Dungeon Manager 1: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure, page 21
“Hey, look! We’ve already found the stairs to the next level,” Akagiri pointed out.
“Yeah, but we haven’t encountered a single monster yet.”
It’s rare to enter a dungeon and not run into any monsters. Monsters are usually driven to eliminate intruders, so it’s unusual for them to avoid confrontation. But even monsters have survival instincts. Faced with an obvious power imbalance, they won’t rush to their deaths. Sensing the overwhelming aura of the two women, the monsters in this dungeon chose to hide rather than fight. It wasn’t that the dungeon was empty; it was that the monsters feared the two and kept their distance.
Without encountering any monsters, they proceeded to the third floor.
The scenery remained the same—endless, monotonous rocky walls. Boredom began to creep in as they descended the stairs to the fourth level.
Then, as they reached the fourth floor, the silence was broken by a thunderous roar that echoed through the cave.
“GROOOOAAAAR!!!”
The roar reverberated off the walls, reaching their ears.
“What a pointless show of bravado,” Akagiri commented.
“Such a lack of refinement,” Kaleido added with a hint of disdain.
Unfazed, they continued forward.
The fourth floor marked the dungeon’s deepest level, where its strongest monster—the dungeon’s guardian—awaited.
The roar had come from that guardian.
Unlike most dungeons, this one didn’t open into a large cavern on the final floor. Instead, it resembled the upper levels, with one key difference: the walls of the branching paths were riddled with large holes.
“GROOOAAAAR!!!”
The roar echoed again, this time from within one of the holes in the walls.
“I see. The monster’s hiding in there. A single magic blast could probably finish this, but... that wouldn’t be very satisfying, would it?” Akagiri mused, her fists glowing with the magic she’d just conjured, only to let it dissipate just as quickly.
"Well, then, I’ll focus on gathering the materials this time. After all, this isn’t just a slaying mission. Our main objective is to collect rare resources that couldn’t be harvested because of the monster’s presence. If we split up, we can be more efficient. We need to handle these small tasks efficiently if we want to rank up anytime soon,” Kaleido suggested.
“Understood. I’ll lure out the beast, and you can slip past and gather what we need,” Akagiri agreed.
“Yes, yes.”
Akagiri pressed one of her sharp claws against her own forehead, and immediately, the veins on her forehead began to bulge, spreading towards the horns growing there and extending to her eyes. As the veins reached her horns and eyes, she slowly opened her eyes, revealing ruby-like irises that turned blood-red, as if stained by blood.
It happened at that very moment.
A beast within the cave let out an even louder roar than before.
“It seems to have worked. Well, I’ll be going ahead,” Kaleido said, lightly passing by Akagiri.
“Good grief. This hurts quite a bit, you know. I don’t like using it much, but against hidden monsters, it’s the most effective.”
One of Akagiri’s skills, [Panic Blood Eyes], induces a state of panic within a specific range, causing enemies to recklessly attack the caster. While it’s similar to the effect of provocation, the key difference between panic and provocation lies in the temporary power boost granted to the target. When in a panic state, the enemy’s attack power doubles temporarily. However, in exchange, their autonomy diminishes, and their defense drastically decreases. Thus, while their attacks grow stronger, their accuracy and defense weaken, making it an excellent technique.
The monster affected by Akagiri's [Panic Blood Eyes] immediately turned and charged at her, seemingly offering its life.
A deafening roar echoed through the cave, shaking the ground slightly, as something massive came charging out from a gaping hole to Akagiri’s right.
“GRAAAHHHH!”
A large beast, about five meters long and covered in quill-like armor, burst from the hole with ferocious speed, baring its deadly fangs at Akagiri. However, its attack never reached her.
Just as its massive fangs, large enough to pierce through her chest, were about to strike, Akagiri summoned her weapon from an interdimensional space, positioning it as a buffer between her and the beast.
