Ruins Exploration (3)
Sisilia had farmed demons near the capital relentlessly as a child to level up. In the process, a rumor spread among the demons using the area around Terezia as their base.
Beware the Silver Butcher!
That nickname stuck because her emotionless face and merciless slaughter of demons made her look just like a slaughterhouse worker. Demons living in close proximity could share emotions to some extent, and the same went for mimics. In short, the mimic hadn't bitten Sisilia because it was scared.
After the series of incidents, the raid party started moving again.
"Lady Sisilia. It's getting cold."
Beatrice whined, shivering. Sisilia blinked and lowered her hand. The wind that had been tousling Beatrice's hair stopped.
"All dry now."
"...Thank you for drying it."
By the goddess, if it weren't for Sisilia, she never would've gone near that treasure chest. But Beatrice couldn't voice any complaints. She was the superior! And right now, she was walking at the rear of the raid party, practically alone with Sisilia—a huge pressure. On top of that, Sisilia kept glancing at her.
Did I miss something...?
While Beatrice racked her brain desperately, Sisilia was wrestling with a completely different dilemma.
W-what should I say?
Awkward! Sisilia had conquered countless dungeons, but she'd never built rapport inside one. And so the two trudged on, each lost in their own awkward thoughts, when the knights' footsteps halted.
"Lady Sisilia. The path splits into two."
After a narrow passage, they emerged into a vast cavern with a fork. They'd come to her for advice. But Sisilia clamped her mouth shut.
Quick-witted Beatrice got it immediately.
"Figure it out ourselves...?"
"Ugh, yeah, I figured."
Rihaton had half-expected it. But with the dungeon's high difficulty, he'd hoped for cooperation.
"You heard her. Let's think it over."
"Hmm, split into two groups?"
"No. Halving our forces now would make clearing impossible."
They might have to split in a pinch, but this wasn't one.
"Hold on. Lady Sisilia said to move unpredictably."
"Now that you mention it..."
Beatrice's words jogged their memory of Sisilia's warning. But it didn't help.
"How do we move unpredictably here?"
"No clue."
There were exactly two paths. Either way seemed fine, right? Beatrice pondered too, but no answer came.
Should've studied more.
She hadn't finished the Newbie Guidebook yet.
Time to step in.
Veteran instinct. Can't hold back when it's something she knows.
"Pretend you're demons. You've built the dungeon and set traps to block intruders."
Sisilia always started dungeon clears by thinking from there. Grasp the developers' intent. Figuring out the problem-maker's tendencies was obvious.
"What would you do? Where to set traps, where to repel enemies."
"Trap every path as much as possible?"
"In a normal dungeon, sure. But ruins-type dungeons are too vast—impossible. Budget shortage."
Demons have budgets...?
The question popped into everyone's heads. But it was natural. Demons weren't gods; they couldn't create from nothing.
"So, traps on expected paths...?"
Beatrice ventured carefully. Sisilia nodded.
"Yeah. That's why move unpredictably. Demons designed it predicting humans."
"Ah...!"
The rookies' eyes widened. They'd never thought that way. Now it clicked.
"So, how to act unpredictably here?"
Back to square one. They got the principle, but execution was another matter.
"No idea."
"You don't know this either? Impressive."
"Ugh."
The knights hung their heads, speechless. Sisilia sighed, as if resigned.
"The simplest answer is always right. Remember that."
Sisilia clenched her fist. And swung at the wall.
Boom!
The wall shattered spectacularly. The rookies were speechless.
"......"
Who could've guessed that!
Even if we did, how do we follow up!
The rookies swallowed their complaints.
The first floor of the "Ancient King's Ruins" was originally riddled with traps. No matter which fork you took, traps everywhere. But Sisilia smashed through the wall—and though the curious rookies tried and failed to dent it—they reached the second floor unscathed.
"Hm. Nice armor."
Sisilia was visibly thrilled, anyone could see. She poked around curiously, lingering forever on tiny ornaments. The rookies ahead pulled away, but Beatrice couldn't hurry her. Sisilia pressing the armor with a slight smile looked too happy.
"You like ruins, huh."
"Yeah. You, Betty?"
"Me...?"
Beatrice smiled wryly.
"Honestly, I'm scared."
Sisilia tilted her head at Betty.
"You're not scared right now."
"Because you're here, Lady Sisilia."
"I see."
Sisilia walked off, hands behind her back, passing Beatrice leaning against the wall. Her face blank, utterly devoid of emotion or interest.
Of course Lady Sisilia wouldn't get it—someone like me.
