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Chapter 24: Seriously, you're ridiculously cautious.
Even back in the other world when I worked with the Hero’s party, we never had a porter.
But here, I’m about to enter a D-rank dungeon as a mage with not just one, but two porters!
Well, back then, there was no way to protect a porter while slaughtering demons, so we couldn’t have one in the first place.
On the other hand, isn’t this a bit too luxurious?
[The goddess sets off fireworks, celebrating the formation of the harem party the Hero had long dreamed of.]
A harem?
But it’s a 2:2 ratio of men and women.
‘No, wait, that might actually be better.’
Group blind dates and mixers usually have equal numbers of people, don’t they?
Yeah, this is actually good.
If I were alone, I’d probably be too self-conscious around the porters (mages), but if I split responsibilities with Emir, we might be able to explore the dungeon in a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
…At some point, my brain started thinking of this more as a date than an herb-gathering trip, which felt odd.
But since I had already agreed to go, it seemed best to enjoy the trip without stress.
Alright, let’s go in fun mode.
Whether it’s a harem party or whatever, the most important thing is to come back safe.
Let’s just make sure we’re well-prepared.
A D-rank dungeon at worst would have orc-level monsters, so it shouldn’t be too dangerous, but thorough preparation is never a bad thing.
Let’s assume the worst and prepare for getting lost, just in case.
[The goddess looks at the Hero with a proud expression.]
I put more effort into packing my exploration backpack than I ever did when packing for a trip.
* * *
And so, Saturday finally arrived.
The appointed time for our meeting at the D-rank dungeon that had appeared in front of Ichon Station, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
“This… this is my chance.”
Sephine Alavad, who had always been too nervous to even properly speak, was burning with determination.
After repeatedly missing out on being assigned to the same group during class projects, this kind of outdoor activity was like a godsend.
It was as if the heavens were smiling upon her.
“Um, excuse me? I was the one who made this happen.”
“Oh, O divine one.”
Technically, it was thanks to her deskmate, Maho, but since Maho might as well be a goddess, it didn’t really matter.
Fueled by dopamine and endorphins, Sephine sincerely believed this to be true.
Of course, that didn’t mean she had no worries.
“…But is this really okay?”
With a concerned expression, Sephine adjusted the lightweight helmet covering her ivory-colored hair.
She had always worn a mage’s hat, so this was her first time wearing a proper helmet.
Not just a helmet, either—she was fully armored from top to bottom.
Even though it was lightweight and made of advanced materials, she was wearing a helmet, greaves, and gauntlets.
‘Isn’t this overkill?’
She had wanted to look attractive and stylish, but this was the kind of heavy gear you’d wear to war.
Honestly… she looked awful.
Still, it was better than getting turned into goblin chow.
But she worried she might seem like a coward, wrapping herself in iron for fear of death.
“Nah, I don’t think so. If anything, serious people prefer seeing thorough preparation before a dungeon dive.”
“R-really?”
“Yeah, and you look good too. The full armor makes you look like a Valkyrie.”
Hearing that, Sephine clutched her chest.
"Valkyrie" was practically synonymous with the world’s strongest warriors.
Even though she knew it was just flattery, she couldn’t help but feel good about it.
‘Honestly, Maho suits the Valkyrie look way more than I do, though.’
Even though they were both mages, Maho had a great figure and striking pink hair.
…Honestly, she just looked prettier.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt like she had a strong rival standing right next to her.
‘Ugh, am I too chubby?’
Maybe she should go on a diet.
She had always worn loose clothing, but now that she was in tight armor, her chest felt suffocating.
“…Ugh.”
Fidgeting with her breastplate, a question suddenly came to her.
She turned to Maho.
“So… you’re not interested?”
“In what? Yuseong?”
“…Y-yeah.”
“I don’t want to date him, but I’m definitely interested.”
“In what way?”
Did she mean she wanted a no-strings-attached relationship?
A physical-only arrangement?
Sephine’s pupils trembled slightly.
Maho, noticing the misunderstanding, replied with an exasperated look.
“Ugh, don’t get weird ideas. I just meant that I heard he’s really strong.”
“…Oh.”
“I like strong people.”
“…?”
Wait, in what way?
Sephine was a little confused but decided not to press further.
Asking too much might make her seem desperate.
She had been given this opportunity, so all she could do was summon her courage and do her best.
Just as she steeled her resolve, she spotted Shin Yuseong and Emir arriving with the rental gear from the guild.
