Chapter 74

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I wanted to block my ears.

"Unbelievable. Drinking alcohol in a situation where your life is threatened inside a dungeon? I already knew you weren't in your right mind, but now I'm starting to suspect you're a madman. Do you not have any common sense at all? Well, you've forgotten how to ride a horse, so it's no surprise you'd forget common sense."

"...I did drink, but I'm not drunk..."

"Shut up, drunkard."

His unfair demands made me feel extremely wronged, but I bit my lip and obediently agreed.

At that moment, the onlookers who had been following me around and setting up bets approached and started chattering.

"Hey, pretty lady! How about a slingshot contest this time? Let's get 10 wins before nightfall!"

"Hey, you! Do you think that silly slingshot contest would even catch her eye? This time, it has to be dice. Let's go for dice!"

Clyde glared at me with a fierce look, as if interrogating a deranged gambler.

"What exactly did you do in that short time to become such a celebrity?"

It's so unfair, so unfair!

If I have any fault, it's only that I was well-versed in the mini-games of the Delve Dungeon and knew a surefire way to make money.

"I just made some money. Unlike you, no one offers me money just for standing still..."

Upon hearing my grumbling, Clyde sighed and suddenly picked me up.

"...What are you doing?"

"If you want to argue, at least walk properly."

"I was walking straight, wasn't I...?"

"If you keep backtalking, I'll make you walk zigzag for the rest of your life."

'This guy might suddenly get upset and throw me on the ground.'

I quickly wrapped my arms around Clyde's neck.

Ding!

[Seat 'Clown' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Oh my, this is getting serious~?]

Such an absurd delusion was far from the reality, as Clyde's affection level remained stubbornly at three black hearts.

'Thinking about it, it's ridiculous. We're this entangled, and he could at least reduce one black heart, right?'

As a character known for being one of the hardest to攻略 in the early stages, alongside the emperor, winning Clyde's heart was no easy task.

Was I too engrossed in my thoughts?

Without realizing it, I had been staring at Clyde too openly, and he frowned and looked at me.

"You're staring so openly. Do you have no sense of shame?"

I wasn't admiring his appearance, but I couldn't deny that it was a pleasure to look at.

"I'm not sure about shame, but... I can tell that you look good in a uniform..."

I said with utmost sincerity.

Clyde slightly narrowed his eyes and avoided my gaze.

His expression was a bit scary, but there was no sign of displeasure.

He seemed unusually shy.

'Anyway, when should I tell him about my dream?'

Not because of a hangover, but the thought of taking him to the lord's castle tomorrow to get his marriage consent made my head throb.

I tapped Clyde's shoulder.

"Let's go in here."

I pointed to an inn called 'Love's Rest.'

"...The name is unpleasant."

"Don't argue. We need to find a place to stay before nightfall."

Clyde, fortunately, didn't misinterpret my words as having ulterior motives.

"Is it a dungeon rule?"

"Right. During the day, it's a happy and joyful world, but at night, demons of despair pour out."

"I thought you just drank, but you managed to gather some useful information."

I smiled, trying to convey the creator's authority.

"Hehe..."

But my smile didn't last long.

"Oh dear, what can we do? It's already fully booked."

The sudden announcement made me snap to attention.

"Fully booked?"

The setting of a fully booked inn, which I hadn't even implemented, suddenly appeared, leaving me with a blank expression. The innkeeper confirmed it with a sympathetic tone.

"Usually, all the rooms are full by around 4 PM. It's already 5:30, and the sun will set at 6, so it will be the same wherever you go."

We left 'Love's Rest' without finding a room.

"Since we still have time, let's try another inn."

We might have to find a cave if we couldn't find a place.

At that moment, a middle-aged man asked us in a gruff voice.

"Looking for a room?"

Clyde replied.

"Yes."

The man flinched at Clyde's chilly, deep voice and cleared his throat.

"I have a vacant room in my inn. Follow me."

