I've reached the 9th floor.
I couldn't control this power boiling up from my body.
- Han Yuyeon, Yuyeon-nim is here!!!
- (Double peace sign maid costume)
- (Dancing maid costume)
"Hello."
Still, I should greet them properly.
Even if I've lost my dignity and even my flexibility, so that I can no longer be called Han Yuyeon, I haven't yet lost my manners.
"I am not Han Yuyeon."
- ?
- Hey, Han-ssi, stop saying weird stuff and do a double peace sign.
- If you're not Han Yuyeon, then who is Han Yuyeon?
What remains for me, who has lost her name?
Parents who love me. Maid points that show no sign of running out.
A subspace pocket filled to the brim. A body that never tires.
Et cetera, and strength that has reached 130.
Thud. Thud.
I have to be careful with every single step.
It feels like the ground will shatter if I put my strength in the wrong way.
「9th Floor of the Tower of Trials - Banquet Hall of the Crimson Moon」
「This is the interior of the castle where True Ancestor Valerius resides. The followers of the Crimson Moon are blocking the path to the throne.」
「Main Objective: Annihilate the followers of the Crimson Moon and open the door to the audience chamber.」
The starting location of the 9th floor was an extremely narrow passage.
I suppose the setting is that I entered through a secret passage thanks to a butterfly effect from discovering a secret passage on the 8th floor.
At the end of the passage, red light seeped through the gap in the door.
So vampires like red light, huh. I wonder why. Because it's the color of blood?
Who knows. There's no way I, who have lost my flexibility, could know something like that.
Standing before the door, I fell into thought for a moment.
Greeting them politely with a knock somehow felt like it would be discourteous to Guard-nim and Leviathan-nim.
And breaking the door down felt like it would be disrespectful to the architect who must have worked hard to make it, so I was conflicted.
The last anchor called manners was holding me back.
Just then, I heard the voice of Leviathan-nim, who dwells within me.
'Rumble, rumble.'
Right. I can't be polite to everyone.
Everything has its priorities.
If I must observe etiquette, it is right to observe it first to Guard-nim and Leviathan-nim.
So for now, I tore the door off with my hands.
- ?????
- Hieeeek
Crunch-
It felt like something inside me was torn out together with the door.
I'm sorry, Architect-nim. For tearing off the door you made so diligently like this.
Ugh. My heart hurts so much. But I have to do what I must do.
I destroyed the rest of the door to show off my strength.
Bam, bam.
- Y-Yuyeon-nim, are you okay?
- I think we were wrong, so we're sorry.
- Sorry for rushing the stream...
- (Reading the room... guardian costume)
Then I entered the banquet hall and looked around.
Where is this? Who am I?
For now, this looks like a wine cellar, and I am not Han Yuyeon.
"I wondered what the commotion was, and it's another intruder?"
"!"
"Maid. Silver hair. Blue eyes... Are you Han Yuyeon?"
The vampire, who had his eyes closed, asked in a voice mixed with interest.
I likewise closed both eyes and answered while activating my Mind's Eye.
"Hello. I am not Han Yuyeon."
"...... Huh?"
- Not the time to blank out, domhwangcha;;;
"Then who are you?"
"I'm planning to find that out from now on."
Since the vampire opened his eyes, I opened mine too.
"It seems you have the leisure to joke despite walking into your own grave."
"Gasp. Was this place a grave? I'm sorry. I'll compensate for the door later."
"...I mean it is your grave."
"? I've never made a reservation here, though."
"That's not for you to decide."
The vampire's pupils grew even redder.
I don't have a skill to make my pupils even bluer.
The moment I felt defeat, the bottles neatly organized on the wall began to shatter with a crash.
Oh dear. What a waste. They must have been made with such care.
What I sensed from the flowing liquid was the scent of blood.
So they were bottles of collected blood, not wine.
"From the moment you entered this space, you have lost...! Your blood is the finest offering for the Master—"
"I can't allow that."
As the vampire, who had gathered the blood, tried to do something to me, I lightly lifted one foot and stomped hard on the ground.
Then, with the sound of heels clicking, a shockwave erupted and everything in the cellar crumbled to dust.
"Wh-what is this..."
"Because I always have to win. Perfectly, overwhelmingly."
- d-d-d-d-d-d
- Now you're destroying everything without even using aura.
- So that's why you don't turn off Maid Management...
I prayed for the ascension of the vampire, who couldn't withstand the shockwave and had turned into a bloody puddle.
Now, shall I find the way again?
I tried to scatter mana to survey the terrain— but stopped.
Why should I survey the terrain with mana? I have strength, don't I?
- Yuyeon-nim, can we chat...?
- Shh, Yuyeon-nim is concentrating.
I see an unbroken door. I see a door handle still firmly attached.
I grabbed the handle and tore it off. And then I destroyed the remaining door once more with a bam-bam.
I was about to step over the broken door and leave the cellar— but returned to the cellar.
Why should I follow the predetermined path? I have strength, don't I?
- Hieeeek
- Just how angry are you?
- Why are you suddenly acting like this?
- Stop chatting and read the room.
I destroyed the wall with a bam-bam.
The path I walk is the path itself.
