Chapter 18
Returning to my room, I sat on the chair and thought.
“Why did I fail?”
Was that demonkin not the boss I had to defeat?
Is there another enemy besides the demonkin?
If there were simply more enemies, there would be no reason for it to be a failure.
But since it ended in immediate failure the moment I killed the demonkin, it must mean that demonkin is an opponent I shouldn't kill.
Was she an ally then? Something like that.
“But she ambushed me out of nowhere.”
If my reaction had been even a little slower, I would have taken a sword to the neck and died.
Anyway, it seemed clear that I shouldn't kill the demonkin.
After replenishing some hydration and recovering my willpower, I immediately re-entered the 2nd Floor.
I passed through the platforms, climbed to the top, and defeated the Minotaur.
Coming down from the tower and returning to the Starting Point, I entered the Forest.
This time, I kept a thorough watch on my surroundings.
Because one wrong move could send me straight to the afterlife.
Right around the time I thought she'd pop out from somewhere around here...
I felt a presence in the bushes to the side.
I was able to catch it because I had all my senses on edge.
I stopped walking and stared at the bushes.
A moment later, something dashed out at high speed and attacked me.
Clang!
I deflected the attack with the sword I was holding.
I immediately stepped back and shouted.
“Wait a minute!”
The demonkin also paused and looked at me.
I raised both arms as a sign that I had no hostility and said:
“I have no intention of fighting! What's the reason for suddenly attacking me?”
Seeing as she spoke earlier, she's an intelligent being, not a monster, so shouldn't we be able to communicate?
The demonkin glared at me, pointed her sword, and shouted.
“You wicked human! How dare you spout such shameless nonsense!” “Huh? What do you mean?” “Are you not the one who completely burned down the Castle with lava? Did you think I wouldn't know?”
...Castle? Lava?
I figured out the context of her words.
It seems the Castle she's talking about is the tower I escaped from.
And she misunderstands that I'm the one who filled the tower with lava.
Alright, I perfectly understand the situation.
I spoke to clear up the misunderstanding.
“I didn't do that. I'm a victim too.” “A victim?” “Yes. I almost fell into the lava and died, and barely escaped the Castle.” “What? Who are you to say you escaped from my Castle?” “...Huh? I was just there from the Start.” “What nonsense. So you're saying you're an Intruder after all?”
Uh-oh, the conversation is getting tangled.
I realized I had made a somewhat weird excuse, but the demonkin was glaring at me with eyes even more full of hostility.
“Cut the wordplay, human!”
The demonkin rushed at me again and swung her sword.
I urgently dodged and blocked the attacks.
“I said it wasn't me!”
Listen to what people are saying, you crazy demonkin!
As if she had no intention of listening to me anymore, the Demonkin didn't stop her attacks.
I shouldn't kill her, so do I have to subdue her?
Flame Strike could kill her if it landed wrong, so I was reluctant to use it.
Setting the goal of subduing her with my bare body, I also entered the fight in earnest.
Clang clang clang!
An exchange of blows, clashing swords.
It seemed I had the upper hand in physical strength, but our speeds were similar.
However, the opponent was more skilled.
I could feel that her techniques for handling a sword and such were much more proficient than mine.
I thought I had gotten quite used to combat, but is this what real swordsmanship is?
“This is hectic...!”
I barely managed to block and dodge the attacks by using Time Stop in between. If push came to shove, I also had Teleportation.
As the battle continued, it gradually became more bearable.
Exaltation stacks were slowly building up, and my body was continuously getting faster.
Only after the effects of Exaltation were activated to their maximum could I gain the upper hand in speed as well.
I found some breathing room and started pushing back.
No matter the difference in skill, since I had the upper hand in both strength and speed, the balance was struck.
“...!”
Now, the demonkin's expression looked rather urgent.
Still, it wasn't easy to seize the victory.
In the case of the Knight Goblin or the Minotaur, they were simple to take down, as long as I was at a level to overwhelm them with physical abilities.
This was my first time exchanging such fierce blows, so it was quite a fresh sensation.
‘This won't do.’
Judging that it wouldn't be easy at this rate, I used Time Stop.
It was difficult because I had to subdue her without killing her.
After finishing my Mental Concentration, I used Teleportation to get behind the opponent.
The demonkin's sword, aiming for my neck, sliced through midair.
I struck the demonkin, who was flustered by my sudden disappearance, from behind with a powerful roundhouse kick.
“Gah!”
Ah, did I kick too hard?
The demonkin, kicked in the side, went flying and bounced across the ground.
As I approached, the demonkin hurriedly got up. The battle continued.
However, the damage must have been certain, as the demonkin's sword lacked the vigor it had just before.
“Communicate, let's communicate!” “What nonsense...!”
