"Rudel-san, watch out!!!"

"I saw it!!!"

I swung my sword at a half monkey half cat creature coming from high above, the creature was cut in half and the guts and blood were coming out like a broken pignata. After a few seconds without moving the strange creature began to decompose and turn to ashes.

"I've been with this one for eight and it's barely been ten minutes since we came in here!!!"

I was saying to Irisdina who was behind me. We were both wearing leather clothing as armor and carrying weapons. The reason was because of something that happened a few days ago.

◇◇◇

Once again I was holding a meeting for people to meet Baron Bradford, but it turned out to be a misfortune as usual, but I didn't care since there was a reason that made it special.

"Rudel-san, today's tea and snacks are very delicious. ♡"

"I'm glad that's the case, I had to order them a week in advance since the order store is always full."

"I-I understand... Is it okay for me to eat all of these?"

"Of course. After all, no one but you is coming, so it's better to have a girl eat them than to have them rotting out in the open."

"I-I see. With your permission I will continue to drink tea..... Umm, this rice cracker is really tasty!!!"

Irisdina is the only one who comes here, since I invited her after seven failures in a row. It's very nice to have someone as sweet as her here, but that was the main reason and the secondary reason was.....

(Now is the time!!!) -I said to myself.

Picking up a cookie and bringing it to her mouth, Irisdina has the habit of closing her eyes to savor the sweet, unfortunately (for) her, she makes a movement where her body gives a slight bounce and I can observe how her big breasts that look like twin billiard balls jump happily.

In my mind I was lamenting and apologizing to her for being a lousy person. But in my heart I was engraving the sacred image of her and thanking all the forces of the universe for this miracle.

As I finished gazing at her splendid twin hills I asked her how the meeting went.

"Irisdina, I don't want to pry into your life, but could you tell me how your meeting with that girl went?"

"Huh? Um, is that really important?"

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable it's just that I wanted to know if something I heard was true."

"Something you heard?"

"Yes. I wanted to know if it was true or not."

"Okay what happened was..."

And so Irisdina told me what happened at their meeting and what I heard. Her face suddenly mortified, she dropped her tea on the table.

"It can't be... something as terrible as that..."

"She's supposed to be his fiancé, isn't she? There's no way a man would do something like that!!!"

"You're right, but you forget that they're not on our level. They are sons of dukes, people who are next in line for the throne if something happens to the royal family and people like us are insignificant to them."

"Even if that's so, it's very horrible what he did! Don't you think so?"

"It's just as you say, but there's nothing we can do and even more so in a couple matter."

".."

Irisdina was thoughtful after hearing what I told her, I changed the conversation to another piece of information that I also wanted to discuss with her.

"Irisdina, did you know that all of us first years will be made to take an adventurer skills test in one of the nearby dungeons?"

"Hey! Oh, umm yes I did know, why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to team up with me? I talked to several guys and no one wants to team up with me and so I wouldn't be alone I thought I'd ask if you'd like to add me to the team of your-"

"I do! That is, if I want to team up with you since I don't have anyone else to go with, the boys in my class will be supporting a boy they say is very strong while the girls will want to be part of the group that will be with the prince."

"I see. In that case, do you mind if I prepare the equipment for us?"

"Th-That would be..."

"Ah, I'm not talking about things like taking your measurements and stuff, I'm talking about the combat equipment we'll be using? Do you have equipment first?"

"I've never gone on a dungeon adventure before..."

"Huh?!!! So then how did you manage to get in if commoners are supposed to get a scholarship for their achievements?"

"In my case it's very different since I got in by another means, I can't tell you yet, sorry!"

"Never mind, if you don't want to tell me that's fine, after all, I'm no one important in your life, just a classmate."

"Yes..."

I had secretly left more money in his pockets thanks to Ixion's optical camouflage, so she needn't have worried.

While Irisdina was looking at a flower ornament on the table, in my head a memory came to me.

I was with the guys from the winery eating and there was one of them who seemed to be very intellectual. He was into gardening and was always telling us about the beauty of flowers and his favorite was....

"The name Iris originates from a flower that like those lilies there means purity and gentleness, and dina means arch, therefore the name Irisdina means arch of beautiful flowers. Very beautiful indeed."

