The Reward for the World's Strongest Explorer's Perfect Dungeon Conquest is apparently Marriage to me, who is known as an S-rank Fraud - Chapter 15

『Release.』

As Berglims’ voice echoed in my head, the green flames engulfing my right half vanished.

Beside me, his goblin form slowly took shape once more.

“So, did you understand how to use mana?”

“Yeah, no. Not at all.”

It was like throwing someone who doesn’t know how to ride a bike into the passenger seat of an F1 car, taking them around a circuit, and then asking, “Think you can drive now?”

…Not that F1 cars have passenger seats, but you get the idea.

“More importantly, we need to focus on Shia.”

There was no time to bask in the aftermath of battle.

She wasn’t on the verge of death, but she was severely injured.

She needed to be taken to a healer’s clinic immediately.

I rushed over to where Shia lay slumped against the wall at the edge of the boss room.

“Shia! Are you okay!?”

“……”

No response.

She had lost consciousness.

But—

Even though she’s so slim, her chest is surprisingly—

“It’s not moving!!”

“Shia!!”

I immediately pulled Shia into my arms, pressed my lips to hers, and prepared to breathe—

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

I was stopped just as I was about to begin.

What? Why?

“Her ribs are puncturing her lungs. Air is leaking out, and she’s suffering massive internal bleeding. If you force air in now, it won’t help—in fact, it could tear her lungs even more and make the bleeding worse.”

“Mmph—buhhh, bohwubwablubbb.”

“Maybe let go of her mouth first?”

Nod, nod—gasp!

“Then what should I do!?”

“Well, she is my servant’s partner, after all. I’ll help. I’m a kind boss, you see.”

“Thank you!!”

I bowed deeply without hesitation.

“Alright, alright. [Green Flame’s Healing Veil].”

As Berglims cast his magic, a gentle green flame enveloped Shia, swiftly closing her wounds.

Her complexion improved rapidly.

Her breathing became steady.

She would regain consciousness any moment now.

“Her internal organs are healed. If you want to give her mouth-to-mouth, go ahead.”

“Thanks! Shia!”

I immediately supported the back of her head, pressed my lips to hers, and gently breathed air into her—

“Hm? Kyu—mmmph.”

Right before I made contact, our eyes met.

Wait.

She’s already awake—

Wait, what—

Something… slippery just went inside my mouth—

“Pwah! Shia, you’re alri—mmpfh! Alive—mfh! Hey, Shia, sto—mfh!!”

She locked her arms around my head, forcing kiss after deep kiss on me.

W-Wait. Is this some kind of side effect from the healing spell!?

“Mmmmmm!! Mmmmmmm!!!”

“Nope. If a human stops breathing for more than five minutes, there’s a risk of brain damage. But obviously, my magic doesn’t leave such trivial consequences. I even healed any oxygen-deprived cells.”

“Mmmmmmmm!!!”

THEN WHY IS SHE DOING THIS!?!?

“Why should I stop her? It’s not like she’ll keep this up for one or two hours. You’ll be free soon enough.”

“MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!”

I struggled, flailing in vain—then, my body went limp.

“Pwah… Kuma, sorry. Are you okay?”

I locked eyes with Shia, whose glowing, glossy lips still shone with moisture.

Her expression was utterly radiant.

“…Kiss harassment. That was kiss harassment!!”

I didn’t care if that term actually existed or not.

I had just endured 15 minutes of my fiancée thoroughly violating my mouth.

“Berglims…? I don’t fully understand, but thank you for saving me.”

Shia, completely unfazed, turned to Berglims with a cheerful and refreshed expression, completely ignoring my protest.

What is wrong with her emotional stability!?

“No need to thank me. It benefited me as well.”

“That’s true. Berglims, seriously, thanks. You saved Shia’s life.”

I set aside my frustration, bowed my head, and expressed genuine gratitude.

Berglims simply waved it off, shaking his head as if to say, “Enough of that.”

For a goblin, he really didn’t act like one.

Not that he actually was a goblin.

“Also, Kuma… I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I was going to scold you, but… as long as you’re safe, that’s what matters most.”

“Mm. I promise I won’t do anything reckless alone again.”

“Good.”

I patted her head, ending the conversation there.

Shia narrowed her eyes contentedly.

Ayane, you watching this?

Your big brother just leveled up again.

I even did the classic “cool head-pat” move.

…Though, considering I just got my mouth completely wrecked, maybe I actually lost levels instead.

Hah…

“So, why are you with Bergli… uh, Grigri?”

She gave up halfway through his name.

Shia, look at him closely.

Does he look cute enough to be called Grigri!?

“……”

Berglims simply ignored the nickname with a vaguely annoyed expression.

“I’ll explain before we leave the dungeon.”

“Alright.”

As we walked, I recounted everything that happened, occasionally having Berglims fill in details.

“I see. In that case, I’ll help too.”

“Wait. No, you don’t have to.”

At first, the scale of this whole thing hadn’t really hit me.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized—

I might have just gotten involved in something seriously insane.

