The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

She bowed deeply to Lucy's back, which never turned around.

"....."

After a brief moment of shock at Malya's words, Lushus turned and walked back to the camp without looking back.

.....

"This is it..."

"Um..."

Two days later, the location that Naka had mentioned, the place the Demon King had asked her to relay: the border prison, finally appeared before everyone's eyes.

It was a solitary building perched on a small hillside, with its back to a bottomless abyss, surrounded by no other houses. Therefore, it was exceptionally easy to spot.

After a week's journey, everyone had been resting and recuperating along the way. Finally, they arrived at their destination, a place that might harbor unpredictable crises.

The building was perched high on a cliff, offering no hiding place. Looking towards the prison gates, there was no sign of any monsters. Even if there were an ambush, it wasn't here. So, the group nodded knowingly and began walking up the hillside...

"Finally! Brave warriors! I, Udoni, have been waiting for you for so long! I mean it! We thought you would have arrived days ago! I've been waiting so long!"

Finally, when Tatia and her companions arrived at the city gate, a demon's voice appeared on the city wall.

It was a small dog, the figure of a canine demon. He laughed loudly, standing on the brick wall of the city tower, smiling as he looked down.

"I know why you've come here! Her Highness the Demon King's princess is in the deepest part of this prison. But before you get there, you need to pass two tests! The first test is my subordinates, and the second test... well, it's me! Defeat me, and you'll never rescue the princess!"

"......Gurgle..."

Tatia, who had become much stronger than before due to her rapid increase in strength, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat after hearing these words.

Because she could sense it. The magical power and strength hidden within the body of this canine monster, who appeared to be younger than herself, were simply outrageously powerful.

To put it bluntly, she is even stronger than Diaz, whom she once narrowly defeated.

Taqia gripped her twin swords tightly. Even if she were to replicate that evolution and recreate that miracle, she still might not be able to defeat this canine monster.

Without a doubt, this person is also one of the five strongest under the Demon King: one of the Five Generals.

"They actually sent such a ruthless character to guard this place... It seems the Demon King deliberately leaked this information to us; they're definitely up to no good..."

Taqia clicked her tongue. Even she couldn't help but say some discouraging things these days.

"Yeah, I never imagined there were such strong guys in the world... Phew, I'm getting a chill down my spine..."

Ruri felt the same way. The strongest monster she had ever fought was merely an orc general. But her warrior instincts told her that this little dwarf was on a completely different level from the general who had crippled Lushus's team with a single blow. It was even beyond what could be quantified how many times stronger this canine monster was compared to that general.

Not only the two who were completely unaware of the truth, but even Lucia, who had some understanding of the Demon King's schemes, began to doubt herself.

"What is that Demon King thinking... bringing in such a powerful guy... Even if several elite adventurer teams attacked together, they wouldn't be a match for him...!"

Aside from the Demon King, this was the first time Lucy had encountered such a powerful monster, one whose power far exceeded her understanding of the word "power." She deduced that the Demon King had deliberately revealed the location to her group so that her daughter could be rescued.

But now, even Lucia herself lacked the confidence to continue holding onto this idea. And most importantly, the Demon King himself was not present.

Just two days ago, Lucy was confidently comforting others, but now she herself has become the most anxious one.

But we've already come this far. Turning back is impossible. Even without certainty, Tatia won't give up just because her opponent is strong.

Because she was willing to fight even the Demon King in order to save Meera, let alone this powerful dog-like monster who was still far from being a Demon King?

"Everyone! Are you ready...? Let's go!"

At her command, Lucia, Ruri, Pais, and Malya... the five of them strode forward together, rushing towards the perilous prison.

Operation Mayella Rescue (Battle Begins)

"First, the main entrance!"

Leading the charge was undoubtedly Tatia. She drew her greatsword, "Elf Paradise," from her back. The moment her hand gripped the hilt, a crimson flame ignited, engulfing the emerald-green blade in flames.

"ha!"

With a roar, a crescent-shaped flaming scythe slashed towards the tightly closed prison gate.

If we don't break through here, we won't be able to see Mayera, who is imprisoned in the deepest part.

"Boom!"

