Volume 3 Chapter 18 Be Careful of What’s Inside the Treasure Chest
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We were clearing the dungeon’s 3rd Floor that day too.
The members were the usual 3.
Me and 2 beautiful girls, Lifia and Kéa.
Lifia is a half-elf.
She has blonde hair that reaches her shoulders and blue eyes.
She wears a maid outfit that covers her small body.
The garter belt peeking out from her miniskirt is sexy.
The other one is Kéa.
She has red hair in a ponytail and is a dual-wielding female knight wearing bikini armor.
Her large breasts that jiggle are eye-catching, along with her revealing outfit.
The 3 of us walk across the plains.
Blue sky and grasslands spread out, like we’re outside, but this is inside the dungeon.
Hidden dangers lurk in the seemingly peaceful scenery.
Even the empty grass, the sparsely growing trees, and the clouds floating in the sky are disguises of monsters.
If a human who can’t see through them wanders in, they will be eaten in an instant.
As we walked, something appeared at the edge of my vision.
”A treasure chest?”
When I said that, the two of them looked in that direction too.
It was placed alone in the center of the grassland, and it looked artificial no matter how you looked at it.
Its unnaturalness is eye-catching even if I don’t want it to be.
I look at Lifia, and she shakes her head.
”It’s an Angler Grass.”
I sighed at her calm voice.
”Again…”
It looks like an attractive treasure chest, but it’s a lure to catch adventurers.
A monster with a big mouth is hiding under that treasure chest.
If you get close, lured by the treasure chest, you’ll be swallowed whole.
”Lifia.”
”Yes. Air Impetus.”
Lifia holds out one hand at my command.
Wind is born from her small palm, becoming an invisible blade and released towards the ground under the treasure chest.
The impact of the wind strikes the ground, and vibrations spread with a roar.
The grass sways, and dust rises, and the monster disguised as the ground, Angler Grass, screams.
And before it can show its form, its life is taken.
All that’s left is a huge fish carcass that reminds me of a catfish.
It’s a eerie sight, but it’s a common one in dangerous dungeons like this.
Still, no matter how many times I see it, it’s disgusting.
I sigh as I look at the motionless monster.
The treasure chest from before is still on top of the catfish.
But there’s no point in checking it out.
The Angler Grass treasure chests are just traps.
They’re always empty, a waste of hope.
How many times has it been now?
My heart races every time I see a treasure chest sitting in the grasslands, but my hopes are quickly dashed.
Every chest I’ve found so far has been an Angler Grass trap.
Thanks to Lifia’s Spirit Magic, we don’t fall for the traps.
Still, I’m getting sick of these fake chests.
They say that treasure chests in dungeons can hold charming magic tools.
Legends of swords, armor, and useful magic tools; treasures that could make you rich in an instant.
I’m not really short on gold, but there’s a romance to treasure chests.
I want to feel that heart-pounding moment when I open a real chest right in front of me.
The sword I’m using now was apparently found in a dungeon.
Thinking that I might find something equal to or better than this sword makes me want to keep searching even more.
”When will I finally find a real treasure chest?”
I grumble that thought out loud with a sigh.
Lifia, walking next to me, answers with a smile.
”There’s nothing we can do. Even ordinary adventurers are told that finding a few in a year is good enough.”
Her gentle voice and kind expression calm my frustrated mood.
I naturally smile at her comforting presence.
”Guess I shouldn’t worry about it.”
I tell myself, trying to change my mood.
Thanks to Kéa’s new weapon, our fighting power has greatly increased.
Lifia is getting better at using Spirit Magic.
My own level-up is going smoothly too.
We should have made good progress on this dungeon’s third floor.
No need to rush, just take it one step at a time.
I believe we’ll find a real treasure chest eventually.
* * *
After that, I explored the dungeon for a while, but I was tired.
I was losing focus.
I thought I should stop for today.
Then, I saw that shape again at the edge of my vision.
”A treasure chest…”
I sighed, but I couldn’t look away.
It’s probably another fake from the Angler Grass.
But I still had hope.
I looked at Lifia.
But she was different.
”I don’t feel any monster from Angler Grass.”
Is it real?
”Is it real!”
Kéa shouted and ran to the treasure chest!
”Hey, wait!”
Kéa didn’t listen to me.
She was in front of the treasure chest in a moment.
She opened the lid without hesitation.
”Ooooh! This is what was inside!”
Kéa was excited.
She took something out of the treasure chest.
She was holding a thick book.
Lifia and I looked at each other and went to Kéa.
”Kéa…”
Lifia got to Kéa before I could say anything.
Kéa didn’t care and looked happy, looking at the book.
”Look, Senior!”
Before she could finish, Lifia started to hit Kéa’s chest.
”Ouch! Senior? Why? It hurts!”
Kéa hugged the book and squirmed, but Lifia didn’t stop.
Lifia looked angry.
”No! You can’t open it without permission!”
Lifia’s voice was not gentle.
It was firm.
”Huh? I can’t?”
Kéa tilted her head, confused.
Lifia sighed and said.
”You should give it to Master first. Opening a treasure chest is a special thing for adventurers.”
”Oh…right…”
Kéa’s eyes widened.
She realized what she did and blushed.
”I’m sorry. I didn’t think…”
Kéa looks down, holding the book, and glances shyly at me with an apology.
That gesture looks so childish, I lose the urge to get angry.
Yes, this is really the first real treasure chest.
I also want to open the treasure chest myself.
But pushing that and blaming Kéa feels childish.
It seems childish.
Should I forgive her generously?
Just as I think that, Kéa suddenly spins around.
”Let’s try again!”
Saying that, Kéa tries to put the book back into the treasure chest.
Her serious movement makes both Lifia and me stare in shock for a moment.
”No, you don’t have to do that.”
I say with a sigh.
It’s such a silly act to put the book back and then open it again.
Children don’t even get happy with that.
”B-But…”
Kéa hesitates but stops moving.
A clear regret shows on her face.
”Well, be careful next time.”
I shrug lightly and smile as I speak to Kéa.
She looks up at my words and nods happily.
”Next time, I will definitely leave it to Milord!”
”Yeah, please do.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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