After having a brief moment of rest, we went back to search for Elise after the eerie fog subdues. Thanks to the cursed compass, another troublesome matter arise.
"I be dammed… aren't this world is screwed with this…?"
I muttered to myself after seeing the end game event. The three of us stood in horror as to the 'thing' we saw with our very eyes.
"I-is that… a Dungeon…?" (Saraha)
Quite perceptive of you, young lady. 'That' is a Dungeon. It was a cave like formation, that formed unnaturally about a size of a small hill with big dark eerie hole on its mouth. It kinda looked like a shape of a monster's head, opening its mouth wide open to devour anything that came across it.
"Did the needle still points to its direction, idiot Prince?"
I ask the petrified idiot.
"T-this… Reed. Theres nothing that we could do now but to wait for the army-…" (Remorth)
"Why with the sudden cowardice, idiot Royal Prince? Don't you want to rescue your attendants?"
He stayed silent after hearing my remarks. Its true that the situation is out of our hands with the appearance of this Dungeon. This is the last event in the game, when the world is facing the calamity that destroyed all living things, An apocalypses. Man, this is mess up, aren't they!? How am I supposed to meet with my Ellusia in the future now that the Dungeon event had already starting to appeared this early!? Is this the brutal mode? Fuck this!
"Reed… Eli… she… I… uuuuu...." (Saraha)
And now Sara is having a break down. Damn! This got really mess up real bad, didn't they? Shit! I knew that compass was cursed! I should get rid of it earlier!
"Tch! Oi, idiot. Gave me that cursed thing."
I ask the idiot who was seemingly lost and overwhelmingly anxious as he tried to gather his thoughts for the appearance of the dungeon. Seeing that he don't the thought to reply me, I grabbed the compass from his hand then smash it to the ground.
"W-wha…? What had you done!? That is a Royal Keepsake you-…" (Remorth)
I point my dagger towards him in rage. Seeing me like that, he shut his fucking mouth and watch me as I conjured a 'fireball' to destroy the cursed thing. After conforming its demise, I pull back my dagger then went towards the depress Sara who was holding her head, like a person who had lost her sanity. I grabbed her on the shoulders then shake her to waken her from her troubled state.
"Get a hold of yourself, Sara! All is not lost, yet… she might still be alive."
Even with my words, she still mutters intangible words on her mouth. She really loves Elise, did she…? Seeing her in this state just breaks my heart. She had lost all of her senses. The person she adores had been taken from her, playing in her mind, and messes her sanity. But if words will not reach her, there can be only one thing.
"I'm sorry about this… you can slap me after you gain back your sanity…"
After saying those words, I press my lips against her muttering lips. I gave a passionate kiss to Sara and pinned her to the ground for a brief moment. This may be shameless of me to do such things even though she had a girlfriend, but this is all I could think of to make her regain her senses. I'm sorry about this Sei….
.....(smooching)
"Uh… h-how longer should I gave you both for this moment of env… shameless acts…?" (Remorth)
Oh crap! I got caught in my lust and forgot that the idiot Prince was with us! I quickly pull my lips then stood back up, while Sara slowly wakes from the ground.
"Reed…" (Saraha)
"Y-yes…?"
She calls to my name with a soft yet clear tone. She slowly got back up then look deep towards my eyes. But aren't she a little bit flustered?
"I-i said that you have to give me two more of the Wyvern's heart, before I let you with my body, didn't I…?" (Saraha)
Oh right! I remember that she requested two more of those disgusting stuff back then when I was caught peeking at her while she did those sexy stuff, didn't she?
"Y-yea… I remember…"
She slowly went close towards me while our eyes still fixed on each others, until about a distance that our noses almost touched with one, another. I admit that she's looking really beautiful with this up closed confrontation, but I did something shameless to her earlier… I readied myself for her slap after noticing her lifting her left arm, but she didn't. She touched my cheeks in a gentle and soft manner while she closed her eyes.
"If we manages to rescue Eli after, lets get married. But if she… if the event that I lost control because of her demise, please end my life…." (Saraha)
"Wha….?"
I was stunned by her remarks that my tongue got frozen and couldn't spoke a word out. After a brief moment, she lets go of me and walk towards the dungeon entrance, in a slow pace. Trying to get my thoughts straight, a sudden loud voice rangs the air.
"Wait…!" (Remorth)
The idiot Prince finally spoken up after witnessing the flowery time I had with Sara. But he was rushing towards Sara who was walking in a slow pace towards the entrance, blocking her way with his arms spread across.
"P-please think this through, Miss Saraha… if you enters that dungeon. You will never gets out from it, even after rescuing Miss Eli…! Please, let us just wait for-…" (Remorth)
He said those words while having mixed expression on his face. but mostly, He looked somewhat passionate. What a guy….