I mean, let's just communicate a bit.
Are words that hard?
Clang!
The demonkin, having blocked my sword, was pushed far back.
She looked to be in pain as she clutched her side and gasped for breath.
Shouldn't we be able to talk a bit now?
I attempted conversation again.
“Let's stop fighting. I don't want to fight, so please calm down.” “Pant, pant... You human...”
With those weird horns on her head, she keeps saying human this, human that.
“I'm telling you, you're misunderstanding. I'm not an Intruder, and I'm not your enemy. The lava wasn't my doing either.” “Are you telling me to believe that right now...!” “What are you going to do if you don't believe me? No, frankly speaking, if I had intended to kill you, I could have just sliced your neck instead of kicking you just now. What reason would I have to be talking like this?” “Arrogant human! How dare you say who kills whom!”
The demonkin erupted in anger.
“Am I wrong? Then tell me. If we keep fighting now, who do you think will die?” “Ugh...!” “That's why I'm saying let's talk, let's have a conversation.”
Unable to deny that she was at a disadvantage, the demonkin couldn't argue back any further.
The demonkin seemed to calm down a bit and said.
“What kind of conversation are you suggesting we have?” “I told you. I'm not an Intruder or anything.” “Keep spouting nonsense! A human has entered the demonkin territory, so if you're not an Intruder, what else could you be?”
She really is a demonkin.
“I shall ask you! What exactly is a human doing in the land of the demonkin? If you are not an Intruder, what are you doing in this Dafriya Countdom?”
I scratched my head and answered.
“Well... I got lost.” “What?” “I'm a traveler who wanders here and there, and I got lost. I didn't even know this was the land of the demonkin.”
Let's try this excuse for now.
I don't know anything about the setting of this world. I have no other excuses to make.
The demonkin spoke as if she were dumbfounded.
“...What are you talking about? Do you think that makes sense?” “Whether it makes sense or not, it's the truth.” “I have never heard of such a stupid human. You got lost and crossed over into the land of the demonkin?”
I pushed forward shamelessly.
“Yes. I'm a bit bad with directions.” “...”
The demonkin's mouth fell open.
Based on her expression, it seems to be working?
“T-then! What was that about escaping from my Castle earlier?” “That, well, I just said that because I almost got hit by lava while passing nearby. Lava was pouring out of the windows like a waterfall.”
The demonkin frowned.
“I don't think that's what you said...?” “Don't mind the minor details.”
I don't know, let's just push through.
“Anyway, isn't this situation what's important? Let's think about it logically. Between the two of us, who is stronger? I'm stronger, right?” “...Do not insult me! I have not lost yet!”
Her Ladyship was about to throw another fit.
I calmly continued speaking.
“Right. I know. You haven't lost yet. But objectively, who is stronger between the two of us? Honestly, speak from your conscience.” “Ugh... I have no intention of denying that you are strong!”
Her Ladyship spoke as if she were frustrated.
She admits this quite readily.
“Yes, I am stronger. But even after almost losing my life to your ambush, I'm still trying to have a conversation right now, aren't I? Even though I could easily win.”
Actually, I killed her right away the first time, though.
“If I were the culprit who burned down your Castle with lava, why would I be having this useless conversation instead of killing you, the Master of the Castle? Can you really say I have hostility towards you?”
Her Ladyship remained silent before shouting.
“I suppose... you couldn't!” “Yes, that's right. I am not your enemy. Then you now understand that we have no need to fight anymore, right?”
The coaxing tone seemed to be somewhat effective, so I kept it up.
Her Ladyship just stared at me with confused eyes now.
“human, then tell me your name first. If you are truly innocent, that is.” “...My name? It's Kim Seohyeon.”
Her Ladyship tilted her head.
“Kim-seo-hyeon...? Are human names originally that strange? What is your surname?” “My surname is Kim. My name is Seohyeon.” “What is that? Your surname is strange too. Your name is strange and your surname is strange. And why do you say your surname before your name?”
...Why does she keep calling it strange? Should I hit her one more time?
“Anyway, humans are incomprehensible. I am Haelyn Dafriya. I am the heir of the great House Dafriya.”
Even if you say that, I don't know.
When I made an “Ah yes, I see...” expression, Haelyn shouted.
“You must not know us well because you are a human, but my family is a very great family! Human, what is your family? Is this Kim Family or whatever a noble among humans?” “No.”
Well, maybe they were nobles in the old days.
Haelyn suddenly put on an arrogant expression.
“Is that so? Then you must respect me. Even though our races are different, I am a noble, and you, human, are not a noble.”
Hmm, this is getting annoying.
For now, I succeeded in getting out of a hostile relationship without killing the demonkin.
I didn't know what came next.
