Chapter 26. I Can Hear Your Voice (3)

If I involved myself with her, others might find out that I’m an ability user. Even worse, the fact that I’m a dungeon explorer might be revealed. Mm, I still couldn’t believe that I told Su Ye-Eun that I was a dungeon explorer. What was I thinking? I could only hope that she wouldn’t sell out someone who saved her life.

“Kang Shin. Kang Shin.”

“Yeah, hi.”

I tried to turn away again, but this time, she held onto my arm.

“Hey, stop!”

“Why are you avoiding me?”

“Put your hand on your chest and ask yourself.”

“... Pervert.”

“Can I hit you just once?”

Su Ye-Eun let go of my arm then asked in an even quieter voice.

“I want to know what your ability is.”

“I don’t want to know yours.”

“... Do you hate me?”

“Now you know?”

“Why?”

“You’re a bother.”

This time, she didn’t grab onto my arm. I wondered if I was too harsh, but soon told myself I wasn’t. It was because Su Ye-Eun was still following me.

“Are you picking a fight?”

“I couldn’t go to the opening party because of you.”

“So?”

“I don’t have any friends to talk to.”

“...”

Was I wrong to sympathize with her? No, I wasn’t! We were both innocent! I suddenly felt my hostility dwindling and I let her sit in an open seat next to me. She seemed surprised at this unexpected action as she opened her eyes wide under her hoody and smiled.

“Thanks.”

“... Hmph, it’s not like I did it for you. I just didn’t want to talk more.”

Ah, maybe that wasn’t the right response. I regretted inwardly. What I knew for sure was that I couldn’t fully shake myself loose of her, and that she became my first friend at college. Haa, life really didn’t turn out as one expected.

*

I had a dream. I was shouting, but I couldn’t hear myself in the noisy background.

The sky was dark and full of storm clouds. Crimson devils filled the earth and the sky, and only she was by my side. There were comrades nearby that weren’t human, but she was the only human.

[If I told you that I love you, what would you say?]

I stopped my shouting and looked at her unbelievably beautiful face.

[I’d say that I hate you. Because I do.]

[... Nothing ever goes my way with you, huh?]

I looked lovingly at her blazing eyes. Before she obtained her ability, she set herself ablaze. After she obtained her ability, she set everything apart from her ablaze.

I held in my desire to embrace her and said,

[This isn’t the end. The end won’t come. Ever.]

[I’m surprised you can say that in this situation.]

[We’re going to survive, XX... until the end, together.]

[And if we do?]

[Then I’ll tell you I love you.]

[... Stupid Orc, acting superior.]

[XX said that! XX said that! Grr!]

I opened my eyes. It was the worst wake up I’ve ever head.

“H... Huh?”

My head hurt and so did my eyes. My throat was parched. Did I dream? No, I couldn’t remember anything. I felt like I saw a dark sky but my head hurt when I tried to remember it. I gave up and opened the windows, letting the autumn wind tickle my hair.

[Good morning~]

[I came all the way from West Sea~]

[Ah, the smell of the sea!]

I shook my head to shake the sleepiness off. It seemed fatigue had built up from staying in the dungeon for too long. Plus, I had to go to school now too. Two weeks had passed since school started, which was enough to take its toll on me.

‘Let’s not overdo it,’ I murmured to myself. Immediately after, I was preparing to fight the Dark Ratman three times in the morning. My classes were in the afternoon.

*

[Palludia contacted me recently.]

“To meet on the 25th floor?”

[Yup. As I thought, it’s because of you.]

“What do you mean it’s because of me?”

[Haha, Shin, you aren’t good with women, are you?]

“Oh, and you are?”

[At least more than you, friend. I have a fiancée after all.]

“Fiancée!?”

It surprised me. Ellos sounded content as he chuckled.

[Mm, yes. Well, you better hurry, friend. There’s only a month left until the promised day.]

“Alright, I’ll try. What floor are you on now?”

[I’m on the 24th floor. Since I’m near the end, I should be able to reach the 25th floor in time.]

“Alright, then see you on the 25th floor.”

[Yes, see you there.]

I finished my conversation with Ellos and thought back to the boss fight I just had. It was overall a success. There were three people including me and we all survived without a hitch.

However, I could not see the path ahead. I did not have the confidence to take on so many ratmen along with the Dark Ratman. I had the key to the solution, but using it would decrease my attack and defense significantly...

