Beatrice clutched her trembling chest and took several deep breaths. She couldn’t rely on Cecilia here. She had to get through this on her own strength alone.
The first thing that came to mind was… the “Newbie Must-Read Book.”
=========
[Newbie Must-Read Book 2]
-The most important thing in a dungeon is insight. Even if you’re somewhat lacking in power, you can clear it as long as you assess the situation well.
: Case studies are compiled in Volume 5.
=========
Beatrice desperately tried to recall the contents of Volume 5. Various thoughts popped into her head and then disappeared.
3. The trick where demons transform into the appearance of close acquaintances.
‘This is it!’
Having found the relevant section, Beatrice recalled that part.
-First, you need to carefully confirm their ‘status.’
-Does the opponent realize they’re a demon? Or do they still think they’re ‘human’?
-For the former case, see Appendix on page 68. For the latter, the solution is as follows:
-Make them aware through conversation that they’ve become a demon. If the case involves one of Windsor’s knights, appropriate measures will be taken.
“It’d be better if I just attacked now. No matter how much of Cecilia it is, she’s so young at this age. She probably isn’t that strong.”
“Hey, don’t you feel this presence?”
“Then what should we do? Just stand here like idiots waiting? Until Lady Cecilia rescues us? Or should I use this ring?”
Amidst the petty squabble, Beatrice stepped forward.
“Betti?”
“I’ll… try to do something about it.”
The arguing knights stopped talking. A mix of slight embarrassment and relief. Various emotions flickered through their minds.
Beatrice cautiously walked towards Cecilia, who was sleeping soundly. Despite the commotion, Cecilia didn’t wake up.
‘…Is this what Lady Cecilia was like as a child?’
The closer she got, the heavier the air became. It was an immense pressure. Was this the power of demons? Or was it the presence exuded by young Cecilia?
She couldn’t tell which, but what Beatrice had to do hadn’t changed.
“Hello.”
“……”
Beatrice crouched down in front of Cecilia. Young Cecilia slowly opened her eyes.
Her silvery gray eyes stared at Beatrice. The girl yawned and rubbed her eyes.
“…I’m Beatrice.”
-Beatrice?
“Yeah. You might not know me, but I know you. You’re Cecilia, right? The youngest Windsor who enlisted at the age of six.”
Young Cecilia looked at Beatrice with curious eyes.
‘Thank goodness. We’re able to communicate.’
–That’s right.
“Can I ask you something? What were you doing here?”
–I was waiting for spawn time.
‘What’s spawn time…? Lady Cecilia was peculiar even as a child.’
Gulping.
Beatrice swallowed and chose the words she needed to say in her head. But this time, Cecilia asked.
–Hey, hey. That earlier thing, you read it from the “Newbie Must-Read Book,” right?
“…!”
Beatrice was startled. How did she know that?
Seeing Beatrice’s surprised face, young Cecilia smiled brightly. It was an incredibly cute smile.
–You were checking whether the demon was acting or not. First, introduce yourself, then find holes in the other person’s memory.
Incredible judgment.
It was a moment of realization that Cecilia’s unique insight hadn’t suddenly appeared.
But that was also good news for Beatrice. In fact, because Cecilia’s judgment was sharp, it made persuasion easier.
“That’s right. Actually, I…”
Just as Beatrice was about to explain, young Cecilia cut her off and asked indifferently.
–Can I ask you one thing?
“Uh, yeah. Of course.”
–…What are the names of the three major convenience stores?
“Huh?”
Beatrice was flustered.
“Three major, convenience stores?”
–…Are you a European user? What’s the most delicious food in England?
‘Th-this wasn’t in the must-read book. Maybe because I’ve only read the early parts.’
As Beatrice failed to answer, Cecilia furrowed her brow.
–You’re not a newbie, are you?
“Huh?”
There was no time to be flustered.
The figure of young Cecilia, who had been lying down just moments ago, disappeared.
Beatrice immediately turned around. Young Cecilia, wielding a short sword, was about to slice Riharten’s neck.
To Beatrice, those moments seemed to unfold in slow motion. She saw young Cecilia’s cold pupils. Beatrice knew when Cecilia had that look in her eyes.
The look of someone about to k*ll a demon.
‘She thinks we’re demons…!’
She didn’t know why. It was almost instinctual. Beatrice raised the ring and shouted loudly.
“Look at this!”
Cecilia, who had been charging towards Riharten with her sword raised, glanced at her words.
“!”
Young Cecilia immediately canceled her attack and landed on the ground.
–Isn’t that the ‘Newbie Absolutely Safe’ ring?
Young Cecilia tilted her head, as if thinking about something.
Her furrowed brows gradually smoothed out. The thick killing intent also faded. Along with it, the overwhelming presence pressing down on the rookie knights disappeared.
