What on earth is going on?
Kuwagwagwa!
“Kuaaak!”
She thought countless times where it went wrong. She still didn’t understand.
‘How could it have gone so wrong, ignoring the dungeon’s patterns and somehow managing to—’
Indeed, not everyone had approached the dungeon by strictly following its patterns.
The world was vast, and people were diverse.
It was inconceivable that everyone would tackle the dungeon in the same way.
Fletta was well aware of this. She had anticipated such variables when designing the dungeon.
‘So, you figured out the location of the hidden control room, huh?’
Even if one deliberately ignored the patterns, she had made it impossible to reach the control room where she was hiding.
Ian had felt a sense of relief as he wrecked the mansion, thinking that reaching the control room was impossible.
‘This is ridiculous!’
He had expected to die before he even arrived. The thought of being trapped in the never-ending staircase, crying and wailing, had filled him with dread.
But Ian, mocking Fletta, had found the hidden passage and started his assault.
That was the reason.
Smack! Thud!
“Ugh!”
The reason Ian had beaten Fletta severely when he stormed the control room was that his expressionless intrusion had been nothing short of terrifying.
He relentlessly swung his fists.
‘Damn it! What is with this guy!’
The excruciating pain left her dazed, and she wondered if Ian had no emotions at all.
The battle was overwhelming.
“Did you have fun all this time? Then I suppose I can have a bit of fun too.”
“Please, stop. I apologize.”
“You think a simple apology will stop me? I don’t want to get my hands dirty with your blood. Keep your mouth shut.”
“Ugh…”
Fletta’s cries of anguish echoed through the room.
Her body had already lost sensation and hung limply. Yet, Ian, as if determined to vent his rage, gripped her hair and stared into her eyes.
Eyes as dark as an endless abyss.
‘I misjudged the situation… If only I had been more cautious when Joy was making a fuss…’
It was a hindsight realization, but Fletta deeply regretted her actions.
Of course, even if she had listened to Joy’s warnings, she wouldn’t have left the mansion due to the duty bestowed upon her by the Demon King.
But she might have bought some time.
‘At least I’m glad I saved Joy.’
When Ian had pushed into the third floor, Fletta had sent Joy away, hoping she might carry on if Fletta were to die here.
It was a pitiful hope, but it was better than nothing.
She chose to find solace in that small comfort.
“…It’s over.”
As she awaited death, she murmured these words.
“Hey, Ian! I’m here!”
“Why are you only showing up now? What were you doing? I thought you had fled in fear.”
“Hahaha, as if I’d be scared. I had to subdue a strange woman who was staring at me. Look here.”
Thunk!
Igor held up a bloody, unrecognizable Joy.
Her limbs were grotesquely twisted, and her once bright orange hair was matted with blood.
“Ah… Joy.”
The tragic death of a comrade. Yet, despair was far from over.
“Well, since playing with her wasn’t fun, I suppose it’s time to end this.”
The assault wasn’t over yet. Fletta closed her eyes to accept her fate.
“Let’s finish this.”
Kwaang!
Ian’s fist smashed into her face.
With a thunderous crash, Fletta’s head exploded, and her lifeless body tumbled across the floor.
***
After confirming the boss’s death, Ian dragged the corpses out and threw them beyond the portal.
While it might seem like a pointless act of clearing away the dead, there was a reason behind it.
‘I remember that the Hidden Piece you can obtain from the Flareon Mansion is supposed to be on the floor.’
The goal was the item.
After struggling through the dungeon, there should be something to show for it.
Although there were the magic stones and monsters he had defeated, Ian was not content with that alone.
‘Am I lacking in conscience or money?’
Despite the chaotic state of his family, he was, after all, the eldest son of a count.
With his substantial wealth, he was among the high ranks of the empire, so money was not a concern for him.
What he desired was solely the Hidden Piece. As long as he could get that, he didn’t care about anything else.
When the floor of the control room was finally revealed, Ian clenched his fists and struck quickly.
Crack!
The poorly maintained wooden floor split apart with ease. Dust rose from the shattered floor, but Ian paid it no mind as he watched the surface.
“Ahem.”
As the thick smoke began to clear, a small box came into view on the floor.
“…How did you figure this out? Sometimes you’re downright frightening.”
“Don’t worry. As long as you’re not my enemy, you won’t be at a disadvantage.”
“That’s certainly true. I agree.”
After exchanging a light-hearted comment, Ian retrieved the buried box.
It was an ornate box, looking important at first glance.
The reason it was buried in the floor was simple.
‘It’s the last legacy left to his children by the late head of the Flareon family.’
As a father and the head of a family, he had left this final item for his children.
It was something that must never fall into the hands of others, so it was hidden in the safest place possible, even if it was under attack.
“The Flareon family was renowned for producing skilled sealers. They were even considered rivals to Miler, a prominent figure in curse magic.”
Miler belonged to the empire, while Flareon was associated with Edenria, so interactions between them were limited.
Nevertheless, both were regarded as outstanding by people from both the empire and Edenria.
Edenria had benefited from the Flareon family’s contributions more than once.
‘If asked to name those most detested by the demons, Edenrians would come first, leading to countless historical conflicts between them and the Flareon family.’
