Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty-Seven: Fastest Rescue 3
“When people who became confused here become greedy, trying to take at least the adamantite back, they fall into the ice crevasse on the fifth floor and become food for the monsters below—it feels designed that way.”
“Why do you think that?”
“There was a person who panicked, clutched adamantite, ran back to the fifth floor, and fell into the dungeon’s trap.”
“Ah, that guy.”
Licht glanced at the knight, who was shrinking uncomfortably. Now that he was calm, he could probably reflect on what he’d done, and when he noticed Karen’s gaze, he awkwardly lowered his eyes.
“When we used a calming potion on him, he calmed down.”
“You realized monsters were involved from just that? Just by looking at us?”
“I didn’t realize there were monsters involved. I only considered it a possibility; I also thought everyone might just be upset about Mr. Julius not returning.”
“Then why did you make a panacea and make me eat it?”
For some reason, Licht’s gaze grew increasingly sharp.
However, Karen answered his’s questions without hesitation:
“Regardless, I believed the fastest way to rescue Mr. Julius was to help everyone calm down first. I planned to restore your composure with a panacea that cures all status abnormalities while also letting you eat at the same time.”
“…You’re calm. A hair’s breadth from cold-blooded, but extremely reliable. That’s a compliment, you know?”
Even as he said this, perhaps displeased with Karen’s calmness, his words had an ironic ring to them.
When Karen inadvertently glared at such a Licht, he glared back.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. In other words, if this is a trap built into the design, there’s a high possibility that monsters aren’t overflowing.”
“…I see.”
Licht said this, then took a deep breath and continued.
“I’ll trust your words, Karen. I have no choice but to trust them. There’s no time to waste thinking ‘what if.’ If it’s mental interference without a visible form, is it a ghost type?”
“I’m not knowledgeable about dungeon monsters, so please consult with our adventurers who are staying silent in front of the irritated nobles. The others don’t seem to be in a state where they can talk right now.”
“Ah—hey!”
After appraising the finished curry with her appraisal mirror, Karen walked away from Licht.
“Everyone! The potion is complete. —It’s a potion to reach Mr. Julius at the fastest speed. A potion for walking at maximum speed to prevent this dungeon’s collapse!”
Karen announced the potion’s completion to the knights with murky eyes, then served a portion of curry into a bowl.
She took it to Gottfried, whose face looked terrifyingly irritated.
“Sir Gottfried, please eat.”
“—So I’m in a state where I need a panacea right now?”
Karen nodded, her eyes widening slightly at Gottfried, who could realize this on his own.
“Yes, Sir Gottfried.”
“You have my thanks.”
Gottfried said with an expression like he was suppressing anger in a vise and a low voice, then received the bowl from Karen and drank the curry almost all at once.
“Curry is a drink…”
Karen muttered quietly.
Immediately after downing the curry in one go, Gottfried visibly regained a calm expression.
“…Phew. I’m in your debt, Miss Karen. I’ve finally regained my composure.”
“You just said ‘in your debt,’ didn’t you?”
“Mm?”
Before Gottfried could retract his previous statement, Karen demanded repayment of that debt.
“Could you please lend me the riding dragon that pulls the wagon? Sir Gottfried.”
“…Mm? Do you have something you want it to pull?”
“Master Licht and I will ride it and go ahead.”
Riding dragons were originally meant to pull wagons, but one could also ride on their backs. Their speed easily surpassed horses. As domesticated monsters, their rank was designated as F, but their speed was said to be at the level of D-rank monsters.
However, because their bodies weren’t shaped for people to easily ride on their backs, it apparently made for the worst riding experience.
But of course, for someone as strong as a B-rank adventurer, it was no great issue.
Karen probably couldn’t ride it alone. So she needed Licht’s help.
“I see. However, you’ll have to abandon most of the luggage, you know? Information on unexplored dungeons is scarce. There may come a situation where the supplies here are needed.”
Naturally, the wagon carried far more than just Karen and wine. Food, magic potions, and magical tools, supplies needed for dungeon conquering, were piled high.
“If we need any supplies, I’ll alchemize everything on the spot.”
“…I see. If you can do that, then indeed, that would be fastest.”
At Karen’s words, Gottfried nodded as if overwhelmed.
“I don’t mind, but it will be life-threatening.”
“Thank you, Sir Gottfried.”
“Hey, I get informed after the fact?”
Getting caught up as a matter of course, Licht interjected, and Karen smiled faintly.
“If you dislike it, Master Licht, I’ll go alone.”
“There’s no way I could let you go alone. Obviously, I’m going.”
“I won’t say ‘please.’ This is a golden opportunity for you too, isn’t it, Master Licht?”
At Karen’s provocative words, Licht’s eyes widened.
“…Hey, Karen. Could it be you’re actually not calm? Pretty angry?”
“If getting irritated or upset would let us dive into the dungeon faster, I’d do that too, but that’s not the case, is it? If being cold-blooded lets me reach Mr. Julius at the fastest speed, I’ll be as cold-blooded as needed.”
“Ah, sorry, what I said earlier—”
“The woman trying to become Mr. Julius’s partner, being calm when Mr. Julius might be in danger, felt unpleasant to you as his friend, didn’t it? I understand your feelings, Master Licht.”
Smirking coldly, Karen transferred the finished curry into another pot and quickly wiped down the alchemy cauldron. She tied the now-empty alchemy cauldron to her body with rope under her fluffy cloak.
She also strapped the ladle to herself like a splint for a broken arm. She put on the light blue gloves she’d received from Sieg.
At the sight of Karen steadily making preparations, Licht surrendered.
“…Ah, damn it, I was wrong! You’re a hundred times better than a woman who cries and screams hysterically!”
“Please prepare yourself too, Master Licht. We’re leaving now.”
Karen casually ignored Licht’s surrender as she spoke.
Looking slightly irritated, Licht teased Karen back:
“I can move anytime, though? Do you have experience riding a riding dragon yourself, Karen?”
“Forget riding dragons, I don’t even have horseback riding experience. So please don’t worry about me and run the riding dragon even if I vomit or scream.”
At Karen, who spoke spiritedly despite her pale face, Licht smiled brightly.
“If you end up in too pitiful a state, I’ll knock you unconscious. You’ll cry tears of gratitude, right?”
“…Such reassuring words, I’m deeply grateful.”
When Karen answered with an expression as if she’d bitten into a bitter insect, Licht chuckled deep in his throat.
After preparing, Karen and Licht clung to the gentle slope-like back of the riding dragon that had been unhitched from the wagon.
She keenly felt it wasn’t a creature shaped for people to ride.
If Licht wasn’t riding behind her, even if it was just walking at a regular pace, Karen would eventually slide off.
“We’ll catch up.”
After Karen nodded at Gottfried’s words, Licht signaled the riding dragon.
In that instant, the riding dragon carrying Karen and Licht, which had been on all fours until just before, almost shifted into a bipedal sprint and launched forward like a rocket.
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