LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 88
In the silence, vacant gazes meet.
Roseha stared blankly at me, as if she had lost her very soul.
She astonishingly didn’t blink even once for what felt like an eternity. In contrast, her lips moved restlessly.
“Umm…?”
That was all that managed to spill from my mouth.
I couldn’t help but let out a hollow chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
Despite the pitiful atmosphere just a moment ago, Roseha was perfectly alive.
Her once distant gaze was now filled with a myriad of emotions.
Distrust, doubt, shock. Every look mirrored her confusion about the current situation.
“I saved you.”
I opened my mouth first, out of my frustrated heart.
Yet, Roseha continued to gaze silently at me.
Slowly, a beaming smile spread across her face, and she enveloped me in a gentle embrace.
The thudding of her heart echoed loudly in the stillness.
The trembling sobs faded away, leaving only the rhythm of her heartbeat.
“Barugore. Barugore. Barugore…”
She kept calling my name, squeezing me tighter.
In that position, she began rubbing her face against my cheek.
Her rough bone structure must have hurt my skin, yet there was no sign of pain from her.
Was this her way of showing affection? She continued doing it for quite some time.
Eventually, she looked me in the eye and planted kisses all over my face.
Honestly, I could feel her heart without these gestures.
Roseha had crossed the Seven Lairs, risking everything to help me.
She even put her life on the line for my sake; how could I not understand?
I caressed her back and ran my fingers through her hair.
Suddenly, Roseha flinched and pushed me away.
For some reason, her eyes trembled as if she had sensed an earthquake.
Even her pink lips fluttered with life.
“Do you remember what I just said?”
“What are you talking about?”
“That, you know, the thing I said thinking I was going to die…”
I nodded nonchalantly.
At that, Roseha’s eyes widened beyond normal limits.
“…I can’t remember it all either?”
But I knew why.
I had said all sorts of embarrassing things, yet here she was, alive and well.
The sound of my heartbeat resonated unusually loud. My reddened ears felt particularly noticeable.
The humor vanished, revealing only the raw emotions on my face.
Though I couldn’t recall everything in detail, I understood the embarrassment.
“Now that I saved you, you look like you’re going to die from embarrassment.”
“….”
The once wholly locked gazes began to avert subtly.
After a while of just muttering to herself, Roseha finally looked straight at me.
“Yeah, well, it worked out, right? Good. It’s all good.”
“Is it really good?”
“Yeah. It’s good. You now know how precious I think you are. Yep, it’s all good….”
Roseha grinned, though the awkwardness deviated from her usual charm.
She tried to act nonchalant, but her clumsiness laid her true feelings bare.
“I’m not embarrassed at all. I’ve always said I liked you; what’s there to be embarrassed about now?”
What a show-off, calling herself the Succubus Queen.
I silently stared at Roseha.
Both of us were locked in a gaze contest, and eventually, she was the first to avert her gaze shyly.
“…Don’t look at me like that.”
Roseha covered her face with her hands.
Argh! Those groans felt pitifully light.
Honestly, this was a bit unexpected. Roseha, who had continuously exuded confidence and charm.
Thinking back on all those mischievous things she had done to me, it felt like she was a completely different person.
“It’s embarrassing, after all.”
If I were in her place, I would have probably already jumped into a coffin by now.
Suddenly, memories of the humiliation she had caused me resurfaced.
So rather than looking away, I kept staring at her.
Glancing, Roseha opened her fingers just enough to reveal her eyes.
As soon as our gazes locked, she jumped, quickly closing her fingers again.
“Don’t look! Don’t look, I said!”
Roseha pressed her arms tightly over her eyes, while the other hand waved frantically.
“Go away. Just go.”
Now she had tucked her wings in, covering her entire body.
It seemed she wanted to be alone in her embarrassment, so I decided to give her some space.
After all, I had to heal Charlotte and Isabella too.
As I turned my head once halfway, I caught Roseha’s gaze again.
“I told you not to look!”
Roseha waved her hands in the air.
An unseen magical force brushed past me.
Boom─!
An explosive sound erupted, enough to call for attention.
…I felt I might die if I continued to tease her.
Thereafter, I kept my head straight, walking only forward.
Charlotte and Isabella were seriously injured, but their lives weren’t in jeopardy.
I headed first towards Isabella, who was closer in distance.
As I approached, Isabella glanced up at me, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
“Oopsie daisy.”
“….”
Looks like she saw everything.
I figured it was better to ignore her and walked past.
“Ahh! Boss! My side hurts! It’s bleeding!”
“You’re the last one.”
Not even deep enough to be a concern.
Out of the three, Isabella seemed to be the least injured.
Even I, a novice in medicine, could tell she didn’t need healing urgently.
