Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: 5-Star Employee
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Unlike when I hired Rio, I had expected points to be deducted for hiring an [Employee]. Even so, with the solid points left over from selling Baikal, I didn't hesitate much and went ahead with it. But who would've thought ten thousand points would vanish in one go?
But after seeing the [Employee Info] that appeared next, I understood.
'A 5-star employee out of nowhere...?'
The highest grade in the Cleaning Game's [Employee] system. They could equip every piece of gear except for max-level player-only items and be deployed without restrictions to any cleaning zone!
...Sure, it was just cleaning, so it sounded a bit plain. Whatever.
'The race field is obviously new... and all the talents are ones I've never seen before?'
The [Talent] entries, which increased one by one from 1-star (★) up to 5-stars (★★★★★). All four [Talent] slots for a 5-star were packed with completely unfamiliar ones.
Blood Demon Tribe or whatever... but looking at these abilities, she's clearly a vampire. Some similar race, probably.
"Master. Did you perhaps do something just now?"
"Huh? Why?"
"It's hard to explain... but it feels like another bond has formed between you and me. Did you use some kind of contract magic?"
I was blankly staring at the [Employee Management] tab when Erzsebet suddenly said something chilling. Had she noticed the [Employee] system? Rio hadn't said anything like that.
"Hm. Just my imagination? I didn't sense any flow of demonic energy or mana..."
Even Erzsebet, who had brought it up, didn't seem entirely sure, but it still gave me a slight chill. So the Cleaning Game's abilities could be found out... I need to be more careful from now on. It sucked that more points than expected were gone, but... regretting what's done is pointless... ugh. Still sucks.
Anyway. Time to check what I meant to.
'Status recovery.'
-The target's status is normal!
'...? What do you mean? It clearly says <Thirst> right here.'
-The target's status is normal!
'Fuck.'
I spent ten thousand points, and recovery doesn't work? Fuck, my precious points... No, don't regret it. Think of it game-wise. Ten thousand points for a 5-star employee? Total lucky break... ha.
"So, Master. What do you plan to do from now on? Now that you've made this lady your servant, do you intend to conquer the world?"
Conquer the world? I can't even get out of here.
What to do next... In the end, I hadn't gotten any useful info from Erzsebet, and the fact that I couldn't leave here hadn't changed.
Just in case, while gathering points, there was that nagging [Main Quest] system, so for a while, I'd have no choice but to keep cleaning while searching the ruins interior at the same time. But more than anything...
"I'm sleeping."
"...Huh?"
"I'm sleepy. Going to bed."
"Yaaawn... I'm sleepy too, Master..."
I just want to rest. So much happened today. I'm really beat...
I did tons of cleaning, survived multiple near-death experiences—mentally exhausting—and even though I healed her, Rio had gone through hell today too. While I talked with Erzsebet, she was already nodding off.
"Hm... yes. Rest is important. Understood, Master. Then tomorrow..."
"What are you talking about? You're on night watch."
"...Master?"
"Hurry. That direction seems like the entrance. Check if anyone's intruding."
"........."
She was half-asleep just now—what, trying to rest again? Go stand watch.
"A master without blood or tears..."
Grumbling about her master who had really kicked her out while the two slept, Erzsebet still faithfully followed orders. She patrolled the corridor toward the entrance as Eugene commanded.
Even as she slowly walked the hall, she tried to sort her jumbled thoughts.
'My name is Erzsebet... Did I have a family name? I can't remember. A member of the great Blood Demon Tribe... and a king...? Or maybe I served someone.'
Her name, race, ways to wield power, and general knowledge remained, but her various memories were a tangled mess that wouldn't surface.
'...I fought someone... Who was it? Did I win? With injuries that bad... did I lose? And to recover, I came here... What is this place?'
As she organized her foggy mind and headed to the entrance, Erzsebet halted her thoughts.
"...The scent of living life."
From the space's entrance, the smell of living beings... humans, no less.
"This seems like the place, right?"
"Yeah... What kind of architecture is this? It's not a real dungeon, is it?"
"Dungeon? Nah. Cowards got wrecked by some strong demons and are making excuses calling it a dungeon to save face."
Outside the entrance to the ruins where Eugene had washed away a bunch of hunters with the [High-Pressure Cleaner] earlier, more hunters had swarmed like hyenas. They picked up gear scattered on the wet ground.
"Heh heh heh, idiots... Leaving their gear behind, no matter what."
