Newbie Despair Arc (4)
Once the roadblock cleared, Ruby surged ahead like a force of nature. At first, she could barely take down a single knight, but now she handled two or three without breaking a sweat. It was dazzling progress.
"What do you think of my favorite newbie? Pretty impressive, right?" Sisilia kept bragging about Ruby nonstop.
Beatrice, who had started out just sulking, eventually began cheering for Siu as time passed. But it really wasn't easy.
"Ah, aaaah!"
"I-I can't do it. There's no way I could..."
Siu was far more timid than Ruby, for one thing. He even abandoned her and fled several times after that. And according to Beatrice's judgment, he had more than enough specs to handle a knight on his own.
"Why not pick someone else? Like that guy over there." Sisilia pointed at the medical student.
In truth, amid this manual regression system, the one who'd shown the most brilliant growth wasn't Ruby—it was him. Ruby had killed a knight in the 7th loop alongside Siu. But the medical student pulled it off in just the 2nd loop. He'd tricked a monster with conversation and assassinated it. All on his own, without any help. Among the first-generation newbies, he was the overwhelming top dog.
"He'd do fine even without me."
"True, but why stick with him? Got some reason for being so stubborn?"
"...Seeing how much he grows later on... I think it'll make me really happy."
Sisilia quietly stroked Beatrice's head. Beatrice grumbled in her usual pouty voice.
"Don't pet me."
And after a few more loops...
"Think it's about time to wrap this up."
Of course, the newbies still couldn't take down all the knights on their own power yet. But Sisilia judged that pushing further wouldn't mean much.
Meanwhile, Ruby and Siu were surrounded by knights, on the verge of death.
How long do I have to keep repeating this?
Death flickered in Siu's eyes.
Next loop, I'll take one down solo.
...Ruby was already thinking ahead to the next loop.
But this time was different from usual.
Clang!
Sisilia and Beatrice appeared simultaneously, blocking the knight's sword.
"—!"
The episode was kicking into gear.
"Ruby. You alright?"
Sisilia saved Ruby, while Beatrice rescued Siu.
Ruby blinked dazedly before snapping to.
"Y-Yeah, thanks to you."
"...Sorry."
Her silver hair was slightly damp with sweat, and her pupils brimmed with distress.
"For taking so long."
Ah, this girl...
Out of nowhere, Ruby had a random thought.
How is she so cute?
She seemed cool and detached, but that couldn't hide her innate kindness. And anyone could see she looked incredibly young, yet she insisted on such mature speech—that sealed it.
"Ruby?"
"Ah, s-sorry!"
Ruby took Sisilia's hand and stood.
"This is the second time you've saved me like this. Ahaha."
"Unlike last time, you've toughened up. Training's paying off."
"R-Really? Hehe... Honestly, I feel like I've grown a bit myself."
"Yes. Exactly. Ruby, you've taken one step forward from yesterday."
"...Just one step?"
As Sisilia cheerfully crushed the newbie's dreams with her innocent smile—
Beatrice...
"......"
"......"
Just stared blankly at Siu.
W-What's that about?
Siu panicked, but Beatrice blurted out.
"If you don't come, I'll leave you behind."
"Huh? W-Wait a sec."
Beatrice gathered the users on the terrace.
"You! Where the hell were you? Coming now?!"
The boss, who'd spent the entire loop trembling under the table, exploded in anger.
"I was scouting the dungeon's layout."
"You said you'd come save us! Right when we were about to die!"
"...Yes. That's why I came to save you."
The users were speechless. They'd died dozens of times, sure. But those were in previous loops. This time, not a single one had died.
They couldn't exactly say they'd regressed, though...
"Anyway, now that everyone's here, let's head to the next room."
"Th-There's a next one?!"
"Of course. This dungeon has three floors total. We're still on the first."
They'd died endlessly. Naturally, they had no strength or stamina left to fight more.
"Fuck this! I'm done! Get me out of here now!"
"......"
"This isn't what you promised at the start! You said it'd be easy! Not that tough!"
"Right! I can't do any more."
"P-Please. Just let us out now. We can't go on..."
The chaos dragged on. Fear bred more fear, confusion snowballed into greater turmoil.
Sisilia decided to respect their feelings.
"Alright. I'll honor your opinions."
"!"
They were shocked at how readily Sisilia agreed.
"So, anyone who doesn't want to go further, wait here. The rest, follow me."
"Wh-What?"
"I have to respect those who do want to keep going, too."
"Wh-Who the hell would?! No one, right? Everyone just wants out now!"
The group nodded furiously.
Am I the only one who wants to keep going? This is a rare chance, but Sisilia's busy...
Ruby wanted to continue. But she didn't want to earn resentment from everyone.
"Majority vote! Let's do majority vote!"
"Hell yeah!"
Just as the decision to end the dungeon here seemed set—
"Sorry, but this is the Middle Ages. Feudal system, you know."
The medical student pushed up his glasses and raised his hand.
"I'll keep going. I can feel myself getting stronger. Feels good."
"What? You little shit, I've had my eye on you since the tutorial! You joking right now? Can't you see everyone's terrified?!"
"Y-Yeah, med student oppa. I'm really scared... Can't we just leave?"
The girl in the school uniform sniffled, but the medical student didn't budge. He sighed instead.
"How long you gonna keep whining like kids?"
He eyed them with disgust.
"Still haven't grasped the situation, huh? Complaining and blaming others changes jack shit."
He spoke in a low voice.
"In this world, strength is justice. Is power. Say that knight over there slaughters us all—what then? You gonna complain 'why'd you kill us'?"
