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After a good night’s rest, Lindy’s motion sickness had thankfully completely disappeared. Even if we were headed to take down the Four Heavenly Kings, there was no need for any unusual preparations compared to usual, so we simply took another day to make some basic repairs and then set out right outside the city.

Even though we were close to the current city, it was still a bit of a trek, so we spent a few days camping out as we moved forward diligently.

“Is it really true that the Four Heavenly Kings reside in a place like this?”

After walking for several days, we arrived at a desolate wasteland. There were only a few scattered rocks and patches of grass—there wasn’t a building in sight that could be considered the home of the Four Heavenly Kings. Lindy asked if I had possibly mistaken the location, but this was definitely the right place.

“Yes. I’m not just bringing up the Four Heavenly Kings for no reason.”

Now Luna and Lindy had joined us, but originally it was just going to be me and Frecia. Of course, it was ridiculous for just two people to go take down the Four Heavenly Kings. However, the situation here regarding the Four Heavenly Kings was different.

Lindy’s confusion was understandable. Even if this was claimed to be the dwelling of the Four Heavenly Kings, there was nothing around to be found, not even a single ant from the guarding forces, which didn’t make any sense.

But if it was one of the Four Heavenly Kings who resided here, then it made sense. According to the information I had acquired from being part of a hero party with my friends in my past life, she supposedly led a recluse life to hide from her followers.

In fact, thanks to that, I was able to be the first to take down the Four Heavenly King residing here in my past life.

And this time was no different. The only change was that the members I was with were different; the fact that we were aiming to take down the same Four Heavenly King was a repeat from both my past life and this life.

“…There’s nothing around.”

Having already used detection magic to survey the surroundings, Frecia spoke in a low voice as if reporting. She seemed to be checking for any hidden threats using camouflage magic.

However, she was a bit off in her assumption. The dwelling of the Four Heavenly Kings wasn’t concealed by magic; they were actually hiding themselves.

“Please wait a moment.”

I halted the three of them and slowly circled around, searching for the target. Thankfully, given the barren landscape, it didn’t take long to find what I was looking for.

“Alright, do you see this?”

“What is it, senpai? Isn’t it just a rock?”

“Ah….”

With a complete lack of experience in this area, Luna expressed her doubts, while Lindy, sensing what I was about to say, looked inquisitive.

Instead of answering Luna, I hoisted the rock up and slid it aside, revealing a set of stairs descending downwards.

Dungeons, like labyrinths or ancient ruins, are commonly hidden by methods such as camouflage magic or require certain conditions to be met for them to appear, just as Frecia had verified earlier. This was not much different for the hideouts of demonic beings.

Of course, it’s not impossible for places to hide entrances in such a crude manner. However, usually, this would be the case for lower-tiered dungeons as adventurers looking for quick riches don’t bother searching for such places. Plus, the demonic beings that would take the time to build a hideout usually have too much ego to resort to such disgraceful methods of concealing their entrances.

Even with the entrance now revealed, one could see that even Lindy, who was knowledgeable about information, couldn’t believe that the hidden location beneath the rock was the dwelling of the Four Heavenly Kings, indicating how peculiar this situation was.

It could be seen as a hideout that cleverly utilizes the psychology of both parties.

I relied on Frecia’s light magic as we made our way down the stairs. Whether constructed by magic or not, the staircase below stretched out endlessly, making it impossible to gauge its depth.

When I finally stepped off the staircase and onto the ground, torches hanging on the walls automatically lit up, illuminating the area around us.

“Hmm… It seems plausible, but is this really the dwelling of the Four Heavenly Kings? Even if we accept that there’s an entrance, judging by the lack of anyone inside, isn’t this just an abandoned dungeon?”

Contrary to my initial assumption, the inside was well-decorated, befitting the residence of the Four Heavenly Kings. However, there were no guards or even demonic servants to be seen. Lindy’s suspicions were warranted. But then again, I had already witnessed this scene in my previous life.

If the Four Heavenly King residing here wasn’t out and about, she was likely waiting at the deepest part. She must have already sensed our presence upon our entry.

Perhaps she was currently flustered at having had her hideout discovered. But the fact that she was still not revealing herself suggested she still had some belief in her defenses.

“Just trust me and follow along. It’s for sure. You’re not doubting me, are you?”

“Ah, no… That’s not it…”

“You know, unlike Lindy, I’ve never doubted senpai even once, right? Hehe! It’s definitely just me!”

