Chapter 322: The Eve of Death

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“Radiant Knights?”

Will glanced out the window. He remembered that name—the adventurer party that had crashed their confrontation with the Dungeon Emperor, stealing their kill. The cheerful, golden-haired captain, though not a “bad guy,” had at least let them have the loot.

But…

Their captain wasn’t here?

The cafe had emptied out. Outside, the narrow town street was crammed with people, eager to glimpse the ten or so “Radiant Knights”—as glorious as their name—marching by.

An S-rank party. Such fanfare was normal.

But in the gaps between the throng, one figure was conspicuously absent: the golden-haired captain.

“Is Sir Reibel not here?”

“He’s on a mission in another dungeon, apparently.”
“Why are the Radiant Knights coming here?”
“Shh! Didn’t you hear? Something’s happening on Dustbone Corridor’s 20th floor. A party was wiped out, so they need a rescue team.”
“Rescue team? Or are they here to conquer it?”

Interesting.

But…

Will shrugged. For someone whose grave was predestined for the first floor, it hardly mattered.

“That’s enough talk. Your hunch was right. If you step into that place, it won’t be just a falling slime. It’ll be something designed to kill you.”

Shuna spoke pointedly, trying to draw his attention away from the passing knights.

He noticed then: she hadn’t spared the party a single glance.

“Mhm. From the moment I asked you, ‘How can a desert with no oasis have slimes?’ I guessed.”

“It does pique my interest,” Shuna conceded, arms crossed. “You’re strong now. What could possibly kill you when you’re fully prepared?”

Shuna drained her coffee and stood.

“Aren’t you going to listen for more intel on the Radiant Knights?”

“Don’t like them.” Shuna answered bluntly.

Will found her unwavering disdain peculiar. They’d had a conflict, yes, but it had been resolved. Yet Shuna harbored a deep aversion to them. He guessed it was her intuition—her gut simply told her something was off.

“I’ll head back to the hotel. There are a few more… details. And something I think is unlikely, but… we can discuss it then.”

She tossed her hair and left, the café bell jingling behind her.

***

Another day passed in Portsinota.

Will sat at the table, reviewing the notes he’d scribbled on hotel stationery: “Clues.”

And on the back: “Plan to Overcome Death.”

After yesterday’s intel session with Shuna, and days spent in this town, he’d exhausted all possibilities.

Every conclusion. Every countermeasure. All laid out.

“Ring… fully charged with staff magic and emergency blast spells.”

He touched the ring Leah had given him.

“Demon-enhanced eye… easy to read intentions.”

He spread two fingers, covering his slightly violet left eye—a dramatic gesture.

“Collar—trigger conditions and frequency tested.”

His hand traced the collar Eir had given him, feeling the magic pulsating within.

With these tools, he’d devised dozens of battle strategies.

Dozens of outcomes.

“All set. Just need to take the plunge.”

He looked out the window.

The sun was a bloody orb, dipping below the horizon. The winter solstice was past, but the days felt longer now.

He reached for the lamp on the table, a flame igniting naturally on his fingertip—as effortless as breathing.

Then he pulled his hand back.

Twilight. That awkward hour when lamps barely cut through the gloom.

A melancholic time.

Will smiled, gazing at the view.

Pure coincidence, of course, but the hotel window perfectly framed Dustbone Corridor’s pyramid entrance.

Anytime he wished.

He could walk into Dustbone Corridor.

Face the thing that was meant to kill him.

As the thought formed, Shuna’s footsteps sounded behind him. A light tap on his head.

“What? Why’d you hit me?”

He leaned back, resting his head against her stomach. From this angle, he could see her eyes, framed by her chest.

“Good news. Or… bad news for you?”

“What?”

“Radiant Knights are clearing Dustbone Corridor tomorrow at 5 PM.”

“Good. Then I’ll enter Dustbone Corridor at 5 AM tomorrow. See what’s waiting.”

Will thought his reply sounded pretty cool. But Shuna frowned.

She didn’t like it. But she said nothing.

“You…”

Shuna sighed, flicking his forehead.

“What? Just wanted to flick my head?”

He reached up, scratching her ear.

“I was going to say, if they cleared the dungeon…”

Will sensed a faint sigh in her voice.

“…Wouldn’t you have avoided death?”

He opened his mouth, but Shuna continued, giving him no chance to explain.

“But then I thought, no. That’s not what you want. Hiding from death like that—it’s not your ending.”

She smiled, sitting on the bed, watching the sunset.

“I love you because you’re always like this—planning meticulously, charging forward—even if the end is the death that’s haunted you your whole life.”

Will turned. Shuna seemed to be waiting. He sat beside her.

“I’ve considered the future—a little revenge, a little education for those three. But for now, I’m treating tomorrow as my last day alive.”

He looked at the sunset reflected in her eyes—a burning fire—then gazed out the window himself.

“Because you believe overcoming death is a new beginning?”

“You get me.”

“Yeah. So I can’t stop you… I’ll always support you.”

The sun vanished, leaving a brilliant afterglow on the dungeon’s pyramid.

Night fell silently, like a grand curtain drawing across the cosmos, painting the vast sky with darkness and stars.

After a brief silence, their hands met on the bedspread.

The room was unlit. The bed neatly made.

“Are your preparations… ready?”

The rustling of their hands on the sheets lasted a few seconds. Then Shuna spoke.

“What preparations?”

“For your death. If it’s a grand farewell, it should have a grand battle, right?”

“Fully ready.”

“The monsters I guessed… you’ve reviewed them?”

“Mm. Typical Dustbone Corridor types.”

“My ring magic… need more charges?”

Shuna’s fingers fidgeted on the bed, like she was playing a piano—though Will knew she couldn’t.

“No need. It’s packed. Enough for most encounters.”

“Your staff… is it fine? No repairs needed?”

“Perfectly maintained.”

“Then… let me think… what else…?”

She lowered her head, no longer watching the setting sun, but her toes.

Then, her fingers traced a line between them, gently touching Will.

“You reminded me of something.”

“What?”

“My father gave me a huge travel allowance. Most of it’s with Eir, but I kept a small portion. Still a lot, but I’ve spent three-quarters of it.”

His hand moved towards hers, touching her slightly long fingernails.

“Ah. Your last display as a Hysterm heir, perhaps.”

“The money’s in the bank. Password’s my birthday. Go get it.”

“I’m not short on cash.”

“It’s your pay. As my teammate.”

“Alright. I’ll take it.”

Darkness enveloped the room.

Stars, moon, and the harsh glow of streetlights.

Their fingers intertwined, their conversation flowing naturally, even when there was nothing left to say.

“……”

“……”

After a comfortable silence, they both took a deep breath, gazing at the moonlit window.

“Shuna. Since tomorrow is the day I face death—”

“Will. Since tomorrow is the day you conquer death—”

““Then… shall we?””

In unison, they turned, their moonlit shadows stretching long across the bed.