Chapter 37: One-Man Army

Cake (5)

The next day, they resumed the Dungeon raid.

Comet diligently eliminated the traps without complaint.

"I think repetitive tasks are bearable now that we're getting closer."

"Yes, I suppose so. Me too."

Dan Ga-yeon awkwardly agreed. Comet chuckled softly.

"I'm so glad you feel that way too, Officer Dan. Now that we're officially friends, I hope we can spend time like this often. Let's hurry and finish this so we can go see the Incheon beach. It would be fun to eat ice cream together."

As one of the traps broke, lightning weakly discharged from where it fell. The lightning bounced off the wall and disappeared. She immediately started working on the next trap.

It took some time due to the repetition, but they were able to remove enough of the traps on the second floor. Stairs leading down to the third basement level were visible.

Dan Ga-yeon turned to look at Comet.

"Shall we take a break?"

"I don't feel like I have any mental fatigue, but I think we can go straight down."

"Please tell me anytime if you feel burdened."

They went down to the third floor. There weren't any particular traps. Before long, they arrived at a long, straight passage, and monsters appeared. They were goblins. They looked like something she'd seen in Seoul. However, while they were fully armed and armored in Seoul, these goblins had a very different fashion sense.

Comet and Dan Ga-yeon recoiled in horror.

"Why... are they wearing bikinis?"

The goblins were wearing bikinis. Fortunately, or perhaps not, their lower bodies were obscured by fur because they were riding wolves.

『...Isn't it obvious? The Dungeon has a beach theme, so they had to match. Just think of them as beach goblins. Then the setting makes sense.』

"Just because they live on the beach doesn't mean they have to wear bikinis."

『Why are you asking me that? Maybe they were trying to save on the budget since there's so little fabric.』

Dan Ga-yeon stared at the bikini goblins with an expression as if she was looking at something disgusting. She seemed to feel a sense of revulsion.

The goblins riding wolves pointed their spears forward. It seemed they were planning a cavalry charge. Dan Ga-yeon looked around behind her, frowned, and gripped the hilt of her sword.

Comet shook her head and stepped forward.

"Officer Dan, I'll take care of them myself."

"Comet?"

"You used your wish ticket, so I should take the initiative."

The goblins kicked the flanks of their wolves while aiming their spears. The pack of wolves began to charge. The sound of the animals' hooves filled the Dungeon.

Comet changed her knife into a long spear and tossed a soul orb into her mouth. She shattered the orb while assuming a throwing stance. Black wings emerged, then scattered and condensed into the spear. She put strength into the arm and hand holding the spear, pulling it back. One foot shifted to change her center of gravity, and the Dungeon floor shattered with the shockwave. The long spear left her hand and was launched. A single black trajectory crossed the Dungeon, grinding against the walls.

The goblin at the very front collided with the black trajectory. A black wind blew, tearing apart the goblin and the wolf, sending fragments flying towards the ceiling and walls. The wind continued down the path, creating a silent stillness. Blood dripped from the ceiling and walls.

Comet nodded in satisfaction at the planned result. She turned to look at Dan Ga-yeon. Dan Ga-yeon was staring ahead with trembling eyes.

"Officer Dan."

"Yes, yes?"

"I apologized yesterday, but it feels a little insufficient, so I was thinking of treating you to a strawberry cake as a sign of my apology."

"Yes?"

"I promised to treat you last time, so it's not a sudden gift, right?"

"Yes?"

Comet slowly walked into the middle of the dripping blood. As she spread her arms, bloodstains spread across her white armor-like clothing. After some time, the bloodstains were prettily imprinted.

Comet smiled brightly and looked at Dan Ga-yeon. Comet's hand lightly pointed to her red eyes, then passed over her white clothes and stopped at the red bloodstains.

"Strawberry cake!"

Comet fluttered her clothes and spun around once.

And then pointed to herself with both hands.

"The gift is me!"

Comet smiled with her eyes.

"You can eat me."

Dan Ga-yeon stared blankly.

Comet smiled and spread her arms wide.

"Where do you want to start eating?"

A moment of silence passed.

Dan Ga-yeon rolled her eyes back and fainted.

A person collapsed.

Huh...?

Comet paused, unable to keep up with the situation.

『You crazy bitch!』

"Huh?"

