kscans

Chapter 187 - A Terrifying Demon

Chapter 129: A Terrifying Demon

The passage was wide, about three lanes across, and roughly five meters high.

It felt quite spacious, but the six-mat jail cells lining the sides had normal ceilings, around two meters high.

I walked along the stone floor, the iron-scented wind an unpleasant presence.

"...Spotted the paint. 'H-11'."

I illuminated the yellow letters and numbers painted by the Self-Defense Force with my artificial light and reported to Aira-san through my earring.

'Mm... Alright, proceed straight and take a left at the second intersection. It's a straight shot for a while from there.'

"Got it."

I answered curtly and tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword.

I realized I was a little more tense than usual. Probably because I had a bit of a history with the monsters that appeared in this labyrinth.

Again, I took a single deep breath. I shifted my focus, releasing the unnecessary tension.

I proceeded down the passage as instructed and approached the second intersection. But the moment I turned left, Erina-san's sharp voice and my [Spirit Eye] warned me of danger.

"Enemy attack!"

"Tch!"

Faster than my brain could process what her voice and my own vision told me, I raised my sword like a shield.

A split second later, a torrent of light filled the passage. An aurora of black and red clashed with my blade, and I blocked it with [Concept Interference].

"Ngh, you...!"

Parrying it was impossible, but...

"Hraaaaaaah!"

With a vertical slash, I tore the aurora asunder, scattering it. The remnants smashed into the stone walls and ceiling, scraping away the rusted iron bars.

Beyond the dust-filled corridor, I saw two red shadows.

Bat-like wings flapped, blowing away the cloud of dust that enveloped them. Their muscular black bodies were covered in a crimson, protector-like exoskeleton, and thick, reptilian tails grew from their waists.

Their faces were smooth and featureless, with only a mouth and eyes gashed open. Two twisted horns added to their sinister appearance, and combined with the tridents they held, they looked like a child's drawing of a devil.

Though their weapons were different, I knew this monster. A creature that had turned a moment of my daily life, however unpleasant, into a living hell.

"Demon..."

'■■■■■...!'

As if in response to my whisper, the two monsters let out short growls. One of them began to charge at me.

One step, two, it accelerated, and on the third, it leaped. Spreading its wings wide, it flew, hugging the high ceiling as it closed in.

Meanwhile, the other one pointed its left hand at me and began firing a barrage of light bullets from its fingertips. It was a suppressive fire, with little aim.

Deflecting them with my armor, I ignored the one above and charged forward.

'■■...!'

The wide view of my [Spirit Eye] caught the Demon that was tracking me and changing direction.

But an iron ball slammed into its back as it turned, smashing it onto the hard floor. It should have been wary of more than just me.

Shielding my face with my left gauntlet, I used the acceleration from my [Flügel] to close the distance in an instant. I deflected the remaining volley of light bullets and entered its range.

'■■■■!'

To avoid my left gauntlet, it unleashed a thrusting attack, rotating the spearhead as it aimed for my face. I dodged by bending my forward leg, then slashed up from below, severing the demon's right arm.

Without pause, it swung its left claws, but I parried with a return stroke and slammed my left iron fist into its jaw like an uppercut.

'■■, ■...!?'

I felt its exoskeleton jaw shatter, crushing the flesh beneath. Before its airborne body could escape, I swung my blade with one right hand and bisected its torso horizontally.

Keeping it in my vision, I moved closer to the wall to check on the other one.

My concern was unnecessary. The one that had charged with its spear had been impaled through the stomach with ice and had its face smashed in by a claw.

I confirmed both demons had turned white and let out a small breath.

"Phew..."

"Sorry, I was a little late noticing them."

Erina-san said apologetically as she retracted the wire of her claw.

"No, it's fine. Do you know why?"

"They probably noticed us first and held their breath, minimizing their heartbeats. From now on, I'll use scent as the primary basis for scouting."

