Underground Catacomb of the Demon Lord Castle
[You have defeated the Chaos Knight horde! HP 0/1800]
How vast is this underground labyrinth? Occasionally, I stumble upon expansive areas, but they only reveal rows of graves adorned with numerous crosses. To make matters worse, undead monsters emerge from these graves, including ones like Francoise that I fought before, which can be quite a hassle. I thought this would be Kurinka’s domain, but surprisingly, I managed to handle it myself.
[You dealt 4,820,932 damage to the Chaos Knight (Ghost)! You have defeated the Chaos Knight! HP 0/0]
“Wow, it’s been completely obliterated…”
This isn’t a surprised “wow,” but rather a shocked one. Ever since that incident at the mansion, I’ve been diligently researching, and it seems that beings who die with strong emotions tend to linger in this world. It’s not about physical strength, and of course, that common sense doesn’t apply here. That’s why, back then, no matter how much I attacked, it was futile. These types of monsters are rare, and if encountered, only an Exorcist can deal with them. Because of this, they are greatly feared among Adventurers.
“I might not have a role to play here…”
Kurinka is a Priest, not an Exorcist, yet she can obliterate that type. It has nothing to do with Dragons, and this remains a mystery to me. More surprising is that I, myself, managed to defeat that type of monster. It’s not just simple growth; it feels like something else is awakening within me. Something I don’t know. Yes, the essence of my power that Lord Daigami once spoke of.
“We both have so many things we don’t understand, huh?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Nothing. More importantly, we’re still being attacked.”
[A horde of Evil Wings has appeared! HP 2,660]
[A horde of Chaos Knights has appeared! HP 1,800]
[A Living Slime has appeared! HP 12,450]
Water began to leak from beneath the crosses scattered everywhere. It pooled together, merging into a brown, murky ball. Its shape is unstable, but there’s no other way to describe it.
“What is that?! Is that a monster too?!”
“It’s a slime. You can’t defeat it by slashing; it’s a troublesome type of monster. Some can even dissolve your clothes, so be careful.”
“Eh?! Does that mean I could end up naked?!”
“That one doesn’t seem to be that type, but… ugh! It stinks!”
“Hehehe, the Living Slime is a monster born from the liquid leaking from the corpses sleeping in the Catacomb!”
[The Underground Grave Keeper Grave has appeared! HP 44,444]
Before I knew it, a small monster resembling a wizard with a skull for a head stood next to the slime. It looked filthy, draped in ragged cloth. Just looking at it brings back unpleasant memories. When I first arrived in Queemil, I looked just like that. I walked through town and went to the Guild dressed like that; just remembering it makes me want to hide my face in shame. Kurinka, who welcomed me so kindly back then, is truly a wonderful person.
“Wow, something that looks as strong as the Twelve Demon Generals has appeared.”
“How dare you compare me to them! They are merely half-baked beings who obtained power they don’t deserve. I am the true monster here!”
“Just obtained power…?”
“You don’t need to know more than that. In fact, knowing would be meaningless, for you will soon fall into eternal slumber in this Catacomb!”
[The Living Slime attacks!]
A spray of filthy water, which I’d rather not touch, flies at high speed. It looks powerful enough to break rock. Monsters like that can’t be defeated with ordinary attacks, and it knows that, showing no signs of worry. But we have Kurinka with us. I feel bad for putting her under pressure, but she was already preparing to counter the attack.
[Kurinka unleashed Fire Breath! You dealt 17,320 damage to the Living Slime! You have defeated the Living Slime! HP 0/12,450]
[The Underground Grave Keeper Grave dodged nimbly!]
“Whoa! What incredible power…!”
The skeleton dodged Kurinka’s Fire Breath at the last moment, proving its strength. It looks vulnerable to fire, but given its recent movement, it seems difficult to hit it with Fire Breath. That means it’s my turn for a one-hit kill.
[Rua unleashed Sonic Spear!]
A projectile resembling a spear, moving at the speed of light, pierced through the skeleton.
[However, the Sonic Spear was nullified!]
“Eh…?!”
