Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 318
TL: Elphie / PR: Mikan
“A space about as large as this village, filled with monstersā¦ none of them aggressive, it seems.”
[They say they just want to go home!]
While they were talking, Chomp-chomp had quietly slipped a tendril into the black hole and was now interpreting the cries of the monsters trapped inside.
āIf it’s a closed space, where did these monsters come from?ā Irene asked.
Chomp-chomp slid another tendril inside, murmured something to the monsters, then pulled back and answered.
[They say they donāt really know either. They were living peacefully in the Monster Realm, and then suddenly, a hole appeared nearby, and they fell through it into this place. They tried to go back, but the hole closed up. Now the only one left is this tiny one here, and itās way too small for them to get through.]
It seemed that just as humans could be swept up into dungeons during their formation, the monsters had similarly been caught in the process and dropped into this place.
Thankfully, since they were willing to return peacefully, the rest would be simple.
Chomp-chomp rummaged through Ireneās bag and pulled out a silver rodāan artifact that had once been used to send Irene to the Monster Realm.
[Alright, letās begin!]
Chomp-chomp took the artifact and slipped into the hole, activating it from inside.
Originally, the artifact was only able to open a random path to the Monster Realm, but ever since Michael had assisted, it could now be tuned to connect to a specific location.
Michael, for his part, still seemed baffled that he retained such power at all.
In any case, once all the monsters trapped in the cramped space were sent back, the eerie cries ceased completely.
āBut the dungeon isnāt vanishing,ā Irene murmured.
Normally, once the monsters were gone, the dungeon would collapse shortly after. But this one, being so unusual, remained stubbornly intact even after being emptied.
What in the world were they supposed to do with it?
Irene and Michael exchanged glances for a brief moment, then both gave a nod.
Letās ignore it.
Understood.
And just like that, the two of them began renovating the house.
They brought in new glass panes from the nearest city and purchased timber for the damaged walls.
[But why am I the one carrying all this stuff!]
Chomp-chomp trudged behind, grumbling as it hauled their supplies with a thick tentacle.
Each time it complained, Irene and Michael simply fed it alternating bites of apple and tomato.
[If you think Iāll beāchompāeasily bribed with thisāgulpāyouāve got another thing coāhicāmingā¦]
āWant some avocado too?ā
[Your Majesty Michael is the best!]
Chomp-chomp was easy to handle.
The two of them spent entire days immersed in repairs: replacing window frames, restoring collapsed walls, repainting the faded interior.
Sure, it was the sort of work that couldāve been outsourced with enough money. But since it was their home now, one that theyād live in together, they wanted to fix every inch of it with their own hands.
After nearly a month of hard work, the house had transformed beyond recognition.
Next came organizing the interior.
They tore out the traces left behind by those who once lived there, hoping that if any had survived, they were living well somewhere far away.
New furniture was brought in. Potted plants were placed with care.
One by one, items they had discovered during their travels across the continentāthings theyād said, āLetās get this for our future homeāābegan to fill the space.
Compared to the lavish chambers Irene once enjoyed at the Fortress, this place she had repaired and decorated by hand with Michael was infinitely more comfortable.
āThis is my home.ā
For the first time, Irene looked around and felt a deep, proud warmth settle in her chest. A home filled only with those she cherished and loved.
And of course, the one she loved most was Michaelānow approaching with damp hands, drying them on a towel as he smiled at her.
Just then, Chomp-chomp returned from the dungeon-turned-storage space where the artifacts were stored.
[I put it right back where it belongs!]
Chomp-chomp, as if seeking praise, wiggled its tentacles eagerly as it came closer to Irene.
[But, I donāt know when the Hand will come back.]
“I know.”
Irene replied softly, gently stroking the end of Chomp-chomp’s tentacle as she gazed at the hole.
The Hand, which had traveled with them all this time, had suddenly disappeared a month ago.
[ The body. Iām going to the Monster Realm to check something out. ]
It had left that brief note behind before vanishing.
