Chapter~18
“What?”
“The black magicians—more precisely, the forces allied with them. They’re targeting you, Young Duke.”
It wasn’t a lie.
The Second Prince’s faction, which had joined hands with black magicians, wanted to draw in the ducal house—the head of the neutral faction.
Well… they probably tried a few tricks through their subordinates too.
“Explain in more detail—”
Just as Pierre said that, a grotesque cry echoed from inside the temple.
“Kiiieeek—!”
It was the cry of a monster I had heard countless times in the game.
“That sound… a monster?”
“This is troubling. There may be people caught inside. Let’s proceed inward.”
If I wasn’t the enemy, then rescuing people came first.
“I’ll leave the rest to the ducal house for questioning.”
“Understood.”
The fact that he postponed the interrogation meant his suspicion of me had mostly faded.
That’s taken care of.
“I’ll take the lead.”
“No, I will. You watch the rear.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“If it’s dangerous for me, then it would be even more dangerous for you. That’s an order—follow it without complaint.”
The fact that he was considering my safety meant he was already almost convinced.
Still, just in case, I should keep some distance and act like a loyal subordinate.
I nodded and silently followed behind him.
Our footsteps echoed through the temple made of black marble.
“Kieek—!”
The monster’s cry rang out intermittently.
“There are no signs of people.”
“Did we come here alone?”
As we went deeper, the sound of things breaking grew louder—it seemed to be rampaging inside.
Normally, low-level monsters should have appeared the moment we entered the temple. Did forcing the dungeon to activate cause a glitch?
“Do you know where those black magicians went?”
“There were no traces nearby. They might be hiding deeper inside the temple.”
A heavy thud echoed again.
This time, unlike before, the vibration reached us.
“It must be nearby. Prepare yourselves.”
“Yes.”
The monster seemed to be approaching. Soon, the vibrations grew stronger.
Boom—!
At last, the shadow of something massive appeared at the end of the column-lined corridor.
“Hide.”
Without a word, we both ducked behind pillars.
“Kiiieee—!”
The horrific cry echoed through the temple.
And slowly, the creature revealed itself.
“…!”
“That is…”
The monster looked like a fusion of humans.
Limbs sprouted from a black, gem-like core at its center—grotesque beyond words.
This wasn’t what the dungeon’s monsters originally looked like.
They were supposed to be more standard black creatures!
“I’ve never seen a monster like that. Is this the cost of forcing the dungeon to activate?”
Pierre’s guess was likely correct.
The leader must have activated it in desperation.
Did the black magicians get absorbed by that thing?
“The weak point appears to be the core.”
“Yes. I can feel a strong ominous energy from it. But those limbs are the problem…”
“I’ll try sniping it with magic.”
“If that fails, I’ll charge in. I’ll aim for the core—support me with magic.”
“Understood.”
I quietly gathered mana.
“[Fire Arrow]!”
With the incantation, a sharp flaming arrow shot toward the core.
But before it could reach, the monster’s limbs knocked it aside.
“Kiiieeek—!”
It was damaged near the core, but not destroyed.
Letting out a shriek, it turned its gaze toward us.
“It doesn’t seem to regenerate.”
“That’s fortunate. Go!”
As the monster roared and smashed the pillar we were hiding behind, Pierre leapt out.
“Over here!”
His aura blazed brightly as he sliced off a limb that tried to strike him.
“Kyarrrk—!”
The monster flailed its limbs wildly in rage.
“Support!”
“[Fire Arrow]!”
Pierre cut through them as he charged toward the core.
From behind, I created a barrage of flaming arrows, burning its limbs.
“Kiiik—!”
Noticing me, some of its limbs swung toward me.
Dodging them, I burned the tissue near the core that was trying to protect it.
“Kyaaaak—!”
“Die!”
Just as Pierre was about to strike the core, the monster desperately tried to wrap around him.
This time, I restrained its limbs with wind.
“[Grip of Wind]!”
