Chapter 51: Deep-sea Dungeon Raid Part 1

I didn't expect to run into him there. How awkward.

I washed off the blood splatters with hot water and cleaned my soiled clothes. Ah, sh*t… I definitely need a drink. Instead of going to bed, I headed downstairs. In the dining room where the fire was still burning I ordered some cheese and the most expensive bottle of wine, just as I had originally planned.

I filled a round wine glass with the red wine and was about to take a sip when…

– Thud, thud.

Heavy footsteps announced Lloyd's arrival from the direction of the stairs.

"...."

"...."

For a moment, we just looked at each other in silence. I was the one to break it.

"…. Did you come down for a drink too?"

"Yes."

"Take a seat."

"...."

Lloyd glanced around before taking a seat opposite me. Just as I was about to pour another glass of wine, he raised his hand to stop me and instead, pulled out a flask from his coat.

It's silver.

Though it was covered with leather that had faded over time, it was unmistakably made of silver.

Could he be a noble?

Most mercenaries used flasks made of pewter. A silver flask was truly a luxury item. The leather covering was probably to conceal any elaborate engravings or gold decorations on its surface.

He seems keen on hiding his identity…

…No need to pry right now.

With the important task of conquering the deep-sea dungeon ahead, there was no good in provoking him. If he were to get upset and decide to leave, it would be my loss.

"Is it wheat?"

"Bourbon."

Not the expensive kind made from wheat, but whiskey made from the cheaper corn. That's unexpected. High-ranking individuals usually have very particular tastes.

While I was lost in my thoughts and speculation, my throat suddenly felt dry, so I took a sip of my wine.

"Why not teach yourself?"

"…huh?"

His question came out of nowhere. Teach what?

"Your skills are good."

"Ah…."

Must be about El.

"That kid is a warrior. It's time he learned how to properly wield a sword. All I have are grappling techniques."

"You seemed quite decisive for someone who just had that."

"I've spent a considerable time as a mercenary myself. I've been through a lot."

"..."

"Taking a life to survive is nothing new to me."

"Is that so?"

Lloyd took another sip of his whiskey.

"What do you think of El?"

"..."

"I know he's my disciple, but the child definitely has talent."

"..."

Lloyd continued to sip his whiskey in silence.

Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke.

"Do you know who that child really is?"

"..."

His unexpected words left me at a loss for words.

Identity?

Could he know about El… about Elizabeth Reinhardt?

I maintained my composure and looked at Lloyd with a calm face.

"I'm not sure what you mean by 'identity'…"

"I know the child well."

"..."

He knows El well?

"Of course, she might not recognize me, but…"

"....."

"…Elizabeth Reinhardt."

He whispered the name in a low, secretive tone.

"....."

"....."

We looked at each other without saying a word.

"Will you still pretend not to know?"

"How much are you aware of?"

"It is a well-known fact that the Reinhardt Duke's family was exiled to the cursed lands."

"....."

"By the time I arrived in the cursed lands, it was already too late. I had to personally put an end to what was once the wife of Grand Duke Reinhardt, no, an undead…"

"....."

"I thought the Grand Duke's daughter must have met a tragic fate too. I wanted to at least recover her body properly, but I couldn't find any trace of it."

It was rare for a knight to visit such a remote borderland like Gallopik. That seemed strange to me…

Did he enter the cursed lands to save the Reinhardt Duke's family?

"…What exactly is your identity?"

"I should be the one asking."

"....."

"What is your identity that you took in the Grand Duke's daughter…"

Lloyd's gaze pierced through me with one of his eyes.

Don't panic. If he tried to save the Grand Duke's family, he wouldn't harm El.

I cleared my throat and responded calmly.

"Very well. I'll be honest with you."

"....."

"When I found El in the cursed lands and learned that she was Grand Duke Reinhardt's daughter… To be honest, I was surprised too."

"....."

"I didn't save her out of mere pity. I happened to need a servant, and El needed a guardian. That's all there was to it."

I didn't mention the future where El becomes the <Silver Lion Reinhardt>. There was no way he would understand what I was talking about in the first place.

"Being caught with a Reinhardt bloodline could mean death at any moment. And yet you say 'that's all'?"

"....."

"You were clever. Cutting her hair, dressing her like a boy, and even changing her name. Even I was unable to recognize her at first glance."

"....."

"Until I found the sword of Grand Duke Reinhardt she possessed…"

So, it was the sword that gave it away.

"You've realized it then."

"Ignoring such a famous sword is difficult."

Lloyd stroked his beard and took another sip of his whiskey.

"So… what do you plan to do? Take El away?"

