Chapter 111 - Viper's Trap! (3): Viper's Den...? And That Guild Emblem... Viper's Fang...
These guys were pretty bold, huh? I had no idea how they'd gotten in, but to think they'd come at us so openly like this.
"Wha—how...? I didn't sense any presence at all..."
"Oh, that?"
In response to Klea's startled words, the blond man smirked and pointed to the magic circle beneath their feet.
"This here's a magic circle that completely conceals Esser within its domain. We prepared it knowing full well how sharp your detection skills are, Sister Klea. Cost us a pretty penny, too."
Cracking his neck as he spoke, the man—whose face showed zero warmth—introduced himself.
"Anyway, nice to meet you. Sister Klea... and that famous Divine Beast lately, plus the nameless slut dressed like a whore. I'm Bivora, guild master of Viper's Fang."
The moment he finished, I stepped forward protectively in front of my bitches, lowering my voice in a clear threat as I addressed Bivora.
"...Fine. Bivora. How the fuck did you suddenly show up? You know this is in the middle of the saint verification exam, right?"
"Kukukuk... Yeah, I know all about it."
But Bivora just laughed like he wasn't scared at all, then abruptly stopped and glared at me.
"That's why we're here—to sabotage the exam. As for how we got in..."
"!? Master! Liz! Someone's around us...!"
"Kyaaak!"
Before Bivora could even finish, Klea shouted urgently, and at the same time, Lizbet's scream rang out.
I whipped around to see a man who'd appeared out of nowhere holding a dagger to Lizbet's throat.
"Like this. Stealth skill. Every guild member here has it, and we're all over level 40. Oh, and I'm level 48, so don't even think about fucking with me."
"...A Hero Knight checked this dungeon before..."
Fuck... I thought we'd gotten them all, but one stayed hidden inside the magic circle and popped out?
Heat rushed to my head for a split second, but seeing the blade at Lizbet's throat, I gritted my teeth and cooled off.
"Ah, we slipped in after that, of course. Can't fuck with a Hero Knight. He scouted the place two days ago, and we snuck in after."
"Ha... what a pain in the ass. But why go to all this trouble when you're all high-level? What's the point?"
I still couldn't figure out why these fuckers were after Klea. Those three illegal adventurers with Viper's Fang guild marks trying to kill her in the previous dungeon. And now Bivora and his Viper's Fang crew here. Why? According to Baul's intel, Viper's Fang ran all sorts of businesses and had plenty of cash. What did they lack that made them target Klea?
"Nothing big. We just want one of our own on the saint's throne."
"...Sister Clarice, you mean?"
"Oh, you know her? She's my woman. If Klea flunks here, Clarice is a shoo-in."
So, to make his girl the saint, he'd go this far to take Klea's life?
"That's why you're trying to kill her... right?"
"...? Nah, no plans to kill her. Offing a saint candidate like that would piss off the Goddess Church big time. Even we couldn't bribe our way out of that."
"Then why use illegal adventurers to target Klea?"
At my question, Bivora's face lit up like he'd just realized something. What? Did he not know?
"So you guys were the ones poking around our guild lately? Those guys who went radio silent got fucked by you, huh..."
Fuck. Shouldn't have said shit.
I tensed up, watching Bivora closely, but he just smirked and slapped his knee.
"Those were just low-level grunts out making quick cash. We sank a ton into building support for Clarice and needed funds fast. Guess they saw a chance and tried to off Sister Klea. Little shits..."
"...Using illegal adventurers? I heard you guys had money."
"We do businesses, sure, but not the kind that rake in insane profits. Entertainment spots bring good revenue, but the taxes are a bitch. Illegal dungeon runs? No taxes, no small problems, nice fat payouts."
This fucker. Tax-dodging scum.
"Ha... anyway. So you bribe to rig the exam, sabotage the boss to dock her points? Isn't that overkill?"
"Some bishop's dead set on making that nun the saint. Couldn't buy him off, so we had to get creative. Tank Klea's score here, and Clarice wins by default."
A tongue-click from Klea behind me at Bivora's words. Baul... your overzealous ass-backward work bit you in the ass. And this prick—mouthy as fuck. What's he thinking?
"Fine... but you're spilling this easy? Collusion with Clarice, bribing the church—if we get out and blab?"
"No worries. Leaving no evidence is our top priority. You yell outside? Money fixes it. Telling you this means don't make us work for it—just give up quietly."
Fuck... they really are loaded. This bastard.
"Klea doesn't even wanna be saint... we'll forfeit, so let us go?"
"Haha. You come this far and expect me to buy that? Nah, can't use this trick twice."
Bivora smirked, twirling his dagger before gripping it again.
"Just chill here two days, leave the boss alone, and clear out. By then, Clarice'll be done and scored."
"...And if we refuse?"
"Kukukuk..."
Bivora scratched his head laughing at my question, flicked the dagger upward like a coin toss, then smacked it flying with his palm...
"Kuhuk!"
"Sema!"
