Chapter 36: One-Man Army

Cake (4)

Communication was the root of all evil...

Delivering her sincerity only made the atmosphere awkward.

Comet ate her udon glumly. She glanced at Dan Ga-yeon, who was sitting far away, and saw Dan Ga-yeon shudder and avoid her gaze. It made her even sadder.

After hearing Comet's true feelings, Dan Ga-yeon dropped her chopsticks and remained frozen for a long time. Then, still seated, she slowly moved further and further away.

While Dan Ga-yeon was moving away, Comet couldn't bring herself to say anything. The empty seat beside her felt lonely.

Comet whispered to the Princess.

"I think I shouldn't have said anything."

『What on earth were you thinking?』

"I was trying to clear up the misunderstandings little by little. I wanted to tell Officer Dan that I had no intention of killing her, that there was no need to be afraid. So, I tried to ease the atmosphere by first talking about how much I liked Officer Dan, but..."

『But what possessed you to say you liked her enough to watch her die? If a murderer says something like that in a one-on-one situation, of course, they'll be terrified.』

"But it's the truth... I was conveying my sincerity."

Comet glanced at Dan Ga-yeon. Hugging her knees, Dan Ga-yeon had her eyes tightly shut and was muttering to herself. Comet was curious about what she was saying, but she couldn't hear.

"Should I apologize first?"

『Just stay still.』

"But how can we resolve this without an apology?"

『As I see it, it's better to stay still right now. Yes! Look dejected. That would be good.』

"Dejected?"

『Use that pretty face of yours for something.』

Comet tilted her head, then hugged her knees like Dan Ga-yeon. She rested her chin on her knees and looked dejectedly at the floor.

"Comet dejected."

『...You're doing well. Stay like that.』

A short time passed.

Comet blinked.

"I usually trust your advice, Princess, but is this really the right thing to do?"

『Are you doubting me?』

Comet didn't answer and drew a picture on the Dungeon floor. She channeled Spiritual Power into her fingertip, and the hard floor was carved away.

A little later, a small jellyfish was drawn.

"Honestly, I don't think a jellyfish would know much about human psychology."

『What?! I am not a jellyfish!』

"Yes, yes."

Comet drew coral next to the jellyfish. She drew a door on the coral and attached a doorknob.

"This is the jellyfish's house."

『I don't live in a house like that!』

"This one isn't the Princess, but a cute jellyfish. It lives in a coral house."

She drew eyelash lines on the jellyfish. They were tilted as if it were angry.

"It has a bad personality, though."

Comet smiled faintly.

『Jellyfish don't have eyelashes!』

"Wow, you know a lot. Are you a jellyfish expert? I'm so jealous."

She put a small crown on the jellyfish. It was cute.

"You're cute."

『Are you trying to provoke me?!』

Comet exchanged a few words with the Princess, then glanced at Dan Ga-yeon. Dan Ga-yeon had stopped muttering, but she still had her eyes closed and was taking deep breaths.

A little later, Dan Ga-yeon opened her eyes and looked at Comet. When their eyes met, Comet flinched slightly. Dan Ga-yeon also flinched, but after a moment, she calmed down and opened her mouth.

"Comet..."

Her voice was hoarse, and Dan Ga-yeon cleared her throat.

"Comet-nim."

"Yes, go ahead."

"It seems like we're done eating, so let's clean up and set up camp."

Dan Ga-yeon calmly got up and started cleaning up. It seemed like she was going to pretend she hadn't heard Comet's true feelings.

Comet watched Dan Ga-yeon's reaction as she cleaned up, then whispered to the Princess.

"It seems like things worked out by staying still like you said, Princess?"

『Hmph! That commoner has a sense of responsibility, so it's obvious she would try to fix the situation as the person in charge of this operation. She's not the type to refuse because she's scared. I simply predicted that!』

"Oh... Amazing."

『Hehehe! Do you feel it? My excellent observation and judgment skills. I am not a jellyfish. What jellyfish would know something like this!』

The little jellyfish boasted. It seemed like she was bothered by being called a jellyfish.

Comet nodded and cautiously approached Dan Ga-yeon. Dan Ga-yeon, who was taking out a sleeping bag, flinched and stepped back. Comet stopped at a reasonable distance.

"Officer Dan, I'm sorry. It was a joke, but I didn't know you'd be this scared."

"A joke?"

Comet lowered her head with an apologetic expression.

"I'm really sorry!"

"Yes? Yes?"

"I'm not good at reading the atmosphere. I thought you seemed tense, so I made a joke to lighten the mood, but it was too much! I'm sorry!"

Comet bowed her head once more. Dan Ga-yeon hesitated, then approached.

"Ah... No, it's okay, you could do that. Hahaha...!"

