A Fitting Dungeon (6)
A chill hung in the air inside the manor. Ricardo wore a subtle expression of relief, while the other apprentice knights looked positively ashen.
Wasn't it fun? Just as Sisilia started to feel a bit glum,
Beatrice glanced at Ricardo and asked, "Can we really get out of here with just one heart?"
"Of course."
"...When you say 'here,' do you mean the manor, or outside the dungeon?"
The entrance we came through is gone.
Beatrice had checked through a window outside the manor. The vine-covered door that had definitely been there was now gone without a trace. So she'd asked just to be sure, but...
"...".
Ricardo simply smiled quietly, saying nothing. In other words, it was an obvious trap.
"Wh-what does that mean, Betty?"
"It means even if we sacrifice one person, it won't let us out of the dungeon."
The apprentice knight Wade shot to his feet, pointing accusingly at Ricardo and shouting, "That's not right! That's fraud!"
Ricardo's neck twisted unnaturally as he fixed his gaze on him.
"Hrk."
Wade flinched, realizing he'd just broken the rules, but it was too late.
"You've broken the rules, haven't you?"
"Th-that's..."
"And not just once, but twice."
Ricardo flashed a truly demonic grin and strode toward Wade. The surrounding apprentice knights sensed the ominous atmosphere and backed away.
Sisilia's eyes narrowed as she watched.
Oh, crap.
Beatrice startled and reached for her sword, bracing herself. She assumed Sisilia was furious at her for not protecting her comrade.
"Pl-please spare me, La-Lady Sisilia."
Cornered, Wade trembled in terror, pleading desperately with his eyes toward Sisilia.
"It's pointless. A useless human like you is exactly the kind Windsor hates most."
Ricardo's eyes narrowed into slits. Just as his hand reached for Wade's throat—
Beatrice drew her sword with a sob, steeling herself. Rihaton and Drusen did the same almost simultaneously.
One. Do not be rude! A fine intellectual must converse with courtesy, yes?
Ricardo's smile deepened.
"You've broken the rules again."
This isn't good.
Sisilia began to weigh her options. Choosing combat had been the right call. It was what she'd wanted from the start, after all. But fighting after breaking the rules was the worst possible scenario.
The dungeon's rules were a kind of contract. As long as no one broke them, the demon couldn't harm humans. In exchange, each violation granted the demon power—but only for this round.
Five minutes ago, they could have taken it down if everyone piled on. But now, the power balance was shattered. The scales tipped overwhelmingly toward the demon.
"I propose a contract."
Sisilia had no choice but to say it. Ricardo, who had been about to kill Wade, and the three apprentice knights stepping up to stop him—all froze.
Ricardo released Wade's throat.
"Cough, cough. Gahk...!"
Stepping over the coughing Wade, Ricardo bowed deeply before Sisilia.
"Do you truly desire a contract?"
"Yes."
The apprentice knights' faces visibly hardened.
"The terms...?"
"What I want is to erase all the rule violations from today."
Sisilia spoke calmly, as if it were nothing. But contracts with demons weren't to be made lightly. They almost always favored the demon, and the one proposing had to uphold the terms. Break it, and the goddess punished demons while the demon god punished humans.
"What I desire is for you to stay out of this round."
Ricardo's mouth split to his ears.
"No matter what happens."
Sisilia nodded lightly and slowly drew her sword. Gripping it in reverse, she unhesitatingly slashed her palm without a second thought.
Drip, drip.
Falling blood. Ricardo immediately plunged his hand into his own chest.
"Grk."
Demon blood. And Sisilia's blood soaked the floor. The blood connected, beginning to form a shape.
It was a magic circle.
"The lesser demon Ricardo, by the administrator's authority, declares the recent rule violations null and void."
✦
"Sword—, Sisilia Windsor, shall not interfere in this round of the Grave of the Proficient."
✦
"These terms are set as the contract. This hand bears witness, this soul the price."
