Chapter 18: After the Battle

The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter — LNCrawler · All chapters

Chapter 18:
After the Battle

WHEN I WOKE UP AGAIN, everything had changed. Just how long had I been out?! There were more people gathered in the street around us, including Earl Bourne and the other members of Lahmu.

“Guys,” said Emma. “Noir’s awake.”

“Good morning, Emma. And…everybody else.”

“You’re name’s Noir Stardia, right?” asked Earl Bourne. “I must thank you from the very bottom of my heart for everything you did tonight!”

He shook my hand and even made a show of casually kicking Tom in the process.

“Oh, I really didn’t do anything,” I said. “Leila and Emma did all the hard work.”

“Don’t say that!” Emma protested. “I was asleep for most of it. Who knows what would have happened to me if you hadn’t been there.”

“Yeah,” Leila agreed. “I don’t think I would have succeeded without Noir’s assistance.”

The earl beamed at me. “I wish to reward you tomorrow,” he said. “Whenever you like. Thanks to you three, the Mermaid’s Tear is mine once more.”

Apparently they had already retrieved the gemstone. The earl was, obviously, overjoyed.

“We’ll take care of the rest,” he said. “Feel free to take your leave and get some rest.”

“I think I’ll do just that.”

It was just as well. I don’t think my body could take any more. Emma and her parents helped me up. Leila was staying, so we promised to meet up again soon. With that, we set off home.

“I can’t thank you enough for saving Emma,” said Ladan.

“Indeed,” Romy agreed. “You really are her hero, Noir.”

They must have been so worried, but they were smiling now. Emma linked her arm through mine, humming to herself.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm!”

“Someone’s in a good mood,” I said.

“Of course I am! You came to my rescue.”

“What else was I supposed to do? If I got kidnapped, wouldn’t you come after me?”

“Absolutely. I would follow you to hell and back.”

“Well, if that ever happens, I’m counting on you.”

“You got it,” she promised.

When we reached their home, we went our separate ways. I was starting to feel unsteady. It had been a really long night, you know, what with the deadly face-offs against two super powerful thieves.

“If only I were stronger…”

Everything had turned out all right in the end, but there was no way I could have won on my own. Without Leila, I couldn’t have taken on Tom, let alone Phan and all of the creatures she summoned. If I was going to protect the people I loved, I had to get stronger, I just had to. After all, my master was the legendary Olivia. I could damn well do better than this.

Those thoughts swarmed in my head right until I opened the door to my house. Greeted with the familiar sights of home, I immediately relaxed.

<Ooh, Noir, you are finally back.>

“Welcome home, brother dearest!”

Alice and Tigerson came to greet me. They both looked absolutely exhausted.

“Did something happen?” I asked.

“He hasn’t been able to find a place for us to set up Stardian Rarities,” said Alice.

“Oh, I see. Well, just leave that to me.”

We walked into the living room to find my father biting a handkerchief in frustration. My mother was trying her best to comfort him, but I couldn’t help but laugh at him.

“Noir, is that you, my boy? Listen, it’s about the shop.”

“Sounds like it’s been giving you a hard time.”

“They keep saying they’ll only sell to real nobles! How awful is that?! We are real nobles, aren’t we?!”

We weren’t, frankly, but it didn’t seem like the right moment to say so.

“Earl Bourne said he’d give me a reward for my service,” I said. “So I’ll ask him when I see him next.”

“Huh? Reward for your service?”

“Oh, I just caught that Phantom guy tonight. With the help of some friends, of course.”

“Wow…the Phantom? That’s my boy!”

And just like that, my father’s usual good spirits returned. If only I could recover as quickly as he did.

“Anyway,” I said. “I’m pooped. I’m going to bed.”

“Good night, my family treasure!”

I stumbled up to my room, rubbing my eyes, then got changed and crawled into bed.

“Oh no, dear brother, you’ll catch a cold like that.”

“Huh? Alice…?”

I was so tired. I couldn’t really tell what was going on, but Alice put a…blanket over me? No, climbed into bed beside me.

“I’ll keep you warm,” she said. “We can’t have you catching a cold!”