"I'm counting on you. And, is everyone okay?"

"I'm fine!"

"Me too."

"Good."

Still, it made sense for the enemy to notice our approach due to our footsteps, but to think they could silence themselves to that extent.

I looked down at the demon that had turned to salt and narrowed my eyes.

I no longer struggled against them like I used to, but they were certainly still troublesome opponents.

Just then, Ukon lumbered over and collected the drop item from within the salt.

It was a red skull. Not a human one. It was made of a slightly transparent, crystal-like material, with twisted horns of the same substance growing from its temples.

Their drop item, a 'Demon's Skull.' It had the same morbid shape as the one I'd obtained during that stampede.

"Aira-san, the battle is over. We're currently where you instructed, just past the left turn at the intersection."

'I see. In any case, I'm glad you're safe. Stay on your guard from here on out.'

"Yes."

I glanced at the skull as Erina-san placed it into her [Item Box].

The ability of that 'magic tool' was to store mana. Hearing that alone made it sound similar to the Alchemy Enthusiasts Club's [Magi Battery], but unfortunately, releasing the stored mana was extremely difficult and inefficient.

As a result, it was deemed unsuitable for powering golems or for being carried as a mana tank. Currently, it had no more value than a macabre piece of art.

And yet, Aira-san wanted it. Not just one or two, but a significant number of them.

I wondered what on earth she planned to make. Since the professor also approved, it probably wasn't anything strange... well. It might be strange, but it probably wasn't anything bad.

'Hmm? Kyouta-kun, were you just thinking something rude?'

"No, not at all."

'Is that so. Very well. Oh, and when you get back, would you mind playing another round of AG with me?'

"If you promise not to trash-talk at all."

'...I'll do my best.'

"This woman..."

How deeply ingrained is her need to trash-talk? She's really in a bad way as a person.

Oh, wait, she was always like that. I guess it can't be helped, I sighed and gave up.

"I'm sorry, Kyouta-kun. I don't usually play games..."

"No, no. There's no need for you to apologize, Mia-san. I don't know the point of these matches, but I'm treating it as part of the job."

'Wait. You've been playing with me with the same feeling as playing a round of business golf on a holiday...?'

"As far as AG goes lately, yes."

'Hee hee... I think I might cry.'

"By the way, I haven't been able to make a ninja mech I'm satisfied with, so I don't play that game!"

"Ah, right."

We continued through the labyrinth with its gloomy atmosphere, making such conversation.

I tried not to think about it too much, but I occasionally caught sight of unnatural black stains in the back of the cells.

A prison guarded by demons. I didn't want to imagine the kind of end the inmates met.

"Whoa, there's a strong smell of iron coming from slightly to the right of our direction of travel. I think there are three Demons lying in wait."

"Got it."

'From your position, they're probably inside a cell. To think they were once the guards, and now they're the prisoners.'

I slowed my pace and cautiously approached the group of enemies.

The sound of our footsteps echoing in the corridor clearly changed its rhythm.

"They noticed that we noticed. They're coming."

"Understood."

Just after I answered, my own eyes detected three sources of mana bursting out from the darkness ahead.

'■■■■!'

Two of them spread their wings and shot forward, hovering just above the floor as they thrust their left arms toward us.

As they fired a barrage of blackish-red light bullets from their fingertips, the third one leaped into the air and dove at us in an arc.

"Byakuren!"

"Forward!"

At my and Mia-san's command, the golems moved to the front.

Byakuren's armor and the angled shields of Ukon and his partner deflected the light bullets. Fierce sparks flew, and a hard sound echoed through the passage.

I ran up their backs and used the momentum of my jump to launch myself into the air. The Demon that was flying near the ceiling thrust its trident at me as I came face to face with it.

I parried the approaching spearhead with my left gauntlet and, as we passed each other, slashed its torso. It wasn't a clean bisection, but I could sense with my mana that the self-proclaimed ninja had finished it off without me having to look back.