As I thought about its meaning I stared at the ornament on the table, after a few seconds I noticed something strange. Irisdina was looking down, but her face was red as a tomato. I asked her a little worried.

"Is something wrong, does the tea or cookies taste bad?"

Quickly raising her hands and her face she waved it from side to side as she said.

"I-I'm not fine!!! I'm really fine!!! I mean it!!!"

After saying that she went back to drinking tea, but with her head still bent down, I kept eating still wondering what happened.

◇

A few days passed since I talked to Irisdina and after getting organized and changing we arrived at the dungeon. It is a very big place as it is subway, it looked like a mine as there were lamps with aether every two meters and several soldiers around. I was a little uncomfortable to see them with their spears and swords ready to cut.

After a few minutes of walking the path indicated by a sign, we arrived at the place designated for the students, it was so wide that even though there were two hundred students and a few teachers, it still looked very spacious. A teacher was giving directions, but I didn't pay any attention to him.

I saw around me the boys and girls ready to fight with equipment that I didn't know if it was good or decent, but only two things caught my attention, the first one was a girl with golden hair.

Just as Irisdina described her image to me, I kept looking at her because it was the first time I saw such an intense and beautiful color, but it seems that Irisdina omitted something and that was... huge and splendid mountains.

Despite being covered by a leather and iron mesh, the voluminous size could be clearly appreciated, if Irisdina had bowling balls this girl had a cannonball at each end. My hands made a thank you position and Irisdina noticed it and asked me a little worried.

"Rudel-san, is something wrong, are you feeling sick or uncomfortable?"

"N-No, not at all!!!! It's just that I'm a little anxious since this will be my first time entering a dungeon hehe."

"Mumm...? Rudel-san haven't you been on an adventure before?"

"Well yes, but I never entered a dungeon, it was just an island, but there was nothing subway."

I lied obviously. Yes there was something subway, but I couldn't tell him what was there.

I looked cautiously at Irisdina's equipment. I was glad she had spared no expense as her gear was the same as mine.

Leather gloves with metal plates on the knuckles, boots for walking on any kind of surface, a leather mesh reinforced with iron and several straps attached at the most visible parts to pad the gear. How disgusting of people to sell mediocre gear like that.

But the two most remarkable things were the short skirt she had, she wore pants so she didn't have to worry about anything. A nice headband on her head she wore, it made me want to take a picture of her. Another detail of her outfit was a purse with several items inside, among them was visible a spiked mallet sticking out, I was a little mortified to think that she will have to get her hands dirty.

It was there that I decided within myself "I will protect her and take care of defeating all the monsters to come!" yes, that sounds the best.

As we finished talking the teacher said we should go in a group of ten. The two of us were a little shocked as we didn't imagine about going in a group when it was supposed to be team. I looked around for a group that was available and when the search seemed lost, a terrible opportunity appeared.

Precisely there was a group that was missing two members, but the problem was the person who stood out the most in the group.

"What's wrong, why don't we move forward at once, I want to kill magical beasts!!!"

"Klein-sama, apparently the teacher wants us to have two more members in order to advance." (Sama is an expression of utmost respect.)

A blond-haired boy with his left eye hidden by his hair was shouting, while a man of the same hair color, but much taller answered him.

"Hah? Look for anyone who is free after all they will be the rear guard and won't matter at all."

"Understood young master... You two don't have a group, right? Be lucky, you have a chance to be part of Archduke Kingsfort's group."

We were called by the tall guy, I stood in front of Irisdina, so that he wouldn't see her. After hearing what he did I don't want her anywhere near him, is this what he must have meant, Lyle, by not approaching or interacting with him?

I looked back to confirm with her and she sheepishly agreed and I told them we agreed. It was the worst decision I could have made.

◇

"Rudel-san, are you okay?"

*gasp gasp*

"Yeah, I still can't believe that after a few minutes of starting those bastards ran off leaving us behind."

Klein and his group saw an elephant-faced, ostrich-legged creature which chased them and they ran screaming out of there. We were left to fend for ourselves by the wretches.

As I swore to protect Irisdina I was very tired, she made a face of discomfort and sadness seeing me fighting against those things. I was envious of the man who will become her husband.

"D-Don't worry, I'm very well you see. More important, it's to see what items released that monster."

"...Sure. This one, oh!!! Rudel-san, the creature you defeated released a very bright gem!"

