Chapter 58: Charlotte and the Demon’s Power

A fierce clash raged on.

No—that wasn’t it. In truth, it was one-sided. Trishel was barely managing to defend herself, and her wounds were only multiplying before my eyes.

The fact she was still avoiding fatal blows—well, that much proved she was first-rate.

…But even so, Riven was steadily driving her into a corner.

"Riven! Riven! It’s us—Charlotte and Trishel!"

I shouted desperately, but there was no change.

So he really can’t hear us. Maybe he can’t even see. Salem must have stolen his senses.

"Trishel!"

"I’m trying! But I could really use a little breathing room here!"

Just like with me, the only way was for Trishel to bring him back.

But seriously—how is she even keeping up like this without being able to tell what’s happening around her!? Her movements don’t look like someone blind to the situation at all.

You’re a monster too, aren’t you!?

I couldn’t possibly jump into that fight. I’d be minced in an instant.

All I could do was watch.

…No. There was something else I could do.

I quickly spread my awareness around.

If Riven was like this, then Salem might be nearby.

If she showed up now, it’d be the worst. I wasn’t about to let her interfere with those two.

"Frontline brawls aren’t my specialty, you know!"

Trishel’s cry, half-scream, echoed alongside the violent sounds of impact.

Before I realized it, I had gotten far too close to the two of them.

Should I back away so I didn’t get in the way…?

Tap. Something brushed against the foot I’d stepped back with.

A pebble? Why here of all places?

Maybe… just maybe…

No. That would be far too dangerous.

The chance I’d be killed was high.

But at this rate, Trishel was the one who’d be killed.

The bleeding spots on her body had clearly increased, and her movements were visibly slowing.

Damn it! No time left to hesitate!

I snatched up the pebble and wound my arm back.

All I needed was a single opening! Just don’t hit Trishel by mistake—aim carefully… and throw!

The pebble I hurled traced an arc—
Passed by the two of them—

"!?"

Riven suddenly leapt backward.

…Wait. Is he tracking by instinct? Since he can’t make sense of his surroundings, he must be striking at every movement he senses nearby…

"Trishel!"

"Got it!"

Trishel slammed her staff into the ground and chanted words I couldn’t make out.

Frost rippled outward along the staff and seeped into the ground.

In an instant, every place the frost touched froze solid. A path of ice spread all the way to Reven’s feet, pinning him to the ground.

And then she struck.

A shining arc carved the air, forming a glowing circle. I knew what it was immediately—a magic circle for release.

Riven braced himself, trying to break free of the restraint, but before he could, the circle swept down from above his head to beneath his feet.

"Yes! That should’ve freed him from the dungeon’s restraints!"

"Then—!"

They’d done it. That was the certainty I felt in the very next moment—

Crimson spray scattered through the air.

"…Eh?"

My brain refused to process what had happened.

Trishel swayed and collapsed. Right in front of her stood Riven.

Shards of shattered ice littered the ground.

From his eerily glowing silver blade, red droplets dripped.

Her staff, the one that had been shielding her, was now split cleanly in two.

I saw it all. But my mind refused to accept it.

"Trishel? Riven?"

I called to them, but my voice wasn’t reaching anyone.

The naked blade gleamed, raised high above.

He was going to kill Trishel. Why?

He should’ve regained his senses. Then why?

Trishel was going to die. Why?

What should I do? What could I do?

Why, why, why!?

My thoughts spun into nonsense, strings of meaningless words.

So I didn’t know why I acted the way I did. My body just moved on its own.

The deadly blade stopped.

"Please… Please, I’m begging you…!"

My trembling voice pleaded desperately.

I squeezed my shaking arms tight around Riven’s body, my head pressed against his chest.

I hadn’t thought of anything else. All I could do was throw myself in the way, cling to him directly. But with my height, there was no way I could stop his arm. All I managed was to latch onto him with everything I had.

And yet, he stopped. He really did stop.

"…Charlotte? Is that you?"

"Riven!"

He turned his face toward me. Our eyes met—or should have—but they didn’t. His gaze slipped right past me.

"Riven?"

