Vol 1 Chapter 12 – The Isopod and the Cave-In【Vol 1 – Spoiled Princess Arc】

All sorts of monsters truly make their homes in dungeons.

Inexperienced adventurers are often shocked by the creatures they meet in cave-type dungeons like this one.

Rumor has it that some deeper floors even hold dragons. Dungeons are nothing if not mysterious.

…Someday, I’d love to visit a dragon-infested dungeon.

Anyway, of that wide variety, the monster that appeared before us was perfectly suited to a dark cavern.

Screee, screee—

The creature skittering toward us, shrieking, looked like an insect encased in a rock-hard shell.

“G-giant isopod…”

Miriam trembles and hides behind me, whispering the creature’s name.

Isopods are monsters that appear on the lower—but not deepest—floors of a dungeon.

Their shell is so hard that a novice’s sword can barely scratch it.

On the other hand, they’re very weak to magic—so if your party has a mage, you’re usually fine…

Miriam, however, absolutely hates this monster.

“Wait, what? You’re scared of that weakling? Puh-lease—so lame.”

The first thing Princess Debora says to Miriam is, amazingly, pure mockery.

Hand at her lips, she puffs her cheeks and laughs.

Sure, the isopod isn’t strong, but beginners do struggle to kill one, you know?

“Wow… A girl like you standing next to the Hero is just sad. He doesn’t need dead weight. How about I take your place? I love adventure, so it’s a win-win!”

Princess Debora shakes her head in faux pity.

For someone her age, she’s already mastered the art of taunting.

Guess that’s royal upbringing for you.

Still, I’ve never once thought of Miriam as baggage, so Debora’s premise is wrong.

Without that wonderful healing magic, I’d never ditch Miriam to travel with Debora.

“…Tch.”

“What? Did you just click your tongue at me?”

Miriam fires back—hard.

She glares at Debora and clicks her tongue loud and clear.

Debora’s ears pick it up instantly; her mask-like expression locks onto Miriam.

Miriam’s hiding behind me, so her icy stare hits my back—and thrills me.

“Um… Princess Debora.”

“What?!”

Excitement aside, warnings come first.

There’s a reason women especially despise isopods.

Princess Debora, fuming over Miriam, shoots me a razor-sharp glare. Lovely.

“You really shouldn’t take your eyes off that isopod—”

“Hmph, are you scared of this wimpy thing too? Talk about disappointing.”

She looks at me like I’m trash. Delightful.

Heh-heh… The sting of her disdain feels great…

…Not the point. I have to warn her.

I’ll be fine, but Princess Debora is irreplaceable.

“True, the isopod isn’t strong, but that monster—”

“Just shut up! I’ll handle this cowardly Hero’s job myself!”

Oof! Perfect.

While I’m squirming in pleasure, Debora draws her sword and faces the isopod.

…Well, with her attitude, she should be okay even after she learns why women hate these things.

“Come on, then!”

Wearing a bold, fierce grin, Debora squares off with the isopod.

Hmm, I’ll take a breather back here and be a human shield later if needed.

Oh—looks like the isopod’s about to use its least popular move.

It tests the ground with a little hop, then—

Screee!!

—springs into an enormous leap.

Its target: Debora’s face, still frozen in a blank stare.

“…Huh?”

The air itself freezes.

Isopods are hated for that sudden face-seeking jump.

They almost look affectionate while doing it.

Of course, they’ll happily munch a human alive, so no affection involved.

From above, they don’t look too bad.

Underneath, though…

Rows and rows of little legs squirm together—just picturing it inspires sheer terror, not excitement.

Female adventurers in particular loathe bug-type monsters like this… and it shows.

Moments ago Princess Debora was so cocky; now, with an isopod plastered to her face, she can’t move a muscle.

If she stays like that, it’ll chew its way straight through, so she needs to hurry…

――――――

“Pft… hah!”

Seeing Debora frozen, Miriam bursts out laughing.

Miriam, that’s not very nice.

Given all the insults Debora just hurled, though—fair enough.

――――――

Still, Debora’s the type to notice any hint of disrespect… yet she’s utterly rigid.

…Did she just faint?

If so, this is dangerous. Maybe I should help.

―――――― …mi

Just as I start toward her, Debora finally twitches and mutters something.

She’s conscious. Good.

Looks like she doesn’t need my help—

“MIGYAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?”

Debora lets out an ear-splitting scream.

She flings the isopod away, and raw magic rips through the air around us.

Th-this is…!

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!!

My prediction—no, my wish—comes true: explosions erupt in rapid fire.

Princess Debora’s explosions!

The blasts that nearly pushed me to blissful death before detonate again and again, tearing the dungeon apart.

Walls shatter; rubble rains down.

Finally, the floor itself begins to cave in; fissures split the ground.

“Kyaa!?”

Miriam screams—she’s about to be swallowed by the crack.

Not happening!

“Miriam, grab me!”

“O-okay!”

I clamp her close, stopping her fall.

With her safe, my next duty is Princess Debora!

Looking her way, I see the collapse advancing faster under her feet—because the blasts center on her.

At this rate the ground will give, and her small body will be hurled into the abyss.

“W-whiiiiiiyaaaaaaahhhh!?”

Debora hasn’t noticed; she’s still detonating like mad.

Shell-hard isopods get blown apart one after another, but the blast radius is huge.

If this keeps up, she’ll die from the fall.

I can’t allow that!

I dash toward Debora, stumbling over crumbling ground.

“Guh! Gah! Ah…!”

The closer I get, the more explosions pound my body.

Coughing blood, I keep going.

Please—hit me harder!

A faint moan slips out, but Miriam’s eyes are squeezed shut in my arms, so she doesn’t hear.

Taking blast after blast, I finally reach Debora and seize her arm.

“Kh!?”

At that exact moment, the floor gives way. Both of us are flung into empty space.

“P-Princess Debora…!!”

I pull her in, hug her tight—same as Miriam—and twist so I take the brunt of the fall as we plummet to the lower level.