Celestia's Unleashed Rampage
Celestia launched her assault. For the first time, a non-human monster—one I'd raised myself—had joined the ranks of Black Raven. Her race: the Succubus Empress.
She was originally 2-star.
In the early game, she was little more than a low-tier monster. Bottom of the barrel among succubi. But now, Celestia's rating had climbed to 7-star. She'd reached the third-highest tier in the game: mythic grade.
I poured a fortune into her.
The reason a mere 2-star like Celestia had risen to 7-star? Pay-to-win, plain and simple. I strengthened her with cash, bought her top gear with more cash, and turned her into a powerhouse. Someone might ask why I'd whale on a 2-star character like that. The reason? Obvious and straightforward.
Because Celestia was the hottest.
Among succubi who could land at least basic attacks, her illustration was the sexiest by far. That's why I raised her. It was an irresistible male instinct.
But why...?
Why were Celestia's Shadow Hounds here? If this was the Black Raven I remembered, her hounds couldn't have emerged from a dungeon. I'd personally sealed Celestia away—how could her monsters be here?
Sealed away, yeah... meaning deactivated.
The measure to deactivate a character and render them unusable. It wasn't out of spite toward Celestia. The real reason was those things: the Shadow Hounds. That was the official name of the monsters wreaking havoc right now.
They had cheat-level traits in the game and could only be acquired through pay-to-win summons.
"Gaaah! S-save me!"
"Grahhh!"
The shadowy beasts poured into the mine with savage roars. Red eyes gleaming, fangs bared, they tore into slaves and overseers alike without distinction. Razor claws shredded flesh; jagged teeth crushed bone. Blood sprayed in all directions amid agonized screams, chunks of gore scattering everywhere.
Terror-stricken people fled desperately, but they couldn't outrun the hounds' speed.
"S-stay back! You scum, do you know who I am?!"
The black mage who'd arrived at the mine today screamed in horror. His trembling hands desperately chanted spells, but they had zero effect on the hounds. Of course not.
Those bastards block magic.
They weren't pay-to-win trash for nothing. Magic block was cheat enough, but their true value lay elsewhere.
"You mongrels! Gaaah!"
He resisted fiercely, but the black mage was soon surrounded and mauled. Screams echoed through the mine as flesh ripped and bones snapped. Then, silence.
The hounds that took him down growled in satisfaction. They let out eerie cries, their bodies swelling before splitting in two. One hound became two.
Proliferation!
That was the other reason they were called cheats. No cooldown on summons, and as long as there was darkness, they could multiply infinitely. Add magic immunity, and they were practically invincible.
Overwhelming as they were, I'd sealed them for a different reason.
They took up character slots.
In Conqueror of Another World, there were endless characters to collect. But slots to own them were limited. Even whaling to expand slots had caps. Strangely, these Shadow Hounds—summons—still occupied character slots. Infinite proliferation, hard to kill... how do you manage that horde? So I sealed them.
As bound items, they followed their master into the dungeon seal when I deactivated Celestia.
But they're right in front of me now. Only one explanation.
Celestia's seal was broken.
"......"
I had no idea why. Sure, this was reality now—no character slots, even if they multiplied endlessly. But that wasn't the issue.
I absolutely cannot run into Celestia.
I'd sealed her for my own gain. Fine in a game, but now? She was real, alive—thinking, feeling, emotional. Would she just let the leader who sealed her slide? Especially when I wasn't even a full leader anymore?
This is insane.
The hounds showed no sign of stopping their slaughter. Flickering red eyes in the dark, blood-soaked air, ear-splitting screams and roars...
"This is driving me nuts!"
I knew Celestia's seal was broken. But why were her hounds in the underground mine?! No matter how I racked my brain, it didn't add up.
No way this is the investigation, right?
I'd definitely ordered Black Raven to investigate the underground mine.
Nah, no way...
Celestia's hounds—as Black Raven members—were turning the mine into a total warzone so naturally, it threw me off. I almost wondered if I'd ordered destruction instead of investigation.
Still, not all bad.
Whatever the case, the chaos worked in my favor. High stakes with lives on the line, but it opened a window to slip away.
Back off quietly.
