Chapter 74

Regarding yesterday's Chapter 69, didn't you find it a bit odd that it was unusually short and both the preface and afterword were quite simple?

Actually, it was just a placeholder that I scheduled to post at 11 PM, planning to add more content later, but I completely forgot about it and it ended up being posted as is! I was really surprised to get comments on an episode I didn't remember posting! It was truly a horror story!

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Lily suggested a special dungeon called the "Swinging Moon Cave."

The gimmick of this dungeon is that "due to the dungeon itself being imbued with a special magic, normal equipment and magic cannot be used, and one must fight with specially prepared weapons and equipment."

It's a so-called restricted dungeon, but the difficulty was surprisingly low. The equipment is forcibly downgraded to something close to initial gear, but as a result, the enemies are also at a beginner level.

As advertised, "no magic can be used," and indeed, magic couldn't be used. However, due to the game's policy of favoring manual arts (or perhaps favoring Dynamic Motion Z), arts could be used through manual activation.

Moreover, what really made the battle easier was her "performance," which wasn't affected by the dungeon's "no magic" restriction.

She doesn't attack enemies directly. Instead, she adds a harmonica to her lips with a delicate gesture and plays melodies that are sometimes rough, sometimes melancholic, and always versatile. This is how a bard fights.

A bard is a secondary class, and while having this class at level 5 is a strength, its stat bonuses are exceptionally low compared to others. The total bonus is 8, with 2 points added to spirit and concentration, and 1 point added to all other abilities. This makes it almost useless in direct combat, truly a class specialized in performance.

However, that was enough. While performing, she can't attack, but I, as the attacker, can handle it alone. The continuous buffs increase the speed of monster elimination, and her pleasant melodies boost my morale. I even felt that I could concentrate on my attacks more rhythmically, an effect not reflected in the numbers.

Just being able to hear her performance is enough to prove her usefulness as a party member.

The battle was smooth, and the dungeon's gimmicks didn't pose any real challenges. The puzzles were simple, like pressing buttons on both sides at the same time or one person standing on a switch floor while the other presses a switch on the other side of a door.

(Frankly, it's a letdown.)

There were no elements that would make the battle difficult, either in terms of skill or mechanics. Moreover, knowing her "secret," I could guess what she wanted to convey.

With such thoughts, I walked beside Lily, trying to hide my racing heart, and we proceeded smoothly.

After clearing the gimmicks, we reached a long corridor, and Lily started talking.

"My parents traveled around the world when they were young."

She said this while walking forward, facing ahead.

"They told me many stories about their travels and the beautiful places they visited."

Looking at her profile, I couldn't help but think, "She's beautiful." Even if I knew she was just a creation, not real, her expressions and gestures captivated me.

"Among those stories, the one they talked about with the most enthusiasm was the view at the deepest part of this dungeon."

She held a recording crystal in her hand, which is essentially a video camera, a game item that blends modern and fantasy elements.

"At the end of their journey, my parents visited this dungeon alone and, in the midst of the most beautiful scenery, my father proposed to my mother."

She looked at me and smiled, saying, "Romantic, isn't it?"

"But it's frustrating. When I asked, 'What kind of view was it?' my parents just smiled and wouldn't answer. Then they always said, 'You should see it with your own eyes.'"

She turned forward again, her eyes looking ahead.

"That's why I..."

She started to say something but then closed her mouth.

The long corridor ended, and in front of us was a small circular space.

"Is this... the deepest part?"

She said, sounding puzzled.

It was a small room surrounded by inorganic rock walls, and it was hard to call it a beautiful view.

In the center was a stone pedestal, with two hand-shaped indentations.

"Should we put our hands in here?"

Despite her doubts, she placed her hands in the indentations. At that moment,

"Ah!?"

The ground disappeared.

---

It's a trap!

By the time I realized it, it was too late. The floor vanished in an instant, and we were swallowed by darkness.

A terrifying sensation of falling. My vision blurred, and I instinctively curled up, then...

A thud, and the fall stopped.

"Are you... okay?"

Lily's voice came from the darkness, and I let out a sigh of relief. She seemed to be fine.

(But to think there would be a trap here. I let my guard down.)

How many meters did we fall? I looked up, but the darkness made it impossible to see where we had fallen from.

