episode_0011

The heart of the dungeon, as usual! The same members, as usual! And yet, something is strange.

“…Hmm. The pressure is no joke.” I rubbed my neck as I looked around. Somehow… the feel of the air touching my skin is different. More precisely, it feels unnecessarily sacred?

“That’s strange, today isn’t the day Wilmarina is here…?” I looked around, but neither her unique brown hair nor her bright smile were visible. But why is it… that I feel such a sacred wave that it makes my eyes sting?

“Ugh… it’s annoying!” Ellis hugged her arms tightly and hunched over, looking displeased. “This is a sacred power that most demons or monsters can’t even approach! Does it make sense for this kind of energy to be in the middle of a dungeon?!” Seeing the (former) Demon King complaining, it seems to be quite a powerful sacred power.

Just then, Lillien opened her mouth beside me. “That’s really strange. According to the information I researched about this dungeon, there were no monsters of the sacred attribute living here.” As she said that, she tilted her head slightly— “Huh? No way… could a mysterious gourmet not even listed in the encyclopedia be waiting for us?” That expression. That expression with sparkling eyes. It was pure madness filled with the certainty that ‘something edible might come out’.

“It immediately leads to food, Lillien.” At that moment, Arte, who was exploring at the very front, stopped. “Everyone. A reaction has been detected on the scan sensor.” “Is it a person, Arte?” “No. It’s not a person, and the type of waveform is different for it to be a typical monster.” “Then who is it? A spirit? A ghost?” “There’s also a possibility it’s both, Yu An.” “A ghost? H-! I really hate ghosts…”

Looking at Ellis, who was trying to back away, Lillien smiled. “Whatever it is, this is the heart of the dungeon. It would be right to prepare for battle.” She lightly reached out her hand and smoothly drew the greatsword she had strapped to her back. Yet, she spoke with eyes full of anticipation, as if she was feeling good about something. “Hehehe… what kind of delicious magical beast could it be~” Saliva slowly pooled at the corners of her mouth. That’s not a battle preparation expression, that’s a tasting preparation expression? What on earth is about to appear?

In the quiet air of the dungeon— Tap. Tap. A sound of something tapping on the floor was heard. A heavy yet rhythmic beat, the sound of hard hooves tapping the dungeon’s stone slabs. “……?” All of us stopped at the same time and listened carefully. When that presence fully revealed itself—

“…Isn’t that a unicorn?” “Huh? It’s not a ghost? Really?” Ellis, who had been hiding behind me, cautiously peeked her head out. What stood before her eyes was a horse with fur as pure white as snow. A pair of large wings were spread on its back, and the horn, the symbol of a unicorn, was beautifully shining in the middle of its forehead.

“Woah… the unicorns in this world have wings too…” I spoke quietly, as if swallowing my admiration, and just gazed at the presence. Lillien also caught her breath and let out an exclamation of admiration. “I never expected to meet a unicorn in a place like this. Even during my knight order days, the only time I saw one was from very far away during an expedition.”

Arte stepped forward and began a data scan. “Unicorn… In my database, it’s classified as an ambiguous entity to be considered a magical beast. An intermediate nature between a divine beast and a monster. Is that correct, Lillien?” “Yes, the classification varies depending on the region. They are usually treated as sacred beings, or often as divine beasts.”

Then, the Automata tilted her head slightly. “But… why is a unicorn in a dungeon like this, and at its heart no less?” “Then… it’s not a dangerous magical beast, right?” “Yes. Unicorns don’t attack first except in special cases. Don’t worry, Yu An.”

Ellis, who had joined the conversation, inadvertently smiled slightly. Soon after, grinning, she threw out a new conversation topic. “Rather, there’s also a legend that they protect virgins and children, and let them ride on their backs when in danger.” “Then maybe this unicorn right now is also…”

I met the eyes of that dazzling creature. This presence… It really doesn’t seem like a magical beast. Just a pure creature quietly watching us. If so, is this encounter with the unicorn good luck?

