Chapter 114
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Clash
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"Sir Lumen. A demon village has been spotted near the direction we're heading. What should we do?"
The Lumen party's relentless advance through the south was nearing that 'newborn dungeon' when the scouts ahead discovered a village inhabited by lesser demons.
"Tch. If they've built a village near the dungeon... does that mean they've fallen under its command?"
Dozens of years ago, during assaults on other dungeons, villages of lesser demons had invariably cropped up near the stronger ones, so Lumen clicked his tongue. After a moment's deliberation, he issued his orders.
"Ignore it and move on. We can't afford any variables. Preserve our full strength, avoid unnecessary clashes. And if we stir up trouble around here, they'll notice our infiltration."
"Yes, sir!"
They'd slain every demon they'd encountered so far, but a village this large would drag things out and risk leaking their info, so Lumen unusually altered their path for the first time.
'Phew...'
Jeanne, who'd been anxiously eavesdropping on their conversation, unwittingly let out a sigh of relief and startled herself.
'Relief...?'
Was it relief at avoiding a fight with demons...? Or just that no more seemingly innocent demons would die...?
As they detoured and climbed a low hill with the newborn dungeon nearly in sight, Jeanne turned her head for a fleeting glance at the demon village below in the distance.
"Waaah! It's already bearing fruit!"
"With these crops, we'll never go hungry again! It's all thanks to him...!"
Through senses transcending human limits, enhanced by the miracle's lingering power, Jeanne spotted ordinary demons farming and rejoicing.
'They're... all sincere.'
Perhaps due to the miracle's power within her, Jeanne could discern true intent and sincerity by gazing into eyes and hearing words. To her, those demons were genuinely thrilled harvesting each crop, praising someone.
"Sir Lumen... who do you think they mean by 'him'?"
"Likely the master of that dungeon we're heading to. From here on, it's probably his territory, so any demons settled here are safely assumed to be his minions."
"The dungeon's master..."
Jeanne rolled the words "dungeon master" on her tongue, curiosity piqued about the one those sincerely joyful demons praised.
"Sir. It's about time..."
"Mm."
And so, a lush forest loomed before the heroes who'd bypassed the demon village.
"A forest this massive...? Even the western great forest wasn't like this..."
The heroes gasped in awe and intimidation at the forest's scale upon facing it. But Lumen and Jeanne couldn't comprehend their reaction.
"Is it that big...? It's dense, sure, but not..."
"An illusion."
"Pardon? Illusion...? Now that you mention it, it felt off..."
The holy relic 'Invictum', etched into its bearer's very eyes. Its power granted unyielding mental fortitude against any spiritual assault, piercing the illusion to reveal the true forest—and the demons lurking within.
"An illusion on this scale...? Th-then I..."
Astonished by the power dwarfing the feeble demons they'd met, Jeanne hurriedly tried to invoke her own. The miracle's power could dispel illusions too...
"It's fine. Stand back."
But Lumen stayed her, drawing a dazzling blade of pure white.
The Radiant Holy Sword 'Lux'. The relic that earned Lumen his moniker 'Radiance', ranked among the empire's top ten by performance.
The moment he unsheathed it, pristine radiance gathered at the blade's tip—an alien energy distinct from knights' auras, mages' mana, or priests' holy power.
"Ooh. So that's Sir Lumen's...!!"
The heroes, entranced by the illusion, stared mesmerized at the brilliant light, revering it as divine might.
"Ngh..."
But Jeanne winced instinctively at the sight. For some reason, the miracle latent within her seemed to reject that radiant light.
And as the condensed glow, like a miniature sun, left the sword and struck the forest—
-KABOOOOOM!!!
A colossal burst of light erupted.
"Damn it. What the hell?!"
He'd just reached 50% pollution during cleaning and was checking results when it was time for the regular report. He'd been about to contact the elves patrolling the perimeter via the [Robot Vacuum]'s camera.
But the view through the camera was soon engulfed in light, and when it cleared, a shocking scene unfolded.
