episode_0100

In the past, Ian asked Galatea that.

“At that time, the demons were scattered… Speaking of beasts. Where are you and what are you doing?”

“They… .”

Galatea lowered her eyes as if depressed and smiled bitterly.

“If you are thinking that I am going to hunt them, I would like to inform you that it is a serious misunderstanding.”

“Oh, that’s not it. just… I have many thoughts. Anyway, let me tell you, there are several cases.”

“First, there are people who just try to live by hiding somewhere alone. I am tired of humans and even fellow beastmen. Although I was a traitor, there was a lot of conflict among the prisoners. They often hate beasts more than humans.”

“Secondly, survivors sometimes gather together and live together. It’s better to be with a group than alone.”

“And the third is… .”

Galatea sighed lightly and concluded.

“I do organized activities… .”

“Organization?”

Ian had a guess, but he didn’t show it.

“They joined forces to take revenge on the people who persecuted them. They call themselves ‘Lescentimants’… In terms of humans, it could be said to be a criminal group.”

“I see… .”

Le Sentimient.

Ian knew that name.

Even in the second round, it was a group of demons that were disrupting human society.

‘The true identity of that organization was the victims of a development plan… .’

In the past, I simply thought they were the devil’s limbs.

Because I didn’t know this much about Mine.

However, they were merely survivors of the Demon Soldier Training Project gathered for revenge.

In the second round, the demons disrupted society quite early, but they did not do so in the third round.

As the empire grew stronger, public power expanded, and a special profession called warriors emerged.

‘Hasn’t it disappeared…? .’

This episode was quiet so I thought it was gone, but that wasn’t the case.

Although it may be more difficult to go on a rampage than in the second round, it is clear that this is a group to keep an eye on.

Ressentiment.

Ian engraved that name in his mind again.

***

“Hmm… .”

A man who appeared to be wearing darkness was leaning against a tree.

He wasn’t alone.

There were many people around with similar behavior.

Although they covered their faces with black hoods, they had outstanding features that could never be hidden.

Horns protruding from the hood, inverted-jointed leg structures exposed beneath the robe, beast fangs shining softly in the moonlight, etc.

Its characteristics were also diverse.

The man’s characteristics were simple.

From head to waist, the upper body was a bear, and only the lower body was the legs.

The arms were long and jointed like a human’s, but the hands were the thick paws of a bear.

Something fluttered through the trees and came down next to him.

“Captain!”

She was a woman whose arms were wings, and who had a single feather on her head.

“It’s just like the footprints I saw! There’s a group of humans who arrived first!”

“… Is that so as expected?”

They came to a dungeon hidden in a cliff and stopped for a moment after discovering the footprints of Ian and his party who had arrived earlier.

“I guess he’s a hero, so what are you going to do?”

“What should I do? All humans kill.”

Those who had been quiet waiting for news also woke up.

The woman added, adjusting her wing feathers.

“That’s right. And what is this? Galatea was there?”

“Galatea… ?”

At that name, a group of shadows turned their heads towards her.

“That traitorous bitch is among the humans… ?”

“Yes. I’m sure.”

The man with the paws of a bear, the leader of Le Sentimants.

‘Rhamnus’ growled.

“… Immediately after solving the dungeon, there will be a gap in your power. Aim for that time and deal with it all at once. Heroes and hidden laboratories.”

***

“The interior is well preserved.”

Kati, who explored the dungeon first, reported.

I was certain about it, as I even listened to it in real time through the Ring of Subordination.

The dungeon’s internal structure, as well as the types and placement of monsters, matched my memories.

“… okay. You said you could feel it both outside and inside, right?”

Kati and Galatea nodded at the same time.

“Then this is the only place.”

I pounded on the uneven wall right next to the entrance.

-Plump.

A sound rang out as if the inside was empty.

As soon as I entered this dungeon, I felt a strange sense of discomfort, and the identity of that sense of discomfort was this wall.

“There was nothing like this inside, right?”

“Yes.”

After carefully scanning, Katy could not find any such suspicious device inside.

That means there is something hidden inside this secret door.

Since Galatea and Cati testified, it was probably a prisoner.

‘Is there a group of prisoners living in hiding here, and are those who left coming back? If that’s the case, I don’t really want to bump into it.’

First of all, they are also the same kin of Kati and Galatea.

I came to help the party solve this dungeon, not to make them fight the beastmen.

‘But to just enter, it would be crazy to leave danger behind. Above all, it could be a lescentimant who lives in hiding.’

But it was foolish to wait for them.