Some might find Emir, with his androgynous looks and shorter stature, appealing…
“…Guh!”
But as soon as she laid eyes on Shin Yuseong in his lightweight armor—just like hers—she lost all sense of her surroundings.
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His presence was so overwhelmingly attractive that Emir disappeared from her vision entirely.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Clutching the breastplate that covered her rapidly beating chest, she forced herself to look away.
If she kept staring like this, she was sure it wouldn’t be good for her health.
* * *
Ichon Station, Exit 2.
Next to the Yongsan Children's Park stood a portal emitting a blue glow.
I had seen pictures of it online, but seeing it up close was a completely different experience.
It was fascinating—and also made me wonder how the god of this world had coded reality for something like this to exist.
‘I really haven’t been out and about, huh.’
With dungeons appearing in every neighborhood, it wouldn’t have been strange to run into a portal at least once.
But since I only ever went back and forth between home and school, I hadn’t.
The farthest I ventured was maybe the convenience store or out for a meal.
So, heading to the Hunter Association and even exploring a dungeon this time was quite the rare occurrence.
[The goddess watches the hero leave the house at last with a proud expression.]
‘Feels like a mother watching her shut-in son finally step outside.’
[The goddess nods, saying it’s not entirely inaccurate.]
Ah, so that’s what it was.
All this time, it was the goddess’s motherly wish to marry off her homebody son.
Finally grasping her grand vision, I clasped my hands in prayer and turned my attention to my party members.
Sephine, Maho, and Emir.
Joking around with the goddess was certainly fun, but lightheartedness had no place on the battlefield—not for me.
Even if the others could laugh and walk casually, as the leader, I had to keep my focus razor-sharp.
If any of the three were to get hurt, I would be furious with myself.
It was easier to be alone—it always was—but I had to learn how to be part of this world.
I couldn’t just form a party with muscle-bound old men like back in the other world’s hero party.
[The goddess blesses the hero with a smiling face.]
“Let’s go.”
“Yep.”
Forcing myself to suppress the silly grin from finally achieving my long-dreamed-of mixed-gender party, I stepped into the dungeon.
‧
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‧
‧
The moment I passed through the portal, I let the floating sensation carry me for a brief moment.
Then, my vision shifted.
Instead of towering skyscrapers and honking cars, there was only a narrow, dim corridor.
When I looked up, water dripped from stalactites, falling with a faint plop.
I had known what to expect, but still, it was far from a picnic or a date spot.
“I’ll take the front. The mages will be in the center, and Emir will cover the rear. Unless enemies ambush us from behind, we’ll stick to this formation.”
“Got it!”
“Roger that~.”
Sephine swiftly took her position behind me, while Maho, with her pink hair, followed with an oddly bright expression.
Emir, on the other hand, silently glanced around, jotting something into a notebook.
Seriously?
Already writing a report at the entrance?
Killing monsters was work enough—taking notes on top of it seemed like an ordeal in itself.
After confirming that all party members had entered the cave, I began to move forward cautiously, scanning the surroundings.
The path was straightforward, but I checked for smaller tunnels where monsters could potentially crawl through.
If I missed any, we could be ambushed from behind, and someone could get hurt.
“This way.”
Although I was already detecting the entire cave with my mana, I proceeded with utmost caution, just in case an elite monster appeared unexpectedly.
* * *
[The hero meticulously explores the cave.]
After nearly ten minutes of the hero steadily advancing with painstaking caution, the goddess, without realizing it, let out a vulgar remark.
“Gods, he’s annoyingly thorough.”
She had kept silent, watching him work with a stern expression.
But now, she couldn’t help herself.
This was the same man who had once cut down dragons with ease.
Even with his power now limited by the world’s rules, causality, and balance, he still wielded near demi-godlike combat strength.
Even now, he could easily crush most monsters, yet he was being this excessively humble.
‘You do know it’s just an orc cave, right? Hero?’
At this rate, anyone watching would think he was walking through the Demon Lord’s castle.
Even if an orc champion appeared, he’d still win.
Sure, this cautious nature was probably why he had been able to wipe out the demons and devils before, but still—
Seeing him move so carefully again and again made her sigh.
If he was going to form a mixed-gender party, shouldn’t he at least hold hands or sneak in a kiss or something?
“Next time, I’m sending him somewhere cute and cozy,”
She muttered to herself.
Just as the goddess made this resolution, a monster finally appeared before the party.
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