Chapter 35: One-Man Army

Cake (3)

After ascending and descending the long, long stairs, they arrived at the second basement level.

Comet, who had been carried by Dan Ga-yeon, set foot on the ground.

"Thanks to Officer Dan, I was able to conserve my Stamina. Thank you."

"It's part of my job description, so I should be doing this."

Dan Ga-yeon stretched. She didn't seem particularly exhausted, but she seemed stiff from carrying Comet around.

"Could I ask you to carry me on the way back too?"

"Just ride Fenrir then. There weren't any traps on the way up, were there?"

Comet shrugged.

The second floor was full of magic traps. Depleting all the Stamina on the stairs and then setting up traps at the destination was a rather vicious Dungeon design.

"I'll just push through with Fenrir like last time."

"Just a moment. Comet isn't exactly an expert in this, so let's take it slow."

"One by one?"

"Yes. I think that would be more stable."

Without a Magic scholar in the party, it seemed they wanted to proceed carefully without overdoing it.

"It'll take a long time."

"We weren't planning to clear it in a day anyway."

Dan Ga-yeon shook her bag. She had packed various things besides food. Comet blinked and then smiled.

"If you like it that way."

She placed her hand on the wall and injected Spiritual Power. The Spiritual Power spread along the wall in all directions, discovering a trap. Tracing the structure of the trap with Spiritual Power, she grasped the operating mechanism and found the magic circle inside.

Comet concentrated for a moment. She bypassed and sometimes destroyed the magic circle, damaging structural weaknesses. Since she was resolving a Mana structure with Spiritual Power, a delicate solution was difficult.

A few steps away, a fire trap sputtered with a faint flame and then went out.

Comet turned to look at Dan Ga-yeon.

"One down! Hooray."

"You did a great job. Just keep going."

Dan Ga-yeon watched as if urging her to continue. Comet alternated her gaze between Dan Ga-yeon and the Dungeon, which was obviously full of traps.

And with a slightly dejected look, she placed her hand on the wall again. It really seemed like she was supposed to solve them one by one.

It took a long time. They even ate lunch in the middle, but it didn't end. She didn't know how long the second floor would continue, but she didn't want to be doing this until the next day.

With a tired look, Comet drew a magic circle on the floor. Liquid mana took shape, transforming into a magic circle. It was a magic circle for dinner. She placed a disposable bowl on top of it and poured udon broth. Since they would be eating it soon, she had brought refrigerated food. She adjusted the magic circle to make it boil.

"Modern civilization is so convenient. Just open it and heat it up."

Comet said in a weak voice, fiddling with the packaged udon noodles.

"Haha. I guess so."

Dan Ga-yeon, sitting across from her, was watching her carefully.

"You must be tired from working continuously?"

"It's not that I'm tired, but it's mentally exhausting. But there's no choice. A job like an inspector isn't helpful, after all."

"Haha..."

When the udon broth boiled, she added the udon noodles. She adjusted the magic circle to make it boil for three minutes. She loosened the clumped udon noodles little by little with chopsticks.

"There are clearly two people here, but it feels like I'm the only one working. It feels like I'm preparing the meal alone too."

"Ah, I'll do it! Give me the chopsticks."

Dan Ga-yeon fidgeted and hurriedly reached out her hand. Comet readily handed over the chopsticks.

"Wow, how kind. I don't know if stirring the chopsticks a little will help, but I guess I can't ask an inspector to draw a magic circle. They don't even know how to boil water."

"Haha..."

Dan Ga-yeon awkwardly smiled and loosened the udon noodles. She was staring intently at the udon with her head down, as if she was reluctant to meet Comet's gaze.

"Actually, I knew it. Martial arts types aren't very helpful outside of combat. It was obvious that something like this would happen if you came in alone."

Dan Ga-yeon silently stirred the chopsticks. Comet watched her and then smiled.

"Officer Dan."

"Yes."

"Don't just answer, look at me."

Dan Ga-yeon glanced up and looked at her cautiously. Comet sighed exaggeratedly.

"I think I'm getting tired."

"Should we eat and take a long rest? Or stop here for today and continue tomorrow?"

"That sounds good. It would be nice if Officer Dan could comfort me, including that."

"You've worked hard. It would have been really difficult without Comet!"

"Just words?"

Hesitating, Dan Ga-yeon avoided the magic circle, approached Comet cautiously, and patted her.

"You did a great job."

Comet's eyes widened. And she chuckled.

"You're more proactive than I thought."

"I'm in charge of this operation, after all."

Comet shook her head at those words.

"That's not it. It's because we've become that much closer."

"Huh?"

Comet hugged Dan Ga-yeon tightly. Dan Ga-yeon flinched at the sudden action.

"We're close now, right?"

"Well, I don't know?"

Dan Ga-yeon's voice trembled, probably because she was flustered.

