The Magical Hunter Girl Decorates the Dungeon! - Chapter 71

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Magical Hunter Girl Decorates a Dungeon! Episode 71
‘I hadn’t even steeled myself yet, and now this bad-tempered man comes bursting out!’
In that moment, Lee Ji stepped deliberately in front of Clovis.
A proper adult wouldn’t raise his voice at a guest, she figured.
“Clovis! Write that love letter for me—quick! I’ve got a girl to seduce… huh?”
First Floor Living Room.
A man descended the stairs and looked down at Lee Ji. Perhaps slightly younger than a sister. His expression was fierce, but he dressed like a gentleman’s son.
Lee Ji recalled Grimoire’s teachings and bowed her head.
“Thank you for allowing me to visit. I’m Lee Ji.”
“…….”
The man’s frown softened slightly. He clearly hadn’t expected a young girl to come through.
“Ha…… because Father has such a generous heart, all sorts of riffraff show up to sightsee, and now even children are coming in. What are you here to see?”
“Flowers. I came to see the flowers.”
“Feel free to cut some and take them. Just so you know—if you get stung by some bug you’ve never heard of before, I’m not responsible.”
The man smiled wickedly, then glanced back at Clovis.
“Did you bring her? Now you’re so busy with romantic affairs you’re bringing along children.”
“Absolutely not, brother!”
“Ha! Look how you flinch. The love letter I entrusted you with—have it done by evening. If there’s even a single typo in it…… you know what happens, right?”
The man called “brother” cracked his knuckles audibly. Clovis answered calmly.
“I understand.”
“Then I’d better scout out a date route. My darling little brother will write such a successful love letter that it’s 100% guaranteed to work!”
The man staggered past through the corridor. The reek of alcohol trailed behind him.
Lee Ji pressed close to Clovis and whispered.
“Brother? Are you two brothers?”
“The Baron’s biological son. I was adopted.”
“Then you’re still brothers, aren’t you?”
But to treat his younger brother so harshly! It was unimaginable. Lee Ji’s lips pursed as she whispered.
“He’s a terrible brother.”
“Not everyone in the world can be good. It just so happened that such a person became my stepbrother.”
“……You’re so mature for your age, Clovis.”
“I think I’m mature in spirit. I learned a great deal after I left this place.”
“You left here?”
“Yes. Anyway, the Baron…… was on the fourth floor, I think.”
Clovis pointed toward a steep staircase.
“Still willing to come along? My stepfather is frightening in a different way than my brother is.”
Lee Ji didn’t hesitate for even a second and nodded. A second later, Clovis burst out laughing.
“You really are brave.”
“It’s not bravery. I’m less scared when we’re together—both you and me.”
“……You’re right. Brave young lady, shall we go?”
Clovis bent his right arm slightly and extended his elbow.
‘Is he offering it as a handle?’
Lee Ji grasped his forearm firmly with both hands and climbed the steep stairs.
Just as Clovis said, the Manor’s interior was immaculate compared to its dilapidated exterior. Above the corridor, where bright natural wood and elegant white wallpaper combined, carefully placed decorative pieces continually caught Lee Ji’s eye.
“That Mouse-Shaped Flowerpot is so cute.”
“You can have it.”
“Really?”
“I told you. The Baron cares only about the superiority he feels when collecting things, but he doesn’t treasure them—a warped man indeed.”
“Oh. Right…… wait, did you say that?”
It sounded like something Grimoire would have said.
As Lee Ji tilted her head in confusion, Clovis flinched but laughed it off.
“I-I said it! Anyway, look around as you please. Just don’t go into my brother’s room.”
Clovis pointed to a wooden door as they passed through the Third Floor Corridor. A Deer Head hung above the door frame, so even without his warning, there would be no reason to enter.
Fourth floor, study.
Clovis spoke.
“I’ll be right back. Have a look around while you wait.”
“Okay!”
Even so, Lee Ji waited by the door. She was curious what he would ask for.
“……What brings you here, Clovis?”
A voice that made it clear he found the other tiresome. Was this how he spoke to his own son?
Clovis’s reply sounded as if he were addressing a superior rather than a father.