I scanned the situation and retreated slowly. The scene ahead was hellish: blood-smeared floors, scattered corpse chunks. Fortunately, others' screams drew the monsters' eyes. I edged backward bit by bit—
Squelch.
Something soft and squishy on the floor crunched underfoot.
Shit.
Someone's severed arm. The carnage had flung body parts this far, and I'd stepped on it.
Grrrrr...
Naturally, eyes turned my way. One hound curled its lips at me, fangs dripping red.
"This is a plot twist I didn't see coming."
I calmed myself. Maybe it liked me?
Grrr...
Look at that smile when it sees me. Clearly fond of me. Yeah, totally.
I snatched up the severed arm from the floor.
"Wanna... try this?"
"Kyaaak—!"
Guess it doesn't like cold cuts? It slashed with claws extended. A split-second slower, and it'd be my hand in pieces instead.
Black Raven flashed in my mind.
Who the hell unsealed her?!
In the game, only I could've deactivated her.
The vice-captain maybe?
Back when I played, there was no vice-captain role. But to add realism to the organization, I'd assigned ranks and titles. Excluding me, the leader...
Then it has to be the High Council.
Who was on the High Council? Too long ago; memory fuzzy.
I wanted to think, but time wasn't on my side. The hound, losing interest, closed in.
Now, a choice.
I summoned the status window before my eyes.
Captain, please issue your desired command.
I could command Black Raven through the status window. Reveal I was the captain now and beg for rescue? Might save my skin this instant.
Can't guarantee what comes after, though...
But survival first, right? Yeah, no brainer. No guarantee dying sends me back to Earth.
I moved to issue the order—too late. The hound was right in front of me.
Grrrrrr...
Drool dripped from its maw.
"......"
Up close, even grosser. Blood stench assaulted my nose. Fear froze me; cold sweat poured. The pressure choked my voice.
The hound loomed, jaws wide toward my face.
Lick.
"?"
No fangs—just a rough tongue slathering my face wet.
* * *
"Everything is proceeding normally."
Black Raven's vice-captain, Ariel, read the report aloud.
Celestia's unleashed Shadow Hounds were demolishing the principality's magic stone mines. With those—their main revenue source—gone, it was a fatal blow to both principality and empire.
Ariel was pleased she'd executed the leader's first order flawlessly. But Walter still wore a troubled frown.
"Of course, making them pay is good."
The Arcadia Empire had been sniffing around Black Raven's tail. A mere empire, paying in real-time with their mines' destruction.
"But unsealng Celestia feels... off."
Indeed. It was like releasing a tiger to catch a rabbit.
That worried Walter. Pure combat power? Celestia was top-tier. Yet the leader had sealed her. Must've had reasons, whatever they were.
And recently, Ariel had lifted the seal.
"No need to worry, Walter. Her hounds are completing the mission admirably."
True—Celestia was smashing the principality's magic stone mines as ordered.
"I see. Well, her loyalty to the captain is unmatched, after all."
Ariel smiled faintly at Walter's reply.
Celestia, the succubus who'd risen to her position on the leader's grace, still called him "Master" despite his seal—and showed unwavering loyalty.
A brief silence passed between them.
Walter decided to drop his needless concerns. Ariel was vice-captain, after all. Even he had to respect the hierarchy. That's what kept the organization running. If it crumbled, so would the command structure. If members ignored the leader and the High Council rebelled, was it even an organization?
Besides, Ariel's loyalty to the leader was something Walter knew well.
As if struck by a thought, Walter rose slowly.
"Walter, are you heading out?"
"Just getting some air. Might check on the hounds while I'm at it."
His sharp eyes softened as he answered.
"Please take care."
"Hah, who could harm this old man?"
Walter chuckled. Old or not, he was a Sword Saint. And the sword from the leader wasn't ordinary. Who'd dare?
"Then at least let me—"
"No need. I'll be off."
He waved and left.
"......"
With the leader vanished—essentially semi-retired—Ariel had offered Walter High Council or elder roles, but he always refused. Nothing to be done.
No regrets, though. Just as she was loyal to the leader, so was Walter. And now the leader had returned. That must be why Walter insisted on going out.
"Safe travels."
Her voice echoed in the empty space.