With a deafening roar, the seemingly sturdy gate was blasted open by the powerful explosion, sending fragments of wood and metal flying everywhere. Even parts of the surrounding city walls collapsed. Of course, Udoni, who had been standing on the city gate just moments before, had long since vanished.

"It's human!"

"Haha! It's been so long since I've tasted human blood!"

After breaching the main gate, there was a square room. Countless monsters emerged from every corner of the room and from behind the stone pillars, brandishing swords and spears.

This hardly qualifies as an ambush. The monsters darted out before Tatia and the others even entered the room. It offered absolutely no surprise attack.

The female knight, Lushius, was very puzzled by this.

"Why is that...?"

Given her understanding of the Demon King and Naka, what is the meaning behind such behavior?

She specifically arranged a location, set up three checkpoints, and even summoned an incomprehensibly powerful monster to guard the area... Did she want Tatsia and her group to rescue Mayera, or not? If she wanted to, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths. If she didn't want to, was she trying to wipe out her entire group in one fell swoop?...

"No, that's even more impossible..."

Regardless of the Demon King's strength, even if they openly fought in the capital, this hastily assembled team, along with all the adventurers in the capital, would undoubtedly be defeated. Moreover, the Demon King has been accompanying them as a saintess. If she wanted to kill, she would have done so already. She has countless opportunities to secretly kill everyone present.

Most importantly, Lucia believes the Demon King is no longer the evil being he once was, and that the core of the "game" she orchestrated should be benevolent...

Because that mysterious figure who had revealed information about the recent exam to him, helping him defeat Tatia and achieve victory, had said something like this when they faced each other after the exam:

"The Demon Lord is far too kind now... That kindness will cost her her life. It will make her act like a human, sacrificing her life for what she deems important... The Demon Lord is your savior, isn't she, Lucia? Are you just going to watch your savior walk down the path of death without looking back...?"

Because of these words, Louise agreed to participate in this operation.

She's just so confused by all the things she doesn't understand right now.

"Are you alright, Louise?"

"Huh?...Um, I'm fine."

The one who came to check on her was, as expected, the female warrior who had fought alongside Lucy the most: Ruri. Seeing Lucy's bewildered and hesitant expression despite being surrounded by enemies, she had come specifically to inquire. Lucy simply shook her head.

Now is not the time to think about those things. Anyway, let's just take it one step at a time...!

"Get out of the way! Pais! Malya! Come here!"

"oh!"

"Yes...yes!"

Although there were many enemies, engaging them would only be a waste of time. Taqia grabbed Pais with one hand, while Malya held onto her waist. Once she was sure the two were close behind, she leaped, soaring incredibly high over the monsters' heads, jumping from the entrance to the gate of the next checkpoint.

"drink!"

Then he used his greatsword to deliver a slash, splitting the gate in two.

"Pais and I are heading straight for Mayera's location at the deepest point! We'll retreat immediately after I rescue them! So sorry, but please delay these guys for now! Don't push your luck! Remember, just survive! Don't linger in battle!"

Tatia was perfectly clear about the objective of this operation. They weren't here to exterminate monsters; they were here to rescue people. There was no need to get entangled with these people. Reaching the deepest point, finding Mayera, and getting her out of here as quickly as possible was the most important thing. If she could, she didn't want to fight that canine monster either.

Therefore, she believed the first hurdle should be skipped entirely, and they should immediately run to the deepest part to find Mayera's whereabouts. The task of holding off the monsters in the first hurdle naturally fell to Lushius and Ruri.

"then!"

Of course, Tatsia and the others wouldn't let the two of them face dozens of monsters for nothing. As they landed, Pais's finger flashed, emitting a bright light that enveloped the two of them.

"Wow! I can feel the power surging forth... This is amazing! It's even better than the support Jasmine gave us on the plains that day!"

That was enhancement magic that amplified the physical abilities of the target. And its effects were even stronger than the enhancement magic Jasmine provided them on the night they were surrounded by bandits. Ruri excitedly pounded her fists. Even though there were only two of them, she was still full of energy.

"Go without worry! With this power, the two of us are more than enough to hold off these monsters!"