"M-Master! The outer forest...!!"
The demons—especially the elves—rushed in with horrified faces. The elves were probably hit hardest; they knew how vast the forest encircling the ruins truly was.
"...No way. The entire forest vaporized...?"
The forest, nature's fortress shielding the ruins' exterior, obliterated in one strike. And the elves on outer patrol... out of contact...
"...Damn it! Call in everyone on break! Contact the subordinate dungeons too! It's an enemy attack!"
Despite monitoring local threats via resident demons and dungeon merchants, this assault was utterly unforeseen. And that light wiping the forest clean in one go...
"...Th-that light just now...!!"
Alfred paled, glimpsing the white radiance seeping through the dungeon entrance. As a survivor of humans' southern demon realm incursion decades ago, he knew what it signified.
"The Hero of Radiance...!!"
As Alfred identified the intruder, some demons safe inside the ruins surged out. Especially the belligerent werebeasts—now Erzsebet's kin with glowing red eyes—mounted wolf-like beasts and charged.
"Humans! Battle stations!!"
The former southern alliance demons, now Eugene's loyal vassals via Erzsebet's blood, led the charge toward the distant humans responsible.
"Those bastards! C-ca—!"
But as they closed in, their beastly instincts gauged the human before them.
"What...?"
The werebeasts' excited faces froze cold. Too late.
-WHOOSH!!!
Lumen, sword already drawn from the blast, swung horizontally with effortless grace, then sheathed it smoothly.
-Shiiiing...
"Guh... ack..!"
"C-can't even see—!"
Werebeasts boasted tough hides and physiques over special abilities, top-tier among demons in combat—yet they crumpled in horror.
-SPLAT!!
Flesh sprayed everywhere as the reckless demons tore apart mid-form. Unbelievable for a single swing.
"Saintess. Can you bless us?"
Ignoring the fallen and the next wave glaring from afar, Lumen requested blessings from Jeanne behind him.
"...Yes."
Not fully shaken off her hesitation, Jeanne still prayed without refusing.
'Don't think otherwise. Demons I've seen might sway me, but this is a dungeon...! The true den of evil...!'
Even those who'd just charged seemed somewhat unlike the wicked demons she'd learned of. At least against dungeon foes, no need to hesitate.
-FWOOSH!!
"So this is the saintess's blessing!"
"A miracle... Heh. Nothing else to call it."
As warm light enveloped them, the heroes—who'd endured thousands of priestly blessings—were awestruck.
Not the weak ones; even the weakest here was a 3-star hero.
For such elites, priestly blessings merely boosted condition. Yet the saintess's yielded meaningful gains even for them.
"Feels like I shaved off ten years."
"Ten years? Ha! I feel stronger than my prime!"
Sensing the blessing's power, the heroes unleashed their cherished holy relics without restraint.
-SCREEEEE...!
"Punish those who defiled the forest...!"
"For our master...!"
In response, demons armed with dwarven masterpieces poured from the dungeon entrance.
Furious elves, battle-hyped werebeasts, blood demon kin with swarms of venomous bugs, newly bought monsters...
-THUD! THUD!
Dryad-empowered wood golems thrice the normal size lumbered forth, and atop one, a foul-faced high elf nocked an arrow—demons and heroes clashed.
"Come at us, filthy demons!"
"In the name of God, we judge you!"
The 3-stars led, wielding mighty relics without yielding to numbers. Lumen nodded approvingly.
"Sir Lumen... you're not joining?"
"I have other business."
Protecting the rear saintess, Lumen raised his sword, eyeing the dungeon not fully emptied.
'Three... no, four? Maybe five. That level of presence...'
Demons inside radiating power even he couldn't dismiss lightly.
And among them, surely his friend and adjutant Paulen's killer.
"Saintess. Stay close."
The safest spot on this battlefield was by his side, so Lumen ignited his radiance and advanced through the heroes' breach.
"......"
Jeanne followed, face darkening further amid the metallic blood and death wafting everywhere.