Because time will continue to pass while we don’t know when it will come.

The conclusion was simple.

“Kathi. Guard the entrance with Galatea. Mercy and Marlion will also stay here.”

Unless the first hero party comes, Kati alone is sufficient.

In times of emergency, you can also send telepathy using the Ring of Subordination.

“Yes.”

Galatea and Mallion also nodded.

Originally, the two were going to set up a simple camp outside and have them wait there, but when they said there was a beastman nearby, they had no choice but to bring them in.

“Don’t worry about me!”

Mercy shouted boldly.

“Vivian, Helena, Lucia. The three of you enter together with me.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

“I understand.”

“Kathi will be looking after you, so there is no need to be overly nervous. All you have to do is focus on fighting monsters.”

The three nodded again.

“Please take care of me. Kati.”

“Be careful.”

“Be careful! Be careful with the fruits too!”

After receiving greetings from Katy and Mercy.

After confirming that Galatea and Marlion were seeing off, we entered inside.

I took the lead and explained.

“This dungeon is a simple straight passage, open all the way to the final cavity. So just go straight.”

“The monster guarding the dungeon is the Ogre Warrior. Each individual has a large physique and good strength, but its speed is slow and its reactions are somewhat sluggish.”

So, a secret path could be dug here for the beastmen to stay.

“Originally, people divide their roles and live in groups, but not in this dungeon. Since each entity acts separately, you can destroy them individually.”

“Yes!”

“What is waiting in the cavity at the end of the dungeon will be a red ogre.”

At those words, tension subsided between the group.

Lucia also seemed to know about the Red Ogre.

Basically, they are enemies from A-level dungeons.

But there is nothing to worry about.

What appears as a basic monster in a grade A dungeon appears as a boss here, but its role is much worse than that of a small monster in a grade A dungeon.

I think it was a growing red ogre or something.

“As I said, I brought you here because I believed you could do it. So, there is no need to be scared already.”

“I understand… !”

“There is one thing I am particularly looking forward to. It’s up to you to play your respective roles.”

Vivian, a wizard, has a long range.

Helena, a priest capable of close combat, will assist Vivian by going back and forth between enemies.

Lucia, who moves quickly, will circle around the enemy and take turns with Helena to get their attention.

Since the opponent is only an Ogre Warrior, there will be no picture of Vivian being threatened.

In that case, the ideal composition would be for Helena and Lucia to attract attention and for Vivian to finish with a big attack.

However, they didn’t even tell us that.

Beyond this, they must work together to figure it out.

There is a big difference between someone instilling something and realizing it through trial and error among yourself.

Of course, I will give you some advice along the way.

Even in cooperation, dealing with multiple entities is inevitably different from dealing with one powerful entity.

What we will learn today is the latter case.

“ character. Now I will watch from behind.”

Lucia, Helena, and Vivian passed me in that order and went ahead.

“There are no traps here, so don’t worry.”

I walked after them.

***

Kati and Galatea were standing against the wall, guarding the entrance.

To each side was Mercy and Marlion.

It was an awkward situation to talk about, but fortunately Mercy was there.

“Hmph. That little guy, he’s so cute.”

Mercy said as she looked at the baby sleeping in Galatea’s arms.

Galatea and Marlion laughed at the same time.

“Thank you.”

“Have you decided on a name?”

“I’ve thought about it a few times, but I haven’t decided yet.”

“Hmm. Yeah, well, names are important. It would be a good idea to build it carefully.”

Mercy naturally led the conversation in that way.

“Mmmmm. Can you, too, transform?”

“Transformation?”

“This guy here can transform into a very cute cat. Right?”

“Yes.”

Galatea smiled and shook her head.

“I can’t do it. Not all prisoners are possible.”

“Hoo. I see? Is there some reason? That’s really interesting… .”

For some reason, Marlion looked downcast as if he felt sorry for him.

Galatea glared at her husband and tapped his shin with her toe.

“… Ah, hmm.”

Various conversations took place under Mercy’s leadership.

The ones who mainly talked were Mercy and Galatea, and Katy and Marlion occasionally chimed in.

Then, when the baby started talking or squirming in his sleep, everyone would smile happily and watch the baby.

Kati didn’t laugh, but she was similarly happy.

Of course, I was happy because of other thoughts.

‘A baby born between a human and a beast… .’

I thought back to the last time, when my lips were on Ian’s and we were wrapped together on the bed.

From that day on, Katy didn’t do anything special.

It was because I had to carry on as before, but it was also true that I felt somewhat disappointed.