The three of us cautiously approached. The pure white unicorn did not flinch or run away even at our unfamiliar presence. Rather, it gently bowed its head, offering its body with an attitude more noble than anyone else.

“Wow….” Lillien let out a breath of admiration and cautiously stroked the unicorn’s forehead. The unicorn seemed pleased with her touch and slightly burrowed its head towards her chest. “Haha, that tickles, Mr. Unicorn.” She laughed playfully and stroked its head. “Oh my~ Don’t bury your head in my chest like that~ It’s heavy~?” Lillien’s expression as she gently stroked along its jawline with her fingertips was quite kind.

Beside her, Arte was seriously observing, tapping the unicorn’s flank. “The muscle density is incredible. It’s a completely different level compared to regular horses. Similar to that of a dragon.” And Ellis— “Oh, it’s softer than I thought~?” She gently touched the unicorn’s spread wings with her fingertips, fluttering them as if comparing them to her own devil wings. “As expected, angel types have a lot of feathers, so they must be annoying to clean.”

Looking at that sight with satisfaction, I inexplicably wanted to touch it too. “Me too… is it okay? I want to touch it too! Just once!” I cautiously extended my hand— “Hmph.” “…Huh?”

The unicorn suddenly glared at me and snorted. Its front hoof slightly moved forward… cold sweat ran down my spine. “Why? I’m really harmless? I’m human, human!” Ellis, who was somehow on its back, laughed and teased me. “See? What did I tell you~ Unicorns are only kind to children and virgins?” “Ugh… Am I disqualified just because I’m an adult male! That’s so unfair, really!” My stomach hurt. It’s not exactly unfair, but it feels unfair.

Lillien covered the corner of her mouth lightly with her hand and laughed. “Speaking of which, there’s also a saying that unicorns are guardians of pure love.” Arte also quietly nodded her head. “That’s right. There are so many such legends that I believe they are now almost classified as a cliché.”

At those words, Ellis, who was riding on the unicorn’s back, smiled sweetly and spoke slyly. “Huh? Then aren’t we also qualified to be protected?” And one word— “All of us genuinely like one man called Yu An, don’t we?”

A straight shot right down the middle. A perfect straight that couldn’t be avoided anywhere. At those words, I blinked unnecessarily. “Well… it’s not that I don’t know your goodwill…”

Lillien narrowed her eyes, smiled, and continued playfully. “Hehe, it seems Yu An has already embarked on the pure love route with all of us?” “That’s usually called Harem Pure Love in technical terms, Lillien.” It was at that moment.

“Prrrrrrp!!” The unicorn’s expression completely changed. Its eyes, which had been like those of a gentle lamb just moments before, furrowed into a frown, and it began to snort sharply.

“Uh… Ellis? Something’s weird with this one?” “Eh?” Ellis, who was tilting her head, was simultaneously flung—! and thrown off the unicorn’s back.

“Kyaak?! Yu An—!” “My ball! My ball! Caught you!” I quickly reached out and hugged her into my arms. Oops, that was close… We were just about to roll on the ground still piled on top of each other, but I managed to catch her somehow. “Hehe, thanks Yu An~ That was really dangerous.” Ellis laughed playfully while being held.

But more than that— “Why is it like that? It was so gentle just a moment ago…” “I don’t know. Ever since the topic of harem was suddenly brought up, its expression started to sour. Could it be jealous?” “Or perhaps unicorns dislike Harem Pure Love?” Arte tilted her head slightly. “It’s fascinating. ‘Harem’ is quite a common concept in human society. It’s even a word registered in the dictionary.”

At those words, the unicorn snorted even more roughly and began to paw the ground. The unicorn let out a rough neigh! and spread its wings. Its elegant appearance was already gone, and a black energy was spreading in its eyes.

