R4STWH - Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Since I was almost certain who the “prior entrant” was, I wasn’t particularly nervous.

“You’re finally here.”

As expected.

The person I saw when the door opened was just as I’d predicted.

“…Leonard?” Elias murmured, seemingly confused.

The man who had been sitting on what was probably the boss monster stood up as we entered.

He casually ran a hand through his dazzling blond hair, clearly visible even in the gloomy, dark chamber befitting an S-rank boss room, and started walking towards us.

His bored expression and swaggering gait were an exact match.

‘What are you doing here, you idiot?’

Zero grinned, having read my lips.

“It’s you?”

“……?”

Elias finally seemed to realize, his blue eyes widening in confusion. “Did you regain your past life memories? Or did you regress? Possess someone? Or are you a doppelganger?” he muttered rapidly. Surprisingly, the answer was hidden within his bewildered questions.

‘Elias is so smart.’

I couldn’t help but grin, proudly introducing my brilliant, handsome, and perceptive husband to my former comrades.

I linked arms with him, showing off, and Zero scowled.

“You have a very… open mind,” he said with a sarcastic chuckle.

I watched him approach, sensing something, and quickly raised my arm.

Clang!

A loud crash echoed through the chamber as our weapons clashed.

‘This bastard, attacking my husband out of nowhere!’

If I hadn't blocked it in time, he would have taken Elias’s arm.

I glared at him, and he shrugged, withdrawing his sword. But then…

Crash!

I knew he'd try something like that. I raised my axe again, blocking his attack, and we locked eyes, our weapons clashing.

‘I won’t let you get away with this, even if you’re my comrade.’

‘What are you going to do? Kill me? Over a man?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll brainwash you so you have to pee every ten seconds.’

‘…!’

Zero hurriedly averted his gaze and finally lowered his sword.

He hadn't forgotten that although I rarely went after my comrades, I was terrifying when I decided to punish someone.

“Why did you interfere? Can’t friends greet each other like this?”

“Friends?” I scoffed and lowered my axe.

Elias, who had been watching our exchange, looked calmer than before.

“What should I call you?”

“Ah, right. That’s the voice.” Zero chuckled, then his expression turned serious. “My name is Leonard, friend. You haven't forgotten, have you?” he said, then added, looking at me, “Remember that, Whitey. Don’t make any mistakes.”

His emphasis suggested that revealing his true identity would likely result in quest failure or a penalty.

‘Then you shouldn’t be doing this either! What is he thinking?’

He was truly the biggest lunatic in our world.

“Whitey…?” However, Elias focused on something else.

“Lady Ilesha’s skin is as white as snow, so I gave her a nickname. Is there a problem?”

‘Ah, he’s angry.’

Elias, who had been so patient until now, narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you doing this?”

“You’re asking why a distinguished individual like myself entered a dungeon alone?” Zero, oblivious to social cues, continued to provoke him. “I happened to see this place on my way. So, I bravely jumped in, without hesitation. As a noble member of the Lucendrian Imperial family, I have a duty to protect the citizens of the Empire, don’t I?”

Elias just glared at him, as if demanding a proper answer, and Zero grinned, adding, “I also thought I might run into you two here.”

So that was his intention after all. I couldn’t help but retort, “If you wanted to see us, you could have just sent a letter.”

However, Zero’s reply made me flinch.

“As if you would have answered?”

Despite his smile, I could sense the intense irritation and anger simmering beneath the surface.

“Do you think my letters were the only ones unanswered? My invitations were returned, and my requests for visits were ignored.”

‘Elias… so you didn’t just swallow my letters.’

I sighed, running a hand over my face. Well, he had to be consistent.

“You’re not very good friends, are you?” Zero said, glancing at me, then turned to Elias, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Did you know he didn’t just intercept my letters? He pretended to be friendly while blocking all my invitations and letters.”

He seemed increasingly smug, convinced that this revelation would make me lose faith in Elias.

“…….”

Of course, I wasn’t surprised. I’d known ever since I found my letters in his keepsake box. I was just wondering how to contact my comrades without going through Elias.

‘Yumi must be about to explode by now.’

My comrades weren’t exactly known for their patience.

“You didn’t know he was this controlling, did you?”

While I sighed, Zero, growing increasingly arrogant, finally crossed the line. “Whitey, it seems you were tricked into marrying him. How about annulling it? The Imperial family will support you. What do you say?”

‘Oh dear.’

I could feel the temperature in the room plummet because of his reckless remark.

“So that was your true intention,” Elias muttered, gritting his teeth.

“You were planning to take Ilesha away from me.”

…I could practically see his insecurity intensifying.

“Your Highness has a strange sense of humor.” I hurriedly wrapped my arms around Elias’s waist, feeling a cold sweat trickling down my back. “I worked so hard to marry him. Why would I annul it for your benefit? I’m perfectly happy, so mind your own business.”

Zero scoffed and took a menacing step closer. “Hey, don’t hide behind a woman. Say something! At least try to justify your petty actions.”

‘This idiot…’

I was so dumbfounded that I felt the urge to punch his annoying face, made even more punchable by possessing Leonard's body.

‘Does he think I won’t hit him just because he’s in a prince’s body?’

I clenched my fist, and a warm hand gently covered mine.

“If that's what it takes to protect her, so be it. I don’t care if some lowlife who covets another man's wife insults me.” He squeezed my hand, his thumb gently caressing my knuckles. “It’s better than losing her and regretting it later.”

…His touch calmed me down.

‘Zero’s always been a blabbermouth, so I should just ignore him. He must have been frustrated, so it’s understandable.’

I used to react much worse to his less offensive remarks, but it seemed I'd lost my tolerance.

The biggest problem, however, was that he was targeting Elias, not me.

“The only person I need to apologize to and ask for forgiveness is Ilesha. I don’t feel sorry for you at all, regardless of your true identity.”

‘Well, he could apologize a little…’

“……” Zero glared at Elias, who calmly responded to his provocations.

Seeing the look in Zero’s eyes, I braced myself. He seemed ready for a fight.

Just as I was wondering how to subtly put him in his place without causing a scene,

2 entrants added. Readjusting difficulty based on the average level of 5/20 entrants.

Dungeon - Memories of the Ruins (S) - Boss monster fully strengthened. Time limit 1:11:59…

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