“Princess Field! I finally found you!”
“Uh…”
Hearing that familiar and urgent voice from above, all three of the Liyakade group felt a bit embarrassed.
They hadn’t expected that after so much time had passed, Anatoli’s group would still be searching for them. Now, they had finally met up.
“Your Highness! It’s good you’re safe. The Dungeon is really dangerous, and recently, several Adventurers have gone missing in the Labyrinth. You three young ladies shouldn’t be wandering around like this!”
Anatoli leapt down from the stone wall above, landing before the three of them and bowing respectfully, lecturing them with the air of a senior.
What a persistent guy…
Liyakade silently complained in her heart.
“To investigate the whereabouts of royalty without permission, and even to follow them, these are serious offenses.”
Field glanced at Anatoli, her words cold and threatening.
“No, no, we just happened to run into each other in the Dungeon!”
Hearing Field’s threat, Anatoli hurriedly explained with the excuse he’d prepared.
“Sigh…”
Field sighed helplessly, exchanging glances with Liyakade and Alice.
Although Anatoli had indeed been following them, at least he meant no harm. Compared to Manuel, whom they had dealt with before, Anatoli seemed less annoying.
Still, overall, Anatoli was a self-righteous, blindly confident fool who thought of himself as a senior.
“Then don’t follow us any further.”
Field scolded Anatoli sternly.
“How can I do that? It’s so dangerous in the Dungeon…”
“You don’t even know our strength, so how can you be sure we’re in danger?”
Field impatiently interrupted Anatoli’s stubborn protest.
“Every year at the Academy’s Cultural Festival, the Festival Flower is chosen.”
Field pointed her palm at Liyakade and Alice beside her, showing off their titles to Anatoli.
“Alice is a Light Element Holder, a rare talent who ranked third in the Festival Queen Election.”
“Liyakade here is this year’s Festival Flower. Even though you’ve already graduated, Sistem was already a second-year before you left, right? Liyakade defeated Sistem at this year’s festival. Do you still doubt our strength?”
“Wha, what!?”
Anatoli stared in disbelief at the small white figure before him.
In Anatoli’s memory, when he graduated, Sistem was already LV.50, the undisputed strongest in the Academy.
Even now, Anatoli was only LV.40.
So for Liyakade to defeat Sistem and become this year’s Festival Flower, her level must be at least above LV.50.
And Alice, as a Light Element Holder, had absolute elemental advantage over Dungeon monsters.
No wonder these high-ranking royal girls dared to explore the underground labyrinth with only three people.
It wasn’t ignorance of the Dungeon’s dangers, but the confidence that came from their power.
Anatoli had originally thought Liyakade and Alice were just attendants to the Princess, but now he realized how strong they really were.
This only made Anatoli more eager to show concern and care for the three of them.
If he could build a good relationship, or even marry one of them, his future would be limitless.
“Also, they’re not my attendants.”
Field seemed to see through Anatoli’s thoughts.
After all, both times he’d seen them, he’d spoken to her first, obviously assuming she was the leader.
“We’re three friends, not just ordinary friends, and…”
Field gently tugged Liyakade’s wrist, pulling her closer, and then softly pecked her lips against Liyakade’s cheek.
“And we like girls. So give up on any other ideas.”
“We’re a couple, all three of us.”
Alice chimed in, leaning over and planting a kiss on Liyakade with a ‘pop’.
“Ah!? Wai, wha, what, wa…wait, I…Your Highness!?”
With just a few words and actions, the three girls completely overheated Anatoli’s brain.
It was as if he’d been hit by Gojo Satoru’s Infinite Void, his mind crashing so hard he couldn’t even form a complete sentence.
Being friends was perfectly normal.
The Princess was approachable, and becoming friends with classmates as equals made sense.
Being more than ordinary friends was fine too, since close relationships were normal.
But why did the Princess just kiss this newly crowned Festival Flower!?
Oh, she likes girls, so it’s fine…
Wait, what!?
