“It has been three days since we lost contact with Arcanea.”
Kandeul, a lesser demon belonging to the Demon Realm Trading Company and a subordinate of Serinu, bowed at the waist as he reported to his direct superior, Serinu.
His report was that contact had been lost with Arcanea, who had headed to the Arch Lich’s dungeon.
In fact, three days had also passed since contact had been lost with the entire group of lamias.
Given that there had been no news at all by now, anyone could tell that something had gone wrong.
“The Arch Lich…”
Serinu murmured softly in a trembling voice.
Another failure. The plan had not unfolded as intended.
In order to make up for her repeated failures, Serinu had resolved to eliminate the Arch Lich. And for that plan, she had used Arcanea.
She had thought that a jealous lamia would take action with just a small push.
So she had sent her subordinate Kandeul to the lamia dungeon and handed over an elixir.
The elixir in question was a rare potion that forcibly raised one’s power, and she had believed that if Arcanea were given power, she would surely move.
And just as Serinu had expected, Arcanea had moved.
Through the elixir, Arcanea had obtained the power of 5-star.
Having gained explosive power, Arcanea had headed straight for the Arch Lich’s dungeon.
‘I thought it was practically a success…!’
Serinu had expected two pieces of good news.
The first was news that Arcanea had subjugated the Arch Lich’s dungeon.
She was certain that if the Arch Lich were provoked, she could draw out the unidentified being who had been with the Arch Lich at the banquet.
If everything went well, she had even intended to provide Arcanea with more support.
The second was that the elixir Arcanea had taken was a potion being tested in secret.
At the time of the auction, she had once fed potions to the priests of the Order in order to give the Arch Lich trouble.
The potion back then had merely amplified holy power at best, but the elixir she had given Arcanea this time was on a completely different level.
Arcanea, who had only just become 5-star through the elixir, was to face the Arch Lich?
That would mean the elixir had achieved a groundbreaking success.
But reality was not so lenient.
Not a single thing had succeeded; everything had failed.
Arcanea had gone silent, which was the same as saying she had been unable to deal with the Arch Lich.
In the end, Serinu could not help but harbor doubts about the elixir’s performance.
‘If its effects had worked properly, she should have been able to take care of an Arch Lich with ease….’
Even among those of the same 5-star, not everyone possessed the same strength.
She did not know the exact level of the Arch Lich’s power, but she had expected Arcanea, having gained power, to handle it easily.
No, she had been certain of it.
And yet, if she had failed, it meant the elixir had been flawed.
Feeling a headache coming on, Serinu brought up another subject.
“Fine… What is the situation with the Arch Lich’s dungeon?”
The one hope she could still cling to was the possibility that Arcanea and the Arch Lich had fought each other and both perished.
She desperately hoped that Kandeul would say the Arch Lich’s dungeon had collapsed as well.
But Kandeul’s expression was not good.
“The thing is, we cannot learn anything at all.”
Confusion appeared on Serinu’s face, as if to ask what that meant.
But Kandeul’s words meant exactly what they sounded like.
“We sent mercenaries, but all contact with them was lost. It seems to be a group of wandering goblins.”
“The goblins’ doing, is it?”
She had sent gnolls to the Arch Lich’s dungeon before as well.
But what had happened then?
Before they had even reached the Arch Lich’s dungeon, they were found as corpses in the nearby forest.
After investigating, it had turned out to be the work of a group of wild goblins.
This time, too, she had sent mercenaries to find out the state of the Arch Lich’s dungeon, but she had gained nothing.
“Did you send the shadows as well?”
Unlike mercenaries, the shadows were beings the Company frequently used.
Like smoke, they excelled at gathering information and assassination, strange beings whose monster lineage could not be identified.
Moreover, their numbers were small, so they could not be moved carelessly.
But the situation was different now.
They had to find out everything about the Arch Lich.
“Th-that is…”
At the mention of the shadows, Kandeul’s expression darkened even further.
“We sent two shadows, but contact with both was lost.”
“?”
Serinu asked again, wondering if she had misheard, but the same answer came back.
