Sweet honey flowed between the petals.
It seemed so natural now, I could control its flow effortlessly.
“Verlez, gather here!”
Perhaps they were too far away, but it seemed the Verlez couldn’t detect the honey’s scent.
“How far have they gone…”
At that moment, an Icefly approached with a flutter of its wings.
That red-faced butterfly, it’s been watching me!
Hehe, you have some incredible news to deliver.
“I’m the Dungeon Manager now! And I’m on such familiar terms with the Master!”
The butterfly’s eyes widened dramatically.
Ah, they’re round to begin with, but now they’re enormous.
It subtly glanced toward the Master.
He seemed deep in thought, his eyes closed in concentration.
Hehe! I can continue bragging to the butterfly!
“How’s that? Care to share some dating tips?”
Nod nod nod!
The butterfly’s entire red face shook violently as it nodded fiercely.
Hehe, such a cute thing.
“First…”
…
While I was teaching the butterfly my techniques, a few Verlez started gathering.
“That’ll be it for now… Remember, this is our secret.”
Nod nod!
Good.
It seems satisfying.
This red-faced butterfly, dreaming of love…I shall call her Lady Butterfly from now on.
Now, as for the original message…
“Tell the Verlez that I’m the Dungeon Manager, and they are under my command.”
My will spread to hundreds of the Verlez.
The Verlez nodded in agreement as if they had been waiting for this, swaying their antennae. It was as if, having tasted my honey, there was no way they could refuse – not that they had any intention of refusing.
The Master was already looking at me and the Verlez with a pleased expression.
But…
《Master, is it alright for the manager to be out here?》
“Hmm? Don’t you need to perform photosynthesis?”
《I’ve been surviving well without it though…》
“But since I planted you here, you’ve become so much more vibrant.”
“Huh?”
It was as if it were the most natural thing to see the Master speak this way, and my curiosity grew.
《Shall we try it again?》
The Master softly enveloped my stem with silvery fingertips.
Just as he was about to pull me up –
“Ah! No!”
My roots started moving as if they had a mind of their own, gripping the earth tightly.
As if throwing a tantrum – ‘No! I won’t go!’
“Hoho… You’re still like this.”
With the Master’s gentle laughter, a flash of blue light appeared.
Of course, there was no way to struggle against the Master’s power.
However, perhaps because I had grown stronger, it didn’t hurt as much this time.
But…
“Ugh… This is strange…”
What a feeling it is to float in the air like this!
Especially my roots!
Being exposed to the air after always being buried feels almost like walking around naked.
When only the root tips poked out, I never experienced this!
The chill of the snowy mountains breezed through my roots, tickling them.
“Ugh… This is a completely embarrassing play…”
I could feel the wide-eyed stares of the Verlez.
Aaah! Don’t look at my roots!
Unbeknownst to my distress, the Master gracefully walked toward the dungeon entrance.
Enduring this immense disgrace, as we approached the dungeon, the massive entrance welcomed us.
The ceiling was much higher than expected, with sharp icicles hanging everywhere.
The width of the corridor seemed several times what I had imagined.
“This is… the real dungeon.”
The upper layers were brighter and cozier than imagined.
Light streamed through the ice structures in the ceiling, and frost patterns bloomed on the walls.
Occasionally, there were only level 20 weak monsters, nothing more.
“Um… This is the extent of the upper layer.”
As we moved to the middle layer, the atmosphere changed.
Narrow, labyrinth-like pathways had less light, with sharp icicles everywhere.
Monsters of levels 30 to 40 lived here, but to me, this was just a familiar scene.
The lower layers grew even deeper.
The pathways widened and the ceiling became so high it seemed endless.
In the ice walls, patterns resembling artistic carvings could be seen, but on closer inspection, painful faces seemed hidden within.
Monsters dominating this place exceeded level 80.
“The Arthur Party might be alright, but if the Brian Party came here, they wouldn’t last a few minutes.”
The deep layer was an entirely different world.
The deep indigo ice was like a deep sea, with a faint blue glow barely pushing back the darkness.
It was as if something stirred within the darkness, and monsters moving through the space had levels over 130.
Even these disappeared upon sensing the Master’s presence.
“The number of monsters has increased since we last came here two weeks ago.”
“Huh? Is this considered many…?”
I could barely see 10 monsters per floor.
How many used to be here?
Ah, could it be that the Master killed them all because he planned to feed me?
“The love of a boss for his secretary…!”
A fiery flame ignites in my chest!
And finally, the deepest layer where the Master’s lair revealed itself.
“Wow…”
The sight was so overwhelming it made me forget the cold.
The dungeon was entirely made of ice, but this place was different.
Columns like clear crystal held up the sky, and the ceiling shimmered with aurora-like ice crystals casting a soft glow.
The floor was perfectly smooth, reflecting like a mirror, and intricate ice patterns adorned the walls.
In the corner, piles of gleaming gold and clearly highly valuable armors filled the space.
This wasn’t just a cave, it was an ice dragon’s palace.
“So this is… Master’s home…”
The amazement was short-lived as a biting cold enveloped me.
The Master’s lair was beautiful but equally cold.
“Ugh… It’s so cold… Too cold!”
The freezing chill enveloped my entire body.
Even tightly hugging Cecilia with my petals didn’t help.
Oddly, Cecilia, still in her cocoon, was also shivering.
It’s a cold that makes even hot packs freeze!
The Master planted me in a beautiful corner filled with delicate ice decorations.
“This is where you spent the last three years.”
“Ugh… Too cold!”
I painfully carved words with my trembling roots.
