Chapter 98
[‘The Architect of Worlds’ shouts that a tank shouldn’t lose aggro like that.]
[‘The Inspector of Forbidden Knowledge’ is puzzled, noting that the protagonist—who usually attracts the hatred of the entire world—was once exceptional at drawing aggro.]
[‘The Cynic Who Balances All’ explains that it happened because the healer’s healing is overpowered.]
That was right. Tesilid wasn’t at fault. The healing was simply too strong, so the boss’s attention shifted!
“Hah, I’ve become an excessively competent healer.”
[‘The Cynic Who Balances All’ scolds you, saying if you’re going to troll, don’t be proud—reflect on your actions.]
[‘The Architect of Worlds’ snaps back, telling them not to discourage their child.]
Meanwhile, Grellius’s weapon evolved.
Clatter—!
<Healer… I can smell the rotten blood and bone dust of my kin from you. The sin of harming the servants of death is great. I shall erase you first.>
Dozens of chains shot out from the scythe’s handle, rushing toward me at high speed.
Of course, I didn’t get a chance to act.
Tesilid immediately stepped in front of me and cut down all the black chains with his holy sword.
“Oh.”
<Oh.>
Just as I was admiring his performance—
Whoosh!
The last chain curved from the left and aimed at me.
Tesilid instantly grabbed it with his left hand. At that moment, the chain’s end twisted and coiled around his neck.
Tight.
“….”
The handsome man’s face tightened slightly as his throat was constricted. But instead of a groan, something else escaped his lips.
“Blue Holy Flame.”
A vivid blue sacred fire ignited from the hand gripping the chain.
The chain became a fuse, carrying the flame to Grellius.
Fwoooosh!
<K—KRAAAAH!>
Engulfed in holy fire, Grellius writhed in agony.
As Tesilid crushed the chain in his hand, he was freed from the chokehold.
Severely damaged by the flames, Grellius roared in fury.
<Unforgivable! You shall not be granted a merciful rest!>
Confirming that the boss’s target had returned to him, Tesilid kicked off the ground and charged head-on.
Dozens of chains lashed out in succession, attacking and blocking his path at staggered intervals.
He dodged them with nimble steps, the chains stabbing uselessly into the ground behind him.
Then Tesilid leapt onto one of the chains. With incredible balance, he ran along it and rapidly closed the distance.
<Insolent mortal…>
The Reaper’s scythe swung wide toward him.
Tesilid didn’t slow down. He raised his holy sword.
Screeeech!
The blade slid along the scythe’s edge, deflecting it.
<Impossible…!>
He slipped inside the arc of the scythe—leaving Grellius completely exposed.
Tesilid leapt high and reached out with his right hand—his holy sword gone.
Thud!
<…!>
He grabbed the giant skull by the forehead.
With a face more serene than ever, he spoke the final blow:
“Judgment Baptism.”
<N-No! Stop—!>
BOOOOM!
With a thunderous explosion, the Black Reaper was obliterated.
[<System> Congratulations! You have defeated the hidden dungeon master, ‘Calamity Warden Grellius,’ ranked 791st in the Demon Realm.]
Rumble…
The shattered remains of the Reaper sank into the canyon. Tesilid had already retreated and landed safely before the explosion.
<You have slain death itself. Well done.>
I approached him.
“Good work. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No.”
“‘No,’ my foot.”
The marks from the chain were clearly visible around his neck. I reached out and healed him immediately.
Perhaps his neck was sensitive—he flinched slightly, then relaxed and smiled.
“It’s nice having a healer.”
“You know something?”
“What?”
“I actually became a healer just to heal you.”
“I see. Thank you very much.”
His smile grew even brighter—radiant, even.
But despite the dazzling visual effect, I could read his thoughts.
<He doesn’t believe me, does he?>
“Hard not to be skeptical when you’ve been tricked so many times.”
Tesilid blinked slightly at my blunt reply.
Not wanting to dwell on it, I changed the subject.
“It’s true that we have good synergy.”
He can tank and deal damage, while I can deal damage and heal.
Tesilid nodded, estimating our combined strength.
“Yes… together, we might even be able to clear an SS-rank dungeon as a duo.”
“Now that you’ve regained your strength, you’re really confident. I like it.”
“Fully… regained…”
“What?”
“Nothing. More importantly, loot it.”
“Me? You’re letting me take it?”
“Yeah. I owe you in many ways.”
I didn’t refuse. I picked up the glowing items at the edge of the cliff.
There was one skill book and one item.
[<Skill> ‘Dance of Annihilation’
A sword footwork technique useful for cutting through enemy lines and massacring foes. Its elegance resembles a dance, hence the name.
