S-Class Dungeon's Mistress

Chapter 134

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“……What?”

Adelaide asked back with a frown. The short-haired demon, Ellie, hurriedly answered, lest she turn her back and leave.

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“I said I was a victim. A victim assaulted by Caladium when he used to live in Helheim.”

She had a very sad expression on her face. As if she was upset that Adelaide did not believe her words. However, that didn’t change Adelaide’s mind. Instead of being startled or bewildered, Adelaide spoke in a cold voice.

“Oh, were you Mr. M who sent that ridiculous tip to Dungeon Daily?”

Her name is Ellie. Then what was the M for? She scoffed. Who would’ve known that the liar was so close. What should I do to get revenge on the person who turned Caladium into an assailant? Her fighting spirit was rising to a boil.

“No, that’s not me. It’s probably Mitchell. He was also a demon from Helheim and Caladium beat him more than me.”

Ellie answered while shaking her head.

“I never reported to the newspaper. I lived every day in fear, worried that I might see him again so how could I do that? I never even told my friends or co-workers so why would I tell them.”

“Then why are you telling me? I met you for the first time yesterday and you even belong to Uriel. Aren’t you being too obvious?”

Adelaide asked with her arms crossed. There was no sign that she would fall for Ellie’s earnest voice. No, rather, as the story continued, Adelaide’s attitude grew icier.

Lisianthus, who had been hiding in the distance, clapped his hands with a pleased smile, delighted to see Adelaide’s new side. Of course it would be a problem if they heard it, so he only did the gesture midair without his palms touching. Demons passing by looked at him as if he were a madman but he didn’t care.

“Uriel doesn’t even know that I went out today. I am risking everything by telling you. Really.”

If it had been in the past it may have worked, but Adelaide knew the reality too well to believe those words. More than that, she trusted Caladium. It was only natural to trust the demons she had been with so far, rather than the words of the demon she met for the first time yesterday.

When Adelaide’s face didn’t show the slightest change in expression, Ellie bit her lip and lowered her head. When she lifted her head again, her large eyes were already wet with moisture.

“I know you trust Caladium a lot. I’m sure you’re suspicious of what I’m saying. But…… Please listen to me for a moment. I won’t ask you to believe me. Just, please, listen. If you hear it to the end and feel it is not enough, you can just go back.”

Tak. Tak. Two thick drops of tears fell on the round table. Choked up, Ellie’s plump lips quivered.

Adelaide was now more embarrassed than angry. If this was all an act, Ellie should go to the capital to show off her skills rather than serve in a dungeon.

At that level, she could even work in the Demon King’s castle. Adelaide herself considered her acting skills to be quite good, but she was not confident enough to express such detailed emotions.

‘Could there be a misunderstanding?’

She looked at Ellie with her eyes wide open in embarrassment. She felt sorry for her trembling body but she still couldn’t believe her words. It was just that her suspicions had shifted toward whether Ellie had misunderstood something.

Adelaide turned her head away slightly and gazed at where Lisianthus was hiding. If Ellie uses her powers to bewitch her, he would take care of it. So, she might as well hear her out.

‘I should listen to her and correct any misunderstandings.’

Huu. Adelaide exhaled deeply and sat down again, as if there was no helping it.

“Fine. Tell me, I will listen.”

“R-Really? Thank you, Adelaide……!”

Ellie’s face visibly brightened. She bowed her head to Adelaide again and again to express her gratitude, with tears streaming down her eyelashes. She tried to clasp Adelaide’s hands, but Adelaide quickly avoided it. She said she would listen, but she never said she would accept pretending to be friendly.

Ellie raised her awkward hand and wiped her tears away. She then began to speak with a voice mixed with sobs.

“I will introduce myself again. My name is Ellie. I am over 170 years old. I first met Caladium when I was very young. Around…… I think I was about 30 years old.”

She was already an adult by the time she was 30, so to say that she was very young… Well, for demons like Lisian and Caladi who have already lived for a very long time, they must have been like babies. Adelaide thought as she drank the half-cooled tea.

“I was wandering the streets of Esperanza without a place to go, but Caladium picked me up, and from that day on, I started working as a servant in Helheim. I was happy just knowing that there was a place that accepted me, but that place was even the great Helheim. I thought it was an honor for my family, and I worked hard every day. I diligently cleaned and never forgot to remember Caladium’s likes so that I can make food that suits his taste.”

