Chapter 463: A Reversal of Roles
Chapter 463: A Reversal of Roles
I almost wish she didn't like me.
Then I could have just brushed it off and we could have continued being close, like an older sister and younger brother.
I felt bad for thinking that way about Rachel, who genuinely likes me, but that's just how confused I was.
What do I do?
I had a contingency plan for a scenario where she didn't like me, but I hadn't prepared at all for the reality that she actually did.
Maybe I had subconsciously convinced myself that she didn't like me.
No. It's more accurate to say that rather than being convinced, I was just hoping that was the case.
“Ah, ahem. What was that, Guwon? Are you trying to seduce me right now? I’m going to tell Diana on you, you know.”
But before I could react, Rachel cleared her throat and spoke first.
This reaction… could it be…!
“Wh-what?!”
“Haa… Still, I can see you've given it some thought, Guwon. And I can't stay sulking about it forever. I'll make a special exception and forgive you just this once. This is a very special exception, okay? You'd better be careful from now on.”
Just like the Rachel from before she got upset, she spoke with a charming smile and a little wink.
“Yes, Rachel. Thank you. I'll be careful from now on.”
Understanding her intention, I eagerly took the bait.
This was just a guess, nothing more, but I think she was playing hard to get with me.
If she had just accepted my apology outright, it would have been like admitting she likes me.
That's why she dodged the question in such a subtle way.
She was waiting for me to make a more definitive move.
“Wh-what?! Oh… I-I see.”
As proof, when I immediately agreed, she actually seemed a little flustered.
She had let it go without even saying why she was mad, and I just accepted it without asking any further questions.
To be honest, I felt bad.
Acting like this when I basically knew her intentions was the same as taking advantage of her feelings. No, not ‘the same as’—it was exactly that.
But I had no other choice.
Besides, she hadn't actually confessed to me, so it would be weird to reject her just because I had a hunch.
In the end, this was the only way.
I'm sorry, Rachel. I have no intention of needlessly adding any more women to my life. For the sake of my girls, if nothing else.
Ever since getting their permission, I felt like my sense of fidelity had actually gotten stronger, and I just couldn't bring myself to add another woman.
Anyway, with this, Rachel and I would go back to being the close ‘older sister and younger brother’ we were before. At least on the surface.
“Well then, Rachel. I should get going…”
“Ah, w-wait a minute!”
“Yes?”
“Ah, w-well, that is… hmm… Oh, right. There was something I was a little curious about.”
Wh-what is it? Don't tell me she's getting impatient because I'm not reacting and is about to make a move on me?!
If so, I might have to prepare myself. Prepare to reject her.
I’m one lucky bastard, aren't I? Having to turn down such a beautiful woman.
But I can't betray my girls already.
Damn it. And after we'd gotten so close.
Should I start looking for a different receptionist from now on?
“On your last expedition, you used the 1st Floor teleporter to enter but returned via the 2nd Floor teleporter. Was there a particular reason for that?”
But contrary to what I'd braced myself for, she asked a purely professional question.
It felt like she had stopped me on reflex but couldn't think of anything to say, so she just brought that up.
Thank god. What a relief.
Relieved that my relationship with her wouldn't fall apart for now, I let out a deep, internal sigh.
But that aside, the question she'd just asked was quite a sharp one.
As expected of the ace of the guild's receptionists. She really cuts to the heart of the matter.
“Ah, well, you see… there was something on the 1st Floor that had been bothering me for a while. I remembered it recently and went to investigate, and I ended up finding something.”
“What? You found something? D-don't tell me…?!”
“Yes. A small-scale sub-layer, similar to the Ant Nest on the 2nd Floor.”
We had already revealed the existence of sub-layers anyway, and we'd agreed beforehand to disclose this much.
As long as I didn't reveal that the sub-layers were connected to each other, there wouldn't be a problem, so I stated the facts confidently.
“Wow! That's amazing! Don't tell me this is what you meant before when you told me to look forward to it…!”
“Ah, yes. Well, something like that.”
Seeing her lean over the reception desk, grab my hand, and rejoice, I tried my best to hide my troubled expression as I replied.
Before, I would have been unable to contain my excitement at this pose that emphasized her large chest, but now that I knew she liked me, I felt guilty for even thinking such things.
How could I have such shameless thoughts when I was planning to reject her if she confessed?
“Hehe. Just as I'd expect from the man who was so confident he'd show us the 'Legend of the Saint' on his very first day as an adventurer.”
“Ha, haha. Well, of course. You should keep your expectations high. I'll show you exactly how far the Legend of the Saint can go.”
But if I acted too troubled, it would only make her suspicious.
For now, I tried my best to act like the same old idiot on the outside.
“But if you came out on the 2nd Floor… does that mean you've already finished exploring that sub-layer?”
“Yes, well… We haven't explored every single nook and cranny, but we've figured out the path that connects the 1st Floor to the 2nd.”
“Even for an upper layer, it must have been quite long… You worked hard. Could you draw a map for us?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then please wait just a moment.”
Having been my receptionist for a while, Rachel already knew that I didn't draw maps in the dungeon like other adventurers, but rather memorized the layout and drew it from memory when I made my report.
So now, without me even having to ask, she efficiently prepared a pen and paper for me to draw the map.
Rachel really is the best receptionist.
I really want to maintain this relationship if I can. Is that too greedy of me?
