The serpent’s scream shook the entire dungeon.

Soldiers with weak mental resistance collapsed instantly, clutching their heads as they crawled helplessly across the ground.

But the dwarves were different.

Their minds had been forged like iron. Mere screams infused with demonic energy weren’t enough to break them.

Anchored firmly in place while enduring the torment of holy power, the dwarven tank bound {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} the Demon Archduke to himself.

Ding!

[Skill: Holy Confrontation LV.2]

Applies the ‘Confrontation’ status to the target.

Enemies affected by ‘Confrontation’ may only attack the designated opponent.

In this game, anything labeled “holy” automatically drew a demon’s hatred.

That logic even applied to skill names.

As a result, the serpent’s mental attacks focused entirely on the tank.

Ding!

[Nameita has entered the ‘Mental Contamination’ state.]

Ding!

[Nameita has entered the ‘Despair’ state.]

Ding!

[Nameita has entered the ‘Fear’ state.]

“Argh... AAAARGH!”

The dwarf screamed in agony.

Ian silently made a decision regarding the dwarf’s future development.

‘Resistance skills first.’

What was the point if only Keith possessed high resistance?

Roles needed specialization.

Ian knew from experience that trying to make everyone mediocre at everything only ruined a build. Keith happened to be an exceptional all-rounder, but that was a rare case.

‘That route’s already ruined anyway.’

He never should’ve invested in agility back then.

While Nameita desperately held the Demon Archduke in place, Ian shouted at the soldiers:

“Get up! Are you planning to die without even fighting back?!”

At the same time, he activated [Purification], blasting away the demonic energy saturating the area.

The soldiers, who had been trembling with their heads pressed against the ground, slowly regained their senses.

“Do what you trained for!”

‘Training...?’

The soldiers stared blankly.

Freshly dragged back from panic, many couldn’t even remember what they had practiced.

Ian didn’t have time to babysit them.

“Louise.”

After patting the young hunter once on the shoulder, Ian immediately moved away.

Nameita wouldn’t be able to tank much longer.

Now was the time to finish it.

But Ian wasn’t trying to kill the demon.

Louise, who had suffered the same mental shock as the others, snapped back to himself the moment Ian’s hand touched his shoulder.

Warmth spread through his chest.

His trembling lips moved.

“Reload...”

“Uh...”

“RELOAD!”

Louise’s shout cracked through the battlefield like a whip.

The soldiers flinched as though burned and immediately reached for their arrows.

They had trained under Louise.

And Louise—having been tempered by brutal real combat—had shown them absolutely no mercy during training.

Their bodies moved instinctively at the sound of his command.

“Fire!”

PAPAPAPAK!

A storm of arrows rained down upon the serpent pinned by Keith’s spear.

Silver-coated arrows filled with the power of spreading [Purification] pierced through the air.

The relentless rain continued washing away the serpent’s protective slime.

And Keith Moore—

The knight known as the Agent of God—

Was capable of sanctifying any weapon he wielded.

The spear embedded in the monster had already become a holy weapon.

It pierced directly through the serpent’s deadliest weak point.

Ian watched the demon’s vitality drop.

[HP: 10%]

[HP: 9.8%]

[HP: 9.4%]

[HP: 8%]

...

‘I can do this.’

Ian clenched his teeth.

As the serpent thrashed wildly like a creature on the verge of death, Ian climbed onto its massive tail.

And the instant the tail whipped through the air—

WHOOSH!

Ian released himself.

Centrifugal force hurled his body forward.

He landed directly atop the serpent’s head.

His footing nearly slipped across the scales.

[Archery].

[Physical Enhancement].

Balance correction.

Strength adjustment through [Swordsmanship].

He activated everything he had—

And maintaining control still felt absurdly difficult.

‘How the hell did Keith even fight like this?’

Keith’s physical abilities were completely beyond human.

Ian already felt like he was one mistake away from dying.

Still—

None of that mattered right now.

To incorporate a demon into the dungeon, a subjugation process was required.

While the target remained incapable of resisting, Ian needed to touch it and forcibly integrate it into the dungeon.

But this serpent kept struggling violently.

Ian frowned.

‘Why is this thing’s resistance so ridiculously high?’

Its holy resistance was abnormal.

The species known as the Demon Realm Serpent received immense buffs to physical and holy resistance whenever immersed in demonic energy—essentially when fighting in an environment resembling the Demon Realm.

Ian had already driven out every other demon spreading demonic energy throughout the labyrinth.

So where was this thing still drawing power from?

Suddenly—

The serpent froze.

Its movements stopped completely.

— Why are you...

‘...?’

What now?

But Ian had no time to think about it.

