Chapter 38: Move Towards the Future│Read translated stories and daily updates at: Awebstories.com

The dungeon is not only visited by criminals.

People flock to dangerous dungeons and venture into the depths of the unknown.

Unknown treasures, fame, miracles, secrets. In other words, dreams.

People are drawn to dreams.

Leonhardt is looking for Lysette’s hope in something at the bottom. Something that deviates from the norm.

“It’s probably the same as the first goal. It strikes me as reckless.”

“You can’t be certain.”

Leonhardt says firmly, gripping his sword’s hilt. The Adamant Sword.

“I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been. Perhaps it’s due to Lysette’s cooking.”

“My monster cuisine?”

“Yes. I’m sure it has a strong energizing effect. Now I can protect everyone while also healing.”

Lysette was aware of the energizing effect as well.

She suspected it was due to the monster cuisine that she never ran out of magic, no matter how much she used.

The Dungeon’s blessings were truly a blessing, which touched her heart.

The splendor of the monster cuisine moved her.

Lysette’s strength is derived from the monsters she encountered, fought, cooked, and ate.

“…You know, even if you could conquer the dungeon and pay Lysette’s fine, I wouldn’t live in this country with a Saint for a sister.”

Dee is cool as a cucumber. The point is most likely correct.

“I guess so.”

“Is that your guess?”

For a brief moment, Lysette stammers.

—There is nothing like that.

“If I had the freedom…”

“You have the ability to cross the sea.”

She looks up at the sound of Leonhardt’s voice.

The moment their eyes met, she saw a sea that she knew only in pictures. Sparkling and golden.

“I’m familiar with sea routes. Let me handle it.”

“Leon…”

Beyond the sea, the unknown.

A place where no one knows Lysette. She saw the future there. Lysette’s heart bursts open, and she leaps to her feet.

“Thank you very much. I want to go!”

“Oh…”

“…Well, I promised to accompany you once. Dragon huh. But! Even if I can’t help in the battle, I still get my fair share of rewards. Understand?!”

“Both of you—thanks a lot!”

Her eyes became warm, so she wiped them with her fingers.

“I’m glad I met both of you. Right. Please hold this.”

She hands over the item [Heart-Substitution] to Dee and Leonhardt, allowing them to escape the dungeon and revive themselves in the event of death.

“Kanatoko-san gave it to me. We should all have it on hand just in case.”

Kanatoko gave one to her.

And one from the elven alchemist.

Lysette has two in total, but she no longer has one for herself. She’s acting as if she had.

—I don’t want you two to perish.

“Thanks, I suppose that’s how you stay connected after death.”

Dee slips a heart-shaped amulet into his pocket.

She’s relieved that Leonhardt accepts it, too.

If they are all killed, it will save them both.

It was the bare minimum that Lysette could do.

“However, I don’t want to fight with the bounty hunters. They’re used to dealing with both monsters and humans. They’ll almost certainly have guards at the resurrection site, so they won’t hesitate to kill us.”

“Even if we run to the next layer, they’ll probably chase us, so we have to make them leave voluntarily.”

“Maybe they will run out of food?”

A large number of people will consume a large amount of food. They will most likely retreat if they hide for a while to buy time. Fortunately, they have plenty of food on their side.

But…

“They might be able to cook monsters…”

“Believe me, we don’t get freaks like that every day.”

“Eh? What’s the problem with that?! It’s simple to obtain, tastes good, and has a strengthening effect!”

“I’m not sure—humans dislike it for whatever reason.”

“For whatever reason…”

—Do you mean you dislike it physiologically? It’s true that you might feel rejected at first. But if you have the courage to take the first step, you may discover a whole new world!

—Maybe… It is my responsibility to enlighten them!

“I’ll spread the monster cuisine all over the world someday!”

“Y-Yeah. Goodluck… Leon, do you have any suggestions for how we can get out of this?”

Leonhardt has been deliberating for some time. Dee speaks to him, and he nods slightly.

“I’m wondering if they’re actually friends…”

He says this solemnly.

Lysette tilted her head.

They collaborate in a group to achieve a common goal. What are they if they aren’t friends?

“There are almost 20 of them—divide the prize money by ten million and you get 500,000 for each person—your share will be reduced even further if you have friends on the ground.”

“That sounds like a bad deal to me. Not worth the trouble.”

“That’s for sure…”

“I’m not sure what sort of distribution system they have… Some of them, I’m sure, want to make as much money as possible in order to outbid each other. It’s better to incite a fight within their ranks before annihilating them all…”

He stops speaking when he notices Lysette and Dee’s eyes on him.

“…Did I say something odd?”

“No, I just thought Leon was seeing things from a higher perspective.”

“As one would expect from a royalty. He has a black belly!”

“Uh…”

Leonhardt slowly walks over and takes a seat in the far corner of the room, facing the wall.

“…Was I the same kind as them?”

He was completely stunned. He mumbled something.

“Hey, hey, don’t be so annoyingly depressed. Aren’t you going to be king one day?”

“No. I’m not going home, and my brother will be king.”

“You’re going to defeat the dragon, aren’t you? Then there’s a chance.”

“I don’t believe it is anyone else’s concern…”

Leonhardt suffered from severe depression.

It is very serious.

“I-I think Leon’s thoughtfulness is admirable!”

Lysette follows frantically.

Dee approaches her from behind and says,

“Please tell him more. He’s trustworthy and nice…!”

“….”

Dee incites her from behind the scenes. This is the best Lysette can do for the time being.

Her heart is pounding, her breath comes in short bursts, and her chest is so full she can’t seem to say anything else.

Leonhardt then takes a deep breath and stands tall.

“The big monsters are on their way—and plenty of them!”

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