Chapter 12
By this time, Bianca had regained a measure of her usual composure, showing remarkable situational awareness.
“Ah… I think this place… is inside a dungeon,” she said thoughtfully.
“Yeah. Of all places, it had to be a graveyard dungeon. The castle site is really cursed,” I muttered.
“What should we do? I heard that if the dungeon’s master hasn’t been defeated, we can’t leave freely.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you, Bia.”
“Ah…”
Her rabbit-like eyes brimmed with emotion, but the trust wasn’t quite there. It was the look of someone who felt bound by a solemn promise to die alongside me, as if by some pact.
I emphasized my words.
“I mean it.”
“…Okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ll protect you too, Ai.”
Apparently, my words still hadn’t fully reached her heart.
That’s when it happened.
“Well, well! What a long-awaited visit! I, Ardiman, have personally come out to welcome my guests!”
[System: Dungeon Master, Demon World Rank 2039 “Necromancer Baron Ardiman” has appeared.]
The boss appeared out of nowhere.
The dungeon master was a typical dark mage, cloaked in black robes.
From the evil aura rising around him, his glowing red eyes, and the ram-like horns piercing his hood, it was clear he was no human—he was a demon.
“Huh.”
Bianca let out a quiet gasp.
Fear in humans was like perfume to a demon, and Ardiman inhaled it eagerly, grinning.
“You’re young for an adventurer! Could you be a pure child’s soul sent by humans to win my favor?”
“Does… offering sacrifices mean you’ll let us go?”
Bianca released my hand and stepped forward.
“My name is Bianca Gillette. As the heir of the Gillette Count family, I make this promise: I will offer one hundred children if you release me and Ai safely.”
“Oh? You propose a negotiation?”
“Yes!”
Ardiman stroked his bony chin with a skeletal finger, as if humoring her.
“A promise from the heir apparent, how reliable. Not bad at all.”
“Then…”
“Leave the little one beside you.”
“What?”
“It’s enough if the heir survives. She looks like a mere servant anyway. Leave her behind, and offer the remaining ninety-nine.”
Bianca didn’t hesitate.
“No way. Ai isn’t just a servant. She’s my…”
“Your what?”
“Never mind! I’ll give two hundred children. Let both Ai and me go.”
Despite the fear almost showing in her face, Bianca stood resolute.
But to a demon savoring the scent of fear, her inner feelings were transparent.
“No need. I’ll take one of you right here. Decide among yourselves who becomes the sacrifice.”
“…!”
Of course, he was a demon. Human desperation was nothing but playthings to him.
Bianca’s eyes trembled as she looked at me. My stomach sank.
Ugh… I hate this.
Better to smash him quickly.
“Hey, ugly gravekeeper… wait—”
I stepped forward to confront Ardiman, but my wrist was suddenly grabbed. Bianca.
“Don’t go, Ai.”
“Bia?”
“I’ll stay.”
Her face was solemn, perhaps misunderstanding my intent in stepping forward.
“No, Bia, it’s not like that…”
“As the heir, it’s only natural to protect my household. And… you’re my friend.”
“….”
Before I could speak, Bianca whispered softly, her voice a little wet with emotion.
“Ai, you’re smart. You know what to do once you leave, right? I’ll wait until you come back to rescue us.”
“….”
That’s when a grating voice cut through.
“Boring little pests! Do you think I orchestrated this for some melodrama? Enough. Die!”
A blood-red orb appeared in Ardiman’s hand, radiating dark energy.
“This… this isn’t what we agreed!”
“Ha! Foolish human child! I never agreed to your proposal in the first place!”
“You… you demon…!”
“Puhahaha! Did you just curse me? In any case, it’s the same result! You never intended to offer one hundred, two hundred children. Likely you planned to send me only the corpses, didn’t you?”
“How could you…!”
“Too young, too young. Still, not a bad little display, young lady heir.”
I grabbed the trembling Bianca and pulled her behind me.
Now, it was my turn to deal with Ardiman.
“So, you finally show your true form, ugly gravekeeper.”