The sword, crafted by the Demon Lord Mari, was far beyond the capabilities of such a low-ranking monster to break. The beast's fangs struck the sword’s blade with a resounding crack, causing it to let out a pained scream before leaping back.
“Too bad for you. Rushing in without a plan led to this. Now your precious fangs are in pieces.”
Between Akagiri and the retreating beast lay the shattered remains of the monster's once-formidable fangs.
Though the creature’s face was twisted in fear, there was no escape from the true terror of the panic effect.
Once the panic state is activated, the afflicted cannot flee until the effect wears off.
The [Panic Blood Eyes] skill, which binds its victims much like a provocation, is highly effective but is often regarded as a suicidal technique when there isn’t a significant difference in power. As a result, very few individuals dare to use it in real combat.
The beast, cornered and desperate, launched itself at Akagiri, its thousands of quills bristling as it charged.
Yet, here again, the difference in power was glaringly obvious.
While this attack could overwhelm an average adventurer, to Akagiri, it was no more threatening than a playful bee.
With a swift, horizontal slash of her sword, she unleashed a gust of wind that blew the quilled beast away. Despite its five-meter bulk, the beast was effortlessly sent flying by a single swing of her sword—without even touching it directly—like a balloon caught in the wind.
However, the monster was resilient. Even after taking Akagiri's blow, it struggled back to its feet, and driven by the panic, it launched another reckless charge, only to be easily swatted away again.
What seemed like mere play to an observer finally shifted as the panic state broke.
The beast, now freed from its binding curse, wasted no time fleeing back into the gaping hole from which it had emerged.
“Damn it! I played around too much,” Akagiri muttered.
“Oh? Still toying with it?” Kaleido, who had already finished gathering the materials they came for, looked at Akagiri with mild exasperation.
“Shut up. I just got a little carried away. Since you’re done, I’ll finish up here, too.”
Pointing her sword at the hole the beast had escaped into, Akagiri softly chanted a spell.
[Demonic Shadow]
A dark mist flowed from the tip of her sword, seeping into the hole and disappearing into its depths.
“That’s unlike you. I thought you’d go for something flashier.”
“I can’t be bothered by such a small fry. Shall we head back?”
“Let’s.”
As the two left the dungeon's lowest level, the [Demonic Shadow] spell Akagiri had cast silently extinguished the life of the monster hiding in the cavern.
For these two, any dungeon other than the one belonging to the Demon Lord Mari was clearly lacking. As they emerged from the dungeon, feeling a sense of dissatisfaction, they were greeted by three men dressed in white uniforms. Each man carried an impressive sword at his waist, their appearances reminiscent of knights. As soon as they saw the two women, they looked at them with suspicion.
“Are you adventurers?” one of the men asked.
“And what if we are?” Akagiri replied, her irritation with the man’s attitude evident.
“You’ve just come out of the dungeon, but why don’t you have any weapons or armor? And you resemble the pair we’ve been hearing about.”
“The pair?” Kaleido inquired.
“There’s a rumor going around town about two women who claim to be minions of the Demon Lord. To openly boast about being the Demon Lord’s minions, you’d have to be either fools or incredibly confident.”
Kaleido felt the urge to ask about the knights, but she held her tongue, given the situation. Instead, she asked, “We’ve stored our weapons away using magic. And who are you, exactly?”
One of the men grinned sinisterly. “Confirmed! They’re fallen!”
With that, the men simultaneously drew their swords.
“You must be the pair from the rumors. The information on the guild bulletin boards spreads quickly, but only certain information gets shared. We gather information from those boards and monitor the Demon Lord’s activities. If we can handle the situation ourselves, we do. If not, we report it to our superiors.”
“So, you want to fight?” Akagiri summoned her sword from interdimensional space.
“You must be incredibly ignorant to challenge the Holy Knight Order,” one of the men sneered.
“But these two claim to be the Demon Lord’s minions. Running away isn’t an option. This is the right reaction.”
