Chapter 204: Proof (1) (1/2)

Lia and Carlos ran to hide behind the nearest wall.

“…I can’t feel any movements.”

Fortunately, Deculein didn’t catch up. No, he didn’t seem to have the will to go after them. It was pretty strange. Of course, as soon as he saw Carlos, his pupils widened. It was truly a horror to see a Yukline’s veins blooming before you.

“It’s okay, Carlos.”

Lia stroked Carlos’s head. The child had turned pale and was trembling.

“Let me see….”

Lia poked her head out from behind the wall. Everything was normal, and there was no one chasing them.

“…Carlos? Let’s go now. It’s okay.”

“…”

Carlos nodded, and the two crept out like mice. Their destination was the entrance of the passage where their party waited. They looked around and ran quickly, and as soon as they reached their destination, they heard a voice.

“Oh, here they are.”

Leo, Julie, and Sylvia. Joining their party, Lia breathed a sigh of relief.

“What’s wrong, Lia? Carlos doesn’t seem well either.”

“What happened?”

Leo and Julie questioned her. The two shook their heads and looked back down the passage to a firmly shut door and the crowds of people milling about.

“When will it open?”

“That idiot has only been bragging since we arrived.”

Sylvia murmured, looking dissatisfied at someone. In front of the crypt, there was a man who seemed to be in charge.

“…Shall I kill him?”

The man wore his hair neatly parted in the middle, had a neatly coiffed and spiky mustache, and was smoking a pipe and reading. This was the person in charge of managing the cave, Gef. The most important clearing condition of the Voice’s world was to enter the deepest part of the concentric circles, and this crypt was the entryway.

“I guess it’s not time yet.”

Even Lia knew that NPC, a beast-type Named that died off a long time ago. In other words, in reality, he was already dead.

“Hmm.”

Then, the man finally stood. He threw down the book he was reading and looked around the crowd.

“A lot of people have come. About nine thousand people? That’s a lot.”

—Just open the door already!

A harsh cry came from a group of rough-looking men. Gef regarded them with a grin.

“Wait a minute. Let me explain.”

Lia quietly looked around the crowd. Nine thousand people gathered in this limited space, but there was a certain presence she recognized. Deculein was around here, somewhere.

“As you know, this passage is the way to the deeper parts of this world.”

Simultaneously with those words, a quest floated in front of Lia.

[Independent Quest: Entering the passage]

◆ Store Currency +2

“Of course, you can go in without much thought. Be careful, huh?”

Gef grinned and tapped his temple.

“So, if you are someone who doesn’t have the patience, perseverance, and determination, you could die, all right?”

—Open the door, you idiot!

“…”

Gef grinned and lifted the bar blocking the entrance to the cave. Then, a great wave of people rushed in.

“Let’s go, too!”

Lia pushed her party into the crowd.

“I don’t see any need to rush.”

“Keep your dignity.”

Julie and Sylvia didn’t seem to want to get in the middle, but Lia dragged them along to not run into Deculein…

* * *

I was walking through the darkness of a long passage in the cave.

“Do we just have to walk?”

Epherene asked.

“Checkpoints will appear as we walk.”

“Checkpoints?”

“It’s like a dorm.”

It was a spiral structure that penetrated the concentric circles of this cave. So, we could reach the center by just walking, but if it were as easy as it sounded, it wouldn’t be a demon’s independent quest.

“But, Professor. Why did those kids run away? They left without giving us a chance to greet them.”

“…”

Lia and Carlos. The half-human half-demon stirred my heart for a moment, but perhaps this instinct was satisfied with the slaughter at Reccordak, or at least fatigued and forced into a lulled state. Regardless, I didn’t have the desire to kill him. Not to mention my injuries hadn’t yet recovered. If Carlos and Lia joined forces, I wouldn’t be able to catch them.

“It’s just creepy, and there’s nothing… do we not need to run?”

“There are those who will fall behind anyway.”

There was nothing good about running ahead or going first. What this cave was testing was mental power. That was the power that could be called Deculein’s greatest talent.

“Shut up and follow me.”

“…Yeah.”

Stomp— stomp—

We walked side by side in the dark.

…

Epherene moved along, puddles occasionally splashing underfoot.

“Professor. Do you want to have some?”

Epherene, craving food, pulled out a cookie from her bag. There was no answer from Deculein. She asked again, cramming one into her mouth.

“Professor. This is good…?”

Epherene stopped. Since when had Deculein disappeared? She couldn’t see him walking ahead. Did he go ahead first?

“…Professor?”

Epherene ran. Deculein’s long stride was about two or three times faster than hers.

“Professor!”

She ran and screamed, but there was no answer. The darkness of the crypt grew thicker, and drops of sweat beaded down Epherene’s forehead.

“…Professor.”

The moment she gasped for breath and muttered, a strange voice crept into her ears.

──■■■■■.

A broken and crushed voice, crackling and unintelligible. Epherene covered her ears, but it soon turned into a familiar voice.

—Epherene.

Epherene glanced back with wide eyes.

“…Ah.”

It was her father, Kagan Luna. He was standing three steps away.

—Epherene. Deculein killed me.

Blood flowed from his eyes like tears. His neck was wrapped by a noose, and his face was corpse pale. He was already dead.

Epherene tried to step back, but her legs wouldn’t move. It was like her feet were glued.

—But you!

The cry of the dead. His breath brushed through Epherene’s hair, and tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

—What are you doing there?

His words cut her heart.

—Are you not going to take my revenge?

Epherene remembered the vow she had made.