VIP Chapter 179: Witch’s Box (7)
Meanwhile—
Floor 60.
This BOSS floor, where Clodell, the Ice Queen of Moonlit Ice Extreme, resides, generally signifies the completion of the entire Dungeon if cleared.
According to the recollections of Adventurers who have diligently climbed floor by floor and challenged Floor 60, Clodell is a very “romantic” Ice Queen.
On Floor 60, large, beautiful ice sculptures are displayed everywhere.
Even Clodell’s entire set of attack patterns are executed through various ice sculptures of animals.
Sometimes, an Ice Dragon is seen flying in the sky.
Sometimes, an Ice Elephant leaps out from her side.
Sometimes, she summons Ice Warriors to swing their long swords.
—These were all part of a romantic challenge, more like appreciating a spectacular ice sculpture exhibition. If only the ice sculptures controlled by Clodell didn’t hurt and feel so cold when they attacked.
But now…
Floor 60 could hardly be described as “romantic.”
“Bereft” would be the word.
The ground was covered in melted ice water everywhere, in patches, clear and clean, but with no discernible pattern.
“You are indeed powerful… to have reduced me to this state by yourself. And you’re not even a specialist in fire attribute magic, yet you can use powers that counter mine…”
Clodell no longer possessed the majestic aura of floating in the air as a BOSS.
She stood on the ground, her long ice-blue skirt torn away by a quarter, revealing her lower abdomen.
“You’re not bad either. I thought a summoned BOSS like you would be frail… I didn’t expect you to not only inflict damage but also be quite resilient.”
Shuna rotated her wrist.
It was indeed a level befitting a BOSS on Floor 60; she couldn’t be defeated with a single move like before. Especially considering how well-prepared Shuna was.
Although it wasn’t a desperate battle, Shuna’s arms and thighs still bore several scratches from Clodell’s ice cones.
A significant amount of her stamina had also been depleted.
“Whoo… Then, next, I’ll unleash my full power…”
Clodell took a deep breath, touching her Ice Throne, seemingly preparing for a final offensive.
But…
“Wait, wait, there’s no need to expend so much energy. I just wanted you to know that we are capable of clearing the dungeons— so that we can… talk as equals?”
“?”
Clodell’s ultimate attack, which was half-charged, was brought to an abrupt halt.
Her face, already small and cute, tilted to the side, revealing a confused expression.
“I just want to ask you about something.”
Shuna narrowed her eyes.
Clodell sensed a sense of urgency in Shuna, otherwise, she would have had the time to use all her moves.
And then…
Shuna tossed a small piece of gravel at her, possibly no bigger than a fingernail.
“This.”
Shuna crossed her arms.
“Have you seen this? The markings on it should be related to you, right?”
Clodell caught the very small piece of gravel in mid-air with a lightness as if catching a snowflake in falling snow.
She opened her palm.
In the center of her palm lay a small fragment of light green, its edges bearing the marks of white cuts.
Clodell remained silent, quietly raised her head, and looked at Shuna standing opposite her.
“What? You don’t know…” Shuna spun her dagger, making a “swoosh” sound as it cut through the air, “Or are you unwilling to answer me?”
Clodell shook her head.
“Yes, these are indeed marks I ‘carved’. I don’t know how you obtained it.”
Hearing this, Shuna knew she had found the right direction.
“Alright, that’s great. Tell me how you got it.”
“Mmm… I was just helping my sister.”
Clodell’s answer was very quick.
But…
Such a rapid response left Shuna unsure how to respond.
“…Sister?”
The dagger, halfway through its spin in her hand, paused.
She rarely interacted with the Dungeon Empresses, as clearing a dungeon usually meant defeating them, leaving very little room for communication.
She even wondered if it was due to her lack of interaction that this was the first time she had heard the word “sister” from an Empress.
So, did those in the Dungeons have “family relationships”? Or was “sister” simply a term for a friend older than oneself?
And, something that had bothered Shuna greatly since she was at Rock Fire Iron Wall.
Back then, the Dungeon Empress, an old man who loved telling bad jokes, had described the state of the Dungeon to her with seriousness, even using words like “if you don’t want to become a lackey.”
What kind of atmosphere existed within the Dungeons that could make him say such things?
Then…
Could the “sister” Clodell mentioned refer to a Dungeon Empress who stood on the same side as them in opposing “becoming lackeys”?
“What do you mean by friend? Is it another Dungeon Empress?”
Shuna looked at Clodell, who resembled a child, and changed her tone.
She didn’t seem to be a Dungeon Empress with the consciousness of an adult. Despite possessing the title of “Ice Queen,” her spirit and behavior were more like that of a child.
So, Shuna sighed and adopted a tone suitable for coaxing a child.
“Yes. That’s right. It’s just… my sister told me about this thing, and she doesn’t want others to know.”
Clodell suddenly clasped her hands together, crushing the stone in her palm.
“So she is…”
However, Shuna’s question was interrupted—
“But… why do you act as if you know nothing? Because the courier who delivered the uncarved raw stone, and the one who wants your captain… are witches with the same scent.”
Upon hearing this, Shuna frowned.
“Witch. Oh… Come to think of it, no wonder I’ve been smelling some unpleasant scent here.”
“Mmm… Well then, do you still want to ask?”
Clodell revealed an exceptionally innocent smile.
“If you don’t save your captain, that witch might break him—”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“No need for subtlety— no need for beating around the bush— no need for concealment— no need for rhetoric— no need for evasion…”
“I love you—”
Will felt his heart pounding so hard it threatened to leap out of his chest.
He looked at Liya’s eyes, filled with pink hearts.
He listened to her most ardent and sincere confession, her voice rising higher with each word.
He understood the second reason—
Why Liya liked him?
Even before hearing Liya’s confession, Will had already guessed her feelings— it was natural, if you were tied to a chair and injected with something, you would surely understand what she was thinking.
“Hah… Hah…”
But now Will understood.
Liya was infusing him with witch’s blood.
Draping herself over him, clad in her robe stained with Blood Mint Essential Oil.
Even… she lowered her head and took out bottle after bottle of Blood Mint Essential Oil from a nearby box.
The box was a gift from Will.
The Blood Mint Essential Oil was refined by Will.
Even the bottles were bought by Will himself.
It was to…
To recreate all the “heartbeats” that Will had once made Liya experience…
On him, once again!
“Come on, Will~”
Liya bit open a bottle of Blood Mint Essential Oil with her teeth.
The blood-red, slightly viscous essential oil, slowly poured onto the back of her hand.
And then from her fingertips…
It dripped down, little by little.
