Chapter 47: Reaching the Boss Room Is Too Easy

Dungeon Level 1, C Zone.

A temporary five-person party.

Under Myut’s leadership, it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, but at least every monster that appeared didn’t last more than 30 seconds before perishing in the dungeon.

The others might not have noticed, but Siloque was well aware.

Myut was making her moves in secret.

Once everyone else was engaged in battle with the monster, Myut would use her scythe to strike from the blind spot, inflicting heavy damage and leaving the finishing blow for the others.

Jade even thought his attack power had gone up.

They were already close to the Coniferous Forest of D District, an hour ahead of schedule.

At this pace, they’d reach this layer’s gate Boss in ten minutes.

Siloque watched Myut’s back ahead, contemplating this operation.

Myut’s strength was unquestionable—a Purple Gear-level Officer of the Evil Demon Society.

If they stuck to her quietly, they could safely reach the second floor, rack up experience and resources along the way, and finally obtain Cass’s Exclusive Weapon on the second floor.

Action over.

Those four words—stick to her quietly—were key.

“Hey, Siloque, why do you say Miss Myut is from the Evil Demon Society?”

“If I say she is, then she is.”

Cass: “……Alright, then how do you prove she’s with the Evil Demon Society?”

“There’s no way to prove it. And just by appearance, you can’t tell anything about a person.”

It wasn’t that Siloque wanted to be cryptic.

It was truly impossible to prove.

Aside from their minds being different from normal people, they didn’t grow horns on their heads, nor did wings sprout from their backs, no simple and clear symbols were carved on their bodies, and they didn’t emit miasma, evil aura, or any obviously villainous vibes.

So the simplest—and also most dangerous—method was to catch Myut committing a crime.

Only then could it be proven she was from the Evil Demon Society.

A human whose soul has fallen and become a Demon—a Soulfall.

That was the official explanation given by the Tuners, even though this cult actually called itself the Holy Hive Society.

Talent is , or using special tools, there’s a chance you might know someone’s with the Evil Demon Society.

But it’s only a chance.

Some Evil Demon Society members who have undergone baptism have a layer of protection in their minds, immune to mental attacks.

Low-level members don’t carry any useful intel, either.

But it doesn’t matter if you can’t read minds.

There’s one thing everyone in society and the world knows—the Evil Demon Society’s Ultimate Goal.

Eradicate humanity.

In short, they were easy-to-understand ultimate villains.

If not for their connection to the main story, Siloque really wouldn’t care about them at all.

Hearing about them in the news was one thing, but having terrorists appear in real life and expecting an ordinary high schooler like me to fight them?

Give me a break.

I’m not that hot-blooded.

I just want to eliminate minotaurs and protect my daily life.

“But….”

Cass was still a bit confused.

“All along the way, Miss Myut has been helping us cut down monsters, leaving the finishing blows to us, and she even let us have the treasure chests. I don’t see how she wants to harm us. By the Evil Demon Society’s style, shouldn’t she have just blown us up?”

“Only a tiny minority of Evil Demon Society members are that radical.”

Siloque glanced at the three people ahead.

He couldn’t make out the conversation, but Jade was joking around, making Myut laugh lightly, while Weiss sat gloomily, maybe plotting how to kill them both.

Sensing Siloque’s gaze, Myut turned and smiled at him.

Siloque bit his tongue to keep calm and nodded slightly at Myut from beneath his heavy helmet.

As expected of a top 5 character in the books.

The most outrageous part is her basic queenly dominance, even though her screen time is almost zero.

Even knowing Myut is the gentlest Evil Demon Society member, Siloque still couldn’t bring himself to like her.

“After the Paradise Gate Incident, they mostly vanished. It’s hard to find them now.”

Siloque continued explaining.

“Your cliché ‘evil impression’ of the Evil Demon Society is partly because textbooks deliberately paint them as villains, so you’d simply understand them as ‘dangerous beings’.”

“So, by your logic…”

Cass pondered Siloque’s words.

“Miss Myut is just pretending to be nice to us, waiting for the critical moment to betray us?”

“She’s not pretending. She’s truly, genuinely kind to us.”

“Siloque, what you’re saying is too contradictory.”

