Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented-Chapter 180
“So, you’re suddenly sleeping in separate rooms? Hahaha!”
“Yeah. I don’t even know why. It’s been a few days since we started this arrangement.”
After sending Chris off to work, I logged into *Astria Online* and sat near the entrance of the *Celestial Basin*, seeking some comfort from Baemelung.
Since that day we visited the hospital together, Chris, who always greeted me with open arms and a warm, silly smile when I came to her room with my pillow, had suddenly declared we’d be sleeping in separate rooms for a while.
I sighed, biting my lip and looking a bit gloomy.
“I really have no idea. That day, I went to the hospital with Chris, we took a walk in the nearby park, then went home. That’s it.”
“Hm... What did you two talk about in the park?”
“Nothing special... College stuff? Just things like that. ...Oh!”
I clapped my hands together, remembering something that might have sounded a bit strange.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, I leaned in close to Baemelung, whispering into her ear through her pink bobbed hair.
Whisper, whisper.
“Well... you know the *Lamia* in *Celestial Basin*, right? If you follow the defense line route, the Lamia drops down from the ceiling with a thud in the hatchery. But... if you look up, it’s hard to see, but it looks like they’re... rubbing up against each other... doing something strange. I got curious, so I asked Chris about it, but she just started yelling and wouldn’t answer. So, um... how do women... you know... do *that kind of thing* with each other?”
As I continued my story, Baemelung’s face turned even redder than mine.
Suddenly, she grabbed my shoulders and let out a loud squeal.
“W-What kind of question did you ask Chris?!”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head, confused. This reaction wasn’t what I expected at all.
Both Chris and now Baemelung had reacted so strangely to this question.
I am an adult, after all. And honestly, the only people I can ask about these things are Chris and Baemelung, considering my limited social circle.
Of course, I know it’s a bit of an embarrassing question.
But surely, it’s okay to ask close friends about things like this... right?
...Or maybe not?
Did I make a mistake because I’m not good with people?
“Um... sorry.”
Feeling guilty, I apologized to Baemelung.
Afterward, I tried digging through faint memories from my past life, but I ended up giving up, unable to come up with any answers.
Baemelung sighed as she watched my blank expression.
“Sigh... this time, I almost feel sorry for Chris.”
Meanwhile, the *Celestial Basin* bus business wasn’t doing well. Of course, it was early in the morning, so it was understandable, but today it was particularly empty.
I grumbled to myself.
The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.
“The *Celestial Basin* bus business is doomed.”
“Well, the rewards for the elite dungeon aren’t really worth it beyond the initial clear reward. The main farming item, Sacred Stones, can be traded, so there’s no reason for people to keep running it. The unique costumes are probably the only thing left worth chasing.”
Usually, elite dungeon buses bring in decent profits for about a month after opening, but the *Celestial Basin* dried up within three weeks. Given the dungeon’s drop mechanics, it wasn’t very appealing.
From now on, it seems like elite dungeons will mostly be a source for daily quest currency.
While observing Baemelung managing a holographic personnel list, I asked curiously.
“Baemelung, what are you working on?”
“Oh, this? The raid assignment roster for the *Red and White Guild*.”
“Ah.”
Baemelung grinned, showing me the screen, and I nodded in understanding.
Soon, a raid for the *Resting Place of the Blue Tyrant King* would begin. And Chris wouldn’t be joining the *Red and White Attack Squad*.
Baemelung gave me a mischievous smile.
“What breeze made Chris team up with you for this raid? I thought she’d insist on going solo again.”
“Well... there’s a reason.”
How could I explain that Chris had looked into my past here and now knows about the person I’m about to meet?
Even if it was Baemelung, she wouldn’t understand. Not even Chris fully grasps it. Even if she saw it with her own eyes, it ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ would be hard to believe. How much does Chris truly know?
Today, I have plenty to ponder.
Then I tilted my head with another question.
“By the way, why are you organizing the raid roster, Baemelung?”
According to Chris, the raid leader of the *Red and White Attack Squad* should be Death’s-Embrace. So why is Baemelung acting as the leader?
