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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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“…Hero?”
She asked, bewildered, the word unfamiliar and jarring. ‘She’ frowned, ‘her’ lips twisting slightly, as if surprised by her reaction.
“Hmm? You didn’t know?”
‘Her’ voice held a hint of mockery, a dangerous undercurrent she couldn’t ignore. ‘She’ clicked ‘her’ tongue and sighed softly, as if realizing a grave mistake.
“Oh dear… Did I say too much?”
‘Her’ demeanor was like that of a general who had inadvertently revealed crucial information to the enemy. A chill ran down her spine. She instinctively knew she had stumbled upon an important secret.
“What do you mean, ‘hero’?”
The air grew heavy as she spoke, the world seeming to freeze around her.
‘She’ continued to stare at her, but this time in silence, ‘her’ stillness creating an unnerving pressure.
“…….”
Her mind reeled. Had she heard correctly? A hero…? She repeated the word, as if trying to grasp its meaning, but it made no sense.
If there was such a thing as a hero, only one person came to mind, the one who had saved her.
“Arnold…”
She muttered the name unconsciously, and the atmosphere shifted, a sense of foreboding filling the air.
‘She’ sighed deeply, ‘her’ expression as if she was trying to suppress ‘her’ emotions, but the underlying feeling was clear.
Fear.
No, it was more like wariness, as if ‘she’ didn’t want to discuss this topic, this word, not even for a moment.
“Tsk.”
‘She’ clicked ‘her’ tongue, ‘her’ expression hardening, the previous amusement vanishing, replaced by pure hatred, a cold, deep darkness swirling in ‘her’ eyes.
“Well, it doesn’t change anything.”
‘Her’ voice was cold and resolute, like a divine decree.
She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.
“No! This time, I will destroy you and fulfill my mission!”
‘Her’ eyes flickered at her outburst, and then ‘she’ chuckled, looking at her with a strange mix of pity and amusement.
“Mission…?”
She raised an eyebrow mockingly and slowly approached her, ‘her’ gaze unsettling, as if ‘she’ was looking at something pathetic.
“Have you forgotten… the mission I gave you?”
Her heart pounded. Her purpose, the meaning of her existence… But she gritted her teeth and shook her head.
“Shut up! I’m not the same person I was before! I won’t be your pawn anymore!”
‘She’ waved ‘her’ hand dismissively, a flicker of annoyance in ‘her’ eyes.
“Yes, that’s what you always say.”
‘Her’ gaze was cold as ‘she’ looked down at her.
“Well, try if you can.”
And then, ‘she’ added nonchalantly,
“But if you fail this time… something… special will happen.”
‘She’ smiled, a sinister, knowing smile, as if ‘she’ had already decided her fate, sending a shiver down her spine.
That chilling smile, that predatory glint in ‘her’ eyes… And then, with a snap of ‘her’ fingers, everything vanished, the world dissolving around her, her vision fading to black as she fell into an endless abyss.
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The room was dark, lit only by the faint sunlight filtering through the gaps in the curtains. He stepped inside cautiously, the air cold and still.
He saw Lucy lying on the floor, her face pale, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, as if she was dreaming, her breathing shallow but steady. There were no visible injuries, so it was unlikely that she had simply fainted.
‘It’s started.’
He knelt beside her and checked her pulse. It was strangely regular, as if she were simply asleep.
“Upperclassman, are you alright?”
He gently shook her shoulder, expecting her to remain unconscious, like last time. But this time was different. Her eyelids fluttered, and she let out a long sigh, her eyes slowly opening.
“Ugh… Arnold?”
Her gaze was unfocused, as if she had just woken from a deep sleep. Seeing the spark of life return to her eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief and helped her up.
“I heard a thud and came to check on you.”
“Ah… I see.”
Her voice was faint, as if she hadn’t fully returned to reality. She swayed slightly as she tried to sit up, and he instinctively reached out to steady her.
She took his hand without hesitation, her fingers cold to the touch.
She looked at him, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions, a far cry from the vacant stare of moments before. There was a deep sense of worry and hesitation in her gaze.
“What’s wrong?”
He asked, concerned by her reaction. She seemed about to say something, then shook her head lightly.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
Her demeanor was similar to the one in the game. But something bothered him. What had she been talking about in that otherworldly space?
Normally, she would have been having a conversation with her creator, hinting at Varis’s heroic potential. But since he, who had no such qualities, had interrupted the event, how had her memories changed?
“…….”
He decided to put aside his curiosity for now. There were more pressing matters to attend to, now that Lucy’s story arc had begun.
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After the second event, he told the others he was going out to buy some necessities.
Eilly and the others, of course, offered to accompany him, but he managed to convince them to let him go alone. It was difficult to avoid their interference otherwise.
“Hmm…”
He walked down the bustling street, looking at the various shops lining the road.
Belgarde, being a city centered around dungeon exploration, had a wide variety of goods available at reasonable prices. He had already prepared some supplies in the royal capital, but certain items were much cheaper and easier to acquire here.
Carrying too much would be a burden, so it was best to pack light, only bringing what they absolutely needed.
“Five of these potions, please.”
He entered an alchemist’s shop and purchased five Night Vision Potions. The inside of the dungeon was usually dark and visibility was limited, so these potions would be invaluable.
“Certainly.”
The alchemist nodded and carefully packaged the potions. The small glass vials glowed with a faint blue light, a single drop enough to enhance one’s vision in the dark.
“Do you have any Enchant Scrolls left?”
His next stop was a magic item shop.
“What element are you looking for?”
“Holy element, please.”
The Shrine of the Depths was infested with evil spirits and undead. Enchant Scrolls imbued with holy magic were essential for dealing with such creatures.
The shopkeeper handed him a scroll, a pure white paper imbued with holy magic, emitting a soft glow as it unfurled.
“Excellent choice. Five silver coins each.”
They were a bit expensive, but well worth the investment. He paid without hesitation.
“Welcome. Are you looking for anything in particular?”
His last stop was a small, dusty antique shop tucked away in a quiet alley.
The item he was looking for here was different, seemingly unrelated to dungeon exploration, but its true value was far greater.
He scanned the shelves and picked up an item.
“…Would you be willing to sell me this key?”
It was an old, worn key, its once intricate carvings faded with age, their shapes barely discernible.
“Sure… If you want it… I’m happy to sell it……”
The shopkeeper replied, a puzzled look on his face.
“Do you know what this key is for, sir?”
“No, I’m just a collector. I have a soft spot for unique pieces.”
He smiled faintly. He knew its true purpose, but there was no need to reveal it.
This key was an item that appeared in the game without any explanation, tucked away in a corner of an obscure antique shop, sold for a ridiculously low price.
No one paid attention to it during the first playthrough, but later in the game, this key would play a crucial role in Lucy’s fate.
He picked up the key, a sense of anticipation building.
He pocketed the key and muttered to himself,
“Good, I have everything I need.”
“…Shall we go?”
He had acquired everything, including the most crucial item.
This seemingly ordinary key… its true value would soon be revealed.
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Hi Lord Fourth here!
What a “She” and “Her” soup. Thank god I decided to start putting quotations for ‘She’ and ‘Her’ otherwise it would be unreadable.
