~Chapter 13~
I tilted my head in confusion, and Haid, who had been whispering with Cheryl, came over.
He spoke calmly, as if to reassure Linus and me.
“You must be surprised to suddenly end up in such a place, but don’t worry too much. You’ll be able to return soon.”
Why is he so calm?
Shouldn’t you guys be panicking, not me—the ex-dungeon slave?
I blinked, not knowing what to say, when Larienne started explaining gently.
“We’ve been caught in a black hole like this before. This place is different, but the way back is probably the same.”
“You’ve experienced this before? You mean that black hole that appeared last week?”
“So you saw it too, my lady. Yes, back then it was like a maze garden.”
Wait… what?
If it was like a maze garden, it must have been ‘Lanéaer’s Garden.’
But… Do they know how to get back?
“You know how to get back?” I asked.
“I’m not entirely sure, but if we defeat a monster somewhere in this place, a black hole should appear. We can return to the Butterfly Garden through it. That’s how it worked last time.”
“Defeat… a monster?”
“It may be hard to believe, Lady Titanoa, but it’s true. So don’t worry too much.”
Larienne even smiled a little to reassure me.
What… is going on?
The last time I entered Lanéaer’s Garden, the dungeon completion was at 99%, then soon reached 100%.
I figured someone who had entered the dungeon while Linus and I were wandering must have defeated it.
So… it was them? They defeated Lanéaer?
No way.
The main characters of a romance fantasy can’t be awakened beings… How could they kill a monster?
It shouldn’t make sense—but Larienne had no reason to lie.
Judging by Haid and Cheryl’s reactions, they believed her too.
So… they really killed Lanéaer? I had no idea what was going on.
While I flailed in confusion, Linus suddenly looked deeper into the cave.
He peered into the darkness and warned,
“Something’s coming.”
Haid glanced the same way and clicked his tongue.
“This time, there’s more than one.”
They spoke calmly, and I was utterly baffled.
A faint flow of energy could be felt deeper in the cave.
Even with my skill, [Physical Enhancement], which gives superhuman abilities, I wouldn’t notice it without focusing.
Yet they detected it first.
Is that even humanly possible?
I looked at Linus, shocked, and he gave me a small, confident smile.
Then his expression shifted.
Like a general preparing for battle, he said seriously,
“Don’t worry, Airevet. I’ll protect you.”
Wait… what? My position is very awkward right now.
Should non-awakened people stay out of the way? Or should I just watch? I had no idea.
Meanwhile, Linus and Haid stood side by side, blocking the advancing monsters.
Behind them, Cheryl snapped her fingers.
Flames ignited all around, suddenly illuminating the dim cave.
The soldier ants appeared in full force.
“Ugh, bugs… I hate bugs,” Cheryl muttered, like she just spotted a red bean in white rice.
These ants were as tall as a grown man, wielding swords and shields, yet her reaction was just that?
Then a shrill scream echoed through the cave.
“Kieeek!!”
The lead soldier ant screamed, and the rest charged in formation.
At the same time, Linus and Haid lunged at the ants barehanded.
No time to stop them.
No. Linus is fine, but Haid can’t do this.
One of the main characters could be eaten by a monster.
I had no time to think. I grabbed my skirt, ready to run, when—
“Kwaeak!”
Huh? What? Why is that flying?
One ant got kicked into the cave ceiling by Haid’s knee and crashed to the floor.
Haid quickly picked up the dropped sword, which glowed with a golden aura.
The power of the Veseris royal family of Diorneta—the Sword of Light.
“Kwaeak!”
The charging monster split in half from Haid’s sword.
Watching that, I decided I could just relax.
I wiped the drool from my mouth, sat down, and watched Linus tearing through the ant soldiers.
He threw the lead ant, ripped off its forelegs, and grabbed its sword.
His red eyes shone, black energy swirling from his sword.
“Kwaek!”
“Kwaeak!”
The monsters started falling left and right.
Haid’s fine—he’s the male lead and wielder of the Sword of Light, the world’s strongest swordsman.
But what the heck is Linus doing?
He seemed even stronger than Haid.
Even with my enhanced vision from [Physical Enhancement], I could barely follow his movements.
Cheryl was gleeful, too, like she was roasting ants.
Seeing magic like this from someone described as a legendary mage in the novel… I was speechless.
Not even in a world full of awakened beings was anyone this strong.
S-class awakened? Easily.
If this is true… then Larienne’s claim that they defeated Lanéaer must be real.
The only conclusion that explains this absurdity: for some reason, Haid, Larienne, and Cheryl were all awakened.
A gate opened, five people got caught, and all of them were S-class awakened.
I laughed at the ridiculous coincidence.
What a random setup.
Absolute nonsense—but here it was, happening right in front of me.
Watching the main characters and side characters fight so brilliantly, the battle ended surprisingly quickly.
***
Immortal Queen C 98%
□□■■□■□ ■□
The dungeon completion bar steadily rose.
After the last ant fell, Linus ran to me with a soft, puppy-like expression, holding out his hand.
“Airebet, are you okay?”
I smiled and took his hand to stand.
“I think I should be the one asking that.”
“If you’re okay, I’m okay too.”
I leaned close to Linus and whispered just for him.
“Can you see the status window too?”
“What’s that?”
“You don’t see a blue, square window in front of you? Try saying ‘status window.’”
He tilted his head and muttered, “status window,” then shook his head—he saw nothing.
Wait… he’s not awakened?
If Linus isn’t awakened, chances are the three over there (Haid, Larienne,Cheryl) aren’t either.
Still… the idea that main characters in Butterfly Garden’s Secret Romance are awakened is just absurd.
So what is this world?
Can people here use powers even in dungeons?
No… that’s weird too.
I thought I was in a typical body-swap romance fantasy… but what kind of world did I actually end up in?
