If I became associated with her, others might find out that I’m an ability user. Even worse, my identity as a dungeon explorer might also be revealed. Mm, I still couldn’t believe that I told Su Ye-Eun that I was a dungeon explorer. What was I thinking? I could only hope that she wouldn’t betray the person who saved her life.

“Kang Shin. Kang Shin,” I said stiltedly.

“Yeah, hi.”

I tried to turn away again, but this time, she held onto my arm.

“Hey, stop!”

“Why are you avoiding me?” she asked indignantly.

“Put your hand on your chest and ask yourself.”

“…Pervert.”

“Can I hit you just once?”

Su Ye-Eun let go of my arm then asked in an even quieter voice.

“I want to know what your ability is.”

I grumbled, “I don’t want to know yours.”

“…Do you hate me?”

“Now you know?”

“Why?”

“You’re a bother.”

This time, she didn’t grab onto my arm. I wondered if I was being too harsh, but soon after I knew I wasn’t. Su Ye-Eun was still following me.

I asked out of exasperation, “Are you picking a fight?”

“I couldn’t go to the opening party because of you.”

“So?”

“I don’t have any friends to talk to,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“…”

Was I wrong to sympathize with her? No, I wasn’t! We were both innocent! I suddenly felt my hostility dwindling and I let her sit in an open seat next to me. I could tell that my unexpected action surprised her. Her eyes were wide under her hoodie and a shy smile had appeared on her face.

“Thanks.”

I grunted, “…Hmph, it’s not like I did it for you. I just didn’t want to talk anymore.”

Ah, maybe that wasn’t the right response. I instantly regretted my grumpy response. From that day on, I knew for sure that I couldn’t fully shake myself loose from her, and so she became my first friend at college. Sigh, life really didn’t turn out as one expected.

*

I had a dream. I was shouting, but I couldn’t hear myself in the noisy background.

The sky was dark and full of storm clouds. Crimson devils filled the earth and the sky, and only she was by my side. There were comrades nearby that weren’t human, but she was the only human.

[If I told you that I love you, what would you say?]

I stopped my shouting and looked at her unbelievably beautiful face.

[I’d say that I hate you. Because I do.]

[…Nothing ever goes my way with you, huh?]

I looked lovingly at her blazing eyes. Before she had obtained her ability, she had set herself ablaze. After she obtained her ability, she set everything apart from her ablaze.

I held in my desire to embrace her and said,

[This isn’t the end. The end won’t come. Ever.]

[I’m surprised you can say that in this situation.]

[We’re going to survive, XX…until the end, together.]

[And if we do?]

[Then I’ll tell you I love you.]

[…Stupid Orc, acting superior.]

[XX said that! XX said that! Grr!]

I opened my eyes, feeling disoriented. I couldn’t recall another morning where I had felt this bad and out of sorts.

“H… Huh?”

My head hurt and so did my eyes. My throat was parched. Did I have a dream? No, I can’t  remember anything. I felt like I could vaguely recall seeing a dark sky but my head hurt when I tried to force it. I gave up and opened the windows, letting the autumn wind tickle my hair.

[Good morning~]

[I came all the way from West Sea~]

[Ah, the smell of the sea!]

I shook my head to shake the sleepiness off. Apparently, I had been spending too much time in the dungeon and didn’t get enough rest recently. Plus, I had to go to school now too. Two weeks had passed since school started, which was enough to take its toll on me.

“Let’s not overdo it,” I murmured to myself. However, immediately after, I was preparing to fight the Dark Ratman three times that morning as that was the time I had. My classes were in the afternoon.

*

[Palludia contacted me recently.] Ellos messaged me.

“To meet on the 25th floor?”

[Yup. As I thought, it’s because of you.]

I felt confused. “What do you mean it’s because of me?”

[Haha, Shin, you aren’t good with women, are you?]

“Oh, and you are?” 

[At least more than you, friend. I have a fiancée after all.]

“Fiancée!?”

It surprised me. Ellos sounded content as he chuckled.

[Mm, yes. Well, you better hurry, friend. There’s only a month left until the promised day.]

“Alright, I’ll try. What floor are you on now?”

[I’m on the 24th floor. Since I’m near the end, I should be able to reach the 25th floor in time.]

“Alright, then see you on the 25th floor.”

[Yes, see you there.]

I finished my conversation with Ellos and thought back to the boss fight I just had. Overall, I had to judge it as a success. There were three people including me in the party and we all survived without a hitch.

However, I could not see the path ahead. I did not have the confidence to take on so many ratmen along with the Dark Ratman. I had the key to the solution, but using it would decrease my attack and defense significantly…

Suddenly, I noticed someone staring at me so hard that I felt tingles up my back. I turned and found Loretta staring at me intently.

