Chapter 4 - I’m a Hero!? 4 (2/2)

“I don’t want to go in there.... My dad said we shouldn’t disturb the rest of the dead.”

“Your father did a very good job in educating you.”

Up until now, Maetel had meekly followed Artpe’s words, this was the first time she had pushed back. Well, it was true that the hero from his past life never visited this Dungeon either.

After being chosen as a hero, she had been dragged immediately into the palace. She might have always had an aversion toward burial grounds, but that didn’t matter any more. There was only one important fact right now, she must go into this Dungeon.

This was why Artpe spoke with a stern voice.

“If we don’t go in there, we’ll be dragged back into the palace.”

“I like tasteless food even less! I also don’t like the cold. Woo, woo…”

“Well, are you going to go in?”

“·...yes.”

The sun had set all the way, and their surroundings were getting colder, they didn’t have the time to dawdle. Maetel looked as if she was about to cry, but she followed Artpe. She had no choice but to enter the Dungeon.

“Huh?”

However, when she actually entered the Dungeon, Maetel tilted her head in confusion.

“This isn’t a grave?”

Maetel had expected to see a coffin with a dead body inside. She had expected cold brick walls with hidden bats and long spiderwebs. The sight that greeted them was a square room, and the floor was covered with brown soil.

When she turned around, she saw the stairway heading outside. Maetel was sure she had walked on stone steps, yet unbeknownst to her, they had changed into stairs made out of dirt!

“Artpe, Artpe!”

Maetel’s eyes turned round and she grabbed Artpe’s dirty sleeve. He had somewhat expected such a reaction from Maetel, so he smirked.

“Dungeons are all like this. What do you think? Are you still cold?”

“No, I’m not cold at all… Huh? Why is that?”

When the hero realized the abnormal condition around her, she became slightly confused.

Artpe gave a short explanation to her.

“Dungeons are a form of pocket dimensions. You should think of it as a space disengaged from the outside world.”

“What is a pocket dimension?”

“The concept of a pocket dimension was first introduced in the year 728 according to the Continent Calendar. A demon named ‘Nanarai Bodra’ set up an experiment where the density of Mana within a limited space was pushed past the maximum permissible amount…”

“It’s over my head!”

Maetel raised one hand and yelled out in a spirited manner. Artpe had already expected such a reaction from her. He let out a benevolent smile as he asked her a question.

“Which part don’t you understand?”

“There’s too much… You should explain what the Continent Calendar is first.”

“All right. Let’s lay that aside for now.”

Artpe gave up on giving her an explanation. He was the one at fault for trying to explain a concept of magic to an idiot.

“Just accept that such places exists, and the Dungeons occupy that space.”

“Yes, all right!”

If she was going to gloss over everything, she shouldn’t have asked for an explanation!

“We’ll sleep here today. Since we are at the Dungeon entrance, the monsters won’t come near this place. Moreover, no one will able to find and enter this Dungeon, we can relax and sleep.”

“Yes. All right.”

He said those words, but he still prepared for the unexpected. He used his fingers to spread several threads of Mana over the Dungeon’s entrance, stairway, and the doorway located on the other side of the room. It would allow him to be aware of external threats beforehand, and it would give him some time to prepare for it. This was supposed to be an impossible task for a normal level 2 hero, but Artpe was able to pull it off.

Maetel watched Artpe work. Her eyes were shining relentlessly.

“Artpe is really incredible. There isn’t a thing you don’t know, you are great at everything except exercising. You are kind… Moreover, you are a hero!”

“You are a hero too.”

“I... I like being a hero, but in truth, I wouldn’t have minded if I hadn’t become a hero.”

Artpe finally remembered the words spoken by Maetel in the morning. She most definitely said there was something she wanted to be more than a hero.

She had role-played at being a hero everyday. He knew she loved being a hero, so what was she referring to when she said there was something she wanted more than being a hero?

Artpe mused over it when he turned to look at Maetel in alarm.

“Did you perhaps want to become the Demon King instead of a hero!?”

“No way!”

“You should most definitely not become one of the Four Heavenly Kings. It isn’t worth it.”

“I’m not talking about that!”

Maetel’s face had turned red as she fumed. Her anger pretty much wiped away the fear she felt for the Dungeon and the future. Artpe smiled for the first time, and he gently patted her head.

“I already know, you dummy. Whatever you want to be, you should keep it safe within your heart. When the Demon King is dead, you’ll be free.”

“Free…?”

A hero only existed only because there was a Demon King in existence. When the Demon King disappeared, the Hero Class would also vanish.

Then, the hero would be able to acquire a new Class.

“That day will come, so you should safeguard your dream. You shouldn’t forget about it. I will help you achieve it.”

“Dream... Do you really think I’ll be able to fulfill my dream?”

“Of course.”

He didn’t know what her dream was. However, the dream was probably something she could realize after the death of the Demon King. Artpe nodded his head vigorously, and Maetel’s face visibly brightened.

“All right. I’ll try harder from now on! I’ll do whatever it takes!”

“Yes. Anyways, it is time for us to sleep.”

“Yes! Sleep well, Artpe!”

“You sleep well too.”

He had succeeded in motivating the hero.

Now she would be an active participant in moving forward!

Artpe let out a pleased smile. He had been able to turn the tide of Maetel's reluctance, and his plan was on track now.

His expression was akin to a farmer waiting for his harvest.

If he knew what Maetel was dreaming about, Artpe wouldn’t have been able to make such a contented expression. He had always been the lowest ranked of the Four Heavenly Kings because he had a habit of not catching the important developments.

This was how the two heroes slept safely within the Dungeon on their first night out.