As I was thinking about what to do, I heard Lily's surprised voice.

"Ah?"

I turned my gaze forward and saw a scene I had never imagined.

"Fl... flowers?"

At the deepest part of the dungeon, where no one had ever set foot, white flowers blooming with a faint light colored the space.

It was like a garden of flowers. White, delicate flowers blooming densely, emitting a gentle light.

"I've heard that flowers with strong magic can emit a faint light."

This was probably a miracle created by the dungeon. In the dark, the slight light from the flowers stood out, creating a breathtaking view that could only be experienced here.

I was speechless, captivated by the beautiful scene.

"Th... that's right. That's why..."

I heard Lily's murmur from beside me. When I turned to her, I noticed tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh, that? I'm sorry, it wasn't supposed to be like this..."

Tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

The moment I realized this, my body moved on its own.

I tightly hugged her shoulders. Her confused face, still beautiful despite the tears, was magnified in my vision.

My heart raced.

No matter how I tried to justify it or rationalize it, I was drawn to her. And the situation was forcing me to make an ultimate choice.

(What should I do? What's the right thing to do?)

Her moist, tear-filled eyes clouded my mind. I swallowed hard, tense.

---

Should I confess or comfort her?

Both seemed right, and both seemed wrong. Should I push or wait?

To be honest, I was scared to push. But to truly make her a party member, I probably had to make her fall for me!

And...

I'm not just a boring otaku anymore! I'm a handsome hero that people admire!

So...

---

"Lily, I like you."

I chose to move forward.

That's right.

Saying "It's okay to cry" would be too weak.

A place of memories.

Alone together.

A breathtaking view.

Tears.

There couldn't be a better setup!

"Wh... what?"

Her surprised face.

"W... wait. I... I..."

I couldn't stop.

Her long lashes, her moist eyes.

Her ethereal face dominated my vision, my heart.

"..."

She closed her eyes slowly, and then...

---

Thud!!

My vision shook.

"Huh?"

A voice escaped my lips.

Her face blurred rapidly, and then everything went black. Even though I could see the cave floor filling my vision, I had no idea what had happened.

My vision swayed as I tried to get up, and then cold words rained down.

"Whoa? I kicked to crush your balls, but you can still move. You have the resilience of an orc, disgusting."

My mind went blank as I understood the meaning of those words. I looked at her, hoping it was a mistake...

"Yay. I'm glad we met in a dungeon with equipment restrictions. You really are a hero! You grew so big, amazing!"

---

Her words were a light, mocking praise that grated on my nerves.

Her voice was unpleasant, filled with disdain.

I didn't recognize the woman standing in front of me. Or perhaps, I didn't want to recognize her.

"Hehehe."

But she smiled slyly and slowly lifted her foot...

---

Bang!

The impact sound filled my vision with the brown of the ground. I realized she was stepping on me only after hearing her voice.

"You're acting like a victim! It's so annoying... Do you understand the situation? Hey! Hey! ...Hey!!"

As she raised her voice, her foot and her insults mercilessly stomped on my head.

But I'm a hero.

I wouldn't just submit to a woman's violence.

Grunting, I slowly lifted my head, glaring at her face...

"Still being defiant, huh? ...Oh."

At that moment, she clapped her hands deliberately.

"Ah. Maybe you think that with your body moving, you can easily overpower a frail woman like me?"

What's so funny?

She covered her mouth and laughed softly.

"Oh. I see. I see. Sorry."

After that meaningless apology,

"Wh... what!"

She reached for the buttons on her clothes. Her clothes, strained by her ample chest.

She undid the buttons one by one, as if to free herself...

"But, sorry. That's not possible! Because..."

She smiled slyly and, without hesitation, ripped open her clothes!

"---!"

I instinctively tried to close my eyes, but it turned out to be unnecessary.

"..."

Because what I saw was not what I had expected.

When Lily opened her clothes, two blue objects fell from her chest. The half-moon shapes that flattened on the ground were slime-based padding. At that moment, I finally realized the truth.

She is...

No, the one I thought was her...

"---Because I'm a guy too, you know."

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The next chapter will be a bit of a recap!

Scheduled to update at 9 PM tomorrow!

Tremble in anticipation!

And, I'm sorry to keep repeating this, but please keep any spoilers or guesses about what happens next to yourself in the comments!