"Move. This happens because its-…" (Saraha)
Sara told him in a cold voice. Glaring him him in anger. But the idiot cut Her sentences and said these words.
"Yes! Its my fault, and mine alone! I was hung up to become the Hero that I got your beloved friend into this mess! I take full responsibility for this! But please… just let me gather our army-…" (Remorth)
He said those words with full of compassion and honesty. But got cut short by Sara.
"Why do you so hung up on holding me back, Prince? Its not like I'm one of your precious subjects. You shoul-…" (Saraha)
Poor idiot… you should be more-…
"Its because I had fallen for you!" (Remorth)
Wha…? Oh wait. I was doing commentary that I forgot that I was in the vicinity with them. Did that guy just confessed to Sara? While I was bewildered by his sudden confession, Sara turn back and stared towards me with eyes of determination.
"Reed… lets us rescue my Eli together…" (Saraha)
She lift her hand as to invite me with to go with her. She gave me a charming smile that I never seen in my entire life. But that poor idiot still stood still, even though his confession was ignored.
"just why… sigh, nevermind…."
I went towards her and hold her hand with mine. The both of us exchange smiles while the idiot prince gritted his teeth, holding his envy feelings inside him. I kinda pity hi-…
"Aaahhh…! Reed! I too will accompany you both to Rescue the others! And I will take no for an answer!" (Remorth)
Wha….? He said those words with full of conviction towards me. But a moment later, he direct his sight towards Sara, how's now holding hands along with me like a couple in love. But I'm not though…
"Miss Saraha. Even though your heart belongs to Reed, I swear on my life, that I too can change for the better. I hope that you will gave me a chance after I redeem myself by saving Miss Eli. This, I swear…!" (Remorth)
Dude's proclamation makes me wanted to clap my hands and give a standing ovation. Seeing that he was headstrong by this, I just couldn't reject his words. Its normal for this world to had several spouses, and I think that I can read his thoughts. He really liked Sara, did he? But well, its not like I will hog her all by myself. If she had a change of heart, I'll respect her wishe… eh? Wait… why am I thinking like this? If me on earth, I will never accept such conditions. And since when did I had fallen for Sara? I am closed to her but only as a friend. But now that I had becoming Reed, did my common sense starting to change and adapt with world?
"Then! Lets save our friends! To hell, we gooo!!" (Remorth)
I was awoken from my deep thoughts after hearing the idiot Prince's heroic remarks. Huh? Just what was i thinking earlier? I felt uneasiness slowly emerge in my chest-…
"Reed… lets go~🤍…" (Saraha)
"Oh, right…"
Sara pulled my hand that was holding with hers earlier. Seeing how she's acting, I loss all of the thought I was having in my mind earlier. But alas, I need to get my mind straight first. The important thing to do now is to save Elise, others things will comes later.
The three of us enters the Dungeon entrance, together with the idiot Prince as our spearhead. Sara had let my hand go earlier after we enters it. But this uneasy feelings. Why am I having these all of a sudden?
..................…
The Dungeon's interior was just like in the game. Its was a spacious cave like structure but the rocks surface was dark blue colored. Though there were no light sources, we can see around well as we did outside. Though the monsters insides were weird looking flesh like monsters that was combined together, they didn't proved that much a challenge for our combine teamwork. With me acts as a range attack mage from the rear to attack the monsters with magic missile, Sara acts as a tank to drawn the monsters attention, and the idiot Prince, who seems to be doing his job as an attacker to finished the monsters. Our combination is perfect. But if a healer is with us, we'll be practically unbeatable.
"Phew… I never had this excitements before in my life…! To think that I can end a Dungeon monsters with the two of you supports me. But this is just unbelievable…!" (Remorth)
Said the idiot Prince who is stabbing a fleshy monster with his blade on the ground. After the monster was drained of its vitality, it vanished into thin air, and left a small blue crystal. If I recall in the game, these valuable blue crystal was a currency that can be use to exchange for real money. I heard that some veteran players manages to became filthy rich after soloing a dungeon and sold their crystals to other players. Though in the game, you could also used them as a currency for the in game content.
The one that the idiot Prince was holding right now was about a size of a thumb. This was the lowest grade crystal and the most cheapest one to be sold for real money. Though if it were to be exchange in the game currency, it had the same amount as a *small gold notes (*10k Rin). But I guess thats what you get in the upper floor of the dungeon.
We reached the end of the first floor with ease and proceed to the second floor. The monsters that inhabits the second floor seems to be a bit bigger that the first floor and was quite active when we encounters them. But they too didn't prove a match for our teamwork and didn't gave us a hard time for us to deal with. We took about half an hour to finished the second floor and proceed to the third floor, but takes a quick break to replenish our stamina.
