Chapter 536: The Cardinal's Dilemma
Chapter 536: The Cardinal's Dilemma
“Hey. Are they alrigh—Gyaaaaaah!”
Smack!
Completely ignoring me, Alicia strode forward and, the moment she was in range, smacked me soundly on the back of the head.
Gyaaaah… That sent a chill right down to my marrow!
No, this is no time for comedy. What? Why? Why the hell did I just get hit?
Did I do something wrong the last time we parted ways?
No. It’s been a while, to begin with. And even if I had done something, there’s no way this easy-going girl would hold a grudge for this long.
“You little shit! If you’re alive, shouldn’t you come and report to your big sister?!” Alicia shouted, planting her hands firmly on her hips.
“Huh? What kind of bullsh—”
I knew her personality was more than a little rough and aggressive, but seeing her spout such nonsense after clocking me on the head, I started to get pissed off myself.
Her coarse language was even starting to rub off on me. I was about to let a few choice words fly, despite Sara being right there, when Sara spoke up from my side.
“This woman helped, too. Looking for you.”
Despite that, for some reason, Sara also had a sour look on her face… Ah, right. She was always a bit like that with Alicia.
In a way, she was even more wary of her than Felicia.
It seemed she still found it difficult to be comfortable around the woman who took my first time.
In any case, hearing Sara’s words, I took a closer look at Alicia’s face. I could definitely see a sense of relief in the eyes glaring at me, a feeling that said she was glad I was safe.
Then she could have just said so.
It looked like that special training to become more ladylike she’d undergone before still hadn’t had any effect.
I pushed myself up from my crouched position and brought my face right up close to Alicia’s.
“Hh…!”
I heard two sharp gasps—one from right in front of me and one from my side.
I expected Alicia, who had zero experience with men despite her level, to be flustered, but I never thought Sara would be, too.
Relax. I’m not trying to kiss you. This is just a little payback, a little surprise.
“What? Were you worried? Huh?”
“Wh-Who was!”
“If you weren’t worried, then why tell me to report to you? You must have heard from someone else long ago that I was rescued safely, right?”
“G-Get away from me! Does this bastard have no shame?!”
“Why? Are you ashamed? Huh? Huh?”
“Y-You little shit, I swear…”
As I kept pushing my face closer and teasing her, Alicia’s expression soured, and she glared at me with immense killing intent.
But it only lasted a moment. Our eyes met, and Alicia was the first to lose the staring contest, shoving me hard in the chest to push me away.
“Anyway, thanks for worrying about me. You must have had to train those guys, but you still went all the way to the 4th Floor to look for me. That’s Alicia for you. So loyal.”
“I-I told you it wasn’t like that, you bastard! The ice cave your clan announced just seemed like a good place to train these guys, so we went since we were in the area!”
“Oh? But you can’t get to the 4th Floor from there without a mage, can you?” I said, looking over the members of Alicia’s party.
Alicia was a warrior, of course, and the three who were passed out like zombies over there were a warrior, a warrior, and a priest.
Not only would they have trouble getting from the ice cave to the 4th Floor, but even if they did, it was a party composition that would have trouble communicating…
“Hello. It’s been a while.”
Just as I was thinking that, a small mage appeared from behind Alicia and gave a small bow.
It was one of the dwarf twin mages, an executive of the Arachne Clan… I couldn’t tell if it was Rea or Ria, but it was one of them.
“Oh! It really has been a while! You been well? Were you with them? Ah, were you helping with my rescue?”
“Hey. You bastard. Why do you look happier to see her than you were to see me?”
Alicia grumbled something beside me, but I decided to ignore her.
I saw you in the dungeon from time to time, but this is the first time I’ve seen her since that request ages ago.
“Yes. It’s because Alicia grabbed my pants leg and wouldn’t let go, begging me…” “Reaaaaa! When did I ever do that?!”
“It was a light joke.”
It seemed the mage before me was Rea.
Alicia frantically shouted at Rea’s casual remark, but Rea answered coolly without batting an eye.
So this is what it means to be fellow executives. She can joke around with Alicia like that.
Well, whatever the case, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.
“What’s this, Alicia?”
“Hmph!”
I slung an arm around Alicia’s shoulder, a sly grin on my face as I leaned in close.
“Don’t be shy, just be honest. All you have to say is one thing. That you were so worried about me you couldn’t even sleep at—Keoheok…”
Th-This girl… she elbowed me in the solar plexus…
As I went limp, hanging off Alicia, she looked down at me and shouted forcefully.
“I-If the little shit whose virginity this big sister went out of her way to take up and dies, it’d make for an uncomfortable memory, so I just looked for you a little! D-Don’t get any ideas, you bastard!”
She must have been flustered, because I could feel heat radiating from her body.
But for all her harsh words, her voice sounded strained, and if you listened closely, you might even say she sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
But there was no way this tough girl would get teary-eyed from a little teasing.
Well, the blow to my solar plexus had me doubled over, so I couldn’t see her expression anyway.
“A-Anyway! If something like this happens again, you report properly to this big sister! Got it?!”
Smack!
“Keoheok…”
…Hey. Isn’t it a bit much to smack the back of a guy who’s clutching his solar plexus in agony…?
“Huu. Huu. Huu. You’re still weak as hell. That’s why you get stranded on the 4th Floor of all places.”
When I finally slid off her and collapsed to the floor, Alicia muttered between ragged breaths.
No. No, you idiot. You’re the one who’s strong. It’s not that I’m weak…
I wanted to scream it from the bottom of my heart, but unfortunately, the searing pain in my front and back kept me from forming proper words.