While Lindy looked uneasy as she interrupted my boastful self, Luna hugged my arm tightly and exclaimed. Perhaps because she was still young, even in these minor details, she couldn’t stand losing, which I found simply adorable.

“I’ll keep calling you ‘aunt’! Sure, elven longevity is there, but by human standards…!”

“Well, even so, it’s true that you lived a long time! Does it make any sense to say that based on human age? If we’re going by that logic, I’ll have to bow down to a dog or cat that’s over a hundred years old!”

“Ah, but I told you I’m not an aunt!”

“Then how about grandmother…?”

“This little brat is ridiculous!”

Watching the two of them bicker as if they were just on a picnic rather than having come to take down the Four Heavenly Kings was quite amusing.

In fact, based on Luna’s usual behavior, she just seems to refer to anyone older than herself as an aunt. At least with me, she tends to avoid calling me an aunt due to her close attachment to me. Because of that, she would refer to Frecia, who bore debt to her, as older sister rather than aunt.

If Luna were to learn about my true identity as Geno, she might very well lower her threshold to refer to anyone just two years older than her as older sister rather than the current four-year gap she has.

“I found it.”

While the two of them were making a fuss, and Frecia was admiring the surrounding decorations, I managed to find what I was looking for.

The previous rock was a simple illusion that hit a psychological gap, but the device in front of me was thoroughly prepared against intruders who discovered this place.

“What is it? What is it?”

Lindy, who had been sniping at Luna, approached me, reacting to my quietly muttering voice.

“Is this really okay? What if I accidentally mess with it and cause a big problem?”

Since this device was made to counter intrusions, it was natural that if you didn’t deactivate it the right way, a trap would spring. But in my past life, I had already defeated this dungeon and this Four Heavenly King.

“Eh, don’t worry. So ….”

Was it to press the first stone that jutted out on the left first?

Click

I heard a sound as if something clicked, but there was no other reaction. Since a trap didn’t spring, it likely meant I had pressed the first stone correctly.

“Next is….”

And now it was time to press the next stone. However, my hand was still sitting atop the first stone I pressed.

“Um… Uhh…”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“No, just… Wait a second. I’m trying to recall… It’ll come back to me soon…”

For some reason, given that years had passed since then, the memories felt a bit hazy. I couldn’t quite remember if I had pressed the left stone a second time or the middle stone… Back then, I had made my way to the deepest part where the Four Heavenly King was without any trouble at all, but now it felt perplexing?

“Oh, right.”

Finally, the memories of my past life came to me.

I didn’t actually conquer this dungeon myself. Of course, I was there, but I was merely present while Selian was the one who activated all the devices.

Since I had glimpsed her pressing the stones from behind, due to my vague memory, I mistakenly thought I had activated the devices myself.

Bzzzzzzz!

“Uh, senpai? Is this really okay?”

“Sorry! Everyone, be careful!”

As time ran out, an ominous sound reverberated through the chamber. Startled by the noise, we braced ourselves, looking around cautiously.

In my previous life, Selian had successfully disarmed all the devices, so there hadn’t been any trigger. Because of that, I wasn’t in a position to predict what trap might spring forth.

“Elysia, below…!”

Frecia shouted unexpectedly. Following her cue, I looked down to find a familiar magic circle had materialized beneath me. One that looked awfully familiar.

As light erupted from the magic circle and enveloped me, the voices of the three rushing toward me grew faint.

It was a transfer magic circle.

*

“Damn it.”

I had fallen into an ordinary joint space. A familiar place. The very depths of the dungeon, the spot where I had once toppled the Four Heavenly King.

The only difference from back then was that I was here alone without my group.

This got a bit dangerous. Of course, if we were to just compare strength, the Four Heavenly King residing here could be managed alone. In my past life, Selian handled it quickly on her own, so given how much stronger I had become now, I should be capable of dealing with her just fine. But the Four Heavenly Kings weren’t just another demon.

“Ohohoho… A cute little one has come.”

A sultry voice echoed within the enclosed space.

Accompanied by the sound of clicking footsteps, a figure slowly walked toward me from beyond the darkness.

Her fully spread wings resembled a bat’s, and the heart-shaped tip of her tail swayed just above her backside, radiating dense magical energy from the two horns sharply protruding from her head.

Just by making eye contact, she could enthrall her foes, subjugating even other demonic beings, and was one of the Demon King’s most loyal minions among the Four Heavenly Kings.

It was the Succubus Queen.