"How many floors do you estimate of this Dungeon, Reed?" (Remorth)
Because of our good corporation, the idiot Prince seems to be opening up to me, though I was felt a bit of uncomfortable with him speaking to me like that. But still, Sara whom confessed to me earlier, was even more clingier than before. She now tries to feed me a dried meat using her hands. Though I don't feel bad about it, but I felt guilty for the idiot Prince who was watching us with envying stares. And I think he ask me those, just because he wanted to interrupt Sara who was feeding me right now, who didn't noticed the jealous idiot Prince. Poor guy….
"I don't know… (munch) but shouldn't you know about this things better than me? You are the Royal Prince, weren't you?"
I said those to reply his question, earlier.
"I did know a bit about the existence of Dungeons from my study in the Royal Library, but I didn't got that much information as to its detailed structures. The last known existence of a Dungeon was millennium ago, before my great, great grandfather ascended to the throne. And as for all the records regarding with Dungeons, it was lost in the pages of histories." (Remorth)
I see… even that the Royal Family too was left in the dark with this matter. But If I recall in the game, this things appears in the end game for the players who already finished with the main storyline. I too just reaching near the end of the middle of the storyline before I was awoken as Reed, and I didn't get much research about Dungeons because I don't wanted to be spoiled. But still, I'm regretting my past choices now that this situation had risen. If only I get my head straight and do my own research for the Dungeon's content, I could get on with finishing this dungeon with ease. But alas, its all in the past.
We continue descend down to the third floor after our quick break, but it seems to be quite troublesome. There were many splitting pathways that we had to make choices to pick the right one. The first split path we chosen earlier brings us in a pathway full of traps like boulders starting falling from our heads, sink holes on the grounds that cracked up if step on them, and the at the end of the pathway was a dead end. We backtrack towards the splitting pathway and chooses another. Though we didn't encounter any monster, but because of our wrong turns, we spend an hour and a half to reached its end. Thought we weren't that tired and our stamina still hold strong, but we were exhausted mentally.
Proceeding down to the forth floor, we got back in fighting monsters but the addition of the many pathways to take.
"Gaaahh! This is soo annoying! Just why did this dungeon felts like a labyrinth!? And the monsters got buffed also! Just how long will we get to the lower floors and rescue Eli…!" (Saraha)
She said those words while grumbling. Its true that the monsters here was filled with the unknown monsters and some beast variant monsters, but the splitting pathway makes this floor makes the toughest one we had been through apart from the previous floor. And not just Sara had those thoughts, the idiot Prince also was looking quite mentally exhausted. I don't know how long since we enters this floor without seeing the end of it. Though I had been checking my pocket watch from time to time, but I felt like its been eternity since we were on this floor.
"Guys. I think we need to take a break first, seeing that we in a bad shape, mentally... We should-…"
Before I could finished my sentences, I heard a clattering sounds of metal not far from where we were. Its sounded like someone is clashing swords. I ask the two if they heard them, but they seems to be puzzled by my question. But the sound was heard in just a mere second. But still…
"Guys… I said that we need a rest, but I can't ignored the sounds I heard just now. I'm sorry to say this bu-…"
"Its alright, Reed… we'll follow your lead." (Remorth)
The idiot Prince voices his opinion before I finished them, Tch! But he got the gist of my thoughts. Sara too went besides me and hold my hand, while agreeing to the idiot Prince's remarks. I was bewildered at first, but then I spoke my mind towards the two.
"Wait, guys… since when did I become the leader of this party?"
I looked towards Sara, because the idiot was giving a weird stares towards me.
"What? Did you just noticed that by now? Surely you are the only one that giving commands since we entered the dungeon. Without your directions, I will be useless In combat, not to mention that idiot…" (Saraha)
She pointed towards the idiot Prince, who couldn't rebuked her remarks. I did gave a couples of pointers to our team work earlier, but I did that because out of my habit when I played the game. But alas, I accept their proposition. and together, we make our way towards where I heard the clattering sounds earlier.
....................
Turns out, my guess were correct. The clattering sounds seems to be louder as we move forward. As we got close, we heard shouts and clashing swords not far from where we were. Noticing that those maybe the missing students and teachers, we quicken our pace.
...(swords clashing sounds)
"Get it together, men! Push them back! mages, shoots them with missile magic!" (crimson Knight)
"B-but, leader! They seems to be more of them…!" (female knight)
"I-I don't had any strength left… we had been fighting all this time and I don't know how long it has been…!" (exhausted male soldier)
We reached a place that was quite spacious area of the dungeon. we saw a group of soldiers and a knight in crimson armor, whom seems quite familiar, was battling the unknown monsters that armed themselves with weapons from what I could guess was from the downed soldiers belongings. Behind them were a bunch of magician, casting magic. But they seems to be quite exhausted, and some even laying on the ground, unconscious.
"Guys, we need to provide support to those soldiers."
