After leaving Sillion in the serf village near the forest, Eugene and the subjugation party went straight through the deep woods and arrived at the low hill where the dungeon was located.
Following Galfredic's example from the Gate Subjugation, Eugene ordered a search of the dungeon's surroundings first.
Perhaps because they had already killed quite a number of low-grade monsters during the first subjugation, no newly dug monster burrows were found.
"If there's nothing unusual, we enter immediately."
As Eugene walked toward the huge bar he had reinstalled after the Gate Subjugation ended, Partek hurried after him.
"I'll help you, Sir Eugene."
"No, it's fine."
Waving him off, Eugene placed both hands on the massive bar without hesitation.
Seeing him try to lift the thick three-meter-long bar reinforced with steel plating all by himself something that weighed as much as a mid-grade monster Maverick and the mercenaries quietly scoffed.
No matter how much he wanted to show off, there was no way he could lift that massive bar alone.
Thud!
He lifted it!
"...!"
Maverick and the mercenaries stared blankly at Eugene and the bar as it dropped with a heavy thump.
"What are you staring at? We're going in."
Startled, the mercenaries who had been gaping began filing into the dungeon.
Tch! It doesn't matter how strong you are—once a blade gets stuck in your body, everyone's the same.
Trying to belittle the superhuman strength Eugene had shown, Maverick also headed into the dark dungeon.
* * *
Keeeeng! Keng!
The last kobold, its neck half-severed, let out a death cry and collapsed.
"Check for injuries and report."
Eugene turned his head, shaking the blood off his battle axe.
"No issues."
"One minor injury. No casualties or serious wounds."
At Partek and Brynn's report, Eugene looked toward another group.
Receiving his gaze, Maverick mumbled awkwardly.
"Uh… no one died. No major injuries. Minor wounds… uh, three. Three of them."
"A completely shredded arm counts as a minor wound? Or is he left-handed?"
"..."
Maverick closed his mouth after glancing at the mercenary whose right wrist had been torn to ribbons by a kobold bite.
"So that's one serious injury and two minor ones. To suffer losses like this in just the second battle. Sir Maverick, you do realize only half a day has passed and you haven't even fulfilled 30% of the minimum subjugation quota?"
"I know. I know. Anyway, I can still fight, and we still have five who are fine, right? If kobolds or goblins show up, I'll cut them all down my"
"And if a mid-grade monster appears? Can you handle it alone?"
"You son of a ! I'll deal with it, all right?!"
Maverick threw his helmet and shouted.
"Make sure you keep that promise. Partek, Brynn start."
"Yes, Sir Eugene!"
Under Partek and Brynn's lead, the mercenaries began gathering the monster corpses with the porters.
Twenty-some kobolds were quickly dismantled, and magic stones and materials piled up neatly.
Meanwhile, the mercenaries under Maverick sat awkwardly, trying to rest.
Nine had entered; one was dead, two were seriously wounded, and the remaining six were all injured to some degree.
Their eyes darted around nervously, flinching at every sound.
Not healthy tension clear fear.
During the Gate Subjugation, Eugene wouldn't have understood why they were like this, but now he knew well.
They've only fought roamers. They must have thought dungeon monsters were the same.
Unlike the outside world, demonic energy flowed inside demon zones.
Because of that, monsters inside grew much faster they were stronger and more violent than roamers.
It was common for mercenaries with only roamer experience to be completely overwhelmed the first time they entered a demon zone.
It seemed Maverick's mercenaries were not only new to demon-zone monsters but also unfamiliar with the dungeon's claustrophobic layout.
If only Galfredic were here, this would've been much easier.
Just as Galfredic had predicted, all the competent mercenaries in the region were in Maren; only scraps gathered in Tiwyn.
Yet despite having half-rate fighters during the Gate Subjugation, Galfredic had led them with strong, decisive command.
Realizing once again how exceptional Galfredic had been, Eugene focused his heightened senses deeper into the dungeon.
About 300 meters ahead, a group of goblins. They're running, judging by their footfalls. The stench of blood is thick… meaning a mid-grade monster is there.
Checking the terrain and corridors on the map he drew during the first subjugation, Eugene spoke to the resting mercenaries.
"We'll scout ahead while the dismantling finishes. You, and you follow me."
He pointed at the mercenaries under Maverick, who were still in the best condition.
"I'll go too…!"
Brynn tried to volunteer, but Partek blocked him with a shake of his head.
Sir Eugene always has a reason. Just stay put.
Understanding Partek's expression, Brynn lowered his hand.
The three mercenaries Eugene chose stood up reluctantly.
Their faces clearly said they didn't want to go, but remembering Eugene's performance earlier, they stayed silent and joined him.
Then Maverick stepped forward.
"I'll go too. What if a mid- or high-grade monster appears?"
"..."
He doesn't even know a knight must remain with the main party at all times? Eugene found Maverick pitiful.
"As you wish."
But Eugene nodded anyway.
* * *
You bastard. How dare you insult me?
Maverick glared at Eugene's back as he walked ahead, a spear on his back and a torch and shortsword in his hands.
From their first meeting to now, Eugene had not had a single likeable trait. His arrogance infuriated Maverick.
Even the way Lord Kamara Tiwyn favored him—valued him higher than Maverick—was intolerable.
