Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

205 – Retreat is Prohibited (Part 2)

「Ah…Sir Lem… Right, there is…how best should I put this…」

I turned to the investigator who gave Maggie the report.

After receiving a nod to go ahead from Maggie, he turned to face me.

「We are in charge of patrolling around the Original Dungeon. If there are any nearby residents or animals approaching, we prevent them from invading the Dungeon and report immediately if anything about the Dungeon has changed.」

「Right.」

It’s an important role. Even late at night, they check around to make sure it is safe.

「Just now, we received similar reports from several places. All the reports were that “An opening was made.”」

「…」

I understood the meaning.

It’s a guess, but I need time.

Maggie must be worried as well.

A structural change now, of all times, and modifications to the exterior as well…?

First of all, this isn’t a modification to suit us.

I have to see it to know, but like how the fourth stratum was made to be completely black, these new entrances shouldn’t be connected to the new area now.

If it was gonna do that in the first place, it would’ve been better to create the fifth stratum.

This means that the number of entrances connected to the first stratum has increased.

…No.

「Has anyone gone into the Dungeon?」

Interested to know as well, Maggie listens in.

Apparently, I had called out to him in the middle of his report.

This is new information that not even she has heard yet.

「Following emergency procedures, an Adventurer from the first investigation team tried to infiltrate it but…they were defeated the moment they stepped foot in the Dungeon. However, according to the actual person, he couldn’t sense the Avatar receiving any sort of damage.」

Maggie and I looked at each other.

「Directly… But, why…?」

You can’t even enter. Avatars cannot enter.

It’s the fifth stratum.

「If it listened to our discussion, then it should know that the investigation team has chosen not to challenge the fifth stratum. And if this is the response to that…」

「Is it trying to invite someone from the investigation team to defy that policy and challenge it?」

“It might be a bad idea, but if my wish could come true, I would like to try.”

There are people who can’t help but hold thoughts like that.

Reasoning is what regulates such thoughts.

But if tempted, desire might overpower reasoning.

Somehow, I feel like it’s different. It’s not impossible, but it isn’t smart.

This Spirit would be more likely to pinpoint the individual and guide them to the fifth stratum.

「Confirm the whereabouts of all hands and tell them all to be wary of the increased entrances. Also, it is possible that more entrances will be formed. Double the number of patrols.」

「Yes, ma’am.」

When he left, my eyes met with Maggie, once again.

She had a serious expression on her face, but when she looked at my appearance, she seemed to remember that she, too, had just gotten out of her cot.

She hurriedly combs her hair with her fingers and bows. It’s like she’s trying to hide her face from my field of vision as much as possible.

「I-I have shown you something unseemly…」

「Eh? Oh, no, I don’t look great right now either.」

「It is an emergency, yes?」

…And right on cue.

I figured she’d show up around this time.

Maggie’s shoulders jolted in shock.

Milla, groomed to perfection, comes to my side.

「Were you having a serious conversation?」

Being completely right, we nodded repeatedly.

「I don’t want to imagine that there’s anyone within the investigation team who would ignore the order and challenge the trial but…」

「Y-yes. The problem is…」

The gentle air around us disappears.

「…if the surrounding residents get involved.」

「…We should inform the village. Tell them to not heed anything the Spirit tells them.」

It’s awkward to wake the villagers at this time of night, but this isn’t the time for that.

「…I’ll go.」

「Arthur and I will go as well.」

Before we knew it, Ex and Arthur were here.

Having the two members of the 2nd ranked party along is reassuring,

It should help everyone understand the seriousness of the situation.

「I shall accompany you as well.」

Milla raised her voice.

It will take time to wake all the villagers and confirm their whereabouts. The more people helping out, the easier it’ll get.

Borrowing a few other investigators, we hurried to the village via horse carriage.

Speaking of the conclusion to that…it was the worst possible result.

As we woke everyone up, we confirmed that…thirteen people have gone missing.

Everyone who realized the seriousness of the situation gathered in the village assembly hall, and everyone was upset. The families of the missing people were especially distraught.

It’s only natural. Because someone they love has disappeared into an unknown Dungeon to challenge a trial, to which its contents are unknown.

It’s also natural that there are those who blame us as the ones responsible.

「Enough. Preventing the tricks of a Spirit on top of trying to Clear a Dungeon is too much. I do not believe that this situation was caused by the investigation team’s negligence, so it is illogical to blame them.」

The village elder kindly said that, and the scene somehow calmed down enough for us to have a talk.

