The scene ended with a kiss at the wedding.
No matter how sweet the love story, the dungeon raid must go on.
However, the romantic atmosphere didn’t disappear instantly, so while I was disabling traps, the party members chatted among themselves.
“Did Oppa Dolgyul get married? How did you propose?”
“Ah… I booked a restaurant for my wife’s birthday.”
“Tell us more!”
It seemed Elderlyn quite liked Nianbach’s proposal story.
She was thrilled by married man Dolgyul’s story.
To me, it felt like the story of popular kids from another world, leaving no room for me to interject.
Still, listening to other people’s love stories was always interesting—until it was my turn to be dragged into it.
“Speaking of which, how much dating experience do you have, Da-eun?”
“Eeek?”
An unexpected question came flying in.
Though I thought it unlikely, it still became reality.
Moreover, specifically about boyfriends.
Even though society has become more open these days, I am undoubtedly heterosexual.
At least with me being born as a man, I would never date another man… wait?
Then which side am I supposed to date?
If I date a woman now, would that make me homosexual? Or heterosexual?
Then, if I date a man? Huh?
Suddenly, my head started spinning.
It was a topic I hadn’t seriously thought about before.
But once it came to mind, my thoughts were endlessly drawn in.
No. I’ve delayed answering for too long.
At this point, it might look like I’m just trying to evade.
When I hastily opened my mouth, my words stumbled.
“I, uh… never had that kind of experience.”
“Hah, liar. There’s no way guys would leave you alone.”
“I’m serious. Never happened.”
“Did you go to an all-girls school?”
“Um, yeah, something like that.”
That should be fine, right? It’s not entirely a lie.
Since I followed the boys’ middle school, boys’ high school, sports college route, I had almost no contact with the opposite sex.
So, in context, what I said wasn’t a lie. I had no significant other, which is the truth.
Back then, I was preoccupied solely with kendo and had no time to think about girls.
Isn’t it common to hear stories about athletes whose skills decline once they start dating?
Some might call it an excuse, arguing that others manage dating and sports just fine, but…
At least, I’m not that type.
Once I start something, I throw myself into it entirely.
If I’d started dating during my competitive days, I wouldn’t have been able to focus on kendo.
That’s why I didn’t do it.
It’s not that I couldn’t.
…Truly.
“Did none of the guys around you have eyes?”
“Maybe you just missed it? You’ve never had someone confess to you?”
“I told you, that never happened! Anyway, let’s keep going.”
“That’s strange. I feel like someone would’ve confessed to you.”
I clenched my teeth and ignored the barrage of questions.
When it came to love, I had briefly given it some thought but couldn’t quite make up my mind.
It all felt too vague to me.
Can I even experience love?
It felt like I’d get swept away too easily, or perhaps I’ll never experience it at all.
To give as much as you receive…
Right now, my soul only seeks others but is nowhere near ready to give anything of itself.
I don’t want to show anyone the ugliness inside me.
I have to be careful, over and over, to prevent any filthy, rotting liquid from leaking out.
Fortunately, an opportunity to interrupt my thoughts presented itself.
“Ahead. Two axes, two spears. Four in total. Shall I take out two of them?”
“Will you be alright?”
“Yeah. I’m confident I won’t die.”
“Then, we’ll leave it to you.”
Anyway, I wonder if this dungeon’s boss will be some kind of living creature.
That would be truly annoying. They say large monsters bleed quite a lot.
After defeating a few Minotaurs, we faced the dungeon’s mid-boss—a bizarre chimera.
[Defeated Epic Monster ‘Chimera A-327’.]
[Check your rewards.]
It was an old enemy.
Its overwhelming hardness came at the cost of its odd patterns and instability.
The monster was almost impenetrable by blades except at its weak points, making the raid difficult.
Though, none of my party members fell.
Thankfully, we managed to defeat the boss without any casualties.
Since the mid-boss is this tough, it’s a foregone conclusion that we’ll struggle more with the final boss.
That’s worrying, but we can surely celebrate now.
There’s always one thing we have to do when we defeat a boss.
“Rewards! Let’s check them out!”
Elderlyn exclaimed enthusiastically.
Excitement even made her voice nasal.
