episode_0011

“Ugh, this feels disgusting.”

Marin frowned as she held the torn-apart zombie corpse in her hand. The brutal dismemberment was Aria’s suggestion—a tactic to delay the undead’s regeneration by severing their limbs.

Of course, Marin was the one who had to carry it out, which meant she had to dig through rotting flesh and smear her hands with half-congealed, cold, blood-like sludge.

She swallowed back tears at the horrific stench clinging to her fingers, but no warm words of encouragement came from Aria.

“Who would build something like this beneath a cave? Were they trying to establish an underground kingdom?”

Even Marin, who was on the verge of sulking over Aria’s indifference, had to admit the underground section of the cave was bizarre. It felt as if an entire city had been transplanted beneath the earth.

The thought that something like this had been lurking beneath her feet all along sent a shiver down her spine. The only saving grace was the luminous crystals installed along the streets, providing enough light to see clearly.

At the city’s entrance, surrounded by towering walls, a weathered sign bore faded writing.

“Abaddon? Why is it written with a space?”

“The latter part is worn away.”

“Maybe it’s something like ‘Welcome’ or ‘Greetings’? You see those outside villages and towns all the time.”

“I doubt a city under the Demon King’s army would have such an open atmosphere…”

Aria, scanning for other clues, quickly led Marin inside.

“What’s wrong?”

“Undead soldiers.”

Peeking in the direction Aria indicated, Marin saw skeletal corpses shuffling around. A closer look revealed that the area outside the city was teeming with similar monsters.

“There’s a lot of them. They must’ve sent their forces to track us down.”

“Should we take care of them?”

“No. Making too much noise might draw him here. Avoid combat unless absolutely necessary.”

The two slipped past the undead horde and ventured deeper into the city. The interior was far brighter than the dimly lit outskirts, illuminated by streetlamps.

“If only undead lived here, they wouldn’t need light. Seems like there’s someone else besides Dullahan.”

“Anything’s better than just undead…”

“I wonder if you’d still say that with the Demon King right in front of you.”

Even Aria, who spoke so boldly, had never actually faced the Demon King. Her previous adventures had ended before reaching him, and the so-called “leader of the enemy forces” had never personally engaged in battle.

She could only assume, based on the savage and powerful generals she had fought, that the Demon King was something far more terrifying.

Despite Aria’s vigilance, they encountered no one as they moved through the city.

“Does no one live here?”

“I don’t get it. What’s the Demon King’s army even doing here?”

“Aria, looking for reasons in everything is a bad habit.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? Nothing in this world happens without a reason.”

When Aria voiced her genuine confusion, Marin scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Uhh… I just mean, don’t think too hard. Overthinking gives you a headache, y’know?”

Aria tilted her head at Marin’s words—dumber than expected, even for her.

But she soon turned her attention elsewhere. While walking, they had discovered a building that stood out from the rest. It was conspicuously well-lit, clean, and clearly inhabited.

“Wow, it’s pretty.”

Marin, with her (questionable) girlish sensibilities, marveled at the beautiful architecture. To Aria, it was gaudy to the point of being painful to look at, but who was she to judge another woman’s tastes?

“If there’s a place like this, a succubus wouldn’t be out of place. Maybe that old man wasn’t lying after all.”

“A succubus… How sexy do you think she’ll be? Uhehe, uhuhu, eheheheh—”

Aria stared blankly as Marin let out a perverted chuckle.

“You’re a woman too. Why are you so obsessed with the female form? Just touch your own body.”

“My body lacks the fullness of someone like you.”

Most women would at least have some shame about their figures, but Marin proudly thrust out her modest chest without hesitation.

Typically, dungeon exploration parties consist of at least three members: a vanguard, a rearguard, and a support who alternates between flanks. Marin was the vanguard, Aria the rearguard. The lack of a support was unfortunate, but they made up for it with skill.

For Aria, who had spent weeks clearing dungeons with just Ian, this was nothing new.

The two cautiously investigated the building’s interior. The layout resembled a brothel commonly found in red-light districts. Dozens of rooms lined the halls, each containing beds and equipment whose purpose was painfully obvious.

Whether out of ignorance or sheer desensitization, Marin paid no mind as she flung open every door.

The rooms were eerily empty—except for the last one. Its door was noticeably larger than the others.

They knew something was inside. Marin exchanged a glance with Aria and pulled the handle.

The spacious room was filled with opulent decorations. Luminous crystals cast a harsh glow, and piles of jewels reflected the light, nearly blinding them.

“What took you so long? At this point, you’d better have brought the highest quality—”

Something stirred beneath the blankets as the door opened. First came a glimpse of wavy pink hair, then fluttering wings. Though covered by the sheets, the succubus’s ample assets were impossible to ignore—along with the heart-tipped tail peeking out.