After thanking Pais for casting the spell, she immediately positioned herself back-to-back with Lucius. Ruri raised her iron fist, while Lucius gripped the spear the Demon King had given her. She also nodded slightly towards Tatia.

The enhancement effects the Demon King had given her were still active, coupled with the enhancement magic from the saintess named Pais, and the spear forged from the weapon that once belonged to the strongest hero of the era... With these triple enhancements, even with only the two of them, Lushius was confident that she could fight against these dozens of monsters.

After briefly confirming their respective roles, Tatia led Pais towards the next checkpoint. Meanwhile, Ruri and Lucia, after Ruri's spirited shout of "Come on! Damn monsters!", charged together towards the horde of monsters.

.....

"here it is..."

Skipping the first checkpoint, Tatia and Pais arrived at the next door.

But unlike the previous levels, this is just an ordinary room made of stone.

The entire room was made of exceptionally sturdy steel, seemingly out of place in a completely different world from the previous room. Walking on it and looking down, Tatia could even see her own reflection.

More importantly, the atmosphere emanating from this room was unusually eerie and ominous.

Moreover, it's fraught with danger...

"call out!"

"Huh!?"

Suddenly a flash of light passed by her. Taqia couldn't dodge in time. By the time she instinctively took half a step back, a clear bloodstain was already left on her shoulder.

Then the flash of light, which seemed to come from nowhere, landed steadily in front of her at a speed that Tatia couldn't even see.

"You want to avoid fighting me and just take the princess away?... Haha, you're too naive, girl."

The figure of Udoni, a demon resembling a canine boy, ultimately blocked Tatia's path.

Tatia had only one impression about this.

"So fast...!"

In Tatsia's eyes, Udoni's body seemed to appear out of thin air in front of her, as if nothing had happened. She couldn't see how he appeared at all. And that attack just now... it was much faster than the speed of sound, and she could only barely avoid being hit by relying on her instincts as a hero.

This canine monster's speed is simply incomprehensible...!

"You're right, the princess is behind this door. You'll find her once you get through here."

Udoni then gave a thumbs-up to the iron gate behind him. This gate was also made entirely of metal. Unlike the previous two gates, it didn't seem as easily damaged.

"but...."

Udoni retracted his thumb, clenched his fist, and pointed at Tatsia in front of him.

"...Only if you can get past me."

"....hateful"

It seems that Tatsia's strategy of avoiding unnecessary fighting and simply escaping with her people has ultimately failed. The opponent she least wanted to confront at this time has still appeared before her.

He's difficult to deal with. Extremely difficult. He might be an opponent I simply can't defeat. Because this canine monster is even stronger than Diaz. When I defeated Diaz, I had already exerted all my strength and barely managed to gain the upper hand. Facing a monster clearly stronger than Diaz, the probability of me losing is extremely high...

but...

"Malya Jie, step back..."

She shielded Mayajie behind her, gripping the greatsword even tighter, while simultaneously drawing the longsword "Key of the Spirits" with her other hand.

"...I'm enough to be his opponent..."

No matter how powerful the opponent is, Tatia will not back down.

Because she had told Mayera that day.

"I will protect you from your mother's clutches."

Perhaps her words had stirred feelings in Mayera that Tatia hadn't anticipated, and her irresponsible actions had deeply hurt Mayera. But Tatia had to keep her word, no matter what.

Because she wanted to survive so she could personally tell the living Mayera: I'm sorry.

Even if she sees herself as a heartless woman who toyed with other people's feelings, even if she can't forgive herself, a promise is a promise. A mistake is a mistake. What needs to be done must be done. What needs to be said must be said.

So even though she was likely to lose, she had no choice but to fight.

"What? You're worried I'll secretly hurt that little girl and that saint over there? Hahahaha!... You underestimate me too much, girl."

Judging from Taqia's actions, she was clearly trying to avoid hurting Malyajie.

But it was precisely this point that displeased Udoni.

"I am a dignified Fifth General. Do you think I would resort to such underhanded tactics to deal with a mere brat like you?!"

He raised his claws, aiming them directly at Tatia.

"Don't worry! I will absolutely not harm the girl over there or the saintess who assists you! Because even if you fight without any scruples, you still can't defeat me!"

"That's..."