Dungeon Attack (2)

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,This is just great… Are we gonna strike out again even if we go to Kahalia?”

“Still. We can’t abandon our duty, can we, -nim.”

“It’d be nice if it were just once or twice.”

Shuriel Lushellini, the second son of Count Lushellini’s family, dispatched to resolve the incident, was extremely displeased with the current situation.

Shuriel said, constantly annoyed.

“What am I supposed to report to the Holy Empire? That I spent three days and nights getting to Bridonia only for everything to be already over? What will my brother and father think of me?”

A series of disasters occurred centered around Bridonia.

The Holy Empire, judging this to be the work of Demons, sent letters not just to paladins, but to the ‘agents’ of families renowned for Demon hunting. The order was to investigate and confirm the truth.

Three families that had achieved remarkable results in the past war against Demons.

Prukaise, Angrid, and Lushellini.

They chose one ‘agent’ from each generation and, by contract with the Holy Empire, volunteered to be their servants. Outwardly, it was a grand belief for the sake of humanity. But looking at the enormous benefits coming from the Holy Empire, it couldn’t be seen solely as a master-servant relationship. It was closer to a transaction. Shuriel was the ninth agent of the Count’s family.

The fact that he was the second son also played a part in him becoming an agent, but he didn’t resent his older brother.

Leaving aside the succession rights.

If the agent successfully completes their mission, the Holy Empire provides rewards befitting, or even exceeding, the achievement. Because they were more serious than anyone else when it came to Demons, the honor that followed was no less than that of the eldest son.

Naturally, the agents tried to work actively for the prosperity of their families. The competition was fierce.

And so.

Breaking through the formidable families.

Lushellini was chosen, but.

“Haa…”

No matter how much he investigated, he couldn’t sense any Demonic Mana.

The summer snow disaster that occurred in Bridonia ended in less than a month. Not only that, but the great fire that occurred before that was also swept under the rug without knowing the cause. The news of people being kidnapped also stopped at some point. It felt like someone was stepping in to resolve the issues, a kind of suspiciousness.

The only place left was the tourist city of Kahalia, a little ways from Bridonia.

The giant Labyrinth that had appeared there…

If the size written in the report was true, at least he wouldn’t return empty-handed… But if even this turned out to be a bust, the name of the agent would be tarnished.

-No abnormalities to report.

It was when he was about to write that pathetic line on the parchment.

-Kkieeek! Kung.

The carriage comes to a sudden stop.

Shuriel frowned deeply and stuck his face out of the carriage.

“What’s going on?”

Calvert answers.

“It seems the wheel of the carriage in front has come off. It will take a while to fix… Shall we ignore it and go?”

Shuriel leaned back against the carriage seat and shook his head. He felt a little nauseous from the rattling, so he gestured to Calvert, expressing his refusal. He needed to think. Since the carriage had stopped anyway, he intended to sink into silence for a while.

“I will stand guard.”

Calvert got out, and Shuriel, left alone, closed his eyes, leaning his weary body. He thought it wouldn’t be bad to take a nap. After all, once he arrived at the Labyrinth, he would have to investigate until his body broke. Replenishing his stamina wouldn’t be a bad idea.

How many hours had passed like that?

-Thud.

Heavy footsteps. Shuriel lifted his head and looked out the window with a speed that wouldn’t be expected of someone who had fallen asleep. A benevolent face. A long beard. There stood his loyal knight, Sir Calvert.

“Ah, Calvert. My loyal knight. Where have you been?”

“I found an adventurer.”

“An adventurer?”

Bringing along a girl he didn’t know.

Shuriel scanned the girl before him.

Small height. But a perfect ratio that offset it. The blazing red hair flowed down in pigtails, creating a doll-like atmosphere. And what about her sharp nose and delicate features? If there was a flaw, it would be her expressionless face, as if frozen. Seeing the girl’s celestial beauty, Shuriel suddenly thought he wanted to see her smile.

It was when he was staring at the girl as if possessed.

“I greet Shuriel Lushellini-nim, the proud sword of the Lushellini Count’s family, the agent.”

…Even her voice? That’s cheating.

A beautiful voice that resonated in his ears.

The sight of the girl carefully holding the hem of her skirt and bowing her head was so beautiful that it seemed like an Angel had descended. Shuriel swallowed hard and looked at the girl. Was there such a woman among the accompanying maids? Which family is she from? The etiquette the girl showed was impossible unless she was a noble.

Shuriel blinked his eyes without realizing it and asked Calvert.

“…Calvert?”

He asked, ‘Where on earth did you pick up such a woman?’ but.

“I did not teach her etiquette.”

All he got in return was an absurd answer. He was my bodyguard, who valued my face so much that it was almost foolish.

“Yes. You were always like that.”

A little later, the coachman’s tactless shout that he had finished fixing the wheels was heard. Shuriel felt a sense of regret. A little more. He wanted to capture the girl, who was like a scene from a painting, in his eyes. But with the duty to investigate the connection between the Labyrinth and the Demons, he couldn’t delay any longer.

“Raise your head. Because I like people who are polite like you.”

When the girl raised her head exactly 3 seconds later.

Shuriel and Calvert were once again impressed.

“I didn’t know there was anyone other than Calvert who upheld such old-fashioned products of old fogeys like the 3-second etiquette. Who are you? A watchdog sent by the Count’s family? Or a spy?”

Honestly, he didn’t care whether she was a spy or a watchdog.

Shuriel thought.

No matter what happens.

He had to get that girl into his hands.

---

It only took a few seconds to realize my mistake, but it took a tremendous amount of time to say it out loud. I had forgotten the average level of education in this world. It was my mistake to think that other commoners would also know how to observe such etiquette.

