…Tia.

As Clay descended deeper into the pit, the sight that met him was Tia battling alone against hulking demon beasts.

So things have gone wrong.

Such monsters would not simply appear without cause—clearly she had stumbled into someone’s trap.

He scanned the surroundings. No other presences lurked. He had been deliberately cautious on his way down, wary of missing another trap.

So be it.

Clay’s eyes narrowed on the nearest giant. His strength was limited, but the power Beatrice had poured into him was far from negligible.

He kicked off the ground and charged.

Crash!

His blade cleaved into the front-most demon, sending it staggering back before it toppled.

But that was only one. More giants were pouring forth, no doubt from prisons deeper within.

Clay glanced toward Tia, who had frozen wide-eyed at his sudden arrival.

“Did you find the culprit?”

He had no desire to waste words, but he needed information. For Beatrice’s sake as well as his own, he had to grasp the key to overturning this trap.

“The culprit…?”

Tia hesitated, faltering even as more monsters pressed in. Clay’s brow furrowed.

“If you don’t know, I won’t ask again.”

“W–wait!”

She called after him as he shifted to withdraw.

“You might not believe me! That’s why I…”

“Belief isn’t yours to decide.”

His words were clipped, cold.

“Do you know?”

“…It’s—”

She clenched her eyes shut. No more time to waver.

“Neville. It’s Neville.”

“Neville?”

Clay’s eyes hardened, disbelief flashing.

“What are you—”

Boom!

A giant’s fist came crashing down before he could finish.

“Clay!”

Tia sprang forward, Excalbren blazing with holy light. She vaulted skyward, racing up the monsters’ massive arms. Her blade flashed—

Crunch!

One toppled, throat severed. Another howled as she drove her sword deep between its ribs, then lost its footing and fell.

She leapt again, landing atop another’s skull.

“Raaahhh!”

Her sword plunged into its crown, light bursting in a violent detonation.

Boom!

It collapsed. Dust filled the air as Tia landed, frantic eyes searching.

“Clay!”

She found him sprawled face-down. She turned him over—unconscious, limp. The protective mantle of Beatrice’s power was cracked. That single breach had felled him.

The magic circle’s influence…

It was stronger than Clay had predicted.

I have to get him out of here.

Neville had claimed he would restore Clay as a Hero. That meant using this circle to remake him by force.

But if Neville had led him here so carefully, then there would be no easy way back out.

Even so, I have to try.

She bent to lift him—

『Don’t touch him.』

The voice of Syltanaro, his sword.

『The Demon King doesn’t want your help.』

In an instant the blade transformed, taking human shape. She slung Clay across her back.

“I will bear him. If you wish to help, then lend strength to our retreat.”

The tone was sharp, but Tia only exhaled relief.

“You’re here… Thank the gods.”

“…It wasn’t meant to comfort you.”

“I know.”

Syltanaro turned toward the tunnel they had come from.

“That way leads back to the Demon King’s army.”

“No. We can’t go that way.”

“What?”

She scowled.

“There’s no other exit.”

“That way itself is the trap.”

Tia’s gaze swept to the giants.

“Watch closely. See what they’re blocking.”

The monsters stood opposite the pit’s entrance, preventing passage in that direction.

“When I step toward the entrance, they don’t attack. They only loom—as if telling us to go back.”

“…What?”

Syltanaro blinked.

“What game are they playing?”

“You must have noticed the crystal torches in the halls.”

Her voice was grim.

“At first I thought they were just for light. But they weren’t. They’re artifacts, harvesting information from whoever passes by. We realized too late—because they were focused on one person alone.”

“…Clay.”

“Yes. Every step he took, those crystals read him—sending the data to the circle’s core. Piece by piece, they mapped him, gaining leverage to intrude upon his body.”

Her words were tight with anger.

“He isn’t a being that can be seized in an instant. They needed repetition. They set the bait, knowing he wouldn’t turn back.”

Neville had stood at his side, studying his every move. He had used Clay’s own nature to ensnare him.

“So now the Demon King’s body…”

“Not yet fully under their control. But when Beatrice’s mantle tore, the circle struck harder. That’s why he collapsed.”

Tia’s eyes softened briefly on Clay’s face.

“If this continues, he won’t last. I didn’t chase Neville because I feared Clay would fall here, in this trap.”

She shook her head.

“From the moment we entered, we were already caught in his plan.”

“…Neville. Truly him?”

Syltanaro’s voice was low.

“He seemed so devoted to the Demon King.”

“He did.”

She met his gaze.

“But that’s what made it work.”

Syltanaro exhaled.

“…I can almost understand.”

“The people the Demon King trusted most… were the same.”

“……”

Tia turned her head, unable to answer.

“Anyway, everything I’ve said is true. So, what will you do? Will you try to carry Clay and force your way through those giants?”

“There’s no choice.”

Syltanaro sighed.

“If, as you say, they’re only blocking that one direction, then that must be where we need to go.”

She adjusted Clay’s limp form on her back.

“Of course, my duty is to guard him. I won’t be able to fight freely. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes.”

Tia tightened her grip on her sword.

“I meant to handle this alone anyway.”

She pointed toward the narrow gaps between the giant demons.

“Cutting them down won’t work—they just keep replenishing their numbers. I don’t know how many more are waiting, but killing them won’t solve anything. I’ll draw them off and open a path.”

“Understood.”

Syltanaro braced herself.

“Give me the signal.”

At her word, Tia dashed forward. Immediately, the giants turned from the passage and lunged after her. She moved deliberately, wounding but not killing, forcing them to pursue only her.

Syltanaro watched, eyes narrowing, then glanced toward the fissure between their ranks.

There—beyond the blockade—lay another passage. Unlike the lit halls with their crystal torches, this corridor was dim, almost hidden.

Crash!

One of the giants toppled, tangling the others in its fall.

“There!”

Seizing the opening, Syltanaro sprang forward. The giants lunged to intercept, but Tia intercepted them, blade flashing to hold their fury at bay.

So she truly does wish to atone to the Demon King…

Syltanaro spared her a glance.

But atonement often brought only more pain. Clay would not welcome it.

Even so…

Because she was willing to risk everything to seek it, Syltanaro now had the chance to escape with Clay. For his sake, she could acknowledge at least that much.

Boom! Boom!

She tore through flailing arms, sprinting, leaping—

“Raaahhh!”

Slash!

She burst into the darkness of the hidden tunnel, Clay still across her back.

Boom!

The giants, thwarted, pounded furiously at the passage entrance.

“Are you all right?!”

Tia’s voice rang from outside. Syltanaro opened her mouth wide to shout back.

“I’m fine! I made it through!”

“Then keep going that way! If I get the chance, I’ll cross over too!”

ROOOAAR!

The giants bellowed in frustration, shaking the cavern. Syltanaro listened for a moment, then pressed on down the unseen corridor.

Alone, Tia exhaled heavily, raising her sword.

With their quarry vanished, the giants might grow even more frenzied. They were demons, yet bound to Neville’s will, and there was no telling what else he had prepared.

Thoom!

The ground suddenly trembled—not from their steps.

Crack!

The earth split as the magic circle blazed with renewed brilliance.

Tia’s eyes flew wide.

“!”

It was the moment the seal on the ancient god broke.

(End of Chapter)