When I noticed the stinging gaze and turned to face it, I found Loretta staring at me intently.

“Wah!”

“Customer, why do you always leave me standing here like a fool while you exchange messages with others? Are you mistaking the Floor Shops as rest stops?”

“It isn’t? There are lots of foods to eat and a beautiful server as well.”

“I won’t fall for any lip service. Not to mention, I’m not fazed by such an obvious truth.”

“Then give me a 5 gold fruit juice.”

“Thank you, customer!”

Loretta really was simple-minded. I took the fruit juice from Loretta (it had an effect of quickly relieving fatigue), and asked her a question that suddenly popped up in my head.

“Loretta, you’re always at the Floor Shop whenever I come.”

“Of course. Isn’t it the duty of a shopkeeper to meet her customer?”

“Then what do you do when I’m not here?”

I’ve been meaning to ask it for a while. She was there on every Floor Shop I went to. I was curious what she did when I wasn’t here. Loretta answered with a chortle.

“My, customer, are you hitting on me? Not yet, it’s too early for that.”

“No, not at all.”

“...”

“Ow ow ow.”

Loretta approached me without any change in her expression and pinched my cheeks without mercy. It hurt extremely.

“You shouldn’t tease girls like that, customer.”

“Eh? When did I... Sorry, spare me.”

Seeing Loretta bring out a double-sided axe from the back of the shop, I acquiesced. Loretta returned the axe with a humph.

“What was the question? What I usually do? That will be 500 gold, customer.”

“You cheapskate! I won’t ask!”

“Huhu, girls have many secrets, customer.”

“A secret worth as little as 500 gold?”

“You’re no fun. How will you get along with your girlfriend like that?”

“Like I said, she’s not my girlfriend.”

Loretta remained silent at my tiresome reply, and only when I was about finished with my juice did she speak out of the blue.

“You know I’m not a human, right?”

“I expected as much.”

“I am a member of a race well known for our aptitude for magic. I won’t tell you what race it is until later, though.”

“Magic?”

“Yes. Did you think you were my only customer in this dungeon?”

“... Eh? You mean you trade with other dungeon explorers as well?”

Loretta lightly nodded.

“It’s the power of magic and also the power of the dungeon. I can take pieces of my consciousness and put them in puppets, thus spreading my consciousness to countless places in the dungeon. Although I don’t trade with all dungeon explorers, I do trade with about 10 percent of the First Dungeon explorers.”

“Uk, that sounds exhausting.”

“Huhu, are you worrying about me? Don’t worry, I’m also resting in my house located somewhere in the dungeon.”

“That’s good then.”

In other words, the Loretta I was talking with was a puppet. I was truly surprised. It was something I had never considered. After all, her skin was just like a person’s, her eyes were also...

“Do you want to try touching me?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“As I thought, I’m scary, right?”

“Scary? What is?”

When I asked with a look of confusion, Loretta naturally answered.

“It’s not normal. Being able to split one’s consciousness and control puppets. Even dungeon explorers can’t help but be shocked when they hear it.”

“Well, it’s certainly shocking, but I don’t see why it would be scary?”

“... Are you not scared of me, customer? I hate to be the one to say it, but I’m an amazing magician, you know?”

“The moment I saw you sitting in the Floor Shop of this mysterious dungeon, I knew you were someone amazing.”

“The one in front of you is nothing but a puppet controlled by a piece of consciousness. Doesn’t it disgust you?”

Disgust? I took the time to think about it. What was in front of me was a puppet with Loretta’s consciousness. It was seemingly no different than a real person. Through this puppet, Loretta cried, laughed, and got angry.

... What disgust?

“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be disgusted by... Loretta is Loretta. Just because you are in a different form, doesn’t change the fact that you are Loretta. Isn’t that right?”

“Ah, um... mm.”

Loretta suddenly stuttered. Her cheeks were slightly red.

“Uuu. Certainly, this is how I hoped you would react, but...”

“Yes? What did you say?”

“Nothing! You can go now!”

“Mm? No, why so suddenly? Okay, I’ll leave, stop pushing!”

“Hurry up and leave!”

Loretta screamed and tried to chase me out. She was now red as a tomato.

Hm. Did I just make Loretta mad? What did I do wrong? I wasn’t sure exactly what I did wrong, I told myself to apologize to her the next time I saw her. Then, I got out of the dungeon. It was now time to go to school.