S-Class Dungeon's Mistress

Chapter 88

The fun times went by quickly.

Adelaide visited Lupin whenever she had time. However, because of her position, she was so busy with work that she could not make time for him often. She was there once a week or at most twice.

Throughout her business trips and helping Maximilian with work, she would think of Lupinus, her first real friend. She always looked forward to the day she would meet the child.

They didn’t do anything big whenever she met Lupinus. All they did was chat, eat, roll around in bed, and take a nap together, all the usual things.

However, for Adelaide, the ordinary daily life was so happy that she could cry. She wondered if that was what it felt like to have a family.

“They made fun of me today.”

By the time they got used to each other, Lupinus began to confide in Adelaide about his concerns. It was mainly about being bullied by a group of warriors.

“Those p*nks again?! Should I kill them?”

“No, it’s fine. It’s just…”

Lupinus was a very soft-hearted child. When Adelaide said she wouldn’t let those b*stards go, he begged her not to do it. How could he live in this cruel world when he was this kind? Adelaide was worried.

“Just, at times like that, I wish I was a warrior too.”

“Then I wouldn’t be teased like this, and I wouldn’t be lonely.” Lupinus muttered bitterly.

The origin of the warrior’s powers were unknown, but it was often inherited. So, like Lupinus, humans who did not inherit power even though his parents were warriors were often ignored. The child added that that was the reason why his father didn’t see him as often.

Adelaide looked sadly at her upset friend. She wanted to help, but there was nothing she could do. It was best for her to remain invisible to humans.

If rumors spread that he was close with a demon, Lupinus would not only be exiled from Mediar, but would also be criticized by all humans.

“If you were a warrior, you would have fought me.”

Adelaide said playfully.

“That’s difficult.”

The child smiled and accepted her joke. She sat behind Lupinus and spoke slowly, gently sweeping his fine blonde hair.

“You know, Lupin.”

“Yes, Adela?”

Lupinus looked somewhere else as he replied. It still felt embarrassing to call each other by nicknames.

“You are my most precious friend.”

Adelaide smiled and clasped the boy’s shoulder. She could feel Lupinus trembling.

“It doesn’t matter who you are. I just like you so much, you are so precious.”

“Just, yes.” She whispered.

Deep emotions flashed across the boy’s face.

“…Me too.”

Lupinus carefully opened his mouth.

“I like you too.”

‘Maybe more than you think.’ He swallowed the words.

It was still too early to bring it up. At least when he was a little older and taller than Adelaide. When he could be sure of himself and what exactly his own feelings were. He wanted to say it then.

There were so many things to worry about right now. He was young and frail, and he did not know when his warrior father would return home.

His meeting with her also depended on Adelaide. Lupinus was not a warrior, so it was natural that he could not cross the borders and go see her.

He knew there was nothing he could do, but he couldn’t help feeling anxious at times when Adelaide would come later than expected. Whenever he waited alone for Adelaide, thoughts like this would go through his mind.

‘You tell me that I’m precious now, but that may change later.’

His father was like that too. When he expected Lupinus to awaken to the strength of a warrior, he cherished him very much. However, as Lupinus got older, and he was still unable to use any powers, his father’s affectionate feelings quickly cooled.

Lupinus, who had personally experienced such a situation, became even more anxious.

“Adelaide.”

“Yes?”

“I have a favor to ask you.”

Adelaide nodded her head. Lupinus, who turned his head to stare at her, took a deep breath and spoke in a trembling voice.

“Promise me. You won’t…You won’t ever forget me.”

The boy clenched his fists tightly. His blue eyes fluttered slightly with anxiety.

“You’ll always come to me, promise me.”

Adelaide looked at him and blinked her eyes blankly. She did not know that she would hear such a request, and she was silent for a moment.

To Lupinus, that brief silence felt like an eternity.

What if she felt burdened?

As per the book he had read that in order to make a vow with demons, he must offer his soul. Will Adelaide also ask for his soul? Anxiety quickly ran through his head.

Just when he had made up his mind to give up his soul if she asked for it, Adelaide opened her mouth.

“Of course.”

Her long eyes were smoothly bent and curved. Her pink eyes gleamed red under her dense eyelashes, and the corners of her red lips moved up gently.

