The Strongest Adventurers’ Mental Caretaker ~ Somehow I Ended Up Involved with Every Beautiful Girl in the Hero’s Party ~ If You Have Time to Fight Over Me, Please Go Save the World - 8

Chapter 8: Murderous Intent in the Dungeon

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Within a canyon region near the border, there was a giant cave that opened its mouth within the sheer rock face. The area around the entrance of the dungeon named the Labyrinth of the Two-Headed Dragon was enveloped in a bizarre, heated frenzy.

A campsite had already been formed, packed with tents hoisting various national flags. The Empire, the Entente Federation, the Holy Kingdom…

Those who boasted of their skill from all over the continent had gathered here, dreaming of a get-rich-quick strike with an Artifact.

When our carriage arrived there and three beautiful women stepped out, the entire campsite stirred with excitement.

“Hey, look, it’s the ‘Valkyrie’ of the Arclight Kingdom…”

“As usual, they’re lined up with nothing but unbelievable beauties.”

“…Hm? Wait a minute. What’s that man doing mixed in over there?”

Naturally, all eyes gathered on me, the sole foreign element.

“A luggage carrier?”

“If so, his equipment is way too poor.”

“Men who are mismatched like that usually just tag along because of a nobleman’s selfishness.”

Vulgar mockery spread through the surroundings. Well, it was exactly the reaction I had anticipated.

At that moment, a man who appeared to be a foreign mercenary with a particularly large build blocked my path. He was a man covered in old wounds across his entire body, bearing the appearance of a veteran warrior.

“Hey, bro. This isn’t a place where a woman’s hanger-on should be coming, you know?”

The man looked down at me and let out a deliberate snort.

“Go on back home to suck your mama’s milk before you get hurt. …Or, should I look after you instead? Along with those ladies.”

Vulgar laughter rose from the surroundings. Back when I was working as a boy in the brothels, there were often customers of this sort. Before I could even open my mouth, the air around Freya, who was beside me, shifted.

“…You seem to crave death.”

Her hand moved to the hilt of the “Kagerou” at her waist. It felt as though the temperature of the surroundings dropped a few degrees from her murderous intent alone. Aeris also readied her shield in silence, and Luminara went so far as to light an ominous black glow at the tip of her staff.

(Whoa, whoa, if a commotion happens here, it’ll become an international incident.)

I hurriedly pressed my hand over Freya’s to restrain her, checking her with a smile.

“Now, now, calm down.”

“But Cain! This scum insulted you!”

“Don’t worry about it. It is a fact that I am a complete amateur when it comes to fighting.”

I turned back to the mercenary, displaying an amiable smile.

“Thank you very much for your advice. But do not worry. I am the one who can handle their baggage best, after all.”

I pulled Freya close by her waist and smiled meaningfully. Whether the mercenary lost interest at my words or not, he spat out, “Hmph, putting on a brave face,” and vanished into the dungeon along with his companions.

“…Let us go. You can let off your frustration spectacularly inside the dungeon.”

When I whispered that, Freya took her hand off her sword, albeit with an unsatisfied look. However, deep within her eyes, it was as if an inextinguishable dark flame was smoldering.

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The interior of the dungeon was filled with damp air and the odor of monsters. True to the information that it was a newly formed dungeon, a pack of countless goblins was already roaming around near the entrance as if they owned the place.

“Grrruaa!”

Noticing our figures, dozens of goblins rushed at us while brandishing their weapons. It was a number that would force ordinary adventurers into a temporary retreat. However, they were the kingdom’s supreme military force, the S-rank party “Valkyrie.”

“Get out of the way—”

Freya took a step forward and flashed her jet-black rapier, “Kagerou.” The shadow extending from the blade took the shape of a giant wolf and materialized.

“Gaaa!!”

“Giyeee?!”

The shadow wolf ran through the ground while ignoring the laws of physics and bit into the pack of orcs. Before they could even let out their dying gasps, the monsters swallowed by the shadow disappeared one after another.

“Hmph!”

Next, Aeris charged forward while readying her silver greatshield, “Onigumo.” The goblins clashed into the solid mass, but they weren’t blown away. The moment they touched the shield, their movements came to a complete halt. Aeris easily hacked down the enemies who had become unable to move with her sword. They were like prey trapped in a spider’s web.

“…Annihilate——”

In the rear, Luminara brandished her staff. What she summoned were countless black crows that must have been a meter in total length, the “Yatagarasu.” They flew around with a clear intent, wildly firing all attributes of magic, such as flames, freezing, and lightning strikes, from their mouths. The inside of the cave was enveloped in a multicolored light in an instant, and the remaining monsters turned to dust and disappeared.

Overwhelming. This was the capability of a genuine hero who had been granted an S-rank. Without moving a single step, I clapped my hands from a safe zone.

“…Splendid.”

At my hollow praise, the three of them returned with a “Hmph,” wearing faces that showed they weren’t entirely displeased. This was fine. My job was to keep them in a good mood.

As we proceeded deeper in that manner, the smell of blood drifted from ahead in the passageway.

“Ugh… a-ahh…”

A gruesome sight unfolded there. It was the party of mercenaries who had tangled with me earlier.

Whether they had fallen into a dungeon trap or received a surprise attack from monsters, they had breathed their last in a wretched state. Only one person, the man who was their leader, had both his legs crushed and was leaning against the wall. He was barely alive with a failing breath.

“H-Help me…”

When the man spotted us, he pleaded while shedding tears and mucus. It was a wound that could be saved if only there was a recovery potion.

“Goodness…”

Right as I was about to pull out a potion, Freya swiftly stood in front of me.

“Eh…?”

Hope surfaced on the man’s face. However, Freya raised “Kagerou” with an expressionless face.

“Do you know the good thing about this sword?”

“Eh…?”

“It is the fact that it can kill without leaving a sword trace.”

There was the sound of cutting through the wind with a swish.

“Do not think you can make fun of my man and return home alive.”

“W-Wait—”

The next moment, the shadow wolf bit into the man’s throat, swallowing his head along with his scream. Afterward, nothing but a wretched lump of flesh remained, looking as if it had been attacked by a monster. There was not a single artificial scar.

“Dying by being eaten by a beast in a dungeon is a common accident. No one will suspect a thing.”

Freya spoke ruthlessly and sheathed her sword. Then, turning around, she walked over to me slowly. Her face had completely changed from her previous ruthlessness. She was now displaying a melting, sweet smile.

She placed her hand on my chest, stretching up on her toes to bring her face close to mine. Then, she licked away the cold sweat running down my cheek with a lap of her tongue.

“…Nn. …Cain, you will continue to meet my expectations forever from now on, right? …I hope you understand what happens if you betray me…?”

A sweet, heavy whisper of love with no escape route. Desperately suppressing the chill running down my spine, I could do nothing but nod with a cramped smile.

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