I let out a foolish exclamation, but I genuinely don’t understand what just happened. The Sonic Spear vanished just before hitting it. I thought it was its skill, but that’s not the case. It didn’t even see what I launched, still wearing that mocking skeletal grin. It’s all so confusing.
“Hehehe! I’ll put you to sleep soon! Don’t worry; you won’t need to worry about your graves!”
[The Underground Grave Keeper Grave cast Blood Out!]
A chilling sensation enveloped my body, as if all the blood had turned cold, threatening to stop flowing. This is a type of instant death magic; there are various kinds, but this one halts the flow of blood throughout the body, leading to instant death. There are also spells that directly damage the brain.
[It didn’t affect Rua!]
[It didn’t affect Kurinka!]
“Ugh, that felt gross… What was that?”
“That was instant death magic. I’m really glad it didn’t affect Kurinka… It uses dangerous magic, just as its appearance suggests. As expected of the Demon Lord Castle, we can’t underestimate it. Who knows what other skills it might possess?”
“It didn’t work?! Could it be that you have instant death resistance?!”
The skeleton spun its head in frustration, stomping its feet. There are still plenty of monsters around, and we can’t afford to waste time on this one. But unless I solve the mystery of what just happened, I feel like it’ll happen again. The only thing I can think of is that it might be the work of Geto of the Four Heavenly Kings. If distorting space is what that means, then it’s a problem I might never solve. What did we do in the Abyss Cave?
“Unless we find and defeat Geto, we’ll never reach Eeks!”
“Shin, do you know where Geto is?”
“How could you ask me, a member of the Demon Lord Army, such a thing…?”
It’s true. Besides, if Geto has that kind of power, he definitely wouldn’t be anywhere within sight. If I were Geto, what would I do? The answer is already clear.
“He’s probably enjoying this situation from his room on the top floor of the Demon Lord Castle.”
“I knew it… He’s that far away.”
“Hmm, maybe we didn’t need to enter through the main gate after all.”
“But Kurinka, even if we had, I think Geto would have sent us here anyway. That pitfall was just one of many traps; there are countless other ways to get here.”
“What are you all babbling about?! You don’t understand the situation at all!”
[The Underground Grave Keeper Grave’s Undead March! The surrounding undead gather and attack Rua and her companions!]
Hands crawled out from the ground, revealing decayed bodies as undead emerged one after another. Each unleashed their signature skills, and they were all capable of ignoring the flying Kurinka.
[3 Lost Jurassic have appeared! HP 16,000]
[12 Bone Sauruses have appeared! HP 8,800]
[A horde of Flame Zombies has appeared! HP 620]
[A horde of Skull Volteccas has appeared! HP 700]
[A horde of Knight Deads has appeared! HP 2,100]
The moans of the undead echoed throughout the vast cavern. It was as if they couldn’t accept their own deaths, yet they bore a strong grudge against us, singing a lament of the damned. On top of that, we have to face the full might of the Demon Lord Castle. Honestly, it’s starting to feel a bit tedious.
“Ah! They just keep coming!”
“Plus, with the earlier Sonic Spear vanishing, things might not go as smoothly as I hoped…”
“Hehehe! Your tombstones were decided to be here from the very beginning! Don’t worry; after you die, I’ll take good care of you! As a gravekeeper!”
“If you’re a gravekeeper, you should let them sleep properly!”
“What are you saying?! What I do with the dead is my own business! The dead can’t make decisions! In fact, they should be grateful that I’m reusing weaklings like them!”
“…Lua-chan, leave this to me.”
Without waiting for my response, Kurinka landed on the undead-filled ground. Transforming back into her girl form, she quietly entered a prayer stance.
“Kurinka… are you perhaps…”
“Even though they’re undead, they’re still monsters, and we’ve defeated plenty of them… But I thought it might be sad for that gravekeeper skeleton to have its way.”
“Then, are you going to do what you did with the Ghost Ship?”
“Yeah, I didn’t understand anything back then, but I’m okay now. Lua-chan, can you protect me…?”
“Do you think I wouldn’t?”