“We do not know the cause. All the shadows who headed to the dungeon have gone missing.”
What nonsense was that?
The shadows were covert beings.
It was safe to say there was no one capable of killing them.
‘Unless they managed to win the shadows over.’
Unfortunately, there should be no one other than the Company capable of handling the shadows, so she erased that possibility from her mind.
‘Could it be him?’
The unidentified being who had been attached to the Arch Lich.
If he had indeed moved, then the current situation made sense.
“Hmm…”
Serinu pondered.
She knew nothing about the Arch Lich, let alone the unidentified man.
In truth, had she not planned this whole matter in order to lure him out?
Now that all her plans had come to nothing, moving any further would only be a waste of time.
“It cannot be helped. For the time being, we will cease our interest in the Arch Lich’s dungeon.”
A headache pressed in on her.
Where had it all gone wrong?
At first, she had merely thought it was a succubus dungeon. But as it turned out, it had been the Arch Lich’s dungeon, and its security was so tight that she could not obtain any information.
“Ah, and Lady Serinu.”
As Serinu’s expression grew even darker, Kandeul brought up a subject that might change the mood.
“While investigating the disaster in the Sale Kingdom, we discovered something interesting.”
At Kandeul’s words, Serinu raised her head.
Anything described as interesting always led to results. And so Serinu waited for what came next.
“I learned it by chance as well, but are you perhaps aware of the underworld of the Sale Kingdom?”
Of course she knew that much.
Because there were those who lived not in the light but in the shadows, every nation had an underworld.
But what of it?
“They say a monster arena is being held in the underworld of the Sale Kingdom.”
“A monster… arena?”
At the interesting topic, Serinu showed interest.
* * *
Two drunken young men staggered down a dark night street.
Their faces were covered in scars, and their eyes were filled with ferocity.
One had a red bandanna wrapped around his head, and the other wore an eyepatch over one eye.
The name of the young man in the red bandanna was Ethan.
The name of the young man with the eyepatch over his left eye was Raymond.
Both were criminals wanted for fraud.
As such, they were the sort who could live only in the shadows, not in the light.
That was why the two of them wandered the underworld of the Sale Kingdom.
This place was practically an extraterritorial zone beyond the reach of the kingdom’s hand.
Even so, they were careful with their behavior.
No matter how drunk and unsteady they were, they made sure not to bump into passersby.
No, they tried to stay as clear-headed as possible.
In a place where the law did not reach, fists were close at hand.
All sorts of criminals besides them had hidden themselves here, so it was best to always be careful.
“Ugh… My stomach feels terrible…”
“I think we drank too much… Urk… Isn’t there somewhere we can… rest?”
Ethan in the red bandanna and Raymond with the eyepatch grumbled as they looked around.
In their thoroughly drunken state, they needed some suitable entertainment.
They peered around their surroundings and kept moving.
The dark night street was barely illuminated by red lanterns, and the fog seeping between the buildings made the atmosphere even more sinister.
Trash rolled about in the narrow alleyways, and the old brick buildings had yellowed with age.
After walking for a while, the atmosphere of the street changed.
At regular intervals, lanterns brightly lit the road, and there was not a single piece of trash on the street.
On top of that, the buildings were clean, unlike the ones from before.
“Oh…”
Raymond, who could see with only one eye, was surprised by the sight.
“Why is it so clean here?”
Normally, every street was supposed to be full of filth, yet this place was particularly spotless.
At Raymond’s question, Ethan laughed and answered.
“Look at this country bumpkin. You don’t know the monster arena? This is where that famous monster arena is!”
“Monster arena?”
The monster arena that had appeared in the underworld.
After the arena was established, the surrounding streets had become especially clean.
Rumors about the person running the arena had even spread far and wide.
According to those rumors, there were all kinds of claims, from absurd talk that the operator was not human to whispers that they were a godfather of the underworld.
That was why even the worst sorts behaved themselves here.
After all, those who had actually caused trouble had disappeared somewhere.
“Hah, you really are a country bumpkin, you bastard. To think you don’t know the monster arena!”
