The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 75
I gaped and then asked again.
“…A dungeon?”
“I managed to carve out some time today, but now there’s an emergency.”
“An emergency?”
I had hoped to finish my business quickly and return, but that didn’t seem likely.
It was better to end things here.
I calmly explained my situation to Pheon.
I believed that if I explained it rationally, Pheon would understand.
“I asked for your help as compensation for providing you with guidance. This seems no different now, and it’s much easier than preparing the Fairy’s Tears.”
“Preparing the Fairy’s Tears or handling the gems, it makes no difference to me.”
Pheon shook his head as he muttered.
His words were arrogant but seemed true.
“What do you mean by a dungeon?”
“I received a message just before meeting you. A dungeon gate has appeared at the southern edge of the capital.”
“Can’t you go yourself? I know the rules have changed so that espers now work in teams.”
Not wanting to follow him into the dungeon, I kept thinking of suitable excuses.
I was indeed a master of quick thinking.
“I might not be available after today. I have no intention of visiting you at Robert’s mansion under his watch.”
“So, you expect me to completely bend to your needs right now for your sake. What will you do if I refuse the deal?”
It was clear Pheon wanted to drag me into the dungeon because he disliked Robert and didn’t want to make time again.
As I pointed out the flaws in his reasoning one by one, Pheon’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“You’re more perceptive than I thought.”
…More perceptive than he thought? How did he see me before?
“The last dungeon was a special case. Usually, clearing a dungeon doesn’t take long. The time-consuming part is finding the boss.”
“I have to be back at the mansion by evening.”
Hedonia had told me to be back by evening, and I wanted to keep that promise.
“I’ll make sure you’re back by then. I’ll even share the dungeon rewards.”
Pheon spoke as if the dungeon was under his control.
I found that intriguing.
“With the last incident and all the people who have disappeared in the dungeon so far… How can you be sure it won’t take long?”
“I’m basing this on my analysis of dungeon patterns from the beginning until now. Besides, I don’t think either incident was caused by the dungeon.”
…That was unexpected.
Pheon, the strongest esper who had roamed the dungeons for a long time, thought this way?
“The dungeon is like a living organism we coexist with. As long as we act consistently, the dungeon behaves similarly.”
Pheon took a sip of tea and placed the cup down with elegance, even his pinky finger seemed graceful.
“Even though the incidents have been concluded as caused by the dungeon, you still think otherwise?”
“The dungeons near those incidents were manageable by a D-rank esper.”
I remembered the places because I had worked there when I started. Pheon’s thoughts began to make sense.
“Even the Blackbird incident?”
“It was possible if you lured it with gems and stabbed its eyes. It might have taken some time… but the dungeon itself wasn’t the problem.”
Pheon’s detailed explanations were clearly meant to convince me to go into the dungeon with him.
So I couldn’t fully trust his explanation.
“Then why don’t you quickly finish up and come back? I’ll wait here.”
“…Just come along. I’ll handle everything.”
Pheon finally frowned. It was curious to see him flustered by my decision… and I was puzzled as to why he was so insistent on taking me with him.
“…Is something going on?”
I asked, just in case.
“You’ll find out eventually… so I’ll tell you.”
Pheon gave a small laugh and muttered.
“It’s hard to see me at the mansion.”
“Because you’re busy.”
“It’s not my schedule. I tried visiting the mansion… but Hedonia seems to particularly dislike me visiting. It’s hard to find time.”
…That was an unexpected reason.
“Even after talking with the Duke and somehow making time, it’s really difficult to spend time with you, Karina. It seems the little girl of the Duke is determined.”
“…”
“Since she’s never had anything of his own, it’s natural she’d be possessive of you.”
I blinked at his words.
“Today’s time was barely managed too.”
“You didn’t mention this at first.”
“Admitting that I lost a power struggle to the Lady would hurt my pride. But without doing this, I can’t properly receive guiding.”
It all made sense now.
Pheon glanced at the clock and stood up.
“Let’s do this. Come with me to the dungeon. If I can’t return you to the mansion without any issues by evening, I’ll give you this mansion and all my property.”