Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 117
Irene looked at Michael after hearing his words. After a long pause, she let out a weak laugh and made a request.
“I’d like to return with everyone, not just by myself. And that includes you, Michael.”
Although she had never considered herself the leader of this raid, the others were relying on her.
That made her want to meet their expectations as much as possible.
‘What’s the point of digging myself into a hole now?’
Self-blame could wait until they were out of danger. For now, her focus needed to be on getting everyone out of the dungeon safely, without losing a single person.
“I’ll do my best,” Michael replied.
Irene realized then that what she was asking was no easy task.
If it had been, Michael would have assured her not to worry, that he’d make it happen.
The fact that he didn’t say that weighed heavily on her heart again, but she quickly gathered everyone toward the center of the room.
Thankfully, no one panicked or acted recklessly. They all understood that a single misstep could lead to disaster.
Everyone agreed to stay together and wait until they could explore and find an exit.
There were, of course, other suggestions.
“What if we split into four teams to explore the paths and find a way out more quickly?” someone proposed.
“That’s not a bad idea, but with our numbers already low, splitting up would make us vulnerable. Even if we don’t encounter the monster that wiped out the other raid, we could still be in danger,” another replied.
Everyone was well aware that they were safest staying close to Michael, and they didn’t want to stray too far from him.
Various opinions were shared: sending out scouts, moving as a group, or staying put and waiting for another raid team to arrive.
There was no right answer—just a matter of choosing the least risky option.
“By the way, where do you think the other teams are now?”
The dungeon, though large and cave-like, was eerily silent. There were no echoes, no way to tell what was happening elsewhere unless they were physically present at the scene.
“We made it this far without issue, so it’s possible the other teams are fine too,” Irene answered cautiously.
“But… what if they’ve already been wiped out, like that other team? What if the monster is attracted to sound and attacks wherever there’s the most noise?” Reyna asked, , still shaken.
The fear in her voice made the others grow more tense. Monsters that hunted by sound were common. If the creature responsible for the massacre operated this way…
‘If we stay in this dungeon too long, it might eventually find us.’
But there was another possibility.
“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it go after Princess Cecilia’s raid group first? That group is much larger than ours.”
While the team that was wiped out had a powerful purifier, they weren’t the strongest.
In contrast, Princess Cecilia’s raid was made up of the best of the best.
‘Her group is elite, through and through.’
Princess Cecilia had always surrounded herself with top-tier talent. There was no way she would have entered this dungeon without thorough preparation.
‘And she made it clear she intended to show overwhelming superiority.’
However, sheer strength wasn’t everything.
The most hopeful aspect of Irene’s situation was that Michael was with them and that the remaining group members were united. Despite their fear, they had faith in each other and believed they could make it through.
But was the same true for Cecilia’s raid group?
Irene remembered the complaints she’d heard from people in the princess’s group.
If things turned dire for them, she doubted they’d stay calm.
* * *
After a calm discussion, the group came to an agreement.
“I’ll explore the nearest areas and return quickly.”
It was decided that Michael would be the only one to go out and scout.
At first, some people suggested that he take at least one other person with him, but he insisted that it would be easier to fight and move alone if he encountered any monsters.
And with numbers already low, every extra person was needed to bolster the main group’s strength.
“I’ll leave all the food here. I’ll only take basic medical supplies, some water, and a signal flare in case I come across any injured people,” Michael said as he packed his light load, which fit easily into his pockets.
After making his preparations, he was ready to set off.
