Tch, It's a Trap! (2)
"...Tch. A trap, huh."
I muttered some bullshit without thinking because it was so goddamn ridiculous. What the hell is this? I really walked right into it even though I knew everything. How the fuck did this happen? I even warned Lizbet about it, but here I am, strolling in on my own two feet. This is fucking nuts... Was I always this brain-dead? What happened to my head?
"...Haa. Seriously..."
Sighing, I stood up and scanned my surroundings.
Thankfully, Bivora and his goons weren't in sight, so it didn't look like we'd been completely screwed over... But then, what the hell? Was the goal just to lock us up?
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Sema..."
As I approached the entrance to check the rocks blocking it, I heard Marte's voice mumbling faintly from the other side. If you're sorry, then don't do stupid shit in the first place, dumbass.
"Ha... What the hell? Did they pay you off or something?"
No point in being polite anymore, so I dropped the formalities and asked loudly enough for him to hear through the wall. As I spoke, I lightly tapped the wall, racking my brain for a way to escape this place.
"...No. It was all because of my pathetic weakness that I dragged you into this, Sema."
Hmm... The sound was coming through clear enough, so the wall wasn't as thick as I'd thought... What if I unleashed a barrage of soccer kicks? Nah, probably not.
"It might sound like an excuse, but... the truth is, I have a sick mother and a young little sister."
Excuse confirmed, you little shit. What are you pretending otherwise for?
"My family is basically my reason for living. To support them, I started adventuring young to make big money. When I heard the kingdom was recruiting Hero Knights, I became one affiliated with the kingdom."
While half-listening to Marte's story, I looked around. The walls sealed everything except the entrance—no other exits in sight.
"Combining the income from being a Hero Knight with what I'd earned adventuring, I managed to heal my mother, who was as good as terminally ill... But we couldn't afford a new place right away, so for a while, she and my sister have been living in a rundown shack on the outskirts of the royal capital."
Aw, poor filial son. Anyway, putting Marte's position aside for now... I wondered if any other paths were blocked off.
"Apparently, that reached Bivora's ears when he needed outside help. He kidnapped my sister—who'd gone out shopping after hiding with stealth and disguise—and told me that if I locked you and the guild members in here, he'd release her."
Oh, really? You have my sympathies. But sympathy's sympathy, and this shitty situation is still shitty.
"Bivora said that after locking you and the guild folks in here, once the ongoing exam ends, he'll pressure Klea to give up her saintess candidacy in exchange for releasing you both."
"Whoa, he won't kill us? Thanks a bunch."
Even as a criminal, Bivora apparently had no intention of killing us. The reason he didn't complain when Marte ditched Lizbet was probably because he figured I alone was enough leverage.
Okay, a bit of relief there. I still needed to bust out fast, but at least Lizbet and I were safe until Klea's exam wrapped up.
"I couldn't abandon my sister, so I accepted, but I told him I absolutely wouldn't tolerate any harm coming to you all. Even if Bivora changes his mind, I'll guarantee your safety... Even if something happens to my sister... your safety at least... so..."
Listening to Marte's trembling voice, the situation started making sense. Bivora figured with his evidence well-hidden, getting Clarice as saintess would wrap everything up neatly.
Since moving himself was tricky, he roped in Marte instead. And you, Marte, with your precious family as hostages, got dragged into his crime—but as a hero, you secured our safety at minimum, so just sit tight, right?
Oh man, I'm so grateful tears are welling up. Should I pray or something? Klea—who busted her ass just to end up potentially forfeiting her saintess shot because of you assholes—is that not even on your radar? A guy who seemed so strong... You've totally ruined the impression I'd been building of heroes lately, you fuck. What a sloppy mess. They're good guys deep down, but as "chosen special humans" like Baul bragged about? Kinda problematic.
Of course, I'm the real idiot for walking in knowing full well.
...Tch. Nothing but walls besides the entrance. Then maybe heading deeper in... Huh?
...What's that?
"...Hey. What's this place?"
"Pardon? ...Ah. According to Bivora, about three years ago, a dungeon suddenly appeared under the mansion. No demon beasts, and it doesn't vanish, so he used it to hide stuff."
"No, not that—the altar thing over there."
"Ah... He said even he didn't know what it was. Something like a barrier kept him from approaching, but since the dungeon was useful, he poked around a bit and then ignored it..."
Barrier... Right. This dungeon. It's that one. The weird dungeon where the goddess's memories were sealed, and I got my demon form by viewing them.
Not the massive stepped altar from before, but a small table-like one... So the reason this empty dungeon doesn't disappear is because it's the same anomalous type?
"I've left food and water inside. Once my sister's safety is confirmed, I'll take responsibility and make sure Bivora gets arrested for sure..."
Marte's anguished excuses kept going, but they flowed in one ear and out the other.
Why? Some inexplicable compulsion was screaming that I needed to check that altar right now—I couldn't tear my eyes away from it.
Did I follow Marte in here unconsciously because of this weird pull?
"...Alright then. I'll come back later. Sema."
Marte's voice cut off, and the faint footsteps faded away.
By then, I was already swallowing hard, approaching the altar.
Crazy... What the hell am I doing? I need to get out now. Why is this nagging at me so much?
The previous altar had just felt mysterious—no weird vibe like this.
From the moment I saw it, my throat burned strangely, and impatience froze my feet in place.
There was supposed to be a barrier. But as if it had never existed, I was suddenly right in front of it.
Trembling, I peered down at the low altar, and my eyes locked onto the bizarre ornament atop it.
This is... A candlestick? Wooden decoration? Sculpture? What do you even call it?
A grotesque, tree-like ornament on the altar, hard to describe. Among its twisting branches, two ends held a pair of ominously black orbs.
Like fruit or baubles—they drew my gaze, and an inexplicable sensation wrapped my body, the tremors refusing to stop.
What is this? Utterly repulsive and terrifying... but at the same time, a strange excitement and anticipation...
"......Haa... Hoo..."
With shaking hands, I reached for the orbs, and as if they'd been waiting, they dropped into my palms.
Too rough for human hands, my palms cradled the dull black spheres, each the size of a large candy.
Why? Why is my heart pounding like this? Why did they fall on their own? What the fuck is going on?
This dungeon I entered knowing it was a trap, this flow that feels predestined—what is it?
"Hoo... Hoo..."
The shaking wouldn't stop. I'm scared. But what exactly am I scared of?
I'm excited. But what exactly am I excited for?
It's like staring at a box that could be a bomb or a gift— that bizarre thrill.
No, that's not it. The strongest emotion surging through me right now is...
......Guilt?
"Puhuhu...! Huu...! Kugh...!"
Unable to look away from the orbs in my palms, my body trembled harder. Amid the ragged breaths and overwhelming unknown emotions,
I jammed those two orbs straight into my eyes.