Chapter 58

Chapter 58

“How was it in the dungeon?”

Shamune, who could not bear to see it, turned the topic around. Haha, this time again he forced out a laugh that made the awkwardness he felt apparent. So, Andra gently answered the question. Of course she couldn’t be honest, so she roughly mixed it with lies.

“It was fine. Because nothing happened.”

“Really? Nothing happened, right? Did nothing happen between you and Lord Airak?”

“What?”

“No, that’s not it, Miss Avellin, you look tired…”

Andra unconsciously put her hand on her face at Shamune’s friendly concern. As she entered the dungeon, all she did was walk with the crew. There wasn’t much for her to get tired of.

Of course, there were many things that the crew didn’t remember, but that didn’t happen to anyone else. Therefore, Andra had to have an outwardly normal appearance.

But she looked tired? Did she have dark circles around her eyes? She didn’t bring a mirror with her, so there’s no way for her to see what she looked like.

Andra looked at Shamune silently for a moment. At this, he continued speaking, albeit stuttering as a bewildered look was stamped on his face.

“Uh, that’s… I don’t mean anything else, it’s just that you look so tired… I wondered if something had happened between you and Lord Airak in the dungeon.”

“Ah… No, nothing really happened.”

Andra wiped her face with her hands. Looking back, she was more tired mentally than physically. She didn’t even know what she had to go through in the dungeon, and she had to suffer from Dustin for a while when she came out.

Her body was as nimble as usual, but her mind was limp like a wet tissue.

“Well, I’m tired, but…”

“You can’t brush it off lightly. It could be an aftereffect of something. No matter how safe a dungeon seems, a dungeon is still a dungeon. Besides, you’re a novice at this, Miss Avellin. Since you have been in and out of the dungeon many times in a row lately, you must have accumulated a lot of fatigue.”

“But when I got in there, all I had to do was walk.”

“Nevertheless. The environment inside the dungeon and the environment outside the dungeon are definitely different. I’ll tell the professor, so you should get some rest, Miss Avellin. The professor will understand. She is not that cold hearted.”

At Shamune’s words, Andra nodded. Clearly, Professor Velott was tolerant of a student saying she was ill. She used to send a student to the infirmary when they came to class while they’re sick, or fill out a document acknowledging early departure and send them home.

‘The problem is that she is not generous regarding other matters.’

Andra took a deep breath as she remembered Professor Velott.

“Then… I’m sorry, but I’m counting on you. I am tired though. As Shamune said, if I take a nap and wake up, I’ll be fine, right?”

“Is there anything to be sorry about? Health comes first! Anyway, I don’t think they plan on going back to the dungeon for a while, so it’s okay to rest for a day or two. The professor…”

Shamune’s words became less and less when the mention of Professor Velott came. Soon, as if escaping from reality, he laughed again ​​and said that he would bring Andra to her room. However, there was one person who stood in Shamune’s way.

Seeing Dustin standing in front of him, casting a shadow, Shamune made a surprised face. What? When did he come?

“Oh, hello, Sir Airak.”

Dustin glanced at Andra and Shamune for a moment, then knitted his eyebrows. At this, Shamune gulped dryly without realizing it.

“But Sir, is something the matter…?”

“There’s something I have to discuss with Lady Avellin, if it’s okay with you, please excuse us.”

Dustin lowered his voice while looking down at Shamune.

Andra frowned at Dustin, who strangely stood on her nerves. Why was he in a bad mood again? Andra nodded her head reluctantly as she found Shamune staring at herself and Dustin.

“It’s okay, Shamune. I’ll go speak with Lord Airak.”

“But…”

“It’s because it’s important. It won’t take long.”

Even with Andra’s words, Shamune was not easily relieved. He looked at Andra with a restless face. It looked like he was worried that Dustin would harm Andra at all.

Because of this, Dustin’s insides felt heavier even more. He was about to say something to Shamune, but Andra led Dustin and left with him first.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Shamune.”

“Ah yes. then… I’ll see you tomorrow. Miss Avellin, you must rest well when you return!”

“Absolutely. I will rest.”

After escaping from Shamune, Andra led Dustin to a remote place and made sure that no one else was around. After that, she shook off Dustin’s hand as if she had been holding something unpleasant. Then she crossed her arms crookedly and stood straight in front of Dustin. Because of his tall stature, her gaze at Dustin naturally rose upwards.

“Why are you coming up to me all of a sudden like this again?”

Shamune would have misunderstood when Dustin came to see her that way. Andra managed to let out a heavy sigh and looked at Dustin with displeasure in her eyes. She really hated everything about him.