Comet tightened her arms around her.

"We're close, right?"

"Maybe? But you seem to be squeezing too hard, it hurts a little. Could you hug me gently?"

Comet hugged her even tighter.

"We're close, right?"

"Ugh! Yes! Yes! We are!"

Dan Ga-yeon shouted hastily. Comet loosened her arms. And she smiled, looking up at Dan Ga-yeon.

"I knew you'd think that way. Telepathy. How wonderful."

"What is this..."

Dan Ga-yeon looked down at Comet with a complicated expression. Comet smiled with her eyes. Her red eyes folded beautifully.

"To commemorate our official friendship, how about we make plans? Officer Dan treats me too professionally. You don't even come to see me when there's no work."

"Plans?"

Dan Ga-yeon shifted her gaze in confusion. Then, as if something had occurred to her, she widened her eyes and looked down at Comet.

"Um, Comet."

"Yes."

Dan Ga-yeon hesitated.

"...You want to be friends right now, right? Not anything more than that?"

"Anything more?"

Comet smiled brightly.

"Best friends are good too."

"Oh... Yes, best friends! I mean best friends. Ha, haha."

"I feel like we've really become friends since Officer Dan is even considering best friends. Let's make plans while we're at it. After we clear the Dungeon, let's go see the Incheon beach together, just the two of us."

"Yes."

It was a rigid answer that didn't match the friendly atmosphere, so Comet tilted her head.

Dan Ga-yeon carefully released Comet's arms and stepped away, then divided the finished udon into bowls.

Comet received the udon and stared blankly at Dan Ga-yeon. Her eyes met Dan Ga-yeon's, who was sitting across from her. A gaze that looked at an unknown something returned. It seemed to contain a hint of fear.

Comet blinked in confusion. Then she went to a corner of the Dungeon.

"Princess, it's really hard to understand the way normal people think. Why is she suddenly like this? We were doing so well until just now?"

『Haa, this body will explain it with a generous heart.』

"You're the best, Princess."

She was a small but reliable jellyfish.

『Now, let's think from the perspective of that commoner. Hmm, no. Just listen to this body. That would be better.』

"No, I'll try to think from Officer Dan's perspective."

『That's a good resolution. However, I'll ask you a few things before that. What is your purpose in trying to become friends with that commoner?』

"That's right. You don't know, Princess? I plan to help Officer Dan meet a complete death. So it's better to get close first, right?"

The Princess was silent for a moment.

『This body finds it difficult to understand why you would try to become friends with someone you intend to kill... The commoner will surely understand.』

"There's a bit of a misunderstanding. It's good if we become friends, but it's not necessary. I just need to get close enough to easily control Officer Dan's life. If the only condition was to become friends, I wouldn't have approached her so aggressively, would I? It doesn't matter if she loves me moderately or hates me moderately."

Using her pretty face to smile with her eyes is also to gain a certain amount of affection.

"A relationship where you occupy a large part of someone's life, whether they want it or not. Isn't that usually called a love-hate relationship? A love-hate relationship, that sounds good. That kind of normal relationship is enough."

『Love-hate? Moderate hatred? Kkyaaaak!』

The Princess screamed softly.

Comet flinched.

"What's wrong?"

『It's because I feel like I'm looking into an abyss that this body shouldn't touch!』

"Huh?"

『Your mindset is wrong! Wrong!』

"Huh?"

『Apologize! To the shocked mental world of this body!』

"S-Sorry?"

Comet lowered her head blankly.

『How did I end up suffering, caught by such a Necromancer.』

"I didn't catch you, you died on your own."

『That's enough. It's better not to know the commoner's way of thinking. I'll rest now. Do as you please.』

Comet was flustered.

"Wait a moment. You have to tell me why Officer Dan is acting like that."

『Wouldn't you be afraid if a murderer who goes around killing people suddenly approached you to become best friends for no reason? Just in case, don't ask that commoner about her family or home address. She'll be terrified. That's all the explanation I'm giving, I'll rest now!』

"Oh, so that's how it is. I was causing unnecessary misunderstandings by hiding my true intentions. It was a lack of communication."

Comet understood and agreed.

She returned to her seat in front of Dan Ga-yeon. The floor lighting, like a bonfire, illuminated the surroundings. Dan Ga-yeon, who was picking up udon with her chopsticks, glanced at her.

Comet smiled with her eyes.

"Officer Dan, you know I really like you, right?"

"Roughly."

It was an unsatisfactory answer. She must not trust her.

Comet moved little by little while sitting, moving to the seat next to Dan Ga-yeon. Dan Ga-yeon flinched and tried to avoid her, but stopped. It seemed she was suppressing her instincts with reason.

"Me?"

Comet leaned on Dan Ga-yeon.

And whispered with sincerity.

"I like you so much that I want to watch you die."

The chopsticks fell.

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