"Is that so? Well, you can keep it."

"But, Rudel-san, it was the one who defeated it!"

"Even if that's so, I was only able to do so thanks to you warning me in time. It's your reward."

"..."

"Y-yes, Rudel-san, you say it's like that, I'll gladly accept."

Irisdina grabbed the strange glowing material that the creature dropped. Apparently some monsters eat something and it materializes inside them creating a unique mineral that serves a variety of uses.

I stood up and as I did some stretches I lit another aether torch and we walked forward.

◇◇◇

While Rudel and Irisdina were hanging around as lovebirds somewhere in the dungeon, the protagonist's group was yawning with boredom. Among them was a person that no one counted or expected, that person was Erselica, who seemed to be shouting internally.

(Kyahh~~ what a thrill!!! I never imagined that I would be in the same party as the prince, what a thrill!!!!)

Erselica felt such a great happiness that she was screaming inside. To the other party members, she just seemed anxious and they couldn't imagine the crazy things going on inside her head.

While Erselica was deep in her inner craziness the three main characters were chatting quietly.

"Ahhh I'm so bored, no monster came out." -said Chlust.

"That's good, so we don't put the prince in danger or the ladies of our group." -Frey replied to him.

"Hehe, it's certainly a bit good that no magical beast came out, but I feel a bit sad since I wanted to test my skills that I could only use in training practices."

The three main characters of the game were chatting about trivial things in a place of utmost danger. It was then that Frey said something that made the prince react.

"Your Highness, I know you don't like riff-raff gossip, but I think this might interest you," Frey said to the prince.

"Umm, are you talking about the strange rumor that Klein beat Alicelotte? That is clearly a lie. I have known Klein since my childhood I even treat him as a childhood friend and I know he would never lay a hand on anyone."

"Is that so? Umm, then I will do what I can to disprove those falsehoods about Klein." -Frey answered him in a gentlemanly tone.

Chlust also joined the conversation.

"If that is true, then is that Alicelotte girl a liar who wants to make her fiancé look bad?"

"I can't say anything for sure as since my childhood I always saw Alicelotte as a girl who was very proud of being born into the aristocracy. I even heard from my mother, who was her charge in her training as a society woman, that Alicelotte made the maids take care of the jobs my mother put her to." -Said the prince.

"Woo~ that's the kind of girl I detest the most. I wouldn't be surprised if she's the one with the infidelity rumors and is covering them up. I feel sorry for that Klein now. "-Said Chlust grimacing at what he had just heard.

The three continued talking while Erselica behind them heard what they said and in her thoughts answered them.

(Alicelotte finally made her move, huh? That girl is definitely the worst.)

(In the game that girl was the worst kind of woman, her designer, voice actress and script writer did plan her character well. That girl was a real slut in the game, she always had men around her and several maids would see her enter her room with them at night and not come out until the next morning).

Erselica laughed between as she walked.

(Klein was the most tragic character of all. He knew his fiancée was sleeping with several men and yet he said he loved her with a pitiful face).

(Truly, Klein, is one of the best tragic characters with a strong will. That's why many girls loved him and wanted him to be happy).

(Fortunately, the prince discovers the slutty acts she did and even that she tormented Irisdina. She was undoubtedly a trashy character, but she'll never top the scum Rudel.)

(I can't wait for when that special event comes and Alicelotte suffers for her sins!)

Erselica was thinking with a smile when she is hit by a back, reacting a bit awkwardly.

"Hey, what's up?" -Said Erselica confused.

"Your highness we are surrounded!" Frey exclaimed.

"Obviously we are, are you seaweed headed idiot?" -Responded Chlust.

"You two, this is no time to argue we must protect the others!" -shouted the prince towards his companions who took an attack position.

They were surrounded in front and behind by creatures shaped like giant hands, snail eyes at the wrist, with hairy crab legs.

Chlust made a terrifying grin and pulled from his bag a bat-shaped weapon that turned into a trident-edged spear.

Frey pulled from the back of his shirt a Thompson one-handed pistol. Normally, students are forbidden to carry firearms because they might injure others, but he was the exception for a reason.

"Your Highness, stay behind me!" -Frey shouted as he pointed his right hand gun at a monster coming towards Liam. He pulled the trigger and the monster writhed in pain and turned to ash.