The demons’ bombardments and curses were not only repelled but the attackers were also sealed, a feat that became widely known even in the empire.
The magical barrier now covering Edenria had been created by the head of the Flareon family.
‘Unfortunately, the family has vanished into history.’
The recent invasion had destroyed the family, but their will had not been shattered.
The head of the Flareon family had left behind the last fragment for someone to survive.
‘That’s the Key of God, an artifact created by someone who reached the pinnacle of sealing magic, capable of unsealing all existing seals.’
However, his children had also fallen to the demons, and the artifact was buried in history along with the Flareon family.
‘The demons might have been aware to some extent. They likely turned the place into a dungeon to protect it while searching for this.’
It was unclear whether the demons knew about the existence of the Key of God.
What was certain was that it was an item of such significance that even the demons would be anxious about it.
‘Using the legacy left to the family is a bit uncomfortable… But there’s no one left in this world who deserves to use it.’
Despite the guilt, Ian resolved to use it.
If he could repay the demons for the wounds and pain they had caused, then the head of the Flareon family in the heavens could rest peacefully.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Ian took the key and stood up.
At that moment, Igor asked.
“Are we leaving, Ian?”
“Yeah, let’s head out and enjoy our vacation.”
Seeing the smile spread across Ian’s face, Igor also grinned.
***
After conquering the dungeon, Ian and Igor headed to Estella, the capital city of Edenria.
With the extended vacation and plenty of time left, there was no need to return to the empire.
Moreover, since Ian had to repay Igor as well, returning to the empire was out of the question.
‘Since I dragged you into the dungeon without a break, it’s only right to offer some form of reward.’
Igor had followed him, expecting a simple outdoor training session, only to end up in an abandoned mansion fighting ghosts. It was fortunate that Igor, unlike others, had been surprisingly good-natured; otherwise, he might have lashed out already.
‘I’ve heard that, having only trained in Vischen as a child, Igor might be eager to travel. Perhaps this chance to explore Edenria will please him.’
As a reward for Igor’s efforts, Ian had chosen to take him to Estella, the heart of Edenria.
Estella, a sacred site for the followers of the Erisian Church, was also among the top ten must-visit destinations chosen by the empire before one’s death.
The city was renowned for its sacred atmosphere, often described as ‘Heaven,’ with its entire area covered in marble and adorned with enormous fountains and statues.
Although it lacked in entertainment facilities compared to other cities, it was a fitting choice for a first travel destination, making it a solid option.
Thus, Ian and Igor moved directly from the Flareon Mansion to Estella.
As a result…
“It’s true that we authorized the dungeon raid, but to think you’d solve the issues with the troublesome Flareon Mansion… I’m not sure how to thank you properly.”
“It’s nothing. It was a dungeon I wanted to clear anyway.”
Being able to meet Raymond in Estella was a result of Igor having gone to a nearby pool for some leisure.
Ian used this opportunity for a one-on-one meeting with Raymond.
Raymond’s smile was gentle, a stark contrast to his previous aggressive demeanor, making Ian feel awkward.
‘Have I misunderstood him all this time, or did my clearing of the Flareon Mansion earn his favor?’
Whatever the reason, the previously hostile attitude was entirely gone.
Raymond, deeply grateful for resolving the Flareon Mansion issue, shook Ian’s hand repeatedly while nodding.
“Once again, thank you. We were at a loss about what to do.”
“It was indeed a troublesome dungeon, different from the usual ones.”
“Indeed. It’s embarrassing to admit, but one of our Holy Knight units was almost wiped out while attempting to raid it.”
The annihilation of an entire unit was a significant loss.
Even though injuries were inevitable, a complete annihilation was a severe blow.
If a unit was destroyed, it was hard to estimate how much more manpower would be needed.
Even if there were survivors, their testimonies would only help in preparation, making it even more daunting.
“We even considered bombing the area in desperation. It nearly jeopardized the position of the Grand Archbishop. That’s how critical the situation was.”
Despite the demons encroaching upon Edenria’s borders, there was nothing they could do.
Raymond had wanted to sweep the area with extensive attacks, but given what the Flareon family meant to Edenria, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
This was why Raymond had been so frustrated.
How on earth should I handle this? Amid his daily anguish over how to handle the situation, this fortunate turn of events was a welcome relief.
“For a small token of appreciation, I’d like to offer you something.”
“A gift, you say?”
He had prepared a new reward.
Raymond took out the gift he had prepared, not hiding his laughter.
The box looked expensive at first glance. When he looked at it, wondering what it was, Raymond made a gesture as if telling him to open it.
‘What could it be that has him reacting like this?’
Though he had expected a reward for solving the troublesome issue, Ian didn’t anticipate anything extraordinary.
He had thought it might be permission to explore Estella’s sights.
Nevertheless, it was better to check.
As he opened the box, Ian’s eyes widened.
“What?”
Inside was a treasure that far exceeded his expectations.
Why was this here? Was this really the reward?
Raymond, with a kind smile, seemed to encourage Ian to respond.
“I felt that the reward for dealing with Leviathan was too little, so I added something extra. I hope it serves as a satisfactory gift.”