All three of them like girls!?
Hold on, why are they kissing again!?
[We’re a couple, all three of us.]
What a niche term.
Anatoli wondered if he’d had a hallucination while searching for the Princess, or if he was still dreaming, and none of this was real.
But when a hand patted his shoulder, Anatoli came back to his senses, realizing this was all real.
“Y-Your Highness…This…isn’t this a bit much? I mean, sexual orientation is everyone’s freedom, but three people…”
Watching the three of them holding hands without a care, Anatoli swallowed and stammered.
“Who asked you? We just want you to give up any weird ideas.”
Field snapped impatiently.
“That’s right. Sorry, senpai.”
Alice mercilessly added another blow.
Yes, it was going to be revealed sooner or later.
Since they’d have to declare their love to the world eventually, there was no point hiding it now.
“By the way, senpai.”
Liyakade looked at Anatoli.
She didn’t rub salt in his wound, but spoke some useful information.
“The reason for the Adventurers going missing in the Dungeon is probably because Manuel is in this Dungeon.”
“You mean…that infamous Wanted Order criminal!?”
Anatoli’s eyes sharpened.
He’d heard Manuel’s name, who still hadn’t been caught and was hiding somewhere.
Hearing this, Anatoli considered suggesting they escort Liyakade’s group back to the surface, but on second thought, since their level was at least LV.50, they could easily wipe out Manuel’s group, so he gave up the idea.
“How did you know, Miss Liyakade?”
Anatoli asked.
“They died on the lowest floor, in the Boss room, wiped out by the Boss. But the Boss was already exhausted, so we finished it off. Their bodies are still in the Boss room.”
Liyakade lied.
Manuel’s group hadn’t been killed by the Boss, but by her.
However, even if Anatoli went down to check, there was no way to confirm this.
In fact, the way Manuel’s group died clearly showed the marks of Blood Magic, a power used by Demons and monsters.
Anatoli would just assume it was done by monsters.
Although Blood Magic didn’t match the Dungeon’s overall attributes, there was no other explanation.
“We didn’t take their equipment or Storage Artifacts. They’re yours to deal with. But can the Wanted Order reward be sent back to the Academy later?”
Liyakade wasn’t interested in the useless equipment, but she was definitely thinking about the bounty.
She’d been troubled about who would retrieve the bodies and claim the reward, but now that Anatoli’s group had shown up, the problem was solved.
“Understood! Leave it to me!”
Anatoli straightened up, finally finding a way he could be useful.
“Then we’ll head up first. Good luck with your work.”
After bidding Anatoli’s group farewell, Liyakade and her friends continued upward.
This time, they took the main road.
It was much wider, and since Anatoli’s group had passed through earlier, the monsters had already been cleared out.
They reached the surface without any trouble.
It was still morning.
The weather was nice—a perfect time to return.
Although the three of them were a bit tired, the camp was noisy, the accommodations mediocre, and staying there might cause even more trouble.
So, they decided to rest back at the Royal City instead, since it was only a few hours away.
And so, after leaving the Nasca Labyrinth, the three of them found a carriage driver near the stables and immediately set off for the Royal City.
“Sigh…Exploring the Dungeon is really exhausting.”
Liyakade couldn’t help but stretch as she sat on the soft leather seat of the carriage, leaning back with a sigh.
“Haha, honestly, fighting monsters in the Labyrinth felt less tiring than exploring the ‘Dungeon.'”
Field laughed teasingly.
Obviously, the Dungeon she referred to wasn’t the same as the one Liyakade meant.
“Hey, hey, hey! You’re saying weird stuff again, Field!”
Hearing Field’s playful words, Liyakade couldn’t help but kick Field’s leg.
“Liyakade, do you think exploring the Dungeon is fun?”
Alice asked.
“…First, specify which Dungeon you mean.”
Hearing Alice’s question, Liyakade pinched Alice’s soft cheek.
“Heh. But really, no matter which Dungeon, as long as I’m with you both, that’s enough.”