24 Chapter 20: A Hole in the Hear (1/2)

What the heck…

[Why is it so hard to get out of this place…? Did we have to pass through this confusing maze just to reach the hall when I was out?]

We've been walking for hours and all I can see are path branching to two to three routes. I look left, I see walls, I look right, I see walls. Everywhere I look, they're all the same. Same worn out bricks and cobblestones.

Our main source of light, me and a lamp held by Fleur, only reaches to a few meters away. So without the passing change in directions, everything looks exactly the same.

Right now, Fleur is guiding us towards the exit. But even though we're traversing it with ease, there's no sign of us reaching the end.

Fleur: ”Yes. I just learned this from Purin, but… This dungeon is made by Mother when she was trying to extend her reach in the other continents.”

[Hm? But this dungeon is described as a dungeon created to trap other races or something.]

Fleur: ”Ohh… Perhaps that is how the other races perceived it and that it became known to be a dungeon laid by the Demon Lord.”

Hmhm. I see, I see.

So Analyze doesn't always describe the target's truest nature, but also how it is perceived by the world, huh? Way to make it more confusing.

Well, if the world views a thing as 'something', then that's all it takes to make that 'something' the truth. That's the same with every world, I guess.

Fleur: ”By the way, Soul. Would you mind explaining what you meant earlier? That, why it should be better for us to be together?”

Fleur, who is just walking a few centimeters ahead of me asked while maintaining her elegant posture. She herself is holding a lamp that uses Crysaztel to work. Even still, her way of walking really does give her an aura of dignity. Much like of a princess.

Well she is, actually.

Or rather, what the heck is with her chest? Aren't they big for her young body? Based from her physique, I can only judge that she's around the age of seventeen; eighteen if I had to stretch it out. Even her height and face tells me so.

Her crimson red eyes renders a dignified, yet gentle, gaze. She has small horns protruding from her forehead, carefully arranged to match her long, glossy, black hair – reaching her back, making her look a bit more mature.

But her chest defies the other aspects of her body. Even though she looks young, it'll make you wonder about her real age and all.

Just because of her boobs.

Right now, she's wearing a black colored one piece corset dress, designed with small frills at the edges. Her belly is covered with leather type apparel, tied with thin strings. The skirt reaches below her knees, as it sways with her every step. She also wears what seem a frilly vest that covers her shoulders, made with an expensive looking cloth. And that tail! That thin tail with a diamond shaped flat tip that sways along her skirt…!

Alluring…

With all is said and done, she really is a daughter of on Empress, both physically and in manner.

Very cute.

Nevertheless, I just can't take my eyes off her gently swaying mounds. My nature as a man is still inscribed in my soul, or so it seems.

Fleur: ”Uhm… Ciel?”

Whoa there, me. I almost forgot about her question. I got into a heavy thinking right there. Yeah, heavy it seems, indeed.

[Got it. First, let me show you something.]

If my conjecture is right, then this should also be possible.

Analyze.

Fleur: ”Wah! Th-This is…?”

Bet you were surprised eh, Fleur? Mufufu.

Well, I actually didn't think it would work, though.

I used Analyzed. But this time, I also applied Soul Link in the process. In which, I thought it may be possible to pass my skill application to the linked as well. Turns out, it perfectly worked.

Since I gained a portion her status and acquired a similar Title because of the link, I just thought that maybe skills are also possible to link. And I was right.

[That's your status.]

Fleur: ”Status… This is…”

She carefully passed her eyes on the invisible screen in front of her. Of course it would only be visible to her if she's temporarily using the Analyze skill.

Hmm…

It looks like the word 'Status' is known in this world. Maybe there is also a way for the people of this world to view their own status. But from the looks of it, it's not something common.

Ah… Her face turned sour and grim. I guess she saw her Titles. Hmhm.

[Fleur.]

Fleur: ”Y-Yes?”

[Titles are not everything.]

Fleur: ”Y-Yes… I know that. But it still weighs my mind.”

I see. Of course, it would, huh? It's the proof of your actions, after all. You gain Titles based on your achievements. And those achievements are not limited to positive deeds, but also the negative ones.

I guess, in the Title's case, there're no positives and negatives. No good deeds or a bad deeds. They're all actions accomplished to a certain degree.

That's how I've been seeing them up until now, since I've got no clue how to actually perceive them. But for Fleur, it looks like she sees them as the sins that she committed before.

Hm… Well, it's not something that will be forgotten just because she was resurrected. In this case, I should just let her feel the burden that she's about to carry.

Rather, I'm no position to think about this, huh? Who am I trying to fool?

… The books I've read influenced me too much.

[Alright. I'll explain everything from top to bottom. First, you're now free from your Curse.]

Fleur: ”…! Is that true??”

Ohh… Would you look at that. The relief and happiness is already apparent on her face. She really does show her emotions on her face the moment she feels it.

Purin: ”Hrm?!”

Oh, Purin's also here. I sort of forgot about her.

Purin: ”How dare thee forget about Purin??”

[Stop reading my mind. Or rather, how are you doing that?]

Purin: ”Hmph.”

[… Anyways, what's wrong Purin?]

Purin: ”Ah! H-How can thou say that the Curse is gone now?? It should be impossible…! The Curse was imbedded on Milady's soul! It would only be removed if Milady's soul is destroyed… However, that is also not an option, obviously!”

Hm. I guess, I really have to tell them about the Resurrection skill, huh?

It's not like I want to hide things from them. It's the opposite, actually. Now that we will be travelling together like this, I want them to be as open to me as they could. That way, I can monitor them during.

I won't have any problem with Fleur since her expression tells everything that I need to know. And I'm not sure how to explain this, but… It's like I got to immediately understand how she feels. Another after-effect of the Soul Link, I assume.

It's not like I can read her mind or something. It's like, whenever she strongly feels something, I also feel the same way, albeit fainter.

That's why, I don't think I have to be cautious of her, of all things. I want to trust her, if anything.

But that's not the case with Purin. From the looks of things, Purin seems to hate me. Moreover, she's just too wary of me that she won't even let me out of her sight.

Her gazes are about to bore holes on my ghostly body.