Dungeon Attack (3)

-Deolkeong… Deolkeong…

The ride was more comfortable than most carriages, no, even better than a modern car. I admired the capital and technology poured into the Count’s carriage and sighed without getting caught.

“Why the long face?”

Right next to me. Shuriel Luchellini, that annoying blond nobleman, couldn’t take his eyes off me.

And a little further away from us, the escort knight Calberd, motionless with his eyes closed.

A nobleman and a knight… A flawless, textbook combination, but-being a mere adventurer stuck between them was killing me.

I ignored Shuriel, who was trying to make skinship by lightly bumping my shoulder, and spoke in as soft a tone as possible.

“Doryeon-nim. I-“

“My name isn’t ‘Doryeon-nim’.”

“…How could an adventurer dare to utter the name of a Count’s family so carelessly?”

“Who’s watching? I tend to emphasize freedom as long as basic etiquette isn’t violated. I’d even allow you to call me ‘Luchellini’ specifically.”

“Gyeong is watching.”

“Calberd? You can ignore that old man. What can he do when he’s bound by a secular contract?”

At those words, Calberd’s eyebrows twitched, though he hadn’t moved at all. I had personally experienced how heinous the murderous intent emanating from that old man was, so I just prayed he wouldn’t explode inside. Fortunately, the knight didn’t move. But that was it. I had to endure Shuriel’s burdensome gaze. His eyes shone like a lake under the moonlight. The meaning of that gaze was clear, so I had no choice but to open my mouth.

“…Luchellini-nim.”

“Eum eum.”

He was particularly sensitive to the difference between ‘Shel’ and ‘Sel’, and his face subtly flushed when I pronounced it accurately as ‘Shel’. Watching that made me want to puke, so I hurriedly changed the subject.

“I’m afraid that if the noble young master of the esteemed Count’s family mixes words with a lowly woman like me, strange rumors might spread. Especially if I’m a humble adventurer who can’t even prove my identity without a wooden tag.”

“Ah, your identity?”

Shuriel smiled as if it were nothing.

“I don’t care about that at all. If you were really a spy or a surveillance agent, you would have killed yourself immediately. There’s no reason for you to be so considerate and try to match my mood. And what kind of surveillance agent approaches so openly?”

“……”

This is such a nuisance. What are you trying to do? So you knew and still put me in the carriage. This was kidnapping. My vision blurred. I tried to ignore the throbbing in the back of my neck and slowly opened my mouth.

“If that’s the case, may I ask why you took an interest in a girl like me?”

I have a rough idea, but… I have no intention of playing along. People can’t easily approach me when I’m with a nobleman. For me, who gets excited the more miserable and fallen I become, a connection with a nobleman is just a nuisance, not an opportunity to turn my life around.

Shuriel, who had no idea what I was thinking, slumped down as if he was fed up and said,

“Just think of it as briefly indulging in my amusement. I’ve been quite annoyed because all the dispatched work has been a waste. You just happened to be an interesting opponent.”

“…Dispatch?”

“Eum. I guess I can tell you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Calberd’s eyes opened. Damn it. This mouth of mine. I should have just shut up, but I unnecessarily asked and provoked him. Well, it’s understandable that he’s twisted inside since an outsider like me asked about the inside story. Especially if he’s a bodyguard who serves his master.

Calberd seemed about to say something to his master, but Shuriel was faster. He had already raised a hand and blocked the old knight’s mouth.

“Calberd. That’s an order. Shut up.”

I couldn’t help but shrink at the brutality.

“Haha… The old man is just too loyal. It’s okay. It happens all the time. Yes, yes. You said you were curious about the dispatch.”

‘No, I’m not curious,’ I wanted to say, but I couldn’t dare to. Right now, I was too busy watching Calberd’s reaction.

“If you know about the Astra, it’ll be faster to explain. That’s right. I came out on behalf of the Holy Empire to investigate traces of Demons. It’s easier to think of it as reconnaissance before direct use of force.”

He winked.