The boss pointed and yelled.
"How old are you, punk?! actin' all rude like that!"
"Blab all you want. Then just sit there like an idiot."
The medical student clicked his tongue and stepped forward.
"I'm heading on."
Sisilia and Beatrice suddenly thought the same thing.
...If Edward picked a favorite newbie, it'd be this guy, right?
"Don't worry."
Of course, the kind knight Sisilia had no intention of killing her precious newbies.
"I won't kill you."
But she couldn't lie, so with a bright smile, she added a warning.
"Unless you side with the demons or something."
Then, reassuringly.
"I've cleared all the monsters on this floor. As long as you stay here, I guarantee your safety. On my honor as a knight."
The debate continued. Staying put was the majority opinion. Scary alone, but less so together. The regression system helped, too.
But then, Ruby—who'd been gauging the mood—stood quickly and went to Sisilia's side.
"I'll go, too."
"Great attitude. Wait in the banquet hall."
And aside from Ruby, no one else stepped up.
"You'll all wait here, then?"
"Watch your back."
The boss warned Sisilia fiercely.
"I'll tell your superior about this. And the queen—everything that happened!"
Sisilia imagined it for a moment.
She'll definitely praise me. Especially Ed-tsun might be so impressed he approves the budget—
Sisilia beamed.
"What a brilliant idea."
"...?"
"Betty, let's go."
"Hold on, Sisilia."
As they turned to leave, Beatrice strode over somewhere.
To Siu, huddled in the corner.
"Eek!"
"Get over here!"
Beatrice dragged Siu by the collar out of the banquet hall.
Thus, Sisilia led the three newbies to the second underground floor.
They traversed a bizarre space. Stairs that twisted unclearly upward or downward.
"I-I can't go any further."
Midway, Siu collapsed from exhaustion. Beatrice shuddered as she hoisted him piggyback.
"Want me to carry you, Ruby?"
"Ah, thanks. But I'm good. Skirt and all..."
The medical student pushed up his glasses.
For a split second, they glinted.
Sisilia thought.
Service spirit's a bit lacking.
"H-Haha. Come to think of it, what's your name, med student?"
Ruby asked. He answered flatly.
"Ian."
"You're amazing. Bet you practiced a ton before coming here?"
"Not much experience."
"...For real? Then how are you so good?"
"What, higher IQ than most people."
Ruby thought it killed her appetite. But as a pro idol, she didn't show it.
"Whoa, must be nice being that smart. I'm not..."
"Yeah, checks out."
"......"
Ruby deflated. Sisilia thought, Fun newbie, and asked.
"Smart Ian, figured out anything about this dungeon?"
"A bit."
"Please, share your thoughts."
Ian glanced aside briefly.
"We're looping the same spot. Theme's probably 'infinite' or something."
Beatrice halted. Impressed.
Sisilia eyed him with surprise.
"You're a sharp one."
He was right. They were on an eternally repeating staircase. She hadn't mentioned it, figuring it'd make great stamina training. Never dreamed he'd notice.
"How'd you know?"
"Starts going up at one point, down at another. Means the stairs form an oval or whatever."
Precisely, a Möbius strip staircase. But so close to the truth, Sisilia wanted to give him full marks.
"Spot on. If we keep walking this eternal staircase till we're exhausted, scary demons show up and slaughter us all."
Sisilia said it proudly, amused by her own joke.
"Hic."
"...!"
Then Siu burst into sobs.
"Save me! I don't wanna die! Hic, please... Someone, anyone..!"
Sisilia makes people cry daily, fine. But I've never seen a guy cry before.
Beatrice panicked hard. Sisilia admired Siu's reaction, clasped her hands behind her back, and eyed Ian.
"So, smart guy, how do we get past this?"
"Not certain. But by my logic—"
Ian pushed up his glasses, pointing aside.
At the wall.
"Oval means the center's the goal. Figure there's a door somewhere in the wall."
Regrettably, Ian's right answer was wrong.
Eternal Tomb.
Second trial. Infinite walking stairs.
No way to break this gimmick. Even smashing the wall reveals nothing inside. That's why the monsters were low-level despite it being an advanced dungeon. Overwhelming authority.
But solutions existed.
Annihilate the dungeon itself with Extreme Art. Sword Princess Sisilia needed Wind Shear.
But the newbie worked up the guts to guess the answer.
Like a kid taking their first test. Bravely writes what they think is right, but it's wrong? They'll be crushed, hate studying forever.
Sisilia couldn't be the adult who shattered a child's dreams.
So, she'd make Ian's "answer" the real one.
"Dungeons have all sorts of gimmicks. Solving them is key in this world."
Sisilia held up one finger.
"But since this one's about hunting, I'll demonstrate."
"G-Good..."
Siu stopped crying, relieved.
Sisilia pressed her ear to the wall excitedly, tapped it lightly with her cotton-candy fist.
"Open up."
"...?"
No reaction. She smiled sweetly, stepped back.
Her expression iced over. She muttered flatly.
"Open."
With that one word—
Rumble rumble rumble.
The whole space shook.
Screeeeech!
A horrific demon's scream from deep underground. Unmistakably terrified.
Sisilia narrowed her eyes, tapped the wall insistently with her finger. Like demanding something forcefully.
Then—
Crack!
A door appeared in the wall!
Everyone gawked at her like she'd summoned a ghost.
"...We gotta do that?"
"Th-That's not normal, right?"
"As expected of Sisilia! You know magic too!"
Ruby's got an eye for talent.
Sisilia smiled proudly.
"Well, shall we go?"