Comet blinked and belatedly gasped in surprise.

"O-Officer Dan!"

She ran to Dan Ga-yeon and hugged her, feeling her body temperature. She hurriedly laid her down properly and checked her health. There didn't seem to be any major problems, and it seemed like a simple fainting spell.

Comet let out a sigh of relief.

"You scared me..."

『That commoner must have been even more scared! You crazy bitch!』

"Yes? What did I do?"

『Kkyaaaak! What did I do to deserve this suffering!』

The Princess screamed softly.

Comet watched Dan Ga-yeon while also glancing at the Princess.

"I know I'm not a strawberry cake..."

『Is that the problem? Is it!』

"I know my sense of aesthetics is a little strange."

『Do you?! Well, aren't you great!』

Comet hesitated.

"I know I was a little weird just now...?"

『A little? A little?!』

Comet squeezed her eyes shut at the Princess's rebuke.

"But, but, I promised to treat her to strawberry cake... So I thought I'd offer it as a sign of apology."

『Where is the apology in that?』

Comet mumbled with her head bowed.

"This was the original plan. First, I say, 'I'm a strawberry cake!' and Officer Dan is taken aback and laughs. Then I approach and hug her."

Comet pretended to hug Dan Ga-yeon.

"I ask, 'Am I pretty?' and even if Officer Dan doesn't think so aesthetically, she'll say I'm pretty, right? Then I say, 'You're prettier, Officer Dan!' And then I apologize again for yesterday and say that I'll do my best to solve everything from this floor onwards so she can rest comfortably."

Comet cautiously raised her head and glanced at the Princess.

"After the Dungeon raid is over, we rest for a day and then walk along the beach together while eating ice cream. And then I apologize again, wouldn't that be enough as an apology...?"

The Princess sighed.

『Haa, I understand. Do you have spare clothes?』

"I think I packed some in my luggage."

『Take them out and check.』

"Yes."

Comet checked to see if she had any clean clothes. She did.

『You can clean up this mess and change.』

"Yes."

She called Fenrir and cleaned up together. After changing her clothes, she took care of Dan Ga-yeon.

Some time later, Dan Ga-yeon opened her eyes.

"Where... am I?"

"You're awake?"

Comet looked at Dan Ga-yeon while crouching a short distance away. Dan Ga-yeon propped herself up, placing her hands on the floor.

"What happened?"

"Don't you remember?"

"I remember... well."

A gloomy voice was heard.

Comet lowered her head, watching her carefully.

"I'm sorry."

Dan Ga-yeon looked up at the ceiling.

"It's okay... I feel a little better after waking up. I was tired from not sleeping while standing guard. I guess I was more exhausted than I realized."

Comet glanced at Dan Ga-yeon.

Dan Ga-yeon smiled faintly and met her gaze.

"I appreciate your concern, but strawberry cake isn't really my taste. When we get back to Yeouido, buy me an ice cream."

"Of course! I'll prepare it with all my sincerity."

"Don't put all your sincerity into it. That's very burdensome."

Dan Ga-yeon laughed awkwardly.

"If you wish."

Comet nodded.

Dan Ga-yeon stretched.

"Kkeueuat! Haa. I didn't sleep for too long, did I?"

"Not long."

"Not bad. I feel like my condition has improved."

"That's a relief."

"Let's resume the Dungeon raid."

Dan Ga-yeon got up.

"About that. I'll finish it quickly. Officer Dan, please rest in the back."

"Comet?"

"You used your wish ticket, and I feel sorry."

Dan Ga-yeon pondered for a moment.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

#

She quickly overturned the Dungeon. There were more goblins on the third basement level, but they couldn't hold her back for even a moment. Comet simply ran forward and swung her spear, and each time, scars were left on the walls and goblins were slaughtered.

When the next set of stairs appeared, she stopped. Dan Ga-yeon belatedly followed. Comet turned to look at Dan Ga-yeon.

"Are you comfortable?"

"I have mixed feelings... If we go back to the Seoul raid, the next floor probably has a boss-level monster, but is your Stamina okay?"

"I'm doing great. Even though it doesn't look like it, if you think of my Stats as full, my Stamina is 100."

"That's really low."

"Eh."

