Chapter 42
Chapter 42
How many people in this world could refuse a royal proposal?
In my opinion—
you could count them on one hand.
That’s how powerful the authority of the Holden royal family was.
Even though the kingdom would fall after the Demon King’s return—
for now, bowing my head was the correct choice.
“I gratefully accept the princess’s honorable proposal.”
“A swift answer. I like that.”
So much for avoiding her attention.
But my life wasn’t over yet.
She said “candidate,” not “husband.”
That meant—
if I lost miserably at the royal tournament later,
I could escape.
Even if she looked down on me—
that was far better than the alternative.
‘There’s still a chance.’
With that, I wrapped up the situation.
There was no need to run anymore.
“Rene, let’s head down.”
“……”
“Rene?”
No response.
She kept flying.
Was she upset that I accepted Charlotte’s proposal?
I leaned closer—
“……”
Her eyes—
were empty.
Like someone under mind control.
“…Damn it.”
Someone had taken control of her.
Even bypassing a dragon’s resistance.
I tried to cast dispel—
“Ugh?!”
Suddenly—
she dived.
Fast.
Like a jet.
No time for dispel.
I switched spells.
“Princess! Hold on!”
“Understood.”
I cast anti-gravity—
and wind cushions.
Just in time.
Crash—
we survived.
“…We’re lucky this is a clearing.”
Charlotte landed perfectly.
Of course she did.
Meanwhile—
“Ugh…”
Rene shook her head.
Back to normal.
“W-what? Why am I on the ground…?”
“Looks like you don’t remember.”
“…Why are you stuck in a bush?”
“…Whose fault is that?”
She tilted her head.
Clueless.
Not her fault.
Whoever controlled her—
was the problem.
“We’re going back to the city—”
“Wait.”
Charlotte stopped me.
“Look there.”
A black mansion—
hidden among trees.
“…What is that?”
“Most likely the one who controlled the dragon.”
“…That makes sense.”
I didn’t want to go.
But if Rene got controlled again—
it’d be worse.
“Rene, wait outside.”
“I want to come too…”
“You’re too big. Just wait.”
“…Okay.”
We jumped the wall—
and entered.
Through a window.
Safer than the front door.
Inside—
empty.
Only a painting of a demon.
Dusty.
But the floor—
clean.
“That’s strange.”
“Yes…”
Abandoned house—
but clean floors?
Something was off.
We checked the hallway.
Same thing.
Clean floors.
Dusty paintings.
“Princess, I don’t like this.”
“Agreed—”
Click.
The floor—
split.
Everything collapsed.
The entire building—
was a trap.
“AAAA!”
We fell.
I tried magic—
but it failed.
“Use your sword!”
Right.
I stabbed the wall.
[Ughhhh!]
Scraping—
slowing—
we descended safely.
“…Thanks.”
“Just an idea.”
[And what about me?!]
Ignored.
We looked around.
Stone walls.
Torches.
Underground.
And then—
it clicked.
“Princess… I think this is a dungeon.”
“A dungeon?”
“An ancient demon dungeon.”
Before demon territory existed—
demons built seven dungeons.
Each tied to a sin.
“Seven…?”
“Yes.”
Each had a theme.
I didn’t know which one this was—
until—
“Can this help?”
She held up—
a stick.
No.
Not a stick.
“…Oh, f—”
It looked like—
exactly that.
I grabbed it—
snapped it—
destroyed it.
“Cursed item. Don’t touch.”
“Oh… I see.”
Crisis averted.
But now—
I knew.
This place—
belonged to Asmodeus.
The demon of lust.
A dungeon full of…
those kinds of traps.
And I was here—
alone—
with Charlotte.
‘If she awakens here…’
I’m dead.
Not by monsters—
but by her.
“…This is bad.”
Very bad.
My life-or-death battle—
had just begun.