“You’ll know soon enough whether she’s with the Evil Demon Society. It’s a good chance to see their methods firsthand.”

“Then if they’ve disappeared, how did we just happen to run into an Evil Demon Society member?”

“All your fault, Cass.”

“Huh? My fault?”

That protagonist halo of yours just attracts this kind of thing.

In the game, as long as Cass forms a party in the dungeon lobby for the first time, there’s always at least one Evil Demon Society member who joins.

If you choose to team up with Jade and the others, Myut is the one most likely to appear.

Her level is incomprehensible…..Lv32.

As long as Myut wants, she could decapitate everyone present.

This whole journey is basically traveling with a wolf.

***

Area D, First Floor, Head Boss Room.

“I never thought…I’d actually come here one day…”

At the deepest chamber of the first-floor maze, a towering gate adorned with elaborate carvings stood, hinting at the scenery and stories of the next layer if you looked closely.

Jade let the sting in his nose flow, letting tears fall without wiping them away.

For an amateur explorer who always hung around A and B Zones, this was truly the limit—a sight beyond imagination.

“On the second floor, those Crystal Cores and Ore Crystals must be worth a fortune. After paying off my loans, there’d still be plenty left…”

Still, Jade’s attention was glued to worldly desires.

“I was touched too the first time I came here. Making maps bit by bit every day, carefully observing monsters, spending over half a year slowly advancing, finally arriving here…”

Myut showed a nostalgic smile.

“Congratulations, Mr. Jade. After defeating this Boss, you’ll reach the second floor.”

“Ah, no, no, it was all thanks to everyone’s cooperation, especially Miss Myut! You’re just so strong. Swinging your scythe a couple of times, monsters are shredded, and we don’t even need to look at the map.”

“Mr. Jade, you flatter me. If not for you attracting monsters, I wouldn’t have had such good opportunities to attack.”

“Is—is that so? Hahahahaha… For the upcoming Boss fight, I’ll charge ahead. Miss Myut, just cast your skills from behind me.”

“Having you here is truly reassuring, Mr. Jade.”

“Oh! That’s the spirit! Miss Myut, once the quest’s over, would you like to have a meal together? Ah, the two iron brothers in the back will come too. Let’s make it a celebration.”

“Of course, that sounds nice.”

“…Sorry, but can you two hurry up and go in? No one wants to hear your endless small talk here.”

Weiss couldn’t stand the never-ending banter between Jade and Myut.

What’s with this woman.

Why so familiar right off the bat, and wearing so little—what, to make it easier for monsters to chew on her!?

Weiss’s eye twitched.

Especially every time Myut took a step and those two bouncy slimes jiggled, another wrinkle and hint of disdain formed on Weiss’s face.

So what if they’re big!!

“Miss Myut, you don’t need to flatter this man against your will. You don’t want to see him get all smug and disgusting, do you?”

“Good and evil shouldn’t be defined by appearance. I saw Mr. Jade standing firm against the monsters’ onslaught, facing danger with optimism, so I respect him.”

Myut radiated a saintly glow.

“Likewise, Miss Weiss, you scouted ahead, opened treasure chests, and treated new teammates kindly. I respect you as well.”

Her smile was utterly sincere.

Weiss snorted coldly.

“I have no interest in discussing philosophy with you. I’m just doing my duty as a [Rogue].”

“It’s not philosophy.”

Myut placed her finger on her rosy lips.

“It’s love. With love, you can see everyone’s unique brilliance.”

“Love, huh…”

Jade blushed.

“You woman…”

Weiss stayed on guard, about to retort, when—

“I’ll take point with Mr. Jade, drawing the Boss’s aggro and attacks. Scathach and Miss Myut will handle damage. Miss Weiss, provide support as needed. Any objections?”

Before things could spiral into a White Album-style shouting match, Siloque cut in, slicing through the tension.

He had no interest in watching two women argue.

Besides, Myut was just teasing Weiss on purpose.

Everyone turned to Siloque.

But with the heavy helmet, they couldn’t see the annoyance on Siloque’s face.

“I think Mr. Wolf’s proposal is good.”

“Ahem, let’s go with what Iron Brother says.”