They arrived at the fourth basement level. In the center of the chamber, there was a huge, deep pit. It was filled with murky water. It seemed like shadows were moving inside.

Comet and Dan Ga-yeon stood still, staring at the pit. As the shadow rose to the surface, a huge mass was revealed. Water splashed, and an octopus monster shrieked. The air vibrated through the chamber, and a tremor was felt.

Comet blinked, shattered a Spiritual Power orb, and abruptly threw her spear. The octopus monster, which was extending its legs, collided with the spear and floated up, leaving the pond and crashing into the wall. Spiritual Power exploded, grinding the monster.

The monster's remains flowed down, and parts of the wall and floor melted. Whether it was octopus ink or something else, there must have been acid in it.

Comet turned to Dan Ga-yeon and held up two fingers.

"Victory."

She smiled brightly.

Dan Ga-yeon blinked slowly as she looked at the monster's remains, then smiled awkwardly.

"You did a good job."

"I'm glad if Officer Dan is pleased."

Dan Ga-yeon nodded vaguely, looked around the cavern, and then examined the pit closely. Comet, standing next to her, also looked into the pit and noticed something. A large hole was faintly visible in the dark, murky water.

Dan Ga-yeon frowned.

"What's that?"

It didn't look like a technically clean job, but rather a clumsily broken and melted hole.

『An escape route. I don't know how much they saved on the budget to make it look like this.』

Comet adapted the Princess's words appropriately and told Dan Ga-yeon.

"It certainly seems like that, as Comet said."

Dan Ga-yeon dipped a finger in the water and then threw off her coat.

"It stings slightly, so there's some acidity. But I'll go in. Please help me if something goes wrong."

"Yes."

Dan Ga-yeon entered the water. A small splash arose. Comet squatted down and stared at Dan Ga-yeon.

After a while, Dan Ga-yeon, who had gone deep inside to examine the structure, came up. Water streamed down her wet hair. Dan Ga-yeon frowned and wrung out the water with her hands.

"It's connected for a very long way. It's too long to go all the way to the end."

"Then were they almost about to escape?"

"I wonder."

Dan Ga-yeon looked back at the monster's remains and tilted her head.

"If they made a deep and wide hole, the water level should have lowered, but it didn't here. I definitely saw the pit full of water when the monster was submerged."

"Wow, you noticed that in that short time?"

Comet exclaimed and clapped lightly. Dan Ga-yeon chuckled, seemingly embarrassed.

"Anyway, the fact that the water level didn't drop means that water came in from the outside, so there's a possibility that the hole is connected to the sea. The reason they live in the Dungeon might be because it's safe here."

"I think Officer Dan is right! You're so smart!"

"It's nothing special."

Dan Ga-yeon rummaged through her luggage and took out new clothes. Comet blinked and turned away.

"I don't know if being connected to the outside will be a problem... Comet, ah, just wait there for a moment. I'll change quickly."

Dan Ga-yeon changed her clothes behind her.

In the meantime, Comet looked at the ceiling and talked to the Princess.

"What will the monster do if it escapes?"

『What else but find love?』

The Princess answered casually.

"Wow, that's an interesting thought. Since it died while in love, will its lover come for revenge?"

Comet laughed softly.

『Hmm... revenge.』

"I suddenly want to eat grilled squid. I wish there was a place that sold it."

"You can turn around now."

Comet turned around. Dan Ga-yeon, who had changed into new clothes, was brushing her long hair. Water droplets fell as the brush passed through.

"Shall I brush it for you?"

"No, it's okay."

After resting for a while, they went down to the 5th basement floor. There was a Mana sealing formation and a relay. Comet used her Spiritual Power user privileges to ignore the Mana sealing formation and destroy the relay.

After achieving her goal, she quickly left the Dungeon.

After a few procedures, Comet promised Dan Ga-yeon to go sightseeing by the sea and parted ways.

"I'm glad that my relationship with Officer Dan seems to have deepened this time. I wish it was like this every day."

『If it were like this every day, that commoner would be in a state of mental and physical weakness, so don't wish for useless things.』

"Officer Dan in a state of mental and physical weakness? I think she'd be cute. I'd love to take care of her."

『Huhu. This body is suffering from living now.』

"Of course, I'm joking. I'd be embarrassed if you took it seriously."

Comet grumbled.

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