Chapter 117: 117 Anomaly.

After passing several floors, Lucya and her group encountered several monsters along the way, but their encounter could be counted on fingers, which put the whole team at ease.

They traverse the same rocky cave on the fourth floor. Lucya glanced ahead to her group, still pumped with fighting spirit.

Thanks to this experience, Lucya could expand her circle of friends.

Along the way, the group would exchange silly talk and random questions about what food they like and what clothes they wear. Typically, girls talk.

“Girls, are you tired?”.

Lucya’s bell-like sound echoed in the desolate place, turning the group’s attention to her.

Elarin, Trissia and Mirae shook their heads, and silence hung over the group once more.

At this time of peace, they were clouded with doubt about whether to continue the conversation or to stop because of their situation.

Inside a dungeon where danger lurked in the shadows.

Even though the place was quiet and not a single soul in sight besides them, they couldn’t be careless about the hidden danger the dungeon could offer at any moment.

They proceeded in silence, their steps lightly bouncing on the rocky surfaces. Lucya closed her eyes, focusing on the internal mana in her body.

A gentle warm pulsed beneath her skin, like water flowing through her invisible veins. It started from the heart as a core; the force responded to her will as Lucya opened her eyes.

’Scatter’. Lucya muttered, thinly spreading her mana into the atmosphere like a ripple.

Once, twice, then only four responses caught her attention. They came from her party members who walked ahead and one beside her.

Lucya exhaled and noticed a stare tickling her side, coming from Mirae.

“Um, Lucya, are you and Jin dating?”.

Simultaneously, as those words slipped her mouth, the group stomped hard, which halted their advance.

The princess glanced at the girl beside her, her large eyes hidden beneath those glasses, sparkling with curiosity. Not only Mirae but the girls in front also perked their ears, wanting to know the truth about Lucya and Jin’s relationship.

“What makes you think that?”.

Mirae flinched. She looked around, asking for help. But the others shook their heads in denial.

“Um, I heard from a rumour that you and the other two girls seemed close to Jin, so I just want to know the truth. I’m sorry if it’s bothering you”.

“No, I didn’t mind it.” Lucya shook her head and rubbed her chin, deep in thought. “Let’s see.”

A realization dawned upon her like a hammer struck a nail, after being told to her face like this. True enough, Lucya unknowingly stayed within Jin’s circles without knowing anything about him.

At first, she was there because of the presence of her best friend Silvia, but when Iris came into her life, she also began to follow them back without any particular reason.

Lucya didn’t even know what things Jin liked and what he didn’t. There were still many things in the dark between their relationships.

The thing that intrigued her about him was the strength he possessed. At that time when he dealt the finishing blow against the Ancient Dragon.

She still recalled the thrill in her heart and the shiver that ran through her skin, witnessing a human single-handedly ending a calamity.

That incident blew her mind even to this day. The boy must have made tremendous efforts and sacrifices to reach his current place.

“I was indeed close to him, but we aren’t dating/ I don’t know about the other two, though”.

Lucya said, making the other three exchange a silent glance and let the matter be buried deep.

She noticed the party was draped in silence, trying not to bring up the conversation about love.

“Is that true? There was a rumour about us?”.

Meria nodded with lowered gaze; she was too ashamed to face the princess. “Yes”.

Lucya’s blue eyes shifted to the front and saw Elarin and Trissia also nodding their heads. She snorted while brushing her golden hair.

“Hmph, Jin and I sure share something in common, like how hardworking and caring he is…”.

The princess paused, waiting for the other attention directed at her.

“If I want to date someone, Jin might be the perfect candidate for me. We were a match made in heaven after all”.

“Such confidence”. Velna remarked.

The other three covered their giggles with their hands, witnessing the princess’s narcissistic antics, which loosened the group’s tension.

A condescending silence shrouded the group as they arrived before a hollowed wall, a passage that would lead them to another stage.

Lucya gulped her saliva, noticing the other member also watched her with a hardened expression.

“Last floor, let’s keep our guard up”.

The group took their first step, descending the stairs. A distinct smell of burnt flesh filtered through their nose, narrowing their eyes.

A golden light that shone at the end faded and turned into a grey illusion that the enemy before them was waiting in ambush.

Lucya gathered mana in her hands, Velna, Elarin, and Trissia gripped their weapon tight. Meria on the back, she channelled mana into her staff, letting it be covered with mist.

On the other path, they encountered a spacious plain with breathtaking scenery, and a green carpet covered the entire area.

The grass rustled in humm, as warm breezed welcomed the incoming group.

Crowds that watched over them in gentle smiles greeted them with the best hospitality. “Welcome”.

***

Lucya and her group stood on the corner with a plate of cooked meat, enjoying the view while filling their empty stomach.

The atmosphere around them was quiet and soothing. Occasionally, Velna, with her gluttonous trait, gobbled a mountain of meat, turning her into a hamster.

They shared a cheerful laughter, noting the earlier experiences into one of their pages of youth.

“Lucya”. A calm voice coming from Jin attracted Lucya’s group.

They blinked, halting their conversation as they exchanged looks. The three instinctively pushed the princess back and dashed from the scene, an obvious crime.

“Ah!?”.

Lucya stumbled and lost her balance. Jin hurriedly stepped forward and caught her in his chest.

His manly smell and calm pounding heart resonated within her soul, comforting the irritation that flared up when those girls pushed her back.

“Are you okay?”. Jin asked as he gently gripped her shoulders and pushed her away.

A heat gathered on her face, but Lucya shook her head and said. “I’m okay”.

“Good then”.

She glared at her former group, who huddled together in the corner, watching Lucya and Jin with a smirk plastered on their face. ’I’ll remember this’.

“How was your journey?”.

Lucya brushed her dishevelled hair and lifted her gaze.

“It was exciting”.

Without her noticing, her lips kept babbling about the earlier exploration. She told him how hard it is to take a monster’s life for the first time, being in a group as they share a burden.

They created a strong bond after countless trials, and Lucya was joyous about making new friends. She spread her lips, showing her true self as a single girl.

“I see, so you are having fun. I’m glad”. Jin said, shrugging his shoulders with a grin.

“Yes”. Lucya beamed

Lucya resumed her talk, unaware that Silvia and Iris also watched her with warm smiles.

As time passed, many students from other groups began to gather in the place. Thankfully, it was a safe floor, and there would be no monsters loitering around.

However, the crowds didn’t notice that there was a black mud, hovering in midair, its presence dimmed under the sun’s blaze.

The black mud grew larger simultaneously as the number of students gathered there.

“What’s that?”.

Lucya’s voice was calm yet stirred everyone else’s attention above.

“This is bad.” A blonde, handsome senior gritted his teeth, his expression twisted in deep frown at the familiar phenomenon above him.

“Everyone retreated!”.

The black mud revealed its true entity as soon as those words resonated within the space.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep