The Ritual Completes
I couldn't just leave the half-and-half hair as it was—it stood out far too much—but dyeing it would blur the concept. After some desperate acting, I smeared dye into my hair, packing every motion full of irritation.
Only Luquan stood at my eye level, so I had no choice but to stop for a moment; that part is a side note. Dev let out a huge sigh of relief.
"The dye should take effect in about thirty minutes. Once it's set, it ought to last until roughly dawn. Ah, while we're at it, let's change clothes too."
"But Sir Knight……"
Since we had stopped anyway, they also changed into the clothes meant for the disguise. In an instant, four slaves and three guards were born.
Me? Absolutely not. Dyeing was a safe zone, but a slave disguise or a demon-worshipper-slash-guard disguise would collapse Demon Knight character immersion culture. Especially the latter.
"Then as planned, we'll take the lower areas."
Anyway, the last task we had put off was finished. We hurried to the end of the secret passage and each recalled our assigned missions.
The Inquisitor and Dev, along with the four thieves, would roam the city finding and dealing with sacrifice sites and dens. Luquan and I would search the main castle to kill the big shots, including Bipurit.
A perfect division of roles. Though we still had to add that we did not know the exact locations of the targets, and none of us knew how the city or castle interior had changed.
"Sir Knight, you seem to have a constitution that magic doesn't take well to. Looking at how your hair color still hasn't changed."
Dev looked like he wanted to follow this way, but if one person was to come along, a native who knew the geography was better.
So Luquan, who ended up stuck with me, quietly spoke. She probably wasn't expecting an answer; it was closer to a monologue.
It was something I was curious about myself.
Why the hell isn't my hair color changing? Kimchi Dumpling's started turning reddish-brown from the roots the moment the time came.
"Let's go right away."
Anyway, she guided me out of the secret passage. She didn't even glance at the map that the rearguard and the guard captain had put their heads together to make.
As if it already lived in her head, she found the correct path, weaving through the corridors.
"I worked here before the city fell, so I know the main castle geography somewhat."
I hadn't asked, but it was appropriate small talk. I had figured she must have complete memory or something of the sort.
"Of course, I don't know what those damn demons have changed."
In the meantime, Luquan easily picked a door that looked locked and led me inside.
Slick. The door locked without a sound, and soon footsteps continued into the corridor we had just left.
Tap-tap-tap.
Thanks to the detection skill I knew something was approaching, but this kind of evasion method was a first.
The skill of hiding fluidly, then leaving the room the moment the footsteps passed, was not that of someone who had only done it once or twice. Well, I had no intention of making an issue of it, and since I was receiving help I just wanted to give a thumbs-up.
"Oh no."
But no matter how excellent a thief she was, she could not casually roam the castle without investigating patrol routes or times.
We ducked into a room to avoid the chained servants. Both of us had ridiculous builds, so cheers to the wardrobe that accepted us both at once.
The ones who came in a few steps later starting to tidy the sheets was absolutely not cheers. Was this room in use?
"Who was in charge of Lord Bipurit's room today?"
"No one. Starting yesterday, he said not to send anyone up. Didn't you hear?"
"Oh, oh. Really?"
Still, there was something to gain, thanks to the servants starting to chatter while cleaning the room.
Though calling it chatter was a stretch—it was closer to laments that today they would manage to hold on, with lives that could fly away any moment. Voices soaked thickly in sadness, terror, and resignation mixed with the sound of dusting.
Around then my eyes met Luquan's. It had only been a day and a half since we started coordinating, but I felt I knew what that gaze meant without words.
Luquan's fingers spread wide, then slowly folded from thumb to index to middle.
"When we went to clean, there wasn't another corpse, right……"
And when the last finger folded.
Clunk!
"……!"
"Guh—!"
We burst out of the wardrobe and subdued the servants one by one.