I told the two and they nodded in agreement. I told Sara to used her skill 'intimidation' to catch the attentions of the armed unknown monsters while I'll cast a wide range magic to weaken them, then let the idiot Prince gives the final blow. After the two acknowledge my plan, we put it into motion.
"Now!"
Sara activates her intimidation towards the armed unknown monsters while I chant a level 3 spell.
"|great spirits of fire, grant me the will to wield your flames, gather with my image and strike my foes|,
As the armed monsters came charging towards Sara and separated themselves from the group of soldiers in a safe distance, I cast the spell towards the rampaging armed unknown monsters with 'fire impact'. Seeing the weaken state of the armed unknown monsters, the idiot Prince swiftly delivers the final killing blows with his magic blade that was enchanted with fire attribute.
"Phew… that was intense. Nice support, Reed…!" (Remorth)
The hell is that idiot acting all smug and gave me a thumbs up? Even Sara was irritated by his actions. Did he do that to impress Sara? But anyway, I have to give it to him. He is quite skilled, maybe even more skilled that Dort.
"You thre-… Reed?" (crimson knight)
Thought i recognized her. The crimson knight was none other that Mirada, who separated with us yesterday. I was wondering where she was on this morning. turns out, she and her men had entered the Dungeon. Though she really looked overly exhausted right now. Just since when did she enters this dungeon for her to exhausted to that extend?
"Hello there, my combat instructor… tis I, Ree-…"
"THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!" (Mirada)
Crap! She seems to be pissed while looking towards me with that sharp gazes. Because of that, I stand attention and Sara was doing the same also. She approaches me and brings her face, down near mine. Man, is she a giant! It seems that she's expecting my reply for her question just now, and seems quite agitated also. I should be careful in selecting my answer. She's scary as hell right now…!
"I.. Uh uh… ehe?"
.....(tense silence)
The hell did I said that for!? She looking more pissed then earlier after hearing my fuck up reply…! Hiii!!! Don't eat me!
"Sigh…" (Mirada)
Eh? She let out a sigh and stops her glared. She seems to be eased up than before. Though she is faceplaming right now…
"Just how did you… sigh… aunt will be furious if she knows about this…." (Mirada)
Aunt? Who-…
"I-instructor Mirada! D-did you saw El… a student in white robes anywhere inside this dungeon…!?" (Saraha)
Sara who seems anxious but braved herself to ask for Elise sightings from Mirada.
"A white robe's student…? Hmm… If you ask me about that, I haven't seen anyone looked like such. Though we've been inside this dungeon since yesterday after separated with the main unit." (Mirada)
Hearing those words, Sara dropped her stiffen shoulders, dejected.
"But we did rescue some students that was dragged by the unknown monsters, earlier. the two of them are over there." (Mirada)
She point towards the laying soldiers and mages, along with them were Dort and Risia.
"Dort, Risia!" (Remorth)
Seeing them, the idiot rushed towards the unconscious two while giving his thanks to the gods for the two wellbeings. But its not all merrily for us unlike the idiot who had found his attendants.
"Reed… Eli… she's…." (Saraha)
Seeing that she is almost in tears, I went towards her and give her an embrace.
"Don't worry… seems that the idiot Prince's attendants were here, its a matter of time that we will find Eli also. Just bare with me for a while, alright?"
I said these words while caressing her back to calm her. She hugs me back tightly then nods to my remarks. But I continue to hold her close, just to ease my own worries. The uneasy feeling still swirling inside my heart.
"Ahem… I know that you two had your own reason to enters the dungeon, but I wanted all of you to go back to the fort. Along with the injured." (Mirada)
Oppss… got a bit in the mood there. I let go of Sara after hearing Mirada's grumbling words.
"I'm sorry, Mirada. But I cannot comply with that request. We still haven't found our friend. And we would like to continue-…"
"Reed. Its not a request." (Mirada)
Her tone is slightly cold and she gave a serious expression. I gritted my teeth and hold Sara's hand after noticing that she got agitated after hearing Mirada's remarked.
"Even if you told me to go back, I will disagree with your order, Mam..."
Hearing my remarks, Mirada eyes were widen, then she gave me a glare once more.
"Reed. there'll be many people will get upset if anything happens to you. Please consider your position as the Lord Commander's son and Heir. This is not like venturing in the forest. THIS IS A DUNGEON FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!" (Mirada)
Though I was intimidated by her remarks, I griped Sara's palm as she squeezed mine back. We are set on finding Elise, and thats final!
"Even so. My decision stands as it is."
The two of us glared towards each other as if we are ready to receive the others charge. But not long after, Mirada gritted her tooth in displeasure. And screams…
"Fuck you! Why did… gah! Idiots, stupid…..!" (Mirada)
"Say whatever you want, Mirada. If thats all, the two of us will continue on."
I pull Sara away and passed Mirada who was in a state of rage.
