Chapter 224 – Ronye (4)

Something was different.

Sansuyu felt an indescribable sense of strangeness in the heat of battle.

“Krurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”

– Suddenly!

“Creub-?!”

With a swing of her sword, a wolf was cleanly bisected. A red line appeared between its brows, then it split vertically in two.

‘…It’s changed.’

The sensation of gripping the sword.
The feeling of slicing through an opponent.

For reasons unknown, the once-creaky movements of her swordsmanship seemed to have been naturally corrected. Her efficiency had doubled.

It felt as though she had transcended one, perhaps even two, levels of skill.

– Ooh, ooh!

Violently vibrating magic gathered on her sword. Thread-like mana rippled along its length.

A sword with an unusual shape, permeating like mist and emanating demonic energy.

The circle of swords surrounding her illuminated her vicinity brilliantly, like a Ha-hyun floating on a lake.

It seemed as though she was about to kill someone at any moment.

– Clack.

But that was only for an instant.

Sansuyu ceased her magical prowess and lifted her head. Her uniquely pure eyes, characteristic of a Suyu, blinked. She immediately sheathed her sword and crossed her arms over her chest.

‘…I must find Shi-eon!’

She surveyed her surroundings. Recalling her friend’s words, she quickly resumed moving her feet.

Her long, chick-like hair swayed with every step she took. From time to time, a sharp, stabbing pain pierced her heart.

* * * * * * * * *

Damn it.

I couldn’t help but admire myself.

‘…Why would I make someone drink urine?’

When the lascivious demon reaches S, such thoughts become possible.

I realized, through a fleeting fantasy, that the intimate encounters between men and women are not limited to simple physical acts.

I recall the days when I first entered this world, when I would plaster myself with all sorts of temperaments.

The traits displayed on my status window now accurately reveal my true nature.

Yes, you are a pervert.

– Bubbling.

The rising lust. I demonstrated a superhuman mental fortitude, teetering between two delicate states: barely resisting and not resisting at all.

Even in this state, I had once ascended to the rank of a minor Heavenly Demon.

Zodiac’s older brother. Heaven’s executioner. White Peach and the close friend of misfortunes.

My mental strength is unrivaled. Despite the lascivious demon’s rank increasing, I was able to maintain a semblance of normalcy in my life.

“Hoo.”

“…Eek!”

As I let out a sigh, a shriek escapes from Maronie.

As if waking a sleeping street cat, he looks at me in astonishment.

Why is he acting like this again? Suddenly, his gaze shifts, as if he’s looking at me as a sex offender.

Delicate lips reminiscent of tender cherries. A sense of conquest swells within me.

“Why?”
“…Uh. No. We need to clear it quickly. Wow, what will the reward be?”
“Right. Please, let’s finish it quickly.”

I’d like to help if I could. I was busy focusing all my concentration on suppressing my lustful desires.

Should I shatter the status window? I thought about it, but in my current state, it was out of the question. My focus is so scattered that I can’t perform tasks properly.

I close my eyes and imagine.

Recall the time when I was killed by the Heavenly Demon.
Fingernails torn out, organs ripped apart. The sorrowful tale of the Lesser Heavenly Demon…

Uh… beautiful girl gore?

“Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?”

Marronnier, now visibly frightened, begins to tremble.

Is that really a sacred tree? I couldn’t help but think so.

‘Strengthening temperament… So that means even that creature has been enhanced.’

In that case, it makes sense that it became a coward. The reason I’m on the verge of being consumed by lust is due to the effects of this enigmatic dungeon.

How was this dungeon created in the first place?

A dungeon within a dungeon. Not artificially made, but a naturally formed hazardous space in this land.

To be more precise, the danger of the dungeon remained, while some of the rewards were altered by human intervention.

As a result, one wrong move could lead to stepping into a perilous area. Since all the trainees are treated as B-class hunters from the moment they enter the forest guardian selection process, accidents are highly unlikely.

‘What rotten luck to stumble upon this.’

I pressed my hand against my forehead.

Intense heat coursed through me, as if my body were declaring a strike, threatening death if I didn’t have sex.