The gruff man led us to a room in the far corner.

"This is the only room left. If you don't accept it now, I'll give it to another guest. What will you do?"

The room was so small that a single bed filled it, but it was clean and free of dust, so it wasn't bad.

"Seems fine. Let's stay here."

Clyde glared at the only bed and clicked his tongue, then nodded.

The man, still looking at Clyde who was carrying me, warned us.

"Looks like you're in the heat of the moment, but keep the noise down."

"You insolent...!"

I quickly covered Clyde's mouth.

"We'll stay for one night. How much is it?"

"50,000 gil."

I had earned a total of 300,000 gil today, so the room was affordable.

The man handed over the key as soon as he received the money and left.

I finally released my hand from Clyde's mouth.

"...Shall we go in?"

Clyde locked the door and then put me down on the floor.

"..."

"..."

The awkward atmosphere quickly filled the small room, and my previously hazy mind became very clear, making me even more uncomfortable.

Ding!

[Seat 'Dopamine Addiction' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[From now on, this broadcast contains themes unsuitable for viewers under 19 and requires parental guidance.]

Unfortunately, there were no plans for anything inappropriate. Ever.

After experiencing so much in such a short time today, I suddenly felt very sleepy.

"Yawn..."

When I yawned, Clyde pointed to the bed.

"You take the bed."

"Then what about you?"

"I'm fine with this."

Clyde pulled a chair to the far corner and sat down, clearly trying to put as much distance between us as possible.

Well, there's no need to refuse.

I said thank you and sat on the bed.

Clyde, despite his unhappy narrative, was a very well-bred young master.

It was hard to tell if he was uncomfortable with the place or with being with me, but his expression didn't give much away.

So I asked.

"Is this place uncomfortable for you?"

"It's more comfortable than taking a nap near an active volcano."

So this inn is comparable to an active volcano...

I handed him the meat pie I had been carrying.

"Here, eat this. This inn doesn't seem to sell food."

Clyde looked at the envelope for a moment and said, somewhat surprised.

"From what I know, this is your first time entering the dungeon, but you're well-prepared."

"The world inside the dungeon is virtual, but it's the same as reality. The actions a person with no money in an unfamiliar place would take are similar anywhere."

Clyde, who had been listening quietly, chuckled.

"Oh, so that's why you drank?"

"That's right."

Time passed quickly, and it was already 6 PM.

I realized this when the street lights, which had been shining through the small window, suddenly went out all at once.

I got up from the bed and pulled the small curtain on the window.

The room had only one candle and a match, so I lit the candle.

Brighter light could attract demons, so I had to be careful.

Clyde, sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, muttered softly.

"The outside is eerily quiet."

But the silence didn't last long.

Whoosh! Thud! Thud-thud!

Something, whether it was the wind or a visitor, started knocking on the window, asserting its presence.

"Ahem."

I crawled into the bed and hugged myself tightly.

To be honest, I'm scared.

The atmosphere was much more eerie than I had expected.

The thought of how realistically the demons roaming outside would be implemented in the real world made me even more scared.

I decided to distract myself by doing the homework I had been putting off.

"Let's talk, Clyde."

Clyde opened his eyes and only moved his gaze to me.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Did you get a dream card too?"

"..."

Clyde, unlike his usual straightforward nature, didn't say anything for a moment.

'Clyde's dream is a normal life. Is it a difficult dream to talk about?'

He asked in a reluctant voice.

"Why do you want to know?"

"It's a mission necessary for survival. We need to help each other to clear the dungeon."

It was a reasonable argument, so Clyde nodded reluctantly.

"My dream is to live a normal life. What about you?"

Clyde's dream was, as expected, according to the setting.

Now the problem was my dream.

"Don't misunderstand and listen to me."

I proposed with the most professional and objective expression and tone I could manage.

"Let's get married. Tomorrow."

"..."

Ding!

[Seat 'Facts Are Violence' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Forbes' Worst Proposal of the Year #1]