"Stop! I cant let you do this… I'll beat you up if thats what I had to do to make you go back…" (Mirada)
As I turned my sight around towards her direction, and noticed that she pointed her sword towards me, challenging me to a fight. But I noticed that the sword she's holding was shaking, then It comes to me that she's been fighting since yesterday non stop. The stance she uses now was not like the usual style she uses when I sparred with her. I told Sara to step a side as I approach Mirada.
"We don't have time to do this, Mirada. You seems to be quite exhausted already. There's no need-…"
"Shut up! Take out your blade, Reed. Lets settle this." (Mirada)
Seeing that she still acts stubborn like that, I drew my dagger and charges towards her. But she parried my attack and gave me an nudge with her elbow, throwing me off balance. Damn, this mad cat woman! Even with extreme exhaustion, she still hard to deal with. But my plan is not to knock her down with my strength alone, I just need to grab hold her head to cast a sleeping spell. But saying is easy rather then doing the thing. She really is a tough opponent.
"Please stop with this, Mirada… your gasping already. Just sto-…."
Shut up!" (Mirada)
She charges towards me after hearing my taunt. Seeing this opportunity, I waited until she's in range and quickly dodges to the sides, though she manages to grazed my shoulder with her thrust. Seeing my blood, her guard fell as I grabbed her head.
"
"... You… cow…ar..d" (Mirada)
(collapsed)
..................…
After casting 'sleep' on Mirada, the man in her unit bows down in desperation in request to spared their beloved captain. These guys… just why would I kill this lovely angry lady? I told them that I will do no such thing and they breathe a sigh of relief. I tell them to get a proper rest while me and Sara planned our next move.
"But why are you here, idiot Prince? Didn't you already found your beloved dog and attendant?"
Both me and Sara gave him the cold stare as the idiot Prince cough to ease the tension he felt.
"I-I promised to find Miss Eli, didn't I? How can I go back to my words now? Though I'm overjoyed by meeting my dog… ahem, my attendants and conformed that they both lives, I still a man of my word…." (Remorth)
Wait, did he just… a-anyway.
"Fine. If you wanted soo badly regain your honor, don't blame me if you got killed in the way."
"I'll be surely not!" (Remorth)
The other soldiers who hears my remarked, were bewildered and had their jaws drooped. Though they had some concerns because of it, they decided to keep to themselves after seeing their captain who was defeated by me, sleeping along with the other downed soldiers.
"Sigh…"
I gather some information from the soldiers under Mirada about their experience inside this Dungeon. They left the Fort in the evening yesterday, along with two knight captains aside Mirada, and with the company of 20 personal elite knights and mages under each knight captains. It was a smooth sailing for them in the upper floor before this one, but were separated in confusion after a horde of unknown monsters, came charging towards them like a flood.
"There were seventeen of us after separated from the main unit yesterday. Now, only twelve of us left, including the those who pass out of exhaustion." (knight)
The elfien female knight said.
"Thanks to cap, that we able to hold on until you students came to our rescue. Though we apologized again for her behalf about earlier…" (knight)
Continued the dwarfien male knight while bowing towards me.
"P-please don't mind it… she acted as such because of her worries for my wellbeing. Please stopped bowing, you guys…"
I told the remaining knights that was bowing towards me like some kind of evil overlord.
"But then again, why is his Highness here as well?" (knight)
Said the human knight with bangs. Asking the idiot Prince who was sitting in between of me and Sara. And please stop leaking out your killing intent, Sara…
"I'm on a quest to regain my honor by aiding these two fine souls in search fo-… obhu!" (Remorth)
He got smack in the head then thrown away by Sara who had enough of his idiocy.
"Uhm… you can tell him to move aside, you know…?"
I told Sara who takes her seat besides me where the idiot Prince was sitting just now.
"Hump! Even if I ask that fool, he's just gonna annoyed me anyway…." (Saraha)
She pouts and acting all cute while justifying her acts. This woman….
"Such as the one who captures my heart… just with your compassionate hit, makes my heart throbbed in joy…" (Remorth)
Ugh… is this guy a Masochist? The way he acts seems to give a strong impression towards him though. Man, he had some issues I say. Even the knights only gave pity eyes to the idiot Prince's remarks. But anyway.
"How many floors did you Knights had descends?"
I ask the elfien female knight from earlier.
"We uh… sigh… its shameful to say that this is the lowest floor we had reached so far. After separated from the main unit, we lost our way and was pushed back by the unknown monsters until we make our stand here. Forgive me…." (Elfien female knight)
"No, its alright… you guys did your best. Its difficult to fought enemies that was invulnerable to physical attack. But unlike a certain someone's party that was filled with idiots, you guys had used some magic to attack the unknown monsters and did quite the damages to them before we landed the killing blow."
I glance towards the idiot who is pretended to not noticed my remarks about who was the idiots that I was referring to.