Paving a road in a straight line, I made it outside the banquet hall.
BANG-!!
- Eh?
The guards watching the main gate stared blankly at me at the sudden roar before sinking into shock.
"Y-you... could you be..."
"Hello. Who do you think I am?"
"Han Yuy—"
"For one, I'm not Han Yuyeon."
"What kind of bullc— kuaaaack!!!"
I walked while putting strength into my feet, causing the ground to shake and tremors to occur.
Vampires who had escaped from the collapsing guard posts and buildings poured magic and curse spells at me, but I ignored them.
Why should I respond to each one individually? I have strength, don't I?
Simply the shockwave generated by me walking with power was enough to neutralize all attacks.
"Mad... she's a mad woman!"
"That thing is human...?!"
- H-How's the taste of humanity's strongest maid...!
- Tremble in fear, mosquitoes...!
Bam, bam.
Ignoring the attacks, I broke through the wall of the banquet hall.
There was a door right next to it, but I didn't use it.
The vampires inside also joined the combined assault, but I just left them be.
"The curses aren't working at all?!"
"Keep firing anyway! That bitch will get tired eventually!"
Let's try going to the second floor this time.
I saw stairs in front of me, so I smashed them first and jumped.
And then, bang. I misjudged my strength and broke through the ceiling of the banquet hall.
"Hng."
The crimson moon hanging in the sky was clearly visible.
So this is why this place is called the Banquet Hall of the Crimson Moon.
Since I'm already up here, let's communicate with the Moon.
"The moon is beautiful tonight."
- That moon is blood-colored, though.
- You think that's pretty...?
"Everyone. Look at the moon. The moon is so beautiful."
- Isn't it more grotesque than pretty?
"Moon. How did you turn red? It feels so good now that you're red."
- Yuyeon-nim...?
I think I know what it means to be intoxicated by moonlight— ah, right, Rabina-nim.
"!"
Come to think of it, the situation seemed strange.
No matter how strong I am, hasn't the trial so far been too easy?
"Ugh."
- ???
- Yuyeon-nim, are you okay?
My head hurts when I try to think.
I flopped down on my stomach and tried hard to think.
Why should I use my head? I have strength, don't I?
No, that's not it. Think.
"Hoo... hoo..."
- What's wrong?
- If it's hard, turn off your m a n a g e m e n t.
Despite causing such a commotion, the number of vampires coming to attack me is too small.
Can the defenses here, connected to the True Ancestor's audience chamber, really be this lax?
The chances of that are low. Unless Rabina-nim arrived here before me and dispersed the forces—
"Ugh!"
"That monster bitch is finally tired! Let's capture her and offer her to the Master!!"
A power that felt like it would explode kept clouding my thoughts.
Needing time to think quietly, I rolled to the side with a rumble and fell to the ground.
- Fuuuck, stop messing around.
- No fun no fun no fun.
- Yuyeon-nim, why are you really like this??????????????
Ah, if the viewers are watching me, I think they might misunderstand.
Since they might worry if I land with a thud, let's land properly.
Suddenly remembering a landing technique I saw in a book, I clenched my fist and readjusted my posture in the air.
The so-called Super Maid Landing.
KWAAANG-!!!
The floor shattered and I fell all the way to the basement.
- So all the chats above were from the vampires' POV...
- As if they were worried about Yuyeon-nim.
- These vamps are really pitiful.
- Can't even use the vampire costume, it's so pitiful...
- Should've been born human if they don't like it.
Ah. So cool. Being strong is this nice.
I sprang up and looked ahead, and the vampire I met in the cellar approached.
"Ohing. You're alive?"
"Because this body has received the Master's grace."
So he has a resurrection or immortality gimmick. How fascinating.
But it was strange. He already suffered once, so what was he thinking coming before me again?
"The difference in our combat power is so vast that it can't be closed— what were you thinking coming here?"
"??? Did I perhaps say that out loud?"
"I know very well how to deal with humans like you. This time will be different."
"Oh."
- ?
- How does he think he can deal with Yuyeon-nim?
- Crazy vamps, don't know their place.
It seems he has some kind of trump card.
This time, I decided not to interfere out of courtesy.
I waited quietly, and the vampire suddenly bowed at the waist.
"My name is J. Han Yuyeon-nim. Might you spare a moment for communication?"
"? Nice to meet you, J-nim. But I'm not Han Yuyeon."
"Ah, I see. I deeply apologize for my rudeness. Then, might I dare ask your esteemed name?"
"???"
His manners are tremendous.
Ugh. Uh. I haven't acted politely since arriving here.
My heart began to ache stingingly.
"I-I am..."
"If you feel burdened, you do not need to tell me. The mere fact that I may serve you here is an honor too great for me."
"Uht."
"I believe all problems that have occurred between us and future matters can be smoothly resolved through dialogue."
"Uht."
"Of course, regarding the losses incurred this time, we shall take full responsibility and bear them."
"???"
"Our failure to serve you properly and the inconvenience caused is entirely our fault. I earnestly request that you grant us an opportunity to make amends."
"?????"
- This vamp is really a gentleman...?
Before an etiquette force that made it impossible to act shamelessly, I could only stop.