Note: Female-only. Grants a bonus effect that improves dancing skills.]
[<Item> ‘Harvest Scythe’
A scythe once used by a Reaper, modified for farming. Has a chance to double crop yields.]
“Wooow!”
As expected of a hidden boss—the rewards were excellent.
‘Dance of Annihilation’ wasn’t even available in the cash shop. Since it was female-only, I learned it immediately.
I feel stronger. Nice, nice.
While examining the loot together, Tesilid asked:
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah. The footwork will be useful in multi-enemy fights, and the scythe—I know just the person to gift it to.”
I was grinning at the thought of increasing crop yields in my dungeon farm by giving it to Epiden when—
“What kind of person?”
Tesilid showed interest.
“His name’s Epiden. He’s about your height, and his skull, scapula, and pelvic bones are really beautiful.”
“….”
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“The scapula, fine… but how do you know his pelvis is beautiful…?”
For reference, the pelvis is below the waist.
His sea-colored eyes trembled slightly.
Realizing he was imagining something strange, I hurriedly clarified:
“Epiden’s undead. A skeleton. You can see all his bones.”
“…Ah.”
[‘The Inspector of Forbidden Knowledge’ wonders what exactly the protagonist was imagining.]
[‘The Scales That Judge Souls’ lets out a knowing chuckle.]
Tesilid avoided my gaze, wiping his face as if washing it dry, then covered his mouth.
Honestly, such an inexperienced, conservative, devout paladin.
Teasing him, I said:
“You’re on your 17th life. Show some maturity.”
He protested, sounding slightly wronged.
“That kind of thing… has nothing to do with reincarnation. Maturity comes from the quality of experience, not the quantity.”
A great line—but basically a confession of being forever single.
[‘The Scales That Judge Souls’ says it’s not exactly pitiful considering the transmigrator isn’t much different.]
[‘The Architect of Worlds’ defends, saying the transmigrator hasn’t done it—not that they couldn’t.]
[‘The Scales That Judge Souls’ suggests buying a genre-change ticket.]
[‘The Manager of Creative Economy’ says that’s a great idea for boosting revenue.]
While mentally telling the gods watching from somewhere to knock it off—
“And…”
Tesilid still had more to say.
When I met his gaze, he continued:
“I don’t think I’ll be able to remain indifferent to you.”
“….”
He said nothing more—just looked at me quietly.
I coughed awkwardly.
“S-Should we head to the Holy Capital?”
“Yeah, Ai.”
The tender atmosphere from earlier vanished completely.
At Tesilid’s gesture, a gate opened.
“Ladies first.”
“Okay.”
It’s standard that the one who opens the gate leaves last.
I woke the unconscious knights, shoved them through, and entered the gate.
✠
After Ailet left the dungeon, Tesilid remained alone in the desolate space.
With no one watching, he rolled up his left sleeve.
On his arm was a white holy mark—and black lines wrapped around it like barbed wire.
The restraints had lessened, but they were still there.
“Half… The rest—will time resolve it?”
Murmuring cryptically, he turned his head.
His gaze fell toward the canyon.
“….”
His eyes darkened.
He had always been weak to darkness.
Especially the kind that came with silence.
The canyon floor fulfilled both conditions.
In that space where sight and sound vanished, his mind had nearly been devoured by darkness.
He thought he would inevitably move on to the next life.
But then—
—Teri! If you can hear me, answer! Teri!
She had returned sound to him.
That alone pulled his mind back from the brink.
Ailet Rodelline.
Why do you always appear in the form of salvation?
Again and again.
How long had it been since he relied on a human?
It was almost laughable—enough to bring him to tears.
The people he trusted or cared for always met the same fate.
Either they betrayed him in the cruelest way…
Or they were taken from him in the most tragic way.
At some point, he had grown numb.
But numbness only raised the threshold—it didn’t eliminate the capacity to be broken.
He believed Ailet Rodelline was one of two things:
Either a rare reward granted by ‘Order and Good’ for his exhaustion—
Or a false hope arranged to plunge him into despair more effectively.
If it was the latter…
If ‘strict Order and Good’ were to toy with him again—
“That won’t do.”
He swung his holy sword.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive surge of aura swept across the ground and slammed into the canyon.
The abyss collapsed, filled with debris.
The bottomless pit no longer existed.
“Ailet Rodelline.”
He murmured:
“May you never be lost… nor betray me.”
With that, the handsome man who chased hope stepped into the gate.
His shadow, dragged behind him, was as dark as calamity.