Ellie had a sad expression on her face as she recalled her past from long ago. She wanted to somehow dispel Adelaide’s doubts so she mentioned Caladium’s preferences.

“Caladium isn’t picky with food, but he prefers meat. He likes to oversleep, and…… oh! The sofa! He loved lying on the sofa. It was almost like he and the sofa were one body.”

“Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.”

“I’m not the type of demon who has a lot of idle time.” Adelaide added coldly. 

Ellie answered yes with a crestfallen look.

However, although Adelaide had kept a seemingly expressionless face, she was actually shocked on the inside. Because everything Ellie said about him matched the characteristics of the Caladium she knew.

Even though the others were common, but Caladium sticking to the sofa as if he became one with it was completely accurate. It was a habit that one would not have known if they had not personally experienced it.

Is it true that they lived together? Or did the information leak somewhere? Adelaide narrowed her eyes and listened.

“At first, I was proud and happy. Caladium pretended to be brusque, but he had a very friendly side, and he liked to joke around. Sometimes he even cooked for his subordinates. Because of that, every day I had this thought, ‘Oh, I’ve met a really good owner.’…… Until.”

Ellie’s face quickly darkened, as if she was remembering something terrible. Her full lips began to tremble again.

“One day, Abaddon of the Demon King’s castle attacked Caladium outside Helheim. Caladium didn’t die, but he came back wounded. And from then on, everything changed. The Caladium who used to be playful and friendly disappeared, leaving behind only a cold and vicious devil.”

Flinch. Adelaide froze. Somehow, what she was talking about now was not unfamiliar to her. Caladium became cold after Abaddon’s attack. It was very similar to her current situation.

“The violence started from that day. Caladium was afraid of losing Helheim’s power, so he beat up anyone and everyone who could be called a demon. Of course, I, who was the closest, could not avoid his wrath. Until Abaddon invaded Helheim and defeated Caladium, the demons, including me and Mitchell, had to live in hell.”

Ellie suddenly started unbuttoning her shirt one by one. What are you doing all of a sudden? Adelaide frowned and looked at her. However, her eyes were soon dyed with shock.

“This is the proof.”

The slender body hidden underneath the shirt was full of harrowing scars. There were countless lacerations that looked like cuts from fingernails, and more than half of her skin were covered with traces of severe burns.

“It’s gross isn’t it? I tried to gather money I didn’t have just to meet a healer, but he said that it would be difficult to heal beyond this because I was wounded by a very strong demon.”

“I’m working in the Los Halde Dungeon to pay off the debt I owed from back then.” Ellie added bitterly.

“That…… Caladi did that?”

“Yes. Do you not believe it?”

“To be honest, yes. I can’t believe it. The Caladi I know is a good devil, and he doesn’t have the heart to do such a bad thing. No matter how emotional he is, there is no way Caladi can do that.”

Adelaide answered firmly. Although Ellie’s story was quite plausible, she didn’t really want to believe her.

“……I see. Maybe he has changed now. Because many years have passed. I’m glad Adelaide isn’t going through the same pain I did. It’s just…….”

Ellie bit her lower lip. Her hands, clenched tightly into fists, shook pitifully.

“Just, it was all for nothing. I still live in pain every day because of those nightmarish memories…….”

“Who would have thought he’d ever be called a good devil?” She muttered to herself.

Adelaide looked at her sadly, but she offered no words of consolation. She pitied the distressed Ellie, but that’s all it was. It would be better to refrain from sympathizing without sincerity.

After staying silent for a moment, Ellie raised her head again and smiled awkwardly at her. She opened her mouth painstakingly and pretended to be fine then said.

“I ended up saying something st*pid. I didn’t ask you to meet me here to grieve about my life. A while ago, you were asking why you agreed to meet with a demon you met for the first time yesterday. And why I didn’t just keep my mouth shut.”

“Yes, I did.”

“That’s because Adelaide is a good demon.”

What the heck are you saying now? Adelaide stared at her face trying to understand her intentions. Ellie had a very sad and innocent expression on her face. For some reason, both cheeks seemed a little red.

“It’s my first time saying something like this, so I’m a bit embarrassed…….”

The hiding Lisianthus contorted his face at the ominous feeling. His instincts told him that he wouldn’t want to hear the next words.

“So far, Adelaide was the only person who showed me kindness. I mean…… . I’ve fallen for you Adelaide.”

Sure enough, a sudden confession came out.