“Even though they’re women, if they’re the Demon Lord’s minions, we should be able to handle them.”
“Heh, they’re quite cocky. Hey, Kaleido, what do you think?”
“Well, we tried to avoid this, but it seems we failed. Since this is partly my fault, I’ll join in this time. But you can take the bigger share.”
“Of course. You take the one on the right. I’ll handle the rest.”
One of the men laughed heartily at their conversation.
“You’re fools! There are three of us from the Holy Knight Order here. Even if you band together, you won’t stand a chance. And don’t think you can compare to us in terms of race. You’re an Oni and a Minotaur, right? An Oni is one thing, but a Minotaur is a pathetic excuse for a combatant! On the other hand, we possess the latent abilities of the lion king, Ryonier, the most powerful species in combat. You don’t stand a chance. Not that we’ll go easy on you, though. This will be over quickly. Struggle all you want!”
With those words, the man infused his sword with magic and lunged forward. In an instant, the ground beneath him caved in, and he closed the distance to Akagiri with blinding speed. His movement was too fast for an ordinary person to see, but it was well within the perception of the two women.
The man, intending to finish her with a single strike, swung his magic-infused sword, but it stopped short of its mark.
“W-What…?!”
“Hold it right there.”
Kaleido, standing beside Akagiri, was trembling with rage. She had blocked the man’s strike with a massive battle axe, which she had pulled from the interdimensional space, holding it effortlessly with one hand.
Akagiri glanced at Kaleido and seemed to realize something, quickly stepping back.
“Oh boy, it looks like you made her mad. Is there even a need for me to step in?”
“We’re inferior? Well, well, let’s not joke around. Do you really think someone like us, who serves Lady Mari, could possibly be inferior? What, are your brains filled with trash or something?”
“Damn you!”
With a roar, the man began to dart left and right, trying to confuse her, before launching a sharp, lightning-fast thrust at the opening she had shown.
But even that attack was blocked effortlessly by a slight shift of the axe’s handle, deflecting his sword.
The man backed off again, a look of disbelief on his face.
“What the hell is going on?! Why can she block my attacks?!”
“It’s simple.”
“W-What?!”
“You’re weak.”
“You damn cow!!!”
Chapter 35: The Strength of the Knights
With just a single word from Kaleido, the man crossed the line, letting out a roar so intense it seemed to tear his throat apart.
“Beast Liberation—Liberate!!!”
The man’s body swelled, bursting through the pristine uniform of the Knights, which couldn't withstand the growing force within him. His human form gradually transformed into that of a massive lion. This was no mere demi-human transformation; it was the manifestation of a monstrous being, a true Gespenst.
The lion stood tall on two legs, its stature so imposing that it looked capable of crushing a human with just a single grasp.
"Oh my, that form..." Kaleido remarked with a hint of surprise.
The man sneered as he responded to her astonishment.
"What’s wrong? Are you scared? This is a top-tier skill, one only mastered by beastmen known as Bestiae among the demi-humans. It transforms one into a monstrous being, greatly enhancing their abilities. It's only natural to tremble in fear when you realize the vast difference in our power."
"No," Kaleido replied with a faint smirk. "I’ve just seen so many monstrous beings lately that it feels a bit familiar."
"Familiar?"
"Yes," she said, her tone shifting to one of mocking contempt. "The familiarity of witnessing the pathetic deaths of monsters like you—your inevitable future."
In that instant, the knight's rage became palpable, veins bulging on his forehead as he let out a roar.
"Shut your mouth, cow! I'll turn that pretty face of yours into a bloody pulp!"
The distance between them disappeared in a flash as the man, with his immense size, closed in on her with a single step, his razor-sharp claws aiming for her heart. Yet, as always, she effortlessly blocked the attack with her massive axe, countering with an upward diagonal slash intended to sever his arm. Unfortunately, the man’s quick reflexes allowed him to dodge just in time.
