Chapter 114 : Chapter 114
Chapter 114 : Luna (4)
Good grief.
She calls me whatever she wants, however she pleases, and now it's Lord Cain?
“I, I'm alive now? Did I live?”
“It's not the stage to be certain yet, but it would be correct to see it as postponed for now.”
“Ugh, uuuugh…….”
I thought she had become a bit okay, but not long after, Luna burst into tears again.
“Mom, I'm alive…….”
It felt like the timing where I should at least pat her back, but since she was crying so sorrowfully while squeezing out all her tears and snot, honestly, I didn't want to do that.
How long did she cry sorrowfully like that?
Before long, Luna stopped her tears and twitched her lips while looking at me.
“……Lord Cain, right?”
“You mean you believe me now?”
“How can I not believe after seeing a miracle like this? Something like this is only possible for the real Lord Cain.”
Even in the days when I was Cain, I couldn't grab and tear off the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy with my bare hands, but there was no need to mention that fact right now.
Isn't it best to just go with the flow?
“But just what happened? Just what did you offer as a price to end up in that state?”
“We'll talk about that later, and since it's awkward, just speak in your usual tone. Anyway, you spoke comfortably even when we were in the same guild.”
“Shall I?”
Seeing her change her attitude instantly as if she never did otherwise, why do I feel regret, wondering if I shouldn't have said it?
Of course, it seemed it was already too late.
And there was still something I had to ask Luna.
“How did you end up being encroached by the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy?”
“Ah, that is…….”
Luna spoke as if she was somewhat embarrassed.
“I saw Lord Cain fighting the Destruction Dragon. I didn't intend to watch, but somehow I ended up watching. And I got swept up in the aftermath. That's about it.”
“You mean you went to watch the Destruction Dragon solo raid and got swept up.”
“Ha, haha! No way I would do that. It was just a coincidence.”
Luna tried hard to say no, but there was no way I wouldn't recognize that awkward acting.
“……Really not.”
“Right.”
“I said no.”
“I said I got it.”
This rascal, she is more persistent than I thought.
Luna, whose face flushed bright red, spoke as if she remembered something soon.
“A, Anyway! How did you recognize that I'm Dalnim-i?”
“Is there a reason I wouldn't recognize you?”
Setting aside that she looks similar to Dalnim-i, aren't the core equipment she is wearing the same in the first place?
“It was the same as before.”
“……You remember that?”
“Isn't it the same?”
“It's not? I changed my equipment a lot compared to before? Ah, I changed my hairstyle too. Pretty, right?”
“I said it taking into account that you would have changed to about that much equipment by now.”
Luna looked at me with an appalled expression.
“Total addict…….”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
Setting aside trivial matters, I still had things to say to Luna.
“Ah, and.”
“Huh?”
“Since I haven't completely removed the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy yet, it would be good to be careful about that part still.”
“Uh…… Then is it impossible to get rid of it completely?”
“It's unreasonable right now, but if your body recovers, it will be possible to remove it all.”
Of course, it's training not recovery, but since Luna knows me as Cain, it would be better to say it like this.
“Ooh! As expected of Lord Cain! I love it so much!”
“……Don't cling to me.”
“Ah, sorry, without realizing it.”
The clinging was still the same.
If there was one problem, it was that unlike before, she was clinging for real now.
“Ah, right. But why didn't you appear at all when I was looking for you so much while being in this world?”
“Because I didn't know who Luna was.”
“……Huh? Ah, that's right?”
“Speaking of which, just what is Luna? You're Dalnim-i.”
“What do you mean why? I can't go around calling my name Dalnim-i.”
You mean it's a sort of alias.
Come to think of it, in the case of the Lightning Emperor I saw before, he had the nickname ImZappy, but he wouldn't have gone around using that as is here.
Even so, a person's name being ImZappy was quite strange.
Considering that a significant number of users in online games prefer humorous nicknames like this rather than nicknames that fit the in-game worldview, it wasn't that strange of a thing.
“Anyway, if the Demonic energy in my body isn't completely resolved, it can't be helped.”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you think? I have to stay with you at least until the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy is resolved, right?”
She says something nonchalantly that would make Edric faint in shock if he heard it.
“There's no need to do that though. I think removing the Destruction Dragon's Demonic energy occasionally would be enough.”
“Eyy, no need to decline. Isn't it good if a pretty girl like me stays by your side?”
“Not really.”
Of course, even if I said that, there was no way Luna would back off meekly.
At least, the Dalnim-i I knew was like that.
A weird rascal who has a strangely persistent corner somewhere.
“Let's see…… I think it would be a bit difficult to stay in this barracks…….”
“You're not listening to me at all.”
“I am listening. You're saying you're happy to be with me, right?”
“……That means you're not listening.”
Luna clapped her hands as if she had a good idea.
“Ah, that should work. I'll stay at an inn inside Winter Castle for the time being. So, no running away, okay?”
“I have nowhere else to go anyway.”
“True, even if you run away, I'll find you soon anyway, now that I know your face too.”
“…….”
This rascal, I felt it implicitly since I saw her on the anonymous bulletin board before, but she possessed the qualities to become an excellent stalker.
……No, maybe she already is.
“Ah, and for your information.”
Luna, who stood up from her seat, grinned and added.
“…….”