“Bridonia… I don’t know which Demon bastard played around, but it’s really vicious. Setting fire to the underground waterways and making it snow in the summer? Well, it’s a relief that it ended soon, but it’s not ‘fortunate’ for me, the Astra. I came down for three days and nights to investigate, but what is this? Are you kidding me?”

“That’s, that’s right.”

This time, I was burning inside for a different reason.

I came to a conclusion after carefully considering this shocking fact.

I’m fucked.

Not just a nobleman, but a Demon hunter.

“Kahalia. Do you know? They said a Great Labyrinth has sprung up in the middle of the lake. Weren’t you heading to Kahalia because of that too?”

“Yes… well. For now.”

“For now? Okay. Let’s change the subject a bit. What are you heading to the Labyrinth for?”

To be stabbed, cut, beaten, and raped. Until I glimpse the bottom of the endless abyss. And until I completely erase the cursed ennui. …Of course. I couldn’t say such a perverted goal out loud, so I modified it a bit.

“…My experience is still lacking, so I’m going to broaden my insufficient knowledge.”

“A true adventurer. Different from the barbaric ones. I like it.”

He seemed to like my polite and passive attitude, and he gradually, little by little, moved closer. After exchanging words with a distance of about a hand span for dozens of minutes, the topic of conversation completely changed.

Shuriel seemed to be getting more excited as he talked to me, but I didn’t know why. It wasn’t just because I was beautiful, but because I could see a fundamentally different desire in his eyes. What should I say? At first, it felt like he was looking at a prostitute, but now it feels like he’s looking at a jewel. I was puzzled by that gaze, but my lips were parched.

And the reason was revealed exactly when the sixth conversation ended.

“Did you know? I’ve been talking to you in different languages so far… but for some reason, you’ve been answering skillfully in all of them.”

“Yes…?”

“Starting with the common Imperial language, Western Front language, and Northeastern Gadrishu language. I spoke mainly in relatively difficult languages with different grammar… Where did you learn them?”

“……”

Ah. Shit. Automatic translation.

I’m going crazy.

A function that came with completely understanding all elemental magic. Until now, I had only dealt with guys who used the common Imperial language, so I didn’t realize this…

“……”

The silence grows longer.

“Eung? Yujin. Tell me.”

In the end, I was the one who raised the white flag again.

“Doryeon-nim.”

“I’m not Doryeon-nim, but Shuriel-“

“I know how presumptuous I’m being.”

But I didn’t surrender easily. I responded with a somewhat arrogant attitude that could be seen as impudent. I didn’t like the situation where I had to use words as a knife against someone who had a crush on me, but what could I do when that was the truth? If I didn’t draw a line here, he would keep running at me endlessly.

“It’s not enough that I, a mere adventurer, am getting a ride in the Count’s carriage, but I’m also mixing words with the young master of Luchellini by wagging my frivolous tongue. Even if Gyeong cut off my head for this alone, it wouldn’t be enough, but I’m not even satisfied with that and I’m looking beyond. It won’t do.”

“……”

“You said our meeting was an amusement. I can indulge you in wanting to accompany me. How could I refuse? I’m a lowly commoner.”

“I.”

“But Doryeon-nim.”

I cut him off.

“There’s nothing good about approaching me. So I hope you don’t misunderstand. I’m not ignoring you. Who would dare to ignore Doryeon-nim? Doryeon-nim is the proud Astra of the Luchellini Count’s family.”

These are words I spat out with the determination to be stabbed. It was because I felt like I would be swept away by their pace if I continued like this. If I got caught with a weakness, I would have to live as a de facto slave. Of course, I would break free with force before that happened, but anyway. I refuse to be a noble’s pet. I’d rather pretend to be stabbed and die. That’s even better. If they treat me like a toy, I might consider it a little… No. What am I worrying about? I shook my head, my Adam’s apple trembling.

But unlike my expectations, they didn’t do anything. Except for the fact that Shuriel had a chillingly cold expression.

“…Is that so. I’ve been rude. I apologize.”

Silence.

No conversation took place after this.

Not even once.

* * *

Inside the carriage, where only a chilling silence flowed.

