ATP 28

Chapter 28

After a brief silence.

<You… moved…>

“No, I didn’t. You must be seeing things.”

<I told you! You moved! Grow, grow, little head!>

“Hey, that’s for your own head, not mine!”

<Again! Grow!>

The bud on Ifeil’s head puffed up as if about to bloom. Its petals were the same violet color as his eyes.

“Ah, our little blonde is useless. I knew those Saintmark lambs wouldn’t make good potted plants,” Rodrigo said, sitting cross-legged and watching.

“Ah, I don’t care! Just die!”

Ignoring the growth of the Saintmark flower, Ifeil lunged at the mole doll.

Grrrk!

The fork imbued with holy power was blocked by the mole doll’s sharp claws.

Despite its sluggish appearance, the doll’s forepaws were fast. Prioritizing dodging made it hard to land a powerful strike at the right moment.

“Ugh, annoying.”

Ifeil stepped back to catch his breath.

<Priority… changed…!>

The button-like eyes of the mole doll turned to the other side—it was Hestio.

The mole doll dug into the ground at high speed, rushing toward Hestio.

“Eeek! Hey, you! Why are you attacking me? I didn’t even hit you once!”

“Great! Hestio, block it with your body and buy us time!”

“Hey, can’t you fight properly?”

“Sorry. I’m not a tank, I’m a dealer.”

The minimum unit for dungeon raids is four: a tank, a dealer, a supporter, and a healer.

When the tank fails to perform, the healer becomes the top-priority target, followed by the supporter.

Since a buff had been applied, it was natural for the doll to focus attacks on Hestio.

“Wow, wow. Aren’t the Saintmark lambs supposed to be the ultimate weapon of the Saint Office? Why aren’t they using any power at all? Disappointing.”

The sharp ridicule made Hestio and Ifeil flush with anger.

This was their first real dungeon. Having fought only training monsters until now, suddenly being thrown into real combat left them flustered.

Moreover, this mole doll was a mid-boss of an S-rank dungeon.

Its strength rivaled that of a B-rank dungeon boss, so normally, a raid of six or more would be required.

Cornered, Hestio blocked the doll’s claws with a knife.

“Hey, Ifeil. I really didn’t want to say this, but…”

“Your last words?”

“Shut up.”

“Sorry. Go on.”

“I want to see Tesilid.”

“Definitely last words. I’ll tell him.”

“Just focus on stabbing with your fork!”

Rodrigo cheered annoyingly.

“You’re doing pretty well, though. The East and North wings have already been wiped out by the lambs. And yet here, with only a dealer and a supporter, you’re still breathing. Very impressive!”

“……!”

Hestio and Ifeil flinched.

The Saintmark lambs in the East and North wings annihilated?

Then what about the West wing? Where Tesilid was?

“Struggle as hard as you can. But I suppose you’ll be following your friends soon enough…”

At that moment, the demon hissed like a venomous snake.

Crash!

The huge doors of the banquet hall shattered, and forks and knives poured in. The mole doll quickly distanced itself from Hestio.

“What the—!”

Rodrigo jumped up from his chair. It was the butler’s role to welcome intruders.

He spotted Tesilid at the doorway and was horrified.

“You… you silver-haired lamb…! Why aren’t you in the West wing?! How did you cross over here in such a short time?”

Rodrigo had reason to be surprised—he had helped remove the core of the Infernal Blaze.

“Tesilid, Ifeil, are you alive?”

Tesilid, with golden flowers on his head, ignored Rodrigo and looked for his friends first.

The intruder wasn’t alone. A pink-haired girl peeked out from behind him.

“Introduce me to your friends, Tesilid.”

“…!”

Rodrigo’s eyes widened to their limit when he saw Aylet.

The Saintmark flower bud on her soft pink hair was plump.

The petals, scattering mana to assert their presence, were dark violet.

✠

Somehow, even more attention seemed to be on me than Tesilid, who was radiating protagonist-level aura.

Until just a moment ago, the butler had bared his teeth at Tesilid, but now his eyes gleamed at me.

“This is unbelievable! Dark violet! Truly dark violet! And I made it bloom? Could it be I have talent as a gardener?!”

He rambled as if I were his potted plant.

This was the perfect opportunity. Tesilid drew the mole doll’s attention toward himself and away from the children, dealing with it.

I approached the wounded Saintmark lambs. Their white uniforms made them easy to spot.

Let’s see… Hestio with black hair, and Ifeil with blonde, right?

“Hello, Tesilid’s friends? I’m Aylet.”

I wanted to make a good first impression, but their expressions soured.

“Who’s a friend?”

“Did she just say that herself? Friend?”

Even in this situation, this seemed like an important issue. I decided to take it seriously.

“Not a friend? Then you don’t need healing?”

I shook the healing potion and asked.

“We are friends.”

“Yeah, friends.”

