Chapter 11 – Episode 11. A Child I’ve Seen Since I Was a Girl (1)
How long had it been since the two fell into the trap?
Verdia, who had been waiting at the exit in advance, expressed considerable impatience while looking at the empty aisle where not a single shadow could be seen.
‘… Pretty late.’
The dungeon was originally made for practice, so the level isn’t high, but aren’t the two of them just new adventurers?
In Dave’s case, he seems to have good eyes when he sees Celica fall into a trap and immediately notices it, but there is a big difference between knowing something and dealing with it on the spot.
More than anything else, since Celica didn’t have such eyes at all, she could get hurt if she went out for nothing.
‘They have a structure in which the function of the dungeon stops immediately if you fall into danger, but if you see that it doesn’t stop, it must mean that you are safe right now…’
Could it be that it went the other way?
No, it won’t be either.
Due to the structure of this dungeon, the traps of the fall rescue are bound to lead to the exit of a single road somehow, and there is an additional function that detects life reactions throughout.
If you fall into danger from an additional trap, all types of traps will immediately stop, and golems prepared for battle will safely escort the endangered target to the entrance.
The fact that such a signal does not come in itself must mean that there is no problem between the two of them.
Even so, Verdia couldn’t help but worry about the two of them.
‘If Celica did something disrespectful to Dave…’
What if she caused a nuisance to Dave when she wasn’t there, and because of that, Dave, who was in trouble, took care of her work, so it was too late to come here?
“… Oops, it shouldn’t be like this.”
By the time she had thought that far, Verdia belatedly realized that she was looking at the situation from a different perspective than usual, and laughed at her.
“To think I was worried about the first man I met who was supposed to look after the child.”
Normally, I would have to worry that a man I met for the first time would harbor a sinister mind.
But that must mean that the first impression I felt when I met him was good.
In fact, he showed her understanding of Celica well, and he also showed her desire to have a good relationship with the girl she had just met.
‘If it’s that man, you don’t have to be vigilant right now. Her strength is only at the level listed in the documents Celica brought her, and she doesn’t have any other equipment besides that…’
You may never know, but as a follower of the God of War, she has been at the forefront of mankind and has fought bloody battles against countless demon lords.
It is not a task to grasp the opponent’s capabilities. Not feeling anything in such a yard means that the other person is not as harmless as that.
Not only physically, but also magically and morally… Yes, because I didn’t feel any magic or evil in him at all.
‘I’ll have to be at least vigilant, but I’ll have to help them build a good relationship right now.’
Celica needs experience, but more than that, she needs to take the lead in the future as she is in charge of the party.
So, out of respect for Celica’s choice, let’s try to narrow her distance towards him whom she brought herself.
“Miss Verdia! Are you here!?”
Just when he clenched his fists at that thought, he began to feel the presence of people on the other side of the aisle.
Dave.
A man with blonde hair and tanned skin.
However, his trembling in fear when he first met her was now replaced by a state of bewilderment.
“Dave, I’m glad you’re okay… Celica?”
The reason was immediately clear.
It was because Celica, who was drooping down on her back, was on her back.
‘Dangerous…’
It’s been a while since I tried to run into the momentary vigilance. Verdia’s gaze soon began to move around.
‘No, the dungeon’s functions are still functioning normally.’
At least, it didn’t mean that Celica’s life was in danger. Verdia, who maintained her composure, asked Dave cautiously.
“What happened?”
“Oh that… Apparently, I got hit on the head by forcefully breaking through the trap.”
“… Is it.”
It was an accident that was too Celica-like, so there was nothing more to say.
At the moment, I wondered if Dave, who acted as a scout, had done something wrong, but Dave, on the other hand, was in good health without a single wound.
Perhaps seeing Dave dismantling the trap, Celica jumped in to show off her cool side, but was beaten without seeing the trap.
‘I can understand being excited about accepting a colleague for the first time, but… I guess I’ll have to say something later.’
Of course, since my consciousness is half blown away, it would be impossible.
“The original purpose itself was to verify Celica’s skills, but if her condition is like this, I can’t proceed any further. Serica, I will take you to the inn, so give it to me.”
“Yes? Ah yes…”
Dave, embarrassed by Verdia’s reluctant decision, turns his back on him.
Soon, Celica, who was riding on his back, flew up and landed on her shoulder just as it was.
“Uh, uh… ?”
