“Aria…? Why are you here? No… where is this?”
“Calm down, Camille. It seems we’ve been summoned by a Dungeon Spirit.”
I spoke to Camille, who was still on guard, hand on his weapon, searching for enemies. I didn’t think this Camille was a fake, even if this was an abnormal space. A Spirit could do anything, but this one didn’t seem like it would play such tricks.
Camille, whom I hadn’t seen in days, had dried blood caked on his cloak and leather armor. The carefree attitude he once had was gone. The battles in this Dungeon must have forced him to grow.
“A Spirit’s space…? So, there’s a Spirit here?”
“There was. But it vanished as you appeared. …It’s either watching us from somewhere, or fulfilling someone’s wish.”
This Spirit seemed relatively normal, but it was still different from humans. There was no telling how a wish might be twisted.
“…A wish?”
Camille muttered, repeating my words, staring at his hands, which were covered in dried blood.
“When we were heading deeper into the Dungeon, a magic circle suddenly appeared beneath our feet, and we were teleported somewhere. It was a large room with something like an Altar. The moment I confirmed there was someone else besides me, I heard ‘Father’s’ voice…”
Camille’s father… the man I met.
After talking to me, he seemed to have been teleported somewhere too… Is the flow of time different? Even if we were summoned at almost the same time, the flow of time might be different from the outside while we’re here. …I shouldn’t stay too long.
“Father’s voice, directly in my head, said one thing… ‘Stop trying to die.’ Seriously, isn’t that a joke? Because that man tried to die, the extremists started moving on their own, starting a war, and thousands of people died…”
“Indeed.”
What he did was not something a person in the position of a king should do.
I learned from Elena that telling someone not to think emotionally about the grief of losing a loved one was impossible, but the person who could put that aside was a “King.”
“Even so, those who tried to start the war will do the same thing somewhere else unless their grudges are settled. Camille’s father didn’t just change his mind on a whim.”
When I said that, Camille twisted his mouth as if he had bitten into something bitter.
“Yeah… I knew. Or, I was made aware… In my heart… not just Kadri and Iseru, but Charleschan and Dowhill, and the other Dark Elves chosen as warriors, they all had that ‘wish.’ Everyone, in the corner of their hearts, wished that Father would live…”
Aside from war-mongers like Ergrim and Aishe, those who cared about their comrades and the Evil Race hoped that the Evil King would guide them again.
It seemed to me that Dowhill and Charleschan participated in the Ceremony of Selection not because they actively wanted to start a war, but as a result of seeking a way for their clans to survive.
I still didn’t understand why that “wish” required me, but perhaps a “drastic remedy” was needed to fight poison with poison.
“So, what are you going to do, Camille?”
Camille raised his head, realizing the meaning of my question.
Camille participated in the Ceremony of Selection not because he wanted to be king, but to survive.
Even if the Evil King returned, there would still be those who held grudges against humans, and those who didn’t think well of Camille’s existence. But it wasn’t as desperate as before, where he had to hide in other countries and run away.
Camille could become an Adventurer in the Calfaan Empire or anywhere else, in lands where prejudice against Dark Elves was less prevalent. If it was about status for a job, Ron would prepare it for him.
Camille was now free.
“…I never thought I could become king. I didn’t think I could lead the Evil Race who killed my mother. But in this battle, by learning the depth of the Evil Race’s resentment, I felt like I understood them a little.”
Saying that, Camille looked up as if looking into the distance.
“There’s a reason to hate. But not only hate, there were also people desperately struggling to live. Everyone was just desperate. They were the same as us. So, I’m… going back to the Evil Race Nation. I’ll help Father with his work, and try to find a way for the Evil Race and humans to coexist, like I talked about with Ron before.”
“I see.”
That also seemed like a thorny path, but if he had decided that, I had nothing to say.
“Aria…”
But Camille didn’t take his eyes off me, looking straight at me, calling my name.
“Won’t you… come with me?”
“…………”
As I silently considered the meaning of those words, Camille opened his mouth as if unable to bear my gaze.
“…You can think of me as a pathetic man. I’ve resolved to live as a prince of the Evil Race. But, at the same time, I realized that I need you. I—!”
“I’m going back to Elena.”
Camille’s words stopped at my low murmur.
I decided to protect Elena. I’m going back to her. I’m going back to my master’s house.
I’m not misunderstanding the meaning of Camille’s words. I know about those feelings from that woman’s “knowledge.”
But even without that, I won’t walk with Camille.
“I… see.”
Camille closed his eyes, took a deep breath as if he had swallowed an iron lump, and when he opened his eyes, there was a strong light in his eyes that was different from before.
“Aria… fight me.”
“Fight?”
When I asked, unable to grasp the meaning of those words, Camille drew a spare Dagger instead of the Demon Sword Dagger.
