Meyer? Why Meyer?
I asked with confusion.
“Didn’t the Commander go to dungeons with the Black Night Unit? You’ve just returned to the castle….”
“No, he closed dungeons with us at first, but… Soon, His Excellency rejected us, saying that we were holding him back.”
The black night unit member who had called me and talked to me in the hallway in the past took a step forward and said. His wrinkled face was scrunched.
I was surprised.
“Don’t tell me he’s closing dungeons by himself?”
“It’s been months since he’s been doing that! So, Vice Commander, please stop His Excellency. He never listens to us.”
Even if you’re disobedient, how can you leave Meyer alone!
The Black Night unit and I were not worried about Meyer closing the dungeon and putting himself in danger.
It was more of a mental issue than a physical one. If he shifted his eyes when he was alone and his mana went out of control, he would…
Of course, I knew that Meyer Knox wasn’t Fabian and that he couldn’t let himself go so stupidly, but I had goosebumps on my back as I thought about it.
“His Excellency is the strongest, so closing a dungeon by himself shouldn’t be a problem. Is there such a thing as a dangerous dungeon for His Excellency?”
The trio snooped their heads.
The only people who knew about Meyer’s mana were me, The Black Night Unit, and Vince.
Therefore, in the eyes of others, we would only be seen as making a fuss.
My lips were dry, so I asked in a trembling voice.
“So, Meyer Knox, that human being is… No, what dungeon is the Commander in right now?”
“We, well… He left for somewhere…”
“Then how do you want sister to stop him? You don’t even know where he is!”
August, who was listening to the story, shouted absurdly.
The Black Night Unit also hurriedly bowed their heads as if they knew they were saying nonsense.
“That’s not what we meant. We are also impatient… Sorry, Vice Commander.”
“… It’s fine. I think I know where he is.”
“Pardon? How?”
Everyone, including the Black Night Unit, August, and the others, looked up at me.
But there was no time to explain everything. Biting my lip, I thought of a dungeon of a level Meyer could go to.
Did he think that if he hid like that, I wouldn’t be able to find him? I asked the Black Night Unit, my eyes wise.
“Please tell me the location of the last dungeon you went to with the leader.”
“…it was a dungeon near the western plateau.”
A member of the Black Night unit replied, crouching his shoulders overshadowing his large size. I murmured, tapping my chin with my fingertips.
“Western plateau… Then he must be on the west coast now due to the time.”
“How do you know that?”
“There is a way to know everything. The Commander’s thoughts are all there.”
I replied broadly to the reaction of the Black Night Unit who seemed to be surprised and about to do something.
There was no way Meyer was going to enter a low to a mid-level dungeon. Especially if he was pissed off.
The demons would probably melt before he could swing his sword, and he wouldn’t have much experience, so what was the point?
So he would have been in a dungeon of at least level 50, and there were few dungeons of that level open at this time of year. If you knew the direction Meyer had gone, the answer was clear.
As perplexed as ever, the Black Night Unit all had an aloof look on their faces.
“No, how do you know where the dungeon will open in the first place? You can only know when the gates open and the symptoms are found…”
“The Vice Commander knows everything.”
The trio spoke plainly.
It seemed to be a no-brainer for me to guess Meyer’s route, as they had seen me many times heatedly trying to figure out where and when the dungeon would open and at what level.
“First of all, the special forces should rest. I’ll bring the Commander.”
“I can’t let the Vice Commander go alone!”
Julieta came out. She had a strong face that was not like her usual opinion.
“I’ll go with August. There won’t be much danger.”
“… Okay.”
Finally, the faces of Julieta and the rest of the special forces unraveled. They certainly seemed relieved that August was going with me.
August, what kind of a priest are you…
It was obvious that he was a trustworthy partner as either a healer or a guard. I looked back at August who had suddenly decided to follow me and smiled.
“I’m sorry about the situation, August.”
“No, I’m also somewhat responsible for His Excellency’s wandering.”
August said resolutely. Then the conversation went by fast. As soon as I prepared to leave for the dungeon, the Black Night unit came out.
“We’ll follow you, too.”
