Chapter One Hundred and Seventeen: Formation of the Investigation Team
“I was perfectly fine. It was these children who were attacked.”
“Tim, I heard that you drove them off. Well done.”
“Hehe!”
“And I also heard from Tim that you never lost heart, Harald.”
“Eh? No, I… I couldn’t even move when faced with the perpetrator’s corpse…”
“But even while you were in danger, far from resenting Karen, you apparently took pride in serving an alchemist who would be targeted for attacks.”
“That was just… because I truly felt that way… Pathetically, unlike Tim, I was trembling all over.”
Julius spoke with a serious expression to Harald, who wore a self-deprecating smile.
“It’s natural for the strong not to cower before the weak. But for the weak to face the strong and still not have their spirit broken, not harbor resentment toward others, and maintain their dignity—that is extremely difficult. I may seem strong to you, but even I become one of the weak in dungeons—when facing monsters stronger than myself, there aren’t many people with hearts strong enough to behave as you did.”
After Harald showed a bewildered expression at Julius’s words, he looked down bashfully and thanked Julius in a small voice.
Seeing this, Karen relaxed the tension in her shoulders.
Julius turned back to Karen and said:
“However, Karen. You should avoid getting involved in anything related to court politics. This time, we were fortunate that His Majesty the King seemed to side with us, but that may not always be the case in the future. Even with the support of Her Highness Waltride and Lord Yuluyana.”
Karen shrank back again.
The conversation had returned to a flow she didn’t particularly want to have with Julius.
“It’s not like I enjoy sticking my nose into these things.”
“Of course, I’ve heard that this time you were more or less dragged into it. But I also heard that you provoked them.”
“Yes…”
“Next time, you might not get off with just burns. So if anything happens, I want you to rely on the Ehlertt family—on me. Even in this matter, I wish you had called me the moment you were suspected of recipe theft.”
“For something this trivial—”
As Karen began to show a wry smile, Julius brought his face closer to hers. Karen swallowed her words, and her cheeks flushed.
“I’m worried about you, Karen. Please don’t be so reckless and make me worry.”
Karen was about to give an affirmative response, but managed to swallow her words and put on a smile.
“I’m honored to have you worry about me so much, Mr. Julius.”
“It’s natural to think of one’s lover, isn’t it? Karen. You worry about me, too, don’t you?”
But Karen had never once thought she wanted Julius to stop conquering dungeons.
To Karen, who swallowed the words that had risen to her throat, Julius said:
“Actually, an investigation team is being formed to survey the dungeon, so I cut short my conquest and returned to join it.”
“A dungeon investigation team?”
“Yes. His Majesty the King will lead it, gathering elite specialists from every field to investigate the dungeon. Lately, the situation in the capital’s dungeon has been increasingly strange. Some say it might be a precursor to a great stampede. However, contrary to previous signs of great stampedes, the magical power in the dungeon’s atmosphere has apparently been decreasing.”
Karen steeled herself.
This was no time to be discussing whether her brain was melting or not.
“Under what conditions does a dungeon’s magical power decrease?”
“This came up during a noble council meeting that Brother Helfried attended, and it’s strictly confidential outside of family. So could you keep this between us?”
“Understood. Harald and Tim, please go weed the garden.”
“As you wish.”
“Okaaay!”
Once they were dismissed, Julius said:
“When the inside of a dungeon goes deeper and new floors are born, or when a powerful monster is about to be newly born, magical power sometimes decreases in other parts as if all the dungeon’s magical power is being concentrated. The Ehlertt dungeon also entered such a state temporarily when I conquered it.”
“So that’s why monster appearances decreased and adventurers were saying business was ruined… By any chance, do magical plants like medicinal herbs also become scarce?”
“That might be so. Not just monster materials, but everything seemed to be in short supply overall.”
“…Unlike the Ehlertt dungeon, the capital’s dungeon hasn’t been conquered, so there shouldn’t be any new floors. That would mean a powerful monster is about to be born?”
“We’re going to investigate with that high possibility in mind.”
“It’s definitely a dangerous mission, isn’t it?”
“Which is exactly why only the elite have been gathered.”
Julius said this and lowered the corners of his eyebrows.
“So, I’m sorry that after telling you to call me when you’re in danger, it will be difficult for me to break away even if called during the investigation.”
“That makes sense. It’s a national project, after all.”
“That’s exactly why I want you to stay in a safe place and live safely. For that purpose, I want you to be even more careful than usual. And if necessary for that, please seek help from the Ehlertt family as much as you need.”
Julius’s hand gently reached out and softly caressed Karen’s cheek.
“You’re someone precious to me.”
A beautiful, flower-like countenance. His sparkling, golden eyes gazed at Karen, swaying with longing that was so dazzlingly beautiful. Karen’s heartbeat naturally quickened, and her face grew hot as if fevered.
Someone so beautiful, understanding even toward Harald, and so kindhearted—was thinking of Karen and worrying for her.
That made her happy, and her heart pounded in her chest.
Yet, in a corner of her heart, Karen also thought:
What a one-sided conversation this is.
Julius smiled and stepped away without waiting for Karen’s response.
“I have a meeting I must attend as part of the investigation team after this, so I’ll be going, Karen. I’m glad I could see your face.”
Julius said this and hurriedly left her alchemy workshop.
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