So what? He's just good at killing monsters.
Thinking that, Maverick scanned ahead.
There was an area completely devoid of glow-shrooms.
Good. Lucky break. Heh.
Maverick licked his lips.
He hadn't gotten a proper chance during the battle, but now Eugene had conveniently volunteered for a separate scouting run.
And the three mercenaries chosen were the strongest under Maverick's command.
Once again, the gods favor me.
Gods loved strong knights and granted divine fortune—so Maverick believed.
What will you do when I stab you from behind? Nobles who act smart always squeal like pigs when they die.
The previous owner of the full chainmail he was wearing did exactly that.
The pleading face of the knight begging him to spare him while promising ransom flashed in his mind, sending a thrill through Maverick.
The thought of that pretty-faced Eugene groveling like a dog excited him even more.
Where should I stab him?
Maverick studied Eugene's back, searching for the perfect target.
They soon reached the area without glow-shrooms.
One of the mercenaries walking beside Eugene glanced back.
Maverick gave a small nod, and the mercenary tossed his torch far away.
"What are you"
Before Eugene could finish speaking, Maverick charged like a bull and plunged his rondel dagger beneath Eugene's arm, aiming for the gap in the chainmail.
Even steel plate armor had joints connected by chain links.
And the needle-like rondel dagger was designed specifically to pierce mail.
Crunch!
Feeling the tip of his dagger piercing through a gap in the chainmail, Maverick rammed his body hard into Eugene.
The two knights, both heavily armored, crashed together with a deafening metallic clang and tumbled across the floor.
Perhaps because of the impact, Eugene's limbs flailed and the mercenary standing nearby got hit by Eugene's foot, causing him to drop the torch he was holding.
"The fire! Get the torch! Kill this bastard!"
Maverick screamed hysterically as he stabbed the rondel dagger again and again into Eugene's armpit.
Another mercenary swung a mace repeatedly at Eugene's leg.
Bang! Bang!
But there was a reason plate armor was called the strongest armor.
No matter how many times the mace slammed down, the metal didn't dent—didn't even scratch.
"What the hell!?"
"Go for the joints, you dumb bastard! The joints, you shithead!"
Maverick was just as frantic.
He knew the rondel dagger had pierced through the chainmail. Normally, he should have felt the blade sinking into flesh but instead, all he felt was something hard resisting him.
Is he wearing brigandine under this too?
He anxiously tried to check Eugene's armpit when
The torches on the ground suddenly went out one after another.
Not one of the mercenaries realized that a water spirit had extinguished them.
"...!"
Darkness swallowed everything.
Because they had chosen a place with no glow-moss for the attack, the space fell into absolute pitch-blackness no light at all.
"Fire! Get the fire back! Hey huh!?"
Maverick froze mid-scream.
He couldn't see, but suddenly he felt his body rising—lifting into the air.
'No way?'
He tried to tense his limbs, but the thought didn't finish.
Boom!
"Ugh—!"
Maverick smashed into a wall and crashed to the ground.
His vision spun in the complete darkness. Pain shot through multiple places—he was sure some bones were broken.
"Aaaaagh!"
A horrific scream tore through the darkness and stabbed into Maverick's ears.
"What!?"
For a moment he wondered if a monster had appeared. He staggered to his feet and drew his longsword.
But when he had been thrown earlier, his arm must have broken—his left hand hung uselessly.
"Gyaaagh!"
Another scream echoed from somewhere in the dark.
And that wasn't the end.
"Save me! Please—ugh!"
The last mercenary's begging voice abruptly cut off.
Swish.
A cold wind blew from deeper inside the dungeon, brushing over Maverick's entire body.
His hair stood on end as terror seeped into the pitch-black space.
"Huh… Huh…!"
Breathing raggedly, Maverick looked around wildly.
But there was nothing—nothing but suffocating, devouring darkness.
"Huh…!"
The primal human fear of the dark slowly took hold of him.
"Come out! Come out, you bastard! You fuck!"
Swish! Swish!
Like a madman, Maverick swung his longsword with one hand.
He struck nothing but air. When his blade finally hit a wall, sparks flew—and he staggered from the rebound. Still, he didn't stop his frantic slashing.
"Come out! I said come!"
Then he saw them.
Two crimson eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness.
Maverick instinctively thrust his sword toward them.
Clang!
His longsword was knocked aside by a monstrous force.
"Ugh!"
A brutal hand grabbed Maverick's throat and lifted him effortlessly into the air. With his armor added, he weighed well over a hundred kilograms—yet he dangled helplessly.
"Keeek! Kek!"
His breathing strangled, drool spilling from his mouth, he kicked wildly—but the figure holding him didn't budge.
His fading vision showed nothing except those blazing red eyes burning through the darkness.
"You said you were going to kill me…?"
"Crunch! Crunch!"
"A guy like you?"
"Kkaruk…"
Thud thud!
Maverick's chainmail tore from head to shoulder, ripped apart like paper.
The red eyes drew closer.
And then, a low, chilling voice echoed right next to his ear:
"Originally, I planned to kill you right away… but I'll need you to stay alive just a little longer."
Crunch!
Something sharp sank deep into Maverick's thick neck.
(To be continued)