970

 —Master doesn't need to worry about it.

The words Iriya spoke that morning were clearly not sincere.

Eun-ha could tell she was lying and forcing a smile.

Nevertheless.

—...I understand. I'm sorry.

—No... It's not like that.

Eun-ha, still unsure of how to treat Iriya, couldn't confront her.

And Eun-ha knew too.

To prevent future discord and resolve the issue smoothly, the best way was to keep it secret.

In other words, only Iriya had to sacrifice.

However.

'Is this really okay...'

At the time, Eun-ha felt relieved but couldn't help feeling guilty.

Not only had he ignored Iriya's true feelings, but he felt like a terrible person for relying on her consideration.

'I... I'm really trash. Maybe I should ask the kids to make Iriya my wife...'

Do I like Iriya?

Yes, I do.

Do I feel attraction to her as a member of the opposite sex?

...It's not that I don't.

Then do I love her as much as my wives?

Or can I love her that much?

'...'

Eun-ha, having asked himself these questions, couldn't readily answer.

He didn't know.

He really didn't know.

He felt that if he took responsibility for Iriya with such half-hearted feelings, he would end up hurting not only her but also his wives.

No, he would definitely hurt them.

And the children too...

—Master doesn't need to feel sorry. I'm the one who should be sorry, right? And... This is actually good for me. I finally received Master's grace.

—You really...

—So, Master.

—...

—Master, please don't worry about anything. I'll take all the responsibility. Trust me, who's 6 years older than Master. It's okay.

—Come to think of it, you were 6 years older than me...

—Master... You didn't have to mention it so specifically, you know? I suddenly dislike you...

—Sorry, are you angry?

In the end, unable to make up his mind, Eun-ha couldn't have an honest conversation with Iriya.

He had to turn a blind eye to her sacrifice, pretend not to know, pretend it never happened, and just gloss over it like that.

Fortunately, thanks to Iriya's skilled acting, the two could manage to live as before, but...

Occasionally, when their eyes met or their hands brushed against each other, they couldn't help but feel awkward.

—Ah... I'm sorry.

—...It's nothing. Why are you apologizing for just brushing against me?

—Haha... Right? That's true...

—Then, can I ask you to do the dishes? You know where the stream is, right? Or should I go with you? It's starting to get dark...

—Ah, no... It's okay. I can go by myself. Still... Thank you, Master.

—...Alright. Don't go too far, and make sure to call if anything happens. Understood?

—Yes... I'll definitely call.

Time passed from then.

About two weeks after entering the 8th floor, Eun-ha and Iriya were able to fulfill the conditions for lifting the curse.

"We've finally gathered all the materials. Ah, it was tough. We're going right away, right?"

"If you're tired, should we rest a bit before going?"

"No. We've already climbed halfway up, let's go straight up. We can rest when we reach the summit."

"Okay, let's do that."

They were already in the middle of climbing the mountain.

The two decided to continue climbing after securing the last material.

Soon, they pass through the fog.

"It's hard to see ahead, so follow me closely."

"Yes, Master."

"Be careful, the path is slippery."

Eventually.

"Huff, huff, this is amazing..."

"...Indeed. Here, water. You ran out earlier, right? Drink mine."

"Ah... Thank you. I'll drink it well."

After breaking through the fog and reaching the summit, Eun-ha and Iriya could see a huge pond.

The shrine for lifting the curse was located in the center of it.

The two, who had sat on a nearby rock to catch their breath and drink water for a short rest, soon got up.

They walk on the water surface towards the shrine.

Inside the shrine was an altar.

"If we offer the materials on this altar, we can lift the curse?"

"And the monsters that cursed us will appear. In my case, it's the Succubus Queen, and in Master's case, it's the Black Dragon... Master, what should we do? I think it might be better to lift my curse first and then lift Master's curse..."

"It would be dangerous for just the two of us to face one 3rd tier, we can't face two, right?"

"Yes. And the Succubus Queen is less dangerous than the Black Dragon."

"But even if you lift your curse, I won't be at full strength without lifting mine... Can we properly face the Succubus Queen in that state? Plus, I can't use my gift right now. If it tries to brainwash..."

