Chapter 325
Dungeon.
An unknown space that cannot be explained by any modern academic knowledge.
It is known to occur naturally without any particular causality, and is connected to a third space that does not exist on the continent.
Many scholars have been conducting continuous research to uncover the secrets of dungeons, and as a result, one of the greatest inventions born from it is the technology called 'Subspace'.
Of course, they have only uncovered a very small secret of the dungeon. The reason 'Endolas Vaudeville's' ability was selected as one of the continent's ten greatest mysteries is because of its groundbreaking ability to create a sort of miniature dungeon.
Such dungeons are scattered throughout the continent, and according to Loraine, there are people who actually live inside these dungeons.
They control access to the dungeon entrance with an unidentified phenomenon called 'Ring of Blood', and if an unpermitted person approaches, all the blood in their body is said to boil violently until they die.
Because of its thorough isolation, where no army or law enforcement can enter, it has become a den of criminals and a pit of evil.
The Alliance had been leaving it alone for a while, but recently, it was reported that an extremely dangerous criminal passed through the Ring of Blood.
In response, the Alliance requested Keyzen to dispatch a necromancer to lift the Ring of Blood, and it is said that Sillage, the top expert in the Haematology Department, has gone there.
Currently, the size of the Ring of Blood has been reduced by nearly half, and it is expected to be completely removed within the year.
Simon, who had been listening to Loraine's story with great interest, asked a question.
"Who is that extremely dangerous criminal?"
Loraine narrowed her brows and gave Simon a flick on the forehead. Simon let out an "Ah!" and covered his forehead.
"Enough already. Even Professor Sillage's mission itself is top secret. How much more do you need to pry before you're satisfied? Are you an investigator from headquarters or something?"
"....…"
She was right. Simon lowered the hand that was covering his forehead.
"Then, will we be able to see Professor Sillage next year?"
"Probably. Of course, the choice will be up to the current professor, Professor Walter, but since Professor Sillage is his mentor, I think he'll yield. He'll likely return to the campus next year."
Walter will step down from his position as Haematology professor.
Will this uneasy feeling end when they become second-years? Just imagining it made Simon feel a little better for a moment.
"Then, I also…."
"Hm?"
Loraine tilted her head slightly.
"There's something I want to ask you."
"Eh? M-me? Ask me anything."
After hesitating for a moment, glancing around here and there, she finally spoke in a very small voice.
"What do you think about the Keyzen headquarters?"
"...?"
'Keyzen headquarters, out of nowhere?'
From Simon's perspective, it was a completely unexpected question.
Her crimson eyes stared fixedly at him, as if waiting for an answer.
"C-can I be honest?"
"Yeah. Honestly."
He couldn't guess the intention of the question at all.
Was it because she was Neftis' daughter and wanted to know what the general student opinion was?
"They may be working hard in their own way, but… from a student's point of view, they're the axis of evil."
Simon decided to just speak his mind.
"Whenever headquarters interfered in any test, something always went wrong. It would either become too difficult or just weird. I think performance evaluations conducted directly by professors are far more stable."
In fact, this was what most Keyzen students thought.
Feeling satisfied that he had spoken on behalf of all students, Simon's mood improved.
"....…"
And only after seeing Loraine's expression did he realize he might have answered wrong.
She wasn't angry or upset.
It was more like her expression was saying, 'That's not it.'
"Then, what do you think about the Ivory Tower?"
Loraine asked again, her voice tinged with a hint of impatience.
"...I just don't have any particular thoughts."
He really didn't.
Once, they had tried to target his position as a Legion Commander, but that was all in the past.
It was just the hometown and base of Maelyn and Serne. That was about it.
But when Simon saw Loraine's expression turn displeased, he quickly added,
"B-but, I do think the Ivory Tower is too old and rigid, so it feels like it would be suffocating to live there. I've heard from Maelyn a few times, and it sounds stifling."
"!"
At last.
Loraine's eyes sparkled.
"Do you really think so?"
"Yeah."
Thankfully, she seemed satisfied, and Simon felt relieved.
"Alright, let's stop talking about this and focus on the game."
Loraine nodded and looked around the banquet hall.
"I wonder if the Pig Princess hasn't shown up yet?"
"Seems like it."
The rules of this game are extremely simple.