“What kind of employee benefits are these! No blood, no tears, boss!”
“What kind of language is that towards my beloved?”
“…ah, I’m sorry…….”
Just hearing her voice made me understand the situation.
Worried about what else she might say if I turned back, I continued walking towards Charlotte.
Cough cough!
Charlotte coughed dryly.
She gazed at me with dim eyes before slowly closing them.
“Lord, I’m sorry.”
That was her immediate response upon seeing me.
Unlike some vampires, she was a loyal subject to the bone.
“I meant to help, but… I guess I’m still lacking.”
Little did she know, just being alive was a blessing.
Logically speaking, how could you withstand Briyagon?
The Bond Dragon Briyagon was like a boss level in the Undead Lair, something indescribable.
DLC Ancient Dungeon was no different from the Undead Lair, and Briyagon was the final boss of the Ancient Dragon’s tomb.
It was as if I faced not merely a boss, but the very essence of a boss, level and all.
“That Bond Dragon is a pretty strong guy. Even the Lair Lords struggle against him.”
“And the Lord, who silently made such a formidable foe submit…”
“…”
That was how it went.
If I spoke any more, I might get as embarrassed as Roseha.
I transformed the Holy Sword into a healing white flame and touched it to Charlotte’s wounds.
As expected, the injury absorbed quickly and healed completely.
Throughout, Charlotte merely muttered to herself.
Her expression conveyed the embarrassment she felt.
“Rest now.”
After healing Isabella next, I sheathed the sword.
Briyagon was still staring at me from his crouched position, his level still a deep green.
I couldn’t help but wonder what made him submit to me.
When I approached closer to pat Briyagon’s face, he purred softly, as if pleased.
“What did I do to make him act like this?”
Roseha’s voice suddenly chimed in.
She wasn’t alone; Charlotte and Isabella had also joined beside her.
The three exchanged glances between me and Briyagon, as if still questioning the reason.
Truthfully, I found it puzzling myself.
Did this guy genuinely submit to me, or was it temporary?
Given that deep shade of green, it felt akin to the loyalty of Balutak.
What could possibly explain this… Ah well, who knows?
Overthinking wouldn’t yield answers anyway. I decided to accept it as a good thing.
“Briyagon.”
At my call, Briyagon’s pupils widened, and his tail began to wag happily.
He seemed to realize I called his name.
“Should we call you Briyagon?”
Not that it was up for debate; his name was Briyagon all along.
Against my deeper thoughts, I nodded at Roseha.
Immediately, Briyagon lowered himself before Roseha.
She turned her gaze towards me, questioning with her eyes why he was acting this way.
“He’s apologizing.”
“…Really?”
I wasn’t sure. Just figured it seemed that way.
Roseha reached out to gently stroke Briyagon’s snout.
“It’s okay now. I’m fine.” Her soothing tone made Briyagon let out a relaxed sigh.
Next, Briyagon lowered his head towards Charlotte.
Charlotte, cautious, stroked his chin while observing him intently.
“You’re quite clever. Not only do you obey your master, but you’re quick-witted too.”
She spoke as if I had already become the master.
Honestly, I wanted to train Briyagon if possible.
But I was more worried. If he suddenly turned aggressive, it would be chaotic.
“Yet I can’t just ignore him.”
Should I ignore him, he’d follow me nonetheless.
Given that deep green, there was no doubt he would follow until the ends of hell.
In any case, I found myself in a position where I had to take Briyagon along with me.
Lastly, Briyagon lowered his head to Isabella.
Isabella grinned and clenched her fist.
“I’m not okay with this. Can I hit you just once?”
Whether he understood, Briyagon offered up his chin.
Isabella jumped back in fright.
“I’m not doing it! I’m not doing it! Sorry!”
He might be the Eighth Lord, but ultimately he was no different from Balutak.
Rumble!
It was then a portal opened on my right.
“The hero has arrived too.”
Like Roseha said, Cecilia emerged from the portal.
She was covered head to toe in blood, all of it undead’s, yet she was perfectly unharmed.
In her right hand, she held the head of some undead.
“I’m the last to arrive.”
Charlotte snapped at her, and Cecilia scratched the back of her neck sheepishly.
Then she waved the severed head around.
“I was busy killing this one.”
Now that I looked, it was the neck of the Reaper, the second in command of the Corruption Cave.
No wonder she was late; it had taken her time to catch the Reaper.
The Reaper had a second phase, where he levels up to 92.
Even so, he appeared to be no match for Cecilia. It took time, but still.
That aside, where’s Balutak?
“Where did Balutak go?”
No sooner had I finished my sentence than something crawled out of the portal.
As I lowered my gaze, there was Balutak.
With his four legs amputated, he was dragging himself along on just his arms—
What the heck? Why is he like this?