“…No objections. Let’s get this over with.”

“Shi…Wolf, I’m counting on your back.”

Aside from Myut, the others’ voices betrayed their nerves.

Siloque glanced at Myut.

With her here, this Boss battle would just be sightseeing.

At the same time, Siloque couldn’t help but sigh: What a pain.

If only he could just click skip or hold ctrl to fast-forward the dialogue like in a game.

He really wasn’t used to being watched by so many people—very uncomfortable—especially when his specialty was laying low and staying unnoticed.

That Weiss woman was supposed to be cool and cautious in the game settings.

He really didn’t feel it here.

When the target’s involved, she just loses her head.

And now, he’d somehow ended up as the temporary commander.

Just endure a bit longer.

Once they reach the second floor, this quest would be over, and the temporary party dissolved.

Siloque reluctantly pushed open the thick door of the Boss room.

***

Rocks Plaza, in the commercial tower.

Yasen Bakery’s grand opening ceremony—free tasting.

But samples were limited, and since it was a rare occasion, Bried chose the buffet option—70% off on opening day, and any pastry in the store was free to pick.

The pile of desserts Bried chose reached half her height, but she paid no mind to the shocked stares around her and sat at a window seat overlooking the plaza.

“If only Kersey could’ve come too…This is delicious.”

Halfway through eating, she suddenly realized she couldn’t finish.

Not that she was full—just that her appetite couldn’t keep up.

Even the delicious pastry in her mouth couldn’t ease the stuffy feeling in her chest.

This was the amount Bried used to polish off in 10 minutes, but now she couldn’t even slice the Black Forest Cake with her fork.

The reason lay in that so-called “Marriage Agreement” doodle she’d found that day.

She found herself unconsciously questioning her relationship with Siloque.

The old promise was void.

Don’t fall in love with me.

That’s what Siloque said now.

—I could never have those kinds of feelings for you, not even a little, not now or ever—

A vow she’d personally sworn.

Now, she couldn’t grasp the distance between her and Siloque.

Why did it make her uncomfortable?

She thought maybe she’d been too kind to Siloque lately.

Letting him into her home, letting him cook for her, taking him training…

She couldn’t say exactly why, but Bried just felt it was wrong.

She shouldn’t be so kind.

But—why?

Bried couldn’t find an answer.

Matters of the heart couldn’t be solved by physical training.

In the end, things with Siloque had become a little strained.

Lately, every time she saw Siloque’s pure face, she felt a twinge of guilt.

Bried stared at her cake, then glanced around the room.

She couldn’t eat, and the place was crowded. Not wanting to hog a seat, she decided to pay.

She’d pack up the rest and bring it home to her parents.

Bried queued at the cashier. When it was her turn, the clerk took her order slip and read the register:

“357R.”

Bried pulled out her phone—

“Hmm? Eh? Ah?”

Rummaging through her bag, she couldn’t find her phone—only her student ID and a 1R coin.

She’d forgotten it…

She’d taken the bus here with her transit card.

Her ring was left in the bedside drawer.

Bried remembered her father’s warning—when you’re upset, you’re prone to careless mistakes.

My Sword Heart…wavered.

The clerk’s gaze grew suspicious.

The people behind her started shuffling their feet impatiently.

“I’m sorry!”

Bried apologized.

“I forgot my phone. Here’s my ID and student card. Can I borrow a phone to call a friend? Please let the next person pay first…”

How she wished this place was pay-after-use.

Then she wouldn’t have realized she’d forgotten her phone only now.

“357R, right?”

Beep—

Suddenly, someone paid for her.

There really are good people in the world?

“Ah, thank you! I’ll definitely pay you back! Today, for sure!”

Bried bowed her head in gratitude, catching a faint whiff of lavender.

Looking up, she saw a woman half a head taller than herself.

With brown hair and eyes, a straight-cut ponytail, shopping bags in both hands—Bried couldn’t help but think of a squirrel.

This person…looked familiar.

She felt like she’d seen her somewhere before.

“Helping students is a teacher’s duty. I don’t charge interest. Just remember to pay me back at school the day after tomorrow. I believe you’re not the type to owe money.”

Beiren smiled and patted Bried’s shoulder.