From the very beginning, he had ventured into the cursed lands in search of a member of the Reinhardt family. It wasn't hard to guess what he wanted.

Could it be that he's plotting a rebellion…

As if reading my thoughts, Lloyd set down his flask and let out a deep sigh.

"…It's already too late."

Too late? I looked at him with questioning eyes, but he got up without saying another word.

"Lloyd."

"The thing you're worried about won't happen."

With those words, he went upstairs.

***

True to his word, what I was worried about never came to pass.

It seemed Lloyd hadn't said a word to El. Nor did he leave us. He simply devoted himself to teaching El diligently. Though El was initially afraid of Lloyd, her skills improved rapidly as she learned the sword from him. With the agility and wit she had acquired from Jamil, combined with the precision Lloyd taught her, El's swordsmanship reached a level that could surpass even that of a skilled mercenary.

As a person with mermaid blood, Roshanak also learned faster day by day. Mermaids were mystical beings, always in tune with the magic of the sea, so it wasn't surprising that Roshanak could grasp magic several times faster than humans. Iris was astounded by how Roshanak absorbed knowledge of magic like a sponge One could never ignore lineage power after all.

And then there was me…

Currently at level 38, I was on the brink of advancing to the "skilled druid" rank.

Venturing into the deep-sea dungeon was bound to grant me at least a two-level increase. Reaching level 40 and becoming a skilled druid would unlock the ability to use [Sunlight].

[Sunlight] was far more potent than [Moonlight] and was a direct bane to the undead. It could even nullify dark magics like [Dark Veil].

Mastering [Sunlight] would grant me near invincibility in areas plagued by the undead…

…Well, that's a story for after I acquire it.

But right now, there's something else of importance.

The [Subjugation] skill I'd gain at level 38.

This skill was different from [Beast Summoning]. While [Beast Summoning] merely called forth a beast and allowed for simple commands, [Subjugation] took it a step further.

With the [Subjugation] skill, I could form a mental link with the target and start issuing direct commands and exercising detailed control.

Our powerful ally, shadow wolf Ayla, couldn't accompany us to the deep-sea dungeon. Ayla boasted unmatched strength in the forests and fields, but the story changed under the sea.

Since I couldn't take Ayla with me, I needed a new beast companion. One that I could take to the deep-sea dungeon.

I rented a small boat from the Katharina merchant guild and set out to sea.

It was also an opportunity to test the gill pills and the giant water lily seeds I planned to use in the deep-sea dungeon.

-Whoosh.

-Splash.

After reaching the midst of the sea, I consumed the potion made from dried angelfish gills mixed with tadpole mucus.

"Ugh."

The taste was revolting, but I had to endure.

After about ten minutes, gills formed between my neck and collarbone, and thin membranes like a frog's webbing appeared between my fingers.

Interesting.

With several seeds of the giant water lily in tow, I plunged into the depths of the water.

-Splash!

Although it took some time to get used to it, breathing became effortless thanks to the new gills.

Roshanak should be fine, but I'll need to have El and Lloyd try it in advance and practice breathing underwater.

The pill's effect lasts for about a day. It's crucial to take the medicine before the effect wears off. Otherwise, one might end up drowning in the deep-sea dungeon…

Of course, I've also prepared the giant water lilies as a precaution.

I took a giant water lily seed in my hand and used [Breath of the Forest] as a test. Instantly, the giant water lily grew to the size of a watermelon that was larger than a human head and filled with air on the inside.

When I cut off the roots at the bottom of the giant water lily and stuck my head into the opening, I could breathe in the clean air.

"Phew!"

In an emergency, one could use the giant water lily as a helmet and wait for the body to float to the surface. It was like a life jacket.

In a pinch, I could also intertwine the roots to make a sort of boat.

After taking off the giant water lily, I dove deeper into the sea. The webbing between my fingers made swimming much easier.

Corals of every color flourished beautifully, with colorful fish darting tirelessly among them.

It brought back memories of the aquarium I had visited when I was young.

…. This isn't the time for reminiscing.

I shook off the creeping memories of my previous reality and swam deeper into the sea.

Having descended this far, it should be about time for it to reveal itself…

As I surveyed the tranquil depths, I drew a small dagger from my waist and inflicted a minor cut on my thumb. A trickle of blood dispersed into the water, and I immediately used a healing spell on the wound.

This amount of blood should be enough.

-Whoosh…

Sure enough, a dark shape was rapidly approaching me from the distance.

One mistake could spell my death.

I swallowed hard and fixed my gaze squarely on the approaching dark figure.

Come at me.