With a face indistinguishable from any ordinary girl, she said.
–This isn’t a place for kids like you to come to.
Young Cecilia walked among the rookie knights.
–I’ll show you the way out.
‘Did, did it work?’
‘I’m not sure what happened, but it seems like it worked.’
The rookie knights looked at each other and nodded.
‘Is it really over just like that?’
Beatrice felt uneasy but moved her steps. However, she kept getting a bad feeling and glanced back.
Young Cecilia, who had approached the tightly closed door, stopped walking.
She extended her cute little arm, inserted her finger into the gap of the door, and grunted as she pried it open.
Grrrrrr-
Surprisingly, the massive door was slowly opening.
The rookie knights were utterly astonished.
‘What kind of power…’
But the door didn’t fully open. Young Cecilia had stopped midway.
She turned around with an indifferent face. At that moment, Beatrice remembered something she had forgotten.
-Do not awaken the devil unless you wish to see him.
The inscription on the statue.
If the devil referred to here was young Cecilia—then it meant the awakening had already begun.
‘Then, who is ‘him’?’
Beatrice immediately realized the identity.
Tap-
The sound of multiple footsteps.
Tap tap-
People walking down the stairs came into view.
“M, Master?”
“…Father.”
“C, Captain!”
“Viatan Court Mage…!”
“Northern Commander!”
Several names were called out.
Familiar faces, now gray, walked forward.
Beatrice’s gaze lingered on one spot.
At the very back of them.
On the emotionless girl descending while maintaining some distance.
“…Are we really capable of clearing this on our own, Lady Cecilia?”
Tears welled up in Beatrice’s eyes.
“If you hear me, please respond.”
Cecilia Windsor.
She drew her sword.
Cecilia was dashing forward, chasing the faint lingering scent of demons.
‘To think they would run away.’
Not long after sending off the rookie knights, she realized that the enormous presence beyond the door had been a feint.
‘If I had forced my way into the dungeon breaking its rules, I definitely would have missed them.’
It was a stroke of luck. Otherwise, she might have had to take a week off to visit the Demon King’s Castle during the insufficient time for bonding with the rookie knights.
Keeping track of the demons’ movements would ensure no delays in the preparations for the opening.
Ting!
Cecilia spun her body several times before stopping. The chain that fell to the ground turned to ashes and burned away.
“Envious, envious, envious.”
In the lush forest. The path where carriages pass.
Not far away, a gloomy woman with long bangs muttered to herself.
“Why you, why you, why you…!”
‘She’s really ugly.’
That demon wasn’t good for newbies’ eye health, so it seemed best to get rid of her.
“Did you gain such talent at such a young age? Why are you so pretty while I am not? It’s unfair. It’s too unjust. It’s unreasonable!”
‘Suddenly she’s complimenting me.’
Cecilia decided to listen a bit more.
“You’re the villain. How dare you easily obtain what others strive for their whole lives just because you were lucky enough to be born with it! Do you feel no guilt? Do you truly lack any emotion? Can’t you hear the cries of people like me?”
Though she didn’t understand exactly what was being said, the inferiority complex gave her a good idea of who it was.
‘As expected, it’s one of the Seven Deadly Sins. After all, a dungeon like this couldn’t possibly be made by just some high-ranking demon.’
The seven deadly sins: Pride, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth.
In terms of rank, they were just below the Demon Duke. In ‘Another World,’ they were also known as:
The Wailing Wall.
How many newbies had quit because of those nasty Seven Deadly Sins?
Cecilia was already paying attention to ‘quality control’ because of that.
If the design was bad or the concept unappealing, she’d occasionally eliminate them…
This ‘Envy’ had the worst design she’d ever seen.
“Yes, you deserve to d*e. Yes. If I k*ll all girls like you, then I’ll be the prettiest…!”
Envy blankly stared down.
Drip, drip-
bl**d seeped from the wounds where her arms had been severed.
“Who among the demons participating in Walpurgis Night are there?”
Envy slowly turned her head.
Cecilia stood right beside her.
“Hehehe! You’ve done it! You’ve done it! Foolish!”
Envy grotesquely split her mouth wide open and rejoiced.
Her authority was ‘Plunder.’
Any skill she saw once could definitely be stolen.
“First, I’ll cut off your smug arms!”
And attach them to my own!
Those famous ‘Butcher’ arms must surely be powerful!
Envy opened her mouth full of anticipation. A purple magic circle ignited on her tongue.
But-
No matter how much time passed, nothing changed.
Cecilia’s arms remained intact.
Well, it was a skill with nothing worth stealing.
What had just severed her arms.
Was simply pure swordsmanship.
“I’d appreciate a quick answer to my question.”
Envy was overwhelmed with terror.
“It’s bothersome.”
The way Cecilia looked at her-
It wasn’t the look of someone viewing another person.