"Ah, that can't happen. No way. I absolutely can't stand the sight of that evil monster bitch, no, thing daring to touch Master."

"Uh, right..."

"Let's lift the Black Dragon's curse first. We should lift Master's curse first."

"...Let's do that."

Iriya spoke in a firm tone.

Eun-ha agreed with her opinion as she clenched her fists and made a 'hmph' sound, and offered the materials to the shrine.

Whoosh!

The materials turned into light.

The light restores Eun-ha to his original state and drives out the curse that was attached to him.

The curse, ascending in the form of black smoke, soon...

Roar!

Transformed into the 3rd tier monster, Black Dragon.

Eun-ha looked up at the creature that appeared in the sky and raised the corners of his mouth.

"I've really been wanting to see you."

The battle begins.

* * *

After Story 16. Siege Battle

With the gift seal removed and the curse that caused skill reduction lifted, there was no need to hesitate anymore.

Eun-ha, having regained his full power, didn't shy away from bold tactics and subjugated the Black Dragon, followed by the Succubus Queen.

"Even without manifesting myths, I can handle this much easily now."

"Probably only Master would say something like that. Come down here quickly. I'll treat you."

Of course, no matter how strong Eun-ha was, he didn't come out unscathed after facing two 3rd tier monsters almost single-handedly.

Iriya scolded him and then treated his wounds.

During this, the dungeon guide revealed itself in mid-air.

Congratulations on completing the 8th floor mission! It seems you two resolved it well while I wasn't watching? Thanks to that, it seems to have taken some time! Most people who received missions here have already moved to the next floor. Or they died, or went completely mad and turned into monsters.

"..."

You didn't do that! That's amazing, as expected of experienced conquerors! But personally, I'm curious how you could maintain your sanity until now after receiving the Succubus Queen's curse... Ah, perhaps!

"Can you stop saying unnecessary things?"

Eun-ha, who had been staring at the dungeon guide, frowned as if displeased.

The dungeon guide pouted inside the sphere of light as if feeling wronged.

Tch, I can ask out of curiosity. So how did you...

"Enough, just send us to the 9th floor. Right now."

You're really an unfriendly conqueror, no, challenger. Alright.

The dungeon guide moves aside.

A door appears in its place.

It seems a suitable number of people have gathered, so I should start the 9th floor mission as soon as you enter. Now, go in.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Master."

"Pipi papa pupu!"

There was no more lingering attachment to this place.

Eun-ha led the way, and Iriya and Fire Chicken followed, stepping through the door.

When they regained consciousness after being swallowed by light, they had moved to the 9th floor.

'It's just as written in the log. So the 9th floor mission is indeed a siege battle.'

Eun-ha, Iriya, and Fire Chicken were standing on top of a castle wall under a sky covered with dark clouds.

And they could see a fortress in the distance across the street.

According to the memories from before the regression, it was the fortress they had to conquer for the 9th floor mission.

After briefly surveying the surroundings like this, Eun-ha soon spotted his companions running over from a distance.

"Eun-ha Eun-ha! Do you know how worried we've been until now!?"

"Riya unnie! Are you safe!? Are you hurt anywhere!?"

"La la la♪"

Ariel, Jo A-ra, La-ra, and others approached Eun-ha and Iriya, each asking about their well-being.

The people who gathered like this confirmed each other's safety and relieved their worries.

Sometimes they were scolded.

"Do you know how surprised I was when you suddenly entered a different gate without saying anything? And how hard it was for me to command the conquest team in your place."

Jin Seo-na put one hand on her waist and chattered at Eun-ha.

Eun-ha, understanding her feelings, quietly accepted her nagging.

"Haha... Sorry, I'm ashamed. But it seems you commanded well while I was gone?"

"That's because the conquest difficulty was easy thanks to your selection, and I had heard the conquest information from you in advance. Big Yu-seong was there too... Anyway, because of that, people who didn't know anything regarded me as some unprecedented genius commander, and I was so embarrassed!"

"But you did well. Well done, Jin Seo-na, the unprecedented genius commander."

"Are you making fun of me now? And don't pretend to praise me while trying to touch my ears."