When Raymond stared blankly at the words Ethan had casually thrown out, Ethan clicked his tongue in disbelief.
Saying he would show him something fun, Ethan led Raymond into a building.
The arena matches were held in the basement here.
But just as they were about to enter the arena, Raymond suddenly felt an urgent need for the restroom.
“Hold on. I really need the bathroom… Let’s stop by first.”
At Raymond’s words, Ethan nodded as well.
His stomach had not been feeling good either.
It seemed better to take care of things cleanly and bet with an easy mind.
They hurriedly began searching for the restroom.
“What the hell, why is this place so big?”
But they could not see the restroom.
They wanted to grab someone nearby and ask, but everyone was busy placing bets.
And so, in search of the restroom, they headed all the way to a dark corner.
“Let’s see… Bathroom… Huh? Isn’t that it over there?”
Raymond pointed toward a place in the corner.
A narrow passageway built of red bricks.
Would they really have built a restroom in such an out-of-the-way place?
No matter how they looked at it, it did not resemble a restroom, but the two of them were currently soaked in alcohol.
“…Let’s go in for now.”
Ethan led Raymond into that place.
When they passed through the red bricks and entered the interior, an unbelievable sight unfolded.
“Hup!”
The interior, which they had expected to be dark and gloomy, was filled with mysterious light.
The walls were decorated with magical patterns, and a faint mist lay over the floor, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
A chandelier made of crystal hung from the ceiling, and the dazzling, multicolored light it emitted made them feel as though they had stepped into a dream.
“What… is this?”
Ethan muttered in a daze.
Raymond, too, stared blankly at the space dyed in mysterious light.
Just what kind of place was this?
It was clearly somewhere inside the building that housed the arena.
If so, could it perhaps be the private space of the person who operated the arena?
“Let’s get out of here for now.”
No matter how they looked at it, they felt they should not stay here any longer.
Ethan was about to turn around with Raymond and leave the place.
“Welcome to the world of illusion.”
At the bewitching yet mysterious voice, they flinched and turned their heads.
The being who appeared before their eyes was a person with pale skin and heterochromatic eyes, one blue and the other red.
However, their androgynous appearance made it impossible to tell whether they were male or female.
Their long silver hair shimmered as though soaked in moonlight, and the robe that enveloped their entire body, covered in fantastical patterns, created a mysterious atmosphere.
In their hand, they held a staff made of crystal.
“Wh-who are you?”
Ethan asked in a trembling voice.
At that, the silver-haired being opened their mouth with a faint smile.
“My introduction is late. My name is Kaleido, a scholar who studies illusion magic.”
Their voice was enchanting.
Ethan quickly grasped the situation and bowed at the waist.
“I’m sorry. We took a wrong turn! We’ll leave at once!”
There was no doubt.
This was surely the person who operated the monster arena.
Since there were rumors that the arena’s operator was a godfather of the underworld, Ethan sobered up in an instant.
Fortunately, the other party smiled and accepted Ethan’s apology.
“Haha, it is quite all right. Such things happen. Since this too is fate, why not rest for a moment before you go?”
Instead, the other party offered Ethan and Raymond a chance to rest.
At that sight, Ethan let out a sigh of relief.
At the very least, this person was definitely not someone strange.
“My name is Ethan.”
“Ah, I’m Raymond!”
Ethan and Raymond likewise greeted him.
“Now, now, why don’t you sit over here for a moment? Would you perhaps like to explore an illusion with me?”
An illusion?
Ethan was flustered by the sudden proposal.
What exactly did this man mean by an illusion?
He had definitely said he researched illusion magic.
Didn’t that mean he was openly saying he would cast magic on them?
“If you explore the illusion with me, I will give you those.”
Where Kaleido’s hand pointed, countless gold coins lay piled up.
At the sight, Ethan’s wariness grew even stronger.
Kindness without any price always felt suspicious.
But Raymond was drunk, his judgment dulled.
“Oh… that sounds nice. I want to explore it…!”
“Hey, Raymond. Get a hold of yourself!”
Ethan tried to stop him, but Raymond’s eyes were already fixed on the gold coins.
