Chapter 269: The Deepening Secret of the Dungeon
Chapter 269: The Deepening Secret of the Dungeon
After finishing breakfast, I wondered what I should do to kill time today.
Sara, perhaps embarrassed about what happened last night, scurried off to her room the moment she finished eating, avoiding my gaze.
To think she’d get shy now, after she was the one excitedly taking the lead halfway through.
For the record, that maid outfit from last night is now sleeping soundly in my inventory.
Vanessa said I didn’t have to return it. I couldn’t possibly refuse such a kind offer. I’ll be sure to put this to good use in the future.
“Well then, I shall be off to the Guild for a bit.”
And with that, Diana also stood up from her seat.
“The Guild? What for?”
“I have something to discuss regarding the giant Magic Stones.”
Diana began to explain.
If her predictions were correct, these massive Magic Stones existed in various places throughout the labyrinth. In that case, other adventurers would eventually discover them before we did. And nine times out of ten, those adventurers would try to mine the giant stones.
Since the Magic Stones form the very foundation of the labyrinth, if adventurers were to mine them, it could very well trigger an irreversible catastrophe.
So, she was heading to the Guild to discuss the matter and issue a warning.
What a shame. I had been planning to play with Diana today, since it was her turn tonight.
After all, I’d resolved to torment her in the dungeon. My plan was to lift her spirits by playing with her all day, then torment her at night and bring her crashing down.
Too cruel, you say? Heh heh. This is all out of affection, you know.
“Should I come with you, then?”
“Hmm… No. This is not a clan matter, but one for the Mage Association. I will go with these ladies.”
I tried one last time, refusing to give up, but Diana spoke with a slightly regretful expression.
Well, to be honest, there was nothing for me to do even if I tagged along. I wouldn’t be of any help in a conversation about giant Magic Stones.
“I see. Can’t be helped, then.”
I guess I’ll coolly abandon my plan to lift Diana up during the day and bring her down at night. I’ll just have to settle for tormenting her at night.
“Huuu…”
But upon hearing my answer, Diana, for some reason, sighed and walked over to me.
“Don’t make that face. This is a matter that could endanger others, so I must go and give a proper warning. When I return from the Guild, I will give you my full attention.”
As she spoke, Diana pulled my head—still seated in the chair—into her chest and began to stroke my hair.
Apparently, I must have looked lonely.
No, I was just a little disappointed that I couldn’t execute my plan to torment you more effectively.
Ugh. Don’t be so gentle all of a sudden. You’re making me feel guilty.
“No, it’s not that…”
“Hehe. Are you embarrassed?”
That’s really not it.
But faced with Diana’s big-sister mode, which I hadn’t experienced in a while, I felt too awkward to argue any further and decided to just stay quiet.
“I’ll be going, then.”
After stroking my hair for a while longer, as if savoring the moment, Diana pulled away with a look of reluctance.
I caught a glimpse as she moved away—she had been standing on her tiptoes to embrace my head.
Hah. What a cute little thing.
“Yeah. See you later.”
“Mm.”
When I stroked her head as if in return, Diana left the dining hall with a satisfied expression, leading the senior mages of the Association.
But with Diana gone, what on earth am I supposed to do?
Is my angel my only remaining hope?
“Guwon, I was thinking of going to the temple today to tell them I’ve become a High Priestess.”
As our eyes met, Leia spoke with a gentle smile.
Ah, right. There was that.
The last time she went to perform the ceremony to become a High Priestess without telling me, I gave her a piece of my mind for not saying anything. It seems she made sure to tell me before leaving this time.
“Ah, yeah. Should we go together?”
“Yes!”
The moment I suggested going with her, my angel beamed with a radiant smile.
Leia, who finds such happiness in these small things, must truly be an angel.
I didn’t have anything else to do anyway, so I was glad to have something to do with her.
What am I doing, not even thinking about the quest we promised the Arachne Clan? You think I’d leave for that already?
It’s only for a few days, but I’ll be separated from my girls. I’m not going anywhere until I’ve held each of them at least once.
Therefore, the earliest we’ll leave for the quest is the day after tomorrow.
