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“This can’t be happening…I refuse to believe that just happened…”
“She was so scary…why are girls nowadays so terrifying…”

Elohim was facing the wall while grumbling, his pride broken. And then Adonis spoke with trembling limbs and chattering teeth, her heart broken.

Frey was unsure of how to feel hearing those comments from the two mid-bosses, before turning to the only one who was smiling and was satisfied with their fight, the tall man.

“Hah… It seems the two youngsters lacked some more training.”
“Youngsters? Aren’t all of you already…you know…dead?”

Seeing El Chai laugh heartily after his comment, Frey felt the need to correct him a little.

“In comparison, all of you were quite courageous, especially the two…” Saying that El Chai began to search for those who had fought the hardest during the battle, but then he stopped when he found them. “They were…impressive… But excuse me, why are they in that state?”

El Chai asked with puzzlement. His gaze was focused on…

‘We acted selfishly during a raid even though we’re Guild Masters.’ Crim and Sorleon had signs with that written on them hanging from their necks, while being forced to sit on their knees through the conversation.

Sorleon had willingly riled up a companion during their strategy meeting, and Crim had let it get to her head, so both of them understood why they were being treated that way, and they went along with it in repentance.

Though they also knew that this was a virtual world, so sitting that way would not really numb their legs, making the punishment much easier to endure.

“Please don’t mind them. They were such bad kids they needed some time to reconsider their actions.” Shao was the one to reply, with the smile of an angel on his lips, though the strained veins on his forehead revealed his true anger.

Frey and Reinhard, the second in command of Lua Cheia and Nord Glacier respectively, also nodded in agreement with Shao. The two masters had no allies now.

“Hm… I don’t think I quite understand, but that’s beside the point. You may go on, champions. The castle is open for you to climb through it.”
“Sigh… I just hope I never have to fight you again.”
“Uhh…umm…if we see each other again, please be a bit more kind, okay..?”

The trembling twins and El Chai moved to the side, opening the way to the castle, and watched as the group crossed the gates.

After crossing the gate, they found themselves in a garden dotted with magic beings that served as guards, and past it they reached the castle’s entrance hall. There, a red haired femme fatale in knight armor, Elha, waited for them.

Accompanying her were Er, a knight specializing in Strengthening Magic, and Cichol, another knight dedicated to practicing Healing Magic. All three were also members of the Red Emperor’s Twelve Blades.

At first glance, they resembled a comic relief trio of an evil boss with loud laughter accompanied by two minions. However, each had their defined roles and knew how to fight alongside each other, making them a formidable enemy.

Furthermore, as the supports Er and Cichol were defeated, Elha gained more powerful magic, eventually setting the entire arena ablaze. This fire dealt continuous damage to everyone, posing a particular challenge for Crim, who was vulnerable to fire. Despite this, everyone persevered, defeating Elha before any fell, and subsequently breaking through the entrance.

They were finally inside the proper castle, and things were finally looking more like an actual dungeon.

They explored inside, sometimes splitting up the party to cover more ground, and sometimes all racking their brains together to solve a puzzle, until eventually they got closer to the end, near the audience hall.

There, an aging couple were waiting for them, a man wearing armor, and a woman wearing priest robes. The man was Master Swordsman Gallitsur. The woman was Saint Chiel.

They looked at least a decade older than any of the knights they had encountered so far, though that much was to be expected. The Red Lion Emperor had been entrusted to the couple as a child, who acted almost like adoptive parents to train and raise the young emperor.

Their skill was not just for show either, as Gallitsur was still a force to be reckoned with even with Sorleon and Crim trying to keep him busy, and Chiel’s protective magic stood strong even as everyone else fired at it at the same time.

But everyone persisted and continued fighting. And eventually the couple too was defeated.

Around four hours had passed until then. They still had time to keep going, but it had not been easy to get so far. On top of that the many fights were starting to wear down their equipment, the maintenance cost of which was starting to pile up to a worrying degree.

On top of that…

“Hinagiku, Lycoris, and Mei, is everything alright?”
“I’m…okay…”
“Me too…somehow…”
“Mhmm… Though I didn’t expect this place to be this hard…”

The youngest of the group were following behind with heavy steps, which made Frey and Freya worry, until eventually Crim turned around to speak with them. The small girls gave brave replies, though their exhausted and heavy gait did not really look okay.

It seems that the last fight pushed them to their limit.

It was hard to blame them, as having to keep up with so many fierce fights in a row did place a heavy mental load. But…

The next one will be your final test, so good luck, young ones.

Those had been the last words of Master Swordsman Gallitsur, and Crim felt like they revealed who the next boss would be, and if she was correct, then the three young girls would be able to rest after that.

The doors leading into the audience hall were large and heavy, necessitating many hands to push them open. Eventually, the rusty hinges screeched as they began to turn, creating a gap into the hall, and then…

Just like with every boss they had encountered so far, the tattered and dusty carpet turned back to new, while the cracked walls and floor regained their shiny luster.

“So…you came.”

When the doors had opened enough, a monotone and solemn voice rang out. A figure clad in scarlet plate armor was waiting for them inside, standing in the center of a large hall before a couple of steps which led up to a king’s throne in the back.

“…Are you Knight Commander Effie?”
“I see, so you’ve already met my sister Adnammelech, and know my name. Yes, that’s me, I’m Knight Commander Effie.”

Saying that, he swiftly unsheathed his red knight’s sword. The moment the blade was exposed, a sudden pressure befell everyone.

“I was granted authority and power under the condition that I protect and defend humans, and thus I shall not fight against humans.”

Barely a moment passed after Effie announced that.

“Ghuh!”
“Kyah?!”

Frey and Freya whimpered behind Crim. Looking at them, it seemed like they were unable to move and were forced to sit on the hall’s floor. The same applied to the other members, until the only ones standing were those of demon species, Crim, Sorleon, Shao, and Lueger.

“First off… I want to see your strength, demons, you who belong to the demonic side and yet walk alongside humans, something unthinkable in my age.”

Knight Commander Effie said that as he walked further away in the hall, before turning around to face the group again. Then he stood there, merely watching, giving the impression he was giving them time to prepare.

“Don’t worry…this time we’ll take care of things.” Crim said that with a smile to reassure her friends before she joined the other three in walking forward.

“Knight Commander Effie, might I inquire of thee before we commence?”
“If it’s something I can answer.”
“We’ve encountered the Red Emperor’s Twelve Blades and faced many on our journey here, yet with thee among them, only ten have we crossed paths with. Dare we assume this to be our final trial?”

When Crim heard there was only one final ordeal, doubt filled her mind. The numbers did not match up.

“…Yes. Only ten of us were entrusted with the castle. The remaining two aren’t here.”
“I understand… I wish to inquire about their absence, but it seems prudent to leave that question unanswered for now.”

Crim was done asking the relevant questions, so she held her hand out and formed her black scythe. The other demons also readied their weapons. And so, after spending many hours in the Castle of Seyfert, the curtains of the final fight rose…