"Though, we don't had any magician that had good control of fire elements. Thus, we only managed to chipped their vitality in just a small amount. But you are amazing, Lord Forham. You reminded me of the Devil Lord Commander himself, but as a magician…!" (dwarfien male knight)
He said those with big gleaming eyes. Wait… the Devil Lord Commander?
"Do you mean, Ruald…?"
"Yea…! You looked just like your father, Lord Reed…!
"I-I see… and please just call me by my name, Reed… I don't like those honorifics, its makes me uncomfortable."
After a great deal of convincing, they stop with the honorifics with the condition that I address to them in the same manner. But the knights there were mostly seniors and older that what my real age was, its still felt a little awkward to call them by name.
Proceeding… From what I gather, The elfien female knight is named Elerea, who had blonde golden braided bun hairstyle and glossy blue pupils with fair skin just like any other Elfien. the dwarfien male knight is Bardam, who looked like a teenage boy with handsome face of an adult man futures with brown hair and hazelnut pupils. But dude's is already on his 50's. And the human knight with bangs is called Ferdy, who seems like a supermodel that always appeared in a fashion magazine. Man, this world is filled with good looking peoples, and it scares me….
These three was the most senior officers under Mirada and an important figures within their ranks. I tried to ask the other knights their name, but they seems to be quite nervous as to gave theirs. In response, I apologized and respect their personal reasons.
Because of their exhaustion, we stayed with them for a while to guard them while they were taking a short break to replenish their stamina. Though Elerea seems to be quite embarrassed and felt guilty about holding us back, the other two just started snoring after having their back laying to the ground. How shameless…
"I apologized for this two fools rude manners, Se… Reed…." (Elerea)
"Its fine… please take a break also, Mi… Elerea. Having those bag eyes will ruin your beauty…."
The two of us looked towards each other in an awkward manner. But I told her politely to ease her tensions. Though she reluctant to do soo, she did it anyway after having a flustered cheeks. She's looked cute for a pretty lady in her age, acting like that… khiii…!
"Reed… we need to discuss about the way you talks to woman later, alright?" (Saraha)
Wha…? She suddenly appeared behind me looking towards me suspicious eyes. Whats wrong with the way I talk with women…? I just did like anyone does, didn't I…? Though I'm trying to recall back on the way I talk with them, the idiot prince suddenly calls to the two of us.
"Reed, Lady Saraha…! Risia has awoken! And she had something to say with the two of you…!" (Remorth)
Hearing his remarks, the two of us make haste towards him and the newly woken Risia who seems to be in a quite, miserable state. When she noticed me and Sara with her eyes, she started to cry and began to frantically apologizing to the two of us. The idiot Prince who got worried about his attendant, tries to console her by embracing her with a hug while caressing her head. But that attempt failed as Risia who seems to be loosing her self, started to struggling and shoved the idiot Prince away with forced.
"Sara! Hold her down!"
I told Sara to grab hold to the rampaging Risia. She quickly grabs her down using her 'enhancement' while I grab Risia head to cast a spell.
"
After casting the 'calm' spell, Risia slowly stops struggling and soon, relaxed. I created this spell from what I experienced back then when I was loosing my mind after woken as Reed by Trysia strange calming drug (refer to chapter one). By having the experience of it, I imply them for this spell to created my own and named it 'calm', because of its effects. But the downside of this spell that I can only casted them to other people aside from myself. But its effective for this sorts of situation.
"I think you can let her go now, Sara…"
Sara who still pinning Risia down on the ground, seems to be having a quite different idea than just holding her still. She seems to be leaking a tiny bit of killing intent towards Risia. Noticing this, I pat her head then blow her ears to woke her.
"Hyaauu…! Why did you… that tickles…" (Saraha)
She lets go of Risia after the ear blow I did to her just a second ago. She closed her ear that I blow earlier while looking all flustered. I flick her forehead then said this words.
"That because you leaking out your killing intent while pinning Risia's down. If you still wanted to do so, I wont mind blowing the other one."
She quickly holds down both of her ears after hearing my remarks.
"I-idiot… do that after we rescue Eli… stupid…." (Saraha)
Though she mutters those words in a small voice, I picked them up, but pretending otherwise in respect for her feelings. I squatted down then helps Risia up to a seated position. Hmm… She seems calm, but the weird calm way. Did I casted the spell wrong…? I'm getting worried…
"H-hey… you alright?"
I ask the weirdly calm Risia who seems to be in a state of trance. But she opens her mouth in answering my question.
"Yes. I am alright." (Risia)
Oh crap, She sounds like a robot! Did I mess up? But she seems to be in a state to answer our questions rather than earlier, so this a good thing… right?
"Ahem… anyway, what is that you wanted to tell to us both? Are you with Eli when you guys were captured earlier?"
