"You're gonna regret this."
Judas didn't offer a single rebuttal to her words... his expression unchanged as he turned away.
The group set off and promptly left the town.
On their way out, they passed through streets still littered with debris and scorch marks... silent evidence of how close Rivira had come to complete destruction.
Adventurers had already begun the long process of repairs... clearing rubble, and tending to the wounded.
Shouts rang through the air as orders were barked out, with Bors standing near the center of it all, arms flailing as he directed people left and right.
"Move it! Don't just stand there gawking! You... reinforce that beam! And someone get a healer over here!"
Of course, Judas had cast an invisibility spell on Revis.
Even if they were members of the Loki Familia, openly carrying a bound woman... one missing limbs no less... would only invite unwanted attention and uncomfortable questions.
"Dammit... why can't I make use of any of my strength?"
Revis muttered under her breath, her voice thick with frustration.
She shifted and writhed within her restraints.
Even with the security of Judas' magic, Riveria kept a sharp eye on her, her staff never leaving her hand.
She walked calmly, yet every sense remained alert, ready to react should Revis attempt anything reckless.
At some point, Revis stopped resisting.
Her body slackened, her breathing evened out, and she simply closed her eyes... as though she had finally accepted her situation.
It looked like resignation.
However... that was merely an illusion.
As a Creature, Revis possessed authority over certain monsters... specifically those born from the Corrupted Spirit, such as the Violas.
Even now, bound and restrained, she tried to reach outward, pushing her will through the invisible channels that connected her to them.
Minutes passed.
There was no response.
It was as if the connection itself had been severed... cut cleanly, leaving behind nothing but a hollow silence.
'...Now that I think about it...'
Revis frowned inwardly.
'Those annoying voices in my head... they're gone.'
Normally, that would have been a blessing.
The Corrupted Spirit's incessant whispers... its obsession with seeing the sky, its endless urging... had always grated on her nerves.
But now?
Now that she was bound, captured, and completely at the enemy's mercy...
It was the worst possible scenario.
'Did that mage bastard do something?'
Her teeth ground together in frustration.
"Don't even bother."
Judas' calm warning cut through her thoughts.
Revis' eyes snapped open.
"Tsk..."
She clicked her tongue and glared daggers at the back of his skull, hatred burning behind her gaze.
The journey back to the surface was mostly smooth.
Monsters that lurked at these levels posed no real threat to the group.
But there was one thing that caught Judas' attention.
A golden blur shot forward ahead of them.
Steel flashed. Wind howled.
Monsters were cut down one after another with ruthless efficiency.
He knew her well enough to tell... Ais was being far more brutal than usual.
He had to admit it... when it came to monster slaying, he was no match for her.
Each time a monster emerged from the shadows, it barely had time to let out a shriek before it was reduced to nothing.
From the very start of their ascent to the surface, Ais had been the only one cutting down the monsters that blocked their path.
Judas hadn't lifted a finger.
It was the complete opposite of how they had descended into the dungeon in the first place.
'Ais... she's definitely affected by what happened earlier.'
Judas could see it in the way she fought.
There was frustration simmering beneath her usual blank expression.
And for someone like Ais, the dungeon offered a simple solution.
For her, slaughtering monsters was no different from a therapy session.
Understanding that, Judas and Riveria exchanged a brief glance and stepped back, choosing not to interfere.
They let Ais do as she wished.
...
It didn't take long for them to reach the surface.
Without lingering, the group made their way straight back to the Twilight Manor.
"Miss Riveria, Miss Ais, Mister Judas, welcome back!"
The guard stationed at the gate snapped to attention and offered a crisp salute.
They returned his greeting with a nod and continued inside without slowing their pace.
Once they reached the interior halls, Ais turned to Riveria.
"I'm heading to the training grounds."
She said, her hand never leaving the hilt of her sword.
"Alright, but make sure to take a bath after... Judas and I will be in Finn's office."
Riveria said as she watched Ais nod once before turning away.
"Oh? You guys are back from the dungeon already?"
Finn's voice greeted them as they entered the room.
The pallum sat atop his desk as usual, a relaxed smile on his face.
That smile lasted exactly one second.
Judas casually released his telekinesis and dumped Revis onto the floor in the center of the room, as if discarding an unwanted sack of trash.
The impact echoed dully.
"Fuck you!"
Revis snarled, her bound body twisting slightly as she glared daggers at him.
Finn's eyes lingered on the red-haired woman for several seconds, sharp and assessing, before he slowly shifted his gaze toward Judas and Riveria.
He let out a tired sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Riveria, explain the situation. Judas, go get Loki and Gareth."
Hearing the captain's tone, Riveria nodded immediately.
Judas turned on his heel and left the room.
A short while later...
"Hey, what's going on?"
Loki entered first, her usual carefree grin plastered on her face.
But the moment she took in Finn's expression... and then noticed the hostile woman bound on the floor... her playful demeanor vanished without a trace.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Well, this looks fun."
"Hm. Finn, ye called?"
Gareth followed shortly after, stepping into the room with heavy footsteps.
Judas entered behind him and quietly closed the door.
It was then that Riveria opened her mouth and explained the events that occurred on the 18th floor.
Riveria's voice was calm and composed as she laid out everything that had transpired on the 18th floor.
The murder of Hasharna, the sudden appearance of Revis, the involvement of the jewel-like object, Ais being defeated, and Judas' eventual intervention.
She omitted nothing, her words precise and methodical, as befitting the vice-captain of the Loki Familia.
At certain points, Judas added his own words, filling in the gaps where Riveria had not been present... clarifying the nature of Revis' abilities.
Finn and the others listened without interrupting, their gazes flicked occasionally toward Revis, who remained bound and glaring daggers at everyone in the room.
"...I see."
When Riveria finished, Finn exhaled slowly.
"Judas, you did a great job capturing her."
He said, giving him an approving nod.
"You mean to tell me the mastermind behind the recent attacks is this woman?"
Gareth asked, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"Not necessarily," Finn replied, shaking his head.
"The fact that we didn't even know she existed until now... human or not... means something else is at play."
His eyes sharpened.
"A first-class combatant doesn't just stay hidden for that long without support. That suggests an organization... or a group operating in the shadows."
"But at the very least, she's likely one of their key combatants. Possibly an executive."
"Didn't you say she was a tamer?"
Loki chimed in, tapping her chin as she stared openly at Revis, her slit eyes glinting with interest.
"The one controlling those man-eating plant monsters?"
Her gaze lingered on Revis, as if trying to peel her apart layer by layer.
"Well then..."
Loki's lips curled into a grin that held none of her usual humor.
"...looks like we caught ourselves somethin' real interesting."
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