Chapter 60: Take This Sword, I Don’t Need It

Pshoo, pshoo—

With two white flashes, Siloque and Cass dropped onto the white marble tiles of the Explorer Hall.

It was late at night.

There were still a few Explorers around, but none seemed surprised by the sudden appearance of Cass and Siloque.

“So painful…”

Siloque rubbed his butt.

He had arrived in mid-air during the transfer and landed hard on the tile.

He glanced at the upper left area, where there was an air cushion and a sign: “Designate transfer location and think carefully before transferring.”

Come to think of it, the accuracy of the transfer depends on one’s concentration.

If your mind wanders during transfer, you might aim for point A, think of point B, and end up at point C.

“Hu, hu… hu, hu.”

The heavy breathing caught Siloque’s attention.

Cass was holding his knees, drenched in sweat.

Right, this guy was running from a horde of Monsters at his back.

Me too, more or less…

Siloque looked around the Explorer Hall and decided to just sit on the ground and rest.

“Yeah, we survived…”

Returned safe and sound, no missing arms or legs.

Siloque let out a long breath.

After escaping from the brink of death to a safe environment, his mood was unexpectedly calm.

He loosened his ponytail and, remembering his embarrassing appearance earlier, hugged his head.

Damn, my combat ability is still this pathetic!

I can’t possibly use , right?

I don’t want to kill the Main Character and end up on Hot Search again.

While he was recalling, a suppressed laugh reached his ears.

“Pfft. Hehehe, hahahahaha—”

Cass suddenly clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.

The surrounding Explorers still didn’t bat an eye.

“What’s wrong, did you inhale Joker gas or something?”

“Hahaha… no. I just think it’s amazing we came out unscathed from all that.”

Still laughing, Cass reached out a hand to Siloque.

Siloque didn’t take it and stood up on his own.

Cass looked a bit awkward, but didn’t mind, keeping a satisfied smile.

“This is my first time experiencing such an adventure. It’s like a movie.”

“But let me be clear, I don’t like that almost-dying feeling.”

“Same here. But returning safely from such a dangerous place, it feels like we conquered the second floor.”

“Don’t get cocky and try to conquer the second floor for real, Cass.”

Cass smiled faintly.

“I won’t be reckless. Next time, I’ll be fully prepared with my teammates and challenge the second floor head-on.”

As he spoke, Cass emphasized the word “teammates” and met Siloque’s gaze.

Siloque automatically ignored it and motioned for Cass to go to the Dungeon Hall changing room to wash up.

Cass desperately refused and quickly changed in a men’s toilet stall, then waited for Siloque in the hall.

Siloque regretted entering the changing room.

The stares from the other men inside made him uncomfortable.

“Uh… Just to clarify, I’m male.”

The changing room grew noisy.

“Isn’t that even better?”

“Who said that? Stand up and face me!”

Now Siloque understood why Cass refused to enter.

He decided he’d rather stink than change in such a public place again.

After an experience more nerve-wracking than Dungeon exploration, Siloque finally left the Explorer Hall, feeling refreshed from his bath.

Walking along the illuminated Storefront Street on the Artificial Stone Road, the dark sky made the stars shine even brighter.

The night wind was cool and pleasant.

“Are there stars inside the Dungeon too?”

As if remembering something, Cass suddenly asked.

“Maybe the sky above us is just the underside of another floor, and the night view—including the stars—is a projection.”

“Hahaha… Your theory is interesting, Siloque.”

Whether it’s real or not doesn’t matter to me, as long as the land I live on is peaceful.

Walking side by side, Siloque reflected on their actions.

Previously, Cass’s team always explored within their capabilities.

Even in the Maple Garden, the Healing Lake acted as a safety net, so there was no fear of dying.

But this time was different.

For example, if Myut had a change of heart and killed Cass by accident.

Or the Underground Ruins Space Cass entered, where Transfer Crystals couldn’t be used and the Monsters far outclassed him.

Any small mistake, and he could have died there.

I really made Cass take a huge risk.

But.

Siloque looked at the sword bag slung over Cass’s shoulder, the Flesh-Colored Sword Hilt—Wraithblade—peeking out.

The risk was worth it.

Noticing Siloque staring at his sword bag, Cass asked,

“Siloque, is this disgusting sword really that valuable? If you don’t mind, I’ll give it to you. I don’t want to use it.”

“You gave her the Banana, right?”

“Her? Uh, yeah, didn’t you tell me to?”