She went silent for a brief. But a moment later, she answers.
"….. Miss Mevera, she…" (Risia)
..................
...….(about six hours back before Reed/Riel and the two enters the Dungeon)
(Risia's POV)
Wha…? what is going on…? why am I being dragged…? My head hurts…! why did, oh… I remember that I was hit by the unknown monster when I tried to protect His Highness. I got hit in the head and everything went black after that… but where are we…? Are we in a cave…? I saw the others was dragged with me also. And that girl who's that creepy vampire woman's friend was dragged along with Ser Dort… wait, what is she…?
.....(bright light fills the area)
"
(screech!!)
My eyes! That girl casted a spell! Those who dragged us lets out a screeching cry as I felt my cloak was release from its grip. My sword, I don't have them with me. Dammit! I should get away from the one that dragged me first. I remember that I had a spare sword inside my item box, I should pull them after I regain my eyesight…
"Miss Ferran! Over here!" (Elise)
I felt my hand got grabbed and I heard the girl calls to my name. Did she…?
"|******,******,*****,****|,
I heard her chanting a spell as she pulls me away. as I slowly regain my eyesight, I noticed that she had casted a barrier around us while-…
"Eeekkk!!! Its the unknown monsters!"
I was horrified by the sight of multiple unknown monsters outside the barrier, hitting it to get to us.
"W-why did they brings us to this place!?"
"I don't know… but it will be helpful if Miss Ferran do something to chased them away… I don't know how long can I hold-… guh!" (Elise)
"Miss Mevera!"
cursed! She spout blood from her mouth. this is bad… I must do something to help her. I do know some magic spells, but will that be enough to chased those horrifying monsters? Ser Borfus did said that a knight should use their strength rather than relying on magic, and he is a veteran elite knight. But considering this situation, I guess I should use them. Yes, I should!
"|*****,******,******|,
I casted a level 3 magic spell towards the horrifying monsters that was hitting the barrier, and it works! Some of them got thrown away and it seems that they had suffered damages because of my magic attack!
I cast multiple attack spell towards the remaining monsters with all of my remaining mana. Though I'm suffering from overused mana consumption, I keep on casting spells towards those monsters until all of them vanished into thin air.
"Wheezing…! Did… did that… all of them…?"
As I fall on my knees in exhaustion, I ask Miss Mevera about our surroundings.
"Yea… you did it, Miss Ferran…! though we both are exhausted our mana… phew…!" (Elise)
She dropped to her buttocks then lets out a sigh of relief. But I can see her blood residue on her mouth and she had dark spots on below her eyes. As the both of us find a short breather, I scan the surrounding once more for any signs of monsters. After making sure that we are in a safe spot. I went towards the girl to plan our next move.
"It seems that we are inside some kind of a cave… but its strangely easy to see around them. Have any thoughts for our next move, Miss Mevera?"
"Its just Eli, Miss Risia… I'm just a lowborn commoner and you are a noblewoman-…" (Elise)
"Then, please call me Risia as well… no need for the Honorifics…"
She looked bewildered for a moment after hearing my remarks. but not long after, she let out a chuckle then looked towards me with a charming smile that unfitting for commoners. This girl is beautiful…
"You remind me of Sara, Mi… Risia… she too is a Princess, but she told me to call her by name."(Elise)
"Are we now…? From what I see, that woman is creepy-…"
"Hey, Don't say that! She's a kind person, you know…!? Though she sometimes acts creepy, but she's a really kind person… and… she… sniff..sniff… uuuuuu….." (Elise)
Wha… why did she… noticing that she's started to cried, I went towards her and gave her a hug.
"I'm sorry, alright…? I said something rude earlier. Please don't cry… I know that the two of you are closed friends and I'm sure that if she knows that you are missing, she will come and find you…."
As I tried to console her, she gently push me away.
"I-I wanted to ask this since this morning… why did I was ordered by the teachers to join the Prince's party…? I-I know that I'm just a lowborn commoner, but why did I got pulled to join you guys? Though I hate that bastard whom Sara had a crushed on, but our group was fun, and we had a good combination with that bastard as our captain… though I hate to admit it… guh! I hate that bastard…!" (Elise)
I'm glad that she stopped crying, but she started to grumbling after mentioning about someone she called 'bastard'. Just… oh…
"Do you mean, that bastard Demon King?"
I ask her. Hearing me said those words, she lift her head up and stared towards me.
"Yes, That bastard, Reed! Guh, I hate him…! But in the same time… I felt like… guh! Why am I having this mixed feelings!? That bastard takes away my Sara's heart…" (Elise)
Wait… is she? No, no… I must be imagining things. She said that she hated that bastard, didn't she? and having the thought of that bastard makes my heart filled with embers also. I grabbed her hands then look deep into her beautiful green eyes.
"Eli… I hate that bastard as well. Let us do our best to make him suffer because of this hatred we felt about him…!"
