Interlude 1
The soldier sent to scout out what lay beyond the door hurried back with a brisk gait. He suppressed his voice, but wasn’t able to mask his excitement.
“I’ve found them!”
The Knight, Henric, responded to his report with a nod.
They were standing right before the entrance to the fourth level of the dungeon, near the staircase.
“The heat is unbelievable...” The soldier wiped the sweat from his brow. “There’s lava beneath the floor...conjured by magic, no doubt.”
“This place is one surprise after another,” Henric mused, folding his arms.
“Aye, the first level with all its monsters poisoned to death, and the second level with the broken walls... There’s something terribly off about this place.”
“Retrieving the items Lady Laminitus asked for has been proceeding smoothly, though, thanks in no small part to these convenient oddities.”
“Certainly.”
However, they still had to deploy one hundred soldiers into the dungeon for that purpose alone. A mere group of twenty was all they could relegate to chasing Diablo down to the fourth level.
Within that group was the Paladin, Gewalt.
“And? What contrived traps does this fourth level have?” Gewalt asked.
The soldier saluted him. “Yes! Some manner of...voice, seems to be speaking in riddles.”
“Riddles? Can’t say I’m following you here...”
“It appears up to six people are to ride a gondola to the other side of a ravine, then take turns in answering the voice’s riddles. If they answer correctly, the gondola moves closer to the other side. Should they get it wrong, the gondola drops closer to the lava.”
“Ohoho... Quite fascinating... This is some extraordinary, high-level magic we’re dealing with here. Since this voice seems to speak our language, it stands to reason this place was made by the races, but...”
Even the capital’s Mage’s Association wouldn’t be able to create something of this scale. The mere existence of this structure was a monumental discovery in and of itself. The governor Laminitus and her troops had their eyes set on the enchanted gear scattered about the place, but the truly valuable thing was the dungeon itself.
Every now and then, the races would discover unique weapons and armor. They were seemingly created for use by the races...yet were made of knowledge far beyond the grasp of any of them.
Those were the divine treasures made by the gods, known as ?Regalia?.
This dungeon was undoubtedly a Regalia. And according to the adventurer’s guild, no adventurer had managed to reach this dungeon’s lowest level.
—Just reporting this place to the Church should fetch me a pretty penny.
Henric picked out a few soldiers. “Four of the more quick-witted of you lot will accompany Sir Gewalt and me as we push forward. Once the gondola returns, the rest of you are to find a way and join us. But don’t hesitate to withdraw if you feel your lives are at risk.”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Don’t forget, our true duty is to defend Lady Laminitus. Of course, retrieving any powerful equipment and looking into Sorcerer Diablo is important, but we are no good to our Lady should we die in this place.”
“Understood, Sir! ”
“Good answer, men!” Henric was the very image of a model knight.
“Are you merely investigating Diablo?” Gewalt asked.
“Yes. Lady Laminitus seems to hold the fact he defended Zircon Tower in high regard, and believes that, regardless of his claims of being a Demon Lord, there may be a chance to cooperate with him.”
“Is that so...”
It seemed Diablo had repelled some massive magical beast that threatened Zircon Tower.
—Is he trying to be some sort of hero of justice? That’s so pathetic I think I’m going to be sick!
Still cursing vehemently to himself, Gewalt regarded the knight with a friendly grin.
“You do know my purpose is to safeguard Lady Lumachina, yes?”
“We of course intend to cooperate with you on the matter. But the High Priest is currently afflicted with Death Knell disease.”
“That she is.”
“Diablo claims to have come here in search of a treasure capable of curing that plague. I wouldn’t normally be inclined to believe him, but he is an immensely powerful Sorcerer.”
“I know how you feel. When it comes from him, it really makes you believe his words, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. Lady Laminitus instructed us to help Diablo find the treasure.”
“Oh, I see.”
“As soon as we cross this lava, we should catch up and be able to help them.”
“Yes, yes, we should hurry.”
“It won’t be long now. We’re almost in arm’s reach of them.”
—So, we’ll be regrouping with them, will we?
The scout returned and gave another report. It appeared Diablo and his group had already made their way to the next level.
And also, something about them taking off their clothes due to the heat...
Finally, he reported the gondola had made its way back here.
“Very well.” Henric nodded at the soldier. “Let’s head out!”
“Hmm... I think I’ve gotten enough use out of you boys... This is the end of the line for you, all right?”
Gewalt tossed a crystal at the ground.
“Huh?”
A large shadow was cast over the soldiers. A huge Summoned appeared, its head reaching up to the cave’s ceiling and generating a small rain of pebbles from above. It opened its jaw, revealing a mouth lined with razor sharp teeth.
“Gaaah!”
As it exhaled a breath reeking of rot and decay, each of its arms, thicker than a tree’s trunk, brandished a massive hammer. It was large enough to crush a person.
The soldiers looking up at it stiffened in horror.
“W-What is this!?” Henric’s eyes shot open. “Why did you...do this...!? A Summon? Why? Why, Sir Gewalt... What are you doing!?”
“You know, you really were a cute, good man... But I’m so sorry, I’m just the type of girl that lives for her career. Now that I have tracked down the High Priest, I don’t need you insignificant insects getting in my way. Toodeloo, boys~”
“What did you—!?”
Henric reached to unsheathe his sword. Gewalt smiled a diabolical smile and winked in a flashy, overblown fashion.
“Smash them, ?Arch-Demon?, and make extra sure you crush their balls while you’re at it!”
“Oooooooooooooooohhhh—!!”
The Summon’s massive hammer swung down from the ceiling. Henric’s silver longsword snapped under its weight like a twig—
The distinctive crunching sound of bones being crushed echoed across the cave.
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