Chapter 53
Chapter 53: Who Taught You These Things?!
The entrance to Seiva’s western underground dungeon was bustling with people, like a never-ending marketplace.
Under the massive stone archway, people came and went, adventurers of all kinds crowding together.
Adventurer Guild staff bustled about at the entrance, registering information for each team and issuing passage permits.
The air was filled with various spices and potion scents, mixed with the metallic smell of weapon maintenance oil.
Feilin stood among the crowd, unable to find a suitable team.
After all, he was still quite young and didn’t have many high-level sigils, so no one was willing to team up with him.
“Sigh, looks like I’ll have to go to the dungeon alone.”
Feilin rested his chin on his hand, standing at the Adventurer Guild’s front desk.
Receptionist Lucia hadn’t seen Feilin in ages—she thought he’d latched onto the Claude family’s coattails and wouldn’t return.
“Can’t be helped. Others team up to subjugate monsters, naturally they don’t want to bring along an extra person.”
Lucia handed Feilin his bronze badge while speaking.
She no longer dared to place the badge on her chest.
This Feilin guy was definitely not as innocent as he appeared.
“But there was someone earlier who looked quite capable also seeking teammates. You could try your luck.”
Lucia discreetly pointed toward a girl sitting at a nearby table.
She wore a silver-white mask, showing only the lower half of her face, her thin lips pressed tight without a trace of emotion.
Her breastplate was carved with high-level sigil patterns that glowed faintly with her movements.
A white sigil gun was slung diagonally across her back, its slender barrel gleaming coldly behind her.
“Would someone this obviously skilled team up with a weakling like me?”
“Who knows? I think you’re quite popular with girls—maybe you could charm her too.” Lucia teased.
Might as well try. Things can’t get any worse anyway. With this mindset, Feilin steeled himself and approached to say hello.
“Miss, I heard you’re also looking for teammates. I wonder if I’d be suitable? Don’t worry, I won’t cause you trouble, and you can have all the loot. How about it?”
He was only looking to observe a few magical beasts anyway—he just wanted to pass the exam.
Bernice looked Feilin up and down slowly through her mask.
At this moment she seemed like a different person—unlike her cute demeanor in front of Feilin, her very breathing felt cold, radiating an aura that warned others to stay away.
She nodded, her armor making soft sounds as she moved.
“Really? Wonderful!”
Feilin hadn’t expected her to agree. He quickly called Lucia over to handle the team registration, afraid she might change her mind.
His original bronze badge was upgraded to a crystal badge, allowing free exploration in the dungeon.
While registering information, the masked girl stood very close to Feilin.
He suddenly caught a familiar scent.
For some reason, Bernice’s distinctive black and red highlighted short hair flashed through his mind.
There was no mistaking it—that metallic, crisp fragrance she wore was unique in Seiva.
She had to be Bernice.
But why did this girl look like this now? Did she enjoy contrasts?
And why would she agree to team up with him?
Feilin didn’t want to investigate further now, since the team registration was complete and withdrawing midway would result in penalties from the Adventurer Association.
Just…
So she can’t pad her chest when wearing armor.
Bernice’s original proportions weren’t actually small—creating an artificial bust might be visually appealing, but it always felt somehow wrong.
Her natural smaller size was quite cute now.
Feilin’s body suddenly shivered as he realized Bernice seemed to be glaring at him fiercely from behind her mask.
“Um, Ber—ahem, Miss, you’ll take full command of this operation. I’ll just follow behind you. My abilities aren’t strong—could we stay in the Gold Badge area?”
Masked Bernice nodded.
Feilin and Bernice walked toward the dungeon entrance together, but he couldn’t help stealing glances at her.
So curious.
Is this mask some kind of seal for her?
Is she the type who’s normally bouncy and cheerful, but puts on a mask and develops chuunibyou syndrome, saying things like “My lord, grant me endless darkness”?
Bernice felt very uncomfortable under Feilin’s occasional stolen glances.
Day had asked her to serve as Feilin’s bodyguard.
Initially, Bernice thought Day was just putting on an act in front of her to prove she truly cared about Feilin.
But listening to Day’s tone, Bernice detected genuine anxiety in this Truth God Sect young lady’s heart.
She was truly worried about Feilin.
How is this possible? That rational young lady actually anxious over a man?
And he was a pervert who stared at every unfamiliar girl’s chest, and was still stealing glances at her even now.
“Feilin!”
A pink figure appeared from under a parasol. Vielotti’s boots clicked on the stone path as she approached Feilin in just a few steps.
