S-Class Dungeon's Mistress

Chapter 121

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Adelaide didn’t think she was a crybaby. Yes, up until now, she had not cried in front of her demons or that was what she chose to believe. Tears of joy, often, but she didn’t always cry because she was sad.

That was why she was embarrassed to even think about herself now. Caladium wasn’t terribly angry, and didn’t say anything bad. If he was tired, she could give him a hug or something. 

Why am I crying over this? Adelaide bit her lip, trying to control her feelings.

But when she remembered the cold face that had just passed her, her eyes clouded again. She felt strange. Even though she knew that was not the case, she felt heartbroken, and sadness and sorrow intertwined in her heart. This was something she had felt for the very first time.

The tip of her nose ached even more as she remembered Caladium’s face and low voice which had been kind to her. Her disappointment came crashing down like a wave.

Lisianthus stared at Adelaide with a stern expression on his face. He seemed shocked. For he found sorrow, that was unlike her, upon her face. His golden eyes shook faintly. The corners of her mouth, which always formed a soft smile in front of him, were severely contorted.

As she met his gaze, Adelaide tried to manage her expression. She was ashamed to show such a face to Lisianthus.

She was about to make a vague excuse saying that something was in her eyes. Lisianthus, who had only thought of how to comfort her, looked vicious, and then suddenly moved away. Towards Caladium’s room.

“Lisian!”

Adelaide hurriedly grabbed his collar. She could understand instinctively. If she doesn’t catch him now, Lisianthus will run straight to Caladium. She can’t let her two devils fight because of her own sensitive reaction.

“Let me go, master.”

Lisianthus asked in a gentle tone that was no different than usual. However, the energy that radiated around him was not gentle at all. Adelaide acted quickly.

“It’s time to go say hello to the crew! Let’s go together, Lisian. Okay?”

She desperately changed the subject. She even wrapped her arms in fear that he would shake her hand and leave. Lisianthus stood still and was silent. The gaze staring at Caladium’s door was very frightening.

“… Alright.”

He followed Adelaide after letting out a low sigh. There was also a small sound of grinding teeth.

However, after passing through the first living space and arriving at the second living space, and even after meeting her demons, Lisianthus still did not have a good expression. It seemed to be getting worse. Sigh, I was emotional for no reason. Adelaide regretted it. It was obvious that Lisianthus was so angry because he thought Caladium had made her cry. In fact, Caladium did nothing wrong.

She concluded that her own adverse reaction was similar to the ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’. It was something that she learned one day after overhearing warriors. The sadness you feel when an adult child leaves the nest. Although Caladium was older than her, it made a lot of sense, as she had often regarded him as her child. It must have been disappointing that the man who had always been by her side and flirted with suddenly changed.

‘Caladi isn’t really my child, and he could have a secret. Being touched when you’re tired is something that everyone hates.’

With this conclusion, her confused mind improved a little. However, it was true that she still got depressed when she thought of what happened earlier, so Adelaide tried not to think of Caladium as much as possible.

But as soon as she made such a promise, she heard Caladium’s name.

“So, Caladi is finally back? We should go say hello!”

“Woof! Woof!”

The Skeletons and Bell said excitedly. It was the worst timing. Not surprisingly, the faces of Adelaide and Lisianthus darkened at the same time.

“Yes… But he’s resting now because he’s tired. I think it would be better to say hi later.”

Adelaide said with an awkward smile. Bell tilted his head unaware of the situation, while the Skeleton Captain who sensed that something was strange opened his mouth carefully.

“… Do you think he came from fighting other demons like last time?”

He also seemed to have made similar assumptions as Adelaide. Adelaide nodded her head with a gloomy face.

“Yes. I smelled blood. I don’t really know what happened…”

She couldn’t figure out his reason for running out of the dungeon all of a sudden, or going to Esperanza and fighting other demons. It would be nice if Caladium spoke first, but he didn’t look like he had any intentions to. Sigh. Adelaide let out a sigh from the depths of her chest.

“Uh… Just an opinion…”

Juilliard, who had been sitting next to the Skeleton and listening until now, interrupted, stroking his beard slowly. Juilliard was a newly recruited Lich, a case in which a human wizard lost all of his soul pieces in the demon realm and died and became a monster. He was a well-known wizard even when he was a human being, he had excellent skills, and he had a very gentle personality, like an old man.

“I suppose… Perhaps…”

However, it was a bit frustrating because he had a habit of elongating his words, probably because he was too gentle. Of course, not all demons pointed this out politely. If Caladium was here, he would have died from frustration.

