Chapter 108 Demon Lord’s Dungeon ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”—An unexplored dungeon!?” Mirei’s voice rang out, sharp and bright. The mix of surprise and excitement echoed through the quiet room of the inn.
Kanata gave a small, wry smile at her reaction.
A few days earlier, their party had returned safely from another dungeon. They had found a hidden chamber but no new clues.
Even so, they had defeated the stone golem guarding the place and collected a few precious treasures. It had been a good haul.
”Heh, look at this robe, Kanata! It’s like it was made just for me!” Mirei exclaimed.
”This ring is perfect for boosting my mana,” said Lurua with calm delight.
”I love my new wand,” Lilim added, smiling shyly.
Everyone was in high spirits. It had been a long time since they’d struck gold on a run.
But—
Reis was the only one who didn’t share their joy.
None of the equipment or treasures suited him. While the others laughed, he silently inspected the chamber again and again.
When it was clear there was nothing more to find, his shoulders sank. He didn’t say another word until they left.
Even so, when Kanata later sat alone with Mirei, he looked unusually serious.
”Actually… there’s an unexplored dungeon.”
”What? Really?” Mirei leaned forward, eyes suddenly sharp—the eyes of an adventurer.
”After this last run, I learned a bit about Reis and the others. And I realized how much more we could do. So I want to move on to the next stage.”
”So this new dungeon is our next goal?”
”Yeah. That’s where I want to go next.”
Kanata’s quiet voice filled the small room. Mirei blinked, then grinned wide.
”Heh, I knew it! You really can’t resist diving into trouble, can you?”
Kanata wanted to deny it—but Mirei had already jumped to her feet, her eyes glowing with excitement. There was no stopping her now.
”Should we tell Reis?” she asked.
”I’ll do it,” Kanata said. “He’s been down lately. I want to tell him myself—let him know there’s something worth finding next time.”
Mirei nodded silently.
Outside the window, the night wind brushed the curtains. Somewhere out there, an uncharted dungeon was waiting for them.
Kanata stared out into the quiet night while Mirei’s excitement filled the room. The faint lights of the distant town flickered like stars.
”Mirei,” he said at last. “Let me tell you the details.”
Her expression grew firm. He wasn’t joking now—there was something heavy in his tone.
”The dungeon is in the far north of the Flora Kingdom. The entrance was found only recently. I’m sure some people already tried to go in, but it’s hard to tell how much of their information is true.”
He met Mirei’s gaze. She nodded once.
”The first five floors are normal—same kind of structure and monsters as any mid-level dungeon. As long as we’re careful, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”
”So it’s not that risky—”
”The problem,” Kanata said, voice turning heavy, “is what comes after that.”
Mirei fell silent.
”There’s almost no data about the sixth floor and beyond. My old party… vanished while trying the seventh.”
Mirei froze. It took her a few seconds to process what he’d said.
”Your old party… you mean the ones you told me about?”
”Yeah. They were reliable. Careful. We planned everything. But one day, they just stopped responding. No bodies, no gear—nothing. No one even searched for them.”
”Why not?”
”I think it’s tied to state secrets,” Kanata said quietly.
Mirei didn’t speak for a while. Then she took a deep breath.
”…And you’re still going?”
”I have to. Even if I can’t see the path, I need to know what happened there. I need to see it for myself.”
His eyes were clear, steady, without a trace of doubt.
Mirei smiled faintly. “You really are reckless, Kanata. But…
I don’t hate that about you. Fine. I’m in. I’ll stick with you to the end.”
”Thanks, Mirei. Honestly, I was trying to think of a way to convince you. I can’t clear that place without your magic.”
Kanata gave a shy smile. Mirei stepped closer, voice soft.
”Idiot. You only had to say one thing.”
”Oh yeah? Then—come with me.”
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she leaned in. The moonlight fell across them, stretching their shadows long across the floor.
*
A few days later—
The guild was buzzing as usual. Kanata and Mirei waited quietly among the noise.
Right on time, Reis appeared. His gear was ready, and there was a new resolve in his eyes.
”Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said.
”You look better,” Kanata replied, watching him carefully.
Moments later, Lilim and Lurua joined them, and the party was whole again. One by one, their eyes turned to Kanata.
”So, about our next destination—”
”Kanata, wait. Let me speak first.”
Everyone turned toward Reis.
”I want to go to the Demon Lord’s Dungeon.”
Silence fell.
”…What are you talking about, Reis?” Mirei’s voice was half amused, half uneasy.
