In front of the dungeon
In front of the dungeon
Jjaek-jjaek-jjaek
The sound of birds chirping, dalgurak-dalgurak, bogeul-bogeul cooking sounds, and the smell.
Stachys woke up feeling all of this.
It felt like he had slept deeply, and it was nice that every single stimulus that woke him up was so wonderful, but the downside was simply that his actual sleeping time was too short.
Fatigue still lingered in his body despite sleeping deeply.
When he seuk sat up, Lily-noona was in the kitchen.
As if she also noticed his movement, she greeted him with a smiling gaze.
"Did you sleep well, my kk.. Stachys?"
Wearing an apron and making a delicious breakfast. Luminous red hair and red eyes. Even with clothes on, her breasts spilling slightly out from the side of the apron. It was the image of a perfect wife.
Ha.
How comfortable it would have been if she simply liked him.
Even if someone didn't see her other good sides and only saw this side right now, anyone would fall for her.
But Stachys knows. She doesn't view him as anything more or less than a younger brother. The moment he confesses to her,
'Er... Stachys. I've never thought about you in that way.'
'Even so, noona! Please marry me!'
'I only thought of you as a younger brother, how could you have such blasphemous thoughts... Sob sob'
Such a situation unfolds. Stachys could figure out this much from the vibe exuding from her actions.
"Stachys? Why are you zoning out like that?"
"Ah, yes? It's nothing, noona. I was moved for a moment. Did you sleep well too, noona?"
At Stachys's answer, Lily-noona shows a million-dollar smile stretching from ear to ear. Stachys was the one who was moved, yet Lily-noona rejoiced just because he said so. She really has all the warmth in the world.
That doesn't mean Stachys should think he's special. Because Lily-noona looks at him just like a comfortable younger brother or a real younger brother.
Stachys also feels a bit sullen. Giving such care right now just to work him to the bone later. Transforming like a ghost the moment he says he wants to rest. Pouting and refusing to answer if he rejects her to the end. Instead of being nice at times like this, Stachys wishes she wouldn't pout even just once when he says he's going to rest.
Thinking that way, this feels like feed given with the meaning of taking good care of him in the future. Giving off the feeling of: "I gave you something to eat, so you better work well later?"
"Stachys, greeting each other like this in the morning makes it feel like we've become a married couple."
"...Pardon?"
"Though that's out of the question."
...Figures.
"Sit down quickly, Stachys. I'll get it ready soon."
If she could become Stachys's lover, he could not only forgive all the tyranny she has inflicted on him so far, but also endure the actions she'll commit in the future. Because she's his girlfriend.
A girlfriend who pouts because he didn't play with her. Keuheuk, how cute is that?
But a noona who pouts because he didn't play with her? And has not even a shred of desire to become his lover? This is quite annoying. And it also makes Stachys sad, wondering if he lacks charm.
"Here, Stachys. I prepared pork soup with rice. Since I came all this way, I made plenty of other side dishes too, so make sure to store them well in the magical food box and eat them later, okay?"
Stachys feels heavy-hearted. And as someone trying to walk the path of pure love, it's inevitably uncomfortable. It feels like being fish-hooked.
Still, gratitude is gratitude.
"I'll eat well, noona. Thank you."
At Stachys's insignificant words, Lily-noona covered her mouth and chuckled, kkyareureuk.
Daytime, with sunlight shining down.
Stachys was heading to the meeting place wearing two tonfas and armor plated with iron only on vital parts.
Lily-noona was linking arms with Stachys.
She asked to borrow his arm a bit because she was slightly tired.
I mean, who told her to come into his room early and talk nonsense?
...However, since she made him food, Stachys decided to let her do this much.
The other two party members waiting in front of the dungeon were visible.
Their expressions didn't look good.
Stachys and Lily-noona walked toward them.
"Hey guys, we're here."
Stachys waved from afar and greeted them. They showed no reaction.
"...Did they not hear?"
Lily-noona snickered, kideuk-kideuk, as if that sight was funny.
Stachys went a little closer and said,
"Did you rest well, guys?"
Still no answer. What is this... Looks like they're pouting.
Stachys's pouting-observation radar spins fiercely.
When Stachys thinks they look pouted, they are 100 percent pouting.
His energy was already drained just from the two of them doing that.
But if anyone should be pouting, shouldn't it be Stachys? Waking him up since dawn, jeez...
'What is it this time?'
Stachys rolled his brain. Uuuuum...
