The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 44
Seeing Shaelock surprised at my completely different appearance made me feel even better.
This is exactly what transformations are for.
Turning my head, expecting the other male leads to have changed expressions as well…
I was surprised to see Esban frowning deeply instead.
‘This isn’t what I expected?’
Esban wasn’t supposed to like this sort of thing.
Not that it was my business.
“Well, now that the veil is off, shall we go in quickly!”
However, I couldn’t help feeling embarrassed by someone frowning upon seeing my face.
Leading the conversation and clearing my throat, the other Espers nodded.
“Is there a way to enter through the barrier?”
“Espers and guides can just go in and out.”
Following Hedonia’s explanation, the Espers started walking towards the barrier.
They walked as naturally as if they were out for a stroll.
“Is that so? Then Young Hedonia—”
I was about to send Hedonia off, thinking it was right.
“And those who have experienced awakening or are close to awakening can also enter.”
Like the Espers and me, Hedonia naturally entered.
“It means that one can notice their own awakening like this.”
Hedonia, catching on to my shallow trick, crossed his arms and furrowed his brows.
However, attention towards Hedonia soon shifted elsewhere.
“…It’s turned into a mess.”
Esban was the first to express dismay.
Despite measures being taken with the barrier, it was impossible to revert the space back to its original state after the monsters had rampaged.
Not until the dungeon closed and the monsters disappeared.
Screeech!
A piercingly loud noise rang out. I grimaced and covered my ears.
“It seems this time we have entities that fly in the sky.”
“Who was originally in charge of this area?”
Upon Shaelock’s inquiry, Esban pulled out a paper and read it.
“An A-grade, Charlotte Shepherd, the daughter of the Shepherd Marquisate. She’s known as a mage Esper, and rumors say she handles her duties exceptionally well…”
Esban seemed to recognize the name.
“Let’s deal with this later and for now, it’s best to follow the path.”
Following Esban’s suggestion, Shaelock and Pheon nodded.
The playful atmosphere that existed just moments ago had completely vanished.
When immersed in work, they seemed like entirely different people.
The area, already evacuated, was completely empty, but as we moved towards the bustling center, the cries grew louder.
‘The dungeon entrance must be in the center.’
The journey was anything but smooth.
Various kinds of monsters that had emerged from the gate harassed us.
Mostly, these were avian creatures, their forms distorted beyond recognition, resembling crows yet eerily shape-shifting.
“There are an unusually high number of Blackbirds.”
“It seems we know who the dungeon boss might be.”
Esban and Pheon continued, as if familiar with the situation.
It appears the monsters are called Blackbirds, and the dungeon boss associated with Blackbirds is predetermined.
I perked up my ears and absorbed their conversation.
If I have to go in anyway… I’ll make sure to be fully prepared!
‘It’s like having friends who explain everything without being asked…’
The explanations about the dungeon itself were scant, but to me, who mainly remembers the psychological descriptions of the main characters, this information was invaluable.
Should I be relieved that the Blackbirds aren’t too large?
At least they seem to be sparing my eyesight.
Screeeeech—
As the cries of the Blackbirds sounded again, I covered my ears.
Eventually, as we approached the fountain in the center of the square, a crackling noise sounded loudly.
At the source of the sound was an unfamiliar space.
The circular area was covered in a pitch-black light as if painted with a brush.
“It’s the entrance.”
“Shall we go then?”
“Just a moment.”
“Why?”
Shaelock tilted her head, puzzled.
“I need to mentally prepare myself. It’s my first dungeon.”
I took a deep breath.
“Ah… don’t worry. Just guide us well.”
“Guides are crucial to us, so we’ll put our utmost effort into it. No need for unwarranted worries.”
Esban spat out bluntly from beside me.
…His words would have been quite comforting if only his tone hadn’t been so arrogant.
“Does the dungeon door close immediately once we enter?”
“No, it stays open until we defeat the boss.”
“I see…”
“Here, take my hand.”
Shaelock extended her hand to me. I was taken aback by the gesture that seemed almost like it could snatch away my strength, but…
‘I have no choice but to trust now.’
It struck me as peculiar, albeit suddenly, how fascinating the relationship between an Esper and a guide truly is.
Despite Espers possessing power beyond the world’s logic, they need guides to survive…
And guides, despite being so frail that protecting themselves is a challenge, have the power to command the strongest beings vested with all the world’s power at their whim.
While it may seem that Espers have the upper hand at a glance, the relationship is inevitably centered around guides.
This was an endless symbiotic relationship between the two.