A watchdog? Or a spy? How should I answer Shuriel’s question? Shuriel was expressing the words ‘I have no intention of sending you back nicely’ in a different way, adamantly.

“I’m…”

I trail off. Just because I’m skilled in magic, does that mean I’m also skilled in social life? The reason I can be confident is because of the overwhelming power that comes from transcendent magic, not because of my social position. I can quickly derive etiquette or answers based on knowledge, but the unique way of speaking of nobles, which is intertwined with various interests, is still too early for me to handle.

“……”

Their mouths are like knives, so I choose my words slowly so as not to be caught.

Shuriel was just smiling and looking at me like that. I don’t know what was so funny about my fidgeting and swallowing my saliva, but he couldn’t hide his beaming expression and stared at me intently.

As much as my appearance, the expressions of Calvert and the others were also quite a sight.

“Master.”

It was the bodyguard Calvert who broke the silence. He seemed used to this situation, tapping his scabbard and speaking in a voice that scolded a child.

“Keep your dignity. There are many eyes watching.”

“Ah, um. Yes. I should. The wheels are fixed too.”

“Shall we depart?”

“No. Wait.”

Shall we depart? Calvert spoke in a flat tone, but for some reason, there was tremendous murderous intent in it. Directly towards me. I was startled by the murderous intent and turned my head, but he had his usual gentle expression as if nothing had happened. Calvert looked at his master with worried eyes.

“If I may offer some advice, accompanying her would not be a good choice.”

“I know that much too. There’s no existence as dangerous as a magician of unknown origin.”

Shuriel replied in a voice that had sunk a level. He didn’t take his eyes off my pupils and fell into thought, resting his chin on one hand. Could he have some good idea? Despite Calvert’s dissuasion, he didn’t stop thinking. Finally, when his hand fell from his chin.

“Adventurer Yujin.”

An emotionless voice.

“Yes.”

“You know it too. How suspicious your appearance is.”

“…”

I know too. That’s why I’m regretting it even more. The reason I haven’t killed them is probably because I still have some humanity left in me. I was relieved by that fact, but I just sighed inwardly. Shuriel smiled again and said like a sly fox.

“A watchdog wouldn’t approach so carelessly, but… Still. From the moment you’re suspected, I can’t send you back nicely. There are two ways you can choose.”

To the ignorant commoners, nobles come like a disaster. A difference in status that they can’t even dare to look at. Knowing well who dominates whom, they can speak without hesitation.

“Either spit out information until you die. Or prove your innocence.”

Shuriel leaned against the carriage wall and held his face out to me.

“You might think, ‘Just because we ran into each other?’ but I don’t think it’s an excessive measure. Rather, it’s beneficial to you. If you have an affiliation, you can show your hand, right? Like the Magic Tower or something.”

If only I could. I laugh, heh heh.

“If you prove your innocence, I will give you compensation for the rudeness I have committed. Surely. You’re not thinking of backing out with an adventurer’s pass, are you?”

Either spit out information until you die, huh… Does that mean I’ll be tortured? I was briefly tempted by those words, but after calculating the gains and losses, it was a loss no matter how I looked at it. But I don’t have any proper evidence either… Fuck it, whatever happens, happens. If I get tortured, I get tortured.

I said with a resigned heart.

“How could I point a knife at the Count’s family? I wouldn’t do that unless I was crazy. I’m just an innocent adventurer.”

“An unaffiliated magician who adheres to the etiquette that only nobles who are my father’s age or older uphold. An innocent adventurer?”

“That’s the truth, so what can I do? This is also a coincidence.”

They say a cornered rat bites a cat. That’s exactly what I am. Shuriel erased his smile as if he was dumbfounded when I retorted with an indifferent expression. Calvert also twisted his lips as if he was fed up with my brazen appearance.

I didn’t cower in between them, but stood tall and looked at them.

“…”

The silence didn’t last long.

“Calvert.”

“Yes. Master.”

“I like that woman, what should I do?”

“No matter what I say, Master will-“

“Yes. That’s right. I’m going to accompany her. We have the same destination, so it’s good, right?”

“Haa…”

Calvert could only tap his scabbard and make a mournful expression. He must be suffering from serving such a selfish master. I forgot that he had spewed murderous intent at me and felt a sense of pity. Calvert looked at my triumphant face and sighed deeply. And said.

“Unless you prove your identity, you have no right to refuse. If you ever harbor impious thoughts… my sword will not forgive you.”

I see.

“…I don’t know what to do with myself since you’re giving attention to a lowly commoner.”

Calvert withdrew his Aura when I pretended to be moderately scared.

Haa. I should be satisfied with being able to hitch a ride on the carriage. Since it’s the Count’s carriage, the ride will be good. So I headed to the brown carriage at the very back, which was presumed to be the one the maids were riding in.

“Where are you going?”

It was the blond-haired nobleman Shuriel Lushellini who stopped me.

“You have to ride with me.”

Thud. The carriage door opens. The interior of the carriage, which looked luxurious at first glance, came into view.

Is it okay for a man and a woman to ride in the same carriage?

…As soon as I thought that, my body trembled. I was a man. Not now, but anyway. Why am I thinking about that first? What’s so strange about men riding in the same carriage? Of course, it’s not normal to be doing this as a woman…

I stand in front of the door with a complicated expression. Shuriel must have taken my appearance as something else, because he went “Ah!” and reached out his hand.

“I’m sorry, Lady Yujin. Would you please take my hand? Is this okay?”

Escort.

I regretted that I should have just shut up and gotten in.

I closed my eyes and took his hand.