Beatrice's mood sank a bit. Then Sisilia said quietly,
"Guess you'll never have to be scared again."
"Huh?"
"I'll be with you from now on."
"...!"
Beatrice's eyes widened at Sisilia's back. The petite silver-haired girl walked leisurely. Come to think of it, Sisilia always walked slow. Maybe consideration for stragglers.
Beatrice's face lit up. She ran after her.
"Yes!"
"Oddly, barely any monsters."
The exploration continued. They'd learned the ruins were bigger than imagined, and hours in, no demons or even beasts.
"Too smooth—makes me more tense."
Rihaton frowned. So far, just some weak skeleton soldiers.
"Definitely weird."
"Lady Sisilia. Is this normal?"
"No."
Sisilia shook her head.
"But hidden dungeons sometimes skip trash mobs for a strong boss."
"...This one too?"
"Scale's inefficient for that."
Sisilia nibbled her thumb.
"Likely..."
Dungeon layout grasped. No demons where wind flows. No strong beasts.
Unusual. Normal ruins dungeons layer mobs, ramping difficulty. Lure overconfident fools deep, then spike to kill.
Already evacuated?
No, Sisilia ruled that out. Demon scent too thick. Strong one in boss room for sure. One possibility left.
Overconfident.
"...One trick with all the dungeon's power focused."
"P-possible?"
"Yeah. But that trick must be absolute."
Sisilia smirked faintly.
"Getting fun."
Difficulty scaling with numbers. What trick?
Sisilia was curious.
"There! A big door!"
Finally, a presumed boss door. Stark contrast. Towering gate hard to look up at. Angel statues flanking like guards.
"Step back."
At Sisilia's word, dazed knights retreated. Shrieeek—wind gathered on her sword, pressure forcing eyes shut, arms over faces.
Then statues' eyes glowed red.
[Foolish hu...]
"Air—"
Sisilia slashed diagonally wide. Crack! The poor statues vanished without a word.
"...My god."
But rookies were shocked by something else. Statues shattering? Expected. Unbelievable: door intact.
"Tough."
Sisilia muttered, eyeing her sword.
Cheap longsword, but...
Edge chipped badly. Not breaking was lucky.
"Lady Sisilia! Writing on this stele!"
Sisilia's eyes lit up, heading over. Square stone slab with ancient script.
Zar’kesh dorai nûm vel’tah, mor’kai thul emar.
"Betty."
"Yes."
"Can read it?"
Newbie Guidebook vol. 22.
Title: Learn Ancient Tongue Fast and Easy! Beatrice had read it, luckily.
"Ah, still novice."
"Read what you can."
"Okay..."
Beatrice read haltingly.
"Awaken, devil, sleep, him...?"
"Do not awaken the devil's sleep, if you do not wish to see him."
Sisilia corrected. Rookies went "ooh."
"A-as expected of Lady Sisilia!"
Beatrice smiled awkwardly at the praise. But Sisilia narrowed her eyes.
"More studying, huh?"
"Yesss..."
Beatrice wilted. Anyway, Sisilia thought.
To demons, 'devil' means 'object of fear.' 'Him' implies respect too. Adjust the phrasing—
Do not awaken the object of fear. If you do not wish to see the one you respect.
This warning was a "rule declaration" itself. The cheapest trick. An "unavoidable contract." Basically, I warned you? You still open? No complaints then!
"Hmm. What could it mean?"
"Betty. Who's the person you respect most?"
"H-huh?"
Beatrice panicked. Sisilia dead serious.
"Th-that from my own mouth...?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
Beatrice flushed, head down, mumbling.
"Lady Sisilia."
Sisilia beamed.
"No worries then."
"Huh?"
Beatrice puzzled, Sisilia stepped back.
"I can't enter."
"...!"
"Demons slyly barred 'Sisilia Windsor' specifically."
Could break it, but no need.
Rookies panicked hard. Strongest in "Very Hard" dungeon sits out?
"Don't worry."
Sisilia closed her eyes briefly. Demon presence crouched nearby. While they broke the "trick," she'd extract info.
"You can clear it yourselves."
Rumble...
As if proving her, door creaked open once she vanished from sight. Twenty rookies entered slowly. It slammed shut unbelievably fast behind them.
Thud!
And—reality hit.
"...Clear it ourselves?"
"Fuck."
Rookies trembled uncontrollably. Overwhelming presence.
"That's a monster."
Vast hall. Center: silver-haired little girl, maybe 8, hugging a rabbit doll, sleeping soundly.
"...Lady Sisilia?"