I stood in front of Kurinka, who was shyly sticking out her tongue, as undead creatures attacked us from all directions. I deflected a skeleton wrapped in lightning and sent a massive bone dragon flying with my bare hands. If I defeated them here, everything Kurinka was trying to accomplish would be ruined.
I sent them flying far enough without killing them. But I wanted to avoid touching the zombies as much as possible. Just being near them was unbearable due to their terrible stench, and if I grabbed the armor, it would lead to a disaster.
“Hehehe! I don’t know what you’re planning, but…”
That smugness quickly vanished. The head that had been spinning joyfully stopped, and Kurinka’s light captivated my attention.
“Rest in peace…”
【Kurinka cast Exorcism!】
The dark, cavernous space of the catacomb, which had been shrouded in shadows, was suddenly filled with light. It was bright enough to clearly see the chaotic arrangement of dirt and stone. The movements of the undead halted, and they stood still in silence.
“Y-you guys! Kill them! What are you doing?!”
“It’s pointless; they wish to sleep now. They won’t listen to you.”
“N-no, that’s impossible! It can’t be! They have no memories of their past lives! They are nothing but undead monsters now!”
As if welcoming the light, each undead spread their bony or decayed arms wide. It was a serene sight, as if they were basking in the sun. Their heads and shoulders slowly turned to dust.
“W-wha… What is this…? How can they accept their own demise…? They shouldn’t have any sense of self left!”
“O-oi, you guys…”
Only one remained. A skeletal knight approached us, already missing nearly half of its body. Was it just my imagination, or did I somehow recognize this undead?
“Avan…garde… I… want to… tell you…”
Upon closer inspection, I noticed mushrooms growing all over its body, in a terrible state. Kneeling and on the verge of vanishing, I vaguely remembered.
“I’m sorry… for… David, I… said…”
As those words left its mouth, the undead named David peacefully closed its eyes. Its body turned to dust, which eventually faded away. At the same moment, the other undead in the area seemed to finally find their rest.
“David… Could it be?”
“The leader of the bandits who attacked us in Kizel Valley had that name… But why is he here?”
“Kurinka, it’s over now.”
“Yeah, just that one left.”
Kurinka pointed at the gravekeeper, who was staggering and seemed unable to comprehend the situation.
“D-David? Oh, now that you mention it… That human who was said to have been taken from the dungeons of the Kingdom of Avangarde. A scum who betrayed his fellow humans and joined the Demon Lord Army… What do you mean by ‘I’m sorry’?! This worthless corpse is mocking me!”
“Kurinka, let’s get out of here. Cast Speed Force on me. Then transform into a dragon.”
“Y-yeah.”
With the speed boost, I mounted Kurinka Dragon’s back and lifted off the ground of the catacomb. That area seemed just right for digging a hole.
“What do you think you’re doing?! You won’t take a single step out of this catacomb! I’ll kill you and turn your bodies into my eternal servants!”
【Rua launched Sonic Spear into the ground!】
As expected, Getou’s spatial manipulation didn’t reach the ground. A perfectly round hole opened up. I quickly gave Kurinka instructions, and we dove into the hole. It seemed to have gone quite deep, which was a relief. I caught a glimpse of Grave peering into the hole, but this would be the last time I saw that skeletal face.
“I’ll see just how far your spatial manipulation can go against me.”
【Rua unleashed Sonic Impact!】
A colossal slash, no, a shockwave. It was strange to call it a massive shock, but I directed it upwards. Grave was caught in an instant, and the entire catacomb trembled violently.
【Defeated the Chaos Knights in the catacomb! HP 0/1800】
【Defeated the Dark Hounds in the catacomb! HP 0/1230】
【Defeated the Evil Wings in the catacomb! HP 0/2660】
【Defeated the Magic Barons in the catacomb! HP 0/3010】
【Defeated the Black Rabbits in the catacomb! HP 0/400】
【Defeated the Vampire Beasts in the catacomb! HP 0/1120】
【Defeated the Cave Gigants in the catacomb! HP 0/4900】
【Defeated the Screw Worms in the catacomb! HP 0/3755】
“W-what…?”
