"I Was Reincarnated Into Another World So I Want to Teach Them a Lesson in the Dungeon." ~I May Have Been Expelled as a C-Rank Sorcerer, but Since It Seems Everyone Wants My Cheat Skill, I Think I'll Teach Them a Lesson~ - Chapter 9

Surrounded by the campfire, we were waiting for the dungeon to reset, which was scheduled to occur in two hours.

It would have been cruel to move Miria in her grievously wounded state, and without Lokiel’s unique skill [Clairvoyance], the odds would be terribly against us.

Inheriting or transferring a unique skill cannot be done without the person’s consent. I remember it was almost a miracle when Miria managed to transfer it from the sarcastic Edgar in the spur of the moment.

Strega opened her sturdy leather waist pouch and rummaged around, making a jangling noise as she searched for something.

What she pulled out was a beautiful gemstone. She gently placed the gem, which faintly twinkled with emerald light, upon Miria’s chest and quietly closed her eyes.

“This is a magic stone. It contains a low-level healing magic formula, so it can be activated with a minimal amount of magic power. Its principle is the same as the one I gave to Soma earlier.”

“How is Miria’s injury?”

“The wound seems to be relatively minor, so a low-level healing spell should be somewhat effective. If the damage was severe, it would be difficult to repair.”

“Ugh…”

“If the damage reached the subcutaneous tissue, it would be impossible with a low-level spell. Moreover, to heal such a wound, you would need a healer more knowledgeable in medicine than us. With our general knowledge, we can’t even imagine the structure of the subcutaneous tissue or the movement of cells that bind together.”

“I see. That’s why the potions administered for serious injuries are expensive…”

“Exactly. That’s why you shouldn’t rely on cheap, commercially sold potions. They’re more like herbal medicine, composed of plants with medicinal effects, and they lack immediate efficacy.”

Miria’s ragged breathing returned to calmness. I suppose it’s safe to assume the healing was successful. Her frown relaxed, revealing her serene complexion.

“That’s good… It seems to have worked.”

“Now that we’ve had a moment of relief, let’s recover from our hunger-induced fatigue.”

I nibbled on rye bread that Lokiel had hidden while watching Strega simmer a pot, which appeared to be stew.

The milky cream dripping slowly from the ladle stirred my appetite. The rich aroma gently caressed my nose as it bubbled away.

Once poured into a deep dish, Strega sprinkled oregano on top and tore the coarse rye bread into bite-sized pieces to soak in the stew.

“Here you go, enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you!”

The hot, rich creaminess filled my mouth, and the tender, melted meat further enhanced the cream’s luxurious fragrance. Soon, the simple, fresh sweetness of the vegetables seeped out with every chew.

Swallowing, the crisp scent of oregano breezed through my throat and nose. With each bite, the richness of the cream and the sweetness of the vegetables became even more pronounced.

How delicious it is…

“This is delicious… When was the last time I had such a tasty meal…”

“Don’t praise me too much. I’m not used to being complimented.”

Strega blushed and seemed to be staring at me, so I thought she was waiting for my opinion on the taste.

So, Strega is embarrassed. That was an unexpected reaction for me.

With her initially quiet and cold demeanor, seeing her express her emotions so openly makes me feel a bit embarrassed myself.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure… What is it?”

Strega suddenly panicked, dropping the ladle into the pot with a “Ah!” and then clearing her throat.

“Ask me anything. It’s really boring to sit in silence for two hours. It makes me overly conscious.”

“Um, Strega, you’ve been solo exploring the Dungeon Necronomicon until now, right?”

“Indeed, I am a solo player, but more importantly, don’t you really know who I am?”

“Sorry, I’m still inexperienced…”

Considering Strega can face this Necronomicon with such composure, it’s not hard to imagine that she belongs to a high-ranking investigation team.

Even though it was a low-level spell, the degree of impact that her fireball carried was tremendous.

“But, I haven’t always been a solo player. I used to be part of a four-person investigation team—

Well, not everyone lives long, especially not here.”

“Even so… It’s amazing that Strega continues to challenge the dungeon alone… If it were me, I would have run away like I did earlier.”

“It’s simple. I have a reason to keep challenging this place…”

“A reason to continue challenging…?”

“Do you read books, Soma?”

“Hmm, not really.”

Strega nodded quietly in response to my answer, hiding her eyes behind her long lashes.

“This grimoire is indeed complex… It’s incredibly stimulating. Magic is a world of imagination, a crucible of imagination constructed by the brain. But to output exactly what is imagined is extremely difficult, yet this world continues to expand infinitely without breaking the imagery—

The Dungeon Necronomicon is precisely a grimoire cherished by demons, by the Demon King, a world of chaotic demon imagination. An alternate world created from immense imagination and creativity. And we are able to step into that world.”

“Strega wants to analyze this magic?”

“The bigwigs at the Magic Association and Lord Caron of the Magic Analysis Division think it’s a waste. To me, just observing from the outside of an unknown domain doesn’t really qualify as a sorcerer.”

“You have a strong intellectual curiosity.”

“Exactly—

Giving unique skills to enemies, resetting every week… Don’t you find it interesting that demons understand human intellectual curiosity? It’s very malicious, isn’t it? It’s like it was created by a truly ill-natured human.”

The grimoire presents a world view that seems to be a fantasy novel fleshed out with entertainment novels.

The Dungeon Necronomicon tantalizes human intellectual curiosity, and in my previous life, it would have been deemed so dangerous it would have been hidden in the deepest abyss (the back of a closet).

Perhaps it would be best to dispose of it as soon as possible as burnable waste.

“That said, Soma, why did you decide to enter the Necronomicon?”

“I… don’t have a lofty purpose like Strega. I just woke up inside the Necronomicon with only faint traces left behind. So I wanted to follow the trail before I lost my memory, and I thought maybe my footsteps would be here in the Necronomicon.”

“You don’t have any memories from before?”

“Yeah. Maybe I have amnesia…”

“Do you ever feel an unbearable loneliness? Do you ever feel alone?”

That was the first time Strega showed her true face in front of me.

When the dark veil of her hood was swept away, there was her pale complexion, which, even in the darkness of night, reflected all color, whether red-lit by the campfire or not.

Her cheeks were flushed with warmth, making her pallor even more visible.

And from beneath her white silken hair, her long ears peeked out, revealing that she was an elf.

Being a race that excels in magic, it made sense that she possessed a magic power incomparable to Caroline’s.

“Come here… Miria’s asleep, so there’s no need to be embarrassed…”

Suddenly, I was enveloped in very soft skin.

Her lowered braid tickled me.

I don’t know why Strega is being so affectionate towards me (or allowing herself to be affectionate), but it felt strangely comfortable to entrust myself to her, contrary to her cold appearance.

I could feel her rapid heartbeat from her small chest.

Underneath her nithsdale cloak, the thinly woven fabric outlined curves and contours, clinging tightly and revealing their shape.

“Strega is nervous too, huh?”

“Oops, reviews are off-limits. I’m not used to this sort of thing.”