What am I supposed to do now?
“Good, human. You shall help me from now on.” “...Help you? With what?” “The situation is urgent right now, so I need you to take on the role of my temporary escort.”
An escort all of a sudden?
Is something progressing?
“What's urgent? You have to tell me that first.”
Haelyn explained.
“The reason my Castle burned down with lava is that magic went wild. It is originally Self-Destruct Magic activated as a Last Resort when an Intruder enters, but it was activated out of nowhere just now.
If you are not the Intruder, it means there is another Intruder, an Intruder powerful enough that the Self-Destruct Magic had to be activated. Therefore, you must help me.”
Ah, so that's the setting.
I asked.
“But why don't you know who the Intruder is, Lady Haelyn? Were you not in the Castle?” “Call me Lady Haelyn!” “Yes, Lady Haelyn. Anyway.”
Haelyn spoke with a stiff expression.
“I have a hobby of enjoying night walks alone. But today, when I returned from my walk, this had happened. So I followed the footprint traces at the main gate, and there you were.” “Aha...” “The Intruder must have known my father was away and committed this act. How dare they... If only my father had been here...”
Haelyn trembled with rage.
I roughly understood the situation, but I had to ask one last thing.
“So what is the reason I have to help you, Lady Haelyn? It has nothing to do with me.”
She spoke as if it were so obvious that it felt natural.
Haelyn shrieked.
“I have not completely cleared my suspicions of you yet! If you are innocent, shouldn't you naturally help!”
It was just an unreasonable demand.
“Of course, when everything is over, I will give you a fair reward. I am the heir of House Dafriya. I will not do anything to sully the honor of Dafriya.”
A reward.
Could that be the Hidden Reward?
I nodded.
“Understood. I'll help you.”
Seeing as this seemed to be the correct progression, I was planning to do as she said anyway.
“So what are you going to do now, Lady Haelyn?” “I will return to the Castle. There might be Household Members who escaped alive, so I need to check.”
Haelyn took the lead, and I followed behind her. We retraced the path we had come from.
I felt a strange sensation and thought.
“What is this world?”
Is it a real world?
Is the demonkin in front of me also a real, living person?
I hadn't thought deeply about it during the 1st Floor, but exchanging conversations and having the story progress like a game naturally made it impossible not to have such thoughts.
Even when looking up information on other difficulties, there were no cases in the tower of meeting people or intelligent beings you could converse with.
If so, is this a characteristic unique to the Hidden Route?
It felt too real to be fake, but if it were to be called real, it was a world that simply reset when you exited and re-entered the tower.
“Lady Haelyn.” “Yes?” “Do you know what the tower is? The one you climb that's divided into Easy, Normal, Hard, and Nightmare Difficulty...” “What? What are you talking about?”
Haelyn looked like she couldn't understand at all.
As expected, she doesn't get it.
I changed my question.
“Then what kind of world is this world? I mean... what do you call this Continent we are living on?” “That would be the Panderun Continent. What exactly are you trying to say?”
Haelyn looked at me like I was a weirdo.
Panderun.
An Other-dimensional World? Or is it just a fabricated setting?
“Come to think of it, I have a question as well. How did you do that thing where you suddenly moved behind my back? I couldn't track your movements at all.” “That? It's just Teleportation Magic.”
Haelyn made a surprised expression.
“It was magic? Were you a Mage?” “Well... I know how to use magic.”
It's a Magic-type Skill, so it must be magic.
Haelyn asked as if she couldn't understand.
“But how do you cast magic like that?” “Pardon?” “Well, I don't know much about magic either, but... doesn't magic absolutely require Casting Time to use? And you can't move while casting.”
Casting?
Is she perhaps talking about Mental Concentration?
“I have my own method.”
I couldn't explain it, so I just brushed it off.
By the time we had our short conversation, we had already returned to the Castle.
“Ah...”
Seeing the Castle, Haelyn let out a sigh.
The lava must have continued to rise even after I escaped, as it had now completely overflowed to the point where the Castle's outer walls couldn't even be seen.
There's no way... there are survivors, right?
In the first place, when I escaped the Castle, I hadn't seen anything other than the Minotaur.
“They must all be dead.”
A dumbfounded Haelyn muttered.
“I must find traces of the Intruder... They couldn't have gone far... No, I first need to go to where my father is...?”
*At that moment, Haelyn and I turned our heads simultaneously.*
It was a sensation I had never felt in my life.
It was dark, ominous, and making my body tingle.
It was an incredibly powerful presence that was hard to explain in words.
CRASH!
Suddenly, the Castle Gate and the hardened pile of lava were smashed to pieces.
Someone walked out from inside, covered in lava-fire. It was a Knight in pitch-black armor.