Erselica screamed in her mind. (That was a Origin bullet! Wow, I never expected it to use an ability from the future at such a young age.)

The bullet Frey fired was so called because, when it came in contact with a living being it distributed a poison at high speed that quickly killed its target returning it to the origin from whence it was born, nothingness.

Chlust looked jealous and impregnated with a strange red glow the weapon in his hands making the sharp points grow more and dyed red making the spear two meters high.

"Alright show me your skills!!!!! Eat this, uriiaahh!"

With a battle cry, he lunged towards the enemies and cut them up like paper leaving only ash by his side. Erselica was dumbfounded.

"Ooohh! That's the Gáe Dearg! He was supposed to master it in the event of the forest king's assassination!)

The two boys fought arduously against the creatures while the prince watched.

Then one of them dodged them both and was heading towards the prince. The students looked on in horror when suddenly....

"You people forget that I am not a weakling." -Spoke in a low voice the prince, who was putting one hand back as he pulled an all-white sword from its leather sheath. He placed it correctly in its center and waved the same hand three times like a wave.

The creature did not know how or why, but it was cut into three pieces immediately turning to ash and releasing a precious mineral.

"You forget that I possess the foil style and do not need more than three strikes nor two hands to finish off a simpleton enemy." -With a smile, the prince smiled at the boys in front of him who smiled as well making a formation of three consisting of Chlust at the head, Liam in the middle and Frey in the rear. This was originally the fighting formation in the game and Erselica was in a wet dream as she watched them.

Tears welled up in her eyes at such beauty, but she didn't realize she was ignoring the combat in the back.

The other students were concentrating on the rearguard fights while Erselica, watched the feast up front. One of the boys was pushed by a monster and ran towards Erselica, who was not paying attention to her surroundings. By the time she realized what was happening it seemed too late for her, or so she supposed.

Suddenly a boy penetrated the creature from behind and from below, slashed upwards at the creature making a bloodcurdling sound. The creature disappeared and released an ore and, Erselica stared at the boy as he spoke to it.

"If you're not going to do anything, better not come. Many of us here earned our scholarship through sacrifice and sweat."

"S-sorry..." -Erselica said quietly.

(No way, he was here and I never even noticed!)

Erselica was stunned by the boy with shabby clothes, short brown hair and sapphire green eyes. His name was Fritz, and he was not only a commoner, but also one of the characters who helped the prince learn about the academy, the life of the commoners and to stop Rudel and his obscene acts towards the commoners.

Fritz was also one of the few who could be the fourth member of the prince's team, Klein held that position as well, but sometimes he was unavailable and Fritz filled in for him.

He was also a lover of justice, so he never forgave Rudel for his misdeeds.

Erselica's mouth dropped open at such a cast of characters assembled.

(Wow. I mean, amazing, if they are all here it means that event is coming and it will be the downfall of that person). -In her mind, Erselica was saying horrible things while the others were struggling arduously.

◇

We had walked for several minutes and were happy.

Irisdina was smiling with happiness as she had in her bag, a lot of precious minerals that she had found defeating monsters or digging in the ground.

Unlike her, I had few in my bag as I had given them to her with many excuses.

We were walking along a path with arrows pointing the way out to the safe area where the other groups and teachers were. Suddenly, we came to a large section of the dungeon which looked like the inside of a stadium.

There were no lights or guides or anything, the place was only illuminated by the flashlight I had, Irisdina spoke to me.

"Rudel-san, this place is very dark, I'm afraid that something will appear and attack us from the darkness!" -Irisdina spoke nervously while holding her bag with one hand and her mallet with the other.

"Don't worry, maybe those fools from our former group broke them for fun. More people are supposed to come through here."

"If that's how you say..."

He was talking to Irisdina to calm her down, but that was where that peace was wrong.

Suddenly, something fell from the sky hitting the ground very hard where it landed.

We were frightened by that sound, I pointed the flashlight where we heard it. We could see in horror the body of a creature whose viscera were almost completely devoured.

I quickly pointed the flashlight upwards and observed a monstrous creature hanging from the ceiling with its fingers embedded in the rock.

It was not a spider, but its body was shaped like a figure eight. The back end looked like a beehive of wasps, the front end had a torso that looked like a buffalo's, four arms on each side that looked like insect legs, but had skin like scales, and the legs were like chimpanzee legs that clung their toes to solid rock.