His attacks, though simplistic, were enhanced by his immense strength and speed, making each strike devastating. He unleashed a flurry of blows, which she parried and countered in turn, yet none of her strikes landed a decisive hit. As the battle continued to drag on, the man finally made his next move.
"You're an annoying little pest. Let's see how you handle this—Groundbind Annihilation!"
He drove his claws into the earth, causing a powerful earthquake that cracked the ground beneath them. The shaking intensified, and the fractured earth began to rise, manipulated as if by some unseen force, to crush Kaleido beneath it.
As the earth entombed her, the man burst into triumphant laughter.
"I only intended to immobilize you, but it seems this will finish you off. How anticlimactic. Hey, the rest of you, take care of the other one already."
"Don't you think it's a bit too early for that?"
"!?"
The earthen coffin encasing her began to crack and groan under pressure.
"Indeed. Isn’t it a bit too hasty? I mean, who do you think would die from such a feeble attack?"
With those words, the hardened earth shattered explosively.
"Impossible!"
"The only one who’s impossible here is you. It’s about time you understood the difference in our abilities. Or have you yet to show your true power? If so, then go ahead and give it your all."
"Then I will!" he bellowed, charging forward with such force that the ground split beneath him, creating a thunderous quake. He leaped into the air, moving so fast that it seemed beyond human perception, and maneuvered behind her, ready to strike with a tightly clenched fist aimed at her back.
"I can see that you're fast—beyond normal human speed. But, unfortunately for you, I’ve seen far faster. So honestly, your speed—it's quite slow."
The man’s eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t anticipated that she would turn to face him. He had no time to alter the trajectory of his already-accelerating punch. The fist, meant to crush her, instead met only air as his arm was severed cleanly by her axe, blood spraying as it fell, leaving him screaming in agony.
"AAAGGHHH!!! My arm! My arm!!!"
Kaleido gazed at the man coldly, showing no mercy.
"This is all your power amounts to? You can't even defeat those you consider inferior. So tell me—how does it feel to be killed by someone you looked down on?"
The man, clutching his severed arm, glared at Kaleido with pure hatred.
"Damn you! I won't let you kill me...?"
"I can't stand noisy people," she muttered.
The lion's head fell to the ground, cleanly severed.
"You bitch! How dare you!"
The two remaining knights charged at her in a frenzy, but it was a death sentence. Their attacks never connected, and she swiftly cut them down, leaving only dismembered corpses on the ground, painting the barren earth with vibrant crimson.
The Lion King, Ryonier, was a beastman with immense potential; his kind was generally far stronger in combat than Oni or Ushi-oni. But strength was not determined by race alone; experience and mastery of skills play a crucial role. And despite his arrogance, the man underestimated his opponent, resulting in his demise on this blood-soaked battlefield.
"It seems I didn’t need to step in after all. Not that it’s a problem. So, did that satisfy you?"
"Yes, thank you. I feel much better. But my clothes got a little dirty."
As Kaleido brushed off the dirt from her clothes, she pondered their situation. This mysterious organization, known as the Holy King’s Knights, needed to be reported to Demon King Mari.
But first, they had to gather more information on the Holy King’s Knights.
"We were interrupted, but let's head back to the guild and make our report."
"Good idea. Once that’s done, we can take on more quests and raise our rank quickly."
"That’s true, but first, we need to secure some information."
"Information?"
Kaleido glanced at the mangled remains on the ground.
"About this so-called knights’ order, they mentioned something about observing the Demon King’s movements. That makes them our enemies, doesn’t it? I need to report this to Lady Mari. But I can’t do that without sufficient information. So, our priority is to gather as much information as possible and relay it to her."
"They did call themselves the Holy King’s Knights. They attacked us as soon as they found out we were allied with the Demon King. Reporting this is definitely necessary. That means we need to head back to town right away."