It only held them briefly, but that was enough.
His sharp aura struck the core.
With a sickening sound, the black core shattered into pieces.
“Kyaaaagh—!”
After slashing away the remnants that tried to grab him one last time, the creature turned to ash and scattered.
“Did we get—”
“It’s dead!”
I cut him off before he could say the classic “Did we get it?”
Just in case, I burned the remaining fragments.
No revivals allowed!
“Ah… the space…”
“Seems destroying it was the right choice.”
After everything was burned, the space distorted and began collapsing.
“The dungeon is collapsing immediately. Looks like that was the only monster.”
“I’m glad there were no victims.”
Since the dungeon had opened in the marquis’ estate, we should have returned there.
It was a shame we didn’t obtain evidence about the black magicians, but at least it didn’t escalate into a major incident.
“Once we return, we’ll immediately investigate the marquis’ house—”
Pierre suddenly trailed off, his voice turning confused.
“This doesn’t look like the marquis’ estate.”
“…It’s a count’s estate. My home…”
Before us stood the Eduque family residence.
What? Did the space twist? Or is this another dungeon?
As we looked around in confusion, someone rushed out of the mansion.
“Big sis! Are you okay?!”
“Mabel?”
“Yes!”
It was certain.
This was the Eduque household.
“This is…”
“Huh? Young Duke? Did you escort my sister back?”
Mabel tilted her head at the confused Pierre.
“Thank you! Big sis, let’s go inside! I’ve been waiting forever!”
“Wait, Mabel, I’m with the Young Duke—”
“Miss Mabel. Sonnet and I have something to discuss. Could you spare us some time?”
“Now? You already talked a lot at the party!”
“…What’s gotten into her?”
Normally, she would have stepped back obediently, but this time she kept insisting.
“Don’t go anywhere…”
“…Young Duke, may I guide you to our drawing room?”
“Very well.”
It seemed his suspicion had completely disappeared, as he readily agreed.
The three of us entered the mansion.
“I’ll be done soon. Don’t worry, Mabel.”
After finally calming her down and leaving her with the butler, the situation settled.
I gave Pierre tea with an awkward smile.
“Sorry for making you wait.”
“You’re still very close.”
“Haha…”
“Does Miss Mabel know about black magic?”
“She doesn’t. What I know is only for emergency situations. Honestly… I’d prefer she never finds out.”
I don’t want our little angel anywhere near black magic.
“I see. Then let’s return to the topic.”
Pierre cleared his throat.
“You said a force allied with black magicians is targeting me. What does that mean?”
“Exactly what I said. They oppose both the First Prince’s faction and the neutral faction and aim to eliminate them. They intend to remove each faction’s leaders using black magic.”
Well… that was something that would actually happen in about 2–3 years, so it wasn’t a lie.
Though it required the Second Prince being pushed to near defeat.
“I’m not certain, but it seems the Cartier marquis’ family supports them.”
“The marquis’ family?”
“Do you remember what happened at their banquet? Without their permission, black magicians wouldn’t have dared sneak in and exchange cursed items.”
“That makes sense. For something like that to happen in a house obsessed with rooting out spies… they must at least know and be turning a blind eye.”
He nodded in agreement.
“Did you know before attending the banquet?”
“No. I knew some nobles from the Second Prince’s side were involved, but I didn’t know the full details or identities.”
Not a lie—I didn’t know everything.
“So my actions were rather impulsive. I apologize for causing trouble to my lord.”
“No. I understand. It must have been important.”
Pierre nodded.
Good—he accepted it.
So this is settled?
Just as I thought that, Pierre spoke playfully:
“You… like me quite a bit, don’t you? If you’d go this far for me, that says enough.”
“…What?”
“As long as you don’t cross the line, there’s no need to hide it. Don’t you admire me? Enough to pretend to be my lover.”
What nonsense is he talking about now?
“…What?”
“…Hmm?”
Something was clearly off.
