Raised in Dungeon



Rodion's group causes a sense of curiosity among the bystanders. As Allen made his way down the main street, carrying a bulging backpack on his shoulders, people couldn't help but stop what they were doing and take notice. The sight of a small boy carrying such a hefty load was unusual, and many onlookers were left wondering what could be inside that bag.

However, despite the stares and whispers, Allen seemed unfazed, his eyes looking straight ahead as he made his way to his destination. He was still holding the cheek where Lavinia had kissed him.

"Allen, are you still thinking about that kiss? What a guy," Susan said mockingly. Rodion was silent; he felt that if he responded, he would be a disgusting old man who was interested in young romance.

Allen did, indeed, admit that he didn't hate what Lavinia did to him. But what made Allen think was not just the kiss. It was Lavinia's expression as she waved her hand. It looked happy but also sad.

And maybe she also made that face when she kissed him on the cheek, so he thought that her expression must have something to do with him,

'Humans are complicated,' thought Allen, who gave up trying to understand her.

-Srek

"Ah."

Allen was knocked down by a rock covered with snow. Susan and Rodion, rather than worrying about Allen, they were more worried about the large bag he was carrying. If it fell, there would be some things that were damaged and could no longer be used.

But despite being knocked down, Allen amazingly used his left hand to support his body to get back up.

"I…incredible..." muttered Susan.

Rodion approached Allen with an annoyed face and said, "This is the result if you don't focus on the road ahead!" Rodion said while hitting Allen's head.

It wasn't that Allen didn't see the stone; it was because the stone was tripped by the snow that he fell down. And as soon as he remembered about the snow, Allen immediately returned to his world and asked Rodion.

"O he, by the way, what is all this white thing? I actually meant to ask when I got home yesterday, but I had a lot on my mind at that time."

"Allen... are you kidding?" asked Susan.

Allen tilted his head, confused about why Susan would take that as a joke.

"Right, of course you are not. You never joke anyway. It seems like the other world doesn't have snow." said Susan.

"Oh, so this is the snow Peter was talking about. I thought this was some kind of amnis or someone's blessing."

Rodion then explained, "Snow is normal rain that turns into ice as the day gets colder."

"So this is water? I thought it was sand," Allen said, sitting down and picking up a handful of snow.

'Cold...' Allen thought.

He grasped all the snow and felt a slight sensation of water flowing from his hand.

"It's really water, I'm now starting to understand the concept of the four months. It seems like they happen in a row every year. What will happen to all this snow if the water month ends?"

"They will melt. In the wind month, the trees will grow leaves again, and we can start planting again."

"I see. So this is why we need to finish planting the potatoes before the water month begins quickly. In the water month, we can't plant anything."

Realizing Susan's gaze, Allen asked, "What?"

Susan shook her head "Nothing... It's just that I just realized that you're really like a big baby."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, even though you are older than me, you don't know anything about this world. Other-worlders are sure a strange presence."

"For me, Susan is the most strange child I ever met. You act more mature than everyone else. Even though you're only two years different from pascoe and me."

"Hehehe, it's because I'm a precocious girl!"

"Why did you look happy? Is there any advantage to being precocious and an adult?"

"Of course! When you grow up, you can live independently, earn money, drink bitter coffee, know how to separate sugar and salt, and...

You can endure pain and do not have to cry.

I want to grow up quickly and stop crying for every sad thing that happened to me."

There was a strange stress in Susan's last words;

Allen couldn't help but notice the sadness etched on Susan's face, a look that seemed all too familiar to him. He had been indifferent to other people's emotions in the past, but seeing Susan in such a state tugged at his heartstrings. He somehow didn't want to see her like that. But he knew his limits. Despite his desire to intervene, he recalled Rodion's words that stressed the importance of respecting people's privacy. We shouldn't interfere too much in people's affairs. Even if we want to help them, sometimes people don't like to be asked questions about their problems. Take Iva's pregnancy, for example. He easily made false promises to Iva, which he himself wasn't sure about.

But even so, Allen still doesn't regret his choice at the time.

And neither did he feel like he would regret his choice to meddle in Susan's problems.

"Susan, after Iva's labor is over, I'd like to hear more about you," it was the first time Allen felt interested in someone else's problems.

'We've been working together for three months, but I have no idea what kind of trouble she's in,' was what he thought before he asked that.

Hearing that, Susan's face blushed. She immediately turned her face away from Allen and said,

"I'll look forward to it."

Susan's eyes glazed over, as if she were looking forward to the person who asked her that. And she was happy that it was Allen.

On that day when Susan saw Allen's eye while he was promising Iva's safety. He became a figure to rely on, and she was jealous of Iva when he said that. Because, wants someone to save her from her suffering while waiting for her brother to come home.

For Susan, Allen was a substitute for her brother.