Chapter 101 – Episode 100 – The Bond (1)

I thought escaping the dungeon would be easy. After all, we had defeated the boss monster, the ‘Ancient Ruler,’ and smashed the head of Albert Hamatan, who had taken the boss monster down for us. What could possibly be the problem? I thought we had cleared everything that could hinder our escape from the dungeon, but an unexpected tackle came our way.

“Break through!”

The place that was supposed to be the boss battle arena had turned into a place for item farming. After quickly gathering the items, we urged the group towards the side door of the boss room. This was probably the passage Albert Hamatan had used to enter, right?

It was good that we were quickly escaping the dungeon, but the problem was the subordinates that Albert Hamatan had left behind in the passage he had used. It seemed that his confidence in his subordinates’ skills wasn’t just empty talk. Although there were only about six of them, they were surprisingly strong.

If Albert Hamatan had fought alongside his subordinates as a tentacle monster, I suddenly thought our chances of winning might have been even lower.

Since he got stronger as the tentacle transformation progressed, it was a time attack situation where we had to defeat him quickly. But his subordinates were skilled, making it difficult to break through in a short time. Honestly, if we had fought him with his subordinates… it would have been difficult to win. Life is indeed a real-world experience.

“Oh! As expected, it’s all about the gear. Hey, Yurian, did you see that? When I went *swoosh!*, they went *thud!* and died.”
“…Okay, just finish them off quickly.”

Cha Hyewon swung her sword with a delighted expression, and the enemy’s spear that was blocking her was cut in two. The items that came out after defeating the boss monster were a mix of fixed items that always appeared and random items that changed. The ‘Saint Cure’ I had learned was a fixed unique skill reward.

On the other hand, the sword that Cha Hyewon had taken, the ‘Ancient Ruler’s Longsword,’ was an item I was seeing for the first time. It was probably a unique item with a very low drop rate, but it actually appeared.

【Ancient Ruler’s Longsword】

▶ Unique Weapon
◉ Increases damage based on the user’s Strength stat
◉ Strength stat +6
◉ Agility stat +2

As a unique weapon, it not only increased damage based on stats but also had a significant boost to base stats. It was a bit painful to just pass it by, but…

Irian had also gotten a pretty good item. With my skill and Irian’s item, it was okay to concede that much.

Perhaps thanks to the new item, Irian, supported by Diana, charged fearlessly into the enemies, her red hair flying. Her recklessness in taking the enemies’ attacks head-on was unlike her usual self. Of course, she was usually quite bold, but she wasn’t the type to just push through with her body. I guess she was just excited about getting the item.

【Ancient Ruler’s Armor】

▶ Rare Armor
◉ Reduces damage based on the wearer’s Strength stat
◉ Nullifies damage based on the wearer’s Luck stat
◉ Cannot be worn if Strength stat is below 45
◉ Agility +3

“This side is done!”

As expected of a pretty decent armor, she was unfazed by the powerful attacks of the enemies. Of course, we couldn’t ignore our Saintess’s majestic buffs and defensive magic that were helping her, but if the item’s performance wasn’t outstanding, such a reckless charge wouldn’t have succeeded so easily.

She had been feeling down sometimes because of the armor she had abandoned in the forgotten temple before, but this rare-grade armor she had obtained this time was a high-end item that surpassed the temple armor, so she must be thrilled.

I understand. If it were that cool-looking armor, it would be worth getting hyped up about.

As expected of ancient armor, the angular appearance of the plate armor, rather than being elegant, looked intense. I could understand Irian getting a boost from the armor, but… the way she was laughing while taking the enemy’s attacks head-on was completely insane.

…Let’s have a serious talk later. I don’t want my woman to become a masochist who feels joy from taking enemy attacks like a berserker… I don’t… wait. Masochist…? Maybe it’s not so bad…

“Yurian?”
“Ah! Right, let’s go quickly. If things went as expected, we should have arrived in the city by now, but it’s too late. What that tentacle guy said is strangely bothering me… Let’s hurry.”

Knowing how great the defense of the Magic Tower is, it’s unlikely that anything has happened to Karsilla.

The Magic Tower isn’t just a place where mages live. It’s a fortress for mages, a place solely for them.

Combat mages are the ones who run around and use magic, but ordinary mages are typical fixed artillery. It’s common knowledge that they are vulnerable to fast melee classes.

Of course, as a trade-off, they boast overwhelming firepower, but in order to show off the firepower that mages are proud of, they need to block the enemy’s approach. And the Magic Tower is the perfect environment for that, a place where they can show off their firepower to the fullest.

As a place where mages acting as fixed artillery can be most effective, the Magic Tower is covered in all sorts of defensive magic and also has the function of buffing the abilities of mages of that school. So, enemies attacking the Magic Tower have to break through the tower’s defenses while being hit by hundreds of mages who are freely unleashing more powerful magic than usual.

Even I can’t even think about it, it’s an impregnable fortress. What danger could Karsilla be in there? It should be fine… but strangely, I felt uneasy. If I think rationally, it should just be the tentacle monster’s bluff.
…It’s just a bluff, right?

“It’s the exit! Over there, I can see light!”
“Don’t let your guard down until the very end. We don’t know what kind of traps might be set up, so we’ll proceed while thoroughly guarding our surroundings. Sandra, prepare your attack magic in advance. …Irian, you go first.”
“Leave it to me!”

The way she’s running ahead so excitedly is a bit unsettling.

“Ugh!”

As expected. After dodging the sudden volley of arrows, a spear flew and hit Irian’s armor. Of course, the performance of the rare armor wasn’t something that could be pierced by an ordinary spear, but if it had hit a part not protected by the armor, it would have been quite dangerous.