“All the more reason. I’ll help—if only to save you, Kuma. Besides, this all started because of me. Even if that weren’t the case, your path in life is my path in life.”

Shia declared this firmly, her gaze locked onto mine.

“Shia… No, I’m not kissing you again.”

The moment our eyes met, her gaze grew hazy and sultry, and she leaned in closer.

I immediately pushed her back before things got out of hand.

If we started making out here, the conversation would never move forward.

“I, for one, welcome this.”

“Especially you, Shia—the one who bears the name of a goddess. You are a crucial piece to the puzzle.”

“What do you mean?”

“…Kuma?”

Berglims leaned forward slightly.

“A bit of advice—you should get into the habit of analyzing things yourself.”

Tch.

Being lectured by my goblin boss was more humiliating than I expected.

“Does this have to do with the angels?”

“Exactly, Shia.”

Berglims grinned.

“Leaving aside my contract with Kuma—

The reason you are the strongest in the world is simple.

You were chosen.

Chosen as one of the angels’ favorites.

And now, you stand with me.

Ahh, that alone is more than enough—

It’s of immeasurable worth.”

Berglims’ expression turned almost ecstatic.

With his green, monstrous face, it was unsettling as hell.

“Alright, I get the general idea.”

“So, basically, if the three of us keep clearing dungeons, then what happens?”

“Are you really asking? The world level increases.”

Well, duh.

I already knew that.

But I wanted to ask something more specific—

What exactly happens when the world level rises?

…Then again, if I don’t figure it out myself, I’ll probably get scolded.

What happens when the world level increases…?

What happens when the world level increases…?

“Hmph. I see. …Wait, actually, what the hell is world level?”

It was common knowledge that the world level increased as more dungeons were fully conquered.

But beyond that, no one actually knew the details.

Until Shia cleared the first dungeon, the world level had stayed at 1 indefinitely.

“It’s a mix of science and fantasy.”

Berglims began explaining.

“Heaven, the Demon Realm, gods, demon kings, angels, devils—

These are merely terms that humans have assigned to concepts beyond their five—no, six—senses.”

“Raising the world level allows humanity to perceive these things. That’s what it means.”

“…!? I-I see—”

I don’t see at all.

Wait, is this some kind of spiritual awareness thing!?

“Hmm.”

Shia nodded in complete understanding.

She always seemed a bit airheaded, but right now, she looked like she actually got it—and that scared me.

Please don’t leave me behind.

“Well, you don’t have to understand it completely.”

“Simply put, our goal is to raise the world level and drag the angels down to Earth for an all-out war.”

“Until then, we gather forces. Simple, right?”

“That, I understand.”

“But won’t that cause massive casualties for humanity?”

“Of course it will.”

Berglims shrugged.

“Either way, humanity is already on the brink of extinction.”

“If we raise the world level and summon the angels, they will wipe out humanity—

Just as they did to the Demon Realm.”

“And if we don’t raise it?”

“Then the dungeons will overflow with monsters, and humanity will still be annihilated.”

“…Are you serious?”

It was almost too absurd to believe.

“Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

“But a contract is a contract. You will do your job, Kuma.”

“Well, can’t argue with that.”

“A man’s word is his bond… and I’m stuck with this now, huh?”

Damn it.

I keep getting myself backed into corners.

Now I’m literally on fire, too—on my right half, at least.

“Hey, once we return to the surface, is Grigri going to live with us?”

“…What?”

Shia’s question snapped me back to reality.

Grigri.

Living with us.

What? What? What? What?

“Yes, at least for the time being—”

“NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOOOO!!”

I crossed my arms in an ‘X’ and refused outright.

“…And why not?”

“I have a cute little sister, okay!?

She’s going to freak out if she sees a green monster like you!!”

“…Calling your boss a ‘green monster’… how disrespectful.”

“I didn’t choose this form, you know.”

“Anyway, no!

My house is off-limits!

My sister stays at least 100 meters away from all of this!”

I refuse to drag my little sister into some fantasy world war.

To Ayane, I’m just a normal explorer.

Someone who goes into dungeons, clears them, and comes home safely.

“…Hmm. That’s a problem.”

“Wait… are you seriously planning to come to the surface?”

“Of course.”

“…In that form?”

“What’s wrong with my attire? It’s better than yours.”

Okay, he had a point.

I was literally in just underwear.

Meanwhile, he was dressed like some fancy noble from a ballroom party.

“That’s not the issue.”

“The issue is your race.

You’re a goblin.”

“Oh, come on. My skin is just a different color.

Humans are the real racists.”

“I’m more civilized and well-mannered than half of your kind.”

“That’s not the point!!

This will cause a massive scandal.

‘A monster has appeared on the surface! And the one responsible is [Nosferatu, the Undying]!’

‘Has he finally betrayed humanity!?’

Japan will unite against us.

We’ll both be on wanted lists.

My sister will be bullied.

“Then what do you suggest?”

“I can only stay in your body using [Synchronization] for about one or two minutes at best.”

“…I have an idea.”