The 'Knight' protects the Pig Princess.
The 'Assassin' kills the Pig Princess.
Simon was closely observing the animals. In fact, this time was meant for the 'Knights'.
By talking to the animals, they could identify 'Assassins' acting unnaturally.
All the animals here are actual characters from the fairy tale "Animal Kingdom". By knowing the characters' personalities and backgrounds and asking about them, they could gradually narrow down the suspects.
'But the assassin kids are really good.'
No matter how he looked, there were no animals that stood out.
Rather than staying still to avoid mistakes, all the animals were wandering around, chatting casually. The 'Sluggish Duck' character was just hiding and spacing out alone, but that was their original concept.
The two students acting as assassins must have memorized the fairy tale down to the last detail.
'This game's theme is a psychological battle using fairy-tale logic.'
It tests the participant's judgment, reasoning, and assassination skills as a necromancer.
But this was only the prelude, and the real stage began when the 'Pig Princess' appeared.
"Honored guests! The Pig Princess is entering!"
Right on cue, the protagonist appeared.
All the animals rose from their seats. Simon and Loraine also stepped forward.
At the center of the banquet hall, descending the luxurious stairs that connected the third floor to the hall, was a fat pig walking on two legs, her belly protruding, taking heavy steps one by one.
"Ohohoho! Thank you all for coming!"
The Pig Princess elegantly waved her hand to the other animals. At her side were two dogs armed with weapons.
'They can't attack right here.'
Simon was already turning to scan the other animals. It would be difficult to kill that thick-necked Pig Princess in a single strike from a distance.
And the assassins knew the fairy tale well.
The most effective assassination method was poison. They would likely take out poison they had learned in Toxicology from subspace and attempt to poison her. Since the Pig Princess' gluttony was part of the setting, no one would stop her from eating food.
"Pig Princess! Lord Horse greets you!"
"Ohohoh! I heard you were busy!"
Several animals greeted her. The Pig Princess complained that she was tired from her weight and shaky legs, then immediately went to her seat.
A spacious spot on a round sofa was her seat. She sat down, and animals gathered around to flatter her.
"Ohohoh! There are even humans with cute ears!"
The Pig Princess also showed interest in Simon and Loraine.
"Since they walk on two legs, they must have been let in, but next time, I should change the kingdom's law! Animals that walk on two legs are superior. But humans are not!"
"That is truly a wonderful idea, Princess!"
"Ohohohoh!"
Without even realizing they were being protected from assassins trying to kill them.
Simon let out a sigh, but, according to the story, there was nothing he could do.
'If I want to guard her closely, the standard tactic is to win over the Pig Princess' favor first.'
Having read the fairy tale, Simon knew exactly what to say to win the Pig Princess's favor.
—Tap, tap.
He also knew the words she liked to hear, and what food she enjoyed.
—Tap, tap.
However, the assassins would try to interfere with them winning her favor.
When they interfered, if their words didn't match the character's personality, or contained excessively malicious expressions, it would be worth suspecting them as assassins.
Common sense from the fairy tale.
The psychological warfare that follows.
All of that was fine.
But was there really any need to follow the rules? There was an easier way.
That was—
Ssschk!
"If you value the Princess' life, stand back."
It was to use Loraine's strength.
Without warning, Loraine barged in and pointed a crimson dagger at the Pig Princess' neck.
"Kyaaaaaa!"
"P-p-princess!"
The sudden hostage situation threw the animals in the banquet hall into a commotion.
"What are you waiting for? Not moving back?"
Loraine pressed the dagger against the Pig Princess' neck, making a slight cut. As blood trickled down, the Pig Princess squealed and burst into tears.
"Blood! Blood! Bloooood!"
At that moment, Loraine's faint, fishy smile looked villainous even to Simon. He also pulled out a short sword from subspace and pointed it at the Pig Princess' neck.
"Everyone, step back."
"You humans dare! After being allowed into the banquet hall, how could you do such a thing to the Princess!"
The dogs shouted. The Pig Princess, sobbing as blood streamed down her neck, cried out,
"I told you to step back! Hurry, step back! I'm going to die, I'm going to die! Squeeeeal!"
At the Princess' command, the animals quickly stepped back. Simon couldn't help but wonder what kind of expression the assassins were making right now.
