Chapter 13
"You soft Newbies! I'm going to inspect your Equipment now, meow! Hand over everything you've got, meow!"
The gray Cat's bright yellow eyes flashed as she coveted the poor Newbie's Equipment. Has she finally shown her true colors?
"...Thief."
"It's an absolute calling for her."
"Stop spouting nonsense and hurry up and take out your Equipment, meow!"
Yielding to the Veteran's scolding, the two Newbies wiped away their cold sweat and began to lay out what they had.
"I took everything out."
"...."
Did it take about 30 seconds? Perhaps amazed by movements swifter than an A-rank Soldier, Shion was at a loss for words.
[Yuri's Equipment]
1. Wooden Skewer
Some unknown brown seasoning is dried and stuck to it.
He said he couldn't find a trash can, so he kept it for self-defense.
2. Black Book
An Artifact called the 'Book of Contracts', it's said to have little effect other than Demon Summoning and Contract assistance.
It looks like it would hurt a lot if you got hit by the corner.
3. Gathering Dagger (Adventurer Support Item)
It is a small black Dagger made of Obsidian.
The blade is well-sharpened, but it doesn't look very hard.
4. Club (Adventurer Support Item)
I wondered what it was, but it's just a small Club.
It's made with a wooden base, and the end is reinforced with iron so it seems like it can pack a punch.
5. Old Backpack
It is a small, Old Backpack.
There's a rumor that the Contractor's entire fortune is inside.
6. Old Robe
On the outside it looks like it was picked up from a used clothes donation bin, but surprisingly, it is said to be an Artifact.
They say pulling the hood over your head gives a slight perception-hindering effect (believe it or not).
It has many large pockets inside, making it easy to store things. One pocket is bulging, filled with something unknown (it smells sweet).
This is the extent of the Contractor's Equipment.
Next up is me.
A small problem has arisen.
No, let me correct that. A very big problem has arisen.
I don't know why. But my damn Equipment refuses to come out of the Inventory.
Stop playing around and come out already.
Because I really feel like I'm going to cry.
"...Meow. Have you all lost your minds as a group, meow? Is this really it? No armor, no Potion, no Bandage, no Lantern, no Emergency Rations.... You literally have nothing, meow. How on earth did the Guild train you, meow? You're not Adventurers, you're just Suicide Hopefuls, aren't you, meow?"
Shion's eyes became deeply troubled. However, compared to my current state of mind, Shion's distress was absolutely nothing.
'Custom-made Glock 18c'
[*Error: The specified Weapon cannot be loaded.]
'Black Widow Kukri Knife'
[*Error: The specified Weapon cannot be loaded.]
'M134 Minigun'
[*Error: The specified Weapon cannot be loaded.]
'Barrett M107'
[*Error: The specified Weapon cannot be loaded.]
'Free Fire Z103'
[*Error: The specified Weapon cannot be loaded.]
'Fuck.'
[*Error: The specified Weapon....]
What is this? Are you making fun of me right now?
In an instant, my body temperature surpassed 40 degrees. A fierce Wrath of a level that made me worry if steam was coming out of my forehead.
'What is this?'
Every Weapon I had farmed in the danger zones over the span of decades had disappeared.
No, it wasn't just the Weapons. Even consumables like the Regeneration Syringe and Enhancement Syringe were completely gone.
Is this what they call equivalent exchange? You gave me a new life, so you're going to take away my babies?
Ah. I see.
This is what life, what living tastes like.
It is so damn bitter and salty.
Why is it salty, you ask?
Because I am fucking crying right now.
"Damn."
Goddammit.
-Thud.
Collapsing like a sandcastle that had lost its foundation, I poured out cold Wrath toward the sky.
'Goddess! Would it kill you to give my Equipment some compatibility? Can't I shoot a gun in a fantasy World? Give me back my Equipment right now... Give it back....'
The admin. No, the Goddess remained silent to the very end.
Because there is no Game Rating and Administration Committee in a fantasy World.
It means this is practically a lawless zone.
"Ah."
"What's wrong with him now, meow?"
"Raven? Are you okay?"
It seemed like the edgy Little Kid and the cat-eared Veteran were trying to talk to me, but I was too out of it to register their words.
'I was too complacent.'
Since my Traits and cosmetics remained the same, I naturally assumed I could pull out my other Equipment as well.
