episode_0014

Embarking on dungeon exploration to obtain the Devil’s Sword,

Honestly, I was quite looking forward to it now.

“It feels like playing an RPG game, doesn’t it?”

Because since I merged with the hero Ronan, I had no memory of enjoying a real adventure.

When I opened my eyes, the story was already in the middle to late stages, we had split from the party, lived a rushed life, and felt like it was over before it even began.

“I thought it was a trashy third-rate game, but there were some good aspects, right?”

To someone like me, being able to explore this dungeon gave a pretty fresh feeling.

Starting Ronan’s adventure anew made me extremely excited.

“Hmm… I didn’t expect this…”

But… what kind of situation is this exactly?

I tried to enter the dungeon, but I was immediately blocked.

“To progress through the dungeon, you need at least one male and one female party member each.”

An alert message appeared before my eyes.

It seems that to enter this dungeon, one must pass through such rules.

“Why does a dungeon have such entry rules like this?”

No, why do you need one man and one woman to enter the dungeon?

I thought maybe they wouldn’t let you in based on combat power, but what’s with the restriction on gender for entry?

“Ugh, I was wrong to expect anything from a trashy third-rate game.”

At first, it didn’t make sense to me. But considering that the foundation of the world I merged with is a game, it kind of made sense.

Maybe it’s my fault for expecting common sense in a game.

“Just let me in. I can do it alone.”

“You cannot enter alone. The entry requirement is a minimum of two people.”

“No, just let me through. I’ll count as two people by myself.”

“Even if you say so, it’s not possible.”

I wanted to just move past this somehow…

The system seemed adamant about not allowing this one thing.

“Ah. What am I supposed to do about this?”

In the end, one way or another, I had to follow the system.

No matter how strong I may be, I can’t defy the system of this world.

“Hmm, should I look for a partner in the Demon Army?”

If so, I need to find a female party member… But it’s harder than I thought?

This rule would make it much more challenging than facing ordinary enemies.

“I don’t have any close friends in the Demon Army yet.”

I need to find a female party member somehow, but I didn’t have suitable candidates at the moment.

I hadn’t really engaged in social activities in the Demon Army.

“What should I do…”

The Demon Army didn’t exactly trust me much yet, and I hadn’t focused on building relationships due to my training or anything like that.

“I wanted to become closer after proving myself definitively after the war.”

After making significant contributions in the war, I wanted to become closer…

But my judgment had led to a very unfavorable outcome in this situation.

“And I can’t just take anyone to the tournament difficulty level.”

Moreover, given the difficulty level, the skills of the party members probably needed to be guaranteed to some extent.

Taking incompetent party members could lead to our deaths.

“Who should I take with me, really?”

Was there a party member who satisfied all these conditions?

I couldn’t help but think deeply about it.

“Ronan, are you in trouble by any chance?”

Suddenly, a woman appeared as if she knew about my situation.

Succubus Lili approached me with a smile, saying, “I’m here. Your convenient pet Lili is here…♡”

And finally, as if it was time for her to step up, she crossed her arms and pushed her large chest forward.

“If you ask me to, I will dedicate this body wholeheartedly for you, my master…♡”

With a bright smile, she seemed very excited to enter the dungeon from now on.

“…”

I glanced at Liri for a moment.

And then, like peeling off dirt, I pushed her away.

“Who do you think your master is.”

No matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t want to get involved with the psychopath Pingchaeng.

“I should try rescuing you from the Demon Castle.”

Maybe it would be better to go back to the Demon Castle and search.

“Sigh. You’re so mean, master…!”

Despite Liri’s tearful expression at my decision, I did not look back.

# # #

In the Demon Castle, I tried hard to find someone to take into the dungeon, excluding Liri.

There might be another strong one in the Demon Castle that I don’t know about.

With that in mind, I searched desperately, but unfortunately, the results were not good.

There was no demon suitable to take to the Torment difficulty dungeon.

“If there were such a demon, I would have made a pact with the Four Kings long ago.”

The lack of flaws in the Demon Army’s talent recruitment system felt truly regrettable.

“Please. I want to be a strength for my master.”

In the end, is she the only option left?

Watching Liri plead to follow me while holding onto my leg, I sighed.