Words that I absolutely couldn't just let pass.
***
After Luna left with light steps leaving the messy cafeteria behind, Edric entered as if he had been waiting.
Judging by the presence felt outside, it seemed this cafeteria was already being surrounded by the knights of Winter Castle.
“……Are you okay?”
“Yes, well, for now.”
“It is fortunate, but it is true that I am still worried. Just what conversation did you have?”
“Just, well, it was personal talk.”
Perhaps because he was wary of Luna's existence, it seemed he didn't dare to eavesdrop on the conversation held inside.
Come to think of it, if he had done such a thing, I would have stopped him, not Luna.
Because the conversation held inside was content that neither Luna nor I wanted to make known.
“I want to ask what you talked about, but that wouldn't be what's important right now. So, what did she say she would do from now on?”
“It seems she intends to stay in Winter Castle for the time being.”
“In Winter Castle…… you say?”
“Yes.”
Edric's expression hardened stiffly.
“Mmm, I don't know what the circumstances are, but it's not that welcome. It's quite a burden in many ways if a dangerous figure like her continues to stay in Winter Castle.”
“You don't need to worry too much, since I will take her out sooner or later.”
“……Take her out? Are you saying you'll go out and set up housekeeping or something?”
“Your joking has improved a lot.”
“I also wish this situation was a joke.”
It seemed Edric was judging the person named Luna as a considerably dangerous figure.
Well, it was true to some extent.
“So, I'm thinking of going on vacation one more time sooner or later. It would be okay, right?”
“With her?”
“Of course.”
“I'll grant it right away.”
“Understood. Then I will prepare immediately.”
Edric nodded.
“Where do you intend to go?”
“I haven't decided specifically yet, but. I will tell you when it's decided.”
“Is that so? Understood.”
Before Luna's visit, I was thinking of going to a labyrinth with Alicia, but if Luna accompanies me, it's also true that there is no need to accompany Alicia.
Although she is a crybaby and looks silly, she is a powerhouse who surpasses even Edric in terms of the martial power she possesses.
‘Seeing that she is much stronger than the Dalnim-i I know, it certainly seems it's been quite a while since she came here.’
And that was a fact I couldn't just pass over.
Because it meant there was a possibility that Cain's enemies I knew had become much stronger than I thought.
Even though it was a fact I already knew, seeing Dalnim-i's case directly, should I say the feeling is different anew?
“……Anyway, today is really eventful. Like this, I won't be able to die a natural death.”
“Weak sounds don't suit you though.”
“What can I do?”
Edric laughed feebly.
It was a feeble smile that somehow reminded me of a father's smile after coming home from work.
***
When I returned to the barracks, the questions of the special task force members followed, but I glossed over them roughly.
Because it was ambiguous to talk about this whole situation, and the relationship between Luna and me was even more ambiguous than that.
“Hey, just who is that woman? Her atmosphere was dangerous.”
“Just a woman I used to know.”
“You knew a woman like that?”
“……Vell, just what happened? And who is that woman.”
“No need to worry. Just a woman I used to know.”
Like that, I summarized the matter about Luna as just a slightly dangerous woman I used to know.
It was also the correct statement actually.
Of course, the special task force members didn't look convinced, but Edric dismissed this saying there was no need to worry.
“Sigh.”
“Where are you going?”
“Going to meet my lover.”
“Ve, Vell?”
“I'm kidding.”
I headed to the back alley, my own space, leaving behind such a barrage of questions from the special task force members.
Because I had to obtain information about the place I needed to go before leaving Winter Castle with Luna for now.
‘I have to decide which labyrinth to go to, and also see what the current atmosphere of the labyrinth is like.’
And the place to obtain that information was naturally the venue of exchange where the most players interact.
[Connecting to the Anonymous Bulletin Board.]
-PrayingForShutdownDay-n : Forgot what day of praying for this shit game's shutdown it is.
-Anonymous575 : └ This guy still hasn't died lol
-Anonymous12 : FR lol
-Anonymous675 : Ah…… Akiro's Labyrinth is fcking tough FR
-Gusada : Ah, fcking tired.
-Newdeulbak77 : Those who need help regarding Akiro's Labyrinth, please leave a comment. [★]
-Anonymous6969 : Is Dragon Slayer-nim here by any chance? Have a question about Akiro's Labyrinth...
-Anonymous7454 : I want to go home...
The scenery of the anonymous bulletin board seen after a long time was the same, but one type of post stood out in particular.
To be exact, one topic in particular was taking up quite a large share within the anonymous bulletin board.
As if this is the biggest topic of conversation right now.
-JUN : How do you clear Akiro's Labyrinth 2nd floor?
-PleaseGiveMeMoney : I got lost on the 1st floor of Akiro's Labyrinth, anyone to help……?
-Kkyareureu : Is there no guide for Akiro's Labyrinth anywhere? Someone please write one.
Currently, the topic about Akiro's Labyrinth was the talk of the town on the anonymous bulletin board.
Of course, it was true that Akiro's Labyrinth was quite decent in terms of rewards or various aspects, but it's not to the extent of becoming this much of a hot topic.
Wondering why on earth that was, as I searched through the posts, I could soon know the reason.
-Anonymous111 : Is it FR that the Divine Sword Levatein appeared in Akiro's Labyrinth right now?