"It's their fault for abandoning it, so no complaints if we take it."
Gear and consumables lost to the massive wave. Items the hunters fleeing Eugene hadn't grabbed. And for Eugene, who couldn't exit the ruins, they were like a picture of unattainable treats.
Lusting after those items, these hunters had sneaked away while the others retreated en masse, aiming to grab a big haul from what they called "the ruins." They happily scooped up the loot until one glanced carelessly at the still-open ornate door.
-Chilling!
"Hiii?!"
From the door where no one had been moments ago, a silver-haired woman with porcelain-white skin stared at them with eerie blood-red irises.
"What? What's wrong? ...A demon?"
The hunters rushing over at their comrade's scream spotted Erzsebet too. They instinctively knew she wasn't human from her slightly pointed ears and the sharp fangs peeking between her sighing lips.
"...What do we do? Even if half of what those guys said is true, we're fucked, right?"
"Hey! Look closely. They said it was a black-haired half-breed! Does that woman look like a half-breed... let alone a guy?"
"Then what is she...?"
"Probably just some demon wandering around here."
Having scanned around in case the strong half-breed their comrades mentioned was nearby, the hunters saw no other demons besides the silver-haired woman. They exchanged glances and grinned sleazily, drawing weapons.
"Heh heh... What a jackpot."
"Look at that face. Fuck... I'm fucking her first, no question."
"Don't kill her. She's worth a fortune. We gotta capture her alive."
"Ugh... she's too hot. Damn. That kid we missed earlier would've been nicer."
The moment they realized she was a lone demon, they seamlessly shifted to "hunting" mode without anyone leading.
Of course, Erzsebet couldn't miss that vibe.
"Hoo... It's been quite some time since I slumbered, yet humans haven't changed a bit."
"Hey. What'd that woman say?"
"Why's she talking like that? Totally haughty... ugh..."
"Don't let your guard down. She looks skilled enough since she's out alone."
One guy showed a sane reaction, but most hunters approached Erzsebet casually, not too tense. In their common sense, a demon without proper gear or signs of trained physique didn't seem threatening.
But as always...
The ones without gear are the most dangerous.
-Pshk!
"...Huh?"
A sound like something shooting fast. In an instant, a red beam flashed from the darkness, and one of their comrades crumpled.
"Pitiful men."
"Wh-what?! Did you do that, bitch? What... mmpf!!"
Blood pooled at the feet of a hunter glaring with wide eyes, sword aimed at Erzsebet. It morphed into a noose, binding him tightly. He thrashed to break free, but even when comrades tried slashing the blood snare with swords, it held.
"Yes. Normally, it wouldn't break like this. Hm... What did my master..."
"You demon bitch!!"
As Erzsebet admired her restraint, hunters charged from both sides, swinging axes.
-Clang!
"Wh-what?"
"Magic...?"
A translucent red barrier had enveloped Erzsebet, blocking the attacks. The hunters pounded it relentlessly, but no matter how hard they swung, not a single crack appeared on the barrier.
"Hm... The barrier's normal too. What trick did he use?"
"M-monster!!"
Finally realizing the demon before them was beyond their league, the hunters tried fleeing, abandoning their fallen and bound comrades. But the ground beneath them turned red first.
"Wh-why's the ground...? Gahk!"
"Wh-what is this?! Gyaaaah!!"
-Pffftbbbt!!!
Blood spikes erupted from the reddened earth, piercing the hunters like paper. Their bodies convulsed on the spikes, then withered dry and collapsed.
"Sp-spare me! We just came to grab the loot our comrades ditched!"
The last survivor—the one first snared—begged desperately, but Erzsebet's gaze was ice-cold.
"Lewd eyes, vulgar words... yet you talk well."
"Th-that was..."
"And from the start, my will doesn't matter."
She formed a massive blood scythe from the corpses' blood and declared.
"My master ordered me to guard this place... so I merely obey."
"M-master...?"
Eugene had just said check for intruders... but to Erzsebet, it meant slaughter them all.
'Fuck. Fuuuck......'
The man, frantically signaling a flare for rescue with his free hand, felt inevitable death.
Surrounded by the stench of blood, as the alluring demon swung her scythe, he realized everything.
The strange structure in the forest. Strength that felled even heroes. A demon calling someone "master" and serving. This place was...
'A real dungeon......'
-Slash!
The last survivor's head flew off, and the signal flare carrying his final message clattered limply to the ground.