I relieved my boredom with that silence as my companion. I couldn’t afford to relax. The feeling of dizziness in my arms and legs and the tingling in my neck was more thrilling than I thought. As I was enjoying such a pathetic thrill, the sound of the wheels gradually became smaller. When the speed of the carriage slowed down, I looked out the window. A small-sized castle wall came into view. I had arrived in Kahalia, one of the few tourist cities and planned cities in the Empire.

As expected, the gates were crowded with adventurers. They must have flocked here in droves after hearing the news that a Labyrinth had been discovered.

-Kkieeek.

“We’ve arrived!”

The coachman’s cry to calm the horses.

Calberd got out of the carriage as soon as he heard the cry, and Shuriel glanced at me with a sulky expression, then took his eyes off me and followed Calberd out. There was no escort. What a sore loser. I laughed at him inwardly, grabbed the open door, and gently got off. Then, the newly felt smell of soil and grass greeted me. If the air in Bridonia was stuffy, the air here was slightly more refreshing.

There was no waiting line. Who would stop the Count’s party? Thanks to that, I was able to enter Kahalia smoothly.

The gates opened, and the soldiers straightened their posture to pay their respects to the Count’s family. They all had tense expressions. I didn’t know they would accompany me this far, but looking at Shuriel’s face, he didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives. He probably just thinks this is etiquette.

It was then.

“Yujin.”

A dignified voice calling me. It was Calberd.

I realized that his voice had become more gentle than before. He walked straight ahead, speaking without looking at me.

“Well done.”

A sudden compliment.

“You must have felt that the master’s eyes on you were not kind.”

“……”

“But. You didn’t cross the line.”

“…It’s only natural.”

Am I crazy to hang out with nobles?

“Well done. Very well done. I can’t completely dispel my suspicion of you yet, but at least. I can rest assured.”

“I’m really an innocent adventurer.”

“Yes. An innocent adventurer who speaks three different languages fluently and doesn’t flinch in front of the Count’s Astra.”

“Haa….”

“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything more about your identity. More than that, how long do you plan to stay here?”

My eyes widened at those words. You won’t interfere anymore? I couldn’t help but smile with joy and answered.

“About fifteen days. I think I’ll go back around the time the Labyrinth exploration is over. After that, I plan to return to Bridonia.”

“Fifteen days, fifteen days.”

He seemed to want to ask more, but when Shuriel called for Calberd, he turned his back as if he couldn’t help it. Just before he turned his back on me, he said in a serious voice.

“It’s such a waste to have such a talented person as a mere unaffiliated adventurer. If you have any difficulties, find me. If you give the guards my name-“

“Calberd!”

“I can’t help it. It’s time to say goodbye…. It was nice meeting you.”

Please. Let’s not meet again. I repeated inwardly.

A fork in the road. They went into a room that seemed to be a VIP room. The soldier standing in front of the door glanced at me, but I said that I had nothing to do with them and went down the opposite road. After passing the bleak outpost with only soldiers, I saw a street where people were walking.

The meeting with the nobleman ended somewhat anticlimactically. He was looking at me with the momentum to pounce on me just a moment ago… It was a bit much, but I couldn’t do anything about it, so I decided to just let it go. I slapped both cheeks and reminded myself of my original purpose. To rummage through the Labyrinth since I came to Kahalia to find the Demon.

Still. I can’t just go in recklessly.

What kind of existence is a Labyrinth? A dark and dry cave, flying dust, swarming monsters. Magicians can’t use magic recklessly in a narrow space, and swordsmen can’t breathe easily because of the dust.

I’ve never been there myself, but I heard that there’s usually a lot of strange powder flying around in the Labyrinth. It doesn’t damage your body if you inhale it, but it makes it a little harder to breathe? Besides, it’s flammable, so you can’t light a fire recklessly. Dust explosions don’t happen that easily, but… if you’re not careful, you’re all fucked, so there’s a lot to prepare.

The problem is meeting that nobleman… I’ll have to try my best to avoid overlapping paths.