Chapter 35
“Before that, I have one question.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Looking at Lillian, I addressed the most fundamental issue.
“Does the Master know about this?”
“This is for the Master.”
Lillian answered with a confident face, saying she hadn’t reported it because it was for the Master’s sake. I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
At the same time, a powerful pressure emanated, causing the two S-rank Hunters to collapse to the ground with pained expressions, while Lillian clutched her chest and fell to one knee.
“You’re wrong from the start. We are the Master’s subordinates, and using the excuse of acting ‘for the Master’ is unacceptable.”
“Wh-what do you mean by that…?”
“It means your priorities are misplaced.”
I’ve had many subordinates like Lillian before, all of whom carried out actions claiming they were for my benefit.
Even tasks I didn’t desire.
With my personality, I ruthlessly cut off even the most intelligent subordinates when they went against my will. However, the kind Master wouldn’t act that way.
Still, a Master is a Master.
“Report to the Master first.”
*
*
*
As soon as I woke up, Lillian delivered shocking news.
“So, you’re saying the reason the Awakener Association has been so kind to me is because you took control of it?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“……”
She began confessing everything she had done, and it was far more than I’d anticipated.
However, among her actions were things I hadn’t wanted.
“It’s strange that you’re bringing this up all of a sudden. Did something happen?”
“The Heavenly Demon suggested I should inform the Master first.”
Lillian spoke while glancing at me nervously, clearly aware of her mistakes.
Praise where it’s due, and punishment where it’s deserved—that’s the proper way.
Taking control of the Association was commendable.
But deceiving me and carrying out unwanted tasks needed to be addressed.
If I didn’t, it would happen again.
“Nika.”
【Education?】
At the mention of “education,” Lillian flinched and immediately knelt down, pressing her forehead to the ground, repeatedly apologizing. For a moment, I felt my resolve waver, but the Heavenly Demon’s words steeled my heart.
“And she suggested I become an S-rank Hunter.”
“…Nika.”
【Education!!!】
“Aaaaah! I’m sorry!!!”
As Lillian was dragged off by Nika, I sat down for tea with the Heavenly Demon. Her expressionless face made it impossible to discern what she was thinking.
“Don’t hesitate to ask if you’re curious about something.”
“Do I look like that? Well then, I do have a question—why did this suddenly happen?”
She set down her tea and looked at me. Her eyes reflected something unspeakable.
“I had a subordinate like that once. Someone who acted on their own under the guise of working for me.”
The tea in her cup began to bubble and boil.
“And in the name of working for me, they annihilated an entire village. A village full of women and children.”
“……”
“So I killed them. Touching women and children is something I will never forgive—it’s one of my convictions.”
Her hand, which had been recalling the past, trembled ever so slightly. Was that my imagination?
When I reached out and took her hand, she startled like a rabbit, looking at me with an array of expressions.
“Are you okay?”
“It’s all in the past. Don’t worry.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“T-that said, could you let go of my hand?”
She really is weak to physical contact.
A little while later, Lillian and Nika returned, with Lillian sniffling.
She swore never to act on her own again without my approval. After reassuring her that she only needed to consult me about important matters and could handle the rest herself, she looked at me with sparkling eyes, which felt a bit overwhelming.
Lillian is smarter than me. I’m sure she’ll manage just fine with this.
“Shall we get started?”
Today is the day to finally challenge the 20th floor.
Known as the “Cursed Zone,” it’s said to be more difficult the stronger you are. Today, I’ll find out why.
“Enter.”
【Entering the Tower.】
Upon reaching the massive entrance of the Tower and opening the door, a message appeared.
【Would you like to enter the 20th floor?】
Accept / Decline
“Accept.”
【Entering the 20th floor.】
───────────────
【20th Floor Mission: Defeat the Golem King!】
【Time Limit: Within 72 hours.】
【Restrictions: Swordsmanship, Magic, and Footwork are not allowed.】
【Restricted Equipment: Swords, Staves, Gauntlets, and Gunblades.】
【Special Rules: Awakener’s Oath, Vow of Silence.】
───────────────
【Due to the Awakener’s Oath, the stronger you are, the more powerful the boss monster becomes.】
【Due to the Vow of Silence, any information about the 20th floor cannot be disclosed to the outside world.】
【Due to the Golem King’s special effects, you cannot forfeit the challenge.】
Reading through the messages, I finally understood why no one had any information about the 20th floor.
It was because of the Vow of Silence.
More importantly, forfeiting isn’t an option? So it’s either victory or death. That explains why this floor is called the Cursed Zone.
If you can’t kill it, you die.
Perhaps this world wants to make it abundantly clear that it isn’t a game.
On the vast plains, our party prepared for what lay ahead. The problem, however, was the ban on swordsmanship and magic.
The Heavenly Demon said she would use martial arts instead, while Lillian began to manipulate the stars above, saying she would rely on astrology.
“I draw power from the stars as a witch,” she said cheerfully, her voice a little too bright—perhaps a side effect of her recent education.
“All right, let’s start scouting.”
“Please do.”
Using Lillian’s astrology, we pinpointed the boss monster’s location and began heading in that direction.
Suddenly, the Heavenly Demon stopped us, throwing a punch that produced a sound a human hand shouldn’t make.
The ground erupted with an explosive noise, scattering the remains of hidden golems.
“So, there’s an ambush.”
“Please give us a heads-up next time.”
“I’ll do so in the future.”
It seems the Heavenly Demon also needs more education, judging by the exchange of glances between me and Nika.
*
*
*
How long had we been walking?
The generous time limit made sense now.
The 20th floor’s boss was located so far away that we’d need two more days of travel. It explained the 72-hour limit.
When I asked the Heavenly Demon how much longer it would take, she estimated two days. Nika, carrying me, took to the skies, speeding up our journey until the Golem King finally came into view.
Even from this distance, its sheer size was staggering.
How are we supposed to hunt something that massive on this floor?
And we’re not even allowed to give up.
After setting me down in a safe location, Nika charged toward the Golem King. In response, countless golems emerged with a single roar from the boss.
Yet none of them could withstand Nika’s claws, as she began mowing them down. The Golem King joined the fray, engaging in a kaiju-like battle with Nika, who had now grown in size.
Despite their ongoing clash, there was no resolution in sight.
“Is the Golem King unusually strong?” I asked.
“No, that’s not it,” Lillian replied, trembling yet managing to speak.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not that the Golem King is strong.”
Still quivering, Lillian explained.
“Nika is just toying with it.”
As if to prove her point, the Golem King was suddenly torn in half.
【I’m bored now!】
The Golem King was shattered into countless pieces as Nika roared triumphantly.
At this point, it felt as though Nika was the boss monster and the Golem King was my summon.
Yet, since the clear message hadn’t appeared, it wasn’t truly over.
That’s when a tiny golem emerged from within the Golem King’s body.
Smaller than its original form, this must be the real core.
Suddenly, without warning, it moved, tearing off one of Nika’s arms in an instant.
“N-Nika!!”
I rushed toward her, but Lillian and the Heavenly Demon held me back.
“Please calm down, Master.”
“Steady yourself.”
“But Nika—!”
My eyes met Nika’s, and her gaze seemed to reassure me that she was fine.
【Get away.】
The moment Nika’s voice rang out, the Heavenly Demon grabbed both Lillian and me, running away as fast as she could.
“W-what’s going on?!”
“We must escape!”
“Faster, we need to move faster!”
Turning my head, I caught sight of something behind us.
A pitch-black mass was swallowing the world whole.
What on earth is that…?
—
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