Bashfully scratching her head with a large knife on her other hand, the young female orphan has made her appearance.
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She’s wearing clothes that are easy to move in with her brown wavy hair.
I observe her choice of clothes that are now different from the ones she wore last time at the inn and it looks like she prefers fighting in close combat. She then look at us and bow her head towards our direction.
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[…Osu, ‘Sup.]
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Eve keeps her head bowed while sneaking glances on our reaction. Seems she isn’t really sure on how to approach us.
It is now quite obvious that she’s a girl after getting a hair cut from Sybilla but with her previous boyish appearance keeping its presence inside my head, I still can’t help but look at her as a little brother.
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[Good job, Eve-chan! Thanks for the help! But what could have brought you here in this place, hm?]
[Err, the orphanage is on the top of this cliff, yah see, and my vision is kinda good so when I saw y’all I ended up following yah, just so y’know…. But Onee-chan and the others are so strong that I think my help ain’t really needed. Just thinking on takin’ her shield head on sends me shivers.]
[Well, Emmy-chan is the Holy Knight after all.]
[Holy Knight!? Eh, no joke? No… But that kind of power…]
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Eve’s eyes start to sparkle as she looks at Emmy who receives her stare with an awkward smile while scratching her head. After Sybilla throws the conversation to Emmy, my eyes meet with hers in an instant.
Sybilla then lightly leans her body to Eve for about three seconds where Eve can’t really see her then… she sends me a wink as she raises her index finger on top of her lips.
…Oh, got it.
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[Oh, by the way, Eve-chan.]
[‘Sup?]
[Do you believe in the Goddess?]
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Hey, isn’t that too direct!?
You’re talking to a child, why don’t you show some restraint!
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And here I was thinking she’s asking me to keep my mouth shut about dark magic even how much Eve asks but… how am I supposed to understand that ‘this’ is what we’re talking about!?
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Aaaaaaaaaah….. this Sybilla!
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…But, though it may be too sudden, she still decided to test the waters first.
I should have guessed that she wouldn’t be putting our identities in danger out of carelessness, I think.
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Sybilla’s surprising words stiffen both Emmy and Eve but… Eve recovers faster and manages to squeeze out a reply.
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[…eh, Goddess?]
[That’s right. The Sun Goddess. You might not know but I embody the Goddess’ believers’ very definition of sacrilege you know? Or something like that?]
[….Ahaha, whatta heck’s that. To believe in the Goddess… I really can’t say ain’t even the tiniest but… In the end, She didn’t help us. Heck, if I was told to be an assassin for the Goddess, screw faith, they should talk about the pay first, yah.]
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I initially thought that Eve won’t lose out against Vince or me when it comes to resilience when it comes being an orphan but hearing those words, seems like I’m wrong since it looks like she’s far better than us.
Sybilla on the other hand can’t help but laugh.
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[Ahahaha, Eve-chan is so lively, isn’t she!? That’s good!]
[Iyaa~ y’know, onee-san is more of a goddess personally for me tho to be frank.]
[…Oh my, you’re really quite a good one, Eve-chan. On that note, the bag of silvers I gave you isn’t mine but from this guy – Russell’s.]
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Eve’s eyes’ widen in surprise as she looks to my direction and repeatedly bows her head.
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[Ah, oh, etto Onii-san, Russelle-san, thank you very much! Iya, etto… y’see everything’s jus a mess I end up spending a big chunk of it as an initial investment.]
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Oh, ‘initial investment’, she said. That’s quite a big word there I won’t expect hearing from an orphan.
Perhaps the person in charge of their orphanage is quite a teacher. I don’t know what kind of education Eve went through but she seems like a smart kid.
As to the importance of an initial investment, I don’t really understand that at all… But if she used the money to buy high quality equipment then that’s good.
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But in terms of learning, I don’t think our orphanage is on a disadvantage here. After all, we have Gemma-baa-san, Fredrica, and most importantly, a childhood friend who’s reading books until she falls asleep down in the basement, Jannet, as teachers.
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[Nah, don’t mind it. We just recently received a huge amount from the guild that thinking on how to spend it brings quite a headache. If using money this way which helps me in return then it doesn’t matter how much remains. You don’t have to return any of it.]