Their attitude was flexible. They must indeed be the friends Tesilid needed.

Thunk!

<Keaaak…>

The mole doll collapsed foaming. Following the West wing, Tesilid had eliminated the mole in the South wing.

Even among Saintmark lambs grown only in the Saint Office, the protagonist’s caliber was in a league of its own.

Rodrigo didn’t even care that his subordinates fell. His attention was solely on the flower on my head.

“Ha ha, dark violet… dark violet Saintmark flower…! Perfect! If I put that potted plant in my office… Ah, no. It’s extremely valuable. Should I auction it in the demon world? Or bribe one of the three Great Demon Lords? Hee hee hee…”

Rodrigo, babbling in a daze, spoke to me.

“Little cute pink-haired girl, what’s your name?”

“You invited me without even knowing my name? Unfit as a butler.”

“Ah! Such a bold personality in front of me! You like not just the flower, but the pot too!”

Rodrigo’s gaze sharpened.

“But a lady should answer a gentleman’s question politely. Otherwise, until I get an answer from that cute little mouth, I’ll… pop the heads of the children here one by one…!”

“Aylet Rodeline.”

“Very good, Aylet. Heh heh…”

Ifeil and Hestio looked upset, seemingly interpreting my quick shift in stance as surrender.

“Aylet, since you’ve caught my eye, I’ll give you a special choice. Won’t you come with this butler?”

“What happens if I go?”

“You’ll be dressed in my preferred Gothic Lolita dress and have the honor of greeting the great Count Orsher! Don’t ask what comes after… I haven’t decided whether to auction you or offer you to a Demon Lord.”

I pretended to consider and replied.

“That’s a pretty tempting offer.”

“What?”

“Hey! Are you crazy?”

Ifeil and Hestio’s eyes nearly popped out.

Tesilid, far away, couldn’t see their faces.

Ignoring everyone, I stared at Rodrigo.

“Right? Right? You agree too, Aylet?”

“Yes.”

“Wise choice for a lady. Now, come this way and take the butler’s hand…”

“I have a condition. Free all the kids here.”

“What? That’s… a bit…”

“Can’t do it? Bringing a lady like me and not even that? You’re unfit as both a butler and a gentleman.”

Rodrigo trembled, wounded in pride.

Good. Just a little more push, and it’ll succeed.

Send the kids outside the dungeon, and I head straight for the boss room. Two birds, one stone.

[‘The Spell that Constructs Worlds’ notices your strategy and applauds with a seal-like clap.]

“Okay, okay? Quickly.”

“F-Fine! But to show I’ll follow any command in the future, sign this contract…”

Then.

Ssshhk!

A knife imbued with holy power flew and tore Rodrigo’s contract.

At the same moment, my body was yanked backward.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I can never let this child go.”

Ah.

I hadn’t accounted for a hidden threat.

The righteous “Sweet Potato Pass,” Tesilid, hid me behind his back.

Rodrigo’s eyes turned blood-red with anger.

“You insolent silver-haired lamb! Tearing a sacred contract is unforgivable!”

“….”

“I’ll show these unruly lambs, including Saintmark lambs, a lesson. Keeping them alive is enough for the pink pot!”

Ah, plan failed.

[‘The Sharp-Tongued Balancer’ says the express ride to the boss room is out of the question.]

I agree, Balance Officer. The only option is to take the normal bus with Tesilid and his friends.

Rodrigo soared toward the ceiling.

“Wait right there, children. I’ll check the Saintmark market price and then play with you again! Until then, I’ll send the Picture Reaper so you can play hide-and-seek!”

He even spoke directly to me.

“Pretty potted lady, I’ll prepare a dress and come get you. Bye for now!”

With a final wink, Rodrigo disappeared, and the clown dolls sprang up.

“Eek! Those dolls again!”

The children scrambled to hide.

Only Tesilid, Ifeil, Hestio, and I remained in the banquet hall.

Hestio casually swatted a clown doll aside and approached me.

“Hey, your name is Aylet, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Good, Aylet. Tesilid’s actions are… exactly the same… Ack! Hey, why are you pushing people aside?!”

Tesilid cleared Hestio out of the way. It didn’t seem intended to save me from nagging.

“….”

“….”

Tesilid silently stared at me.

[‘The Spell that Constructs Worlds’ grumbles at why the little one suddenly takes charge of the mood.]

[‘The Scales that Judge Souls’ praises how handsome the little one looks even when angry.]

Yes. Tesilid’s expression was stoic, as if restraining anger.

“Were you planning to sacrifice yourself?”

No, I was planning to ride the bus alone.

Tesilid came closer as I remained silent.

“Do you know what happens if you’re dragged by that demon brat? They’re called demons for a reason. You’d suffer eternally worse than death. What courage made you propose that to a demon?”

His calm tone began to waver at that point.