Translator: Nox

My Husband Was Clearly a Paladin

Chapter 35

Unlike the previous unstable dungeon, this one was a high-level dungeon that followed the textbook rules.

From its scale to the types and numbers of monsters that appeared, it was a high-level dungeon that hit the average figures exactly.

That meant the knights in this raid, whose numbers were fewer than usual, had to move with frantic intensity.

At first, the knights stood back as if watching a show, placing their trust in Michael.

However, Michael only cleared out the monsters approaching Irene and paid no mind to the others.

“Wait! The monsters are attacking…! Eek!”

The knights, who had naturally assumed Michael would handle everything while they relaxed, snapped to their senses late and joined the fray.

Clang! Clang!

The sound of swords clashing against the monsters' hard skin echoed through the dungeon.

As luck would have it, the monsters appearing this time had bodies composed mostly of rock.

Because of their slow movement, their attacks were easy to dodge; conversely, no matter how much one attacked them, it was difficult to deal any significant damage or bring them down.

Of course, even these monsters had weaknesses. If one got close enough to thrust a blade into the gaps of their joints and sever their limbs, they could no longer move.

But doing so required getting extremely close.

“I am sure you all know that much. Hurry up. We need to head deeper inside.”

“But Sir Michael! At this rate….”

The knight who was about to shout, asking if they were really expected to do all the fighting themselves, shut his mouth.

He realized just how pathetic and absurd his intended words were.

Everyone here was a knight who had come with their pair for the purpose of a dungeon subjugation.

Whenever they entered a dungeon, they faced monsters at the risk of their lives; to try and dump everything on a single strong knight just because he was there was shameful.

It was an embarrassing display to put on before himself and his pair.

“Damn it!”

Stung by self-reproach, the knights finally began to move with agility. Although their capabilities varied, they were all fundamentally skilled enough to participate in a dungeon subjugation with a pair.

“Urgh!”

In the process, an inexperienced knight failed to land a proper blow and found himself in danger.

Just as he was about to curl his body and brace for the impact of a monster’s fist flying toward his face—

Clang!

Michael blocked the monster’s fist with his sword.

The surrounding knights watched the scene in shock. Being creatures with stone bodies, these Earth-attribute monsters possessed immense weight. Their physical strength was so great that even a glancing blow from their fists could shatter boulders within the dungeon.

Because of this, knights usually avoided direct confrontations and focused on striking weaknesses.

Yet he had blocked that attack head-on. And with a single sword, no less.

An ordinary human would have been sent flying, but Michael’s feet remained firmly planted on the ground without budging an inch.

He even calmly issued instructions.

“Aim for the shoulder.”

“Ye-yes, sir!”

At Michael’s command, the knight snapped out of it and attacked. Since Michael was holding the arm in place, the strike was easy, and the monster soon collapsed with a pained shriek.

The battle continued.

The knights fought relentlessly, and whenever someone ended up covered in blood, a purifier would rush over and attempt a purification.

During those moments, the other knights would block the surrounding area to ensure the purification could be completed safely.

As the fighting went on, the knights came to a realization.

Michael was not fighting in their stead.

However, if it seemed they were in danger, Michael would rush over without hesitation to intercept the monster’s attack.

Whenever they entered a high-level dungeon, they were always so consumed by tension that they thought only of how to get out alive. Consequently, rather than observing the monsters properly, they had been too busy just trying to survive.

‘Sir Michael is watching over us.’

If they were in danger, Sir Michael would surely help. That conviction emboldened the knights. They displayed greater skill than usual and boldly attempted attacks they would never have considered under normal circumstances.

In the process, the knights discovered how to make their attacks truly effective and even found personal strengths they hadn't realized they possessed.

“Next!”

“Come on, bring it!”

Now, the knights stepped forward to face the monsters even without Michael’s encouragement. The purifiers watching from behind were equally surprised.

Because they didn't belong to the Princess's Faction, they had only ever circulated through low-level dungeons. Since this was either their first time or their first time in a long while in such a large and powerful dungeon, they had expected the knights to be intimidated, but instead, they were showing more strength than ever before.

Seeing that, the purifiers grew excited as well.

If their knight failed to dodge an attack and got hurt, they were flustered, but as soon as a moment of respite appeared, they would rush in to take their hands or embrace them, purifying the accumulated demonic energy and healing their wounds.

They had worried it might be awkward and that Michael would be doing all the work, but it had turned into a training session for the knights.

The atmosphere was so full of confidence and vitality that it was hard to believe they were in a high-level dungeon.

“I wish dungeon subjugations were always like this.”

When one of the knights said that, his purifier replied.

“It would be possible if we always traveled with the members of this group.”

At those words, everyone silently looked at their pairs. They all felt it.

If they could always move with these people, their skills would surely improve rapidly, and they could earn a lot of money.

*

*

*

After several hours of systematically taking down monsters, the end of the dungeon—the Room of Reward—finally revealed itself.

“It’s the Room of Reward!”

Everyone grew excited upon spotting the characteristic arched door. They had all arrived at the end safely, with no one seriously injured or cursed.

The atmosphere was entirely different compared to the last high-level dungeon where several people had been injured or killed.

The knights, who had been rushing toward the Room of Reward in their excitement, stopped as if they had realized something. Then, one of them turned around and spoke to Michael.

“We believe it would be best if you opened the chests, Sir Michael.”

It was all thanks to Michael that they could finish the subjugation in such good condition without major injuries. Furthermore, hadn't he taken on the troublesome task of training the knights, something he didn't necessarily have to do?

“Understood.”

Michael didn't refuse. After leading everyone into the Room of Reward, he gathered the chests located there into the center.

Usually, a single small wooden chest was the extent of the reward in a low-level dungeon. In a mid-level dungeon, more luxurious chests would appear, numbering one or more—sometimes up to five. High-level dungeons featured chests that were undeniably high-end, varying in size and quantity.

“There are five chests in total. Various sizes, too.”

Two large chests, two medium ones, and one very small chest.

Everyone’s eyes sparkled as they waited for Michael to open them. Irene was no different.

‘Was the average reward for a high-level dungeon around 100,000 gold?’

It was an amount large enough to pay off her debt all at once. However, considering that usually about fifty teams entered for a subjugation, the amount each pair received wasn't exceptionally high once split.

‘That’s why everyone hopes for an artifact.’

Irene thought back to High-Level Dungeon 02. Since she had no particular memories of it, the rewards must have been ordinary. Still, for those who had come here today, it would be a fairly generous reward.

Michael opened the first and largest chest.

“Whoa!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd. As expected, it was filled with gold coins from an unknown country and era. Everyone seemed satisfied with just this much already.

The next few chests weren't much different. Gold, jewels, and occasionally some miscellaneous items of unknown purpose.

Now, only one small chest remained. It was a plain wooden box, the type often seen as a reward in low-level dungeons.

Because of that, everyone turned their attention to the chests already opened, not paying much mind to the last one.

Though it was slightly less than average, they would still receive much more money than they would have if they had split it among dozens of people in the Princess's Faction.

‘I wonder if everyone can take home about 10,000 gold each.’

Just as Irene was feeling a twinge of regret, wondering if she had given up her share for nothing, Michael spoke.

“Then, I shall open the final chest.”

At the moment everyone looked on with relaxed minds, assuming something insignificant would come out—

“Huh?”

Everyone’s eyes widened. A single ring had emerged from the chest Michael opened.

And Irene unconsciously took a step forward, staring blankly at the ring.

‘This is impossible.’

How?

Why?

‘Why is the Ring of Invisibility coming out here?!’

The item inside the chest was unmistakably the Ring of Invisibility she had been aiming for.