The most terrifying thing was not only its body nor its frightening black color, but its head, which had the humanoid shape of a bald man, no ears only large holes that seem to be its eardrums and its sockets had no eyes nor the impression that there ever were, the most disgusting thing was that from its mouth came out a pair of red pincers and yellow teeth shaped like shark's fangs.

Even though the creature doesn't seem to have any sense of sight, it gave the impression that it was looking exclusively at me. Suddenly, it let go of the ceiling and swung itself to the front of the cave and, from that same place, made a much bigger jump towards the direction where I was.

I gave my lamp to Irisdina and pushed her away from the place where the creature would attack. After miraculously dodging that attack, I stared at the creature slowly turning around.

"Holy crap!!! What the hell is that thing?!!! It's different from the monsters I've seen before and for some reason it seems to see only me. It's a good thing I don't attack it, but I still can't let it get close!"

"Rudel-san, I'll throw some smoke grenades so I can escape!!!" -Said Irisdina in a frightened tone, but worried for Rudel's life.

"It won't work, this thing doesn't seem to see, but it still managed to jump from one place to another at a great speed."

"Irisdina, I'll defeat it just point the flashlight at it as long as possible!!!" -I shouted to Irisdina who nodded her head and pointed the flashlight at the strange creature.

Then I pulled out the weapon I had used so far, it was a sword, but its shape was longer and wavy. It was what they called a katana and it was totally black and sharp.

Striking a combat pose, with one foot forward and one foot back, with both hands pointing the weapon horizontally towards the creature which seemed to be smiling at me.

I quickly lunged towards the creature and it responds by using two of its legs to try to grab me.

But it doesn't work as I have experience dodging fast enemies.

It does the same move again and this time grabs my arm.

Irisdina shouted.

"Rudel-san!!!"

The creature forcefully pulled my arm and with a jerk yanked it off.

"Gyaaahhh!!!" -I screamed.

"Rudel-san!!!!!" -Irisdina exclaimed loudly in a piercing scream.

That was what we saw, but it wasn't so. The creature retreated and when it tried to eat my arm, my arm felt only the taste of the fabric. It was still screaming when I noticed my arm was still there.

"It tore off just the cloth and left the flesh and bone intact!"?

(I hate that what Ixion said happened.) -I thanked Ixion in annoyance.

Ixion fixed and modified all the equipment as he could not accompany me due to the low density of the earth would cause his systems to fail.

After dodging more attacks I moved my longsword up and down slamming into one of its legs which I cut a little and left its leg with a large open wound.

The creature backed up and took distance, watching me with its non-existent sockets, the creature opened its disgusting mouth which emanated a putrid stench and fired a kind of missile which was made of excrement, rotten meat and minerals being a powerful enough projectile to leave a large crater where I was, but I dodged it.

"What the hell was that? And even more so this annoying stink, I must finish this as quickly as possible as I am very tired and will not last long. "

"I'll have to use this it seems."

I clicked my teeth and with my left hand pressed a button on the bottom of the katana which was a gift from Ixion.

The katana suddenly or rather its blade started to spin and vibrate turning blue white. The sound was so loud that it made Irisdina, who had never heard anything like this before, shudder.

With the katana that looks like a chainsaw, I wielded the weapon towards the creature which made a horrible scream.

"JIIIIIIIIIooouuuuuhhhhh!"

The creature lunges towards me opening its mouth and I in an almost samurai style swung the katana from the horizontal side impacting the creature's jaws.

"Eat this, you bastard!!!!"

I shouted with all my might as my arms forcefully thrust the embedded katana into the creature, slashing in a clean cut from the mouth to the underside.

After cutting the creature it falls in two pieces to the ground with its guts showing. After a few seconds of stopping moving, the creature began to turn to ash and dropped a black cube shaped ore that changed drastically to purple.

"Rudel-san, I was scared!!! -Irisdina screamed and dropped the lamp on the floor while clinging to me.

I watched her crying and stroked her head to calm her down.

After removing her head from my chest, she wiped her tears and as she did so she could see that I had been wounded on the side of my left arm which had the fabric of the equipment ripped off.

"Rudel-san, there's a lot of blood coming out!!!" -Irisdina shouted, telling him to calm down.

