Gailland’s voice is drifting away. No, I think my hearing is fading? A potion... I think I had one in storage... I’ve got it out...but I...don’t have the strength to...
I didn’t know how much time had passed after that. When I came to, I was lying on the floor, and Gailland was leaning over me, pressing a small vial to my lips.
“C’mon, Ares! Just a bit more! Hang in there!”
“Gghh... Oww...”
The potion brought me to my senses. And with that clarity came the pain. Honestly, the fact that I hadn’t felt anything before was probably the real sign of danger.
“Can you use magic?”
“Yeah... Heal...”
I cast holy magic again and again while Gailland helped me drink more potion. It was a high-tier potion—expensive enough to buy a large house. But life was worth more.
“I’m...okay now,” I said, gasping.
“Damn. I can’t believe you had a potion that can regrow an arm.”
Gailland stared in awe as my arm, torn off at the shoulder by the boy’s flames, slowly started growing back. Even in a world with magic, this wasn’t something you saw often.
I chuckled weakly. “It was made...by the dungeon...”
“Makes sense.”
That’s a lie. Well, it was a high-grade dungeon-made potion, but it shouldn’t have been potent enough to regrow a limb. It did take some time, sure, but how could my arm grow back at all? I know I combined the potion with holy magic, but the effect is way too strong. Was it because of the regeneration ability I gained from the Werewolf Demon King? Either way, getting my arm back is huge—but I still need blood.
“Ugh...”
“Take it easy. You should sleep a bit. I’ll keep watch.”
“O-Okay...”
I wanted to return to the dungeon immediately, but going now would only get me killed.
Besides, I don’t even know how I’m going to face those kids... I should sleep for now. Maybe my head will clear up and I’ll think of something.
And so, as if slipping into unconsciousness, I fell asleep—for four whole days. I owed Gailland more than I could ever repay for taking care of me for that long.
Now that the heaviness was gone from my mind, I let out a sigh and began to think—about the kids.
Is he really who I think he is? Why did I feel the dragon core’s power? Did they really steal it? If so, why? And what’s the relationship between the boy and the girls?
I truly regretted letting my impulses take over, and attacking them.
What was that black mana that swallowed me?
“The Demon King’s...mana?”
Thinking back, I realized it resembled the Werewolf Demon King’s mana.
My cheat, Demon King Slayer, lets me gain power from a Demon King’s core and mana stone... The power I gained may be far greater than I’d thought. It is Demon King power, after all. Its danger probably exceeds anything I can imagine too—so much so that one wrong move and my mind could be swallowed whole.
Come to think of it, the mana covering the boy felt similar to mine—no, almost identical. For some reason, the children had absorbed the heaven dragon’s power. And the heaven dragon is a Demon King. Could they be influenced by Demon King mana just like me...?
I thought back to that uncontrollable urge for destruction that had drowned out my mind. My heart had been painted black, and I didn’t question the impulse to attack the enemy in front of me. I’d seen the kids as enemies and believed killing them was natural.
Realizing how abnormal my mind had become terrified me. It was like I hadn’t been myself. Not recognizing the abnormality was the scariest part.
A chill ran down my spine, and my body trembled.
Actually, that abnormal regeneration—enough to regrow an arm—also started after that rampage. Did it have some sort of effect on my body too? Am I really okay now? Is my perception warped like when I was swallowed by Demon King power?
As my fear for myself grew, so did my worry for the kids.
The boy was clearly going berserk because of the mana. Is he okay?
Wait! I remember! Their biggest threat isn’t Demon King mana!
“That mark...”
The ominous black pattern carved into their bodies! That has to be the curse of dungeon malice I’ve heard about!
Dungeon malice was said to appear without warning and give dungeon divers the worst curse. It was the first thing Gailland had warned me about, saying it was the most dangerous part of the dungeon. The black marks on the kids’ chests looked exactly like the curse sigils he’d described.
I finally understood why a group of children had been taking on the dungeon. I also realized that I’d interfered with their desperate struggle.
I clenched my fist at the realization.
What was I doing?
My bloodlust was gone now, but I still had unresolved emotions. Their dragon bodies were clearly from the heaven dragon. It was still very likely they were the ones who had stolen the core’s power. I couldn’t say I’d forgiven them, but the guilt weighing on me was far stronger.
That boy was definitely a reincarnator. He’d said so himself.
And his face... He looked just like the man who’d saved me when I was a child. The man who’d given his life to protect me.
Could he really be that man reincarnated? What kind of life has he lived? He was branded with a curse, he took in illegal beastfolk slaves, he even nearly died... It can’t have been too long since he was reincarnated, and he’s already lived a life so full of chaos? What is he planning to do from here?
And what should I do?
Help them clear the dungeon? After I nearly killed them? Wait, are they even alive? I dealt them serious damage—
Then it hit me.
That’s right! I can’t just sit around! I have to check if they’re safe!
“I have to go...!”
I have to make sure!