Without pause, I moved to get above the remaining two, and one of them turned its arm toward me.

I dodged the incoming light bullets with acceleration and a barrel roll, then dove sharply. Using the momentum, I severed the opponent's left arm and, with a return stroke, sliced its torso in a reverse diagonal cut. I felt the blade, which went from its side to its shoulder, destroy its heart.

Immediately, the other one turned to me, drew back its spear, and lunged.

I dodged it with a horizontal spin and swung my sword at its neck. The demon tried to stop me by creating a mana barrier with its left palm, but my [Concept Interference] tore through it and the demon together.

I watched the two at my feet turn to salt before finally relaxing my stance. I checked on the other one just in case, but it seemed that fight was over as well.

"No enemy presence nearby! We're all clear!"

"Got it."

I let the tension leave my shoulders and lowered my stance.

I was now able to defeat a once-formidable enemy with such stability. It made me feel a small sense of accomplishment, a sign of how much stronger we had all become.

It wasn't good to feel that way during an exploration, but I still felt the corners of my mouth turn up slightly.

'Looks like things are going smoothly. As expected of my elite unit.'

"Thanks for that."

'Go, Invisible Ninjas!'

"Shut up."

"V!"

"Don't you cheer."

My head, which had been getting carried away with a sense of accomplishment, cooled down.

I was grateful for that, but I really wanted to change our party name. It was quietly painful that this ridiculous name had spread online and was being associated with pictures of my back.

I wanted something more normal. For example, the three of us on the field team plus Aira-san makes four. We could just line up the first letters of our last names... Something like that would be fine.

When I looked at Mia-san, she just gave a resigned look and slowly shook her head.

I decided it wasn't worth bringing up in the middle of a dungeon exploration and swallowed my words.

"Let's resume the exploration. Navigation, please."

'You got it. Do your best, Invisible Ninjas!'

"Which hand would you like me to punch you with, left or right?"

'I don't want either!?'

"Don't worry. It's just a survey."

'That's a lie!!'

───From there, the exploration proceeded smoothly.

After dealing with the Demons, we completed marking the area near the exit. After about an hour of walking through the prison-like dungeon, we arrived in an open space.

"Is this... a cafeteria?"

'Probably.'

It was as large as a gymnasium, and in the back, I could see what looked like a kitchen.

But naturally, the tables and chairs that had once been lined up were decayed, most of them scattered as debris across the floor. The kitchen area was also empty, with no fire in the hearth and no signs of life.

Did even a prison guarded by demons serve its prisoners meals outside their cells? Or were there human guards besides the demons? Either way, now it was just an eerie space.

I cleared a path for those behind me by sweeping aside the wooden debris on the floor with wind. As the light from my lantern and the golems illuminated the area, I tightened my grip on my sword.

I had no proof, but based on my experience...

"Enemies are coming. Six of them, approaching from that door over there!"

"Got it!"

Enemies often appeared. Replying to Erina-san's words, I shouldered my sword and got into a ready stance.

About two seconds later, the demons burst into the cafeteria, smashing through the wooden door. The three in the lead began to gather glowing mana in their mouths, but before they could, a stone spear and a storm of flames flew toward them.

Their chests and stomachs were gouged out, and they were burned to a crisp. The remaining three, who had entered slightly behind, separated to the left and right, spears in hand.

Without hesitation, I charged toward the group of two. I kicked aside the wooden debris scattered on the floor and took flight.

I would close the distance and cut them down in one go. That's what I thought.

'■■■■...!?'

One of the demons dropped its spear and began to struggle. It clawed at its chest with sharp talons, letting out a silent scream.

A mysterious mana began to swirl around that individual. This was...!

"Mia-san, the fog!"

"Yes!"

I accelerated, trying to behead it before 'that' could emerge, but the other one charged in, blocking my path.

It held its spear horizontally, using its own body as a shield.