"Ma— I mean, Mr. Sema!"
Before I could even process, the dagger rocketed into the gap between my shoulder and armor, piercing straight through.
Fuck... just a light tap, but what the—skill?
As blood seeped from my shoulder, Bivora intoned coldly.
"You monster fuck... think I'm a joke just 'cause I humored your chat?"
Standing, he approached slowly, voice dripping killing intent.
"We don't touch clerics like her, but you two? Different story. Drop dead here, money covers it. Reinhardt Kingdom's human-centric—monsters like you? Forget it."
Right in front of me, Bivora yanked the dagger from my shoulder, eyed the blood, then glared with bulging eyes.
"Me and the guys here? We've drowned plenty of people. So behave if you don't wanna die, monster fuck. That girl's hostage till we leave. Worst case, we corpse her—and you—let the dungeon absorb 'em."
"Kuh... fuck..."
The guys who'd taken Lizbet were huddled in the magic circle, while Klea and I sat in the corner treating my wound.
"Sorry... I'm so sorry, Mr. Sema..."
"What're you sorry for, Klea? This is on those shitty bastards."
"No... if I hadn't aimed for saint..."
Tears streamed as Klea healed me.
Putting Lizbet in danger, making Klea cry. Fuck... shoulda leveled up instead of fucking around. What a pathetic showing. Stats high for my level, treated like Divine Beast, mocking these isekai humans' weak muscles... but this?
What now? Just sit tight?
"...Hoo. Almost healed already? Impressive."
Bivora, who'd snuck up, eyed my near-healed shoulder in admiration.
"This dagger slows recovery with its special effect. Tougher than I heard. Thought about letting Clarice take the exam at first. Good thing I didn't."
"Kuh...! You...!"
Klea turned toward him, and Bivora exaggeratedly recoiled a step.
"Whoa~whoa. Not a nun's face anymore. Scary? Could kill with that glare."
Smirking provocatively as he spoke. Fuck, wanna charge and beat his ass.
"Divine Beast. Lovers or what? Kukukuk... Keep it chill. Try running? I'll hack those monster legs clean off. And think of the girl?"
Bivora pointed back—Lizbet still had a blade at her throat in the circle.
You dog... one scratch on Lizbet's neck, and I'll explode. What to do?
"Boss!"
"Not 'boss,' guild master, asshole. What?"
Bivora turned at the call, and I couldn't hold my rage—slammed my fist into the floor.
"Kuh... shoulda trusted Klea's senses when we entered... no way I expected that magic circle..."
"...Huh? No... not the circle. That feeling... uh, wait? Beyond the circle... boss... room?"
"What?"
Klea jolted at my lament, then whipped her face toward the boss room in shock.
Boss room? Not the circle giving her the creeps?
"Guild master. Can we play with this bitch? Up close, she's fucking stacked."
"You crazy fuck... but damn, she is. Hmm..."
What the fuck are these shits saying?
"Missy. Wanna work at our establishments? Suits you better than adventuring."
"...Sorry, not interested in limp-dicked weaklings like you. Find someone else."
"This bitch...?"
The guy at Lizbet's throat scowled, but Bivora stopped him and stepped closer.
"Puhahat. Bold bitch. Dating that Divine Beast or what?"
"Yeah. The finest stud in this world, my master."
"Kukukuk. That monster's woman? And master? Whatever kink, you're nuts."
Still chuckling, Bivora perched on a rock and waved off his guildies disinterestedly.
"I'm good—do what you want. Just don't kill her."
"You fucking bitch. Let's see how that monster cock differs. Come on."
"Se-Sema..."
Ignoring Klea's call beside me, I shot up and glared daggers.
"You fucking dogs! Touch Liz and...!"
"Whatcha gonna do? Monster fuck."
"Sema... Sema...!"
Klea called urgently, but fuck that now.
"What'll I do, you shit? Smash that ugly mug. You dog."
"Crazy monster fuck, who you calling...!"
"Kuhahaha! Monster's got eyes, huh."
"Sema...! Something's wrong, something...! Ominous...!"
The guy who'd eaten my shit-talk drew a short one-handed sword and advanced.
"You fucking monster shit. I'll half-kill you and rape your girl right in front..."
"Bring it, fuck. Even if I die, I'll take you shits..."
As we both gripped weapons and took steps...
"Se-Sema!!!!"
—BOOM!!
With Klea's desperate scream, the boss room door—which seemed unbreakable—crashed down in a thunderous roar.
"Kiaaaaaaaaah!!"
A massive black monster filling the dungeon: serpentine body with countless spider-like legs. In its maw, it crunched on shattered armored skeletal demon beast bones.
This wasn't some ordinary dungeon boss. That thing was probably...
"Kyaaak!"
"Wha—what...?"
"Fuck! What is that!"
"......Status Window..."
Name: Jörmungandr – Hero Eater
Race: ???
Level: ???
Title: Bringer of Ruin
Age: ???
The Bringer of Ruin. The Hero Eater glared at us.