As she calmly continued her delusions, something caught in her mind.

‘… Prisoner?’

Out there, I felt a large group of beastmen approaching.

This illusion wall was unique in that you couldn’t see in from the outside, but you could see out from the inside.

“What’s wrong?”

Galatea asked.

Kati did not answer, but gazed widely at the entire forest visible through the wall.

Everyone in the group felt that something was unusual and froze.

“What… . Ah.”

Galatea also belatedly sensed the beastman’s energy.

She carefully handed the baby over to Marlion.

A heavy silence fell.

Cut through the silence.

-Fit!

A white line was drawn in the dark forest.

Its target, which flew in with a sharp sound, was Galatea.

but.

-fault!

Katy caught it without even looking at it.

There was no time for Galatea to react.

Katy caught it and quickly threw it in the exact same direction it came from.

-Fit!

“Kwaaagh-!”

In the distance, the bushes shook and screams spread.

Kati recalled the feel of the object she had just held in her hand.

‘Throwing daggers. It was quite a skilled move.’

Afterwards, black new figures appeared one by one throughout the forest.

They all approached the entrance to the dungeon guarded by Kati.

When the large man in front stopped, the others also stopped.

The big shadow said.

“Galatea. You traitor… . You survived well.”

“This voice… . Rhamnus?”

“Okay.”

The man took off his hood.

Bear’s face.

And then a man with three lines of scratch scars over one eye revealed his face.

The exposed hand looked like a bear’s paw.

“It’s so nice to meet you. I never thought I would have this kind of luck. Today will be the day to kill both humans and traitors at the same time.”

“… … .”

Galatea had nothing to say.

Because they were justified in hating themselves.

However, it was unfair for the target to include Katy and his colleagues.

At one point, I even thought about giving my life to my colleagues.

However, it is different now that I have a child.

She found it funny how selfish she had become.

“They are called Lescentimants… This is a group of prisoners who were previously experimented on.”

Galatea briefly explained to Kati and Mercy, then added in a muttering tone.

“But why did you come here… .”

“You.”

Rhamnus said, pointing to Kati.

“Do you know what kind of bitch she is?”

“Yes.”

Kati nodded very calmly.

“But are they still together? ?”

“Yes.”

“Yes. Then you too will have to die.”

No sooner had those words ended.

From somewhere, a gust of wind came.

By the time Galatea realized something was approaching, it was too late.

There was a sharp claw standing in front of me.

Just before taking a picture of your own face.

The owner of the claws was a cheetah-like beast that became human.

She sensed death with wide-open eyes.

Time passed slowly.

The ghastly eyes of a cheetah beast excited at the thought of killing itself.

And Rhamnus’ indifferent gaze staring at it.

I could see it all clearly.

‘ah… .’

Next moment.

-Whoosh!

When Galatea blinked, there was nothing in front of her.

“Big black… !”

Before I knew it, the cheetah beast was lying on the floor.

Above, Kati was pressing the cheetah’s chest with her knees and strangling her with her hands.

“Kehehe… !”

Kati raised her head, carefully controlling her strength so as not to kill the cheetah.

Rhamnus faced the mysterious Kati.

Because the eyes were covered with an eyepatch, it was difficult to read the emotions on the face.

He muttered in disbelief.

“I caught it… ?”

Kati looked back and forth between Rhamnus and Cheetah and tilted her head slightly.

“Is this the fastest one?”

“What… ?”

“Did you send out the fastest one as the first hitter for a surprise attack?”

“… … .”

Rhamnus did not answer.

As Kati said, there was no one in the group as fast as that cheetah.

But it was stupid to reveal it as is.

“If that’s the case.”

-puck!

Kati struck the cheetah’s jaw and knocked it unconscious, then stood up and continued.

“You guys can’t beat me.”

“Cheeky… .”

“To me, it seemed too slow.”

She spoke the truth very calmly.

It was definitely not a bluff.

Even while wearing an eye patch, Kati was able to capture the cheetah’s movements with ease.

A series of processes in which he snatches the wrist of the cheetah that is attacking Galatea and pulls it, grabs its neck with the other hand, knocks it down, and presses its knee to its chest to subdue it.

Everything was easy, no need to be nervous.

“Just step away.”

Although we don’t even know each other in person, we are still the same kin.

I didn’t want to kill him.

“Unless you came here to die.”

but. If they don’t go away.

If I really wanted to interfere with Ian, I wouldn’t hesitate.

“When you save me, go.”

It was a very arrogant act of mercy.

However, Kati had the power to be arrogant.