“Hoo… Hehehe. Hehehehe. Not a chance.”
“……”

I need to take good care of her armor… After losing it once, she’s not in a good state.

* * *

“Long time no see?”
“Were you following me?”
“Of course. I was wondering how long I would have to keep watching, but it just so happened that you were in a dangerous situation? How was it, the appearance of the white-horse-riding queen? Was it a bit cool?”
“……Why?”
“Huh?”
“Why were you following me?”

At Karsilla’s question, Lilith put her finger to her lips and tilted her head. Why? Could it be that she still didn’t know?

“Well, it’s because you’re a vessel.”
“A vessel? I’m a vessel?”
“Yes, a vessel. The Archduke’s vessel.”
“……The Archduke’s vessel.”

Lilith smiled sweetly as she watched Karsilla repeat the words blankly, then approached and crouched down to meet her gaze.

That’s right. She must be surprised. After all, she was the vessel of the Archduke, the pinnacle of the demon race excluding the Demon King. I should push her hard while she’s still confused.

“But what’s an Archduke?”
“……Huh?”
“You said I’m the Archduke’s vessel. What is that?”
“……Do, do you really not know?”
“I don’t know.”
“……You’re an idiot.”
“Karsilla is not an idiot.”
“…….”

Lilith facepalmed. Where should she even start explaining this? She never imagined that this little kid would be so ignorant.

‘No. If this little kid doesn’t know anything… then that guy doesn’t know yet either?’

A man suddenly came to mind. That priest named Yurian. He was a strange guy. How did he know my identity, and what kind of nerve did a priest have to show against the Queen of the Succubi?

‘I should have just made him a puppet back then.’

It was a thought that sometimes crossed her mind. That day. The day she invited him into her dream. His resistance was stronger than she had expected, but she had finally broken through his resistance and was about to make him a puppet.

She impulsively let him go. Even now, she couldn’t clearly explain why she did it. It was a strange emotional impulse. Why did she do that?

Sleeping with a man was nothing special. How many men had she been with in her hundreds of years of life? Yurian? He was pretty good. He was good at it, his equipment was amazing, and above all, he knew how to excite a woman, so she had really enjoyed it.

But that was all. It was rare to find a man who was skilled and knew how to handle a woman, but they did exist from time to time. So why? Why did I let him go?

“Sister?”
“…Huh! Ah, s-sorry. What did you say?”
“What’s a vessel?”
“Ah. A vessel. Right, that’s what we were talking about.”

Lilith shook her head slightly to clear her mind, and a smile returned to her lips. Right, who cares about Yurian or whatever. Right now… after decades of hardship, she was finally about to see results.

“You know what a Demon King is, right?”
“Yes. Karsilla is not an idiot.”
“Okay, you’re smart. The beings that exist right below the Demon King are the Archdukes of Hell. They are great beings who stand at the pinnacle of the demon race, excluding the Demon King.”

Karsilla nodded. She knew. She had seen it in books. But it was strange. The Demon King and the Archdukes of Hell… they had already been forgotten.

“Aren’t they sealed?”
“Oh! Smart! That’s it! Yes, they are all sealed. But you only know one thing and not the other, right? If they are sealed, then there must be a way to break the seal, right?”
“Is there?”
“Of course. And that key is you. Do you know the meaning of your name, ‘Karsilla’?”
“…My name?”

Come to think of it, it was strange. Karsilla was an orphan. From her earliest memories, she had been an orphan. But why did she remember the name Karsilla so clearly?

Karsilla felt a sense of unease for the first time.

“Carpe Silvanus. Seize the forest… I think it’s a very fitting name. Don’t you?”
“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“So… what I’m saying is, little one, you are a universal vessel that can revive any demon Archduke. You want power, don’t you? You don’t want to feel powerless anymore. Right?”

Karsilla took a step back, and a rough hand grabbed her shoulder. Lilith’s white hand, which had suddenly reached out, grabbed both of Karsilla’s shoulders, and she spoke with a strangely gleaming gaze.

“Carpe Silvanus. I’ve finally found you. You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment. For an unimaginable amount of time, I’ve been searching for you. The key to reviving the Archduke of Lust. I was so anxious that I was almost robbed by the lackeys of the Archduke of Bloodshed. I was secretly searching, but I don’t know where they smelled it from.”
“Let, let go.”
“Little one. How long are you going to stay trapped in your shell? It’s time to end your life of being a burden. Don’t you think?”
“N, no. I’m… Karsilla is not a, not a burden.”
“Then? A cute nuisance? A pet?”
“……No! Papa… Papa said he needed Karsilla!”
“He would need you. Because you’re an important key to preventing the Archduke’s revival.”
“N, no. No!”

Karsilla’s body was gradually being pulled towards Lilith as she shouted. Her grabbed shoulders ached, but Karsilla didn’t have time to feel the pain. She had to face Lilith’s purple eyes that were shining right in front of her.

“Aren’t you tired of feeling powerless? You want power. Follow your instincts.”
“Power… Uh-huh. I hate being powerless. I don’t want to feel it again.”
“Good. The gift I gave you… you have it, right?”

A bright light poured out from her pocket. The pretty stone she had given her before. The seal stone of the Archduke of Lust was reacting to Karsilla’s desire.

“Now. Absorb the seal stone. And take a step closer to the Archduke’s seat. You’ll become the only Archduke in this world where there is no Demon King or Archdukes of Hell.”
“I, I don’t want to be a burden to Papa. I want to stay with Papa.”
“Of course. If you just absorb the seal stone… you’ll gain power. Immense power. With power, you can do whatever you want. Hurry and absorb the seal stone, my lovely vessel.”