She was bewildered by my proposition, then she casted her eyes elsewhere not long after.
"I-its not like I wanted him to suffer because of my hatred… though he makes me angry, he didn't do anything bad towards me other than makes me annoyed by the way he talks to me… a-and I still felt guilty about that time when he almost died while trying to protect me and Sara from the Lotord's Queen…" (Elise)
Wait… did she hate that bastard or…?
"No, no, no…! You are a kind, beautiful and cute person, Eli…! You shouldn't have fallen for that bastard…! He's no good I tell you… don't you know that he had a notorious past?"
Hearing my remarks, she suddenly flustered then makes excuses. This girl had fallen for that bastard… my goodness!
"W-w-w-what!!! How can I had fallen to that bastard!? Y-y-y-you misunderstood this Miss Ferran…! How can… him…? Me with him… and Sara… guh! T-t-thats unthinkable! Please don't tease me, Miss Ferran… its not funny…!" (Elise)
Poor girl… how could I believe your words while you acting like a maiden in loved like that? But this is serious! How can I let that bastard had his disgusting hands on this precious girl! She should be protected at all cost! Yes! I must protec-….
(rumbling)
While the two of us were in a deep talk about that bastard, the cave floor suddenly rumbles.
"W-whaa…? Where are we!? Whats going on!?" (Dort)
I got in deep conversation with Eli that I forgot Dort was with us. But his confusion were not unfounded though. The rumbling do makes my heart filled with uneasiness. Just what is going-…
(screech!!!!!)
Oh no… its the horrifying monsters again!? Though they were heard from a distance from us, but it felt like they are rushing towards our direction.
"Eli, Dort! Run…!"
I told them to run as I felt a bad premonition from the rumbling ground as well as the screeching noises I heard just now. We must escape from this place, fast!
We run as fast as we could get away from the screeching noises from earlier. But this cave is like a labyrinth! Theres too much splitting pathways and all of them looked exactly the same! We did encountered several monsters that looks like a variant from the horrifying monster, that looks like they were combined from different monster types, but they were easy to deal with. Because that I'm still recovering my mana from the overused earlier, I used my backup sword, the one that I rarely used and its always been inside my item box. Though its sharpness was inferior than the ones I always used, but it will do. As a apprentice knight and the daughter of the Ferran County main family, I will not be defeated here, unlike before!
(khisaa!!)
Huh…? I missed one!? curses-…
"
A small barrier appeared and protects me from being charged by the unknown monster variant. Seizing this opportunity, I thrust its exposed maw and it vanished into thin air not for long. Upon its demise, just like the previous encounters, it leaves a small blue crystal a size of a thumb just like the rest of these monsters that we came across earlier.
"Cough!" (Elise)
"Eli…! Dammit…! Dort! Watch the surrounding!"
I told Dort to watch the surroundings who still battling a variant monster.
"Alright!" (Dort)
I rushed towards Eli who were coughing blood and wavering. I grabbed her before she fell then laid her to the cave walls. She looked not only exhausted, but had the symptom of mana deprivation. If I recall, she's been using her support magic non stop since earlier. This is worrying…
"I…m fi…ne… don…t wo…rry… we-…." (Elise)
"No… please save your strength, Eli… just let us two han-…"
(rumbling)
Dammit! What is it now!? Why is it starting to rumbling again?
"Risia, Miss Eli… its seems that we are in deep now…" (Dort)
Dort who was watching the area suddenly came behind me looking all shaken while stay pointing his backup spear towards the opposite direction where I laid Eli was. When I turn arou-….
"Gods above…. Since when did…."
Chill falls down to my spine as I saw what lies beyond the far side of the cave. Countless numbers of the horrifying unknown monsters were flooding the cave spaces and seemingly moving erratically, heading towards us in an unusual speed. Adding more to my fear, the rumbling still ongoing as the horrifying monsters are approaching us.
(bit)
I bit my lips to straighten myself. No! I will not give up! I am the proud daughter of the Ferran County family! Even If I died here, I will not die as a coward!
"Dort! Stay your ground!"
I shouted at Dort who were shuddering while holding his spear. Hearing my cry, he gave a flinch a bit. but manages to stood firm than he was earlier.
"Thanks, partner… your piercing shouts had woken me from my fear." (Dort)
"Did I now? Then, lets-…"
As I was standing up and join Dort for our final stand, a cracking sound was heard not far from where I was. but when I turned towards the direction of the cracking sounds is, numbness fell all over my body.
"Eliiii…..!!!"
I was too late. The cracking sounds I heard was originated from where Eli was laying just now. As I tried to grabbed her weaken arm, they slipped from my grasp as she falls down to the dark void of the sinkhole.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"
Is this… I… I uh…
....(rumbling continues)
(end of Risia's POV)
..................…