“Wah!” I let out an involuntary shriek.

Loretta asked in miffed tone, “Customer, why do you always leave me standing here like a fool while you exchange messages with others? Are you mistaking the Floor Shops as rest stops?”

“It isn’t? There are lots of foods to eat and a beautiful server as well.”

“Sweet talk isn’t going to cut it. Not to mention, I’m not fazed by such an obvious truth.”

“Then give me one of those fruit juices that cost 5 gold each.”

“Thank you, customer!”

Loretta really was simple-minded. I took the fruit juice from Loretta (it had an effect of quickly relieving fatigue), and asked her a question that suddenly popped up in my head.

“Loretta, you’re always at the Floor Shop whenever I come.”

“Of course. Isn’t it the duty of a shopkeeper to meet her customer?”

“Then what do you do when I’m not here?”

I’ve been meaning to ask that question for a while. She was there on every Floor Shop I went to. I wanted to know what she did when I wasn’t there. Loretta answered with a chortle.

“My, customer, are you hitting on me? Not yet, it’s too early for that.”

“No, not at all.”

“…”

“Ow ow ow.”

Loretta approached me without any change in her expression and pinched my cheeks mercilessly. How was it possible that she could pinch this hard?

She rebuked me, “You shouldn’t tease girls like that, customer.”

“Eh? When did I…Sorry, spare me.”

When I saw Loretta bring out a double-sided ax from the back of the shop, I quickly acquiesced and admitted to my faults. Loretta returned the ax with a humph.

“What was the question? What do I usually do? That will be 500 gold, customer.”

I exclaimed, “You cheapskate! I won’t ask!”

“Tee hee, girls have many secrets, customer.”

“A secret worth as little as 500 gold?”

“You’re no fun. How will you get along with your girlfriend like that?”

I retorted, “Like I said, she’s not my girlfriend.”

Loretta had nothing to say to my usual response. When I was almost done with drinking my juice, she suddenly interjected,“You know I’m not a human, right?”

“I expected as much.”

“I am a member of a race well known for our aptitude for magic. I won’t tell you what race it is until later, though.”

“Magic?”

“Yes. Did you think you were my only customer in this dungeon?”

I was flummoxed by this. “…Eh? You mean you trade with other dungeon explorers as well?”

Loretta lightly nodded.

“It’s the power of magic and also the power of the dungeon. I can take pieces of my consciousness and put them in puppets. Basically, I can be in countless places at the same time and interact with multiple people.. Although I don’t trade with all dungeon explorers, I do trade with about 10 percent of the First Dungeon explorers.”

“Ugh, that sounds exhausting.”

“Hee hee, are you worrying about me? Don’t worry, I’m also resting in my house located somewhere in the dungeon.”

“That’s good then.”

In other words, the Loretta I was talking with was a puppet. This information truly astounded me. It was something I had never considered. After all, her skin was just like a real person’s, her eyes were also…

“Do you want to try touching me?”

I refused, “No, it’s fine.”

“As I thought, I’m scary, right?”

“Scary? What is?”

When I asked with a look of confusion, Loretta naturally answered.

“It’s not normal. Being able to split one’s consciousness and control puppets. Even dungeon explorers can’t help but be shocked when they hear it.”

“Well, it’s certainly shocking, but I don’t see why it would be scary?”

“…Are you not scared of me, customer? I hate to be the one to say it, but I’m an amazing magician, you know?”

I replied honestly, “The moment I saw you sitting in the Floor Shop of this mysterious dungeon, I knew you were someone amazing.”

“The person in front of you is nothing but a puppet controlled by a piece of consciousness. Doesn’t it disgust you?” Loretta persisted in her line of questioning. 

Disgust? I had to really think about it as something like this had never occurred before. A puppet with Loretta’s consciousness was in front of me. From what I could tell, the puppet was like a real living being. Through this puppet, Loretta cried, laughed, and got angry.

…Why was this supposed to be disgusting?

“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be disgusted by…Loretta is Loretta. Just because you are in a different form, that doesn’t change the fact that you are Loretta. Isn’t that right?”

“Ah, um…mm.”

Loretta suddenly stuttered. Her cheeks had turned slightly red.

“Ohhhh. Certainly, this is how I hoped you would react, but…”

“Yes? What did you say?”

“Nothing! You can go now!” she abruptly snapped.

“Mm? No, why the sudden change in attitude? Okay, I’ll leave, stop pushing!”

“Hurry up and leave!”

Loretta screamed and tried to chase me out. She was now as red as a tomato.

Hm. Did I just make Loretta mad? What did I do wrong? I wasn’t sure exactly what I did wrong, but I told myself to apologize to her the next time I saw her. After making that decision, I exited the dungeon as it was time for school.