Feilin frowned: “Vielotti? What are you doing here?”
She wore a deep blue robe today, white stockings wrapped in tall boots that gleamed in the sunlight.
Vielotti’s originally cool gaze softened the moment she saw Feilin, her amber eyes hiding a trace of excitement.
“Father required me to come to the dungeon.” But her gaze never left Feilin.
That joy froze into a layer of frost when she spotted the masked Bernice.
Who is this woman?
“Well, I’ll be going then. I’m teaming up with this expert.”
Vielotti tugged at Feilin’s sleeve, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
“Feilin, can’t I come with you?”
“No.”
“Why not!”
“I’m going to the dungeon to observe magical beasts, which is different from your goal, isn’t it?”
“It’s the same!”
Feilin grasped Vielotti’s hand, trying to make her let go.
“How could it be the same? You already took that class properly, didn’t you? And you got into the Royal Capital Academy—you don’t need such basic coursework.”
Ever since the fitting room incident, Feilin had seriously reflected on his relationship with Vielotti.
Even if she didn’t know about the contract, he needed to maintain distance and vigilance at all times.
Vielotti tugged hard at Feilin’s sleeve, acting like she absolutely wouldn’t let go.
“Feilin, do you hate me now?”
Vielotti’s voice suddenly became very small: “Because… because you’ve already seen my body, so you’re not interested in me anymore?”
She lowered her head, pink hair falling to hide her downcast lashes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her robe.
“What? No, absolutely not! It’s definitely not like that!”
Feilin quickly denied it.
And I didn’t even see anything! I didn’t do anything!
“Then let me follow you,” Vielotti grabbed Feilin’s sleeve, “I promise I won’t cause trouble.”
Feilin panicked, not expecting Vielotti to become so skilled at this kind of emotional manipulation.
“Vielotti, I don’t think this is a good idea. You’re here to help me, right? Although you can command your guard unit however you want, Master Raphael might get angry.”
“Don’t worry about him.”
Master Raphael is going to cough up blood!
“But Master Raphael might blame me. I’m just a fallen noble, so I don’t want to cause trouble.”
Vielotti bit her lip, slowly releasing her grip on Feilin’s sleeve.
Her lashes trembled slightly, as if struggling to suppress something.
Feilin was right—Father wouldn’t do anything to her, but if someone from the guard unit gossiped to Father, then Feilin would appear in Father’s field of vision.
“I understand.”
“Good. You should work hard hunting today too, Vielotti. We’ll be going now.”
This is for the best.
From the corner of his eye, Feilin saw Vielotti still standing in place, her pink hair floating gently in the wind, her slender figure looking particularly lonely in the crowd.
Sorry. Just bear with it a little longer.
Your path leads to the stars and sea, while I’m just a stumbling stone by the roadside.
You shouldn’t stop your forward progress for someone like me.
Feilin and Bernice entered the dungeon entrance as the transportation sigil began activating.
“That girl likes you.”
Masked Bernice suddenly spoke.
“She just doesn’t understand what liking means. She’s mistaking dependency for affection.”
Moments later, Feilin and Bernice were transported into the dungeon.
“Ber—Miss, I’ll just follow you. I can help carry things or whatever—you don’t need to worry about me at all.”
“Understood.”
“I can help you carry things too, Feilin.”
Vielotti’s voice suddenly came from behind, startling Feilin.
“Vielotti?! How are you here?”
“Why can’t I be here?” Vielotti pouted, turning her head away.
Her pink hair swayed gently with the movement, catching the dungeon’s blue light.
“Weren’t you supposed to complete the task your father assigned in the dungeon?”
“That’s right. I’m completing my task now, but it happens to be on the same route as you.” Vielotti put her hands behind her back and took two steps closer to Feilin.
“Feilin, here’s some water.”
Vielotti looked at Feilin innocently, holding water up to his nose with both hands.
…
At the Adventurer Guild registration desk not far away.
“What did you say?”
Edelina had just arrived at the entrance when guard captain Ailuo reported that Feilin had already entered with a masked girl and Miss Vielotti.
“Feilin and Vielotti are together?”
Edelina’s gaze seemed to see Vielotti shamelessly throwing herself into Feilin’s arms.
That shameless bad woman!
“Lady Edelina, what should we do?”
Edelina stared intently at the entrance, stamping her foot.
I should have known better than to spend time washing my hair and putting on makeup!
Edelina had started getting ready at 8 AM and accidentally ran late.
Damn it!!!
“Follow them!”