Chapter 11
Lost in thought and walking absentmindedly, we had arrived at our destination before we knew it.
"Whoa."
"It looks even bigger up close."
A massive gray pillar whose top couldn't be seen even when tilting one's head all the way back.
The path leading to the dungeon. The Divine Spear, 'Road'.
However, in stark contrast to its grandeur, the entrance was pathetically small.
Actually, it was almost embarrassing to call it an entrance.
It would be more natural to call it a small hairline crack in the wall, or a hole dug out by a grave robber.
"That's the entrance?"
"It's much smaller than I thought."
"Doesn't it look like something broke out from the inside?"
"Oh. Now that you mention it, Raven, it does look like that."
Chatting lightly with the contractor, we walked a bit further and reached the end of a long line.
In front of the small entrance, barely wide enough for a compact car to squeeze through, guards in pauldron armor holding spears stood in pairs.
The guards mechanically repeated the process of warning adventurers who tried to cut in line, or receiving something from the adventurers in line, checking it, and returning it.
As I carefully observed the adventurers' equipment, the small ears twitching atop their heads, and their coyly swaying tails, it was suddenly our turn.
"Halt! Halt! P-Please show your adventurer certificate!"
A guard who looked to be around the same age as the contractor blocked my path.
They look like a middle schooler, yet they're already a guard. They must be quite capable.
"That's a problem. I don't have anything like that."
"...!"
"Stop messing with the guard and step aside."
"Alright."
I got scolded by the contractor for playing a useless joke and quietly took a step back.
"I'm sorry. Did he startle you? My familiar is a bit of a prankster."
"N-No problem at all!"
Letting out a quiet sigh, the contractor handed a translucent cylinder with a glowing engraving to the pale-faced guard, apologizing on behalf of her familiar's rudeness.
I felt like a dog barking at strangers.
'But, is that some kind of certificate case?'
I had imagined a highly romantic wooden token, so I was a bit disappointed when something like a smartphone-sized thermos came out.
'Still, keeping it in there should prevent it from discoloring easily.'
-Thump.
The guard took out the rolled-up scroll with trembling hands and checked it.
Finding no issues, he gave a light nod.
"0-Tier Adventurer Yuri and her demon familiar, Raven... Confirmed! Have a safe adventure!"
Adventurer Yuri, huh. Did she omit her last name on purpose? Well, she's a smart child, so she must have a plan.
"Have a good day, guards."
"T-Thank you!"
We passed by the guards, who were blushing at the contractor's small smile, and stepped inside the Divine Spear.
-Whoosh!
At that moment, a strong gust of wind blew from behind, as if pushing our backs.
The wind was fierce, as though a massive hole was torn open on the other side.
The contractor's robe, which she had taken off for the identity check, flapped wildly, so I grabbed it and pulled it down before it could flip over.
"Whoa...!"
As I was fixing her robe from behind, an ultimate exclamation of awe burst forth from the usually emotionless contractor.
Following the contractor's gaze, I turned my head and was quite surprised myself. No, I was incredibly surprised.
"This is... absolutely beyond words."
Incomprehensible symbols and crests were intricately woven along the smoothly polished silver-gray inner walls, radiating a faint light.
"It's my first time seeing such a massive magic circle with an organic structure."
Looking up at the ceiling, giant magic circles of all sorts of colors interlocked like precise cogwheels, slowly rotating in the air and emitting light.
Lowering my gaze a little, a colossal brain made of a blue hologram swayed gently up and down in the center, resonating with the surrounding magic circles.
'It looks just like cyberpunk.'
It looked more like a single gigantic system functioning organically.
I highly suspected that the goddess might have been a computer science major.
"To think such a world existed. I really was a frog in a well..."
"I guess I was no different from a crow trapped in a birdcage."
It was a continuous series of surprises and admiration.
The thrill and excitement for the unknown rushed into my tension-filled chest. Wanting to share this burning emotion, I naturally turned my gaze toward the contractor.
'Hmm?'
I saw the contractor with a cute expression, completely absorbed in awe and unable to take her eyes off the ceiling.
And then. Over that small shoulder.
A pure white hand creeping up stealthily like a snake hunting its prey.
'To approach so stealthily that the magpie didn't even notice...'
That might be a little dangerous.
-Click.
The pitch-black safety catch nestled in a corner of my mental world was disarmed.
The trigger was pulled, and my vision instantly dyed red.
At the same time, my right arm shot out toward the target with zero margin of error.
-Grab.
Caught it.
"Nyaak!?"
'...A cat beastman?'
Seeing the pointed ears violently twitching in panic and the tail wrapping unpleasantly around my arm, it definitely seemed to be a cat beastman.
For what reason did this stray cat creep up on my precious contractor while completely hiding its presence?
I was so curious it was driving me crazy.
"Ugh. Urk."
I gently grasped the slender, soft neck that fit perfectly in one hand and lifted her up high like a championship trophy.
"Raven?"
I calmed down my contractor, who was looking up at me with a bewildered expression.
"Do not worry. I am merely trying to check something."
Namely, what this insolent thing dared to try and do to you.
"Nyaaaak!!!"
As soon as I finished speaking, the gray-haired woman suddenly convulsed, thrashing about like a fish caught on a line.
Terrified eyes and drool dripping from her mouth. Her sharp claws dug deep into my wrist, as if trying to rip it apart down to the bone.
Does it hurt? It hurts me, too.
Really.
-Thwack!
-Thump!
-Smack!
Precise kicks calmly aimed at vital spots like my Adam's apple and ribs. Her physical capabilities seemed similar to the enhanced human who was the doctor's subordinate, but the finer details of how she used her body were different.
It was as if she knew exactly how to kill a person.
What is this? Is she some kind of killer cat?
'She's dangerous. This woman.'