[Hehe, yah’re quite a good guy, aint’ya Russell-san.]
[Right!?~]
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Eve pauses all of a sudden when Emmy suddenly butts in in our conversation but then… Eve takes a good look and stares at Emmy.
Emmy inadvertently says ‘aaah…’ like she’s caught on the act, and as if both Sybilla and Eve thought of the same thing, they both flash big grins on their faces.
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It’s getting kind of awkward but I don’t want to blame Emmy.
More importantly, can you just stop sending glances over here, Sybilla?
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[Iya~ can’t argue with’ dat. Onee-san’ so cute even I getting jealous even tho we’re same orphans… By the way, Sybilla-san.]
[Fufufu. That’s true. Oh, how may I help you?]
[–’bout yer question ‘do you believe in the Goddess’ or whatevs, you trying to probe somethin’ here ain’t ya? Tho I think following yah would gimme a free ride, it will be a point of no return once I cross the bridge with yah on to the dangerous side, ain’t I right?]
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Eve’s tone was getting lower and lower as she spoke.
On the other side, Sybilla who’s laughing brightly earlier took a moment to look at me with a hint of surprise in her eyes…. Then suddenly, her face changes akin to a predator as she returns Eve’s question with a vicious smile.
Eve’s breathing, for the first time, briefly stops seeing Sybilla.
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…Iyaa~ even I am surprised.
Who would expect a kid from an orphanage who grew up with such a challenging environment to have this kind of wits.
Knowledge and learning aside, perhaps the biggest difference between Eve and us who grew up in a caring environment is the insight to see what danger lies ahead.
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[So splendid… Too beautiful. You see, Eve-chan, people like you who keep their fangs beneath reason and logic are children I like the most, you know?]
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Then suddenly… We are engulfed by jet black wings which decisively unfolded from Sybilla’s back.
Feathers that cannot be shown to anybody beside those who share her deepest secret.
The appearance of the Goddess who apart from us can never be seen by anybody else.
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[I am Sybilla. The one is called the ‘Dusk Goddess’.]
[….uh…?]
[Oh, just to clarify, I am not someone who is from the other side and aims to devour the Sun Goddess, okay? We are basically doing the same thing defeating demon lords except that I more or less work in the shadows… It’s a secret not known to everybody, is that clear?~]
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At least Eve can somehow nod for the time being.
Her face can’t hide the fact that she’s still bewildered though.
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[Russell here uses dark magic but he can use recovery magic as well. Though he’s kind of blunt, he is kind and gentle in the inside so I hope you can get along well with him, Eve-chan.]
[Stop talking like your someone’s mom.]
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We banter a bit to try and loosen the stiff atmosphere before Eve flinches and starts to move again.
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[…Iyaa~, I see…. That’s why you’d asked if I believe in the Sun Goddess, eh…. But then Onee-san, I’d believe yah’re a goddess if you just say so, y’see. Yah’re just too pretty. It’s so hard to believe yah’re the same as us humans y’know.]
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Eve laughs it off to assure us she’s fine after she recovers from her shock.
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[Rather… Since Sybilla-san’s a Goddess, then the one who granted my everyday prayers is indeed a goddess ain’t it. That’s why I’m taking my words back—.]
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Eve’s face then starts to change into a gentle one that we have never seen before as she stands straight in Sybilla’s direction with her hands down on top of the other.
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[–I shall believe in the Goddess. But then, the only Goddess I will dedicate my life to is Sybilla-san and nobody else!]
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The smile she shows after saying those words are as bright as a sun.
It’s Sybilla’s turn this time to be shocked as she widens her eyes upon hearing Eve.
…Her wings gently close as she makes her way and warmly strokes Eve’s head.
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[…Un, seems like I really got a wonderful child this time. Even I am doubting if this is really true.]
[Hehe, it’s kinda embarrassing when yah put it that way.]
[I will not forget the fact that you tried to steal from us from the beginning though.]
[Ah, eh, uhh…..]
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The mood is getting nice and all but why does Sybilla have to ruin it at the end?
Though Eve might have failed but that doesn’t change the fact that she committed a crime at the end. Seems like it isn’t something that can just be swept under the rug.
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[What else have you stolen before Russell’s pouch?]
