I felt my head throbbing as I quickly spun around.
"Why are you here?"
Just as I thought, Piel was behind me.
She reached out, grabbing the nape of my neck.
"You... idiot! What are you doing alone? Come out quick... cough, cough!"
However, Piel fell to her knees before finishing her sentence, just like me.
This is bad.
I had entered the dungeon with the intent to write a report that I discovered 'such and such trap~'.
I hurriedly rummaged through my bag and drank a [Debuff Recovery Potion] to soothe my spinning mind.
Soon enough, my blurred vision became clear, and the pounding headache eased.
Suddenly.
[You've used an item to counter a debuff for the first time. You've gained 1 shop coin as a reward.]
[Total reward: 1 shop coin]
A window announcing quest completion popped up, but there was no time to rejoice.
"Markvern."
Piel was clinging tightly to me with her arm.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed tears pooling in Piel's eyes.
'Oh, great.'
Markvern, Piel's fourth older brother, was a half-sibling.
In the original game, whenever Piel found herself in a tough spot, she would often quietly call out for Markvern.
Markvern had passed away in an accident when Piel was still young.
I'm unsure about the nature of the accident since it wasn't disclosed in the original game.
Even when Neike, the original game's protagonist, asked about Markvern, she always remained silent.
'Ugh.'
I need to soothe her, and quickly.
Her grip on me was getting stronger.
At this rate, my arm might break.
And my arm is stuck, so I can't hand her a [Debuff Recovery Potion]... sigh.
"Don't worry, Piel."
I somehow moved my trapped arm and patted her back.
I attempted a rough pat, but my arm's restricted movement made it a gentle stroke.
"Why did you... abandon me... why...!"
Regardless of my response, Piel sobbed louder, squeezing my arm even harder.
I felt like I might collapse.
If I could just yell, maybe the pain would lessen.
But enhanced [Twisted Noble's Dignity] wouldn't allow me to express such indignity.
I had no other choice.
I decided to fight fire with fire.
I hugged Piel just as tightly as she was holding me.
Then I whispered in her ear.
"Piel, I'm here right now. I won't leave, even if you let go."
"Really?"
It was only then that I could feel Piel's arms slackening their hold.
Perfect timing.
Now is the chance.
I seized the opportunity of the loosened hold to try and pull away from her.
But--
"Don't leave."
This is a problem.
As expected, Piel's reflexes were too quick for a third-rate character like me.
The moment I tried to break free, she drew me back into her embrace.
She then lifted her tear-stained, dazed gaze to meet mine.
"Please... respond."
'What should I say?'
Piel was clearly mixing up Markvern and me in her mind.
I had no idea what sort of person Markvern was.
Yet, if he was capable of supporting a fiery, proud girl like Piel, he must have been an endlessly gentle and straightforward man.
I pictured Markvern in my mind and met Piel's gaze with a tender smile.
"Of course, Piel. Where would I go, leaving you behind?"
With these words, I pulled her into a tight hug.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
After expressing something as graceless as 'yes, really,' I felt a sharp twinge of pain.
However, I kept it hidden, continuing our conversation.
"I'll stay by your side whenever you need me. You don't need to hold on so tightly."
"Hmm."
Piel's grip relaxed.
'If I make a sudden move, she'll grab me again.'
Keeping this in mind, I carefully retrieved a [Debuff Recovery Potion] from my bag and uncapped it.
"This is the precious medicine I had earlier. It's the reason I can stand here with you now, Piel. Want to give it a try?"
I extended the potion towards Piel.
Piel nodded slowly, accepted the potion, and took a sip.
She squinted at me.
"I'm still scared. Can I keep holding you?"
"Sure, but..."
Before I could finish my reply, Piel's arms wound around me once again.
At least my arm wasn't on the verge of snapping like before.
Either way, she drank the potion.
That was the primary goal.
Piel's dazed expression eventually cleared.
"Huh?"
After blinking and looking around, Piel turned her gaze towards me.