I admit, I was looking forward to it too, so I cautiously approached the boss’s remains.
This is why gamers form parties and challenge high-difficulty dungeons.
Especially, this is New Continent’s story dungeon!
Even as a mid-boss, we can expect good items to drop.
Once the entire party gathered, Soobin checked the rewards.
[Symbol of the Ancient Kingdom]
[Nianbach’s Curse: Greaves]
[Chimera Skin Gloves]
[Rabbit Ears]
[Core of Chimera A-327]
…
A brilliant pillar of light rose along with the dropped items.
We’d sort out the random materials and gold coins later. For now, the five most valuable items were chosen as possible candidates.
The owner of two items was clear.
Only Sansa could use the Symbol of the Ancient Kingdom, and the greaves went to Dolgyul despite its penalties.
I aimed for the gloves, but they were too heavy for my strength when I tried them on.
They felt stiff when I tried to make a fist. Although I lusted after its high defense, it would be useless if I couldn’t wield my weapon.
Thus, I gave the gloves to Soobin, leaving two remaining.
This core’s use isn’t immediately clear, but it’s surely a rare material.
Its market price will surely form as time goes by.
It wouldn’t be bad to secure some gold this time.
Actually, I never claimed ownership of the rabbit ears.
Before reading its item description, I didn’t feel a shred of desire for it.
“Then, I’ll take the core.”
“Of course, the rabbit ears were obviously going to Gawol, right?”
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
[Rabbit Ears]
[Category: Hair Accessory (Unique)]
Fluffy magic rabbit ears.
Equipping them makes you feel like a cute rabbit.
[Item Effect: Increases hearing by 12% upon equip.]
[This accessory item can be worn simultaneously with other equipment.]
…
What is this?
Why does it have the ‘unique’ rarity grade when it’s just a cosmetic accessory?
Normally, such items have at most ‘high-quality’ rarity.
Didn’t they only come with useless options like ‘Increases movement speed by 0.5%’ in towns?
I’ve never seen anything like this.
Listing it on the community forum would surely garner significant attention.
In RPG games, ‘rare cosmetic items’ usually hold immense value.
Yes. Selling it outright would definitely bring some decent cash.
But for now, it’s just an eyesore on my head.
“Adorable! Truly adorable!”
“Gawol, look here and smile.”
“Urgh…”
I’m the scout in our party.
But assassin classes are not designed to replace rogues.
This means my original abilities have certain limitations.
So rejecting this request to wear it…
That wasn’t really it.
I just couldn’t ruin the gleeful expressions of the two older sisters.
“V-sign~ Come on. V-sign~”
“V, v-sign.”
Ah, I want to go home.
Already home but…
[Defeating the mid-boss grants the option to exit the dungeon.]
[Would you like to proceed? Y/N]
…
[The party has voted to continue the dungeon.]
[A story cutscene is available.]
…
A lavish banquet room lay in disarray.
Delectable meats had cooled on the floor, and broken plates scattered across the ground, rolling aimlessly.
Steady footsteps echoed softly.
Nianbach struggled to extend a trembling hand.
A boot stepped on his hand. Shards scattered around cut into it, making blood drip.
But the reddest substance present wasn’t blood—it was fury.
A growling sound, like that of a caged beast, filled the air.
Nianbach asked.
“Lord Dalnerion, why… why have you done this?”
“I thought you were smarter, but it seems you have your dull moments. Isn’t it obvious? A mongrel is about to take over the kingdom, so the chosen lineage must save the nation.”
“But I had no interest in the throne… gurk!”
“Alas. People raised in the palace prefer the certainty of a certain path. This will be a one-way trip, but your wife and children will follow shortly. You won’t be lonely.”
The poison in the wine was devouring the wizard’s body.
A potion that turned blood into poison. A concoction that altered mana and killed wizards.
It was created specifically to end his life.
A glimmer of red appeared at the corner of his eye.
Nianbach couldn’t tell if the liquid streaming down his cheeks was blood or tears.
But deep within, the sobbing was honest.
“Uuuuuuughh-!”
“Stop this nonsense. If you’d just lie down and…”
The wizard’s rage shook the palace.
