Chapter 21 : Ice Prison
Going down the stairs, besides the bitter cold, there was also a rotten, fishy stench.
Even though Lonis had never been here when she was a hero, she could still recognize what this place was used for.
A dungeon.
That rotten stench was the unique smell produced by blood after fermenting over time.
Everywhere she could see were heavy metal doors and bars. Already rusted metal shackles hung on the walls, reflecting the torchlight as if intimidating passersby.
(So, so scary...)
Although Lonis tried to stay calm inside, her body was already trembling involuntarily.
These torture devices weren't like the little toys on her body that were mainly designed to please girls. These were real torture instruments—not only very heavy, but each one could pierce through human bodies.
Lonis estimated that if a full set of torture devices were put on her, she probably wouldn't be able to walk even one step.
......
In this terrifying atmosphere, Elucia's back became particularly reassuring.
If Lonis were a timid girl, she would probably have moved closer long ago.
But as a hero, Lonis naturally had a hero's dignity. She held her head high and walked behind Elucia with feigned strength.
......
But this composure quickly disappeared without a trace.
Because from the darkness...
A humanoid monster actually jumped out!
Its skin was charred black all over as if burned, its face hidden under disheveled hair, crawling forward on all fours like a savage.
However...
Just one sword strike.
Elucia didn't even dodge. This pitch-black humanoid monster was already split in half.
Black blood spurted from the wound, but not a single drop splashed onto the black-haired girl—Elucia's swordsmanship was very skillful, swift yet not wasting the slightest unnecessary force.
......
This black-clad girl just stared at the black-gray person's figure and murmured with a sigh:
"Still alive... no, judging from the blood, should already be dead. Then it must be fallen demons causing trouble again."
"Huh, fallen demons?"
"Hmph, they're all similar things to the previous puppet demons, nothing to worry about."
"Ugh ugh!"
Although saying they were nothing to worry about, Lonis's heart was already pounding.
There were really too many monsters in this world... and these monsters weren't just models like in games—you could clearly see their bones, even their dying stench.
......
But perhaps sensing Lonis's inner fear?
Elucia actually smiled slightly and commanded:
"Lonis, go search this corpse and see if there's anything useful."
"The corpse?"
"The clothes you're wearing are stain-resistant. Don't make me say it twice."
"Ugh..."
......
Lonis finally understood what the long gloves on her hands were for.
Even when searching disgusting corpses, that blood wouldn't seep into her fingernails... but the overwhelming stench was still unavoidable.
Lonis could only hold her breath as much as possible, then turned the black-gray person over.
The pitch-black muscles seemed soaked in black blood, nauseating like rotted chunks of meat.
There was nothing special on the corpse.
Lonis only found a piece of paper, and when she opened it:
『I'm sorry, I betrayed the country.
But isn't this all because Princess didn't appease the Flame Abyss's anger?
I'm conflicted too, I wanted everything to get better too!!!
But it's all too late now.
General Kuru has completely become a fallen puppet, we're already...』
『Beyond redemption.』
......
......
Seeing Lonis motionless for a long time, Elucia frowned.
"What did you find?"
"A note..."
"A note, let me see it quickly!"
"Ah, huh!"
Lonis was about to hand over the note, but the moment she raised it... the note was blown by the wind and instantly disintegrated!
"You idiot, you can't even protect a piece of paper?"
"Sorry!"
......
Elucia frowned, seeming to want to teach Lonis a lesson!
But... she seemed to remember something and ultimately didn't make a move:
"Is there anything else?"
"N-no more..."
"Hmph, as expected it's demons' doing... resurrection? What a vicious spell."
"Elucia?"
"Continue following behind me, 4 meters this time."
......
......
Going further down, as they went deeper into the dungeon, Lonis actually found that it was getting warmer around them!
But thinking about it, this was natural: cellars are warm in winter and cool in summer, and the thick mantle prevents heat from dissipating.
......
Along the way, Elucia and Lonis also encountered more than ten black-gray people.
Each one pounced from the shadows, carrying the stench of corpses... but without exception, they were all slain by Elucia.
One sword strike each, clean and efficient.
But except for the first one, Elucia didn't ask Lonis to continue searching corpses.
......
She just went down, all the way down.
The pitch-black high heels echoed with unquestionable sounds in the deep dungeon, as if telling those terrifying monsters: an invincible valkyrie has arrived, come out and die quickly!
And although the light was dim, Lonis discovered that many of the black-gray people had metal shackles on their bodies.
Some even wore blindfolds, some had metal piercing through their bodies, some were missing half their heads... like evil spirits from horror movies, very disturbing.
......
Lonis didn't know where Elucia was going, but she just followed her figure and continued forward.
Finally,
they seemed to have reached the bottom level of the dungeon.
And at this point, the air around them had become even hotter. It was a bit like a sauna. Perhaps the hot air accelerated microbial growth—the floor here was covered with pitch-black stains, and a pungent stench gathered in the air like a cesspit.
As soon as she arrived here, Lonis involuntarily covered her nose and mouth.
And Elucia observed the surroundings like nothing was wrong, then nodded after a while:
"Mm, this is the place... Kuru is indeed still alive."
"Kuru?"
"Although I think locking you in one of these cages would also be quite safe... but you, this masochist, probably don't want to stand alone in the darkness, right?"
"Mm..."
At this point, Lonis couldn't care about face anymore and quickly nodded like a little girl.
She knew nothing about this pitch-black dungeon, and had no strength to tie a chicken—who knew what would happen after leaving Elucia?
......
"Alright, but when I kill Kuru later, you mustn't throw up."
"Huh?"
"Because I'll use the most cruel methods to kill him. Otherwise... it would really be too easy on him."
A trace of fierceness flashed in Elucia's pupils, and her right hand gripping the black sword clenched tightly.
......