My Yandere Girlfriend Hiding in the Dungeon Kills Me Over and Over Again - Chapter 170

Chapter 170   Give Me Back My Master’s Magic

Now that I think about it—what happened to Elsie?

She succeeded in stealing magic power from Nyau, but what kind of expression does she have now?

I timidly lift my face and search for Elsie.

“Ah, thank goodness~~~~!”

Elsie’s cheeks flush with relief as she smiles. Noticing my gaze, she awkwardly averts her eyes. Her sudden shift to a more childlike demeanor leaves me bewildered.

“Ah, sorry. Well, you see, I was only fifty-fifty on whether this would work, so I’m just really happy. Ehehe… I mean, I’m just a servant, you know? It’s unheard of for someone like me to outmaneuver the great Sage Nyau. That’s why I’m so happy. Ahh, I was so tense the whole time… I’m absolutely exhausted.”

Elsie’s sudden loquaciousness leaves me speechless.

The composed confidence she had just moments ago is nowhere to be seen. Could it be… that was all just a bluff?

“Don’t mess with me!! Give my master’s magic back!!”

The one shouting was Lyune. Her face twisted in fury, she glared at Elsie as if ready to pounce at any moment.

“Sorry, but that’s impossible. I absolutely need Sage Nyau’s immense magic power. —Yes, because I have something I must do.”

Elsie lowered her head slightly as she spoke, avoiding eye contact. Her gesture seemed fitting for a servant, yet there was something unsettling, almost mad, about it.

“To be honest, the original plan was full of holes, and I didn’t think it would work. But somehow, I managed to pull it off. I was on edge the entire time. Honestly, I tried my best not to let you all notice, but there were so many times I nearly lost heart.”

Perhaps from the release of tension, she begins to speak excitedly. She claims it was all a series of close calls, but from my perspective, it felt like she had us dancing in the palm of her hand the whole time.

“Especially to Kiska—I need to thank you. Thank you so much.”

“M-Me…?”

Why is Elsie thanking me?

“It’s thanks to you, Kiska, that this plan succeeded. Without you, my strategy would have failed.”

“W-Wait… Explain it properly. Why is this because of me?”

If this whole mess is my fault, that would be the worst possible outcome. But I have no idea why. Did I really do something to cause all of this?

“Oh, sorry, I got carried away talking. I should explain properly, right? First of all, everything that Sage Nyau explained was correct. To steal magic, I needed to shake her emotionally. So, I tried various tricks—surprising her, framing her as a culprit—but I knew deep down that someone as brilliant as Sage Nyau wouldn’t be rattled by such simple tactics.

But then, I saw you, Kiska, and my thinking changed.”

Elsie paused there, took a deep breath, and then continued.

“Maybe… Sage Nyau has feelings for you?”

…Huh?????????????

“I knew it was a huge gamble. But I also knew this was the only way to truly shake her. I’ve never once heard rumors about Sage Nyau being in love with anyone. She doesn’t seem experienced with those kinds of emotions. So I figured if I pushed that angle, I could create an opening in her heart.”

“W-Wait… Elsie, what are you even saying? Nyau… likes me? That’s impossible…”

Cold sweat wouldn’t stop pouring from my hands.

If what Elsie is saying is true, then the reason Nyau got so flustered was—

“Is that so? I started suspecting when she dressed up in that maid outfit. Well, I couldn’t be sure, but it was enough of a basis to take the risk. So, I decided to make Mage Lyune and you look like a lovey-dovey couple. How was it? My setup for the ‘Love Dungeon’?”

Elsie glanced between me and Lyune.

Now that I think about it, a lot of weird things happened during our journey. Especially that ‘Chamber of Truth’—the one where we could hear each other’s inner thoughts. I had no idea what the point of that was at the time, but…

“Then… Elsie, was the reason you tried to kill us…?”

“Yes, it was to put you two in the perfect romantic atmosphere. I know how it works. In the romance novels that are trending in the royal court, the hero and heroine always fall in love after battling to the death.”

So… back then, Elsie never actually intended to kill us at all?

This whole space is a dream, meaning death isn’t even possible here. From the start, she never had any intention of harming us.

“I’m glad that Mage Lyune ended up falling for you, Kiska. If that hadn’t worked out… well, I was prepared to seduce you myself.”

Elsie casually drops a terrifying alternative plan.

Lyune, who had been listening the whole time, seemed to be in shock, her head lowered as she completely stopped responding.