“I want to work for my master.”

I had completely ignored her for a week.

I had subtly blocked her attempts to get close to me.

“I’ll do anything you ask, just give me a chance to please my master. Hiing♡”

During this process, Liri seemed quite impatient.

She seemed determined not to miss the opportunity at this moment.

“Sigh.”

Seeing Liri pleading to follow me while crying, I found myself in a slight dilemma.

‘Should I take her with me?’

It’s not that I feel sorry for her just because she makes that face.

The reason I’m hesitating seems to be more about the choice itself.

‘I can’t give up the Dark Sword.’

Since she satisfies the conditions of having some affection for me and being quite powerful, Liri seems to be the only choice.

If I don’t take Liri with me, I will have to give up the Dark Sword, Secrifa.

‘There’s no other way.’

Even so, giving up the Dark Sword doesn’t seem right, does it?

The Dark Sword will definitely be necessary in the upcoming war.

Before making a decision, I asked Liri why she was so fixated on me.

“Do you really want to follow me?”

“Yes…!”

“Why do you want to be my pet?”

“Well, of course, I want to be a strength for my master as a pet.”

“Why do you want to be my pet?”

“Well… you’re so strong and cool. Plus, very narcissistic… Heehee♡”

Liri listed the reasons why she likes me.

‘Ronan didn’t seem to like it that much.’

I somewhat understood.

In the game, Liri wasn’t interested in Ronan. Ronan must have been strong enough.

As much as she’s a pervert herself, she’s fixated on me because she likes perverts.

‘But am I really narcissistic?’

While succubi are said to have a keen eye for people when it comes to lust, I can’t agree with that part at all.

I’m just an ordinary person… How do I see people?

Tsk.

“Can’t you take me with you?”

Liri’s expression, which was sad just a moment ago, quickly turned into a happy one.

It seemed like she realized that my sudden conversation, which I had been ignoring all along, had turned in her favor.

“You’re much stronger than I thought…! Maybe not as much as the master.”

Seemingly determined not to miss this opportunity, Liri conjured a blue flame in her hand.

And she immediately sent that blue flame into the air.

Boom!

The blue magical powers bursting from the sky were quite powerful.

In just a few seconds, creating such magic without any hesitation was quite impressive.

“Well, because I was the Four Heavenly Kings in the game for starters.”

Regardless of what she disliked, Liri was indeed a highly skilled demon.

In fact, if I hadn’t joined the Demon King Army, it was certain that Liri would become one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

“There really wasn’t anyone as crazy as that bastard.”

After Ronan’s group killed the Four Heavenly King Drakukuras, Liri followed in the footsteps of the Four Heavenly Kings.

And thus appeared Liri, the Four Heavenly King who collected men’s peanuts, a crazy sadistic psychopath Four Heavenly King Liri.

“Well, at least not in that state yet.”

Knowing that, I harbored a sense of disgust towards Liri…

Surprisingly, Liri didn’t seem to have reached that state yet.

“Normally, shouldn’t she have changed by now?”

For some reason, I felt like the future might have changed.

Well, I still couldn’t completely relax, but for now, it was clear that Liri, the Four Heavenly King I used to abhor, was not the same.

“… Fine. Follow me.”

After much deliberation, I finally agreed.

The current Liri is not the same as the Liri back then, and besides, she can’t give up the Demon Sword Sekripa.

“If something happens, I just have to deal with it quietly.”

Also, well, right now I am much stronger than Liri.

“If you do anything strange, I’ll kick you out immediately. Got it?”

“Yes… I will obey whatever my master commands…♡”

Although I felt uneasy seeing the succubus responding somewhat excessively to my words, in the end, Liri became my party member.

“Yahoo!”

Finally achieving what she wanted, Liri happily jumped up and down in place.

“A date with my master…♡”

Seeming to think that her chance had finally come.

“In an empty dungeon, all sorts of things happened…♡ Huhuhihihi”

Continuing her happy delusions while even drooling.

What on earth was she thinking?

…”

While watching Liri in that state, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had made a wrong judgment after all.

Without time to ponder, it seemed best to finish quickly.

“Be quiet and follow me.”

“Yes.”

I took Liri and headed back to the dungeon.

It was time to truly explore the dungeon now.