~Chapter 15~
When it comes to dungeon grades, the gap between C-rank and A-rank is like the difference between getting a scholarship and having to retake a whole class.
The difficulty of clearing a C-rank dungeon compared to an A-rank dungeon? Completely different level.
Even if you form a raid team of five S-rankers, there’s no guarantee you’ll succeed. That’s how nasty A-rank dungeons are.
And to make things worse, one of those five S-rankers (me) absolutely cannot let their real identity be exposed.
Damn it, Himong.
You never said there’d be trick questions on the exam.
“Duke Pictian, incoming!”
Already in battle stance, Haid shouted to Linus at the front.
Linus, who had been happily licking honey off my hand at the crown prince’s request, gave me a bright smile before turning.
Even before the swarm of ants rushed in, his sword was already blackened with power.
Haid’s blade gleamed with golden energy, and soon the soldier ants appeared.
Even back when they were just C-rank monsters, those things looked nasty. Now, upgraded with the dungeon rank, their faces looked even more vicious.
“SCREEEEEECH!!!”
And their voices too.
God, so noisy.
The fight with the ants started. To my relief, the three of them held their ground without being pushed back.
I had been ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble, but instead of joining the fight, I focused on the echoes around us.
Inside an ant nest, every tunnel looks the same. It’s hard to know where you are.
But the fact that soldier ants showed up right after the dungeon grade rose meant the queen’s chamber had to be nearby.
If the ants were coming from that direction, then somewhere over there would be the nursery for sure.
Concentrating, I noticed the heat from Sheryl’s flames flowing toward somewhere in the back.
When I tried to quietly move that way, Larienne quickly grabbed my arm.
“Lady Titanoa, don’t. Stay with me, even if you’re scared.”
“Lady Tonede, that’s not it. I think there’s something over there.”
“That’s even worse! What if it’s a monster?”
Well, if it’s a monster, I’m planning to kill it.
But in her eyes, I must’ve looked like a sickly girl trying to run away in fear.
I couldn’t exactly tell her I used to be the leader of an S-rank raid team, so instead I just smiled to reassure her.
“If it were a monster, it would’ve attacked us already. It feels more like there’s another passage over there. I’ll just check quickly.”
“But…”
“If things get bad, we’ll need an escape route, right? I’ll just see where it leads.”
If I were still a raid leader, I’d smack any teammate trying to wander off alone. But kind-hearted Larienne only looked worried and finally nodded.
“Then let me come with you.”
So we slipped away from the battlefield in the opposite direction.
After a turn, we found a three-way split.
I grinned.
I knew this place.
Left led to the queen’s chamber.
Right led to the nursery.
Middle went somewhere random.
“We could get lost in here,” Larienne whispered, holding my arm tighter.
Taking her along any further was dangerous. I’d already found what I needed, so I turned back—when suddenly something dark came charging at us.
“Eira Bet!”
Holy crap, I thought it was a monster from the killing intent.
But it was just Linus, sword swollen with black energy.
“Are you alright? You vanished so suddenly, I got worried.”
“Why did you come here? What about the soldier ants?”
“They’re mostly finished.”
Mostly? Then not finished.
But instead of worrying about that, he checked me over, sighed with relief, and smiled brightly.
Excuse me, Duke Piction, shouldn’t you be protecting the crown prince while he’s fighting monsters?
Dragging Linus back, we found Haid and Sheryl just catching their breath, battle over.
Dungeon Progress: Immortal Queen A – 96%
□□■■□■□ ■□
Checking the status window, our clear rate had jumped up a lot.
They’d killed a ton in such a short time. Sure, the tunnels made it easier to funnel enemies, but still—their skills were insane.
Guess even in a romance-fantasy story, the protagonists are still the protagonists.
That said, it hadn’t been easy—Haid’s clothes were ripped and hanging in tatters.
He gave Linus a look of disbelief, so I quickly cut in:
“Your Highness, I think there’s a way out over there.”
Truth was, that tunnel led deeper into the nest, not out. But they wouldn’t know, so I might as well bluff.
Haid glanced at Larienne for confirmation, but of course she didn’t know either.
Before they could hesitate more, I tugged Linus forward. He followed like an excited puppy, leaving the others no choice but to come too.
At the fork, Haid frowned deeply.
“A crossroads. If we take the wrong path, we could get lost.”
“This way, Your Highness.”
I pointed to the left.
Haid looked skeptical—how could I possibly know that?
Well, I couldn’t exactly explain. And I wasn’t about to spend another three nights wandering around like I had the first time I raided this place.
So instead, I just bluffed shamelessly.
“This way.”
My confident face was enough. Linus followed immediately, and after another sigh, Haid trailed along too.
After walking through the dark tunnel for a while, a faint light appeared.
Following it, we stepped into the nursery—a vast cavern filled with ant eggs.
Eggs crammed floor to ceiling.
“…Wait, are all of those eggs?”
Sheryl muttered, staring at the ceiling.
Yup. All eggs.
This was the queen’s hatchery. Once the right time came, they’d all hatch.
And with the nest under attack, every single one would be born as soldier ants.
The first time I saw this, staring at what must’ve been hundreds of thousands—no, millions—of eggs, I’d been completely overwhelmed.
Back then, we didn’t have anyone with large-scale area magic, so it had been a nightmare.
But now, things were different.
I sidled up to Sheryl.
“Countess She—donia. Burn them all.”
She turned her dark eyes on me, searching. The look made me flinch.
Was she offended that it sounded like I was ordering her around?
She was way harder to deal with than Haid or Larienne.
“…It’s Sidonia. Not ‘Shedonia.’”
I know. I just almost called you by your name, that’s all.
“Yes, Countess Sidonia.”
I forced an awkward smile, and she turned away, flames blooming in her hand.
The fire grew into a massive blaze, latching onto the eggs.
Burning everything without mercy—that was her specialty. The reason she was called The Witch of Fire.
The cavern roared with flames. From one tunnel, soldier ants came pouring in.
“Lady Eira Bet, stand back.”
Before I could answer, Larienne grabbed my wrist and pulled me to safety in a corner, shielding me from both fire and ants.
…What the heck?
I might be acting like a sickly noble daughter, but I don’t need you protecting me like some helpless heroine.
“Lady Tonede?”
I tapped her shoulder. She looked back at me seriously, hesitated, then finally spoke.
“Lady Titanoa, may I… see you after we leave this place?”
“See me?”
“Yes. There’s something I want to talk about.”
“What is it?”
“…Later. When that time comes, I’d like you to call me Larienne.”
She smiled warmly, as if telling me not to refuse.
Why does everyone in this world have to look so dazzling when they smile?
Dazed by that radiant smile, I nodded before I even thought about it.
“Thank you,” she said brightly.
It was only after that I remembered my old resolve—not to get tangled up with the main characters.
But it was too late. I realized I was smiling back like an idiot.