“Hmm… Three years?”
Suddenly, everything began to make sense.
Like solving a puzzle.
This extreme cold.
The three years I couldn’t wake up.
The monster blood the Master always brought me.
“Ahhh… So it was this!”
Like a human in cryostasis, or rather like a frozen plant.
No matter how much strong monster blood I consumed, I couldn’t perform proper biological activity due to this extreme cold.
That’s why the Master moved me to a place with sunlight, and that’s why I’ve suddenly regained vitality…
“Umm… Sorry, Blueberry from the previous life…”
“I can’t stay here… It’s really too cold!”
“Hmm…”
The Master nodded and moved me to the end of the middle layer, right in front of the tunnel heading to the deepest layer.
“Is this area alright?”
“Oh… This feels fine!”
I could feel the cold, but it was bearable.
It felt like a mild breeze from an air conditioner.
Completely fine with a heat pack.
Soon, Verlez started following and settled there.
“Now, in your role as manager…”
“Yes! I’ll diligently perform my managerial duties!”
I straightened my roots with determination.
But when I actually asked, there was nothing to do.
It was said that I merely needed to guard this place and serve the Master.
‘This is truly a honey job! Is it only sweet romance waiting for me?’
…
Three weeks passed.
Every day, the Master visited me, her silver dress fluttering in the air.
Every day, she caressed my petals and fondled me under the pretense of eating my honey.
Whenever she did this, Verlez tactfully left the space.
Especially Lady Butterfly seemed to wink, thinking, ‘Have a good time!’
On some days, the Master brought near-death monsters.
Verlez would deal the finishing blow to level up, and I’d also consume their blood for experience.
The blood of high-level monsters brought from the lower layers was especially delicious due to the synergy of Blood Feast.
We’re subordinates, yet we keep receiving!Is this appropriate?Evil employees and a hardworking boss?
“Master… It feels like only you are overworking…”
“Our Riko is the reason. What could we not give her?”
The Master chuckled softly.
Tears welled up in my eyes.I am truly incredibly lucky.
“But I still want to help the Master!”
“Hoho… Aren’t you already giving me such delicious honey?”
Rub rub
“Ah… So good…”
This fondling has become so familiar now.
…
Then, one day.
“Oh, that’s right.” The Master suddenly remembered something.“I need to catch a monster that knows polymorph. Maybe we could learn the polymorph technique from them.”
“YES!!!”
Polymorph!Human transformation!No need to wait for a thousand years anymore!?Even though it feels I could survive either way, I still want it fast!
“Hahaha…”
“You’ll be fine here, right? Even if high-level monsters from the lower layers gather, they won’t be a threat to you.”
“Don’t worry!”
I said goodbye with an excited heart.Now this place is my territory.I’ll perform my duties as the manager until the Master returns!Even though there’s nothing to do!
*
As our month-long journey through the dreaded Snowstorm Ridge came to an end, a small village at the foot of the Shia Kalt Mountain Range came into view.
“Excuse me…” Chloe’s white ears twitched slightly.“There’s something off about the atmosphere.”
“Do you sense it too?” Rouncour said with an unusually solemn tone.“In my 200 years of existence, this kind of atmosphere is something new. It’s like a huge shadow of fear…”
Beneath the seemingly peaceful village scenery, an odd tension lingered.Blacksmiths could be heard hammering, but their movements were cautious. Shopkeepers from the market were attentively watching their surroundings.
“There’s fear in the residents’ eyes.” Gaignun said.“But they seem unable to escape.”
Beatrice nodded in agreement.
“Blocked by Snowstorm Ridge…”
Just then, a C-class adventurer party patrolling the area encountered them. Marianne, who had been walking at the front, spotted the holy maiden and quickly clutched her amulet tightly.
“Wh-Who are you… Holy Maiden-sama!?”
Bryan and Kevin, startled too, bowed deeply.Passersby gradually came to a halt, starting to watch them.
“And… The Silver Knight as well…”
Marianne’s voice trembled.The street buzzed with commotion.
“It’s the Holy Maiden-sama!”
“The Silver Knight-sama is here too!”
“We’re saved!”
“Blessing of Miikel-sama…”
Hope blossomed on the faces of the villagers.A young mother holding a child wiped her tears and clasped her hands in prayer towards the holy maiden. Elders mumbled their prayers with trembling voices.
“I’ll guide you to the Guild.”
Bryan stepped forward, relief evident in his voice.
Upon their arrival at the Guild hall, Arthur was startled upon seeing them.He lacked his usual dignity, his expression marked by deep fatigue and tension.
“Holy Maiden-sama…” Arthur bowed his head.“You’ve traveled all the way to this border region.”
“Are you faring well, Arthur?”
Serafina’s voice was calm.
The Guildmaster, spotting them from the window, hurriedly descended the stairs.His weathered face was etched with deep concern.He immediately shouted to his staff.
“Quickly! Prepare the best guest room! Call the head chef for a special feast!”
“No need, Guildmaster.” Serafina declined gently.“We’re only…”
“Not acceptable!” The Guildmaster firmly insisted.“It’s unacceptable to be inconsiderate to guests of such caliber. Especially now…”
A shadow fell over his face, as if he already knew everything.
“Please, come in.” The Guildmaster widened the door and said.“We have much to discuss…”
Serafina’s pink hair gently swayed in the cold breeze.She momentarily gazed at the distant mountains.There, surely, was the flower she saw every night in her dreams, the existence who prayed in Miikel’s name.
“Yes,” Serafina nodded.“I’ve come to hear that story as well.”
