Chapter 730: Forging an Alliance
Chapter 730: Forging an Alliance
“There,” Diana said, looking at me with a slightly smug expression, as if to ask, How about that?
This was the same girl who, just a moment ago, was so flustered she could barely look Leia in the eye.
Well, I was grateful for her help.
Right now, Diana was the only one who knew why I couldn't go down to the lower floors by myself, so having her back me up like this was a huge help.
“Yeah. Let’s do that.”
Following Diana’s plan would accomplish the girls’ goal of preventing me from sneaking off into the dungeon alone, and as a bonus, it would provide help if I ever found myself in a real crisis.
It seemed everyone else thought so too, as the mood in the room shifted to one of general agreement with Diana’s proposal.
“That means we’ll get to spend a whole day alone together…”
Matilda, in particular, nodded along while muttering something suggestive.
Hey. Wasn't there a little heart at the end of that sentence?
“What are you thinking? Stop it. It’s seriously dangerous when we’re alone. You better actually control yourself, you hear me?!”
And while you’re at it, stop saying things like that.
Silvia, who was already trembling in my arms, started shaking even more violently after hearing that.
Besides, her cute butt was subtly stimulating my ‘thing’ as she trembled, which was starting to distract me… ah, anyway.
“I-I know. Even I know that much.”
Even I…
So you’re aware of it, at least.
“…Um, but if we do that, then I…”
While the atmosphere was one of near-total acceptance of Diana’s plan, Leia was the only one who had looked anxious ever since she heard it.
She was probably worried about whether she could actually perform her role of rescuing me in a crisis.
Sara and Diana could wipe out monsters with overwhelming firepower if necessary.
Silvia and Matilda could block monster attacks and deal with them.
Compared to those four, all she could do was provide buffs and healing. She probably thought she’d be useless when a real crisis hit.
She might even think that, with nothing she could do if a monster charged at her, she’d be more of a burden than a help.
But Leia, it’s okay. It’s not a problem at all.
“If it comes to it, I can just use something like Holy Ground Proclamation, so it’s fine. All you have to do is focus on healing, Leia. I’ll have to be more careful with my movements to watch out for any monsters coming after you, so my field of vision might actually be wider than when I’m alone. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“G-Guwon…”
Seemingly happy that I understood her worries and said that, Leia clasped my hand with both of hers, hugged it tightly to her chest, and looked up at me with eyes welling up with tears.
Of course, I met her gaze with a gentle smile.
And for the record, I’m definitely not smiling because of the heavenly feeling of my hand pressed against her.
“You’re not supposed to use Holy Ground Proclamation in the dungeon.”
But just as we were about to get lost in our own little world, someone interjected with a cold voice.
Heh. But I had already anticipated an objection like that!
“No problem. We’ll only be fighting near the city anyway.”
“Y-You idiot! You’re totally planning on doing it, aren’t you?!”
I had answered coolly, but all I got in return was a sharp pain as my side was pinched.
So unfair. That was a perfect model answer!
“Ow! Ow ow ow! If a situation like that comes up, I won’t have a choice!”
“At least say you’ll try to avoid creating such a situation! You idiot!”
“Sara is a hundred times right! Don’t tell me you intend to pull that stunt not only with Leia but with us as well?!”
And for some reason, Diana started getting worked up too, her face turning red.
No, it’s not for ‘some reason.’ The reason is pretty clear.
“Heh. You never know what the future holds, so you can’t say a situation like that won’t… Ugh?! It’s gonna rip! Hey! If you pinch any harder, it’s really going to rip off!”
“Rip it off, Sara!”
“Don’t say such scary things, you!”
You saw how absurdly strong she was in the turtle’s den!
Ah, Sara. Of course, when I say absurdly, it’s just a figure of speech, not that you’re actually like that.
“What you’re saying is far scarier!”
No, it’s not like I’m going to intentionally hit you with a Saint skill to do that, is it?
I could have said that, but I deliberately chose not to.
“It’s fine! Even if that happens, I’ll take you back to the city and take full responsibility!”
“That’s not the issue here!”
At my confident declaration, Diana naturally waved her arms up and down in a frenzy.
Well, she just had an experience like that yesterday, so it was only natural for her to be wary.
“Ah, ahh…”
As for Leia, who could be called the main culprit behind the incident that had heightened Diana’s vigilance, she was blushing faintly while still hugging my hand to her chest.
She’s so cute.
“D-Don’t tell me! You’re planning on taking me to the dungeon right now to…”
And Diana, whatever she was imagining, let her imagination run wild and was about to get even more worked up.
“Nope. Not you.”
But I coolly shot her down.
Putting aside whether I’m even going back to the dungeon today, why would you be first in line?
Don’t tell me you think you’re first just because you proposed the idea?
The turn order should obviously follow the order we spend the night together, including Silvia and Matilda.
Even if no trouble occurs while hunting, we’ll end up sleeping together when we’re back in the city.
And most importantly, you have something else to do, Diana.
“Eh.”
But Diana seemed to have been completely convinced she was going first, because she wore a slightly shocked expression at my cool denial.
No, seriously, why that face… Don’t tell me you were actually looking forward to it?
“Besides, you have something to do today.”
“Something to do? What is it?!”
“I mean, Vanessa.”
“…What is it.”
Why does she have such a grim look on her face now?