“Ugh, Chris seems to trust Death’s-Embrace too much. Putting him in charge is a bad idea. All he knows is how to charge forward yelling ‘Attack!’”
“Hehe.”
I could totally see it. As a tank, I rarely worked with Death’s-Embrace on bus runs, but he’s definitely not the tactical type. He’s basically a stand-in leader; Baemelung handles most of the planning.
“Well, there’s no way I can replace Chris entirely. You, along with someone as competent as Chris, should secure the first clear, right? Make sure to share your strategies with me~”
“Of course.”
Baemelung pouted playfully, leaning toward me, and I nodded with a smile.
Anyway, break time was over.
It’s almost time.
I stood up and looked intently at the towering cliff before me, where *it* awaited.
---
A thousand years ago, a noble knight who couldn’t die now awakens from a long slumber.
Did I hope for this day, or did I fear it?
Conflicting emotions brought me here.
Whoosh!
A bitter wind blew from the abyss below, tainted with a thick miasma.
The fight ahead will be grueling in every sense of the word.
But this time, I’m not facing it alone.
Next to me stands Chris, a reliable ally.
“Mhm...”
Not just Chris—there are many people here.
“Are you really doing this with just the two of you? Chris, you’re not just teaming up with Rain for a bus run, are you?”
“Do you think I’m like you?”
“Leaving the raid to me while you run off with your young sweetheart... shameless.”
“Wh-What do you mean by sweetheart?!”
The *Red and White Guild* members crowded around us, buzzing with chatter.
Why did it turn out like this?
I was ready to quietly face the past, but now it’s all so loud.
“For this raid, I’m acting as the temporary leader of the *Red and White Attack Squad*, so follow my orders. Got it, Lee Jaewook?”
“...Isn’t Death’s-Embrace the leader?”
“Hehe.”
Abandoning my sulking, I joined in on the laughter with everyone.
The entrance to the raid dungeon—the endless abyss leading to the *Resting Place of the Blue Tyrant King*—was crowded with more people than at the last raid at *Tree of the Abyss*.
And approaching me was Eleanor von Roed, a descendant of Melissa.
“I can’t even imagine what lies below. The miasma here is unlike anything I’ve felt before. This place may very well be a realm of demons.”
“Once the seal is broken.”
Eleanor nodded.
“We’ll see winged monsters, cliff-crawlers, and all sorts of creatures.”
“I can count on you, right?”
“Of course.”
With a trustworthy smile, Eleanor gazed at me, her blue knightly aura matching Melissa’s legacy. I smiled back, glancing down at the purple veil fading in the middle of the cliff.
Hummm!
The lively chatter faded. Silence surrounded us.
“They’re coming.”
Someone’s voice rang out.
Screech, screech, screech.
Swoosh!
A disturbing cry echoed as winged monsters surged up with black mist, their flapping wings tearing through the air.
Simultaneously, cliff-crawling beasts with grotesque forms—a mix of beast and human—clawed their way up the rock face, shattering stone with their relentless advance.
They swarmed, like a nightmare army from the depths, their shrieks filling the sky.
I grasped Chris’s hand tightly, and she squeezed back.
“Those aren’t ours to face.”
“Did you take the floating potion?”
“Yes. Let’s jump in.”
Holding hands, I laughed with Chris.
For this moment, it felt like nothing else mattered—not duty, not the past.
Clang!
Ching, ching, ching!
Behind the gathering players, the knights of the House Roed drew their swords in perfect unison.
“For the Empire!”
Shining blue aura burst from their blades, cutting down the winged monsters, who fell like autumn leaves.
The knights held off the monsters.
And I—
With Chris’s hand in mine, I leapt into the scarred land below, where the monsters swarmed.
---
**[Entry Level: 55]**
**[Raid Dungeon (Recommended for 12 players)]**
**[Resting Place of the Blue Tyrant King]**
**[29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes until the Blue Tyrant King’s resurgence from the Abyss]**
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TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars and likes of the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!