“Haha, excellent! Please, sit here!”
When Kaleido offered him a chair, Raymond sat down as if hypnotized.
Ethan got chills watching the scene, but it seemed it was already too late.
And a moment later.
“Now, from this point on, you will explore the illusion I have created. Overcome the hardships you encounter there. If you fail… hehe, you may end up trapped in the illusion forever.”
Kaleido grinned broadly and raised his staff.
A five-colored mist of light poured from the tip of the staff and enveloped Raymond.
“…Raymond!”
At the sudden turn of events, Ethan called his name, but—
“Shh. Right now, he is exploring the illusion.”
Kaleido stopped Ethan from acting.
Ethan wanted to protest and ask what the hell he was doing, but the moment he met Kaleido’s eyes, the words caught in his throat.
Because madness lingered in the other man’s gaze.
“Do not worry. Mr. Raymond is merely playing a game inside the illusion I created.”
Kaleido looked at Ethan with a faint smile.
“Of course, games come with risks. But if he overcomes them, a tremendous reward awaits.”
“A game…?”
“Yes, a game within an illusion. He must complete the tasks given to him inside the world I created. A game where he defeats monsters, explores dungeons, and finds treasure. Of course, if he fails…”
Kaleido trailed off and shrugged.
“Even if he fails, there will be nothing wrong with your body.”
Even as Ethan listened to him, he looked at Raymond.
Just as he said, Raymond appeared to be sleeping comfortably.
“Haha, the boundary between illusion and reality is more ambiguous than one might think. Now then, we shall see whether Mr. Raymond can safely clear the game within the illusion. Would you like to participate as well? If you win the game, a tremendous treasure will become yours….”
Ethan glanced at the place where the gold coins were piled.
The sight of the glittering coins made greed well up in him.
‘I can have all of that? It must be a lie.’
But what if those words were true?
What if he refused here, only for Raymond to clear the game and take all those gold coins for himself?
No matter how close they were as friends, that would be hard to stomach.
Ethan swallowed dryly and nodded.
“I’ll participate.”
“Haha, an excellent choice! Please sit here!”
Following Kaleido’s words, Ethan sat down.
Something felt suspicious, but at the thought of obtaining the gold coins, he lost his reason.
In any case, all of this was merely a game.
“Now, from this point on, you will enter the illusion I have—”
“Gasp!”
Before Kaleido could even finish speaking, Ethan cried out.
“Th-the illusion is real!”
Because a horrifying being had appeared before his eyes.
“D-did I really enter the illusion?”
Ethan could not hide his excitement.
Illusion magic truly existed.
“I can even see a monster in front of me!”
Though Kaleido had said nothing, Ethan ran his mouth as he pleased.
“Uh… but this is strange. It looks like a knight, but there’s a maid outfit attached to its shield…. This is an illusion, right?!”
Ethan felt thrilled as he looked at the unrealistic monster before him.
If this was truly illusion magic, then it was amazing indeed.
At Ethan’s words, Kaleido let out a sigh.
“Um, that is not an illusion.”
“Yes?”
“You have not even entered the illusion yet.”
That couldn’t be.
Wasn’t there a monster right in front of him holding a shield with a maid outfit attached to it?
Ethan thought Kaleido was probably playing a prank to tease him.
Unfortunately, however, Kaleido’s words were the truth.
At present, Ethan was looking not at an illusion, but reality.
Kaleido’s gaze turned toward the Death Knight behind him.
A few days ago, the Death Knight had been sent by the general manager for the expansion construction of this dungeon.
It was a farce caused by the Death Knight appearing before Ethan had entered the illusion.
“Th-then what on earth is that….”
Now that he thought about it, would he have been able to talk with the other person after entering the illusion?
Raymond had certainly been silent.
Only then did Ethan open his mouth, stricken with fear.
“What—”
Thud—
“Guh!”
At the same time, Kaleido’s staff pierced Ethan’s heart.
“Tsk.”
Regrettable though it was, Kaleido decided to give up on Ethan.
And his gaze turned toward Raymond, who was in the middle of exploring the illusion.