“It’ll be adding insult to injury, but I need it. But… if I win against you, I’ll take you back no matter what you say.”
“…………”
I couldn’t understand that feeling, but I could understand the desire to settle things.
I have my own “wish.” I have a desire to fulfill it with my own power, not by wishing to a Spirit.
There’s no reason for me to accept the fight. But… his determination to challenge me to take me back seemed a little pleasing to me.
“Then, get serious.”
“Aria…”
Camille gasped at the “Intimidation” I emitted from my whole body as I drew the Black Knife and Black Dagger, and returned the spare Dagger, drawing the two Demon Swords.
“…I can’t hold back if I draw these.”
“Don’t worry.”
I heard that his Demon Swords sealed the level 5 Combat Art. If he unleashed it seriously, there was a possibility that I would die.
I suppressed my emotions deep in my heart and took a step forward.
“I’ll get serious too.”
“Tch!”
We stood about ten steps apart, facing each other with our weapons, like in a Western movie I saw in that woman’s “knowledge.”
The sweetness and weakness that Camille once had were gone, and I felt a strong spirit that I had never felt before. With that, he would be able to wield even borrowed Combat Arts perfectly.
We closed the distance, inching closer with our toes, the Intimidation we emitted filled the space, and the moment I narrowed my eyes slightly and a single drop of sweat that ran down Camille’s cheek fell from his chin, we kicked off the ground at the same time.
“—Release—”
“—Iron Rose—”
The pinkish-gold hair changed to a scorching ash-gray color, particles of light scattered like silver wings, and a strong Mana light was emitted from the two Demon Swords Camille held.
“—Dancing Ripper—!!”
The level 5 Dagger Art, a raging eight-hit combo unleashed from the left and right, was approaching.
There was no way to dodge the eight slashes with normal means. As with other Combat Arts, to withstand a Combat Art, you had to overturn it with even greater power.
Clang!!
“—Tch!”
Camille’s eyes widened at me, who had parried the first blow with a Dagger.
Even with the Iron Rose, it was difficult to dodge or receive the Dancing Ripper after seeing it. So, instead of receiving it, I read the trajectory with a sense that felt more than I saw, and struck back at maximum speed.
“Quicker!”
The accelerated slashes collided with Camille’s slashes as if attacking from here.
If Camille’s goal was a mutual kill, some of the slashes would have pierced each other’s bodies. But this was not a fight to take lives, but a warrior’s fight for pride.
The speed of the exchange increased, and Camille received the slashes I unleashed with his slashes. Camille, who had unleashed his sure-kill Combat Art but was instead attacked by me, didn’t retreat and instead stepped forward.
“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
Camille shouted, and the continuous attacks he unleashed wore down my spirit as I continued to read the trajectory. But Camille was being worn down as well.
Blood sprayed from Camille’s arm as he repeated his Combat Art in a continuous barrage instead of ending it after one strike.
Is he prioritizing pride over his wounds, Camille?
“Haaah!”
Turning his spirit into a shout, he unleashed a left and right blow with maximum strength, which met Camille’s Demon Sword, wielded by his bloodied arm still using his Combat Art.
While suppressing the Demon Sword, I took a step forward, closing the distance until we were almost touching, and slammed a headbutt into his brow.
Thwack!
“Gah!”
Rebounding from the impact, Camille fell backward, and I stomped on his chest, pointing the Black Dagger at him.
“Are you satisfied?”
“…Yeah.”
The match was decided. I sheathed the Dagger and helped Camille up with a hand I offered again. His face looked frustrated, but also a little clear.
If he’s satisfied, then that’s fine. That’s what the match was for.
Besides… it’s not really my place to say, but if he calms down, he might notice that Iseru, a half-elf girl who is the same Dark Elf and human hybrid as Camille, looks at him with a gaze that’s a little different from how she looks at her master.
With this, the Spirit’s reason for summoning me must be over. A distortion formed in the space, and Camille’s figure disappeared from the area.
A distortion also formed at my feet, and just as I thought I was about to be sent to Camille and the others, the Spirit’s voice suddenly echoed.
『Someone is interfering with this place.』
The white, misty scenery before me changed, and a tilted moon in the night sky jumped into my view.
Where is this? This isn’t the lowest level of the Dungeon? The Spirit said that someone interfered with that space. Is there someone who can do that to the space where Spirits, beings of transcendence, reside…?
A cool breeze brushed my cheek, and other than that, all I could see was a stone floor. As I looked around, wondering where this was, a cheerful girl’s voice called out from behind me.
“Welcome to the Dungeon’s ‘innermost depths,’ Aria.”
Aria-san, she went for the clean sweep.
And what is the identity of the girl who was in the “innermost depths”! (obfuscated)