'With assassins among them, and more importantly, the risk of poisoning, ironically, the most perfect way to protect the Pig Princess is a hostage situation.'
The situation was reversed.
Simon's gaze shifted upward.
'We just have to hold out for thirty minutes.'
Once the Pig Princess appeared, a timer had started. Two minutes had passed so far.
'Come out.'
Simon opened subspace and released skeletons. Loraine, catching on, also sent out skeletons to surround the Pig Princess.
"A-a monster!"
The animals, in shock, stomped their feet in panic.
Simon spoke.
"Any rash actions will harm the Princess. We have only one demand. Everyone here must leave the mansion. If our demand is met, the Princess will remain safe."
"Y-you vile humans!"
"I knew we shouldn't have invited humans to the banquet!"
Hearing this, Loraine made another small cut on the Pig Princess' skin with her dagger. A drop of blood trickled out, making the Pig Princess roll her eyes back and scream.
"What are you waiting for! I told you to leave the mansion! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!"
At the Princess' order, the animals began retreating hesitantly.
But one animal was especially slow. It was a sheep, with fluffy fur sticking out between the suit it wore.
"E-everyone, wait a moment!"
The sheep's voice trembled.
"If we all leave the mansion, the Pig Princess will be in even greater danger! Who knows what these humans will do to her in here!"
Simon smirked.
'Nice try, assassin.'
If all the animals left the mansion, there would be no chance to assassinate her.
Ssschk!
At that moment, Loraine moved her dagger and made a shallow cut under the Pig Princess' chin.
"Still stalling? Should I show you what happens?"
Simon gave her a signal to calm down a little.
Why did she seem so excited about this?
"Sq-sq-squeeeeeal! Hurry and get out! Don't provoke these people, just get out already!"
The Pig Princess kept shrieking frantically, and a fox in a suit hugged the sheep's arm.
"Calm down, okay? Look at that human woman's eyes. Those are the eyes of someone who's really unhinged."
"...Haa, seriously."
The sheep swatted the fox's arm away, then stomped its foot hard on the ground.
Tap-tap-tap-tap!
Then, with Darkness rising all over its body, it charged.
"!"
With its massive body, the sheep smashed aside the skeletons blocking its path and closed in on Loraine, throwing a punch—
Baaang!
Simon's body flashed in between them, delivering a kick.
"You finally show your true colors, assassin."
"Khuh!"
The sheep barely blocked the attack and slid back, dropping to one knee.
"Loraine, I'll leave the rear to you."
"Mm."
Tap-tap.
A cat, already moving along the ceiling, was dropping toward the Pig Princess. Loraine went to intercept it.
Ssschk!
Clang!
Simon moved his skeletons, pointing their swords at the Pig Princess to keep her from escaping, and fought the sheep assassin.
"Damn it!"
Whish! Whish!
The sheep in a suit swung its fists wildly.
"You crazy bastards! Since when do knights kidnap the princess!! Isn't this against the rules?!"
"We're just taking the most rational approach."
Simon ducked under a punch and wrapped Darkness around his right hand.
< Hongpeng's Original – Impalement >
At the same time, Darkness wrapped around the sheep's right hand as well.
< Hongpeng's Original – Impalement >
Claang!!
The two Impalements collided in the air, producing an ear-splitting boom. The shockwave shattered plates and cups around them.
"Graaaah!"
The sheep immediately wrapped its left fist with Impalement and swung again.
Even in a transformed animal's body, it was handling it with considerable skill. Likely a Magical Combat major.
'I'll use that big body against you.'
Simon closed the distance, slipping past the sheep's side. Dodging the incoming punch, he lightly pressed his palm against its waist.
'Even if it's still incomplete…!'
A candle flame lit up in Simon's mind.
The moment when you snuff out a candle, the moment you release Darkness— that technique.
As Simon's palm brushed past the sheep's body, it rippled with Darkness.
< Simon's Original – Candle Break >
Simon extended his arm fully, shoving forward with his palm. Darkness crackled like a wall of lightning, spreading out in a circular wave.
Boooooom!
"Guhh!"
Saliva sprayed from the sheep's mouth as its massive body took the heavy blow, lifting off the ground.
'I did it! It works in actual combat!'
A smile of deep satisfaction formed on Simon's lips.