Chapter 4 - A Demon? A monster with self awareness
"Damn!"
Ryuu gritted her teeth, the faces of her companions flashing through her mind. She could no longer maintain that vengeful facade; her eyes filled with tears, and she collapsed onto the bed.
Lain thought to himself, Don't cry on my bed, or I'll have to wash the sheets again.
Her sobbing was low and suppressed, like a stream struggling under the weight of a boulder. Lain abandoned his cynical attitude; right now, Ryuu was just a girl who had lost everything.
After a long while, Ryuu raised her head and forcefully wiped away the tears. The strength on her face was enough to make any adult ashamed.
Ryuu looked at Lain. "Who are you?"
Lain reached out his hand, revealing a bright smile. "Lain. Please take care of me from now on, Ryuu Lion!"
Ryuu didn't grasp Lain's outstretched hand, but simply nodded slightly. "I promise you."
Lain didn't care about the handshake; he'd already acquired a Level 4 bodyguard!
The contract was established!
The elven girl would work for Lain for three years, and he would help her obtain the secret technique of resurrection.
Elves, who placed the utmost importance on contracts and oaths, were among the most loyal of all races. They would never betray anyone, let alone Ryuu Lion, who was renowned for her integrity even among her own kind.
Lain felt somewhat uneasy about deceiving this elf.
All he could do was try his best to improve his strength.
The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
If he could not help her obtain the resurrection technique in three years, Ryuu would kill him at all costs, and her methods would be even more terrifying than her revenge on Evilus.
Lain asked, "How are you feeling?"
Ryuu replied, "Don't underestimate us adventurers."
Lain wasn't surprised. The physical resilience and recovery habits of high class adventurers were monstrous. Having spent years in the Dungeon, falling asleep in a second and replenishing their physical and mind in mere minutes was routine for them.
The weariness on Ryuu's face vanished without a trace.
More importantly, upon learning that her companions might be resurrected, Ryuu's face regained a glimmer of vitality and hope. A stark contrast to her previous lifeless demeanor.
Lain's system panel allowed him to add teammates during dungeon runs, letting experienced players carry him.
There was only one empty space on the team interface.
There was also a notification that he could add an extra teammate for each level he gained.
[Ryuu Lion has been added as a teammate!]
[Demon Slayer Dungeon: Hunt down Upper Rank Two, Doma. Reward: 600 attribute points and a Bronze Treasure Chest!]
...
Lain quickly selected the dungeon mission; the Demon Slayer world was just the right size and difficulty to test Ryuu's strength as a Level 4 adventurer.
Ryuu couldn't see the system panel. When she saw Lain poking at the empty air, she frowned. Had she trusted the wrong person? Was this person simply delusional?
Lain laughed and said, "Let's go!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ryuu was surprised to find that her body was turning into starlight, becoming more and more illusory. A phenomenon she had never encountered before.
When Ryuu opened her eyes again, the tent they were in had disappeared.
What came into view was a silent forest. Night had fallen, and the sky was filled with dazzling stars. A scene of breathtaking beauty.
"Is this some kind of dungeon-like secret place?" Ryuu looked around at the surroundings, secretly marveling.
"Just take it that way."
Lain went along with her assumption. The world of DanMachi was vast and boundless, and the Dungeon was just one of the Three Great Secret Places. Additionally, there were many secret places. Even the forest where the elves lived was considered a secret place by outsiders.
Ryuu felt fortunate that she had been transported from Orario to a secret place in an instant. This method was comparable to a god unleashing arcanum. Her decision not to attack Lain directly had been the correct one.
Otherwise, if he had escaped into this secret place alone, she would have searched the whole world in vain, regretting it for the rest of her life.
Unbeknownst to her, the boy before her had become a source of mystery in Ryuu's heart.
This mystery also greatly increased the credibility of the resurrection technique he had mentioned.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal clashing echoed from deep within the forest.
Lain and Ryuu exchanged a glance, suppressed their presence, and silently crept forward.
The distance wasn't far; after walking about two hundred meters, they saw two figures fighting in a clearing, their movements flashing past quickly.
A girl dressed in a butterfly-patterned haori was covered in wounds, while the strangely dressed youth opposing her held two iron fans and wore a ferocious, fanatical smile.
Kanae Kocho's chance encounter with Upper Rank Two, Doma!
"Is that the target this time?"
Ryuu stared coldly at Doma. Lain had brought her to this place, surely to have her hunt monsters.
"Don't rush!" Seeing that Ryuu was about to charge forward, Lain quickly stopped her.
Lain knew that Kanae Kocho had managed to hold out until sunrise without being eaten by Doma, and that she would later live long enough to tell Shinobu Kocho about him.
There was still some time before the sun rose.
Lain lowered his voice. "I'll tell you the information about the target first. It's a Demon. Different from ordinary monsters, Demons possess their own consciousness."
"A Demon? A monster with self awareness?"
Ryuu glanced at Lain and realized he wasn't joking. He was watching the battle in the clearing intently. The young man spoke confidently, and the creature was taunting the girl, which surprised Ryuu.
Lain was not surprised by her reaction; before the emergence of the Xenos, monsters with self-awareness were simply a fantasy to the people of Orario.
Lain continued, "That Demon has Blood Demon Art specifically, freezing magic. Ice crystals formed from his congealed blood permeate the air. When you get close to him, be careful not to inhale them; otherwise, your internal organs and lungs will be frozen."
"He also has extraordinary regenerative abilities; even if his head is blown apart or his body is cut to pieces, he can recover."
Listening to Lain's explanation, Ryuu frowned. Even a Floor Boss might not possess such troublesome abilities.
Ryuu began to realize that the secret place Lain had brought her into was different from the Dungeon.
Ryuu asked, "How do we kill him?"
Lain estimated, "The opponent just has a special physique. His true strength is probably between Level 2 and Level 3. However, Demons don't have magic stones. The only way to kill a Demon is to cut off its head with a Nichirin Blade, like the one in that girl's hand or to expose it to sunlight."
Ryuu murmured to herself, "Expose it to sunlight..."
Seeing that Ryuu had her own ideas, Lain didn't interfere too much. How could a Level 1 guide a Level 4? Did he expect to micromanage her like a school teacher?
That would be incredibly stupid.
By informing Ryuu of Doma's abilities, Lain's job was done.