Chapter 96 The Captive Princess and the Underground Ruins
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Back in the mansion’s private study, I quietly spoke his name.
”Ashraf.”
Right behind me—the shadows in the room flickered, and as if the darkness itself had taken human form, a dark demon appeared.
He appeared as a flawless young man dressed in perfect butler attire. Yet perhaps due to the demonic mana coming from him, despite his relaxed posture, he gave off an unsettling pressure. He’s useful, but I’d rather not share the same space.
”—So, how’s Liliana-hime doing?”
”Yes, the princess is safe. She could be called a captive, though her limbs aren’t bound, and she’s free to move about the room.”
His flat voice stated the facts without emotion.
I see.
Then I suppose it’s time to go check on her in person.
After hearing more details, I decided how to handle the kidnapping, then sent Ashraf ahead to that deserted church to clear the way.
Once Ashraf disappeared into the darkness, I prepared the magical artifacts I might need and arranged an empty carriage. The carriage was sent ahead to the church Ashraf had gone to.
It would be our ride back after rescuing the princess.
”That should do for preparations.”
Then, following the trace of Ashraf’s mana, I activated Teleportation Magic.
Just in case, I used the presence-concealing magic I’d copied from Ashraf to make sure no one would notice me, then Teleported to the church’s garden.
The sunset painted the sky blood-red.
Rusted iron fences, trampled weeds, and tilting gravestones.
This church wasn’t deserted because the congregation had vanished—a newly built church was built in a better location, and they’d relocated there.
The current management of this abandoned church went to some low-level criminal organization. From the planning stages, it’s possible a criminal group was involved, using this place as a hideout.
Beneath the blood-red sky, two shadows stretched across the church’s garden—and several burly men were sprawled there.
No, they were lying there, unconscious.
At my orders, Ashraf had already taken out the guards.
”I have been awaiting you, Xenos-sama.”
From the church entrance, deep within the shadow, Ashraf appeared.
The demon bowed respectfully, then pushed open the heavy door with a groan and creak.
Inside the church, the smell of mold and dust filled the air. The stained glass was broken, and rubble was scattered across the floor. Four more men lay unconscious here as well—all of them likely taken down by Ashraf.
I entered the silent church and opened the hidden door behind the altar, leading to the underground. I’d already learned the church’s hidden structure from Ashraf.
Without hesitation, I stepped into that yawning darkness.
Using Dark Magic’s Night Vision, I carefully advanced through the pitch-black corridor.
The cold, damp air brushed against my skin.
Along the corridor, candle holders were on the walls here and there, though they were unlit. I could see well enough, so I didn’t light them.
I descended the spiral stairs that continued down, down, down.
After the stairs, I walked a short distance, and found another set of stairs.
After repeating this a few times, the space opened up in front of me.
—I’ve been here before.
The scenery was familiar.
This was the ancient underground ruins where the illegal black-market auction “Shadows’ Gala” had once been held. A vast underground space like a massive limestone cavern. From the ceiling hung countless magical lamps emitting powerful light, about a third of which still glowed dimly.
The feverish excitement and lavish decorations from those auction days were gone. But it was still more than habitable.
In one corner of this expansive underground space, in a private area owned by Ignazio Valachia—that greedy merchant and information broker of the underworld—Liliana-hime was being held captive.
Ignazio was the one who had approached me with a business proposition to buy Leela—Layla Nura Zahara, the Second Princess of Zahara—for four hundred thousand gold coins. When I refused, he sent assassins after me.
And now he’d gone and abducted Liliana-hime.
”Ashraf, show me the way.”
”As you wish.”
I’d been told the general route in advance.
But from here on, it was a vast underground space, hard to visualize from verbal instructions alone, and I didn’t feel like memorizing it.
I followed Ashraf’s back as he moved ahead, silent and gliding.
We entered what appeared to be living quarters, likely built within the natural caves. At the entrance and along key points of the internal corridors, guards were posted—but Ashraf and I were using magic to hide our presence.
We approached the thinly-spaced guards without being noticed, gave them no chance to resist, and quietly put them to sleep.
The guards were positioned at key points but didn’t seem to patrol, so no one raised an alarm.
After passing through several doors and progressing further—I heard voices from beyond a particularly sturdy-looking door.
”You imbecile!! Useless!!”
An angry shout echoed through the dimly lit corridor.