“We’re leaving. Train a little harder by the next time I see you.”
Train harder…? Why would you… Don’t tell me you want me to be a better punching bag?
“Kanna! Serena! Amy! How long are you going to sleep! Get up!”
“They’re unconscious.”
“Tch. Can’t be helped. Rea, let’s go.”
“Are you sure it’s alright to leave like this?”
“Wh-What do you mean? Why wouldn’t it be?! We-We’re going!”
Exchanging such words with Rea, Alicia once again hoisted the unconscious trio onto her shoulders and strode away from the Guild.
“I’ll see you next time.”
Rea also gave us a small bow and trotted after Alicia.
“…Are you okay?”
“I’m not okay… I think I’m gonna die… That violent woman is nothing but brute strength… I need… I need some Healing… Ah, Leia and Matilda aren’t here. Can’t be helped. I guess I’ll have to find a nearby restroom for some Healing Se—Gyaaaah!”
Slap!
“What on earth are you trying to say in a public place! Honestly, you’re just asking for it. This idiot, really.”
“Ugh… But isn’t it too much to hit the same spot that just got hit…?”
She’d hit the exact same place Alicia had smacked me.
You aimed for it, didn’t you? What’s this? A declaration that you won’t let another woman leave a mark on my body, even if it’s a wound? Are you covering it with your own handprint?
“Hmph. You brought it on yourself.”
With that, Sara left me sitting on the floor and started to head inside the Guild.
“A-At least help me up…”
“You were just talking about ‘Healing Se…’ so you must be fine, right? Get up.”
“Sob. Sara’s love for me has faded.”
“I-It has not!”
In the end, she helped me up anyway.
I draped my arm over Sara’s shoulder and let my hand hang limp.
It was a position where my hand might just brush against something soft, but it was by no means intention—
“Ow!”
“See, you are fine. You pervert.”
Sara glared at me primly and gave the back of my hand a light pinch.
Tsk. That’s Sara for you. She knows me too well.
Well, as strong as Alicia was, my defense wasn’t so low that I’d be groaning forever from just two hits.
Besides, Alicia probably held back. …Probably.
“Anyway, since we’re here, gather the information we came for.”
Sara said, removing my arm from her shoulder.
“Hm? Where are you going?”
“Where do you think? I’m going to talk to some of the other adventurers. You were going to get the info from inside the Guild, right? Hmph. Not that I think you’ll be able to sweet-talk Miss Rachel.”
Sara shot me a prim glare.
I see. So that’s what she meant.
She would gather information from the adventurers, so I should go to Elder Sister Rachel.
In other words, Sara was deliberately giving me some space.
“Sara! I love you!”
“I-I told you not to be so clingy in public!”
“So it’s okay if it’s not a public place? Should we go somewhere secluded?”
“I-Idiot! Why did you think we came here?!”
With that, Sara quickly walked off toward the bulletin board where the adventurers were gathered.
Honestly, she gets embarrassed so easily.
In any case, Sara had gone out of her way to be considerate. I decided to accept her kindness and go see Elder Sister Rachel.
Was I worried about a girl with her personality gathering information alone among adventurers? Not at all.
Sara might radiate a chill toward men that would put the north wind to shame, but she could act perfectly normal around women.
Since the majority of adventurers were women anyway, she wouldn’t have any problem gathering information.
“Hello, Elder Sister! I’m here.”
“Welcome. Could you please refrain from fooling around so much inside the Guild?”
As I approached Elder Sister Rachel, she gave me a steady look and said just that.
It seemed she’d seen everything between me and Sara. Well, I guess that was a given.
“Hah. Don’t you worry. I came here to fool around with you just like that…”
“Hey! I’m on duty, you know? If you don’t have any business, could you please make way for the other adventurers?”
As I leaned over the reception counter, she flicked a finger and lightly tapped my forehead.
What a cold reaction. I’m hurt. No, wait. A woman dedicated to her work is also wonderful.
“H-How could you! I came all this way to confirm my burning passion for you…”
“Mister Guwoooon?”
“I came to see how far the exploration of the ice cave has progressed. You announced it while I was stranded, so I was a little curious. Have there been any special discoveries?”
Unable to withstand Elder Sister Rachel’s pressure to not interfere with her work, I had no choice but to get straight to the point.
That’s strange. Didn’t she want me to come by like this all the time to play around and confirm our love?
“No. Your party has already discovered everything up to the layer boss, so there haven’t been any particularly noteworthy findings. But since it’s a good place for leveling up, the map has been expanded quite a bit as people have explored it. Would you like to buy one?”
Once I stated my business, Elder Sister Rachel chuckled and began to fulfill her duties as a receptionist.
Trying to sell me a map like this. As expected. She doesn’t miss a beat. Well, I was going to buy one anyway.
“Yes, please. But I see. So there’s no special information.”
“No.”
“I see. Right. Hmm. I see…”
“…Mr. Guwon.”
As I crossed my arms and pretended to be deep in thought, Elder Sister Rachel looked at me intently and called my name.
“Yes?”
“You have no further business, do you?”
“…No.”
She saw right through me. This is a little embarrassing.
“Then… you know what to do, right?”
“Yes. Have a good day.”
At her words, I had no choice but to yield my spot to the adventurer waiting behind me.
“Ah, Mr. Guwon.”
“Yes?”
But before I left, she called out to me again.
“Hehe. My break is starting soon, so if you have time, please wait for me over there for a little bit. We can have some tea together.”
She looked at me, chuckling as if she found me cute, then lightly tapped the tip of my nose with her finger.