"Ah, this... Was I caught?"

"Sigh, I'm in a good mood. Your noona will be generous. Go ahead, touch them..."

Jin Seo-na chuckled as if giving up and raised her chin.

Thanks to this, Eun-ha could comfortably touch her ears.

'Animal ears are indeed soft. Horns were just hard... But they had their own charm too. That was good too...'

If he had to choose one between the two, he couldn't decide which was better.

Eun-ha had such a silly thought.

At that moment, Jin Seo-na, who was looking at him with narrowed eyes, asked.

"By the way, nothing happened between you and Riya unnie, right?"

"Huh? What do you mean, something happened... Nothing in particular..."

"Hmm... I thought it might be my imagination, but when I saw you two earlier, the atmosphere seemed somewhat strange... You two seemed awkward with each other, but also closer than before."

Jin Seo-na's perceptiveness was amazing.

Eun-ha inwardly flinched but outwardly feigned calmness.

"It must be your imagination."

"To say that... Somehow it feels like Riya unnie is glaring at me with scary eyes... Ah, she looked away."

"...It must be your imagination."

"It's not. It doesn't seem like it. You know how good my observation skills are. Back in the day, they jokingly called me Detective Jin Seo-na..."

"Seo-na, that's paranoia. Did you fall too deep into delusions after watching dramas with Min-ji? You'll end up like Min-ji at this rate."

Eun-ha attempted gaslighting.

But it didn't work on Jin Seo-na.

Rather, she was half convinced.

"Did something really happen?"

"...No, nothing happened."

"Sigh, I'll let it go for now. There are many people watching around. It won't affect the conquest, right?"

"...It won't."

"Alright. Then tell me in detail later when we get out."

Jin Seo-na sighs.

Eun-ha, having failed to deceive her, had no choice but to nod in the end.

It was then that the dungeon guide appeared.

Now that a suitable number of people have gathered, we'll start the 9th floor mission! Everyone, do you see that castle over there?

"..."

The dungeon guide pointed to the fortress across from them.

People took in the sight of the fortress.

The door to the 10th floor, the deepest part of the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea>, is right under that castle. You need to conquer that castle.

At that moment, Albert raised his hand.

"Will those guys... the Mairon gang appear this time too, like on the 7th and 8th floors?"

Good question. Yes, that's right. They are waiting in that castle, eagerly hoping to kill you all for sure this time.

The dungeon guide split its mouth into a long grin.

The conquest team, having suffered damage to their forces from the criminals' attacks on the 7th and 8th floors, couldn't help but feel upset.

Albert expressed their emotions.

"I see... That's what we want too. We'll definitely kill them for sure this time."

Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing who will win. Now, I'll explain about the siege battle!

* * *

After hearing the explanation from the dungeon guide, the conquest team had a short preparation time before the siege battle began.

During this time, Eun-ha, who had been going around encouraging people, found future Yu-seong.

"Yu-seong."

"Ah, Father. What brings you here?"

Future Yu-seong, who had been looking out at the battlefield.

He greeted Eun-ha with a welcoming smile when his name was called.

To him...

"You knew, didn't you?"

"..."

Eun-ha confronted him abruptly.

Future Yu-seong, who flinched for a moment, soon asked back with an innocent face.

"Huh? About what?"

"...About what happened on the 7th floor. You would have known that the criminals would attack..."

"Ah, that?"

"..."

"I was surprised too. It didn't happen in the world I was in. So I was really flustered... It seems a butterfly effect occurred as I intervened. I'm sorry, Father, it's because of me."

"There's no need to be sorry..."

Future Yu-seong spoke casually as if he had expected it.

As a result, to Eun-ha's eyes, it looked more like acting than casual talk.

He felt somewhat uncomfortable.

'It doesn't seem right... Somehow it feels like he knew...'

It's suspicious, very suspicious.

But Eun-ha, having no concrete evidence, couldn't press further and naturally had to back down.

"Okay, I understand. Good job."

"Yes, you too, Father! Phew..."

At this moment, Eun-ha didn't know that future Yu-seong inwardly sighed in relief.

"I survived..."

Shortly after, the siege battle began.