”There’s been talk about it lately. Deep in the northern ruins, there’s something people call the ‘Remnants of the Demon Lord.’ Strange mana, unknown structures… I think what I’ve been searching for might be there.”
”What you’ve been searching for?”
”You remember what I told you—about Lilim and Lurua’s mother? I’ve had this feeling that it’s connected somehow. I can’t explain it, but it’s strong. Almost like certainty.”
Kanata narrowed his eyes. His tone was calm but firm. “Reis, I get it.
But we can’t move on just a feeling. We’re a team. I want to help you, but I can’t lead everyone into danger for something uncertain.”
Reis’s hands tightened into fists.
”Even so… I have to go.”
”Even knowing it’s dangerous?”
”Yes.”
He looked Kanata straight in the eyes—steady, unflinching.
”I need that place. I think the answer to what I lost is there. Even if I’m wrong, I have to see it myself.”
Kanata stayed silent for a moment, then sighed.
”…No. We’re not going.”
He cut him off sharply. His voice was calm, but his refusal was absolute.
”Why not?” Reis demanded.
”That dungeon isn’t worth it. It’s fake.”
”Do you have proof?”
Kanata hesitated. He couldn’t answer.
He knew the truth—the Demon Lord’s Dungeon was a trap.
A false lure for adventurers, especially naïve young ones. The rumors about hidden power or treasures that could defeat the Demon Lord were lies—lies he himself had spread.
Damn it. I should’ve shut that place down long ago.
If they went there, they would be led straight to the Demon Lord’s throne.
The conditions were already in place. And once they reached it…
Kanata’s eyes drifted over Lilim, Lurua, and Mirei.
The sisters were young but already growing stronger. Mirei—always bold, always close—was another problem entirely.
No.
The timing’s all wrong, he thought grimly. At least wait until after the Flora dungeon.
But he couldn’t reveal any of this.
”It’s too dangerous,” he said quietly. “A waste of time.”
”Dangerous and pointless are two different things,” Reis shot back.
His voice had turned sharp. “If you’re calling it pointless, that’s strange.
Have you been there? Why are you so against it?”
”That’s—”
He couldn’t say it. Couldn’t risk it.
If he spoke, everything would fall apart—his identity, his secrets, the trust he’d built.
So his voice lost its strength.
”…Just my gut,” he said finally. “I think it’s better to stay away. Instead, we should head north of Flora—”
Reis gave a short, bitter laugh. “Sorry, but I can’t stop because of a gut feeling.
I have my reasons. I know something important is there. Maybe the clue I’ve been chasing all along.”
”…”
”And we can just look. We don’t have to go deep. We can check it carefully and pull back if it seems bad, right?”
That one suggestion changed the room’s mood.
”…That might not be a bad idea,” Lilim said softly.
”Yeah. If there’s nothing there, we just turn back,” Lurua added. “Reis didn’t get anything last time, so why not give him this one? Besides, Kanata—your reaction’s kind of weird. Are you hiding something?”
Kanata lowered his gaze. He couldn’t meet her eyes.
What should I do?
He couldn’t stop them now. To stop them, he’d have to tell the truth—and that was impossible.
(Not yet… not now…)
Kanata’s fist tightened.
”…All right. But remember—I was against this.”
His voice was quiet, but deep inside, panic stirred, unseen by anyone.
Notes:
• Mirei – An energetic adventurer joining Kanata’s party in Chapter 108. Appears in dungeon prep. Brave, impulsive, admires Kanata’s leadership. Female.
• Lurua – A healer in Kanata’s dungeon party. Supports allies with healing spells. Calm, dependable, close companion to Lilim. Female.
• Lilim – A magic user in Kanata’s party. Appears during dungeon exploration casting lightning and dark spells. Loyal teammate, thoughtful in battle. Female.
• Reis – A stoic swordsman and Kanata’s comrade. Prominent in dungeon arc, leads combat. Reliable fighter trusted by the team. Female.
• Flora Kingdom – A small demi-human majority realm, politically fragile and reliant on trade, undone when Leticia’s capture and contract ceded it to Kanata. Reminder: the kingdom that fell with its regent’s collar.
• Rem – Rem, a timid slave girl, pairs with Mito, her fearful obedience a desperate bid to survive Kanata’s dominion. Appears after raid dungeon.
• May – Blonde, soft-eyed shrine girl. ch14–15. Gentle and pleading (“Please… just let us go…”), timid but loyal, relies on Mina’s strength. Came with Mina to save Sara, but was disarmed and bound by Kanata as his captive maid.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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