The morning in the Emerald estate should have been peaceful. Birds sang outside the windows, sunlight poured through gauzy curtains, and the aroma of warm bread and honey wafted through the hallways. For once, Shellia dared to hope for a quiet day.
She was halfway through buttering her toast when Yuki, perched daintily beside the jam jar, dropped a casual bomb like only he could.
[Shellia, about the household budget,] Yuki began in his soft, melodic voice. [You don't have to worry. Let's just clear the Dungeon of Darkness. The one full of diamonds.]
Shellia's knife slipped. Butter smeared across the tablecloth instead of her bread.
"Excuse me?" she asked, blinking rapidly.
Yuki repeated, as if he had just suggested going on a picnic. [The Dungeon of Darkness. South ridge. Covered in corruption. Nobody who's gone in has ever come back out alive. Full of diamonds.]
Across the table, Gerald froze mid-sip of his morning tea. Giovina's spoon clattered into her cup. Alex and Alecia's eyes grew round as plates.
"WHAT?!" Shellia slammed her hands on the table, nearly knocking Orryn—currently gnawing on a carrot the size of his body—straight to the floor.
Orielle tilted her head thoughtfully, as though Yuki had suggested trying a new dessert. [A diamond-filled dungeon? That does sound efficient.]
"Efficient?!" Shellia snapped.
Sylas, ever unbothered, calmly stirred his tea. [If it's corrupted, purifying it is literally your job. Diamonds are just a bonus.]
Shellia groaned into her hands. "Why is everyone in this family incapable of alarm?!"
---
Gerald finally set down his cup, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Shellia. Daughter. Do not tell me your spirit companion is recommending suicidal excursions as budgeting advice."
Shellia pointed at Yuki. "He literally just did."
Giovina, however, clapped her hands with an unsettling sparkle in her eyes. "Oh, diamonds! Imagine how lovely they'd look in a new necklace. Or perhaps a tiara. We could host a ball!"
"Mother," Shellia groaned. "We're talking about a death trap."
Giovina ignored her. "Of course, we'd set aside some of the diamonds for national defense, naturally. But still—a tiara."
Alex and Alecia were practically bouncing in their chairs. "Big Sister's going to fight monsters again!" Alex exclaimed.
"And bring back sparkly treasures!" Alecia added.
"No! No sparkly treasures!" Shellia snapped. "I am not looting a cursed dungeon like some grave robber!"
Orryn bleated cheerfully, crunching his carrot.
"Even the stag agrees," Sylas said blandly.
---
Shellia glared at her spirit. "Yuki. Do you have any idea what you're suggesting?"
Yuki's serene gaze didn't waver. [Of course. The corruption makes it lethal. But it also means only someone with purification can even attempt it. Which means you.]
Shellia threw her arms up. "So your solution to feeding Orryn is for me to risk my life in a monster-infested cavern of death?!"
[Yes,] Yuki said sweetly.
Orielle giggled behind her teacup. [You have to admit, Shellia, his logic is solid.]
"Whose side are you on?!"
Sylas added calmly, [He's right. You're uniquely suited. And besides—diamonds.]
"NOT YOU TOO."
---
Gerald rose from his chair with the heaviness of a man forced into absurdity too often. He looked at Shellia, then at the trio of smug spirits, and finally at Orryn, who was now attempting to climb onto the table to lick the butter dish.
"…Fine," Gerald muttered.
Shellia gawked. "Fine?! Father, you can't possibly—"
"You'll need funds eventually. If your purification can cleanse this dungeon and reclaim its resources, then the risk is… tolerable." He grimaced. "And perhaps inevitable."
Giovina beamed. "I'll prepare provisions! Oh, how exciting! My daughter, the jewel of the Emerald family, purifying a jewel-filled dungeon!"
Shellia buried her face in her toast. "I hate all of you."
---
Word spread quickly through the Emerald Dukedom: Lady Shellia, Spirit Beloved, was heading to the legendary Dungeon of Darkness. Knights scrambled to reinforce armor. Alchemists brewed purification potions "just in case." Blacksmiths offered discounts on enchanted blades.
Meanwhile, Shellia trudged through the courtyard with her companions in tow, muttering about cursed fate.