They immediately recognized her as the succubus the village chief had mentioned. Rubbing her eyes, still unaware of her visitors, the succubus grumbled without a care for her exposed state.

“Haah. Why aren’t you answering?”

A shoe suddenly slammed into her mouth, stretching it wide open.

Aria, the one who had kicked her, pressed down hard, pinning the succubus face-first into the bed. She then pressed an ice-cold blade against the demon’s neck.

“Let me make this clear. Shut up if you want to live.”

Gulp. The succubus’s throat bobbed audibly. Her lips trembled as her face paled. After a frantic nod, Aria removed the shoe from her mouth—prompting a stammered question.

“W-W-Who the hell are you?!”

“People hired to exterminate you.”

The blade traced the succubus’s cheek, drawing a bead of red. Seeing the genuine murderous intent in Aria’s eyes, the succubus stiffened, her mouth the only thing still moving.

“Who the—… Oh, I get it. That damn village chief, right? I knew he had rebellious eyes! Damn it, I should’ve killed him!”

Furious that a mere human elder had betrayed her, the succubus radiated killing intent—only for it to vanish the moment Marin flicked her forehead.

THWACK!

“KYAAAAAH!”

“What’re you getting mad for?!”

Hands on her hips, Marin puffed out her cheeks in a way that even Aria found oddly cute. The succubus, however, was in no state to appreciate it—not when her skull felt like it had been split open.

Clutching her forehead, she writhed on the bed until Aria stomped on her stomach to stop her.

“Let’s start with introductions. I’m Aria.”

“Why should I—… L-Lilith. My name’s Lilith.”

The succubus, Lilith, immediately deflated after meeting Aria’s glare. One look at those eyes told her: “If I say ‘screw you,’ she’ll actually gut me.”

“Lilith, I heard you’re looking for the porter from the Hero’s party. Why? Got a grudge?”

“Grudge? No, no! I-I was just ordered by the Queen to capture him!”

“Why would the Succubus Queen want him? And why was Dullahan guarding your hideout? Succubi aren’t part of the Demon King’s army.”

“Those questions are all connected. You do want to know, right?”

A glimmer of hope flashed in Lilith’s eyes as she saw a way out.

“Pick one: formal speech or casual. Stick to it.”

“Fine. Anyway, the answer to all your questions is the same. The Demon King and the Queen made a deal. If we seduce and recruit the Hero’s porter, the succubi will be accepted into the Demon King’s army. Dullahan’s protection was part of the mission.”

“That’s not enough. Why do you need the porter? What are you planning to do with him?”

“Hmm, can’t answer that. I need insurance. If I spill everything and somehow survive, the Demon King’s army won’t let a traitor live.”

Aria immediately drove her blade into Lilith’s shoulder, leaning close to whisper:

“Refuse to talk, and you die now. From my perspective, completing the job here isn’t a bad outcome.”

Blood gushed from the wound. Trembling under the pain and Aria’s icy tone, Lilith broke into a cold sweat. But even demons had pride. Forcing a twisted smile, she hissed:

“Threats won’t work. Whether I die now or later, I won’t betray them. Besides, you’re not clerics, are you? You didn’t beat Dullahan—you’re running from him.”

Aria’s eyes narrowed. Lilith was right. They were in a hurry. Ever since the porter appeared, Aria’s peaceful life had been upended.

Her bluff had failed. She debated killing Lilith then and there. A demon—and a succubus, no less. Part of her ached to slit the creature’s throat. But without intel, escaping would be even harder.

If Lilith was valuable enough, they could use her as a hostage to shake off Dullahan.

Her deliberation didn’t last long. Or rather, it couldn’t.

CRASH! The door exploded inward, shattering Aria’s thoughts. A headless knight stepped inside.

“So the rats have hidden themselves here.”

“Dullahan! What the hell?! You let these bitches in here—I almost died!”

“Unavoidable. The prey was too tempting to ignore.”

CLANG! Marin’s fist met Dullahan’s sword. The high-speed strike was too fast for the eye to follow, but Dullahan blocked it effortlessly.

“Marin! I told you not to fight!”

“We don’t have a choice now! It’s fight or die!”

She was right. In such close quarters, escape was impossible. Combat was inevitable. Steeling herself, Aria gathered mana.

“Hmm?”

WHOOSH! Aria unleashed a massive surge of magic, sending a gale through the room.

CRASH! Decorations toppled and shattered. A curtain whipped through the air, smothering Lilith’s face.

“MMMPH?!”

Choking, Lilith clawed at the fabric. BANG! Dullahan cleaved through the flying curtain, smashing the floor. Beyond the debris, Aria raised her hand toward him.

“Fine. If that’s how it is, I’ll settle our unfinished business here. Dullahan.”