[The-there’s nothing else! I didn’t steal from anyone else before for reals! That’s why when I was captured by Emmy-san I almost regretted it to death…]
[…I do not want to say these words either. But I will believe in you for the meantime, however, I’ll have you assist us in this dungeon exploration as your sign of repentance.]
[I – I’ll do it! I will do it even if there ain’t anything for me!]
[Oh no you don’t. If you won’t get anything from this then we will be the one who will worry for the children of the orphanage, no? The only loot you will get is from the monsters you defeated. I told you before, didn’t I… you will have to work your own hands for every penny you want! That, in return, will help us in the long run!]
[Sybilla-san! Gotchu!]
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…How crafty. On top of letting Eve repent and drop her guilt from her previous crime, she was able to guide her to a direction she can use to move forward.
Perhaps Eve has some vague ideas as well on what Sybilla’s true motive is as she goes on board with her. Nonetheless, looking at both of them gives me this feeling that they have gotten close with each other.
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Who would have thought that she’ll be one of our companions.
It’s just the second time we’ve met but… she doesn’t feel like just some stranger.
And it looks like we can believe in her based on the skills she shown earlier.
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[Well then, it’s been a long discussion but the night just came, no? It’ll be concerning if we stay later until early morning. We’re moving down!]
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We all nod our heads as we agree with Sybilla and make our way down to the second floor.
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…These stairs are kind of longer than usual for some reason.
As we reach the end of the stairs, Emmy, who is at the forefront, says [Uwa…!] with a hint of surprise in her voice.
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[What’s wrong?]
[Th-this….It’s so wide…!]
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We’re walking down next to Emmy but then… a next set of stairs appear to be separated from the set we are currently on appears to be wider and detach like it is floating.
What greets us after stepping down from the last step of that wide set of stairs is a small room without anything else. Going further, there’s a hall that is as big as a bedroom with a set of stairs going down from each of its four corners.
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This… Somehow… It is similar to what Jannet has taught me before….
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[Uwaa, don’t tell me we’re on top of a pyramid or something!?]
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Oh, yeah, that one.
A building reminiscent of history, and as what Sybilla had said, a pyramid. We seem like descending from its top to bottom.
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Then, looking around the floor where we believe is a top of a pyramid… The wide floor is already filled with reddish ground.
We can’t even see what’s further beyond except nothing but pitch darkness.
There’s just one thing we know about this floor. It is so terrifyingly wide.
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Sybilla sighs as she holds her head with both of her hands before screaming out.
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[Soooo DAAAMN EXTRAAAAAAAAAAA!?]
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The three of us send our heartfelt agreements with bitter smiles on our faces together with Sybilla’s shout on top of her lungs.
Who would have thought that the dungeon’s second floor is really nothing but pitch black as there is not even a wall at the edges and corners of the floor….
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[But based on the color of the ground, this seems to be a part of the lower levels. It is apparent that it is a newly made dungeon like what we’ve seen in Adoria, no? Then that makes it the fifth new dungeon, and with that being the case, it seems like the fourth dungeon we just went through was just completed.]
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The first day we explored Adoria dungeon back then, the bottom levels can already be found in the second floor but have changed the next day into the reddish ground of the lower levels.
However, the second floor remained to be a part of the lower levels the day after tomorrow. The current structure of this dungeon overlaps with the new one in Adoria that we explored which means that aside from this dungeon being newly created, it won’t be that fast for it to be expanded.
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[Things may appear simple but it’s quite troublesome… Monsters will probably come climbing up here from all sides and corners. I’ve said this earlier Eve-chan but remember not to go too far away from Russell, okay? That way you’ll never leave the effective range of his defensive magic.]
[Got it!]
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We prepare ourselves to fight monsters from the lower levels as Eve responded.
I pull my sword attached from my waist and recast wind barrier.
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I don’t know what kind of monsters will be appearing in the second floor but… if it’s that demon lord behind all of this, then there’s no use on guessing things until we meet.
Translator’s Note:
- Happy new year!
Coffee for Simply~.
Appreciate the post? Maybe you can buy me a cup of coffee?~
$2.00
Welcome back.
Happy New Year!
Stay safe and healthy this 2021
Same, Jeff! Good to be back!