"I just want to see the world I've always dreamed of… How is that a crime?"
Kairo Retsu spoke to the elves before him with a pained expression.
Mislen narrowed his one remaining eye. His teleportation spell had only removed a piece of Kairo Retsu's clothing—it hadn't touched the Winged Lion's Book at all. It was as if the book had vanished into thin air within Kairo Retsu's cloak.
"I do admire you all, truly. Each of you has your own strengths."
Kairo Retsu wore a look of sincere regret. "This is the first time I've ever seen real elves. You all fit my stereotypical image perfectly."
"Just… so terribly arrogant."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Mislen didn't stop. He activated teleportation magic again, slicing off Kairo Retsu's leg. But Kairo Retsu only stumbled briefly before a new leg regrew instantly, stomping back down onto the ground with force.
The sheer regenerative ability made the elves question whether Kairo Retsu was even human.
Had he already become the dungeon master? But just earlier, he had been affected by illusion magic and claimed he wanted to become the dungeon master.
And the dungeon hadn't changed…
So where exactly was the other book?
"Teleportation magic really is handy." Kairo Retsu clapped his hands. "You won't even spare me a little more conversation."
"Can't you at least try to persuade me?!"
He said it with deep disappointment. "In all those stories about heroes and knights, they always bring love and justice, courage and friendship, and even throw in a speech or two to weaken the Demon King before fighting them!"
"You won't even try to persuade me! You just chopped my head off from the start! I'm so scared~!"
He looked hurt and flustered. "Where's the courage and friendship? At least pretend to show some!"
"Maniac!"
Seeing someone casually chatting with them after being decapitated and dismembered made the Canaries Squad deeply unsettled.
Kabru's brain was racing at full speed, trying to comprehend the situation.
What was this man's real objective? Which of his words were true, and which were lies? Was he concealing some crucial detail in his statements?
If Kabru's mouth hadn't been sealed by illusion magic, he would have shouted out by now.
He wanted to talk! He really wanted to talk!
If they couldn't figure anything else out, then let him speak with the man! At the very least, they could gather intel!
Inside, Kabru was weeping with frustration. The elves around him felt like NPCs—capable of magic but nothing else.
"You know, there's something I've wanted to say for a while."
Kairo Retsu scratched his chin. "About those heroes who yell about courage and friendship and then fire off some combo attack at the Demon King."
He tapped his ear, where Kazuma's frantic potion-drinking sounds could be heard. "Even Demon Kings… can have friends, too."
"Restrain him! The rest of you find the book! They must have more people upstairs!"
The elves finally made their move.
One of them transformed into a tall werewolf and charged in for close combat, but Kairo Retsu immediately summoned a heavy shield in his hand to block the incoming claws.
"One of us will become the dungeon master!"
Kairo Retsu raised his voice. "From this moment on… it's our time!"
An elf attempted to rush up the stairs—but Tanjiro blocked the way, wielding a massive hammer and looking apologetic.
He had awakened at the same time as Kairo Retsu. Laios had awoken too.
Senshi and Chilchuck, being different species, hadn't been cured by the Nulberry effect and were still under the illusion's influence.
Laios was now running up the stairs carrying both of them.
"Sorry," Tanjiro apologized, sweeping the elf back down the stairs. "But we still have things we need to do."
"Now it's time for our specialty—battle!"
Kairo Retsu grinned brightly as he launched a quick two-hit combo with his left hand, striking the werewolf elf and charging phials into his shield.
There wasn't time to power up his Charge Blade—but with phials alone, it was enough.
"Take this! Elemental Discharge Slash—FULL BURST!!"
"Discharge your damn face!!"
His transformed shield and sword became a whirling axe, and with a roaring impact, the attack slammed into the floor of the house. The explosive shockwave from the phials sent the werewolf elf—and the elves behind him—crashing through a wall and flying outside.
And upstairs…
"What the heck?!"
The huge sound jolted Marcille awake. She clutched the still-sealed Winged Lion's Book to her chest in relief.
She had thought Kairo Retsu had already become the dungeon master and was enacting his plan.
But just as she was waking up, Laios burst into the room in a panic, still carrying Senshi and Chilchuck. He rushed over and grabbed her hand. "Marcille! The elves are here! Kairo Retsu and the others are already fighting them!"
"Eh?!"
Marcille was stunned.
She had only overslept a little! What the hell had happened?!
"Senshi and Chilchuck are in your care! I've got to go back down!"
After setting them down, Laios added, "They're still under illusion magic—Marcille, be careful…"
"Izutsumi!"
Laios turned to the now-awake Izutsumi. "Please help protect Marcille!"
"Laios! What's going on?! You guys—!"
Before she could finish, Laios had already dashed out of the room.
"What the hell is going on?!"
Meanwhile, in the warehouse, Kazuma and the others were hiding with the king's body and the rest, guarded by Naofumi Iwatani, as they listened to the ruckus outside.
"They're fighting," Joseph muttered. "Should we go out and help?"
"Not now. The elves aren't exactly allies," Naofumi shook his head. "Better to hold back our trump cards for now."
Kazuma, meanwhile, wore a tragic expression and stared at his stamina bar while furiously scarfing down rations…
"Come on then! Let's fight!!"
Kairo Retsu walked through the elves' magic as it struck him, making no effort to dodge. "You may not be target monsters, but at the very least…"
"Let me show you… what us Hunters are made of!"
Yeah, maybe it was a little bit of cheating.
Kairo Retsu thought this to himself.
Sure, he was relying on Kazuma's Wide-Range buff to tank it all… but hey—
Bluffing was a vital life skill…
"If you don't fight me, I might just go become the dungeon master, you know?"
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