Chapter 5

5

The dining room was filled only with the clinking of dishes.

The heavy silence that had settled over the table was so awkward that it seemed even the most exquisite dishes would be indigestible.

This kind of meal had been going on for a week now.

Sitting at the table, eating, were me, Eila, and Lucia.

We were the three who shared the surname Aslande in this mansion.

Even though I had lost my memory and our relationship was not the same as before, both the mother and daughter, as well as the maids, watched me and Eila with eyes that seemed to be looking at a time bomb.

Eila and Lucia were the ones who were most on edge.

It was so bad that even I, the one making them nervous, felt queasy.

If I had to be so cautious about someone, I might just kill them.

Yes, a time bomb. I could be a time bomb to them.

Quiet now, but a time bomb that could suddenly call me a dirty whore and denounce me again if my memory returns.

The problem was that I was not the same Luke Aslande as back then.

Moreover, today was the day I was to leave for the capital with the two of them, summoned by the Aslande baron.

I was surprised by the baron's message, which said that it was fortunate that I had woken up from a coma after six months, suffering from amnesia, before the scheduled time for my academy enrollment, and that I should come to the capital immediately.

But the biggest problem now was that I had to travel in the same carriage with these two for two whole days.

To maintain my mental health, I couldn't let this situation continue.

"Mother."

I mustered the courage to speak to Eila.

"Hic! Yes, y-yes! Mother?"

Eila was so startled that she let out an undignified scream.

Lucia, equally shocked by the word "mother" coming from my mouth, dropped the food she had put in her mouth back onto the plate.

It was a scene that made me sigh involuntarily.

"Though you are not my biological mother, you are my father's wife, so it's right to call you mother, isn't it?"

"T-That's true...?"

Her voice, which had never received such treatment, lacked confidence.

"I know our relationship was not good. I was immature, I think."

"No, the problem was that I was not more... "

I shook my head firmly at Eila's attempt to deny it.

"No. It's hard to approach someone you dislike. I was wrong."

"Luke..."

"But I hope losing my memory can be a good opportunity. If we can make good memories now, I think I can overcome it even if my memory returns. I will also try to ease the resentment you and Lucia have towards me."

Eila's expression was more complex than ever.

Sadness, longing, injustice, and joy were mixed in her eyes, and she seemed to be desperately holding back tears.

"I tried not to show it, but I seem to have made you nervous."

If showing it was that much, how would it be if she showed it while being cautious?

"And I'm sorry. Luke is right. I don't know what I was afraid of. I was foolish. Not that I'm happy about Luke losing his memory... "

"It's fine. Lucia, you don't have to be cautious with me anymore. You are my sister."

Lucia, who had been listening quietly with her big eyes, started to tear up when she heard the word "sister."

"Yes, big brother."

Phew, the atmosphere improved a bit, so I should eat.

The food was cold, but it tasted much better than before.

Eila, who seemed a bit more relaxed, looked at me again.

"Luke, do you know who told you this story? Even if it's a confused patient, it's not right to tell them such a story..."

"Hic!"

The maids, who had relaxed at the warm scene, let out a hiccup.

Naturally, the culprit of the hiccup was Ella.

The fact that Ella was only visible to me because she was behind Eila was her only salvation.

Ella looked at me with a pleading expression, which made me smile.

"Confidentiality of informants is a given. Perhaps I should give them a reward for creating this opportunity?"

"Well..."

"Let's stop thinking about that and eat. The food will get cold."

Ella looked at me as if I were a savior.

* * *

After finishing the meal and returning to my room, I habitually activated the dungeon window.

There was nothing to do since I had already used all the points I had, but the dungeon, which initially had only about twenty goblins, had changed dramatically.

I had summoned a hobgoblin to command the goblins and added three more orcs.

I had also given them equipment that was far too good for the lowest-level monsters.

In fact, I had bought the cheapest items from the shop, but they were still too good for the monsters.

I had also set up traps at the entrance to the cave and potential escape routes.

Adventurers who entered my dungeon could come in freely, but they would be trapped and despair when trying to leave.

The most elaborate trap was the pit trap.

A simple and classic structure where the floor opens and you fall.

But inside were slimes that could melt a human body like sherbet.

The slimes cost 800 points each, and I spent the most points on them, but it was a trap I was quite satisfied with.

The problem was that they had never been used.

Apart from the initial four, no intruders had visited my dungeon.

While I was activating the dungeon window, feeling a bit disappointed, it happened.

As they say, if you talk about a tiger, it will appear.

The intruder I had been waiting for appeared without warning.

Finally, I could test the things I had prepared.

If I had been at the entrance, I might have shouted "Welcome" loudly.

I quickly changed the perspective.

Two men at the front were grumbling and talking.

From the atmosphere, it seemed they had been sent by the Adventurer's Guild to investigate after the four who had gone before did not return.

A man at the back joined the conversation.