“No more explanations are needed, right? As someone who reads a lot of romance novels, I know—nothing stirs the heart more than a girl’s jealousy. So, once again, thank you, Kiska. Without you, this wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”

Hearing those words, I was left speechless.

I thought I had been fighting to help Nyau. But did my presence only make things worse…?

“W-Wait, does Nyau really like me? Honestly, I can’t believe it…”

Yeah, I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. In this timeline, there was never any moment that could have made Nyau fall for me.

“Hmm, I don’t know why you find it so hard to believe, Kiska, but why not just ask her directly? Right, Sage Nyau? I’ve noticed that you’ve been awake for a while now.”

…What?

Elsie casually walked over to where Nyau lay collapsed. Lyune, who had been by Nyau’s side, was trembling a little off to the side, clearly at a loss for what to do.

“Come on now, Sage Nyau, stop pretending to be unconscious and lift your head already.”

Elsie approached the fallen Nyau, grabbed her cheeks, and forcibly lifted her face.

“S-Stop… I really am… suffering right now…”

Nyau groaned, her eyes fluttering open just a bit. The strong-willed presence from before was completely gone, and now she was blushing, her lips trembling.

“Oh my, are you still trying to cover it up? But I don’t think you can anymore.”

“C-Cover what up? W-What are you talking about…?”

“What else? The fact that you like Kiska, of course. Your face is as red as a maiden in love. Did you really think you could hide it?”

“T-That’s not true…”

A weak voice.

Nyau was actually this shaken?

The arrogant, unshakable persona she had always carried was nowhere to be seen. Now, she was stumbling over her words, caught between confusion and embarrassment.

“It’s the truth, isn’t it? When Kiska and Lyune were getting along, you were completely distraught. And as proof, your magic is completely drained. The great and knowledgeable Sage, respected by so many, turns out to have no resistance when it comes to love.”

“S-Stop… please…”

“Fufufu, you’re completely at a loss for words. Seeing you so inexperienced in love, I think it’s absolutely adorable. Don’t you agree, Kiska?”

Suddenly, Elsie turned to me and spoke.

Even if she asked me that, I had no idea how to respond. I glanced over at Nyau. Her lips trembled, and she looked as if she was about to burst into tears.

“Oh dear, was it a bit too cruel to ask that?”

As always, Elsie looked like she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

“Well then, I suppose it’s time to stop teasing you all. I still have things to do, after all.”

The moment Elsie said that, she casually reached out and nudged the incense burner in front of her.

At once, the entire scenery wavered.

A grating, unpleasant noise echoed, like nails scraping across a mirror. The room, the floor, the pillars—all of it twisted and warped like melting wax.

“…!”

I sucked in a breath.

This must be what Nyau had mentioned earlier—the “dream” collapsing.

A cold wind brushed against my cheek, and a floating sensation gripped my feet. The illusionary world surrounding us crumbled like a sandcastle washed away by the tide.

“Once again, I must thank you all. Thanks to you, my plan is proceeding perfectly.”

“Thank us? Don’t mess with me! What are you planning to do with Nyau’s magic!?”

“Hm… That, I can’t tell you.”

Elsie’s mocking smile flickered, and in that instant, the ground beneath us tilted unnaturally. The world shattered like breaking glass, and an eerie ringing sound vibrated deep in my skull.

For a moment, everything went black—then suddenly, a suffocating sensation filled my lungs as real air rushed in.

Gasping for breath, I glanced around.

This was no longer the labyrinth of the dream.

This was reality.

The cool night air brushed against my skin, and the solid ground beneath my feet confirmed it.

“…Where are we?”

I narrowed my eyes, scanning my surroundings.

We were inside the house where the village chief had been murdered.

Unlike during the day, a dim darkness filled the room, illuminated only by lantern light. The air was cold, and dried bloodstains remained on the floor.

Before we were dragged into the dream, Nyau’s magic had been restraining the soldiers here.

But now, they were gone.

It was just us, standing there in silence.

“I really would’ve liked to chat with you all a little more, but I need to be going. I have to chase after His Highness, after all. Oh, and feel free to rest in this village as long as you like.”

His Highness?

Now that I thought about it, what happened to the Second Prince and his escort while we were trapped in the dream?

But before I could dwell on that question, Elsie moved with elegant ease, pushing off the ground and leaping toward the window.

“Die!”

Lyune’s furious shout rang out.

In the blink of an eye, she launched herself from the floor, lunging straight for Elsie’s back.