Raised in Dungeon

"That's crazy, Leader; I thought you were going to kill him earlier," Adam said.

"How could I break a promise I made?"

'But he shouldn't have had to ask Nishizaka to use her god's blessing for such a trivial matter. It's strange that the Leader didn't kill him immediately; what is he planning?" Norman thought.

"Wait, Arthur," Ivaylo asked, "do you have a way to return home?"

'Actually no, I don't know where this is, but there must be a way back, right?' Arthur thought.

Ivaylo suggested, "You can take Nishizaka with you. If you depart without her, our numbers will be uneven. Please accompany her until I gather everyone together again. Can I entrust her to your care for the next few years?"

"Eh?!"

Arthur hesitated briefly before glancing at Nishizaka and displaying an unpleasant expression. He thought to himself, "I initially wanted to decline... But perhaps she is preferable to the others."

With that decision made, they departed from their current location and embarked on their journey towards the Barkaley Region.

...

Arthur and Nishizaka were in the dungeon in Benchmandy Kingdom, located south of the Wildenhall Kingdom. To his surprise, Nishizaka possessed invaluable knowledge of the route back to Wildenhall, and she could read and write, making their journey back to the kingdom easier.

Making use of a cargo ship that transported rice, they embarked on their voyage towards their destination. Throughout the entire journey, a profound silence lingered between Arthur and Nishizaka. It was evident from her expression that she had no interest whatsoever in accompanying him to the Barkaley Region, and somehow, it made Arthur feel a bit unpleasant.

"You really didn't kill me on the way, did you?" asked Arthur on the ship.

"I won't," Nishizaka replied.

"I thought you were sent to accompany me so you could kill me. Well, Leader could have been looking for a hole in his oath. But after seeing your actions, it looks like you really didn't."

"Stay alert; I can kill you at any time, outside of the leader's orders."

Arthur smiled and said, "I am not sure about that. We've only known each other for three years, but I know you're not someone who kills people. You only kill when it necessary. After walking this far, killing me would be pointless too."

"How naive."

"But I was right about you not liking killing.

Nishizaka, why did you join the Dolls?"

"To find my friend."

"Yes, I already know. Higashiro Yamanaka, right? The one who came to this world together with you. But I don't think you're cut out for Dolls, and you don't need to be in Dolls to find that person either."

"That may be true, but Dolls are the fastest way to find him."

"Why is that?"

"You'll understand when you become a Dolls member."

"Is three years as a Dolls member not enough to understand?"

"You're wrong; you were never a Dolls member to begin with."

"What do you mean?"

"You were only used by Leader so that he could use your god's blessing."

"I know about that, but I really have entered as a member, right?"

Nishizaka unbuttoned her top shirt, causing Arthur to react with a mix of embarrassment and shock. He exclaimed, "Wai-wha?! What are you doing?!"

"This." In response, Nishizaka displayed the scars and stitches above her chest, explaining their significance.

"T-this is the same stitch mark Adam had on his face," Arthur said.

"We the Noctem Dolls, each receive these leader-bestowed stitches as proof of membership. As for you, he has never given you these stitches. That's why Adam and Norman don't protest Leader anymore, because they know Leader only uses you for a short time and kills you after."

"I-is that so..." even though Arthur heard about it and was a bit shocked when he heard it, but he didn't care anymore. He was tired of following the Noctem Dolls' criminal activities. Killing, engaging in acts of violence, and participating in unlawful activities did not align with his moral compass. His heart yearned to return to the sanctuary of his home, where his loving sister waited patiently for his safe arrival.

After a long and exhausting journey, they finally arrived at Losweight Island, one of the port cities of Wildenhall Kingdom. As Arthur stepped off the boat, he couldn't help but take a deep breath of the invigorating ocean air. It was as if all the burdens weighing him down had magically evaporated upon witnessing the breathtaking view of the sea and the bustling ships docked at the harbor. Relief washed over him, knowing he had finally reached his destination, only a short distance from his humble abode.

Glancing over at Nishizaka, Arthur noticed the signs of fatigue etched on her face. Despite wearing a mask that concealed part of her visage, there was an unmistakable spark in her eyes that mirrored Arthur's sense of relief now that their arduous journey had ended.

"Nishizaka," Arthur gratefully nodded towards his companion, " I can't thank you enough for guiding me here. From this point onward, I already know the way back home."

"You seem to have misunderstood. The task given to me is not to follow you home. It's to accompany you until there's another call from the Leader through this doll."

"Hmm? Does that mean you'll stay with me even after we reach the Barkaley region?"

"Yes."

"No-no-no, you don't have to do that! Our house is small and dirty. A pretty girl like you isn't fit to live in the slums!"

"Did you forget? Do you think I've lived in a palace all this time?"

'Oh yeah, on second thought...' Arthur recalled that Noctem Dolls always rested in random places. And upon further recollection, he had never seen Nishizaka sleeping. She was always sitting down and cleaning her katana.

"B-b-but how do I introduce you to my sister later?!"

Nishizaka held her chin, thinking for a moment about the answer. After a minute, she said,

"Wife... is probably the best choice. People won't be interested in anything more than romance once they hear that."

"What?! No, I can't do that!" Arthur's face flushed with embarrassment.

"Why?"

"About that....

I don't know...

I feel like it's wrong."

With a flat and round face, Nishizaka answered, "I don't feel like it's right either."

'Oh no, what would Susan tell me if I suddenly brought a wife home?'