Chapter 18: The Dungeon’s Secret and a Sister’s Love

Leaving the guild.

“Master, why aren’t you promoting to A-rank?”

Hilvyn voiced the confusion she had held back throughout their journey.

Elara offered a helpless smile.

“Because of the dungeon.”

“The dungeon?”

Elara organized her thoughts, then slowly began to explain:

“First, while the dungeons are owned by the state, they are freely opened for adventurers to explore. Therefore, any monster materials adventurers acquire within them are subject to a 20% tax on their calculated value, and the guild also takes an additional 10%.”

Of course, these taxes weren’t collected by royal envoys, but by the lord whose territory encompassed the dungeon.

The Wind Whisper Dungeon, for instance, fell under the jurisdiction of the Earl of Windsong in Windsong City, and the official tax collector was the Earl of Windsong’s administration.

Hilvyn nodded, listening intently.

And the next point was precisely why Elara had changed her mind recently, delaying her promotion.

“However, since the Wind Whisper Dungeon allows multiple entrants, the guild permits adventurer teams of B-rank and below to acquire rare materials without them being counted towards their total value. Essentially, they’re free to keep.”

“Does the state not object?” Hilvyn asked, seizing the opportune moment.

“The tax collector is the Earl of Windsong, so naturally, this rule was negotiated between the guild and the Earl. Moreover, the guild possesses the strength to safeguard the interests of its adventurers.”

When Serene had ‘accidentally’ revealed this to her a week ago, Elara had been exceptionally delighted. With her and Hilvyn’s combined strength, she couldn’t even imagine how many monster materials they could accumulate.

She could have laughed until snot bubbles formed.

Now, however, she had been singled out for special attention by the Vice-Guild Master.

Elara felt that paying taxes was akin to having her money legitimately stolen, and there was nothing she could do about it.

She was on the verge of tears.

“Sigh, let’s go get some toast.”

“Let’s go, Master.”

“Call me big sister.”

“As you command, Master.”

****

Night fell.

Elara leaned back in a large wooden tub, soaking in a bath where foam from herbal soap floated on the surface.

These past two days had been utterly exhausting. What was supposed to be a C-rank escort mission, intended as a pleasant outing, nearly cost her her life.

“Night owl… gurgle gurgle…”

Elara submerged her mouth in the water, the large bubbles that rose bursting against the tip of her nose.

Her mind wandered freely, from night owls to the mission, from dungeons to magic combinations, then to Hilvyn, and finally to her original family.

Unbeknownst to her, the door quietly cracked open.

A pair of eyes furtively peeked inside.

Then, the door silently closed once more…

“Hilvyn, it’s your turn to bathe.”

Elara emerged, finished with her bath, and called out.

Hilvyn was once again by the window, gazing at the wind chimes on the eaves, seemingly lost in thought.

Elara walked over to her. “Something on your mind?”

“No…” Hilvyn shook her head, still clutching the pendant in her hand. “Just thinking about some things.”

“What things?”

Elara brought over a wooden stool and sat beside her. “Big sister Elara will help you with any puzzles, you know.”

“It’s nothing.”

Hilvyn smiled at Elara, a genuine smile, her blue eyes fixed unblinkingly on Elara’s.

“I just feel… incredibly lucky and happy to have met Master.”

As she spoke, two clear lines of tears streamed uncontrollably from Hilvyn’s eyes, yet she maintained her smile.

Had it not been for Elara, she would still be in that straw-lined cage.

Every day, she would eat unappetizing bread that filled her stomach but couldn’t be spread with jam.

Then, day after day, she would be woken by the rattling of the cage, seeing new customers and the fat man, until she eventually died in that cage.

Her magic blockage illness, too, was cured only because she met Elara.

“Silly girl.” Elara abruptly broke the atmosphere. “Why are you saying such strange things? Hurry and take your bath.”

Elara turned her head away, her ears a faint red.

She then stood up, saying as she dressed, “I’ll go fetch some hot water for you.”

Hilvyn remained rooted in place, staring at Elara’s retreating back, no longer speaking.

Only the corners of her lips curled slightly upwards.

That night, as they slept, Hilvyn faced Elara.

“Goodnight, Master.”

Then she closed her eyes.

Elara’s brown eyes gazed at Hilvyn’s sleeping face. A single, selfish beam of moonlight pierced through the window, illuminating Hilvyn’s silver hair, making it seem to glow.

Truly beautiful.

Like a beautiful dream one wished never to wake from.

Elara was lost in her contemplation.

“Master, can you sleep with your eyes open?”

A soft murmur broke Elara’s thoughts.

“Eh… of course.” Elara shifted from lying on her side to her back, staring at the ceiling.

The conviction in her voice was noticeably lacking.

“Hehe…” Hilvyn chuckled triumphantly twice. “Tomorrow night, I want to hear the story of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.”

“I’ll tell it to you tomorrow night. Go to sleep.”

Elara closed her eyes and quickly drifted into slumber.

Only this time, their roles were reversed: Hilvyn watched Elara’s face for a long time before she, too, fell asleep.

****

The next day.

Elara still woke early, then carefully moved the limbs that had randomly appeared on her.

‘How on earth do I correct such terrible sleeping habits?’

Elara silently pondered, but no one was there to provide an answer.

Today’s schedule held only one item: the A-rank assessment.

Since it was inevitable, she might as well get it over with sooner.

A-rank adventurers represented the main upper echelon of the Adventurer’s Guild. Their A-rank teams handled requests involving large settlements of B-rank monsters, small monster groups led by A-rank monsters, or even multiple A-rank monsters.

Within Windsong City, the number of adventurers was approximately 3,000, yet there were fewer than a hundred A-rank adventurers, comprising just over 50 A-rank teams.

With Elara’s strength, she was easily capable of ranking among the upper-middle tier of A-rank adventurers.

“Oioi.” She poked the sleepy girl’s cheek.

No reaction.

Elara’s mischievous eyes darted around. It seemed she would have to resort to that method again, aiming for the long ear.

“Hoo—”

“Quack!”

That certainly woke her up.

Though the expression on her face was far from pleasant.

“Do you want to come with me?” Elara was already dressed. “I’m going to pass the A-rank promotion assessment.”

“When? Ha—ah…” Hilvyn yawned.

Elara gestured to her already-dressed attire.

“Now, of course.”

It wasn’t strictly necessary for Hilvyn to join, but she looked particularly…

“Did you not sleep well last night?”

Hilvyn appeared incredibly drowsy, as if she hadn’t woken up properly, looking like she might collapse at any moment while walking.

“Last night, indeed, ha—ah~ I didn’t sleep for a long time.”

‘As for what she was staring at with open eyes in bed, Elara shouldn’t ask or concern herself with it.’

“Alright, alright.” Elara checked to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.

“You go back to sleep.”

“Goodbye, Master,” Hilvyn lay back down on the bed. “If Master comes back and doesn’t see me, I might be at the tailor’s…”

She was asleep.

The tailor’s shop, huh?

Elara recalled their first visit to the tailor’s.

The proprietress had immediately showered her and Hilvyn with compliments, then began her introductions, though her words were largely:

“This style, older men love.”

“This outfit, innocent young men adore.”

“If you want to appeal to everyone, choose this one.”

“Little sisters, if you have emotional problems, come to me. My emotional guidance is professional and free.”

Such strange remarks.

Elara felt it would be best for Hilvyn to have less contact with the tailor shop owner.

Otherwise, she would inevitably be led astray.