The Unaware Harem Adventure Tale of the Strongest Enchanter ~~I Don’t Know My Companions’ Faces or Identities, but I’m Pretty Sure They’re All Guys~~ - 26. If there's a bra, your eyes naturally go there.

26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. If there’s a bra, your eyes naturally go there.

The figure wasn’t moving too fast or too slow. It was just ahead of us.

Every time we reached a fork in the path, it would stop and wait. It was as if it was telling us, “This way.”

Our steps led us downward and deeper. The scenery gradually changed. And we stepped into an old stone structure covered in moss.

Maybe the magic essence was thick—crystals had formed all over. They were dimly lighting the darkness.

Magic essence is different from miasma—it’s harmless even if you’re exposed to it for long periods.

But it can activate monsters. So caution is necessary.

“I’m just following for now, but… Zain, what do you think? Should we take it out now?”

“….…”

“Zain?”

“I don’t knooowww~”

That’s rare. Usually, the moment an undead comes into view, they purify it instantly.

They’ve been quiet since we got to this floor. Is there something here?

It’s my first time coming to this middle layer too.

Compared to other places, Umbrella’s underground dungeon isn’t that deep.

But the structure is complex and easy to get lost in. Parts of it are old and crumbling.

It’s an environment prone to accidents.

Many monsters here have evolved in unique ways—most of them are quirky and troublesome.

“Whoaa!?”

The stone bridge beneath me crumbled, and I fell.

I must’ve stepped down too hard on a weak spot.

“LUX!”

“Help me out.”

Zain reached out and grabbed my arm.

They judged the footing to be unstable and wrapped their other arm around a stone pillar for extra support.

They pulled me up, and I sat down in relief.

“Thanks, Zain. You saved me.”

“Always help comradesssss~”

“Yeah. You’re too close.”

Zain leaned in so close their face almost touched mine—I gave their a deadpan look.

I stood up, drew my short staff, and pointed it at the mysterious red eyes watching us.

“Was that your doing just now?”

No answer. The hooded figure just kept watching us.

Didn’t feel like a silent “yes.” Well, it’s just a hunch. And if it were a trap, it would’ve been deadlier.

It’s more natural to think I just happened to step on a fragile spot.

More importantly, I don’t sense any killing intent from that person.

Why aren’t they attacking?

Where are they trying to lead us?

What’s their goal?

Until I understand that, there’s no need to kill them yet.

There was that Undead King incident before.

I’ve never heard of an undead who retains their memories.

But since it happened once, it’s not impossible that this one’s the same.

The hooded figure turned and ran off again.

◇

The hooded person led us further into the middle layer.

We passed through maze-like corridors and finally stopped in front of a certain door.

It was a bright wooden door that looked relatively new. It seemed like it had been installed recently.

The hooded person opened the door and looked at us like they were saying, “Come in.”

Zain and I glanced at each other and nodded once.

We were curious why we were invited. So we decided to go along with it for now.

“Seriously? I thought this was just a regular request…”

Beyond the door was a small room.

A bed, stacked books, a table, and chairs—a lived-in atmosphere.

On a rope hung a bra, which I stared at for a while.

“Welcome, both of you from the ‘Unknown’ team.”

A woman was in the room.

It was the woman from the guild reception.

“So you were in on it too.”

“I’m sorry for deceiving you.”

“She’s not at fault. I decided everything.”

The hooded person entered the room late.

Looking flustered, she hurriedly grabbed the bra from the rope and tossed it into a basket in the corner.

Then, taking off her hood, she turned her red eyes toward us.

“I’ve been waiting, Unknowns.”

A woman with long blonde hair tied in a bun behind her head.

Her ears were long—clearly an elf.

But her glowing red eyes and sharp fangs were nothing an elf should have.

Zain and I were momentarily speechless.

“Are you… turning into a Vampire?”

“I wasn’t bitten. It’s a similar kind of curse. I haven’t introduced myself, have I? I am the Guild Master of the Umbrella Guild and your client—Avril Reese.”

Guild Master!?

Heeey! Wasn’t this job just about clearing out undead!?

Why is the Guild Master appearing in cursed form!?

I have a bad feeling about this.

“Alright, we’re leaving.”

“Please wait! At least hear us out!”

I turned around to head for the exit. But the female clerk quickly blocked the way.

“It’s fine. Just give up. I’m ready to kill myself whenever.”

“Please don’t give up, Guild Master! Please lift her curse. With Zain’s holy magic that even beat the Undead King—”

“Okay, fine. I’ll listen. Just calm down.”

“Ki—kill myself!?”

Zain and I sat down.

Across the table, Avril and the female staff sat facing us.

“Here you go.”

The clerk served us tea.

Didn’t expect to be drinking tea in a dungeon room.

“Where should I begin… Maybe with why I posted the request.”

“So, you’re not a Vampire?”

“Sort of, but not really. The curse I received is the ‘Progenitor Curse’—it passes down through generations. In short, I’m turning into the original ancestor of Vampires.”

“How do you know?”

“The man who cursed me said so.”

She continued:

“The request I posted was to defeat the undead. That undead… is me. Soon I’ll stop being human and become a monster. Maybe I’ll keep some reason. But I’ll never walk under the sun again. I’ll live by drinking bl00d—like a beast. I don’t want that. So before that happens, I plan to die while I’m still human.”

“No! We called you here to lift the curse. With Zain’s holy magic, surely they—surely the Unknown team can release Avril-sama from this suffering.”

“Everyone’s already given up on this curse. It’s impossible to break. You’re just backup. This curse can do anything—even after death, I might come back as a true undead. I used to be rank A. If I go berserk, she won’t be able to stop me.”

“Please don’t give up, Avril-sama.”

I listened to their conversation with my cheek resting on my hand.

Zain was so bored they were dozing off.

“Everyone at the guild is waiting for your return, Avril-sama.”

“You people just don’t give—ugh!?”

Avril suddenly stood up, clutching her mouth. And she left the room.

“No way, is it bloodlust!? But she just fed—”

“We’re going after her. Zain!”

“Decuuuuuuurse!!”

Zain and I stood up and headed for the exit.

“Please, help the Guild Master—help Avril-sama!”

Zain and I chased after Avril’s retreating figure.

Sigh… It’s always like this.

Why do we only get the troublesome requests?

She stopped in a room that was a dead end.

“Rrraaaahhh…”

Turning around, Avril bared her fangs and growled.

Maybe some reason remains.

But even that seems doubtful.