I was triggering regeneration the moment I got hit. But it was consuming more bio-energy than I expected. What a waste.
"Who are you?"
"Nyaaagh! Ughhh...!"
-Whack!!!
I controlled my strength a bit to get an answer, but what came back wasn't a reply, but a full-force roundhouse kick to the back of my head. I was seriously worried that the back of my skull had caved in.
Of course, the indestructible plague doctor mask didn't even get a scratch. Her foot probably hurts more.
'Sigh, I really didn't want to handle things roughly in front of Yuri.'
I suppose I have no choice.
'She needs to be calmed down a bit.'
"Nyaaaaak!!!"
"Huh? Uhh!? Raven, you can't!!! That person is! Cher-"
The moment I dropped my gaze to the ground, the contractor must have realized what I was about to do and desperately tried to stop me.
However, neutralizing an unknown threat is a matter of utmost importance.
We can always talk things out after that.
Here. Get some free plague doctor brand physical therapy and calm down.
-Slam!
I slammed the cat beastman into the floor with an appropriate amount of force.
After all, it would be a huge problem if the floor got damaged.
A newbie doesn't have the money to pay for property damage.
Still, she's a fantasy race in name at least, so she wouldn't die from just this. Right?
"Keugh!"
She bounced slightly into the air from the impact. Then, her limbs lost all strength and went limp.
Seeing as she didn't cough up any chunks of flesh, it didn't seem like her internal organs were crushed or her bones broken.
This is my first time holding back my strength. Maybe I have a talent for this?
-Stomp!
"Nyaak!"
I stomped on her lower abdomen to pin her down so she couldn't resist, bent down to slowly meet her eyes, and asked again as kindly as possible.
"I will ask again. What are you? Why did you try to lay a hand on my contractor? Were you hired to assassinate her? Or perhaps, kidnap her? Even if it's true, I won't kill you (gently). So hurry up and open your mouth. Cat woman."
You'd better speak quickly. I'm dying trying to hold back the urge to just crush you and snap your spine.
My patience perished a long time ago along with my previous world.
-Crack.
I lightly flexed my right hand and quietly stared at the bright yellow pupils that repeatedly dilated and contracted, as her tightly shut mouth slowly opened.
Yes. Go ahead and speak.
Because of you, everyone around us is staring at me strangely, you know?
If a guard comes at this rate, I really won't be able to hold back, you know? Will this cat become a squashed pancake?
"W-Well, the thing is-nya...."
A trembling voice, moisture gathering in her large eyes, and the sheer injustice flowing down her cheeks.
"Hmm?"
Huh?
Just what is this pitiful creature?
Drooping like a melted cat on the floor, the cat beastman furiously wiped away her streaming tears with both arms.
At that surprisingly pathetic sight, my vision, which had turned red from my battle stance, returned to normal.
'Uuum?'
Shiver!
My heated head quickly cooled down, turning into goosebumps.
My brain, which had malfunctioned from overheating, started to do this thing called thinking.
One conclusion was derived from my squishy brain, which had begun operating normally while rapidly circulating a massive amount of blood.
Isn't this an overreaction?
With so many adventurers around in the first place, who would try to kidnap or assassinate someone? Are you an idiot?
'I messed up.'
As I grasped the situation, the strength gradually left my right foot.
As the pressure on her abdomen decreased, the cat beastman's babbling only increased.
Along with my potential prison sentence, that is.
Damn it. I refuse to eat bean rice. Though I couldn't eat it even if they gave it to me, of course.
"I-I was just trying to guide the rookie adventurer...."
The cat beastman had even forgotten her nya-nya speech quirk from how upset she was. A woman's tears were spicier than a punch.
"I see. Did I misunderstand?"
"...."
It's chilly. Far too chilly. Has winter already arrived? Winter is coming.
Staaare-
Ah. I felt it.
Her, or perhaps his, calm... and cold gaze.
I couldn't bring myself to look to the side at all.
Is this the bloodlust I've only heard about?
Right now, I am dancing on a knife blade of death.
I think I'll have to wait and see a little longer to know if this will be my final dance.
Oh, great Labrador Retriever, how should I respond in such a situation!
Woof woof! Woof!
The advice from my imaginary senior familiar was of little use. It was all a bunch of barking nonsense, after all.
Next time, please translate your advice into the demon language.
"Raven. Didn't I ask you to stop?"
"...."
I heard it. An icy voice that went beyond cold, feeling as though it would freeze my entire body.
I had plenty of retorts for my contractor, but my pea-sized brain ordered me to shut my mouth.
Does that mean I shouldn't make things worse? How wise.
Chirp chirp!
What the? Was it you, Magpie, and not my brain?
You freaking adorable bastard! Still, you have a point, so I'll shut up.
Following the additional orders of the survival expert, Mr. Magpie.
I carefully removed my foot from the cat woman's soft stomach and slowly dropped to my knees.
Swoosh!
I forcefully stretched both my hands high up into the sky!
The final pose I struck was the textbook definition of a child being punished for doing something wrong.
As expected of the magpie. The genius of survival, created based on the survival trait, managed to prolong my life, if only for a moment.
Of course, I was half-dead socially. The paradox of conceptual survival is truly profound.
"...."
The contractor had long since lost her words looking at me like this.
"Nyaang...."
The cat beastman was sobbing with her face covered in front of me,
and the passing adventurers were pretending not to look while stealing glances at this chaotic spectacle, getting their free dose of dopamine.
And I, the great demon (not really) who created this entire situation in just three minutes.
Quietly closed my eyes.
Earnestly hoping that when I opened my eyes again, I would wake up from this nightmare.
Of course. No such thing happened.
Read more at https://noveldex.io/series/novel/i-became-the-demon-of-terror-in-the-dungeon-city