"Get out of my way!"

I cut down the demon, weapon and all, with a diagonal slash—but I was a second too late.

The vortex of mana swelled violently, forcibly pushing me back.

The red-exoskeletoned demon, at the center of that vortex, had changed its form.

Its entire body was covered in a black robe. At its neck, it wore a white ruff, like those worn by nobility.

In its right hand, which looked like nothing but bone and skin, it held a black, leather-bound book, which it opened silently.

But it was what was above its neck that drew my gaze. The monster exuded an overwhelmingly powerful presence.

Its head had no skin. It was a face of exposed muscle fibers, pulsing with a blood-red mana. It had no eyeballs; an eerie red light glowed from the depths of its sockets.

Above its head, a ring of masks floated, each displaying a different expression. They were so exquisitely crafted that they looked as if they had been peeled from the faces of living humans.

Dantalion.

A great demon, spoken of in the 72 pillars of Solomon. A duke of Hell.

And, a 'B-Rank Boss Monster.'

'───, ──────'

With a voice that I could hear but not comprehend, the great demon held its book toward me.

Instantly, a furious torrent of mana assaulted me. This wasn't like the attacks from the other demons; it was a demonic blow that reached directly into the human brain.

I immediately covered my earring with my left hand to prevent damage to Aira-san. Unlike the curses of the Utuq, this was a form of 'telepathy.' The chance was low, but it could potentially reach her.

That one action meant I couldn't dodge or defend in time.

I was swallowed whole by the flood of mana, thick with malevolent thought.

Well, not that it worked on me.

"Hmph!"

'───!?'

Without slowing down at all, I closed the distance and smashed my sword down through its cranium, masks and all.

The blade bit deep, reaching its neck, and I kicked its stomach to forcefully wrench my sword free. Pitch-black blood sprayed into the air as Dantalion's body collapsed with a thud.

Just to be sure, I stabbed my sword into its heart area a couple of times and confirmed with my [Spirit Eye] that the flow of mana had completely stopped.

"Aira-san, are you okay?"

'I'm fine. I took my own precautions before sending you all into that dungeon.'

"That's good to hear."

Victims of Dantalion's brainwashing became unable to speak human language, so the fact that she could talk meant she was fine.

According to SDF intel, its victims would laugh madly while harming themselves and their allies.

I glanced over at the remaining one; that battle seemed to be over as well. The Demon, surrounded by the three golems, was being beaten to a pulp before turning into salt.

"Are you guys okay, too?"

"No—pro—blem!"

"We're fine!"

The fog cleared, and they appeared. As Ukon and Sakon collected the drop items, I rejoined them.

"Sorry about that. I couldn't take it down before it appeared."

"No, no. Safety first."

"Yeah! But since we ran into a boss monster, we should probably head back for now."

"Right."

The rules for adventurers don't change just because your rank goes up. If you encounter a boss monster, you avoid combat if possible and retreat. Even if you defeat it, you're obligated to report it to the SDF immediately.

It was a shame, as we could have explored for a little longer.

'Hahaha. It's nostalgic to think about how you were on the verge of death against that Minotaur...'

"Well, I'm just a good matchup against it, that's all."

Dantalion. Its ability was to teleport through allied demons, but its offensive methods were brainwashing and death curses—attacks that had no effect on me. Its stats were also heavily skewed toward magic, with physical abilities on par with a C-Rank monster.

It was strong, but it really depended on the matchup. One-trick ponies like that are prone to these kinds of accidents.

After collecting the items, we quickly returned using Erina-san's teleportation.

As for Dantalion's drop item, it was an object that destroyed the personality of anyone forced to wear it as a mask, making it one of the few items for which 'sale is prohibited.'

When we brought it to the store, its immediate destruction was ordered, and of course, it wasn't worth a single coin. We did get a subjugation reward, though.

It truly was a terrifying monster you wouldn't want to encounter...