Gozine

“I can’t let you go that easily…”

Chaeng!

For a brief moment, blades clashed against blades.
The swords of the two puppets and Ru’s sword sparked flames as they collided.
Ru effortlessly deflected their strikes without shedding a single drop of cold sweat.

In the end, Dantalion had no choice but to let Nox go.
It was all because Ru had momentarily demonstrated an explosive display of swordsmanship.
However, he remained utterly unfazed.

Because he knew Dantalion hadn’t given his all.
Moreover, Dantalion merely wore an amused, mischievous smile, showing no sign of concern.

“Hoo. Interesting. You might just make for a fascinating new test subject.”

“As expected.”

Ru responded as if he had anticipated this.

“The two demons you brought were merely humans—former strong ones, reborn as demons through a medium.”

“Sharp eyes. Correct.”

Dantalion chuckled hoarsely.

“Indeed. These were once human. Among them, the strongest. A temporary imitation of the Marvas family’s necromancy, allowing them to be summoned as demons, even if only briefly.”

“You exploited the dead?”

“Precisely. Of course, we don’t have the absurd ability of the Marvas family… but even temporarily, having such powerful allies isn’t a bad thing. You could call them the fruits of experimentation.”

Ru didn’t reply.
He wasn’t particularly surprised.
From the moment he crossed blades with the first puppet—a faceless, demon-shaped marionette that closed the distance—he had already realized.

The identity of the enemy standing before him.

Ru realized. These were once human beings. What kind of existence were they.
A quiet voice escaped his lips.

“Glint von Zehard.”

“Oh my. You figured it out?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t recognize my own master’s swordsmanship?”

“Haha, as expected of one of the continent’s top warriors.”

Dantalion spread his arms in an exaggerated gesture.

“Correct. This is Glint von Zehard. The knight captain of a fallen nation, the one who took you in and raised you.. a genius knight. A figure close to the founder of spatial swordsmanship. So, I thought he’d make the most beautiful gift for you.”

Anyone else would have been consumed by rage, their vision reddening at this point.

But Ru showed no reaction.
Even as his master’s corpse was desecrated before him, he remained silent.
The hostility in his eyes was unmistakable, but that was all. His demeanor was no different from facing any other enemy. To this, Dantalion, for the first time, looked slightly taken aback as he studied Ru.

“Strange… A human you shared bonds with. No, your very master. How can you remain so calm? You’re quite the odd one yourself.”

“I don’t think that’s something I need to discuss with a demon.”

“This… Don’t tell me, you.”

Dantalion smirked as if he’d just realized something.

“You don’t feel emotions, do you?”

**********

“I have something to say to you both.”

Eleanor and Zitri.
I bought both of them and moved to the edge of the village, where the enemy’s attacks couldn’t reach.
More precisely, an area closer to the dungeon. There, I thought.
Is it really right for me to bring this up now?

Of course, escaping the village was nearly impossible.
In fact, it couldn’t even be ruled out that Ru buying us time was merely part of Dantalion’s entertainment.

Moreover, though I didn’t know the details…
Ru’s expression had been deeply meaningful.

Why?

I didn’t understand the reason.
Ru, who never wavered—not even until he was sending me away. Thus, I tried not to dwell on it, but it wasn’t easy.

There had been a hint of urgency in his actions.
Just why?

‘No. I should think about this later.’

At least, I needed to ensure their safety first.
I hesitated for a moment.

Then, Zitri spoke first.

“Young Master, you need our help, don’t you?”

I felt my pupils narrow. Without realizing it, I lifted my head.
Zitri continued.

“I couldn’t hear it clearly, but… I caught some of what Sir Ru was saying. That there’s something you need to rely on us for. That it might put us in danger.”

“…That’s right. It’s something that could endanger you. You might even die. You’re free to refuse. So, can you answer me honestly? To join me in conquering the labyrinth…”

“What, is that all? I thought it was something serious.”

Eleanor placed a hand on her chest and spoke.

“In these chaotic times, everyone on the continent is risking their lives anyway. I’m a merchant, but I’ve always lived that way.”

“This is different from such a thing!”

I unknowingly shouted.
It was a typical, near-futile reaction, driven by worry.

But.
I belatedly noticed Eleanor’s trembling body. I realized she had spoken that way to reassure me.

Amidst the swirl of guilt and the urgency to help Ru.
Zitri added her own words.

“I feel the same. Risking my life… Of course, it’s frightening. But what matters most to me is your safety, Young Master.”

“Zitri. You don’t have to be my maid anymore. If the future head of the Rovelia family were to die meaninglessly here..”