However. I never expected my entire Inventory to evaporate into thin air.
Me... I've actually been hit with a balance patch!
'Is the System not linking properly because it's a different game server?'
Bullshit!
If that were true, shouldn't this damn body and my Traits be gone too? What the hell is going on?
If you're going to take things away, take this stuffy Plague Doctor Mask too!
'What should I do?'
My grand plan of making the Contractor practice shooting and effortlessly clearing things from a distance has completely gone to shit.
The Dungeon difficulty suddenly spiked from Easy straight to Korean mode.
Goddamn Kimchimen. I curse your outstanding gaming skills.
Whether I was burning down the Korean peninsula in my imagination or not, Shion was busy attending to the Contractor.
"By the way, Adventurer. Have you ever actually used that Club, meow?"
"No."
"Is that so, meow? Then, try swinging it around once, meow. I want to see what level you're at, Adventurer."
"Yes...!"
Taking the most awkward stance in the World, the Contractor began swinging the Club with a serious expression.
Based on his expression alone, he was an absolute Sword Saint.
-Swish. Swish.
Every time the Club weakly parted the air, the Contractor's Shoulder creaked as if it were going to dislocate, and his center of gravity wavered.
His footwork was a mess, and his grip lacked stability.
It would be more accurate to say he was being swung around by the Club rather than him swinging it.
"Eek!"
"Whoa!"
"...."
Every time the Contractor's Club hopped up and down or belly-danced left and right, passing Adventurers flinched and quickly moved away.
If they were unlucky, their shins might be shattered by a Club escaping the Contractor's flimsy grip, so their fear was justified.
"Pant... pant...."
After swinging the Club two or three more times, the Contractor clutched his Knee and wiped his dry sweat.
Is he already exhausted?
It truly is a feeble stamina befitting a Black Magician.
"Haa.... This is harder than I thought?"
"It hasn't even been twenty seconds. Anyone watching would think you've been swinging it for over two hours, meow."
Tell me about it.
Ah. Seeing the Contractor's Jellyfish-like movements and the pathetic stamina of an upper elementary schooler made my vision go dark.
You're telling me to safely Escort that lousy Black Magician Cosplayer during our Dungeon Exploration?
Without a gun!?
How am I supposed to do that?
"Hmm. I think it would be better to aim for adapting to the Dungeon environment this Exploration rather than gaining combat experience, meow. What do you all think, meow?"
With a serious expression, Shion looked incredibly reliable. A Sherpa is really a Sherpa, huh? I was feeling a bit helpless, but I can rely on her.
"...Yes."
"Let's do that."
The Crow in a state of mental and physical weakness and the Novice Adventurer panting with his Club lowered could only nod weakly.
A Newbie's chances of Survival only go up when they listen carefully to a Veteran.
"Great, meow. Then, keeping with the theme, we're heading to the White Zone, meow! Grab your bags and follow me, meow!"
***
Following Shion, who was swishing her tail, we moved near a massive Sinkhole located beneath the holographic brain.
As we got closer to the Portal that looked like a black puddle, a colorful array of screams scratched at my eardrums.
What is this?
Have we arrived at the Entrance of a horror maze instead of a Dungeon Entrance?
Or perhaps we've arrived at the Entrance to Hell.
It truly is a place befitting a Demon.
"Kyaaaak!"
"Heave-ho!"
"Dungeon! Here I come!"
"Let's go already, you punk. The sun's going to set at this rate."
"Hey there, Rookies! Try to muster up some courage! Hahaha!"
"Seniors! I can't see the bottom at all. Are you sure it's really okay to fall down here?"
"It's not okay~"
"You have to be prepared to break a bone or two! Who said you could get Magic Stones for free! Bwahaha!"
"Argh! You Adventurers over there! Stop teasing the Rookies and just go!"
Some held hands with their Party Members and went as a group, while others squeezed their eyes shut and threw themselves alone into the endless black Shadow.
Amidst the intermittent screams of Novice Adventurers, I could see Veteran Adventurers giggling as they watched the spectacle.
I mean, there really is nothing as fun as teasing Newbies.
Of course, the story changes a bit when you become that Newbie.
"This is...."
"The Dungeon Entrance. The 'Black Hole', meow."
Black Hole? What a terrifying name.
"...Is it really safe?"
