Ruins Exploration (4)
Beatrice clutched her trembling chest and took several deep breaths. She couldn't rely on Sisilia here. She had to push through with her own strength. The first thing that came to mind was... the Newbie Guidebook.
The most important thing in a dungeon is insight. Even if you're a bit short on power, you can clear it if you grasp the situation well.
Case studies included in Volume 5.
Beatrice desperately recalled the contents of Volume 5. Various snippets flashed through her mind and vanished. 3. The trick where demons disguise themselves as familiar acquaintances.
This is it! Beatrice latched onto the relevant section and brought it to mind.
First, precisely determine their status.
Does the opponent recognize themselves as a demon? Or do they still think they're human?
In the former case, see Appendix on page 68. In the latter, the solution is as follows.
Make them realize through conversation that they've become a demon. If it turns out to be a Windsor Knight, appropriate measures will be taken.
"It'd be better to take her down now. Even Sisilia can't be that strong at such a young age."
"Don't you feel this presence?"
"Then what? Wait here like idiots? Until Sisilia rescues us? Or should I use this ring?"
As the petty argument broke out, Beatrice stepped forward.
"Betty?"
"I'll... I'll handle it somehow."
The bickering knights fell silent. A mix of shame and relief flickered through their minds. Beatrice carefully approached the soundly sleeping Sisilia. Despite all the noise, Sisilia hadn't woken.
...Is this the same as Sisilia from her childhood?
The air grew heavier the closer she got. An immense pressure weighed down on her. Was this the demon's power? Or the presence emanating from the child Sisilia herself? Beatrice couldn't tell which, but what she had to do remained the same.
"Hello."
"......"
Beatrice crouched down in front of Sisilia. The child slowly opened her eyes. Clear silver pupils gazed at Beatrice. The girl yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"......I'm Beatrice."
— Beatrice?
"Yeah. You might not know me, but I know you. You're Sisilia, right? The youngest Windsor ever, enlisting at age six..."
The child Sisilia looked up at Beatrice with eyes full of curiosity.
Good. She's responding.
— That's right.
"Can I ask you just one thing? What were you doing here?"
— Waiting for Jen time.
Jen time? ...Sisilia was always unique, even as a kid.
Gulp. Beatrice swallowed hard, carefully selecting her next words in her mind. But this time, Sisilia spoke first.
— Hey, hey. That just now... you read the Newbie Guidebook, right?
"...!"
Beatrice jumped in surprise. How did she know that? Seeing her shocked face, the child Sisilia smiled brightly. An incredibly cute smile.
— Checking if it's a demon in disguise, right? Introduce yourself first, then probe for gaps in their memory.
An astonishing judgment. In that moment, Beatrice realized Sisilia's unique insight hadn't appeared out of nowhere. And for Beatrice, it was actually good news. Sisilia's sharp mind made persuasion easier.
"Yeah. Actually, I..."
As Beatrice began to explain, the child Sisilia cut her off with an emotionless question.
— Can I ask you one thing?
"Uh, yeah. Of course."
— ...What are the three major convenience store names?
"Huh?"
Beatrice panicked. "Three major... convenience stores?"
— ...A European user? What's the best food in England?
Th-this isn't even in the guidebook. Maybe she only read the early parts.
As Beatrice failed to answer, Sisilia furrowed her brow.
— You're not a newbie, are you.
"Huh?"
There was no time to be confused. The child Sisilia, who had been lying down moments ago, vanished. Beatrice whipped around. The child, wielding a short sword, was about to slash at Rihaton's throat. To Beatrice, the moment stretched slow. She knew that cold glint in Sisilia's eyes—the look when killing demons.
She thinks we're demons...!
Beatrice didn't know why, but it was instinctive. She held up the ring and shouted.
"Look at this!"
Sisilia, lunging at Rihaton with her sword raised, glanced over briefly.
"!"
The child canceled her attack mid-air and landed on the ground.
— That's the Newbie Absolute Safety ring.