When one pitch-black man and one pitch-black Shagi charged, both of them trembled as if about to faint. Honestly I think it is fortunate they did not pass out.
If it were me I would have absolutely fainted.
"Shh. We're not enemies."
While I firmly covered their mouths so no screams escaped, Luquan gently started soothing the servants.
"We've come to kill Bipurit and the demons, and reclaim the castle."
That was quite effective. The servants' eyes went wide and they quieted their voices. No longer looking like they would scream, I slightly loosened the hand covering their mouths.
"Then may I release my hands? Please promise you won't scream."
Only after getting that promise. The two servants were freed from our hands and weakly gasped for breath.
"Y-you two……"
"We're from outside."
This part was better handled by Luquan than me.
I accepted that early and stood near the door, to stand watch in case someone approached while persuading.
If I ignored the conversation as much as possible and listened to the corridor, the impression that it was still silent came first.
"…so I'd like to know Bipurit's location or where other important figures are staying. Or somewhere they're conducting something."
Meanwhile the interrogation continued. The hesitant servants finally squeezed their eyes shut and started speaking about a minute later.
The information we needed to prioritize started pouring out.
"We should've brought at least one more this way. Then we could've sent a messenger to inform the others too."
Well. That might have been difficult because the messenger's life would be too dangerous.
We just luckily had not run into them, but there was a high chance demons were also roaming here. The counterexample was the unidentifiable filth smeared all over the path we had come.
"Anyway, Bipurit is staying in the room the lord used as is. I know that location, so if we can just get through the guards somehow."
Things were going smoother than expected. I felt a slight unease about that and also harbored the opposite impression a bit.
Roughly thoughts like If the path is this easy, it means the boss is filthy hard. We're screwed. Or anxiety that something to sucker-punch us was prepared.
But just because I am anxious, can I not enter? As a head-in pot, if you only run, that dungeon can never be cleared.
"We're moving."
"I'll guide."
Judging we had gotten all we could from the servants, we left right away.
Showing a bit of sincerity to those who cooperated—though it was just a little food; their cheeks were so hollow it bothered me—was a bonus.
"As expected, the upper floor security is quite strict. From above here, unless we climb the walls, we'll inevitably run into guards."
Anyway, based on the info we got, we aimed for the lord's room. There had been a secret passage connected to the lord's room, but upon checking, that side had already been demolished.
Now we had no choice but to break through raw.
"What will you do?"
Well. It was not a stealth and assassination game, and I had not expected to reach the lord's room with perfect concealment, but……
I clenched and unclenched my fist, leaving my itchy right arm.
"Take care of your own body."
"Pardon?"
"From here, I go alone."
I had seen the map too, and I knew where the lord's castle was, so a guide was no longer useful. On the other hand, Luquan did not seem like she would be much help in combat.
Even if Luquan was there, the chance that assassinating Bipurit would really be done stealthily seemed low. After all, the opponent was a guy who had teamed up with demon worshippers and eaten the city.
He would definitely have prepared, and that would turn into a disturbance. Then it was right to leave Luquan, who was disadvantaged in a free-for-all.
"…Understood."
Fortunately Luquan was not the stubborn type, nor the type who thought she had to be together. She melted into the darkness in an instant.
Now it was my time.
The dumplings were performing missions in the city anyway, so causing a ruckus in the castle would not harm them.
"Looks like the young master finally made a move."
The torches rising throughout the castle were perfect for announcing the anomaly. Deathbringer, approaching the slave pens, clicked his tongue.
"Seems he found Bipurit."
"More like he just charged in before finding……"
"What did you just say?"
"Hurry and change your clothes. No more need to pretend to be a slave."
"…Alright."
He drove off the wall-like guy with words and immediately stuck to the slave pen.
"You are……?"
"Just wait a moment. We've come to rescue you."
It was a location they had barely learned after even acting as escaping slaves and the guards capturing them, and time barely bought by throwing sleeping powder bombs at those standing watch.