"It's like a Portal that teleports you to a random area inside the White Zone? So it's safe, meow. Of course, it could be a little dangerous if we spawn at the edge of the White Zone, but don't worry, because you have this 5-Tier Pathfinder with you, meow!"
"Oh. That's very reassuring."
"You're as reliable as a Warrior. Even though you're a Thief."
"I'm a Thief, but I'm doing this, meow! Anyway, I'll send a party invite, so accept it, meow."
A party invite? That works in reality? Then why. Why doesn't the Inventory work?
Ah, just thinking about it pisses me off again.
"Oh! Ooooh! Is this the Goddess's Blessing? But how do I accept this? Do I just point with my Finger?"
"Just think about accepting it in your Head, meow."
"Ah! I think it worked! This is amazing. On what principle does it...."
"Good job, meow! Registration confirmed, meow!"
Letting out the highest level of admiration, the Contractor's eyes sparkled.
He's acting as if a System UI appeared right in front of him. But I can't see anything.
Is this Demon discrimination?
"Hey. I can't see anything. What's going on?"
"It's only natural since I didn't send an invite to a Crow, meow."
"Hmm? Why not?"
Is she still holding a grudge from earlier? I feel like a Porter who just got kicked out of the party.
Of course, I wasn't even invited to the party in the first place. Compared to a Porter, was I just a nobody?
"A Familiar gets registered as a set automatically when the Contractor is added to the party, meow!"
Aha! I wasn't human, right (correct)?
"Now then, everyone, please give me your Concentration, meow!"
"Yes."
"I will."
Clapping with the backs of her hands, perhaps because of the paw pads on her Palm, Shion gathered our attention and began to explain the precautions for Dungeon Exploration.
"First! You must neeeeeever act alone, meow! Acting alone is something only I, the Sherpa, can do, meow! Got it, meow?"
"Yes."
"Understood."
Acting alone in an unmapped area is practically suicide. Naturally, I plan to grit my teeth and follow right behind the Sherpa.
"Second! Even if you see an Entity, never attack it blindly until it attacks first!"
"Why is that?"
"That's because non-hostile monsters have a high chance of being organically linked to a 'Living Trap' or a special Entity, meow! If you mess with the wrong one, the party could get wiped out, meow!"
So there are guys that act as a Trap's Trigger. That's high-quality information that boosts our chances of Survival.
"I see. I will never strike first."
"Me neither."
"Excellent, meow! Then, the third and final rule."
Shion looked at me cautiously and spoke in a low, sunken voice.
"If you spot an Entity that looks like a person and speaks like a person.... a 'Phantom'. Run away without looking back. That is not a being that ordinary Adventurers like us can handle.... meow."
I could see her small fists trembling, even though she clenched them tightly to hide the shaking.
Reflected in Shion's bright yellow eyes, which were suddenly filled with fear, was the Crow-headed Phantom.
Right, a 'Phantom'.
'Was there a reason why she had a seizure when I first caught her?'
She had probably encountered that Phantom in reality. And by coincidence, I just happened to resemble that Phantom.
I was, in a way, Shion's 'Trigger'.
'Somehow, I feel sorry.'
Having most of my life stained by trauma, I know very well how painful this thing called post-traumatic stress disorder is. She probably feels like she's reliving a past nightmare every time she faces me.
"Nyanya! Even so, don't be too scared, meow! Even if a real Phantom shows up, I'll figure something out, meow!"
Shion struggled to force a bright demeanor to reassure the soft Newbies.
In her blurry eyes hidden behind the mask of a smile, I could see a reflection of my past self.
Cowering at every little sound, living in a nightmare rather than reality.
Fear, dread, anxiety, pain.
Wrath toward my own weak self.
Sinking into all those negative emotions like a swamp. I was the one who couldn't move forward.
However, if there is one difference between us.
Unlike me, who was worse than a Carrion Beetle stagnating and just waiting for death.
Shion was still struggling even now to escape that swamp of pain.
'I can't just let this be.'
As a Senior in trauma, I have no choice but to help.
This isn't just me being nosy. It's closer to preemptive accident prevention than emotional support.
The party leader is afraid of a Party Member's Familiar. Do you think the Dungeon Exploration will go smoothly?
I think not.
Because of that.
I will now begin the Surgery(?).
It's time to slice away the cancer cell known as fear with an even greater fear.
Read more at https://noveldex.io/series/novel/i-became-the-demon-of-terror-in-the-dungeon-city