In crude terms, I’d be aroused even by a dead wolf.
It’s not me, it’s my temperament.

– Kwaaaak.

I gripped the staff tighter. There was no choice.

“Ronier.”
“Huh?”
“No rest until we clear.”

I had intended to conserve my mana, but at this rate, my body would give out first.

– Thud!

As I extended my staff, I passed by Marronnier. She stared at me blankly and then followed me belatedly.

From both shoulders, I conjured blue magical energy, creating a gust of wind.

Wind Cutter. Improved version.
Originally shaped like a crescent blade, the Wind Cutter transformed into an opaque, wedge-like form.

Though it was a beginner’s spell, its power was a level higher. Black magic was too potent to use here.

Silently, I marched forward.

– Thud!

The platform underfoot suddenly gave way, and a storm of arrows hurtled towards me.

“Hey—”

Before Marronnier’s words could echo, I quickly moved the arrow behind me.

-Screeech!

One arrow per step. The arrows collided and helplessly bent.

-Clank!

The blade that sprung up from the floor was blocked by the barrier and bent as well. A trap – one that could be avoided with just a bit of caution.

“Isn’t that too reckless?”

Marronnier approached, looking flustered.

As I turned my head without changing my posture, he subtly averted my gaze. He was discreetly keeping his distance.

Could one’s attitude change this much just because their temperament rank has increased?

I can’t say I don’t understand. I don’t even know if he has a situation similar to mine.

“Just provide support from behind.”
“…Alright.”

As I moved forward without hesitation, I soon saw the end of the corridor.

The protective magic that was present at the entrance was also applied to this door. Marronnier jumped out beside me and placed his hand on the door.

“…I’ll handle it.”

Marronnier, who remained in the back doing nothing, cautiously cast her magic.
After channeling a considerable amount of mana, it didn’t take long for the door to creak open.

-Sueuuuu.

Again, a cluster of fog began to rise from the depths.

It was a dungeon that required performing the difficult incantation twice.

A room at the end of a narrow hallway. Within it lived something of a gargantuan form.

A black snake, spanning over tens of meters, was wrapped around a massive tree the size of an apartment complex. It coiled its body around the branches extending from the tree. With its house-sized, triangular head, it lifted its hardened eyelids. The striking yellow eyes surveyed the entire room before fixing their gaze in this direction.

-Drip.

Water droplets fell from the ceiling. A pungent odor assaulted the nostrils. The floor was slick with moss, and filthy wastewater pooled in various spots. The decaying ancient tree, which had grown through the stone bricks, seemed already dead, devoid of any strength.

“…This. I’ll handle it.”
“Can you?”
“What do you take me for?”
“An Academy cadet.”
“Ah, true… Anyway, that’s correct. But I’m not weak.”

Perhaps it’s because there’s ample space. Marronnier confidently stretches out her staff, gathering mana.

As I step back to give her more room, the magical power at the tip of her staff expands.

“Zuuuu.”

The snake watches us with a quivering tongue. It seems not to recognize us as enemies yet, merely remaining cautious.

Advanced magic. Even more than that.
Her blue mana grows immense, and soon Marronnier’s lips part as an unfamiliar spell emerges.

“le. feu.”

The blue flames compress.

Mana converging more densely and powerfully toward a single point.

“lac vert!”

– Whoosh!

It traces a solid line through the air.

– Koo-gu-gu-gu!

Her magic, akin to a thin laser, seemed to graze the tree when suddenly a loud explosion resounded.

Fwoosh.

In an instant, the massive tree was dyed blue. The flames danced like waves, surging towards Marronnier’s feet.

A snake immersed in the fire let out a deafening scream.

“Keeeeek!”

Thump. Crack. The burning rotten trunk turned to ashes and fell to the ground. The snake, previously hanging from the tree, contorted its body with a bizarre sound before plummeting to the ground below.

The flames were so fierce that the snake’s form was indiscernible.

Marronnier, who had incinerated the enormous tree in a flash, firmly held her hat to prevent it from being whisked away by the wind.