“Whether it’s meaningless or not is for me to decide, Young Master.”

For the first time, Zitri cut me off, her voice firm.

“I don’t regret a single moment of serving you. Even when I didn’t trust you at first, I thought you couldn’t be a bad person. And after you saved me, I was certain—I’d do anything for you. …Please give me a chance to help you, young master.”

Eleanor tried to speak too, but Zitri’s resolute tone made her press her lips shut.

“Do you only need one person? For the labyrinth?”

“Yes. We can’t all go in. But there’s one critical condition. And you should know this.”

I hesitated before continuing.

“The person who enters the labyrinth with me… must be someone who loves me. So, I need you to be honest.”

I clenched my teeth.

“I don’t fully understand what it means, but the Captain said that unless the person who enters loves me, we won’t survive the first mental corruption. We won’t overcome the trial.”

“…That’s what you were worried about?”

Eleanor sighed, looking incredulous.
Zitri, too, stared at me with a similar expression.
A gaze that is somewhat pitying.

Why are they looking at me like that?

In such a dire situation….

Eleanor cut off my thoughts.

“No, is there anyone here who doesn’t love you?”

[The trait ‘Prodigy of Acting’ wavers.]

My face burned unconsciously.

What is she saying in this situation?

**********

Noah von Trinity.
Astrid von Kaliud.
Luna.
Theo von Reinhaver.

Ulysses von Fritschel.

Five of the continent’s Seven Stars had gathered here.
The location of their secret meeting was none other than the Reinhaver family’s reception room.

Dozens of layers of soundproofing magic ensured their discussion would never leak.

Thus, they could speak freely about the direst of matters.
The worst problem they now faced—one with no apparent solution.

Amidst the heavy silence, Noah was the first to speak.
In her adult form, she exuded an almost sensual aura.

“So. you’re saying his resurrection is inevitable, Astrid?”

“Yes.”

Astrid, sitting at the corner of the rectangular table with her arms crossed, confirmed.
This was a grave matter. The topic at hand was none other than the fragments of the Archduke and his impending resurrection.

“Baal’s revival… If it truly happens, the casualties will be beyond comparison to anything before.”

Ulysses spoke calmly, her fists clenched tightly.

“Even survivors would experience hell. That’s what it means for the Demon Realm to open.”

If a massive gate connecting the Demon Realm and the human world were to open?

Those who had once sealed the complete Paimon.
Especially Noah and Theo, understood the severity all too well.

Luna asked.

“How powerful is Baal? Is he that strong that we couldn’t handle him even if all of us here united?”

“That’s right.”

An immediate answer came from Theo’s mouth.

In that moment, the room was enveloped in silence.

Because, unfortunately, it was the truth.

“Even though the Creator God Arden personally intervened, the opponent was only broken into pieces of soul. Even for us. No, even if not just us, but the first-generation family heads all gathered together, it would still be difficult to deal with this opponent. If only Emperor Esteban had been in his right mind, maybe it would’ve been fine.”

“But he’s dead. Thanks to the demon attacks. The first prince Louis… That guy made a foolish choice.”

Noah took over. Luna couldn’t help but swallow unconsciously.

‘A formidable enemy that couldn’t be dealt with even if the first-generation family heads gathered. Just how powerful is Baal?’

“And that’s not all. Baal is a spirit. Physical attacks can’t destroy him. He’ll just revive in the underworld and prepare to invade again. This hellish cycle will repeat endlessly.”

Astrid pointed it out precisely.

This was a sensitive issue.

The Underworld.
Even those who committed sins, even demons, in the end return to the underworld and their souls are extinguished. However, high-level souls sometimes resist annihilation.
This was something only monsters like Baal or Belial among the Grand Dukes could manage.

‘The problem is that Baal is the one we’re facing.’

Theo sank into thought.

If Baal manifested in this world as an intangible spirit, they could never cut him down. Neither magic nor swords could guarantee victory.

After a long silence, Theo dropped a bombshell.

“If he had a physical form, could we destroy him completely? Astrid?”

“…It’s possible. Theoretically and practically. But.”

“There’s no one capable of withstanding the level of that soul. Also, for it to be completely destroyed, we must be the ones to cut it down. Honestly, it’s close to impossible. Fundamentally, one would have to share even the demonic nature and mana traits of a demon.”

Noah said this, but Theo gave a small nod.

“It might be possible. To defeat Baal.”

Noah clicked her tongue, looking at Theo as if puzzled.

“Just where in my explanation did you even get that idea?”