I step into the room.
No monster presence.
Pigi-maru isn't reacting.
For now, at least.
I move in front of the altar.
I look up at the statue by the wall.
A premonition hits me.
"This thing's probably going to move."
Anyone even slightly familiar with modern Japanese stories would expect this.
A mechanism that activates when you take the treasure.
A common RPG gimmick.
This statue is definitely suspicious.
...
Should I take the first move?
I point my arm toward the statue.
"[Paralyze]"
Suddenly—the area from the statue's head down to its collarbone changes color.
"Pi? Pi!"
Pigi-maru reacts.
Life returns to the scaly skin.
Immediately after, a naked killing intent and monster presence erupt.
"—Gii geee ee ee ee, sha aaa aa aa—!!"
But it's already too late.
"O—oge!?"
The monster is paralyzed.
Perhaps due to the paralysis.
The color change stops midway.
Next, I apply poison.
Pop pop,
Poco…
"Gyo, gee, e…!?"
The giant dragon-person's head and neck turn poisonous.
"Gi, ge, ee…!"
The color change remains stopped midway.
Only the head and neck are writhing.
It desperately tries to release something from its mouth…
But forcing movement while paralyzed brings it closer to death.
Busha aaa!
Bushu uu!
Blood sprays from its ears and mouth.
This happens when it tries to move by force.
"G-go— ..."
Snap!
From the collarbone up, it tears off.
The head with its tongue sticking out rolls across the floor.
Clatter…
Rattle rattle rattle!
Then the remaining statue portion collapses.
Stones of varying sizes scatter across the floor.
So it was something like a guardian gargoyle statue for the treasure.
A monster-type trap that activates when conditions are met.
"If it was disguised as a statue, it reminds me of the Soul Eater—but I'm glad it didn't have that automatic interception system…"
That thing was truly troublesome.
If the Soul Eater didn't have its hobby of tormenting the weak, I probably wouldn't have won.
"So this is—"
I pick up the Dragon-Eye Goblet.
"The main prize of this event, huh."
A silver goblet.
Depending on the angle, the silver takes on a purplish tint.
The golden gems are meant to resemble dragon eyes, perhaps.
The stem part looks like a dragon's forelegs.
The design makes it seem like the dragon's forelegs are holding the goblet's bowl from below.
I wipe the slightly dirty surface with my sleeve.
The glossy surface reflects the luminous stones' light.
"Pretty nice."
It's a size I can carry back.
What should I do with it?
"Hm?"
"Pi!"
A presence behind me.
I turn while moving to hide behind the altar's shadow.
At the same time—I thrust out my arm.
But the status ailment skill doesn't activate.
"…It's you."
A familiar face stands at the door.
Had she not had the chance to hear about the "abnormality" that started being rumored?
Or did she see it as an opportunity, just like me, and continue the conquest?
The person entering the room recognizes me.
I can tell her wariness has eased.
"It was you."
It's Mist Barucas.
▽
Mist is wearing only her forehead guard and equipment besides her clothes.
No armor in sight.
Did she leave it behind?
Light is gathering in part of her forehead guard.
A mercury-like, viscous light.
Is that serving as her light source?
The light from Mist's forehead guard is weakening.
Right now, her slender figure is illuminated by the underground luminous stones.
Somehow.
In this underground ruin teeming with monsters, she seems terribly out of place.
She'd probably look more fitting wearing a dress in a royal palace.
Mist lowers her long eyelashes with regret.
She gently clutches her left arm with her right hand.
As if suppressing her emotions.
Her expression is dark.
"Since the other mercenaries turned back, I thought I would be the first one here."
She seems to have sensed the abnormality.
But she chose to continue the conquest despite the risk.
Mist's brows form a figure-eight.
A mere formal smile.
Her voice sounds fragile.
What dwells within is faint self-reproach.
"It seems my foresight was still lacking. Taking a rest after struggling a bit with a monster group slowed my conquest speed, didn't it."
That inner emotion—is self-reproach.
She seems to be blaming her own lack of strength.
Hm.
"If you want it, I'll give you this goblet."
"Eh?"
Mist looks up.
A stunned expression.
"What did you just say…?"
"If you want it, it's yours."
"B-But—what would be the compensation?"
"Compensation?"
"For a reward of 300 gold coins… right now, what I can offer is—"
Mist's gaze weakly drifts downward.
She gently places her hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist.
"Perhaps this sword… but this sword isn't worth 300 gold coins. Hati-sama, is there anything I can do for you as compensation?"
Mist places her hand over her chest.
Like a knight taking an oath.
"If it's something within my power, please, feel free to ask anything of me."