The only woman in the group of five spoke irritably.

The man who seemed the most dissatisfied shook his head in disgust.

After observing for a moment, I realized that these five were different from the previous ones.

They were spread out to be ready for attacks from any direction, maintained their vigilance in their respective directions, and carefully secured safety as they entered areas not illuminated by their torches.

It was a cautious and safe method of entry.

But they didn't know.

They had already crossed the line, even though they were being so careful.

The start of their misfortune began with a small sound.

The raspy voice of a goblin.

It was heard more clearly in the narrow cave.

The experienced adventurers did not miss the sound.

At the signal of the woman who heard the sound closest, the adventurers aimed their weapons in the direction of the sound.

It was a well-coordinated movement.

But the goblin was a dummy I had placed there on purpose.

Pew pew pew.

When they turned to face the goblin, arrows were shot from the wall behind them.

A male adventurer at the back was hit in the back with an arrow and let out a heavy groan.

The man who was trying to reassure his companions that he was fine fell forward mid-sentence.

Of course, he couldn't be fine. He had been hit by a poisonous arrow.

Now the adventurers were in a situation where they had to be wary of the arrows coming from the direction they had come from and the goblin sound from the front.

The range illuminated by the torches in the dark cave was limited.

And I had meticulously calculated the distance to place the monsters and traps.

The adventurers chose to retreat without hesitation.

Avoiding uncertain battles is a wise decision.

But taking care of the fallen companion, though touching, was not a rational decision.

Well, since they had already come quite far, it didn't change the fact that they couldn't get out.

I brought the orcs and goblins hiding at the entrance.

The adventurers, seeing the orcs, who were better equipped than themselves, probably realized something was wrong, and despair settled on their faces.

Now for the next phase.

I brought out the monsters I had hidden inside.

Goblins led by the hobgoblin.

They started to pressure the adventurers with wooden spears I had ordered them to make.

Not bamboo, but a makeshift spear corps.

The adventurers chose the most rational path.

With monsters pushing from inside and surrounding from the entrance, the best way to escape was to break through the escape route.

As the spear corps approached, the adventurers had no choice but to charge at the orcs, who were forming a solid formation.

The two men who seemed to be the tanks in the group led the charge with their shields.

I activated the trap at that moment.

Clunk.

The two men running forward fell into the hole that opened in the floor, letting out a deflated scream.

The female adventurer called out her companions' names in anguish, but they were already in a state where the slimes had entered their respiratory systems, and they couldn't even make a sound.

From the moment they fell into the pit, they were no longer human but food for the slimes.

The two remaining adventurers looked at the approaching monsters and muttered.

A cave that was supposed to have only goblins was now filled with thoroughly trained, military-like monsters and traps.

The female adventurer, in a state of near madness, began to beg some unknown entity in fear.

Seeing this, I hesitated a bit, but if I let them go, information about my dungeon would leak out.

Adventurers who entered without knowing about the traps and without being prepared would no longer be a problem.

Adventurers risk their lives to hunt monsters and make money.

If they lack the ability, they will be eaten by the monsters.

I just gave the monsters the upper hand.

I quietly closed the dungeon window.

A message appeared, indicating that the remaining two had been killed by the monsters, who were now out of my control.

.

.

.

Total negative points obtained: 12,000.

My level had also increased, and I had gained ability points.

Seeing the monsters' levels in the dungeon rise, it was clear that these adventurers were superior to the previous four.

I distributed the points I had gained this time to strength and agility.

I could feel the vitality flowing into my body in real-time, just like when I increased my stamina.

This made me feel that having a superhuman body was not far off.

While I was immersed in the strange sensation of my abilities rising, the butler entered the room.

"Master Luke, the coachman says he can depart in two hours."

"Okay, I got it."

It was still cold in March, so it seemed we could only leave during the day.

"I think we have prepared most of what we need, but is there anything else you want to bring?"

Hmm, I don't really need anything, but...

"Ella is coming too?"

"Ella? Apart from the two maids who will attend to the lady, I haven't prepared for her. The baron said it wasn't necessary."

"I want to bring Ella separately."

The butler nodded as if there was no need to think about it.

"I'll have her prepared right away."

"Thanks."

The butler bowed and quietly left the room.

Hmm, I felt a bit guilty towards Ella.

I hadn't told her in advance and was only informing her two hours before departure.

I opened the window.

Opening the large window, a refreshing chill entered the room.

The academy, while the baron's actions were indeed out of the ordinary, I was also looking forward to it.

I thought it would be more enjoyable than living like a game addict, looking at the dungeon window all day.

The baron, like a nouveau riche who has become rich overnight, was probably enrolling his children in an expensive school to improve their status.

But I had no burden of meeting the baron's expectations.

Being a college student, one of the most enjoyable things in life is not worrying about money, employment, or the future.

Since I was going to live here, I would make the most of the given environment and abilities to live without regrets and as I pleased.