No time to space out. Did not know when the sleeping powder's effect would end.
"You've come to save us?"
"Saving everyone is impossible for now."
Even those skilled at infiltration found it hard to move quietly avoiding the zombies roaming the city. If more people were added here, it would absolutely be impossible.
He clarified that point and started explaining. Fortunately among those captured as slaves there was someone who could be called a leader, so conversation flowed smoothly.
"So, I'd like to ask a favor……"
"Don't worry. I'll cooperate fully if it's to drive out these damned demons……!"
"Good. Then for guiding, we need someone to switch positions with this person……"
"I'll do it."
Deathbringer glanced at the one volunteering as leader. Beard left to cake with mud from no time to shave, and greasy curly hair.
Typical of Yabad Region people, so it should not be hard to follow. As proof, among those in slave clothes the one with the most similar build was already preparing the disguise. Just attach a beard and it would not show much.
"Alright, that gentleman will pretend to be you. Please cooperate, people around."
"Don't worry."
"More than that, earlier you said you'd burn the ritual site?"
Clank.
Deathbringer finally picked the lock of our door and opened it.
"What about it?"
"There's a bigger problem than that."
"What is it?"
"They summoned a dragon. Not only that. Something—they're conducting an additional ritual in the castle. From what I heard, a spell to awaken some Great Demon—"
The lock in his hand dropped to the floor with a plop.
"What?"
"Ene—cough!"
Noisily, yet quietly.
I advanced slowly, killing every bastard in the corridor. It was less than thirty minutes later that the corridor with the lord's room became my final path.
"Take up arms! Enemy!"
Already too late. I grabbed the nape of the one standing watch in front of the lord's room and crushed it.
Gradually corpses seemed to be discovered and a ruckus rising, but that could not be helped. I could only pray that as attention focused on me, the watching eyes draped over the city would loosen.
"Evacuate Lord Bipurit immedia—"
My foot crossed the corridor vertically and in an instant smashed one into the wall.
When the mana-infused foot hit directly, the waist not only bent but slammed into the wall; bones and innards not only crushed but skin burst, pouring some blood.
But cruelty or whatever, three more left. My hand knocked away the approaching sword and grabbed that guy's neck in reverse. With a crunch the broken neck bone turned that body into a giant lump of meat—or a weapon.
Thud!
When the neck-broken body cut through the air, two guys bounced away limply. The next thing I had to do was just stick a knife into the necks of the two fallen guys.
Boom!
Before support could come, the door toward the lord's room opened. And……
"Oh my, oh my."
Clap. Clap. Clap. Clapping sounds like air bursting flowed out from the darkness. An ominous feeling grabbed my ankle.
"A more premature visit than expected. I heard the news that the sacrifice might come this way the day before yesterday."
I trusted that intuition greatly, so I tried to move my feet right away.
Of course, whether a traitor had already snitched or whatever, the other side had known of my intrusion long ago. Moreover, instead of fleeing he had waited for me to come while even acting normal.
That was by no means good news.
"Still, it's complete."
But it seemed already too late. From under my feet, to that corridor. Red, and red again, light that seemed it would finally turn black like ink started flowing as if sweeping even the castle walls.
Similar to the sewer time.
"It's time to stop wandering, Gretchen."
Fuck, getting hit by this twice. At least this time no chains popping out is a consolation? Huh?
"We've done this much for you—you won't fail to swallow the vessel, will you?"
Consolation my ass. Being constrained in movement against my will was nasty even the second time.
Moreover back then there was at least the clear substance of chains, but now nothing visible yet I am bound. A very unpleasant thing.
"When I wake……"
Thud, and finally my knees buckled.
"I'll pulverize you first."
I had not even lowered my eyelids, but jet-black darkness like flowing paint covered my vision.
What a boring thing to do.
Curse!
Crash.
Suddenly a sound of something shattering faintly reached me. Blackout.