“But what about the entrance? Does it require a penis, like the Ant Nest?”
While I was drawing the map, Rachel, who had been leaning in to watch me intently, lifted her head slightly to look up at me and asked the question.
…Damn it. I instinctively thought she was cute.
No, no. I have my girls! Get a grip, Guwon!
“Ah, yes. An Orc's penis is the key.”
“Oh, that's a relief. This time it's a key that's commonly available. The key for the Ant Nest entrance is… well, it's quite difficult to get, so…”
…Huh? What did she say?
Hearing her words, I felt a strange sense of unease.
Come to think of it, the key to the Ant Nest is a mosquito's penis.
It's something that no other adventurer should be able to obtain, no matter how hard they try.
No… now that I think about it, I still haven't seen how other adventurers get monster penises.
It's pretty rare to run into other adventurers inside the dungeon, after all.
Still, it's hard to imagine anyone could normally get a mosquito's penis, right?
But if that's the case, it doesn't make sense.
Lately, the Ant Nest has become a hot spot for adventurers who find the 2nd Floor easy but the 3rd Floor too challenging.
It's impossible that so many adventurers are going through the Ant Nest without the mosquito penis key.
“Come to think of it, how are other adventurers getting into the Ant Nest? They can't get a mosquito's penis, can they?”
“Ah, you wouldn't know, Guwon. Actually, that's not entirely true. It's incredibly difficult, of course, but there is a way to get one.”
“What? How on earth…?”
“W-well… you have to ambush them… wh-while they're mating.”
Rachel answered with a slight blush, as if she were embarrassed to say it.
I felt bad for Rachel, but I had to ask again.
Wait. Did I hear that right?
“…What?”
“W-well, if you aim for when they're mating…”
“…The mosquitoes?”
“…The mosquitoes.”
…Seriously? So what, you have to stealthily follow a swarm of mosquitoes, wait for them to start mating, and then ambush them at that exact moment?
No. There are just too many things wrong with that.
Even if the mosquitoes on the 2nd Floor are incomparably larger than normal ones, there's probably only one male in the whole swarm, right?
How the hell are you supposed to spot that one male mating among countless other mosquitoes?
While keeping your distance so the swarm doesn't notice you, no less.
They go through all that just to get a mosquito's penis?
I think this all the time, but being an adventurer is a seriously extreme profession.
Moments like this make me realize once again just how blessed I am to be exploring the dungeon in such comfort.
And separate from that, I also felt like my dreams were being shattered.
I'd had these lewd fantasies that adventurers would obviously subdue the monster and force it to get hard…
Reality is just a cruel, dreamless, hopeless place.
“B-but the mosquitoes are a special case! There are easier ways to get other monsters' penises.”
Maybe my expression was just filled with so much pity that Rachel offered those words of comfort.
No. Is 'comfort' the right word? It's a bit strange. It was less like comforting me and more like… speaking on behalf of other adventurers?
“Right! Of course! I knew it!”
Well, it was definitely comforting to me.
This truly is a world overflowing with the dreams and hopes created by our Goddess!
I believed it without a shred of doubt!
“Here. It's done.”
Anyway, while we were having that conversation, I finished drawing the map.
Obviously, I didn't include the location of the male Kobold.
Instead, I kindly marked the spot where the giant Magic Stone and the fake boss were with a large label that read, ‘Location of the Sub-Layer Boss.’
“Ah, thank you. As always, I'll give you the reward next time.”
“Okay. Oh, and Rachel.”
“Yes?”
“If the other adventurers are having such a hard time, should I go get some more mosquito penises for them?”
“What? We'd be grateful if you did, of course, but that's…”
“It's fine. Actually, since it's come to this, I was thinking of looking for a sub-layer connected to the 3rd Floor anyway. The Ant Nest connects to the 3rd Floor too, so I'll just think of it as a small detour.”
I said, flashing a refreshing smile.
The truth is, I wasn't saying this out of pure goodwill.
Of course not. Why would I go that far for adventurers I don't even know?
…What, am I not a Saint? If you think a Saint has to unconditionally help others, you're sorely mistaken!
Anyway, the real reason I said that to her was to create a smokescreen.
Come to think of it, after crossing from the Kobold Cave to the Ant Nest last time, we just came out through the Ant Nest's entrance.
It was nothing short of pure luck that no other adventurers saw us.
Unlike the vast floors of the main dungeon, sub-layers are relatively small, which increases the probability of running into other adventurers.
And just imagine if a rumor had started about us coming out of the Ant Nest.
The Guild would have noticed something was off.
Like, ‘The guys who said they found a Kobold Cave on the 1st Floor just popped out of the Ant Nest?’
So, it's a smokescreen.
This way, no one will be suspicious of us starting from the 2nd Floor or entering the Ant Nest.
Even if we come back from the dungeon and report a sub-dungeon connected to the 3rd Floor.
How can I be so smart?
Sara, are you watching? This is the true form of the man you're always calling an idiot.
Look at this brilliant plan.
“Guwon… hehe. If you're trying to look cool to seduce me, it's not going to work, you know.”
…But it seems my plan was so brilliant that I ended up raising Rachel's affection for me even more.
Seriously? I mean, it's nice to see her looking so happy, of course, but…
I never thought the day would come when I'd feel this way just because a beautiful woman like her likes me…