Besides, I needed to visit the temple at some point anyway.
It’s been quite a while since I last saw the High Priestess. I hope I don’t get a scolding the moment I arrive.
Then again, one of the reasons she wanted to educate me was to see if I was truly someone she could entrust Leia to. She seems to trust me quite a bit these days, so I doubt she’ll be too strict.
“Alright, let’s go! But before that… Silvia.”
“Ye-Yes?!”
I offered my arm to Leia, letting her link it with mine, then turned my head toward Silvia, who was still staring intently at me from a short distance away.
“You, stop standing over there and come here. You don’t have anything else to do, do you?”
If I didn’t say anything, she’d probably end up stalking me, thinking she was following me in secret.
So I made the first move.
“Ye-Yes?! B-But…”
Thinking she would be intruding on my date with Leia, Silvia panicked and glanced nervously at her.
Hmph. You have a tendency to judge things by your own standards.
The magnanimity of my angel cannot be measured by the standards of ordinary people.
Because she’s not a person, she’s an angel!
“Hehe. It’s alright, Silvia. Please, come with us.”
See?
Leia smiled sweetly and extended the arm opposite the one linked with mine, beckoning Silvia over.
I’ll say it again. Leia is an angel.
“A-Are you really sure it’s okay?”
“Hehe. Yes.”
Don’t you dare try to measure the vastness of my angel’s heart.
I quickly snatched Silvia as she timidly approached and tucked her under my arm.
“Hyaaaah!”
Startled by my sudden action, Silvia tried to escape, but it was too late once she was pinned to my side.
Besides, her legs seemed to have gone a little weak, as she was just flailing without any real strength.
“Hahahaha! You can’t escape now.”
“Uwaah… uwaaah…”
“Guwon. You shouldn’t tease Silvia so much.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
Well, I’m not letting go, though. This is all part of her special training.
A man who never stops training, even in his daily life. I’m so proud of myself.
With Leia on one arm and Silvia on the other—a flower in each hand, a sight to make any man die of envy—I headed for the temple.
But all the while, Silvia continued to vibrate, her face beet red. To an onlooker, it must have looked like I was molesting a delicate young woman.
On the way to the temple, I could feel an incredible number of gazes on us, especially those shifting back and forth between me and Silvia.
But I paid them no mind.
If you yourself believe you have nothing to be ashamed of, there’s no need to care about what others think.
However, as we neared the temple, the crowds in the streets grew, and with them, the number of stares directed our way.
And eventually, a young man overflowing with a sense of justice, unable to ignore a perceived wrong, appeared.
“Hold on! You there! Stop right there!”
A young man with rather refreshing, handsome features blocked our path.
He was probably an adventurer on his way to the temple to recruit a priest. He was dressed like an adventurer from head to toe, and behind him stood three women, also dressed as adventurers.
It was likely an adventuring party similar to mine, with one man and several women.
Then again, I imagine most parties with a man in them are like that in this world.
“What is it?”
“What do you mean, ‘what is it’?! The absolute nerve! Harassing a young woman in broad daylight, and right in front of the temple, no less! Have you no shame before the Goddess!”
“Harassing? That’s a rather unpleasant choice of words. She’s not hating this, she’s loving it so much she could die.”
Male adventurers are generally friendly with one another.
I was in plain clothes, so he probably didn’t think I was an adventurer, but I tried to speak to the handsome youth in a friendly manner.
“Do you really think such a ridiculous excuse will work! Release her at once!” the handsome youth shouted, striding toward me.
Hearing him, I released my arm from around Silvia’s waist.
“Hah, haah, haah, haah.”
As soon as she was free, Silvia stumbled a few steps away on trembling legs before collapsing to the ground, clutching the area over her heart and gasping for breath.
“Are you alright?”
The handsome youth approached the collapsed Silvia and asked with a worried expression.
At a glance, he seemed to have no ulterior motives, but his smooth movements suggested this wasn’t the first or second time he’d wooed a woman this way.
Well, well. Pretending to be righteous, but that was your goal all along, was it?
But even seeing that, I didn’t react.
Even though my relationship with Silvia isn’t the same as with the other three, she’s still a woman in my arms right now. Of course it pisses me off when another guy makes a move on her.
