CH 250

"We won!"

"We won!"

"Hurray!"

"We did it!"

"Fuhaha, we did it!"

From top to bottom, Lana, Hannah, Ester, Sierra and finally myself cheered in triumph.

It surprised me! Usually it's only I and Lana cheering up with Hannah getting along on the flow but this time, everyone joined!

I guess this just tells how formidable the Intermediate dungeon boss was this time. I was glad to see everyone happy as a team.

"ah, the mark!"

Everyone's attention turned to their hand when Hannah exclaimed, and suddenly found a mark in our grasp.

I also looked at my hand and the mark was there, the mark that shows we have conquered Dinosaur's Hill dungeon.

Hmm, it kind of feels nice to see that. After all, in the game, only a message would pop-up telling players they have got the mark but seeing it actually on my hand gave a different kind of feeling, pleasant and satisfying.

I turned to look at other members' expressions and Hannah and Lana were making a joyful expression. Ester's lips were drawn into a sloppy smile and even the usually cool expression of Sierra's was coming out.

I couldn't look into the mirror but I guess I should be having a broad grin on my face too. I quickly put the mark onto my chest.

There's now one more medal to shine on my chest! Fuhahaha!

After basking in the pleasure of passing a hard hurdle, it was now turn to check out the drop.

"So the number of drops from the Intermediate dungeon remains the same as Beginner Dungeons. It kind of felt unreasonable even though the boss was so strong."

Lana pursued her lips and pouted in dissatisfaction looking at the drops scattered around.

Well, that's how it is. Beginner Dungeon at the end is just beginner. In other words, gentle on first timers.

And this is the result when you let yourself drown into that kindness. World is so hard!

Everyone's gaze, after sorting out all the drops except the treasure chest, gathered in one spot.

Of course, their gazes were gathered at nothing else but the treasure chests. What's more, it was a Gold Chest! And the icing was there were 2!

It was quite lucky of us to get a total of 3 gold chest out of the 6 boss battles we have fought in this dungeon.

Could it be the so-called Beginner luck?

No wait, of course it had to be the blessing of the great Sachineko-sama. (Totally believed it)

I definitely have to offer some delicious meat to great Sachineko-sama later!

...... Perhaps it's the work of Sachineko-sama that is guiding my thoughts? The image of golden meat flashed past my mind.

No-No, I must be imagining things. There's no way the great Sachineko-sama would demand anything like that!

Anyway, it was the treasure chest from our first Intermediate dungeon final boss.

Alright, there's no doubt what I'm thinking was right! This stage was for the guild master, me, to take on and open them as the representative of the conqueror's party!

"Halt there, Zephyr! I will not accept this transgression of yours!"

"Lana-sama is right, Zephyr-kun! There's no stipulation that the guild master has the authority to open the gold chest first!"

"Whaaaat!?"

Lana and Hannah, who perceived my intention, took no time and intercepted me before the treasure chest, stopping from taking any further steps.

Kuh, who in the name of Dungeon decided the guild master doesn't have the authority to open the treasure chest! Preposterous!

"This is but the guild's master stage only! I think I should open the chest and take on the responsibility! No, I will open them!"

"You can't!"

"You can't!?"

I didn't expect them to say ‘you can't’. It shouldn't have been happening!

"Then who else but me has the right to open them!?"

"Of course, it's me!"

"And I!?"

"Rejected!"

Kuh, Lana, you... ! She rejected me so brazenly. I even felt a bit of the princess's aura from her.

"Zephyr, I hope you haven't forgotten what I had said last time, you haven't, right?"

Sierra interjected between our quarrel. Last time? Huh? I wonder what she's talking about?

And Lana already had a triumphant grin plastered on her face.

"The order was supposed to be Hannah and then Her Highness Lana's turn. It was you who opened them last time, didn't you?"

"Kuh, I think I remember that."

"Didn't you just forget that!"

I thought I would be able to gloss my way but it was just my naive thinking.

"Geez, you really are quite a hopeless child, aren't you."

I never expected Hannah out of all to call me a hopeless child. There was nothing more mortifying than that.

"I don't think you have to make such a long face...... Sigh, how about you two open together?"

" "Together?" "

My mind was boggled by Sierra's unexpected proposal. My and Lana's voices overlapped. Hannah was already sticking closer to one of the chest she has decided on and was trying to play dumb, pretending as if she didn't hear anything.

Still though... Opening together. This thought never crossed my mind. Nor even I was playing this as a game.

"But that's only if Her Highness agrees though."

Lana was grumbling something in a voice ever so faintly at Sierra's words. I think I heard something like "C-Could it be...... working as a pair?", Was it just my imagination?

"Ahem. Well... I think I might give it a thought if you beg me, so?"

Whaaaat!? Of course, the answer was already decided!

"I absolutely want to open it with Lana!"

"Fuwa!? You didn't even hesitate? E-Ehh? W-well, if you insist so hardly, okay, I guess?"

"Why the question mark?"

Nevertheless, the magnanimous Lana gave me permission to open them together! Thank you very much, the great Lana-sama!

I was a bit curious as to why Lana looked slightly nervous but there was no time to think about it. I took the right side while Lana took the left side as we stood in front of the gold chest.

"Don't you think we're a bit too close?"

"T-There's no helping it. It's a gold chest fault to be so small."

As we stood together, I noticed I and Lana were completely glued together. I was pretty sure if I hadn't been wearing Firmament Armor, our shoulders would be touching together.

Damn, why was I even wearing the armor!? I wonder if the excuse of "it's quite hot there" and removing my armour would work? I guess not.

Somehow, I was feeling another kind of excitement, different from the excitement of opening the gold chest.

I turned to look at Lana and she was beet-red till the root of her ears. Huh? We're just opening the treasure chest, right? The air was kind of filled with some kind of ambiguousness I wasn't familiar with. How did it come to this?

"I think I'm jealous of Lana-sama now."

"Indeed. I know I was the one to propose that idea but, maybe it would have been better if I was the one opening it."

Hannah and Sierra were whispering something behind us but I couldn't hear very well.

My eyes suddenly met with Lana's eyes. I felt like an invisible power was drawing me in her blue eyes, reminiscing the ocean. I never knew Lana's eyes were so beautiful when gazing at them from so close.

"H-Hey, Zephyr. Don't stare for so long. It's embarrassing"

"So-sorry... I was just dazed by your beautiful eyes, they sure are pretty."

"Wha!? H-Hmph, this doesn't make me any happy. Not unless you...... Praise more."

"Hurry up and open the chest!"

Sierra interrupted and chided us. Was I just imagining things or her voice sounded more colder than usual? The air was scaring me a bit.

"Your Highness Lana, it seems like you're not so keen on opening on the chest. Maybe we should switch places."

"Y-You can't! I'm opening it! Zephyr, the prayer!"

Flustered, Lana hurriedly offered her prayer to Sachineko-sama, I followed her. I felt like I heard Sierra's sighing behind.

"Then let's open it when I say go."

"Okay."

"Go!"

I grabbed the right side while Lana grabbed the left side and opened the lid at the same time.

Everyone leaned over and checked the content.

What was inside was,

"Ah!"

"This!"

"Oh!"

"Wha!?"

"Seriously!?"

From top to bottom, Lana, Sierra, Ester, Hannah and I let out astonished yelp in order.

The thing inside the Gold chest was something so famous and precious that hardly anymore would be unaware of it. It wasー

<Advanced Job Ascension Ticket>.