Reinhard, the commander, approached in full armor, his presence commanding as ever. "So. You're truly attempting it."
"No, I'm being railroaded by my family and spirits," Shellia snapped.
Reinhard's mouth twitched—possibly a smile, though no one could be sure. "Good. I'll deploy two squads of Emerald Knights to accompany you."
"I don't need—"
"You do." His tone brooked no argument.
Orielle whispered gleefully, [Oh, he's worried about you.]
"He's worried about paperwork," Shellia hissed back.
---
The stag, still in chibi form, pranced proudly beside her, antlers glowing faintly. Shellia glanced down at him. "And what exactly are you going to do in a dungeon?"
Orryn bleated. A flurry of frost spirals shot into the air like fireworks.
The nearby knights flinched.
"Show-off," Shellia muttered.
Sylas smirked. [I like him already.]
Orielle laughed. [He'll freeze the whole dungeon for you, just wait.]
Yuki simply nodded. [He belongs.]
Shellia groaned. "Why is it always me?"
---
The entrance to the Dungeon of Darkness loomed like the gaping mouth of a beast—black stone twisted with veins of glowing crimson corruption. The air reeked of decay and frost.
Knights formed a defensive perimeter as Shellia approached, her three spirits flanking her like ethereal guardians, and Orryn bleating cheerfully at her heels.
[This is it,] Yuki murmured softly. [The corruption runs deep. Without purification, no one can survive inside.]
Shellia shivered. For once, the humor fled her voice. "And I'm supposed to waltz in and fix it?"
[You won't be alone,] Orielle reassured her. [We're with you.]
Sylas added calmly, [So are the knights. And the stag.]
Orryn bleated proudly, pawing the ground.
Shellia sighed, gripping her staff. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
---
The moment she crossed the threshold, the world changed. Darkness thickened like tar, clinging to skin and armor. The ground was slick with shadow, pulsing faintly like veins.
Knights shifted uneasily. "Feels like walking into death," one muttered.
"Stay alert," Reinhard ordered. His voice was steel.
Shellia raised her staff, her purification aura flaring faintly. The corruption recoiled, creating a thin path of safety.
Yuki's voice echoed in her mind. [See? You're already shining.]
Shellia muttered under her breath, "Shining, my foot."
But she pressed on.
---
Deeper inside, the walls glittered faintly. Even under the corruption, massive veins of diamonds shone with cold, trapped light.
Knights gasped. "By the gods…"
Orielle whistled. [Now that's treasure. Even corrupted, it's beautiful.]
"Don't even think about it," Shellia warned.
Orryn, of course, attempted to lick the wall.
"STOP THAT!" Shellia yanked him back by the antlers.
Sylas chuckled. [He's testing the purity. Practical.]
"Practical my—!"
A sudden tremor shook the ground. Darkness pooled ahead, swirling into a monstrous shape.
The first guardian had awakened.
---
Knights raised shields. Shellia stepped forward, staff blazing. Her spirits materialized in full, their presence filling the cavern with light, fire, and frost.
Reinhard's voice rang out. "Protect Lady Shellia! Form ranks!"
Shellia groaned, lifting her staff higher. "Here we go again."
---
(The fight itself continues with purifications, teamwork, Orryn freezing corrupted tendrils, Orielle's flames burning away shadows, Sylas shielding the knights with ice barriers, and Yuki enhancing Shellia's power. The knights fight bravely alongside them, a rare collaboration between mortals and spirits.)
Shellia holds her ground, exhaustion creeping in, but with each wave of purification, the corruption recoils, and diamonds gleam brighter beneath the filth.
---
Hours later, the first sector of the dungeon lay cleansed. The diamonds sparkled, freed from shadow, casting pure light across the cavern.
Knights collapsed in relief. Reinhard surveyed the scene, silent but visibly impressed.
Shellia dropped onto a rock, panting, Orryn curling against her legs. She glared at Yuki. "You owe me so much toast for this."
Yuki smiled serenely. [You shone brighter than the diamonds.]
Shellia groaned into her hands. "Someone bury me alive. It'd be easier."
But despite her words, a faint smile tugged at her lips.
---