I murmured under my breath.
"You're back."
"!"
Piel quickly released me and stepped back.
"What, what happened? What in the world...?"
"Well, let me explain."
I explained what happened calmly.
Piel's face gradually reddened.
This was a first; I've never seen her react like this before.
This was new.
Once I finished the explanation.
"Did I, did I really do that, guys?"
Piel looked at Travis, Monica, and Andrew with wide, shaky eyes.
They nodded in response, their mouths agape.
Piel's eyes trembled as though shaken by an earthquake.
"What have I, what did I...?"
"Didn't I warn you to stay put no matter what happens, Piel?"
I met her gaze with serene eyes.
After a moment of trembling, Piel glared at me and said.
"But how did you know?"
"What do you mean?"
"You knew I'd fall under this debuff spell."
Sharp, isn't she?
But I already had a ready-made excuse.
"I read about it in the ancient documents of the Waldeurk family. They detailed the various characteristics of dungeons."
A handy excuse that fooled even Aisha, the character with the highest IQ in the novel.
Everyone knows that the Waldeurk family is a renowned and formidable hero family on the continent.
At this point in Elinia Academy, I—Theo Lyn Waldeurk—am the only one privy to the secrets of the Waldeurk lineage.
Piel, initially wearing a dubious expression, soon nodded her head.
"I understand."
"From now on, listen to my instructions. There's a reason behind every decision."
"Understood. However..."
Piel's words tapered off.
"However what?"
"How could I leave you alone while you're suffering so much?"
As she voiced this, Piel lowered her gaze.
Hmm... how should I respond?
She doesn't know how well I know this dungeon.
"I guess I'll have to rely on your assistance then, Piel."
"Okay. So, it's a promise?"
Keeping her head bowed, Piel glanced up through her lashes.
What's going on with her?
"No need for repetition. Descendants of the Waldeurk family don't spew nonsense."
"Honestly."
Piel chuckled lightly and stepped towards me.
Then--
"Stop trying to show off."
She playfully tapped my back with a slightly awkward smile.
It didn't hurt, not like before.
"Do your best."
I'm not sure if it will be enough.
Piel added.
"Ah, and later... I have something to say. I hope you can spare some time."
"Sure thing."
I smirked back at her.
Well, we overcame that obstacle.
It's progress.
From now on, she will trust my commands without question.
I averted my gaze from Piel, whose cheeks were tinged with pink.
I felt a surge of Theo's feelings for her.
Taking a deep breath, I addressed the team.
"Let's move on."
Our team advanced at a brisk pace.
The dungeon was well-lit, so our speed didn't slow down.
We walked for about 30 minutes.
The walls grew steeper, and the ground underfoot hardened considerably.
It's the second branching point mentioned in the original game.
While the game graphics and reality vary, the sensation under my feet now signals that this is the point featured in the game.
I spun around and instructed.
"Hold up a moment."
From this point forward, caution is crucial.
The peculiar nature of the second point.
Here, following the debuff spell, a monster – a minor zombie – materializes.
Certainly, even if three such zombies launched a simultaneous attack, it would be less formidable than a lone Cockatrice.
However, under the influence of a debuff spell, even such pathetic creatures pose a considerable threat.
"I'd appreciate it if you could scout ahead, Travis."
"Count on me!"
From the rear, Travis dashed forward like an arrow.
About 10 minutes later, Travis, who had returned, reported.
"An open hall lies ahead with an old book lying in the middle."
"Good job, Travis."
I nodded at Travis before addressing the team.
"Likely, monsters will soon make their appearance. Everyone, get ready for combat."
"Understood!"
"Yep~!"
Travis and Monica responded energetically.
Piel, her cheeks still faintly tinged with pink, nodded, while Andrew gave me a blank stare.
'What's up with him again?'
Could he be bipolar?
Well, Andrew is a delicate guy with even OCD, so it wouldn't be surprising.
And so, we carried on until we reached the second branching point.