“No. It’s faster for fewer people to move. I’ll bring him back soon, so stay at the castle.”
I held them back. If I had needed more people from the start, I would have mobilized the special forces.
In fact, it would have been better if there were no people. That way, Meyer could tell me what he really thoughts .
The wrinkled faces of the Black Night troops were full of worry as if they were sorry to leave it to me.
“I know His Excellency is inexperienced in many ways, but please bear with him… I’m sure His Excellency is not being stubborn with the intention of playing a prank on the Vice Commander.”
“I didn’t think he was being stubborn. I’ve even done something wrong to the Commander.”
“What do you mean something wrong? It can’t be too your fault.”
The Black Night unit jumped up and down. It was the opposite reaction to Mary.
Of course, I didn’t believe the reaction literally. It’s probably because the priority is to please me. I shook my head with a small smile.
“It’s because the Commander is so delicate.”
“His Excellency is what…?”
“Yes. He’s very delicate… it must have made him angry that I, who was dull, didn’t understand.”
Meyer’s voice was still vivid in my memory as he shouted at me asking why I didn’t spare myself.
At that moment, I stuttered unintentionally at the target. I couldn’t say anything, so I couldn’t even hold on to Meyer… This is the result of such a momentary shift.
However, as I went around the dungeons, I found the answer I could give him after several times of reflection.
I muttered looking at the western sky.
“It’s my role as the vice commander to take care of the leader. So please don’t worry too much. I’ll do whatever it takes to make him back to normal and bring him back.”
***
August and I galloped our horses.
The better our horses were, the sooner we got to the dungeon along the west coast. However, when we came to the coast, it was hard.
Because I had never been there and only knew the area from the game, I didn’t know exactly how far the gate was open.
In the end, I had to ask the villagers.
The people of the seaside were quite exclusive, and their walls were as good as scrap paper before Priest August.
“Over that ridge, a gate opened near a coastal cave. A knight in black armor entered alone… Is he really the Black Knight, Meyer Knox, Priest?”
Thanks to August, I was able to readily obtain information. If I had come alone, things would not have worked out so smoothly.
Knowing the location of the gate, we headed there. Fortunately, the information was not wrong.
Since Meyer’s solo entry into the dungeon was not fully filled, the gate seemed dangerous and was gurgling as if swallowing a person.
But it was certainly ringing for a level 50+ dungeon. I quickly grabbed the information about the dungeon in the status window.
There were only a few areas left in the dungeon, including the boss. Even that should be taken care of soon.
I tied the reins of the horses under a tree near the shore and left them there.
“I’ll go into the gate by myself.”
“That’s outrageous. You’ll be in big trouble!”
August’s face turned serious. I had a rough guess that he would come out this way. But… I couldn’t take him with me.
“Sister has come all the way here to take His Excellency. If sister goes in alone, His Excellency will be even angrier. It’s not good.”
August mentioned Meyer, thinking that I didn’t listen to him enough to mention my safety.
“But August. I have to go alone for this.”
“Why don’t you wait for His Excellency to come out?”
“… There’s a reason why I have to go in.”
I calmly spoke and shook my head.
If I go with August, Meyer will probably avoid me. The same would be true if I tried to have a dialogue with him after he left.
It wouldn’t be easy to aim for an opening where the two of us could talk alone, so this dungeon was our chance.
Furthermore, if Meyer was using mana…
I stared resolutely at August.
August’s face contorted languidly. It was as if he was looking at a lamb who did not listen to God.
“I shouldn’t go in, but sister will go in alone?”
“Yes.”
“What if I prevent you, sister?”
“I’m not saying I’m going in without thinking. This dungeon is a level 50 ultra-high… The demons are mostly sorted out, so it’s not particularly dangerous.”
“How did you know the progress of the dungeon… That’s enough. Sister’s ability is not surprising anymore.”
“If there are any demons left, I have Fulgor’s Pumpkin, so I’ll have a simple self-defense.”
“…”
Fulgor’s pumpkin could easily take on a 50+ level demon.
August, who had seen the power of Fulgor’s Pumpkin many times in the dungeon, kept his mouth shut.
