Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 27
Translated by Elphie
Irene took a deep breath. After blinking her eyes several times, she looked back into the wooden chest.
But nothing had changed.
The only thing inside the wooden chest was the same pebble she had seen before, seemingly mocking her quietly.
“This can’t be right….”
She muttered to herself without realizing it.
A few days ago, Irene had requested records of all the dungeons that had appeared during this expedition. Those who used to insist on coming in person to record the details now, perhaps aware that Michael was taking care of her, had diligently transcribed and delivered all the information.
As a result, Irene could leisurely compare each record without the need to painstakingly copy them one by one.
Regardless, she had already confirmed the records of all dungeons that appeared and disappeared before her recent arrival. Thanks to that, Irene was certain that nothing had changed in the dungeons – the numbers, locations, attributes of the monsters, and even the rewards.
‘But why?’
‘The only thing that’s changed is the reward for this particular dungeon, number 181.’
She trembled holding the chest, a pitiful sight.
Michael cautiously spoke up, “Originally, rewards from lower dungeons sometimes come out completely worthless. It’s not just lower dungeons; even intermediate dungeons can yield similar results. So, please don’t be too disheartened.”
She knew. It was often difficult to obtain useful rewards in these lower dungeons.
However, this dungeon was not supposed to be like that!
As Irene stared at the pebble in disappointment, Michael seemed increasingly troubled.
“I understand your disappointment. For now, let’s return to the fortress and call it a day. I’ll ask the fortress to ensure your comfort…”
Although Michael continued to console her, Irene heard nothing but her own thoughts.
It’s all ruined.
* * *
Irene lay sprawled on the extravagant sofa in the opulent room, staring blankly at the ceiling. She couldn’t recall how she returned to the fortress recently. The memories were hazy at best. Upon exiting the dungeon, she vaguely remembered interacting with a staff member, discussing something about the chest and pebble, but that was about it.
“This can’t be happening.”
She swiftly got up, making her way to the large table at the center of the room. On it lay information about the dungeons she had previously researched and details about other pairs’ successful conquests until tonight.
Irene fetched her bag from the corner, the one she had prepared with essentials for a quick departure. She took out the papers where she had meticulously recorded memories and details upon returning to the past.
“Number 98, Number 115…”
In the past, Irene had made a habit of reviewing dungeon records daily. It wasn’t a hobby she particularly enjoyed; rather, it was a routine born out of necessity.
Having spent the entire day alone, unable to endure the boredom and melancholy, Irene eventually chose to peruse the records. She had wandered around, but the mocking voices of people had driven her back to the archives.
‘At least records related to dungeons were open for anyone to see.’
So, she frequented the record room to learn how other pairs conquered dungeons, what they gained, and more. She didn’t limit herself to the records of other pairs—she also delved into Michael’s records.
Unlike others, Michael tackled dungeons alone. Observing his records filled her with a sense of profound misery. It reaffirmed her belief in her own uselessness.
‘Fortunately, being a paladin made him resilient against magical afflictions.’
He could easily purify himself from minor magical ailments, rendering the need for him to seek out Irene unnecessary. Trying to forget the loneliness and misery, she continued to immerse herself in the records, not just about dungeons but also about every detail concerning monsters.
In the process, she unintentionally amassed knowledge beyond that of mere scholars, especially regarding the dungeons of that time period.
She flipped through the paper a few times and sank back in her chair.
‘Poring over these records won’t change anything.’
The only certainty she had now was that she hadn’t acquired the Invisibility Ring. That meant she still couldn’t leave the fortress.
“I don’t have the money…”
Feeling a sense of injustice, she struck the table with her fist in frustration, but that didn’t make an Invisibility Ring materialize out of thin air. Resting her face on the table, Irene sighed deeply. As she turned her head, she glanced at the items piled in the room.
“At least these are still here…”
Before she left in the morning, she told the fortress authorities that she hadn’t laid a finger on them and that they could return them as is. Of course, she also requested that they be returned to the Tyrenian Kingdom ambassador who paid for them.
However, upon returning, the fortress authorities insisted that returns were fundamentally impossible. At that time, her mind was elsewhere, and she let the information flow past her.
“Thank god.”
Irene muttered to herself as she found clothes among the stacked items. She wasn’t sure how things would turn out in the future, but she needed at least one set of clothes to change in for today.
“At least one outfit… No, two outfits…”
Thinking that clothes would be enough for now, she realized there was more to consider.
“Shoes… Underwear… Oh, soap!”
Before she knew it, a pile of items Irene might need had accumulated beside her.