Lupinus felt as if time had stopped for a moment. His eyes only saw her. She looked just like the main character of this world. All the words that were created to define beauty seemed to exist just for her.

It didn’t take long for him to realize that these feelings were love. First love. Yes, Adelaide was the boy’s first love.

“I promise, Lupin. I will come to you anytime and I will remember you forever. Even if demons live for a long time, how can I forget my first friend?”

Somehow he felt like crying. Adelaide’s voice was too sweet. However, it was impossible for a man to cry in front of his first love. Lupinus bit his lip and struggled to hold back his tears.

When Adelaide promised, the anxiety that had plagued him disappeared. Only one regret remained. It was a pity that Adelaide’s life and his human life were so different in length. He wished he was a warrior. It would have been nice to be able to go see Adela in person and perhaps live together for a very long time. Lupinus felt disappointed again.

“Oh gosh, such a cutie. Should sister hug you to sleep today?”

“Don’t treat me like a child!”

Lupinus shouted and struggled. However, he could not defeat the power of a strong demon. Reluctantly lying on the bed, he vowed again that one day he would get revenge.

Another happy few weeks passed.

And what followed was the last memory with Lupinus.

***

The Morpheus Association of East Belial.

“Where are you going these days?”

“What does it matter to you where I go?”

Adelaide responded coldly to the other succubus’ questions. For Adelaide, her attitude to this extent was the result of her hard work. Especially considering that the succubus who asked the question was Camilla, the culprit for ostracizing Adelaide.

“Ha, You’re acting like that because of Maximilian—”

“Since you know it well, mind your own business.”

Adelaide smiled and cut her off. She then prepared to go out again. Camilla was furious, but Adelaide continued to ignore her. It was dangerous to pay attention to such demons.

Soon after, Camilla, who tired herself from screaming at Adelaide, stared at her. Somehow she got a bad feeling. She couldn’t have become quiet already. Adelaide turned her head and looked behind her.

As she had guessed, Camilla was about to pour the hot drink she was holding onto Adelaide. Adelaide was convinced as she watched the water drop across her air. So that was why she brought that. She was only a thorough person in cases like this.

Adelaide slowly blinked her eyes. It might be hot, but it didn’t hurt that much. She would rather get hit and be done with it to quickly get out. Thinking so, she did not avoid it and kept her posture calmly.

However, an unexpected person intervened.

“It’s really childish.”

A succubus who came from another union and had just entered Morpheus, lifted a large folding fan and stopped the water from being poured on her. She moved so fast that even Adelaide’s eyes widened. Perhaps she used her powers.

“This newbie what the … !”

“Shut up, if you don’t want to be killed by this newbie.”

Adelaide admired her amazing speaking skills. It was the first time in Morpheus that someone other than Maximilian took her side. Her heart was beating fast.

“Y-Y-You…! What is your name!”

“I, I, I am Penelope. If you’re confident, come at me.”

[T/N: Oh god Pippa is so savage!]

The red-haired succubus deliberately copied Camilla, stuttering and mocking her.

“Bring it on. Huh?”

As she strode closer to Camilla, her appearance looked as powerful as the Demon King. The demons, who had only been wary of Camilla so far, flinched and fled. They instinctively grasped the superiority of power.

Adelaide stared blankly at Penelope’s back and her mind went blank. Penelope, who was pushing Camilla like a dog, turned her head away and looked at Adelaide for a moment.

Go. She mouthed. She then gestured for her to leave quickly.

‘Gasp, the time.’

Adelaide, who only got to check the time then, turned around in shock. She had become late for her appointment with Lupinus because Camilla kept arguing and stopping her.

She was concerned for Penelope who would be dealing with Camilla alone, but sensing the energy that had come from Penelope, it seemed that there was no need for worry. She heard that an ace was brought in from another Association, it must have been her. Adelaide relaxed her mind and hurried her feet. If she was a little later, Lupinus would be very upset.

She soon reached Mediar. The road to the cabin on the outskirts was quite complicated. She had to cross a small lush forest. Of course, it was not a problem for Adelaide, who had gone back and forth like it was her own home.

However, today was a day when Adelaide didn’t seem to have her luck, in many ways.

“Wait there.”

As she was about to enter the forest when a warrior stopped Adelaide.