Raised in Dungeon



Susan, who couldn't resist her curiosity, peeked behind the kitchen curtain. Even Rodion, who forbade it, started to get curious; he also peeked beside Susan.

Although they couldn't hear their conversation, they knew that there was a slight change in Allen's face that should have been expressionless.

In just a month and a half, Susan and Rodion could somehow feel the atmosphere around Allen changing when he showed emotion.

"Allen looks happy," Susan muttered.

Allen's face looked more like someone who had difficulty responding, but Susan could tell he was happy, as well as Rodion.

"I wonder what they're talking about?"

"Whatever it was, I hope he didn't forget that we must use that girl to save Iva."

An hour passed, and once Lavinia had finished the soup in her bowl, she said

"At that time, I apologized for throwing away your soup; maybe it would have tasted just as good as this soup,"

"No way, we were in the goblin's lair back then. There weren't any plants there, so it probably tasted bland."

"Still, I feel guilty for venting my anger on you, even though you also came to save me."

As soon as Lavinia was about to be raped by the goblin, Lavinia said the worst thing she could think of at that moment, "DON'T TOUCH ME MONSTER!!!" To Allen, it should have been a normal thing because he really was a monster's child. Still, because Lavinia said it with hatred, Allen knew that it was words that hurt him.

"Me too... I-I'm sorry..." Allen replied stammeringly.

"It's okay; you weren't wrong from the start-"

"That's not it! I'm sorry because I still feel that what my mother did wasn't wrong, and you guys were the ones who were wrong.

I don't even feel that what mother did to you was her fault..."

"..." Lavinia couldn't answer him. To Allen, his mother was everything, and it was true that the Queen Orc was not to blame there, but that didn't mean Lavinia was at fault.

Everyone back then had their own reasons for being there. It's just which side you were on back then. The side of the monsters, or the humans.

And Allen was still on the side of his mother, who was a monster.

That's what Lavinia thought.

"But..." Allen continued,

"But, I met one of the soldiers who did the dungeon raid. And he said, 'I don't blame that kid at all, and I'm sure none of us do,' his words made me feel like I was the one who was at fault. I was the only one at fault in this world.

When I thought that it wasn't me who was wrong, I also thought they must blame me for killing their friends. But they didn't blame me either.

Even Miss Lavinia too, didn't blame me at all... And that makes me doubt, could it really be me who is wrong here?"

Lavinia's heart swelled with emotion as she took in the sight of Allen before her, his face etched with clear doubt and remorse for his mistake. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him as she watched him struggle with his own thoughts.

"Ah... Allen, you're back," she thought, her heart aching but also happy for him.

As she continued to gaze at him, it suddenly struck her that the sad and gloomy Allen she had known at the Boldenville residence was no longer the same person standing before her. This was the innocent, helpless boy she had befriended in the lonely dungeon so long ago. As if the Allen she met with the Boldenville family never existed, the Allen in front of her now was the little boy she used to meet inside the dungeon.

'At this time, what should I say to him?' Lavinia thought.

Lavinia tried to extend her hand to reach Allen's cheek,

"Miss Lavinia?"

Before Lavinia could touch him,

-BRAG

Susan fell behind them, making a loud noise and breaking the atmosphere.

Lavinia reflexively pulled her hand away.

"Susan, what are you doing?" asked Allen.

"So-sorry... I just slipped a bit, hehehe."

Rodion sighed, then walked over to the two of them.

"Allen, you're not wrong at all," Rodion said. "You're just a kid who wanted to defend your mother."

"Master..."

"Eh? What are you talking about? Mother? Allen's mother?" Susan said in confusion; she was the only one who didn't understand the situation.

Looking at Rodion, Lavinia thought, 'All this time, Allen must have been able to change because of working in this place. This person must have made Allen back to the way he is now.'

With a suspicious face, Allen said

"Master, are you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

Not wanting to bother with that, Rodion changed the subject.

"By the way, priestess, do you have a healing amnis?" asked Rodion.

"Umm... Yes I do,"

Allen immediately understood Rodion's meaning when he asked about the healing amnis.

'That's right! Not just amnis, even Miss Lavinia's God's blessing is regeneration! We can ask Miss Lavinia to help with the birth of Iva's child!'

"Miss Lavinia! Can you help us?!"

"Eh?"

They then talked about Iva's pregnancy, which was approaching old age. Based on the calculation of the day, Iva would give birth at the beginning of the water month.

"A water month... That'll be difficult," Lavinia said, "If she gives birth at the beginning of a water month, then there won't be enough food and nutrients for the baby, the baby could die in 40 days."

"There's no need to think about food! What's important is Iva's condition of having to give birth to two children," said Allen.

With a sad face, Lavinia replied

"I'm sorry, but I can't wait here until the water month."

"Why?! Please! Can you do something about it?!" Allen spontaneously took Lavinia's hand and grasped it.

"I have to save Iva no matter what! I promised her, and I have to take responsibility to save her! So, please stay only until the beginning of the water month!"

[ILLUSTRATION]

Lavinia was once again surprised. Allen unconsciously grasped Lavinia's hand, just as he did when he was inside the dungeon.

Seeing Allen's serious and honest face, Lavinia's heart melted; she wanted to grant his request.

But...

"Sorry, I can't," Lavinia replied.

Allen slowly removed his hand from Lavinia. 'Again, she rejected me, just like she did before,' he thought.

"Why?"

"Do you still remember Birawa Budiono? The other-worlder we met at the Boldenville residence. He's a knight of rounds and is currently talking to the barony. I'm currently in the same party as him. We're also just traveling here. In seven days, we will leave for Herrwade territory."

"Can't you postpone the trip until Iva gives birth?" asked Rodion.

"Unfortunately not. In fact, we'd like to leave as soon as possible. We are waiting for the other party members who will be arriving in seven days."

"Do you mind telling me why you have to hurry?" asked Rodion again.

After thinking about it for a moment, she decided to tell them.

"Daemon Servus, have you ever heard of them? They are Satan worshipers who want to bring back the glory days of the devil to the world. For the past ten years, they have been attacking villages one by one and sucking all their blood. There are suspicious movements in Herrwade that are most likely Daemon Servus's act. We cannot delay to save the hundreds of people there," Lavinia explained.

Hearing that, Allen was distraught again. He now had to think of another way to save Iva.

"Have you talked to the church about this?" asked Lavinia.

The church could help save Iva. They were full of priests who could perform amnis healing.

Lavinia took money out of her pocket,

"To ask the church for help, you have to make an offering to the God. Just use this money."

Lavinia handed Allen a gold coin.

"Wow, gold coins; this is my first time seeing them!" Susan shouted.

"Isn't this too much?" asked Rodion.

"The birth of a child is uncertain. So use the coins so Iva can stay in the church for a few days before she goes into labor."

Allen took a long look at the money, then grasped it.

"Miss Lavinia, thank you."

Lavinia smiled,

"Thank you for the soup; it was delicious. I'll probably come again tomorrow," she said, then walked out of the tavern.

Just as Lavinia was about to close the door, Susan handed her a package.

"What's this?" asked Lavinia.

"This is the soup. Didn't you come here to bring this to your boss?"

Lavinia's face instantly turned into shock.

"That's right! I have to deliver this soup to Birawa as soon as possible! Thank you, I have to go!"

The next day, once they arrived at the church, the church's response was

"Sorry, all of our healing priests are being hired by dungeon explorers in other regions. There was a sudden request from the nobles of Herrwade and Druwich."

It was as if even God refused to save Iva.