The child Sisilia tilted her head, seemingly lost in thought. Her furrowed brow relaxed. The thick killing intent faded. The oppressive presence lifting the rookies vanished too. With the face of an ordinary girl, she spoke.
— This isn't a place for kids like you.
The child walked through the rookies.
— I'll show you the way out.
Did... did it work?
Something feels off, but it seems okay.
The rookies exchanged glances and nodded. Beatrice felt uneasy too but followed. Yet a nagging foreboding made her glance back. The child reached the firmly shut door and stopped. She extended her tiny arm, wedged her fingers into the crack, and strained to pull it open.
Rumble...
Surprisingly, the massive door began to creak open. The rookies gaped in shock.
What kind of strength...
But it didn't open fully. The child had stopped midway. She turned back with an indifferent expression. In that instant, Beatrice remembered what she'd forgotten.
Do not awaken the devil's sleep, unless you wish to see him.
If the "devil" referred to the child Sisilia—then the sleep was already disturbed.
Then who is 'him'? Beatrice instantly knew.
Click-clack. Multiple footsteps.
Click-clack. Figures descended the stairs.
"M-Master?"
"......Father."
"C-Captain!"
"Viaton, the court mage...!"
"Northern Commander!"
Familiar names were called out. Known faces approached, drained of color, ashen and hollow. Beatrice's gaze fixed on one spot. At the very back.
A girl descending at a distance, her face devoid of emotion.
"......Can we really clear this on our own, Sisilia?"
Tears welled in Beatrice's eyes.
"Please answer if you can hear me."
Sisilia Windsor. She drew her sword.
* * *
Sisilia raced through the wind, pursuing the faint lingering scent of the demon.
To think it would run away.
She realized shortly after sending the rookies off that the massive presence beyond the door was a fake.
If they'd broken the dungeon rules by forcing entry, we'd have lost it for sure.
Thank goodness. She might have had to take a week's vacation to visit the Demon King's Castle otherwise—just when she didn't even have time to bond with the rookies. She needed to track the demon's movements to avoid delays in the guild opening.
Ting!
Sisilia spun several times in the air before landing. Iron chains on the ground crumbled to ash and burned away.
"Envy, envy, envy."
In the dense forest, along a carriage path. Not far off, a gloomy woman with long bangs muttered.
"Why you, you, you...!"
She's really ugly.
Bad for newbies' eye health. Better to eliminate her.
"So young, yet with such talent? Why are you so pretty and I'm not? It's unfair. Too unequal. So unfair!"
Suddenly flattering me.
Sisilia decided to listen a bit more.
"You're the villain. Some people yearn for it their whole lives, but you get it easily just because you were born lucky! No guilt? Can't feel a thing? Can't you hear the screams of people like me?"
She didn't fully get it, but the inferiority complex gave away the identity.
The Seven Deadly Sins after all. No way a mere high demon could make a dungeon like this.
The seven sins: Pride, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth. Right below demon dukes in rank.
In Another World, she was called the Wailing Wall. How many newbies had quit because of this trash?
Sisilia was already focused on "water quality control." She'd quietly culled ones with bad designs or concepts...
This Envy was the worst design yet.
"Yeah, you deserve to die. Right? If I kill bitches like you, I'll be the prettiest...!"
Envy stared blankly downward. Drip, drip. Blood leaked from her severed arms.
"Who attends Walpurgis Night among the demons?"
Envy slowly turned her head. Sisilia stood right beside her.
"Ehehehe! I got you! Got you! Idiot!"
Envy grinned grotesquely, mouth splitting wide. Her authority was Steal—once seen, she could take any skill.
"First, I'll cut off your fancy arms!"
And attach them to mine! The famous "Slaughterer"'s arms must be powerful!
Envy opened her mouth eagerly. A purple magic circle ignited on her tongue.
But—nothing changed, no matter how much time passed. Sisilia's arms remained intact.
Of course. There was nothing worth stealing.
She'd simply severed the arms with pure swordsmanship.
"Answer quickly. It's annoying."
Envy quailed in overwhelming terror. The eyes staring at her—
They weren't looking at a sentient being at all.