Gee, he seems quite surprised.
Anyway, when I practice, I lift and lower this weight every day.
“Should I be surprised like this? It will be a sight you will see often in the future.”
“Yes? I see you often…”
“It’s just the literal meaning, but if there’s something wrong… Ah.”
It’s been awhile since I’ve been trying to ask Dave a question in reverse.
Verdia, who belatedly realized why she said that, drew a bitter smile on her lips.
‘It was. This time, it also doubled as seeing Dave’s skills…’
It was definitely like that, but at some point, I forgot that purpose and thought of Dave joining as a premise.
But now, is there anything good to come? Just by coming this far, her ability as a scout has been proven to some extent, and more than anything, she even brought Celica to this point safely.
“Dave, you must have been tired from bringing Celica, so rest for today. Let’s look forward to her future activities.”
After expressing her confidence lightly, Verdia, carrying her Celica on her back, soon began to go straight for her exit.
I’d like to spend more time interacting with her, but for now, waiting for Celica’s condition to improve will be the priority.
“Uh, uh…”
Whether or not she knew her own worries, Celica let out her moans while riding on her back.
However, what Verdia expressed as she looked back at Celica was an extremely friendly expression.
Normally, she had no choice but to teach Celica strictly for the sake of her growth, but she wouldn’t have to show that kind of attitude even when she was out of sight of this child.
‘Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since I’ve hugged like this.’
The last time I hugged you was probably 10 years ago.
At that time, he was a small enough child to be held in his arms, but it was a moment when he felt that time was passing very quickly.
***
Yes, time really flies fast.
It’s been about a week since Dave joined the artificial dungeon.
Celica’s battles, which were immature in many ways at first, had become quite skillful by now.
Now, golems that imitate goblins can break through without any residual injuries even if they are surrounded by more than ten people. Dave also saw the trap handling first hand and knew it was better than expected.
No, not only handling traps, but also skills related to life, such as lifting luggage, cooking in dungeons, and mending clothes, were on the right side.
‘It would make the journey easier if there was someone who would take care of the chores outside of the power. Perhaps because he had experience running errands in dungeons before, he was good at finding safe places during battles.’
If he had more skills and experience, wouldn’t it be okay to take him to a proper dungeon? As much as I would like to think.
But about this he could not make a decision alone. Although Verdia had decided Celica to be the party leader, the rest of the party still tended not to trust Celica’s judgment.
‘It’s been a week since Celica brought Dave. But the two of them still don’t show any signs of joining.’
Historically, the hero’s party is basically based on the premise that three colleagues will follow.
A priest like himself, an archmage who has been dispatched from the Mage Tower for generations. And a representative of a different race who has a crush on the Demon King.
Among them, the archmage is a person who showed outstanding skills at a young age enough to be given the modifier ‘youngest’ in front, but Serikawa is similar in age, so there is a sense of lack of social skills.
He must be focusing on his research while ignoring the contract between the King and the Magic Tower.
‘The elves have strict rules in many ways, and it’s not easy to interact with the Great Forest… If I go there, I’ll have to check the Mage Tower first.’
After roughly assessing Celica’s condition, let’s start right away.
Having concluded that, Verdia went to Celica’s room to tell her the news.
I will give her advice for her today, when she is tired from attacking her dungeon in the midst of her dungeon.
“Serica. Be inside…”
But that’s for a while.
By the time she stood in front of the door of the inn, Verdia confirmed that the door to the room containing Celica was half open.
Did I carelessly open it again? Normally, this would be the case, but the reason I couldn’t open it right away was because a strange sound was coming through the crack in the door.
“Sss, uh, ha…”
Celica’s voice.
“Ah, ah. Black, ah, ah… ♥”
But it’s a very deep moan.
I’ve never even heard of that…
‘Seri, Ka?’
Something is going on.
What happened?
-Gulp.
Verdia, who had swallowed her saliva, quietly opened the half-open door.
– Steamed, steamed.
The sound of wet meat rubbing against your fingers.
“Go, go, now, go… Ugh!”
A heavy breathing sound spreads along with a moan that follows, and a transparent liquid begins to flow down the bedspread.
Verdia had no choice but to watch the scene while covering her mouth with her hand.
She is a child who has always been considered immature and young.
“Uhhhhh~~♥”
The moment when you vulgarly bounce your back and spray the tide under the bed.