The unrelenting flames refused to subside even after waiting for a considerable time.

Had I been struck by that, not a single limb would have remained intact.

‘It’s said to be an essential profession for dungeon raids.’

If a group were to gather and unleash several of these spells simultaneously, it seems the dungeon’s monsters wouldn’t stand a chance.

Marronnier returned her golem and recuperated some of her magical energy.

“Now, all that’s left is to check the reward. I didn’t expect to use 30% of my magic power just to clear the dungeon… I wish I had a potion.”

She spoke, trying her best not to look at me.

– Tak, tadak.

The fire was still burning. Had a decision been made? Despite that, I could see something moving in my line of sight.

Marronnier was distracted and hadn’t noticed. I wouldn’t have known either if it weren’t for my combat-ready body.

– Took.

As expected, something massive flew towards us. A triangular-shaped head. The snake had its mouth wide open, baring its fangs.

I grabbed Marronnier by the shoulders and pushed her behind me.

“Eek!”

“Kwaaaaaa!”

Thud.

I squeezed out magic power to halt the snake.

The snake’s head, which had been lunging with its mouth open, suddenly dropped to the ground.

Gravity. A magic associated with the deepening of wind spells, yet avoided due to its difficulty.
The snake’s eyes, motionless, contort in pain.

-Thump, thump!

As the pressure intensifies, the head collapses. Still, it doesn’t die.

I blended some magical power with the staff and struck its forehead.

-Crunch!

With a spray of red blood, the flames ceased.

“…You didn’t die. Thank you.”

Enough.

Without a word, I lowered the staff and took several deep breaths.

Please, calm down.

The area is already stiffened. I couldn’t look at Marronnier due to the battle, but it’s quite ambiguous. Keeping my back to her so she couldn’t see me, I moved forward.

We need to get out of here.

The kindly prepared reward room beckoned. The door gleamed invitingly in gold, as if urging us to enter quickly.

For a moment, I thought this was an unusual dungeon. As I opened the door, I found three damp signboards and backpacks, as well as a box inside.

“Uh… How is it? Oh, the scent in this room is nice.”

Marronier cautiously asked. Perhaps because the battle had ended, his tone had become timid again.

The reward room didn’t have an unpleasant odor; on the contrary, it was rather fragrant. I was the first to read the sign. The message on the sign read:

“[In 24 hours, you will be automatically transported to the front of the waterfall.]”

A day’s rest in this place was being offered.

Given the condition to survive for a week, being able to spend a day without being threatened was a tremendous benefit. It was clear why they had gone to such lengths to lock the door.

*BANG!*

Indeed, we could remain safe for a day.

As if to prove that, the door brutally closed as soon as Marronier entered. A latch even stronger than the two barriers we had managed to bypass now secured the door.

“Wha- suddenly, what’s going on?! Why is the door closed?”

Startled Marronnier.

“Read this.”

She took a step closer upon hearing my words and narrowed her eyes to read the passage. Due to the dungeon’s nature, it was naturally translated into her native language, so reading it wasn’t a problem.

“24 hours later. You will be automatically transported to the front of the waterfall. Enjoy a sweet rest…?”

With every sentence she read, her voice faltered, and her words were interrupted. She then looked up at me, her face visibly hardening.

She seemed terrified and stiffened.

“…Is this for real?”
“Perhaps?”

I sat down and bent my back before she could glance downwards. Whether Marronnier was claustrophobic or fearful, I was the one feeling the worst right now.

“How… can this happen?”
“Isn’t that what you dislike?”
“I-I’m sorry… That’s not it. We both need to find our team quickly, don’t we…?”

Even if you say so, there’s nothing we can do.

The moment we decide to unravel that spell, our mana will be rapidly drained. It’s undoubtedly magic that has passed through the hands of an S-class Jin Ddobaegi.

When I didn’t respond, Marronnier seemed to accept the situation and sat in a cozy corner of the room, hugging his knees.

Or should I say, he appeared to accept reality?

“…”

-Shivering, shivering.

His face had turned deathly pale.