Fwoosh— Half the magic circle burned black.
What was that just now?
Ricardo's pupils trembled. For a split second, as he named himself, Sisilia's presence had swelled enormously. An overwhelming aura he couldn't even dream of looking up to. And her epithet hadn't come through clearly. As if he weren't worthy yet.
...A contract is absolute anyway.
The blood magic circle flashed once. Both of them—no, everyone present—knew the contract was sealed.
Sisilia spoke flatly. "The contract is sealed."
"A generous contract. My thanks."
Ricardo bowed, forcing a smile. It was flawless. No loopholes.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Why does this feel so uneasy?
Ricardo suppressed his anxiety and left the dining hall.
**
"La-Lady Sisilia."
The apprentice knights had all gathered in one room. The dining hall wasn't safe with the demon appearing.
"It's because of us...".
Beatrice, teary-eyed, was treating Sisilia's hand as she sat on the bed, while the rest knelt on the floor. The mood was like a funeral.
Of course.
Soft newbie hand... Feels so good.
Sisilia was grinning inwardly like an idiot.
"I'm sorry, so sorry."
Beatrice's tears fell in drops.
"Because we're so incompetent, you had to make a contract with that demon."
Sniffling, Beatrice wiped her eyes. Sisilia blinked at the bandage. Treasure No. 48 for Sisilia.
"Don't misunderstand."
Sisilia said quietly.
"The contract was purely for my mission."
The dejected knights looked up.
Time to boost morale.
Sisilia hoped this would make them tackle the dungeon more seriously.
"My mission is to aid your growth. And to clear the dungeon without casualties. That was simply the most efficient choice to achieve both."
The knights clenched their teeth listening to her. None believed she'd done it purely for duty. She'd sacrificed for them.
"We'll repay this debt."
Rihaton declared resolutely.
"It's just my duty. If I had to ask for something, it's that you conquer this dungeon diligently. In exchange, make one promise."
The apprentice knights steeled themselves like they would give their lives. If Sisilia said "die," they'd laugh and do it.
Sisilia unleashed her ultimate move, practiced a thousand times: Killer Technique! The Wistful Gaze!
"...Please, let no one get hurt."
Whoosh! Light filled the room. Not Beatrice's blessing, but pure light from a human.
Saintess.
She's a saintess.
The Holy Nation's saintess must be a fake.
And so, Sisilia gained a nickname even she didn't know.
**
Ricardo hummed cheerfully.
"Number 36 from the orchestra today."
Rich jazz echoed through the room. He lounged on the sofa like he was on drugs, pouring and sipping wine.
"Ahh— perfect."
He'd removed the thorn in his side, the butcher. Now, just devour those foolish humans deliciously.
How to cook them?
Just imagining it was fun. Corrupt them in endless terror, turn them into ghosts? Or kill them one by one in front of that arrogant butcher to taunt her?
His only worry was the butcher's revenge after the round ended, but that was no issue.
...These humans have some quality ones mixed in. After this round, I can get promoted.
As a mid-tier demon, he could easily escape.
"What fulfilling 17 years."
He considered himself a lucky demon. Right after opening the dungeon, he'd found collaborators. Thanks to them, he'd maintained appropriate rating, steadily harvesting fear.
"After this, where next? Cerezia? The Holy Nation sounds good too."
As Ricardo indulged in happy fantasies of human terror,
he sensed a group of humans approaching.
"...Huh?"
Finally lost their minds? Without their reliable rearguard, had they gone mad?
"Hmph."
Ricardo rose unpleasantly. Just then, a knock.
"Oh?"
Ricardo hurried over. Bringing their own aperitif before the main course? Perfect.
"Welcome... What is this?"
But opening the door, he faced apprentice knights primed for battle. And they looked unappetizing. No fear on their faces—pure fighting spirit.
"...I don't see any hearts."
"Isn't the heart right there?"
"Pardon?"
Rihaton smirked and leveled his sword.
"We've come to pay your heart."