I didn’t have the energy to fight her, so I just nodded and closed my eyes. Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

When I woke up again, it was light. The birds chirped happily outside my window.

“Mmm, I really needed thaaa—?!”

“Eh he he, good morning.” Alice’s face was right in front of mine. I almost jumped out of my skin.

“You scared me. Why are you so close?”

“So I could watch your adorable face while you slept, brother dearest. It just kept drawing me closer. You’re like a work of art, really.”

Work of art? What? Had she even slept?

Alice giggled and swung out of bed. “It’s already past noon,” she said. “You must’ve been worn out.”

“Yeah, I slept like a log.”

“Lunch is ready,” she said. “Come down when you’re ready.”

“Thanks.”

It was all well and good to take things easy over summer break, but I was losing my edge. I couldn’t go sleeping through the day like this! I changed quickly and headed downstairs.

<Did you rest well, Noir?> asked Tigerson.

“I did. Thank you.”

“Yeah, after lunch I’ll go and visit the earl.”

I wanted to talk to him about my reward, after all. I ate my fill of Alice’s cooking and headed out to his estate. When I gave my name at the door, the butler welcomed me into the earl’s study.

“Thank you for coming, Noir. I’ve been waiting for you,” said the earl.

“No problem,” I said. “And thank you for everything last night.”

“Oh no, I’m the one who should be thanking you! Please, take a seat.”

The sofa was so soft I could have disappeared into it. It was a world away from the cheap furniture we had at home, but I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. Even the tea they served was perfect: fragrant and richly flavored.

“What happened to Phan and Tom?” I asked.

“They’re in jail,” said the earl. “They’ll be punished for their crimes, and they won’t be bothering anyone anymore. They gave the Lahmu adventurers a hard time; I’m impressed you managed to catch them.”

He stared at me warmly. It didn’t feel right to deceive him.

“The thing is,” I said. “I’m not actually very physically strong, but I do have a special power. I can weaken enemies, and stuff like that.”

“How delightful. I believe I desire to hire you as one of my guards from time to time. Of course, you would be paid handsomely for your services.”

“I appreciate the offer, I really do, but I’m already attending the Hero Academy and working as an adventurer. I don’t think I could take on another job.”

“I see,” said the earl. “Well, I’m sorry to hear that.”

That said, a little marketing for my guild wouldn’t hurt. He seemed to favor our rivals, but maybe I could get him to switch sides.

“If you put in a request with Odin,” I said. “I’m sure you’d find many top-class adventurers to assist you!”

“You know,” he said. “That’s not a bad idea. But for now, we should discuss your reward.”

“May I speak frankly?” I said. “I hope I’m not asking too much, but my family wants to start a business selling monster materials and the like. And we’re having so much trouble securing a shop. If you happen to have a plot of land, I would be most grateful if we could rent it from you.”

“A shop? Whereabout?”

“If possible, somewhere in the commerce district.”

There was a lot of foot traffic there, so there’d be no shortage of potential customers.

“I have a building that used to be a restaurant, would that suit you?” the earl asked.

“Would we be allowed to remodel?”

“Of course! I’ll cut you a deal on the rent, but you shall have to pay the sales taxes and the like.”

“That would be wonderful,” I said. “Thank you, Earl Bourne.”

“If you ever need assistance,” he said. “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”

With that, he showed me to the building. It was a little off the main street, but it wasn’t a bad location. The place was a tad worn out, but I couldn’t complain. With permission to remodel, we could turn it into something trendy and inviting.

“The rent is normally two-hundred thousand rels a month but, for you, I’ll make it twenty thousand.”

“Are you sure?!”

“Of course,” said the earl. “But if I’m ever in trouble again, I’m counting on your help. I hope we have a long and fruitful relationship.”

“Thank you, and I hope so, too.”

This was big news for the Stardia family! That evening, I rushed home to tell everyone the details. They were all delighted, and we stayed up long into the night working out what we wanted to do with the place. Father even got so animated that he stubbed his finger on the table and started sobbing.

Personally, I was just happy that everyone was as excited as I was.