“You’re fearless! Accepting a fate where bone, flesh, and soul are separated! Glory to you! Your white bones will serve me as a skeleton army, your flesh will nourish the beautiful signflower garden, and your soul will become an instrument of eternal agony!”
After listening to his rant, I replied calmly.
“Done talking? Then it’s my turn to show my true power.”
“What?”
“Divine Descent!”
[System: Transcendent skill ‘Divine Descent’ activated. The divinity of ‘World-Building Language’ infuses your body.]
[System: Divine Skills ‘Omniscience’ and ‘Omnipotence’ are now usable.]
“W-what…?!”
The dungeon night sky split, and a pure white light struck me. My entire body was enveloped in divine energy, lifting my feet from the ground, as if mortals were unworthy to touch this earth.
[System: Your rank has drastically changed. Current rank: 7 (▲1,528,673,467).]
[System: Tutorial quest conditions met, but abnormal ranking detected. Excluding you from ranking.]
Even the system was confused.
I slowly opened my eyes. The sight before me: Ardiman’s horrified face.
“D-divinity! Impossible! God abandoned this world! Divine power has been weakening! Surely… we were left to devour this world as we pleased!”
I simply said:
“The successor has arrived.”
“What…? What does that mean?!”
“Enough chatter. Let’s fight.”
“Wait…!”
“Omniscience.”
I immediately activated my divine skill.
“W-what wicked trickery is this!”
Ardiman’s fear intensified as he sensed the extraordinary energy emanating from me.
I glanced at a new interface and frowned.
‘What is this?’
[System: Divine Knowledge Search Engine activated. Please enter a search query.]
“….”
A search box appeared. I followed it obediently.
‘Divine Skills in order of power.’
[System: ‘Serentra Continent Divine Power Skill Ranking TOP 50’ retrieved.]
I scrolled through the ranked list, reaching the top skill of this world. Using it was simple: activate another Divine Skill, Omnipotence, and call the skill’s name.
“Omnipotence…”
Just then—
Beep!
[System: Due to low adaptation rate, skills below rank 11 cannot be used.]
“Ugh…”
Dammit.
I was slightly irritated, but saw Ardiman preparing to attack. Blood-red energy coalesced in his orb.
“D-die! I’ll finish you before you can use God’s power!”
“Ah, Ai!”
Hearing Bianca’s scream, I activated my 15th-ranked skill.
“Omnipotence. Bastion of Defense.”
[System: Ultimate Skill ‘Bastion of Defense Lv.15(+10)’ activated.]
A massive silver shield with a cross appeared, blocking the space in front of Bianca and me.
Ardiman’s black energy struck it harmlessly.
“Impossible! How could a mere child use an ultimate barrier…! Even the Pope cannot wield this now…!”
“Now it’s my turn. Omnipotence. Divine Punishment.”
[System: Ultimate Skill ‘Divine Punishment Lv.15(+10)’ activated.]
Lightning descended from the sky. The graveyard’s headstones shattered, and the ground crumbled as if a bomb had fallen.
“Ugh…”
When the dust settled, Ardiman writhed in the center of a massive crater.
“Still alive?”
“S-save me… Please… mercy…”
“Begging for your life?”
“Yes… please…”
His tattered robes concealed his skeletal body. An undead, too?
I smiled and extended my hand.
“Alright. I’ll heal you now.”
“Heal? W-what…?”
“You begged for it.”
“Wait…!”
I activated a basic skill not even ranked.
[System: Basic Skill ‘Healing Lv.102(+10)’ activated.]
White, holy light seeped from my hands, enveloping Ardiman.
“Nooo…!”
With a scream, the undead body of Ardiman disintegrated completely. For undead especially vulnerable to holy power, even healing was lethal.
“Phew.”
I dusted my hands and watched the message appear.
[System: Congratulations! Dungeon Master, Demon World Rank 2039 “Necromancer Baron Ardiman” has been defeated.]
[System: Demon Territory ‘Graveyard Buried Under Gillette Castle’ is now bound to Dungeon Conqueror ‘Ailet Rodeline’.]