.
.
.
There's nothing?
This time, it didn't seem like they were pouting because of Stachys.
Did the two of them just fight? Stachys unlinked Lily-noona's arm and approached them. First was Vien.
Stachys approached closely, squatted down in front of Vien who was drooping her head low, and looked up at her face.
"What's wrong, Vien? Did something happen?"
It's bothersome, but as the party leader, Stachys has to endure it. Vien looked at Stachys with teary eyes, then turned her head away with a "Humph!"
Heol...
This time, Stachys went to Rus. True to being a knight, even in armor, her curvy figure stood out.
Stachys approached her and placed his hand on the back of her hand encased in armor.
"Rus. What's the matter?"
"...Chis who doesn't know is the bad one."
"Huh..? Weren't you two fighting?"
"Chis... It's because of you, you know?"
What, both of them were acting like this because of Stachys? He had only thought the two of them fought.
There had to be something for him to know. He only slept.
For the first time in a while, Stachys was quite confused. Is it because of drinking alcohol? Everyone said they were fine. Ah, could it be because he didn't take them to the drinking gathering? Nah, that's not it. Who joins a family event? When they came at dawn, should he have treated them to breakfast in full? Even considering that, when he told them to go back, didn't they all reply well that they'd go back without pouting? And on the contrary, Lily-noona, who treated him to a meal, looks happy.
.
.
.
.
What is this??
What on earth is what. Ah, his head is throbbing again. He has to go to the dungeon.
At times like this, it's a brainless apology. It's not a very good option, but he can't figure out what the cause is anyway. If he tries to forcefully guess the cause for no reason, he'll be in big trouble.
"Guys, whatever is going on, it's my fault."
The two showed no reaction. They were just staying in their pouting posture. It was like talking to a rock.
"What do I have to do for you guys to calm down?"
Normally, if Stachys talks this much, they speak in a crawling voice about what they want. But this time, they are immovable.
What on earth is this?? What is there to be this angry about?
It had been a long time since he saw them pouting like this. The only time they looked this angry was probably when he briefly forgot their birthdays, right?
"Guys? I am really, truly at fault. I'm a total bastard."
It's unfair. Why is Stachys making this kind of apology?
He bows his waist and greets. This time, there is a slight reaction.
The saintess Vien rolls her eyeballs around to look at Stachys, then turns her head away with another "Humph!", while Rus the knight twitches her lips.
But that's the end of it. An awkward silence flows again.
"Ha..."
A sigh escapes before he knows it. Stachys covers his mouth with a gasp at the huge mistake that slipped out unconsciously.
The two were startled by Stachys's sighing sound and simultaneously looked at him with worried expressions.
But when Stachys covers his mouth in surprise, realizing it wasn't because he was angry, but a mistake, they pout even harder.
In the manner of, "How dare you get angry?"
Bigger teardrops welled up in Saintess Vien's eyes, and she went "Humph! Humph!" even louder,
while Rus bowed her head a bit lower. She also turned her body slightly.
Things are getting tangled. If it comes to this, it's finally time to pull out his absolute best, trump card. Up until now, he has never failed to appease their anger with this.
"Ha... Alright then. A wish—"
"-Wait a moment, Stachys."
Lily-noona opened her mouth from behind.
At that, the two flinched in surprise, raised their heads, and looked at her.
"Apologizing first without having done anything wrong is Stachys's old bad habit."
"Pardon?"
"Since I was together with him the whole~ day, I know. But it doesn't seem like he did anything wrong, does it?"
At the words "whole day," the expressions of the two crumple harshly.
But when even Lily-noona says what Stachys was only thinking to himself, his thoughts tilt heavily.
Is that so? Come to think of it, what did Stachys do wrong?
Stachys was gradually sucked into her words.
Yeah, isn't it these guys who are in the wrong this time? Because of them pouting like this yesterday, he even consulted his hyung. Should he push back a bit strongly?
And Stachys looked at Lily-noona, who gave this advice, with sparkling eyes. Yeah, I didn't do anything wrong, right noona?
"...!"
"!!!"
The two pouting women jumped up.
"Stachys! I hate you!!"
"Chisa, I thought we were friends."
Ah, guess it wasn't the case after all. It seems like it was just his fault. No, and besides, what if it wasn't his fault? So what? The fact that Stachys has to cheer up Vien and Rus hasn't changed.
Hyung said that adults sometimes have to take responsibility even when they aren't at fault.