“Your Excellency. Today, a guest seeking a rare flowering tree found no answer in your garden either. They believed you alone might have it.”
“A rare flowering tree? What sort of thing is it?”
“A small tree that blooms profusely with tiny yellow flowers, they say. Explorers discovered specimens native to the Eastern Continent.”
“I see. What’s it called?”
“The name the explorers gave it is Forsythia.”
“A pleasant sound to it. Hmm…… hasn’t it been imported to our country yet?”
“No flower merchant has brought any in. I’m confident you would be the first, sir.”
“Heh heh, in that case, I must contact the quick-witted merchants at once. Tell the guest to wait a little longer.”
“Thank you. I’m sure the guest will say that coming to your garden was the finest decision of their life.”
“Of course. And it might be pleasant to invite the guest to tea time later and hear their praise firsthand. Ahahaha!”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and I have a task for you. I promised to distribute the Cycad Potted Plants from the Greenhouse at the next party…”
Fearing she might be caught eavesdropping, Lee Ji decided to back away while the conversation was still in full swing.
The corridor was hung with all manner of paintings. Still lifes, landscapes, abstract art that wouldn’t appear until the twentieth century….
One portrait suddenly moved its head, nearly causing Lee Ji to scream.
‘Here really is a Dungeon after all!’
Lee Ji fled and arrived at the end of the fourth-floor corridor. There was a room with no door.
She entered thinking it a study because of the bookcase at the entrance, but once she stepped inside, the desk visible before her, the narrow bed, and a few small clothes hanging on the wall made the room’s owner clear.
This was unmistakably Clovis’s room.
‘Why is the Baron’s son’s room so cramped and shabby? He’s clearly being discriminated against!’
Still, Lee Ji didn’t sulk for long.
She’d read it often in fairy tales. Children who suffered in narrow rooms like this always seemed to find happiness eventually.
‘Especially if someone studies this hard, they’re sure to prosper!’
The desk was covered with practice notebooks.
The date written on the cover of the last notebook read 1803.09.03.
‘Is that today’s date?’
“What are you looking at?”
Clovis had entered the room unnoticed. Lee Ji quickly waved her hand.
“S-sorry! I thought it was a study and came in.”
“I said you could wander freely. But you could have looked at other places instead. My room has no valuables.”
“I didn’t come to this Dungeon plotting to steal your collections!”
“I know. By the way, the Forsythia should arrive around two this afternoon.”
“That’s incredibly fast?”
“The Baron prided himself on getting everything faster than anyone else. That’s being realized directly in the Dungeon.”
The earlier metaphor about “what matters isn’t the ingredients but the broth” came to mind.
‘The Dungeon really is more fascinating than I thought.’
A place somewhere in the universe where events from the past—or perhaps the future—are reenacted….
“Listen, Clovis. You directly experienced the events this Dungeon shows, didn’t you?”
“Exactly. You could think of me now as a real historical figure acting their own role in a Reenactment Drama about an incident from 1803.”
“What kind of incident?”
Clovis suddenly clamped his mouth shut. He turned his body away as if he didn’t want his expression seen.
“Clovis?”
“I don’t think I’m obligated to tell you.”
“Why are you suddenly like this……? You’re scaring me.”
“…….”
“Look. I won’t get angry about spoilers, I promise. I’m just scared, so could you tell me a little?”
Perhaps because Lee Ji’s voice truly trembled, Clovis hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly.
“Listen. Whatever happens to me here is all in the past. It has no effect on reality.”
“That’s not an explanation.”
“Sigh…… Then remember this one thing. Whatever happens here, Clovis is fine. I’m living a very full present.”
As he gave this final explanation, Clovis turned his head to look at Lee Ji.
There was no falsehood in those eyes that sparkled like sapphires.
“You believe me, right? ……It’s funny to say this when we just met, but.”
“I do! Even though it’s strange to say, but somehow it doesn’t feel like we’re meeting for the first time—”
Clovis smiled with genuine warmth for the first time.
And in that moment.
A rough voice echoed from the corridor.
“Clovis! Come down here for a moment!”
It was that drunken brother’s voice.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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