At the same time, a sharp sound—like a whip striking flesh—reached my ears…
A tense atmosphere leaked through the gaps in the door.
The situation seemed quite different from what I’d been told—Ashraf stopped beside the door and bowed to me.
This was our destination.
The scene inside seemed worse than what I’d heard, but it still held the record I needed.
I quietly took out the magical artifact I’d prepared from my pocket.
Then I gave Ashraf the order:
”Open the door. Don’t let them notice.”
This demon could completely conceal his presence.
Concealing both sound and light, the door slowly swung open.
The people inside, unaware of my intrusion, continued their cruel play.
—
Summary:
Xenos returns to his private study and summons his demon butler Ashraf to report on Liliana-hime’s captivity, then prepares magical artifacts and a carriage before teleporting to the deserted church. He moves through the underground ruins, neutralizing guards and recalling his history with the Shadows’ Gala auction, until he reaches the room where Liliana-hime is being held. The chapter ends as Xenos orders Ashraf to open the door, revealing that the captors are engaged in something far worse than simple imprisonment.
—
Trivia:
Xenos previously refused Ignazio Valachia’s offer to buy Leela (Layla Nura Zahara) for 400,000 gold coins, which led to assassins being sent after him.
The Shadows’ Gala black-market auction was held in these same underground ruins, establishing continuity from earlier chapters.
Ashraf is capable of completely concealing his presence, including sound and light, making him an ideal infiltrator.
Xenos copied Ashraf’s presence-concealing magic for his own use, demonstrating his ability to learn and adapt supernatural techniques.
The church was abandoned not due to losing congregants but because a new church was built in a better location, with criminal involvement suspected from the planning stage.
Liliana-hime is being held with relative freedom—not physically bound—suggesting the captors are either overconfident or have other means of control.
Xenos’s magical artifact, prepared in advance, is intended for recording or observing the scene inside the room.
The kidnapper’s dialogue (“You imbecile!! Useless!!”) suggests incompetence within the criminal organization, which Xenos may exploit.
Ashraf’s formal address “Xenos-sama” signals the power dynamic and the protagonist’s status even among supernatural beings.
The chapter’s final line “Continued their cruel play” deliberately uses ambiguous wording to build suspense for the next chapter.
Notes:
• Ashraf – Job: Teleportation demon; Relationship: Guardian of Xenos’s mansion; Note: Guards against potential attacks.
• Liliana – Known as the “Angel of the Asgard Kingdom” for her golden hair and sky-blue eyes, this princess is the younger sister of Prince Liam and Elenor. While maintaining a refined, angelic public facade, she is a manipulative mastermind who wields explosion magic. As Serena’s liege and the true culprit behind recent assassination attempts, she carefully hides her dark nature behind whispered, noble asides.
• Lilia – Xenos’s fiercely loyal, trauma-resilient Head Maid is a lovely, pale, busty woman with long dark hair, a chest tattoo, and a nullified crest. Dressed in a black uniform, she maintains refined, icy elegance when disciplining others, especially Elenor. While formal and efficient with guests, she masks deep, jealous anxiety for Xenos, finding her greatest joy in serving him and sleeping by his side.
• Xenos – Job: Heir to a high-ranking noble house; Relationship: Owner of Lilia; Has romantic connections with Elenor, Cecilia, and Lizel; Item/Magic: Summoning magic, [Substitution Collars]; Note: Was caught up in a Royal Palace explosion and missed three days of school. Pragmatic and calculating personality. Job: Noble of Grimlock family, protagonist; Relationship: Manipulator of Princess Liliana, pursuing Serena; Item/Magic: [Ring of Transformation]; Note: Reincarnated villain with game knowledge, calculating and arrogant. Job: Theater Owner and noble of Grimlock family; Relationship: Fiancé to Cecilia; Item/Magic: Game knowledge/metaknowledge; Note: Reincarnated villain protagonist who knows the original game script.
• Ignazio – Greedy merchant and information broker of the underworld. Previously approached Xenos to buy Leela (Layla Nura Zahara) for four hundred thousand gold coins. When refused, sent assassins after Xenos. Currently holds Liliana-hime captive in his private area of the underground ruins.
• Layla – Job: Princess of Zahara Kingdom; Relationship: Sister to Azim and Fatima; Note: Disguised and hiding in the theater’s underground facility.
• Leela – Job: Disguised identity; Relationship: Alias for Layla; Note: Working at the theater under a false name.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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