“Uh… wait, it seems really angry…?” Quadududdeuk! The unicorn charged towards us as if flying, kicking off the ground with its hooves! Bowing its head and aiming its horn, it unleashed a truly lightning-fast charge towards me. “Whoa whoa whoa, dangerous! It’s dangerous!!” I flinched without having time to evade—

“It’s dangerous, Yu An!” Kang! Right at that moment, a streak of a greatsword crossed my vision. Lillien. Her eyes shone sharply, and she blocked me with her whole body. Then she swung the greatsword strongly and deflected the unicorn’s charge. Kwaang—!!

A shockwave that echoed like an explosion. If I had been hit, I would have reincarnated one more time, wouldn’t I?

“Wow~ That was serious just now, Mr. Unicorn?” Lillien said with a cold smile at the corner of her mouth. “Yu An almost died~?” At that moment, Arte moved with the sound of a whip. The mechanical whip emitted from her hand wrapped directly around the unicorn’s leg. “Action stopped. Let’s finish it, Ellis.”

Immediately, Ellis’s magic also smoothly linked up. “Too much~! To attack Yu An~ I’ll have to give it a taste of its own medicine?” Ellis, who had condensed magic power in both hands. A whirlwind of sharp gusts, like blades, began to swirl around her.

“Cyclone!” Kwaaaang!!! A massive whirlwind swept through, swallowing the unicorn into its center. Inside, with sounds of crackling! and bursting— The unicorn’s horn, which had been piercing the sky, sliced! and was cut off.

“Hieeeing—!!!” The unicorn stumbled, screaming. It turned its head back towards us once with a resentful look— Soon after, it flew away with much rougher wingbeats.

What remained in the quietened dungeon were the deeply etched unicorn footprints, and one horn. Breathing out belatedly, I stared blankly in the direction the unicorn had disappeared. “Seriously… why does the unicorn hate me?”

“But still, we salvaged the horn, didn’t we?” Lillien carefully lifted the unicorn’s horn and handed it to me. A translucent horn that seemed to contain light. It was shining so beautifully, making the fierce battle just now seem insignificant.

“Yu An, keep this. They say if you grind up a unicorn’s horn and put it in a potion, the healing effect becomes several times stronger?” “…Hmm.”

I took the horn and looked at it for a moment, then subtly turned my gaze towards her. “Say, Lillien.” “Yes?” “Right now… you’re not saying that because you want to drink a potion with the ground horn in it, are you?”

At that, she gave a very awkward smile, cleared her throat a couple of times for no reason… “Hmm, hmm hmm hmm~ Ow ow ow ow ow… my shoulder is a bit sore from the recoil just now… Ugh, it hurts so much.” She was putting on a full show, even holding her shoulder. “This definitely won’t heal without a unicorn horn potion… Ahh, it’s painful…!”

“…Let’s stop acting, Lillien.” “Eung~? I’m really hurting, you know? Yu An, can you hug poor me? Or how about you heal me~?” “Alright. Alright, my knight.” “Yu An, you’re really kind, as expected~ I might just fall for that kindness?” “Didn’t you already fall for me?” “Hehe, you caught me?”

Her answer was so natural that I felt like my heart was unnecessarily straining.

“Yu An, I’m hurting too! Ow ow!” “Yu An, me too. My circuits hurt.” “Alright everyone. Wait a minute. I’ll make it right away.” What can I do? I like all of you. Sorry, Mr. Unicorn!

[Eyecatch!]

Today’s Monster ㅡ Unicorn

The incredibly famous horse with a horn! A being worshipped as a divine beast in some regions! Especially crazy for virgins. Do not mention the word Harem in front of this horse. Especially the phrase Harem Pure Love is like a taboo. Be careful, as it might genuinely frown, flap its wings, and charge at you! Ah, they say a unicorn’s horn has a healing effect, making it effective against various contaminations and wounds? “Strangely enough, the unicorn’s healing effect also applies to me, who is a machine.” ㅡThe Automata, who found the term “Can Pure Love” in her database