The old me would have put a stop to him immediately.
But since the Apostle Appointment, I’ve become a little more relaxed. There’s no way my girls would ever do anything I’d dislike.
And while I haven’t performed the Apostle Appointment on Silvia, I have at least confirmed that it’s possible.
“Did that bastard touch you anywhere strange…?”
The man spoke as he casually tried to place an arm around her shoulder, but Silvia, having finally caught her breath, coldly slapped it away.
“By ‘that bastard,’ are you perhaps referring to Lord Guwon?”
“Wh-What?!”
“He is not someone a lowly person such as yourself should be referring to as a ‘bastard.’”
Ooh. Go, Silvia. You’re so articulate when you’re not talking to me.
And that subtle, condescending tone makes her sound just like a noble.
Come to think of it, when we first met, she spoke politely but had a faintly annoyed expression and a pushy attitude.
Lost in my thoughts, I listened with great interest to the conversation between the handsome youth and Silvia.
“B-But that bastard… that man was just harassing you!”
The handsome youth started to call me a bastard again, but quickly corrected himself when Silvia’s eyes narrowed.
Yep. When a beauty who usually has a dazed expression gets a sharp look in her eyes, it’s scary. I get it.
“Harassing? No. He was merely holding me.”
“B-But your face was bright red and you looked like you hated it…!”
“That was only because I was so happy I couldn’t control the beating of my heart.”
Unlike when she spoke to me, Silvia spoke calmly, without a hint of shyness.
“Wh-What?!”
“If you have no further business, would you please step aside?”
“Ah, yes!”
Faced with Silvia’s calm but firm tone, the handsome youth flusteredly stepped aside.
Silvia took a few deep breaths, then squeezed her eyes shut and timidly approached my side again.
It seemed to be her way of saying she was ready for me to hold her again.
Heh. It’s cute how her body is trembling before I even touch her.
“Hyaaaah!”
I pulled Silvia tightly to my side again and brought my lips to her ear.
“You like it that much?”
“Auuu… I-I dooo…”
I feel like if I blew just a little more into her ear, she might just melt. Should I test it out?
But as if reading my thoughts, Leia tightened her grip on my arm, pressing her soft chest against me as she spoke.
“Guwon. I told you not to tease Silvia so much. If you do that again, you’ll get a scolding!”
“Hehe. Sorry, Leia.”
Silvia, you were saved thanks to the angel.
At my angel’s adorable warning, I immediately gave up on teasing Silvia.
To be so pure, mature, and cute all at once. She’s the best.
Having abandoned my teasing, I looked at the handsome youth, who was staring at us blankly.
“Hey.”
“Uh, no, yes?!”
Thanks to Silvia making me sound like some important figure, the handsome youth seemed confused about whether he should be using formal language with me or not.
“I told you she likes it. From now on, listen to what people say. Besides, you were going on about having no shame before the Goddess, but I guess you didn’t see the priestess standing right next to me? If I were really harassing a woman in front of the temple, do you think a priestess would just stand by and say nothing?”
“Huh? …Ah.”
It seemed the handsome youth had only just noticed Leia’s presence.
To be fair, her priestess robes are customized, so they might have been a bit hard to recognize.
Even so, it was infuriating.
Anyone who looked properly would have known they were priestess robes.
That means this bastard was focused only on Silvia, not Leia.
How is that even possible with this massive difference in chest size right in front of him? Is this bastard a lolita-complex freak or something?
Come to think of it, the three female adventurers behind him also had vaguely young-looking faces and showed signs of arrested development.
On the outside, he looks like a righteous, handsome young man.
“So. Your apology?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I’m sorry for the pointless misunderstanding!”
The handsome youth seemed to be a decent guy at his core. As soon as I said it, he readily bowed his head and apologized.
Well, his tastes are what they are, though.
“Right. Be more careful next time. We’re fellow adventurers, so let’s just say hi if we meet again.”
“Yes. Huh? Adventurer? Aah!”
The guy yelled as he finally realized he had no reason to speak to me so formally, but I paid him no mind and turned to leave.