To summarize, her points were as follows:
First, that magic stone was something like the core that constitutes the dungeon.
Furthermore, if Diana’s prediction was correct, similar cores likely existed in various places throughout the dungeon. Not only that, but there was a high probability that these cores were connected, forming some kind of magical formula.
However, the formula was far too advanced for them to comprehend. The magic stone we found only allowed them to observe a tiny fraction of it, and the amount of mana it contained was so absurdly vast that deciphering the formula was currently impossible.
Most of this was stuff I’d already heard in the ant nest, but I suppose she wanted to properly explain it to everyone now that we were all together.
“So, you’re saying you want to find more magic stones like that one as we explore the dungeon, Diana?”
“Mm. That is not all. I find it impossible to believe that the individual who created such a thing is simply dead. One who could handle such immense mana and construct such an incredible formula… This is merely a baseless prediction, but I have a feeling that the creator might still be alive, deep within the dungeon. If so, I wish to meet them.”
It seemed Diana had found her reason to explore the dungeon.
If that’s what Diana wanted, then I would gladly explore the dungeon with her.
Besides, that wasn’t the only reason.
It wasn’t just Diana; I, too, had found a new motivation to explore the dungeon.
It was because of what Diana had said before—that something like this seemed impossible unless you were a god.
Despite saying so herself, Diana didn’t seem to be entertaining the hypothesis that a god created the dungeon, but I was different.
I had a strong feeling that the dungeon really was created by a god.
The fact that the dungeon’s mechanics were the same as the Great Earth games I used to enjoy fueled my suspicion.
If a god truly did create the dungeon, then I needed to investigate.
It couldn’t be a coincidence that I was transported to this dungeon city through a game about conquering a dungeon.
The Goddess must have sent me to this world to conquer the dungeon.
But there’s a chance the Goddess herself created this dungeon.
It doesn’t add up, does it? Why would she do something like that?
I didn’t want to doubt the Goddess who created this wonderful world, but the circumstances forced me to be suspicious.
Many of the novels I read back in my original world had similar plots, which further guided my thoughts in that direction.
A cruel god who enjoys toying with people for their own amusement, or one who puts people through trials like this to test them, only to impose another duty on those who pass.
Well, compared to the gods in those novels, the Goddess here hasn’t forced me to do anything, but it’s better to be cautious.
If the worst-case scenario were to happen, the outcome could change 180 degrees depending on how much information I have.
I want to live a long and happy life in this world with the girls I love.
But what if the reason the Goddess sent me to explore the dungeon was to see if I was worthy, and the moment I conquer it, I get dragged into some war between gods?
If I had information, I could deliberately stall and avoid conquering the dungeon.
Therefore, I need to explore the dungeon to find out for what purpose it was created.
Fortunately, I have Diana, the world’s greatest mage, by my side.
If we find more objects like that magic stone and decipher more of that formula or whatever it is, we might find an answer.
In truth, this was the biggest reason I accepted Alicia’s request.
Whether for my sake or for Diana’s, we will have to venture into the dungeon from now on.
And for that, observing the battles of seasoned adventurers will be a great help for our future endeavors.
When I said I wanted to see the deeper floors with my own eyes, I didn’t just mean I wanted to see the scenery or the monsters.
I will witness the combat methods of adventurers who fight in the depths with my own eyes and make them completely my own.
Of course, we have Diana in our party, who is experienced in adventuring, but there’s a limit to how much she can help. It’s completely different from seeing and experiencing it firsthand.
Yes, experiencing it yourself is the best way.
If that weren’t the case, I never would have accepted such a request.
It means I have to be separated from my girls, even if only for a few days.
Ugh. Just thinking about being away from them is already making my chest feel tight.
Lying here with all of them clinging to me makes it feel even worse.
Should I just quit the request?
Yeah, I know. I’m just saying.
Figuring out the purpose of the dungeon is essential for me to continue living like this with my girls for a long, long time.
I just have to think of this short separation as a necessary step toward that goal.
“Diana. Let’s make sure we uncover the secret of that magic stone.”
“Mm. Of course.”
Diana patted my head as if she was proud of me for taking on her cause as my own.
Well, it is my cause, too.
But all of this is just my speculation.
Perhaps the Goddess threw me into this world for no reason at all, or for some trivial reason that isn’t as grand as I’m imagining.
I don’t want to worry them for nothing, so I’ll keep quiet for now.
More importantly…
“Kyaa!”
“Ugh! What are you doing all of a sudden!”
Before I leave for the Arachne Clan’s request, I need to get my fill of the girls as much as possible.
I buried my head deeper into Leia’s thighs while pulling Sara and Diana into a tight embrace with both arms.