Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 25
Translated by Elphie
“Hoo…”
As Irene stepped into the dungeon, she took a deep breath and blinked her eyes. Until just a moment ago, she had been in a bright place filled with sunlight, but the moment she passed through the dark oval-shaped gate, an entirely different world unfolded.
Feeling the cool and damp air, Irene rubbed her arms. Though not the first time experiencing this, the tension was enough to make her hair stand on end. Thanks to that, Michael had asked her multiple times at the dungeon entrance if she was really okay.
She had simply said it was her first dungeon, making up an excuse for her nervousness, but the tremors didn’t easily subside.
‘Maybe it’s because it’s similar to where I died.’
The place where she had entered alone without a knight, only to be chased by monsters and meet her demise. Because the layout of lower-level dungeons was essentially the same, Irene immediately recalled the moment when her breath was cut short upon entering.
“It seems like it won’t work after all. If you go back, I can…”
“It’s fine.”
Even though he had encouraged her to leave several times, Irene eventually let out an irritated remark. Realizing her mistake, she hastily cleared her throat.
“I think it’s best to finish quickly and return. If I’m going to follow Sir Michael in the future, I should get used to this level of fear.”
Of course, she had no intention of coming back, but since she considered it the last time anyway, the lies flowed effortlessly.
“…Alright.”
Fortunately, he didn’t press her further. Instead, he took a step closer than before, narrowing the distance between Irene and himself.
“I’m going to put up a light, and while it will make it easier for us to move, the demons will see it and come at us, so be prepared.”
“Got it.”
Michael took out a small orb from his pocket and threw it into the air. The orb, rising about twice the height of a person, spun around in the air for a moment before emitting a bright light.
With that, the inside of the dungeon became clear. It was a cavernous room with a high ceiling that led deep into the interior.
‘The most common form of a lower-level dungeon.’
Irene could see why the last time an artifact came out of this place, it turned everyone’s heads. Who would have expected such an ordinary place to yield an artifact, and one with incredibly useful power at that?
‘Come to think of it, the fact that I entered here means…’
The pair who originally entered this place headed for a different dungeon.
‘I’m sorry. Truly sorry.’
Irene apologized to them repeatedly in her mind.
Of course, apologizing didn’t ease her conscience.
‘I wonder if there’s any way I can give them the money left over once I pay the Count.’
While she would set aside money for her future life, she couldn’t help but think that she should somehow compensate the people who were robbed of a life-changing opportunity without knowing it.
Lost in her thoughts, she was about to follow him when Michael said, “You don’t seem surprised.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Thinking something had appeared, Irene hastily looked around. However, the cries of monsters could only be heard from a distance, and there was no sign of anything nearby.
Michael watched her anxiously looking around and pointed a finger upward. Above their heads, the orb was emitting light.
“People are usually quite surprised when they see this for the first time. But you’re not saying anything as if you’re used to it.”
“Oh.”
Irene realized her mistake. Indeed, she had been extremely surprised and fascinated when she first saw it. However, after seeing it a few times, she had become accustomed to it and knew it was one of the artifacts the temple possessed.
Of course, it was all part of stories from a past life. It took her only a moment to realize what to say.
Nonchalantly, Irene replied, “Actually… I, too, have heard a lot about Sir Michael’s remarkable achievements, just like everyone else. So, I’ve heard stories about this fascinating artifact quite often. They say that when the cave in Mount Geden collapsed in the past, people stranded relied on this miraculous orb to survive, right?”
It was indeed a story she had heard before meeting Michael. In that story, the orb was always mentioned.
Perhaps thanks to her quick response, Michael seemed to understand. He nodded briefly and continued forward.
