Chapter 19: Lies from the Saint

“What did I do? Poisoned your food, of course. Didn’t it occur to you?”

Joyna collapsed, speechless. Melin and others similar. Only Leanna half-propped, glaring at Isabelle.

“You—you’re a monster?!”

Covering her mouth with a laugh, Isabelle shed the adventurer guise. Not her saintess form—but a green-haired demon with two horns.

Features human-like, but laced with wicked charm.

“Of course. Inexperienced humans like you—so easy to fool. Play a damsel, gain trust. Pathetic.”

“You lot—storm a nest? You’re just food. Or wombs for our young.”

She approached Leanna, pinched her chin, admiring.

“Damn…”

“Next life, learn. Who worships strangers as saviors? Naive.”

Words stabbed Leanna’s heart. With last strength, unseen, she crushed the amulet.

“We’ll… return for revenge!”

Her vow and the demon’s shock—light enveloped them. Next second, teleported out.

Warm sun banished dungeon chill. Before Leanna saw surroundings, poison claimed consciousness.

But fading, she glimpsed a familiar white figure.

“Save them!”

…

Waking in a simple tent.

Unsure how long unconscious, but she knew entry time.

Planned to conquer the dungeon—failed on floor 2 to a monster. Shame filled her.

Exiting the tent—others too. Two-three teams, amulets crushed, sent out.

Gathered in clusters, faces resentful.

“Damn! Monsters too cunning—ambushed with terrain. If not fast with amulet, we’d be dead!”

“Yeah. Said monsters weak? Feels wrong. They set traps?”

“Weak? Who spread that? What if… monsters themselves?”

One voice. Atmosphere chilled. They exchanged looks. Eerie cold up spines.

If monsters spread the info…

They underestimated cunning.

Truth: low-tier monsters dumb. High-tier or noble-blooded—intelligence rivaled humans.

They fell to traps from arrogance.

Leanna recalled the green-haired demon. Fist clenched.

Soon, a girl approached.

“Captain Anna, no amulets—everyone fears re-entry. Ask Lady Isabelle for another chance?”

…Impossible.

Knowing Isabelle—no second chances.

Leanna wanted refusal. But seeing fear in eyes, softened.

“…I’ll try.”

…

Platform. Isabelle arms crossed, pitying expression.

Leanna knelt, silent.

“Another chance? If I had more amulets, sure. Sadly—only eight.”

“Don’t worry. Can’t give chances—but if you die, I’ll retrieve bodies. Proper burial.”

“I’m merciful. No wilderness corpses.”

“Anything else?”

Fist tightened slightly. Leanna shook head.

As she turned, Isabelle spoke again.

“Right. Tell those afraid to enter—if they waste time outside, I’ll find them personally.”

“Tools failing tasks—discarded.”

Leanna bowed head. Bangs hid expression.

…

Relaying to knights outside—oppressive air deadened. Grips on weapons tightened.

But they knew—no blaming Isabelle’s cruelty.

Their arrogance lost the lifeline.

Deep reflection. Leanna regrouped team. Re-enter Golden Dungeon.

This time—past lesson, no retreat—caution surprised even Leanna.

Perhaps… not all bad?

Thought flashed. Leanna smiled wryly, shook head.

Lost lifeline—no good.

Unobstructed through floor 2—to uncharted floor 3.

Faint green gas. Ignored at first—until monsters fell to it.

“Poison gas!”

Melin shouted, magic shielding from external air. Seli frowned, puzzled.

“Strange. If poison, why we fine after breathing so long?”

“Who knows. Careless again. Lucky this time—next uncertain.”

“Got it. Joyna’s most cautious now.”

Seli shrugged, teased.

She noticed: all changed post-incident. Joyna most—silent, wary. Different person.

Scanning gas, Seli realized Leanna silent long. Turned—eyes red, touched.

“Leanna, you okay?”

“N-nothing.”

Rubbing eyes, Leanna stepped ahead.

Seli puzzled, but asked nothing.

Unseen: in Leanna’s pocket, Celis’s gem glowed softly—dispelling nearing poison.

Just a “wish for safe return” trinket?

Celis’s lie.

Other effects? Leanna didn’t know. Only—from entry, silent protection.