【Defeated the Gravekeeper Grave! HP 0/44444】
The shockwave consumed everything, shattering and obliterating all matter. The ground, the walls, and even the dust were all gone, leaving behind a vast cavity where the catacomb once stood. At this point, ground subsidence could happen at any moment.
“That’s no good; the ceiling remains unscathed. Even my Sonic Impact can’t penetrate Getou’s spatial manipulation… Ugh…”
“Rua-chan! Don’t overdo it! Just because I have recovery magic…”
“I’m sorry… But I need to push a little further… There are things I must do before Getou can react…”
Pain surged through my body, making it difficult to even stand. I had gotten used to the recoil more than before, but I was still far from unscathed. Tears threatened to spill from the pain, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through.
【Rua launched Sonic Spear!】
Once, I had tried to dig a tunnel myself, but it had ended in failure. I didn’t know how many more shots it would take to break through, but surely Getou wouldn’t expect me to dig my way out. That’s why I needed to have my speed enhanced with Speed Force and work quickly.
【Rua launched Sonic Spear!】
【Rua launched Sonic Spear!】
【Rua launched Sonic Spear!】
【Rua launched Sonic Spear!】
“Ah, I might be able to get out…”
“Rua-chan!”
The last thing I saw before being dropped was the eerie decorations of the Demon Lord Castle. Finally breaking through to the first floor, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, and all my strength drained away. If I were attacked here, I wouldn’t stand a chance. I needed to wake up as soon as possible.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Catacomb… annihilation… complete.
No, wait, I remembered David.
That guy who was executed in the dungeon and toyed with by the Demon Lord Army.
To apologize at the very end…
But, Rua has fallen.
Could this be the chance of a lifetime?
Now is the time, my minions!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kill Rua!
This will lead to my resurrection!
Ah, that Dark Hound… that dog.
Why is it threatening Shin?
Does it not realize that this Shin is a high-ranking member of the Demon Lord Army?
It’s just a damn fool!
Ah, ah, it feels like something like this happened before.
Gyaaaaaaaaaaa!
Monster Compendium
【Living Slime HP 12450】
A liquid that leaked from a corpse has turned undead.
It is said to be a mass of resentment, but details are unclear.
Classified as an undead-type monster, but Exorcism does not work on it.
【Lost Jurassic HP 16000】
The bones of a dragon without wings have turned undead.
Its immense strength has not diminished since its living days, and the bones themselves are hard.
【Bone Saurus HP 8800】
A wyvern-type dragon that has turned undead.
It seems to be able to fly even as just bones, but it can no longer breathe fire.
It has become much tougher and more ferocious compared to its living self.
【Flame Zombie HP 620】
A person who died in flames and could not escape their suffering even in death, turning undead. They scatter flames while attacking, making them a troublesome presence despite their low durability.
【Skull Volteka HP 700】
A person who died from lightning but could not escape their suffering even in death, turning undead. They attack while releasing lightning, making them a troublesome presence despite their low durability.
【Knight Dead HP 2100】
The undead form of a Chaos Knight.
It has become stronger than in life and may still attack even after losing limbs.
【Magic Baron HP 3010】
A high-ranking sorcerer guarding the Demon Lord Castle.
Wielding top-class magic and possessing support spells, a single one of these monsters can devastate an army.
It is said to be a descendant of a sorcerer who delved into forbidden arts long ago, but the truth remains unclear.
【Black Rabbit HP 400】
Said to be an evolved form of the Cave Rabbit in the darkness.
Its abilities have significantly improved, but it is not a particularly strong monster.
【Cave Gigant HP 4900】
A plump giant. Its movements are slow, but a single blow will not leave you unscathed. However, if angered, it will rampage indiscriminately, making it dangerous to fight in a cave.
【Screw Worm HP 3755】
A twisted, massive worm. It rotates its body to burrow into the ground, piercing through its prey from below and killing it. If one gets sucked in, they are slowly sliced apart and dissolved while still alive within its belly.