CH 47.2

By repetitively grinding kobolds, they renewed their fighting style. Now they were more flexible in responding to emergencies.

Due to engaging in fights for a long time, they had their fighting will polished as well.

But Cloud wasn’t satisfied with that.

He wanted them to have stronger willpower.

So he mulled about what to do, and decided to cut down on their sleep.

They now slept for only 3 hours a day and explored the dungeon rest of the time.

For the three women, it felt really close to dying.

Moreover, from 15th floor onwards, the level of the monsters became similar to theirs, making the raid more difficult, yet reducing the amount of time they spent sleeping…

Physical and mental fatigue was no joke.

Once they even begged him to let them sleep only for 5 hours a day, yet…

– Nope. I have no intention of changing the decision. Go back.

They were bitterly rejected.

According to him, he had the things in perfect balance.

Eri wanted to seriously question whether he had made some great mistake in his calculations.

But she couldn’t.

Because.

It was the same for Cloud, who also slept only 3 hours a day.

If she complained more than that, he would only be disappointed with her.

And that was not happening!

Eri always recalled what happened some time ago. Cloud decided to break up with them simply because they wanted to take the easier path.

It meant that Cloud had no attachment to them.

It doesn’t matter to him even if they have to part.

‘What actually happened in these months? People really do change, hah.’

If he hated them or resented them, she would understand…

Yet, why was it indifference?

No, reason told her, it wasn’t indifference either.

“Come on, Eri. A new magic skill book I got today. Can you learn it in a few days?”

He kept picking up magic books just out of nowhere and always brought them to her.

He brought the spellbook to her wand, like a wizard who enchanted it with magic.

“…three days would be enough.”

“You can’t overdo it by reducing the amount of time you sleep. We have enough time.”

“No. Three days are enough.”

…she took it again, like always.

Cloud reassured her, but Eri, herself, was worried.

Lest he saw her as useless.

She was afraid of being abandoned, of being thought of as useless.

“Let’s not trouble Eri while she is studying. Hero, let’s light a bonfire and rest…”

“Ah, that’s right, Ophelia, I have one for you too.”

Cloud said, pulling out an old divine skill tome. Ophelia’s eyes widened as she saw the tome.

“…huh? Wh, Why is something like that in a dungeon of all places…”

“No doubt. The person who made the dungeon must have been a faithful person! Come on, take it.”

Cloud placed the tome on Ophelia’s palm.

Ophelia looked at it, her shoulders trembled.

“Ophelia, how long do you think it will take you to learn this?”

Ophelia’s ears perked up.

She might get more time than Eri if she ardently appealed she wasn’t good with her head.

With that hope…

“Three days shall be enough for Ophelia. She is as smart as me.”

Eri shattered that hope herself.

Cloud gave a slightly surprised expression.

“Really?”

“Of course. Ophelia is a saintess candidate. A nun without a good brain in her head will not be a candidate for sainthood.”

“Sounds right. Then, Ophelia, you can accompany Eri for three days. Neria, let’s light a bonfire and get ready to rest.”

“Ah? Aaah, wait a minute..! Hero…?!”

Ophelia called out in a desperate tone, but Cloud did not look back.

She looked at Eri with a despairing expression.

“Eri… why…?”

“…sorry.”

There was no way Eri would admit that she felt lonely waking up alone when everyone else was fast asleep.

* * *

[Hellfire]-!

Searing flames rose from the magic circle beneath the three gargoyles.

Two of the three gargoyles turned into ashes without being able to withstand the flames bearing the moniker of hell itself.

The remaining one was mortally wounded, but somehow flanked and tried to injure Eri with its sharp claws.

– Kang!

The gargoyle’s claws were blocked by Neria’s shield.

As the gargoyle was about to attack again, a thick mace slammed into its head.

– Kaaah!

The gargoyle staggered and let out a ferocious screech. Either way, the mace bashing its head didn’t stop.

The mace stopped only after the gargoyle’s head was crushed beyond recognition.

""

‘Successful.’

The results of the previous training were clearly visible.

I looked at the three women with delighted expression.

“…the flames at the middle were weak. Is it mana circuit’s problem? No. Maybe it’s just that my concentration is messed up. Calm down, Eri. You can do it. You can do it.”

Eri mumbled forlornly while training to fence with her wand.

“…”

Neria wiped her shield with an indifferent expression.

“Huhuhuhuh… It’s because you don’t follow Iris-sama’s doctrine. Oh, it’s a monster, so it probably wouldn’t understand the broad meaning of Iris-sama anyway. I’m sorry… I hope you will be born as a faithful servant who can follow Iris-sama’s words in your next life, amen…”

Ophelia giggled sitting next to the gargoyle’s corpse.

Well. They seem to be reaching their limit.

If I did more, they would be broken.

They have polished their basics, so now I should give them a good rest.

I said to them.

“Up until now, you guys had a hard time, sleeping only three hours a day. Let’s go to the last boss room. But, before we engage in the final battle, let’s sleep as much as we want.”

At my words, the three women stopped whatever they were doing. They calmly exchanged glances with each other…

And they… they ran like crazy.

I was stunned for a while at first… but then I came to my senses and followed after them.

“Guys! You understand what I’m saying, right?! Instead of thrashing the last boss, we are resting in front of the boss room! No, rather than that, how do you know where the boss room is!? Stop! Wait for me, guys!”

So, after many twists and turns, we were finally able to defeat the 30th floor’s boss Minotaur and entered the reward room.

“The one who cleared the dungeon. Welcome~”

There was an Angel in the reward room.

It wasn’t in the game.