"I'll be fine there are creams for this- Ouch!!!"

After appearing to be fine, I moaned because of the severe pain from the wound. Irisdina seeing me in pain bit her lips and then stopped to speak.

"Rudel-san, I'm so sorry."

"Huh? What are you talking about it's not your fault that I'm like this."

"It's not that, but something else? Remember you asked me how I had entered here without having experience in being an adventurer before? Well this is why."

As I finished speaking, Irisdina reached over to my arm to place both hands on the wound. Suddenly a white light brighter than the lantern, which illuminated the entire cave went out after a few seconds of shining.

I could feel the pain disappear along with the blood and the wound.

"What was that!!! Hey, Irisdina what did you just do?" -I asked in amazement at what had happened.

"Once I fell as a child and my leg hurt so much that I tried to close the wound and suddenly a light came out and healed my wound. A few years later, an older gentleman passing through my village saw me healing some animals and he said it was light magic, a rarity that hadn't been seen in decades."

"I'm sorry for not telling you, I was scared that, maybe Rudel-san would hate me for being a commoner possessing magic power?"

◇◇◇

Nobles possessing magic power is the normal thing in this world, but a commoner possessing magic power was something inconceivable and unforgivable. Upon discovering in the game that Irisdina possessed magical power, the protagonist distanced himself from her for lying to him only to later forgive her for deceiving him several events later. But what did Rudel think when he found out?

◇◇◇

"That... That's amazing!!!" -I shouted towards an Irisdina who looked like she wanted to cry.

"I don't understand why you hid it, but isn't it amazing that not only are you the smartest girl in the whole academy and the best cook, but you also possess magic and healing type power it seems. I of you would be proud to possess so many talents!"

(But light magic? I feel like I've heard that somewhere before) -I thought about that unknown.

At my honest words. Irisdina shed tears which made me freak out.

"I'm sorry, did I say something weird or that will upset you?"

"It's not that... it's just that it's the first time someone congratulates me after discovering that I possess magical power and not criticizing or insulting me for it."

Tears welled up in Irisdina's eyes and I tried to calm her down.

"What!!! Someone made fun of you!!! Tell me who it is and I'll beat the crap out of them on the way out of here!"

My face turned into that of a demon and she was telling me that it didn't matter as she wiped her tears.

"Rudel-san, that doesn't matter anymore. It makes me happy to know that you're still the same kind person you've always been by learning my secret. Thank you so much."

Irisdina gave me a smile with her eyes closed and I suddenly clutched my chest wondering "What was that?"

"We should leave as more of those things could come out at any moment." -I spoke and Irisdina nodded.

She picked up the fallen lamp and I was on my way to grab the ore the creature dropped as I signaled Irisdina that it was time to get out of there.

◇◇◇

Rudel did not turn back to look at an Irisdina who watched his figure from behind with warm, moist eyes as she murmured to herself.

"You really are the best thing that could have happened to me in my life."

◇

As we reached the meeting place we heard a rumbling coming from the center. Still behind me, Irisdina asked me what was going on and I replied that I would go find out.

What I looked there was a slight fight lost.

"Your Highness, I swear I'm not lying to you!!!"

"Alicelotte please, Klein told me those rumors are false, but he really yelled at you since you had crossed the line."

The two people in question were Archduchess Alicelotte and he Prince Liam.

I didn't understand what was going on, but I heard some guys muttering something.

"Hey, is that true that she was scolded by her fiancé for being unfaithful?"

"I don't know, but if the prince says so, it must be true."

"Truly, that girl is the worst."

Terrible voices were coming from the surroundings and Alicelotte could hear them. After a while she turned around and slowly walked out of there after not being seen by anyone she shed a few tears and made to run from the place.

◇◇◇

In the distance stood someone in the shadows who laughed maliciously.

"I told you to stay out of my way. Pig."

Rudel was thoughtful after seeing her leave and went back to Irisdina telling her it was nothing.

◇◇◇

After defeating the strange creature, at the bottom of a floating island there was a black spot which grew bigger and bigger and splashed like boiling water.

The stain grew darker and darker to the point where it looked like tentacles were growing out of it.

After a few underwater strokes several bubbles came out and burst a strange sequence which could be interpreted in the human language as...

"Rudel... bastard... mistake."