Entering the dungeon in a gloomy atmosphere will only be exhausting.
Trying to soothe them all at once seemed like it would be even harder.
To make them feel like he's paying a bit more attention, Stachys decided to soothe them separately.
First off....... Starting with Vien.
Stachys pulled Saintess Vien's arm and went aside. Then whispered into her ear.
"Vien. I'll grant you one wish, so calm down. I'm really sorry. I don't know what I did wrong. So make a wish that will calm your anger, let's clear it, and let's work hard in the dungeon for now, okay?"
"..."
She glances sideways at Stachys and wipes her eyes, seuk-seuk.
"Huh? Vien. Calm down."
"..."
"Vien, huh? I was wrong."
Stachys patted her back gently, to-dak-to-dak.
Only then did Vien nod her head after a long while, keeping her face turned away from Stachys. Her ears looked red.
"I'll let it slide just this once."
I mean, what are you letting slide...
His chest felt stuffy, but he decided to think about it later.
Because there was still work left to do.
Next, Stachys dragged Rus away. Since Rus the knight is tall, he didn't need to bend his waist and whisper like he did with Vien.
"Rus. I'll grant you one wish, so calm down. I'm really sorry. I don't know what I did wrong. So make a wish that will calm your anger, let's clear it, and let's work hard in the dungeon for now, okay?"
"..."
Rus shows no reaction.
"Huh? Rus. Calm down."
Today is a bit much, but still, Rus calms her anger a bit better than the rest of the party members, so now it's fine—
"...Chisa, why did you go to Vien first?"
"Uhm.... Huh?"
"Just now. You pulled Vien's arm first."
"..Yeah."
"Am I not your most precious friend?"
"That's... right..?"
"Then why did you go to Vien first instead of your precious friend?"
"..Th..That is"
"You take care of a mere party member before your most precious friend? Ah, is that so~."
Why is she acting like this today?
"Th.. That's because I thought you would understand my heart, Rus. You know I'm the leader, so I have to soothe the party members' feelings. I thought you would understand a bit more."
Stachys made a roughly slapdash excuse, but she wasn't satisfied.
"I understand. I understand, but I'm angry today too. Shouldn't you soothe me first then? With your actions today, it doesn't really feel like I'm precious to you, you know?"
Ah, it's exhausting. Energy is drained. If it were one by one it would be bearable, but when it piles up like this, it's tough.
Why is she really like this today?
To say it again, this is behavior that would be cute if she were a girlfriend, no, even if she were a female interest who could become a girlfriend. But when a friend acts like this, it's annoying.
Anyway, Stachys has to calm Rus's anger.
"I'm sorry, Rus. I was short-sighted. If I had known you were this angry, I naturally would have come to you first."
"...Really?"
"It's true. If everyone were severely angry, I would soothe your anger first. Like I said, you're my best friend, right?"
At those words, her lips seemed to twitch slightly. Stachys cannot miss this moment.
"My friend, Rus. You know it too, right? Who my best friend is? Just let it slide this once."
He just blurted out whatever came to his mouth.
"Oh..?! Our Rus. Come to think of it, a Rus who knows how to forgive must be the prettiest in the world, right?"
"Ha.... Alright. I'll let it slide this time."
And she released her anger. Ha, finally. His energy is practically sucked dry, seriously.
Should he seriously tell them once that he has a girlfriend?
He has no idea why this would help, but hyung said it definitely would.
"Yeah, Rus. Thank you."
"And yet!"
What is it now?
She brought her mouth close to Stachys's ear.
"...You're still granting that wish, right?"
"....Of course."
Rus, who pulled her face away from Stachys, wore that silly, bright smile he always saw. Honestly, she is beautiful.
Even though they bother Stachys to this extent, those appearances must have played a huge role in why he can't get easily angry, or why their anger is easily appeased...
Anyway, are they finally ready?
Stachys turned around with Rus.
When he turned back, Vien and Lily were having a glare-off.
Why again... Tears are threatening to come out. When are we going to the dungeon...
"Lily-noona, Vien, is something wrong?"
"Ah.. nothing, Stachys."
"Don't worry, Stachys. Nothing happened."
The two look back at Stachys at his words. It definitely seems like something's up, but it's hard to resolve even that.
He should just pretend not to know. Let's please just depart. He feels like he'll collapse from exhaustion before even getting there.
"Hoo, then guys, are you ready? Today's goal is..."