Dustin, on the other hand, looked at his hand for a moment, which had been violently thrown off by Andra, and then he lifted his head and met Andra’s gaze. Contempt was evident in her blue eyes. Seeing this made his breath suddenly get lodged in his throat. It felt like he was suffocating.

But he tried to act as normal as possible.

“You were the one who asked to leave the dungeon and talk again.”

And you slapped me on the cheek. Andra raised her eyebrows as Dustin added softly. Was he picking up a fight now?

“Then did you think that it would get away after doing that? Do you think I don’t want to slap your cheek right now?”

“Then hit me. Until you’re satisfied.”

“What?”

Andra doubted her ears for a moment. Because she couldn’t believe the words that came out of Dustin’s mouth. What was he saying now? As Andra looked up at Dustin with a bewildered look, he opened his mouth again and said to her.

“You said you wanted to hit me? Hit me.”

“…If you say that, do you really think I won’t be able to hit you?”

“Then hit me. Until you are satisfied.”

Dustin hurriedly approached Andra’s front. The distance between the two of them instantly decreased to one span.

Andra smirked at Dustin’s face that was just right in front. She knew that he was a formidable bastard, but every time she looked at it like this, it was absurd.

‘If you really want to.’

“Clench your teeth.”

Andra closed one fist and took a few steps back. Then without hesitation, she swung her fist towards Dustin’s face. Dustin’s head turned with a loud smack! Of course, his body did not stagger even though she hit him quite hard, probably because he was strong.

“…Is that it?”

Dustin moved his chin for a moment, then realized it was okay and asked Andra. There were no traces of anyone hitting his face. His face didn’t even turn red. A slightly torn lip was the only proof that Andra had hit him.

“No. But I’ll stop here. If I hit you more, only my hand will hurt.”

Andra released her hand from the clenching fist.

“How generous.”

“Don’t make fun of me. Because it’s not worth hitting any more. And if you think that just because I hit you a few times will make my anger better, you are wrong.”

“Scary.”

Still, her punch was pretty good. Dustin muttered, wiping the blood that was belatedly flowing from his chapped lips with the back of his hand. Andra felt tired rather than angry at his appearance, as if showing no sign of remorse.

“How did I even manage to get involved with you… Never mind, the more I think about it, the more my head hurts.”

Yes, Dustin Airak apologized. In fact, she didn’t even want an apology from the beginning. An apology between the two of them was almost impossible. Andra slowly opened her mouth after swallowing a sigh that was about to pour out once more.

“Dustin Airak, for the time being, don’t come to me until I call you. Don’t pretend like we’re close. No, just don’t even look into my eyes.”

Dustin’s gaze towards her froze. Don’t show up in front of her? Again, it felt like he was being strangled. It wasn’t just that. His heart throbbed little by little, and his heart tightened. And then it felt like his entire being was getting pushed down.

It was a strange feeling. Why was he feeling this way?

Andra telling him to get lost was something he had experienced many times already. To add a little exaggeration, saying ‘get lost’ was almost a greeting between them. So this time, there should be no reaction, so it should be normal, but why is his heart pounding now?

And ‘for the time being’? So, was she saying that she would want to meet him later?

Andra raised her wrist and pointed to the full light of the tattoo, as Dustin tried to organize his confused thoughts.

“Anyway, the light must have been filled with what happened. I’m going to be busy with so many things I have to do from now on. To the extent that it’s a waste of time even arguing with you like this. You won’t know what I’m talking about because you usually just use your strength ignorantly.”

“…Until when?”

“I told you. Until I call you.”

That’s a promise-less statement. It made his own mood plummet to the ground. He muttered to himself. Damn. He really didn’t know why he was feeling this way. He licked his lips with an unpleasant look.

“Hey, I’m not even a dog waiting for its owner…”

“You are a dog.”

Andra looked at Dustin with a colder gaze than ever. Couldn’t he remember admitting with his own mouth that he’s a dog? Dustin shut his mouth unconsciously at that question. He forgot for a moment. He lost his reason and really acted like a dog towards Andra.

“If you know you’re a dog, then act like it.”

Dustin’s eyes narrowed heavily at the next words. Dog… He couldn’t even object. Because even he knew that he had been nothing but a dog at that time. Crazy. He just dug his own grave.

But all of a sudden, Dustin decided to be brazen. Otherwise, it seemed that he would not be able to hide this pounding heart.

“Oh, if I’m a dog, I should act like a dog?”

“Yes, wait patiently…”

“Then Andra Avellin, are you my master?”

“What?”

Dustin reached out and grabbed Andra’s arm. If you are the master…

“Even when you’ve f*cked your dog, you’re still the master, right?”