He lowered his center of gravity to stabilize himself and slammed his hand onto the serpent’s forehead.

WHOOOOSH—!

Ding!

[The Northern Demon Archduke ‘Demon of Pride Lucifer’ has joined the First Dungeon!]

[Confirm]

Ding!

[Incredible Achievement! ⧫

You have subdued a Demon Archduke.

The species of the Demon Realm now fear you.]

Ding!

[Keith views you as an Angel of God!]

Ding!

[Louise views you as a Hero!]

Ding!

[??? views you as a Messenger!]

...

Notifications flooded his vision.

Ian waved them away impatiently.

The subdued serpent entered standby mode, and its gigantic body vanished like an illusion.

The ground beneath Ian disappeared with it.

For a brief instant, he floated weightlessly in midair.

His stomach lurched upward—

Then strong arms caught him.

Warmth wrapped around his waist.

Keith had caught him.

Keith’s entire body was drenched in sweat. Ian’s own body ached everywhere.

Yet despite everything, he couldn’t look away from Keith’s eyes.

Blue.

Burning with longing.

In a hoarse voice, Keith pleaded:

“Lord Ian... forgive me...”

Before Ian could even ask what he meant—

Keith’s large hand cupped his cheek.

Their lips met.

Hot breath flooded into him as a soft tongue explored his mouth with desperate tenderness.

“...forgive me.”

Only then did Ian finally remember what he was supposed to do.

‘Ah. [Purification].’

He activated the skill.

The clinging heat vanished instantly.

And for some reason—

Ian felt an odd sense of loss, as though something that belonged to him had just been taken away.

‘What exactly am I even missing, idiot.’

Ian forcefully regained his composure.

He opened the graveyard field.

As the doors swung open, the non-combat personnel rushed inside.

“Uncle!”

Momisia ran toward him with tears streaming down her face.

“Lord Ian! My uncle—!”

“Yes.”

Ian lifted her into his arms.

‘She’s grown.’

She was heavier now.

Taller too.

Not nearly as easy to pick up as before.

“Treat the injured. Anyone still capable of moving, follow me. The battle isn’t over yet.”

The drunken priest and the students who had learned herbology under him immediately began tending to the wounded.

Those who had merely fallen into shock slowly blinked awake and rose to their feet.

With the demons gone and the area purified by Ian, the source of the madness had disappeared.

They followed him.

“Lord Ian!”

“Move!”

Ian opened every door connecting the graveyard field to the dungeon entrance.

CREEEEAK—

Contacca and the wolves had been holding back the demon nobles alongside the elves inside the forest dungeon, preventing reinforcements from reaching the Archduke.

The moment the doors opened—

Ian saw wolves tearing out demon throats.

And demons ripping ribs from wolf bodies.

“AAAAH! Uncle!”

Ian didn’t hesitate.

Neither did the soldiers behind him.

PAPAPAPAK!

The demon overwhelming the wolves was instantly shredded by dozens of silver arrows.

Keith and Nameita moved to clean up the remaining enemies.

Momisia screamed and struggled in Ian’s arms.

Ian could’ve stopped her.

Instead, he loosened his grip.

Her bonnet fell away unnoticed as she ran forward and collapsed beside a wounded wolf.

The wolf’s body shrank.

Its form shifted into someone Ian recognized.

‘Not dead.’

His heart pounded violently like a fish thrashing on dry land.

Sweat dripped into his eyes.

Ian closed them briefly before reopening them.

The salt stung.

His vision blurred.

Ding!

[HP: 6%]

‘It’s okay.’

‘Not dead.’

His throat felt painfully dry.

Ian slowly turned his head.

Notifications filled his vision everywhere he looked.

Ding!

[HP: 13%]

[HP: 21%]

[HP: 4%]

[HP: 0%]

[HP: 0%]

[HP: 0%]

...

Exhausted people.

Crying people.

Unconscious people.

And—

‘Nothing I can do.’

This time, Ian didn’t vomit.

“Lord Ian. Are you alright?”

“What is it?”

Ian turned toward Keith.

“Handle the cleanup. The battle’s over.”

Keith was still gripping Ian’s hand tightly.

‘...?’

Ian genuinely couldn’t understand why Keith was acting like this.

‘Was purification not enough?’

That was probably it.

“Later,” Ian muttered weakly.

He was tired.

Far too tired.

But Keith still didn’t let go.

Too exhausted to resist, Ian simply leaned his forehead against Keith’s chest.

The moment the cool metal of Keith’s light armor touched his skin, a sharp headache pierced through him.

‘It’s over.’

They had won again.

They survived.

They saved them.

At least—

The ones who still could be saved.

And from a distance, an elf who longed for death watched the entire scene unfold.