“Guuu… Isn’t it because he wants to get Helheim?”

Adelaide’s eyes widened. Helheim. It was the word Abaddon was referring to. She had a mountain of desire to ask Lisianthus, but she did not speak about them out of consideration for Caladium.

“What is Helheim?!”

She raised her voice impatiently. The answer came from Lisianthus. It was fortunate. If Juilliard had explained it, she would have had to be patient and wait a long time.

“Helheim is a citadel that belongs to the rulers of Kronatan. I’ve never seen it myself, but they say that it looks very beautiful and that just owning it can give you great power. However, it is said that those who are not qualified will never be able to find the location. Now, the seat of the ruler is vacant, so Helheim must have been abandoned without a master.”

“That’s right. Well, there are rumors that the entrance is hidden in Esperanza. So… Many demons dare to go all the way to Esperanza and fight. To qualify.”

Juilliard knew it well because he lived in Esperanza. Adelaide asked the question again with a serious face.

“… Qualification? What qualification?”

“I’m talking about the qualifications of a ruler. As you can see the last time you went to Esperanza, there were a lot of demons fighting to become ‘Kronatan’s Ruler’, which is currently vacant. This is because the qualifications of a ruler are known as ‘the strongest demon in Kronatan’. It is said that the entrance to Helheim will be opened to demons who have obtained qualifications.”

“So then…”

Adelaide bit her lips. Caladium said that the ‘house’ he had once owned in Esperanza had disappeared, and in response to regaining the house, he went out and returned covered in the smell of blood. Abaddon mentioned that he lost his qualifications, and that he no longer had Helheim’s power. The situation was very clear.

“Yes. It seems he was the last ruler of Kronatan and the master of Helheim.”

As if Lisianthus already knew, he answered in a calm tone. Adelaide also had the same guess, but somehow the weight of the affirmation heard from Lisianthus’ mouth was different. He was the ruler of Kronatan. Of course she knew that Caladium was very strong, but she didn’t realize it because he was acting like a gentle sheep in front of her.

“Perhaps after losing the battle against Abaddon 100 years ago, he lost his qualifications. That must have been when he was caught by Boraca. No matter how many holy relics he had, I can’t believe he was caught in an E-Class dungeon… I still don’t understand it very well, but he was likely weakened when he lost Helheim’s strength and his horn. Now he keeps fighting to meet that qualification.”

When everything came together, she felt more sad than surprised. How did Caladium feel when Abaddon attacked? The one who cut off his horn and took away his powers. The biggest reason for being imprisoned and tortured for 100 years. It wasn’t her business, so she can’t know for sure, but he must have been terribly angry and hated it. But instead of taking revenge, he had to look out for her. How frustrated must he have been? She could tell how he felt just by seeing him leaving immediately to meet the qualifications.

Adelaide didn’t know that, and her face twisted at the guilt that she only cared about her own feelings. Her anger at Abaddon rose again and at the same time she wanted to help Caladium somehow, but there was objectively nothing she could do now.

“… Let’s pretend we don’t know for a while. Because Caladi might not like it if we intervene.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Lisianthus said it was a good idea, and happily nodded his head. The skeletons and Bell replied with sullen faces.

Caladium seemed to be out of commission for the time being and would not be able to offer regular absorptions. She had no intention of forcing her demon, but strangely, she felt sad and disappointed for no reason.

‘… I think Lisianthus is going to suffer too much for a while, so that’s what I’m worried about.’

Adelaide interpreted her disappointment this way. Caladium is busy trying to meet the qualification, and Lupinus will be in Mediar for a month, so Lisianthus would be the only person in charge of regular absorption in the near future. Adelaide glanced at him, wondering if he might be overworked, and Lisianthus responded with a pretty smile.

And just as she was about to talk about it, an alarm went off in the dungeon pad. It was an alarm that someone had passed through the portal to Darfur Forest. She didn’t have to be nervous this time because she knew that someone too.

“Adela!”

Suddenly, a man arrived at the second living space, where she was, and hugged Adelaide strongly.

A face with a boyish look with black hair. Lupinus.

“W-What? Why are you here already?”

Adelaide asked while being clasped in his arms. She was bewildered when her friend, whom she had thought would come after a month, returned after only a few days.

“I couldn’t stand it because I wanted to see you.”

Lupinus kissed her forehead lightly. And Adelaide instinctively realized.

‘Don’t tell me this pu*k didn’t want to miss his turn…!’

Lupinus had returned as quickly as possible for what he had been waiting for.