What’s wrong? I thought you heard Diana’s voice this morning, figured out the situation, and your anger had subsided?
“Someone from the Arachne Clan came by, right?”
“…Yes.”
Right. When we got back yesterday, Vanessa had been trying to tell Diana some news.
I had a rough idea what it was about when I heard that, and it seemed it was about the Arachne Clan after all.
Though Diana herself seemed to have completely forgotten about it.
Well, given the circumstances yesterday, I guess it couldn’t be helped.
“So, what were the specifics?”
“They said they are thinking positively about Lady Diana’s proposal. However, they said it would be difficult to make a decision based solely on Alicia’s account, so they would be grateful if you could visit the Arachne Clan House at your convenience to discuss the details.”
“There you have it. You were the one who suggested forming a cooperative relationship with them, so you have to see it through properly.”
“Ugh… But are you saying you’ll leave it all to me, without you?”
At my perfectly reasonable words, Diana made a face that said, ‘Oh right, that thing…’ but she muttered on as if she couldn’t let it end there.
“Huh? Do I have to go too?”
“Of course you do!”
“…I guess I have to go.”
To be honest, I really don’t want to go there anymore.
No, it’s not that I dislike the Arachne Clan. I don’t, but… it’s awkward.
By now, the news that I turned Alicia down has probably spread everywhere, and on top of that, Alicia seems to be quite a beloved figure in the Arachne Clan.
It’s just uncomfortable to show my face there for various reasons.
“What are you saying, like a child? If you’re that nervous, should I go with you?”
Sensing my thoughts, Sara let out a sigh but still made a kind offer.
“……”
“Wh-what? What is it?”
Suspicious. Extremely suspicious.
When I stared intently at Sara, she reacted with a bit of a fluster, just as I expected.
“It’s suspicious how you’ve suddenly become so kind. Are you pretending to do this for my sake, when in reality you’re just worried I’ll go to the Arachne Clan and fool around with the beautiful women there…”
“So you do think they’re beautiful.”
I knew it.
Sorry, Sara, but you’re mistaken if you think you’re the only one who can read my mind. I can see right through you just as easily.
Thinking that, I put on a sly grin to tease her, but my expression immediately crumbled at Matilda’s murmur from the side.
“Wai—! You, Matilda! Not now! No, that’s not it. Wait. It’s a trap!”
“……”
I scrambled to make excuses, but it did nothing to change Sara’s hardened expression.
“I believe I would feel very reassured if you came with us.”
“Fine.”
“Then since we’re going, let’s all go together. If an agreement is reached, we’ll need to know the details as well. It’s better if we all go and hear everything at once, right?”
Only after I gave up on teasing Sara and declared my surrender did Matilda step in to sort things out.
She could’ve just done that from the start.
In any case, having decided on our plan for the day, we finished our meal, got ready, and headed for the Arachne Clan House together.
And, as expected, the one who took the least amount of time to get ready was me, the man.
So I was waiting in the mansion’s lobby for the girls to finish their preparations when Vanessa approached me, her face still stiff, and spoke.
“Sir Guwon.”
Yeah. I thought so during the meal, too, but her expression is subtly off.
Is something wrong?
“What’s up?”
“I have come with a question. Would it be best to prepare for the dungeon trip in advance?”
No, when I said ‘what’s up,’ I didn’t mean ‘what business do you have,’ I meant ‘is something wrong?’
“Hmm?”
“During the meal, did you not say you would be staying in the dungeon for a while? Should I prepare things so that you may depart as early as tomorrow?”
“Hm.”
It was only after hearing Vanessa’s follow-up question that I realized why she was making that face.
Come to think of it, her expression had hardened again in the dining room right when that topic came up.
“…Is something the matter?”
“No. I just find it strange that you’re asking. You usually prepare everything perfectly without even being told.”
“This time, it is not certain when you will be departing.”
Vanessa answered my question calmly, but her response was, as I suspected, not like the usual Vanessa.
After all, when my departure time was uncertain, the perfect butler we all knew would have everything ready so I could leave at a moment’s notice.
“In other words, you’re hoping I’ll say I’m not leaving right away.”
“…How did you arrive at that conclusion.”
When I stated my conclusion, Vanessa’s expression soured a little more.
But Vanessa, you know, at a glance you usually look expressionless, but if one looks closely, your expression only ever changes just enough to hint at your current mood.
Frowning so openly like that just makes it look like you’re doing it on purpose.
“Don’t worry. Like I said before, I plan on coming back up in between. And I’m not going right away this time either. I may have returned from the dungeon early, but I still have to take care of everything I need to do. Especially since you and I have a postponed promise.”
“A promise… I do not know what you are talking about.”
“What do you mean? Did you forget what I said before? Last time, we only had a date without any skinship, so this time, we’ll set a day and have a hot and heavy…”
“…If that is the case, I believe the preparations can be postponed.”
After hearing my answer, Vanessa’s gaze grew even colder. She looked at me as if in contempt, then turned on her heel with a chilly reply.
“Huh?! Hey. I’m not done talki—”
“I am currently on duty as a butler.”
“No, if we can’t even talk about this while you’re on duty, we’ll never be able to set a date! Hey! You have to adjust your schedule later, free up some time, and let me know!”
Whether she heard me or not, Vanessa simply disappeared without another word.
Well, even if she acts like that on the outside, I’m sure she’ll let me know later. …Probably.