“Did she eat it?”

“She did.”

“Then it’s settled. She already recognizes you as the sole owner. I can’t use this sword.”

But borrowing it to swing around occasionally is fine.

“Eh… This sword is too casual. I just strung a Banana as you said.”

Cass looked disgusted.

Blame the Production Team if you must.

Disgusting…?

Another subtle difference from the game.

Siloque remembered Cass praising this sword as cool in both his first and second playthroughs.

He glanced at his watch.

The screen read 00:27.

So not much time has passed?

When I was being chased by those Red Specters, it felt like hours.

Earlier than expected.

Good.

“Cass, let’s talk about the sword tomorrow. Do you want some coffee?”

“Tomorrow? Coffee’s fine, as long as it’s not milk tea… Actually, I’m tired too. But a cup to celebrate surviving is nice.”

In fact, Cass felt a bit disappointed.

They’d completed their goal on the first night.

No camping at all.

He had bought a Camping Tent with Monster-Repelling Barrier, and Siloque even brought a Sleeping Bag, but there was no chance for unintentional physical contact…

Mainly, he hadn’t gotten a kiss.

Thinking of this, Cass grew even more dejected, his shoulders drooping.

“Alright, then it’s decided. But there’s a small thing to handle first.”

“Siloque, you’re not planning something weird again, are you?”

Cass had been happy to spend more time together tonight, but Siloque’s mischievous smile made him suspect he’d be dragged into something else.

Can’t help it with him.

“It’s nothing, really. There’s still plenty of time. Let’s head to ‘Moonlight Bridge Cafe’—I’ll explain on the way.”

During the conversation, the two had already used Siloque’s Mobile Phone to call a ride directly.

“Moonlight Bridge…?”

Hearing the cafe’s name, Cass remembered.

It was the same as the one Kersey worked at.

***

00:35 AM

Having finished a day’s work, Kersey was restocking shelves and checking inventory, as well as cleaning.

She wore a white blouse, a dark brown vest dress that reached below her knees, and a longer apron over her skirt.

Her glossy pink hair was tied into a bun at the back, highlighting her pale neck and making work easier.

“Kersey, you can go home and rest first. Leave the rest to me.”

The female store owner—Aniler—appeared silently from the inner door behind the bar.

She was well-built and worked out regularly.

“It’s fine, Aunt. I enjoy this. Seeing the shop become clean makes me happy. Only the door needs locking. You go ahead.”

“How did you end up persuading me instead? I haven’t seen you sit down since lunchtime.”

“It’s really fine.”

Kersey smiled gently, her voice soft.

“I’ll pay you extra today. Here’s the key. Lock all the doors and windows—for the shop and your safety.”

Unable to argue, Aniler conceded.

She knew Explorers’ constitution differed from ordinary people, but she hadn’t expected her niece to work non-stop for so long.

But in fact, she found her niece a bit odd.

Like now…

“Kersey, have the new coffee beans moved into the Warehouse with the staff tomorrow. You don’t need to carry them alone.”

“It’s fine, Aunt. Please let me.”

“No, put them down.”

Aniler saw sweat dripping from Kersey, her breathing uneven.

She sensed Kersey was exhausted, but the girl herself seemed to enjoy it.

It was always like this.

For heavy chores, she was first to volunteer; if a Customer broke a glass, she’d pick up the shards with her bare hands, scaring the customer with her bloody fingers…

A bit masochistic.

Her smile was shy, but she was strange.

After repeatedly warning Kersey, Aniler left the store.

Kersey watched her Aunt ride off on her motorcycle.

All that was left was to lock the front and back doors.

“I couldn’t go all out today, either.”

She liked the feeling of working to her limits.

That’s why she got along with Bried, though Bried preferred more moderate training.

Kersey, on the other hand, pushed herself as far as possible; staying busy helped her forget unpleasant memories.

Kersey grabbed the carved, patterned door handle, ready to lock up.

As the door was about to close, someone entered the Cafe.

“Sorry, Customer, we’re closed for tonight. Please—”

Come back tomorrow.

She couldn’t finish the sentence.

The moment she saw the person, Kersey’s face darkened.

Black hair parted down the middle.

Those narrow eyes roamed over Kersey’s body from head to toe, as if wanting to lick every inch.

“Coming to a Cafe doesn’t mean you have to order coffee. Can’t I order the waitress instead?”

Norius spoke, tugging at his collar.