Catgirls And Dungeons-Chapter 272: Angel’s blood

According to Alter, Morvena was not only a powerful paladin and a fearsome necromancer, but also a healer who was highly knowledgeable in all things related to medicine.

At first, she did not have much talent for it. She could not even tell apart the most basic plants. But then, one day, Alter was badly injured and nearly died. There was blood everywhere, and Morvena could only cry because there was nothing she could do to help.

Luckily, Alter survived the incident.

But Morvena... changed from that day on.

She locked herself inside the library for months, not even stepping outside to see her princess.

At first, Alter was confused, unsure what was happening to Morvena.

But when Morvena finally emerged from her seclusion, she had become remarkably proficient in the art of healing.

She could recite the names of countless herbs, identify rare plants at a glance, and brew complex potions without hesitation.

She had even raised her healing magic to an exceptional level.

It turned out that foolish girl had been studying tirelessly so she could become the greatest healer in the world—so she could protect Alter and never allow such a situation to happen again.

"And that... made me love Morvena more than anything," Alter says, her voice thick with emotion. "She’s always there for me. Always protecting me... Just like Eris is to you, Felicia. Morvena... she is my everything."

Hearing the story, Eris and I are deeply moved. I feel my heart swell in my chest, and Eris holds my hand tightly from beginning to end.

"Felicia," Eris says softly, "thinking back on it, it feels like fate, doesn’t it? If we hadn’t helped Alter back then, we would never have met Morvena. And my injury... there would be no hope of curing it."

"Exactly!" Alter agrees with a chuckle. "In the end, you have Felicia to thank. And also, this girl may not even realize it, but without her, you would probably already be dead by now!"

"Eh? Me?" I ask, pointing at myself.

"Yeah." Alter nods.

"What do you mean?"

"Look around," she says. "Tell me. What do you see?"

"What... do I see...?"

I turn slowly, letting my gaze wander across the vast garden that stretches before us. Crimson flowers bloom in endless clusters, their petals deep and velvety beneath the unmoving sky. The Sanguine Blooms—that is the name Eris and I gave them—sway softly in the still air, releasing that strangely sweet fragrance that only I seem able to taste.

Beyond the sea of red stands our mansion, tall and elegant, its windows reflecting the warm glow of the eternal dusk. The entire world rests beneath that quiet twilight, neither day nor night, suspended in a peaceful stillness that feels almost sacred.

It is such a grand and beautiful place.

We have only been here for a few weeks, and yet those days have become the happiest I have ever known. The crazy training mornings, the shared meals, the laughter echoing through wide halls—every small moment has settled deep within my heart.

A sudden realization hits me.

"WAIT! You mean... this place?"

"Yup!" Alter replies.

"So you know these flowers?"

"Yes. I was the one who planted them here, after all."

"Eeeeeeehhhh?!"

Oh God, that is such a huge revelation!

Now that Alter mentions it, no wonder I felt such a strong pull when I first saw this place in the Hearthcarver Guild catalog the Guildmaster showed me. Out of the many isolated dungeons suitable for a luxury hideout, I ended up choosing this one without hesitation.

It turns out it was Alter’s memory influencing me.

Just like with Morvena’s dungeon.

It was those feelings that guided me from the very beginning.

"Then... Alter... what are these flowers?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly as curiosity bubbles within me.

Instead of answering immediately, Alter takes control of my body. My limbs move without resistance as she rises and walks toward the nearest cluster of blooms. She kneels before them and reaches out, her fingers brushing gently against a single crimson petal.

The moment she touches it, a sharp ache spreads through my chest.

I can feel it, her emotion...

Grief and pain...

Warm tears slip down from my eyes, and I know they are not entirely mine.

And yet, as the tears fall, a small smile curves across my lips—Alter’s lips.

It is nothing like the sharp, mischievous grin Alter usually wears. There is no smugness in it, no pride, no madness.

And instead, just a soft and fragile smile.

In that instant, I understand that these flowers probably mean far more to her than I ever imagined.

"We used to call them Angel’s Blood," Alter says softly as she plucks a single petal and brings it to her lips. The sweetness spreads across my tongue the moment she tastes it, thick and almost intoxicating, leaving behind a faint warmth that lingers.

"I see... so these are Angel’s Blood," I murmur.

It is a beautiful name, I have to admit.

So dramatic. Fitting, in its own way.

Trying to ease the heaviness in the air, I let out a small laugh. "What, is it something like the angels water these flowers with their own blood every day?"

It is only a joke, a foolish attempt to lighten the mood a little bit.

But Alter answers without hesitation.

"Yes."

A chill runs down my spine.

"Heh? Seriously?" Eris calls from a short distance away, clearly having overheard us.

The atmosphere shifts.

The gentle smile fades from my lips, replaced by the familiar curve of Alter’s sharp, knowing grin. I can feel it forming, that smug smile, edged with the darkness inside her heart. Beneath it, there is disdain, and something hotter.

Anger.

My chest feels like there’s hell fire burning inside it.

"Your guess is correct, Felicia," Alter says evenly. "These flowers were grown with those bastard’s blood and bones."

"Wait—wait a minute..." My voice trembles despite myself. "Blood and bones? L-literally?"

"Literally," she replies without the slightest pause.

She rises slowly, brushing the remaining petal from her fingers.

"You see, the very first Angel’s Blood bloomed from the crystallized remains of thousands of angel corpses—slaughtered by yours truly!"

"What?!" Eris breathes.

"Y-you killed them? The angels?"

"What? You don’t believe me?"

Gulp...

I swallow hard.

But then I notice Eris.

She lets out a small chuckle, clearly trying to hide her laughter.

Aha!

I get it now!

Given who Alter is, maybe she is just like Eris, trying to mess with me and scare me!

Joke on you, Alter! I’m not falling for that trick again!!!

However... as I wait nervously for the inevitable "Ahaha, got you, silly Felicia," line from her...

It never comes.

...

"Wait... seriously?" Eris finally breaks the silence. She, too, had assumed it was just a joke.

"Hell yeah," Alter replies.

And just like that, I know it is true.

Alter... really did kill those angels.

And more than that, there is unmistakable pride in the way she says it.

Suddenly, the dusk feels colder all at once.

Then, as though deciding we deserve to know, Alter begins to speak of her past.