"No… not Reynard either. …Ice… yes, it was you, Trishel."

"Answer me! Please!"

Riven slowly lowered his arm.

My grip around him slackened.

"…I can smell, I can feel. I even taste blood. So touch, smell, and taste are intact."

"No way…"

"But sight and hearing… they’re gone. I can’t see anything, can’t hear a thing."

"!?"

…No way…?

Trishel had been freed from the dungeon’s sense-stealing effect.

So why haven’t her eyes and ears returned? Did something go wrong midway? Was it incomplete?

"Charlotte. If it’s you, you should hurry and treat Trishel. She’s not holding back."

"Right! Trishel!"

I released my hands from Riven and touched Trishel, who had collapsed onto the ground, and began healing her.

Her wounds were far too deep. Would I make it in time?

No, I will make it in time. What’s the point of having this power if not for this? Push every ounce out!

Blood gushed from Trishel’s mouth.

This is bad, bad, bad! Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Heal with everything I’ve got. Focus. Don’t let her die.

"Where… did Salem… come…"

Riven pointed his blade toward the pitch-black opposite direction from where we had come.

She wasn’t visible, but I knew what was there.

"No way. I thought she’d at least be a little worn out."

"Salem…!"

"Good evening. Your loyal princess."

At this point, even hearing that voice made my blood boil.

What the hell is she? What does she want?

Anger nearly seeped into my thoughts. Stop it—Trishel comes first.

"Honestly, I’m amazed by how filthy the Black Clan lives. They can pull off that much with just intuition and presence alone."

"What did you do to Reven?"

"Hmm? Just killed his sight and hearing. That’s all, Princess."

I clenched my teeth.

What the hell is she? What does she think people are?

To see nothing, hear nothing… does she even know what that kind of fear feels like?

How terrifying it really is… she has no idea!

"I worried that just the dungeon’s gimmicks wouldn’t be enough, so I properly killed his body too… looks like that was the right call."

"You…!"

"You never change, do you, Salem? Still with the awful taste."

Even in the middle of healing, Trishel shook off my hand and stood up.

Her bleeding hadn’t fully stopped. I’d stabilized the critical areas, so she wouldn’t die immediately, but…

"Trishel. I didn’t expect you, lazy as you are, to say that to me."

"Hahaha… me, who loves to sleep so much, ended up in a situation like this because of you."

"Working once in a while isn’t so bad, right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

She brushed my hand away, which had reached to support her, and checked the broken half of her staff, cut by Riven.

She was still staggering. There was no way she should be standing—but why now?

"Then, together, let’s deal with that Black—"

"Die."

She threw it. The broken staff, she threw it.

At the same time, Riven moved as if to retreat on our side.

The broken staff flew into the darkness—and the corridor ahead was filled with flames.

"Hey! What’s happening!?"

"W-wait, hold on!"

"Charlotte! Dummy! Run!"

"Ah! Please wait!"

The inferno wasn’t just there—it was closing in on us.

I couldn’t leave Riven behind, who barely understood what was going on. I grabbed his hand as he came near and ran with all my strength to escape the flames.

"Ahahaha! Serves you right!"

"W-w-what is this!?"

"It’s a staff that absorbs the dungeon’s energy and stores it! I made it explode!"

Absorbing the dungeon’s power? So it was that staff that restored our senses?

Then why make it explode—!?

"We’ve got the princess’s will as an invincible shield! Don’t get cocky, idiot!"

"And what’s this princess thing about!?"

"Hey! Explain the situation! What’s going on!"

"I’ll explain later… I’ll find a way to let you know!"

For now, I just held his hand tightly.

Maybe he felt my resolve—Reven slightly opened his mouth, then closed it.

The blast of flames was immense. It scorched our backs all the way until we reached the sixth layer of the dungeon.

I wonder what happened to Salem…

"That level of explosion won’t kill her."

"T-then…!"

"But she won’t be able to catch up immediately. Let’s go to my room. She can’t interfere there."

Following those words, we escaped the dungeon—and returned to the Crimson Bell Clanhouse.

The moment we arrived, Trishel, barely alive, collapsed—and I had to rush to heal her again.