「I believe the Spirit lures people out by telling them that it can grant their wishes. Is there anyone here…who heard the voice of the spirit?」

In response, several people raised their hands.

My dad was among those who did.

Hearing all their testimonies, it boiled down to this…

…the Spirit basically said “If those strong of heart were to overcome my trial, I shall grant you a wish.”, whispering into their ears.

「…You didn’t think about taking up its offer?」

「I don’t have a wish for the Spirit to grant.」

He isn’t just my father, but also a man of a strong heart.

But just what is the Spirit’s aim?

To gather those who succumbed to temptation and point out those with a strong heart…?

No, I know its aim.

It’s to bait us to enter.

「While I don’t expect this to relieve your worries, this does not appear to be a Spirit that kills people. If it was a Spirit that enjoyed murdering people, it would have long since caused some casualties among the investigation team by now.」

It tried to reproduce Dungeon Clears as much as possible and tried its hardest to crush us.

In the end, it was following all the rules.

If a strong enemy is defeated, it unsparingly rewards us.

Its recent actions are most likely because we lost the motivation to challenge the deepest depths.

It’s telling us to come and fight till the end.

「Wh-what’ll happen if they fail the trial…?」

That shaking voice belonged to one of the trio from before. The remaining two disappeared.

「I don’t know. But I promise you this. We will bring every single one of them back alive. I swear it.」

A hand gripped me tightly on the shoulder.

It was Ex.

「Well said, Lem. Of course, the Ex party will take part in this rescue operation as well. I’m sure you are all feeling uneasy, but please rest assured. We will help them. I promise.」

I sensed that everyone’s anxiety alleviated slightly at the declaration from the strong Hero from the 2nd ranked party.

In the end, both my parents and Hawk and Canary all had worried looks on their faces.

I smiled at them and left.

「Lem…」

I didn’t have the time to respond to Milla’s worried voice.

「I am certain that this Spirit holds no ill will towards people. It had the evil intentions needed to defend its Dungeon, but it isn’t wicked enough to hurt a person’s real body. As Lem said, there will be no casualties.」

Arthur responded to Ex’s words.

「…Yes, however, the fifth stratum has a condition that you must enter with your real body. Even if no one will die, I can think of penalties. Have the thirteen who disappeared even entered the fifth stratum in the first place? Aren’t the entrances being watched?」

「Spatial Mobility is a possibility. I’m sure that there are plenty of ways to get around the patrols using Spirit Magic.」

「I’m curious about the strong of heart part, too. Is it a trial that even villagers can overcome? Or did it prepare a trial for the villagers and a different one for us? There is too little information.」

「Fortunately, we have communication devices. One person enters the fifth stratum and lets everyone know the situation.」

「If that’s the case…」

Even on the carriage ride back to camp, the two of them continued talking constructively.

When I returned to the camp, I immediately got my equipment in order.

My Black Sorcerer robes, my sword cane, and the sword I received from my dad.

I’m fine and healthy.

I leave the tent, and Furcus was right there.

Her brown tanned skin, her face framed by her bright white hair that follows the contours of her face, curling up and down at some parts. Her purple eyes do not betray her emotions. She’s a young woman of small stature that has a chest that is paradoxically voluptuous which tends to draw attention.

The Reaper Knight Furcus. The Floor Boss of the eighth stratum in the Demon King Castle. My swordmaster.

「Lem, bend forward.」

「…Uhm, I’m kind of in a hurry.」

「Master’s orders.」

……

Furcus gave me guidance but never once did she order me.

For someone like her to say something like that, I suppose it’s something serious.

I did as she said and leaned forward.

In a flash, her small hands pinched both of my cheeks.

Her soft hands squeezed and stretched my cheeks.

「Your strong points…are your passionate heart and a clear head.」

「…」

「You have a clear head even when frustrated. When surprised. When afraid. Your heart is strong. So, Lem, don’t lose your head when angry. You become weak.」

I could feel my hot head get cooler.

She’s right. I was angry at there being missing people from my village and causing everyone to worry.

And that led to cracks in my composure.

「……Yes, master.」

「Mm. You’re still inexperienced. You need more training.」

「Ahaha, I shall devote myself.」

I laughed. I managed to laugh. I was able to secure my peace of mind. This is good.

I join the others alongside Furcus.