"I'm really sorry!"

Dan Ga-yeon cleared her throat.

"So, it was a joke after all. I knew it! Haha!"

Dan Ga-yeon laughed exaggeratedly. Comet's eyes widened.

"Really?"

『Is that really the case?!』

"Yes. I knew it was a joke. Me being scared of Comet-nim? That's impossible. Comet-nim is so kind, nice, and diligent! I was just acting to go along with the joke. I wasn't scared at all. Not at all."

"That's a relief! I was worried about what to do if we grew apart like this. That wouldn't do."

Comet grabbed Dan Ga-yeon's hand. Dan Ga-yeon trembled for a moment, then smiled awkwardly.

"As an apology, I'll give you a wish ticket."

"A wish ticket?"

"It's called a Comet Chance. If there's anything you want, just tell me. I'll grant you anything."

Dan Ga-yeon rolled her eyes.

"Can I use it now?"

"Now? It's a wish ticket, though?"

"Can't I?"

"You can. But it's a wish ticket, though?"

"So, I can, right?"

Comet was a little displeased, but she nodded.

Dan Ga-yeon closed her eyes for a moment, took a breath, and then grabbed Comet's hand in return. A resolute gaze was sent. Comet shuddered.

"Please carry out this Dungeon raid properly. Don't be uncooperative like last time."

Comet blankly met her gaze.

And then smiled and lowered her head.

"Understood, Officer Dan."

#

Comet rummaged through her luggage and took out her pajamas.

"I might actually fall for her at this rate."

『One who fulfills their duty is beautiful. Not bad. If that commoner falls in love and becomes docile, it would be easier for me. Hehe.』

"Really? I don't know how far I'd go if I fell in love right now."

『Why are you using such scary words? Don't do that. It's scary.』

The little jellyfish trembled.

"There's not enough social pressure to restrain me right now. The government is there for now, but it won't be scary later. If it were before, I would have been afraid of social stigma and tried to have as normal a love as possible, but... I don't know now?"

She shook out her slightly wrinkled pajamas.

"Well, that wouldn't be so bad either. I'd be really happy."

『That commoner? Is that even possible?』

"No, me. I'll be happy."

Comet smiled faintly.

"It's a pointless worry anyway. In this chaotic era, Officer Dan will naturally face death. It may not be a complete death, so I have to help her with all my might. Where would I have time to fall in love?"

Comet took off her armor and clothes one by one to put on her pajamas. Her skirt fell to the floor. Then, she suddenly turned to look at Dan Ga-yeon.

"Officer Dan!"

"Yes?"

Dan Ga-yeon, who was writing the Dungeon report in advance, turned around.

"Would you like to watch me change?"

"Yes? No, I wouldn't. More importantly, why would you ask me something like that?"

"It's nice, isn't it?"

Dan Ga-yeon looked like she had a lot to say, but she didn't say anything and started writing the report again.

Comet tidied up the clothes she had taken off and went into the sleeping bag.

"Wow, this is comfortable!"

"It's a high-quality item. If you're tired, go to sleep first. I'll take the first watch. You need to save your Stamina."

"I was rude today, so just stand watch for a bit and wake me up. I'll take the rest of the time."

"No, it's okay. Sleep well. I have high Stamina Stats, so not sleeping for a day won't be a big problem for combat."

"Then I'd feel too bad."

"It's more helpful for Comet-nim to get a good night's sleep."

『Don't unnecessarily stimulate scary imaginations and listen to that commoner.』

"I guess I have no choice. I'll sleep comfortably."

Comet closed her eyes.

A moment later, she blinked with a clear mind. She wasn't particularly tired.

Comet looked at the ceiling and rolled over. Her body flipped over with the sleeping bag. When she moved again, she was able to roll over once. She kept rolling.

Rolling, rolling.

『What are you doing?』

A little later, she was able to reach the place where Dan Ga-yeon was writing the report. Dan Ga-yeon looked down with trembling eyes.

Comet smiled brightly from inside the sleeping bag.

"Comet has arrived."

Dan Ga-yeon held her forehead.

"Comet-nim... I have a question that I really can't help but ask, can I ask it?"

"Of course."

"Are you deliberately doing strange things to me?"

"Yes? Did I do something wrong again?"

"No, well, haaa. No, it's nothing. I was just being sensitive. It's been a tiring day."

"If I did something wrong, I'll apologize."

Comet wriggled while lying in the sleeping bag. She tilted her body to the side and lowered her upper body, so she could just barely bow her head.

Dan Ga-yeon saw that and her expression turned gloomy.

"Just get some sleep..."

"Thank you for your consideration."

Comet closed her eyes.

The sound of the report being written sounded like a lullaby.

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