S-Class Dungeon’s Mistress - Chapter 222

Chapter 222

Adelaide briefly surveyed her surroundings before quickly mounting the Wyvern that Penelope had brought her.

The Wyverns numbered four, which was not enough for all of Greenville's demons. She turned her gaze to check the nearby members, and naturally, a group was selected to accompany her.

"Bell! Cereza, Cerezo, let's go together! Raham, I'll leave Pia and the Durahans in your care!"

"Don't worry, go ahead!"

Raham, riding a large magical beast, shouted loudly. Pia seemed preoccupied with healing injured demons, while the Durahans were diligently fighting the enemy to protect her.

I hope nothing happens while I'm gone.

An anxious feeling rose within her, but Adelaide decisively turned her head. Worrying now would be too late. All she could do was trust them and move forward.

Lisianthus naturally took the seat behind her, and Bell instantly transformed into a small puppy, nestling into her arms. Cerezo and Cereza boarded another Wyvern together.

Meanwhile, Lupinus and Caladium each took one of the remaining Wyverns. Although two could ride on a single Wyvern, Caladium was adamant about avoiding any close contact with a half-breed.

There were four Wyverns, so it didn't seem to matter. Or so she thought, until a variable emerged.

"Wait a moment!"

"We're coming too!"

Skeletons from a distant battle came rushing over, so hurried that their white bones seemed about to fall off their bodies.

"Please, take us with you. We want to go all the way together!"

The Skeleton Commander requested with a serious expression.

Adelaide scanned the remaining spaces and furrowed her brow, looking conflicted. She desperately wanted to take them along, but there wasn't enough space for all the Skeletons. Nor could she ask Cereza and Cerezo to dismount.

Unexpectedly, the dilemma was easily resolved. Caladium leaped off the Wyvern without hesitation.

"Get on. I'll transform and fly."

"Oh right, Caladium is a fire bird!"

The Skeletons nodded excitedly and hurriedly climbed onto the Wyvern. One squeezed in behind Lupinus.

"I'm not a fire bird, I'm a Phoe―"

Fine, call me whatever you want. Caladium seemed too exhausted to correct them anymore, sighing and muttering to himself. Soon, his body was enveloped in bright red flames, transforming into a magnificent Phoenix.

After confirming the Skeletons were safely seated, Adelaide turned her head and looked forward. Then she commanded in a loud voice:

"Let's go!"

"Screeeech!"

The Wyverns and the Phoenix shot into the sky, flying towards their destination. Some demon army members who spotted them shot arrows and magic, but these were instantly reduced to dust with just a few wingbeats of the Phoenix.

Greenville's demons and support troops fought with all their might. As the battle raged on, numerous demons met their end with final screams. Among them were not a few who had come to help Adelaide and Greenville.

"Urrgh, aaargh!"

"Kuh! Oooh..."

A gruesome scene where corpses increased with each passing second. It was pure chaos.

Adelaide fixed her gaze forward, leaving behind the moans coming from all directions. She did not turn back, even when recognizing voices. Her tightly closed lips trembled slightly, but that was all.

Not long after, the Wyverns broke through the portal and entered the inner realm.

Crossing the portal dampened the thunderous bombardment and piercing screams. Voices previously drowned out by the noise could now be heard clearly.

"There aren't many demon army members inside. The stronger ones seem to be clustered around two devils. Capturing Agapanthus is our priority, so it's best to ignore the small fry and pass by."

"Right. But where is the Demon King?"

The aura of the Demon King's castle itself was too intense, and Agapanthus's energy was too faint to determine his location. However, the former Demon King, Lisianthus, quickly pinpointed the direction.

"Over there."

Adelaide gave a slight nod and, guided by him, led the Wyverns.

As Lisianthus said, there weren't many demon army members inside the realm. Of course, they still outnumbered Greenville's demons, but it was drastically fewer compared to those outside. They seemed to have gathered all the small fry towards the inner courtyard.

"There, there he is!"

"It's Belial!"

Though the demon army members who spotted Greenville's group launched various attacks, they followed Lisianthus's advice and passed them by. They only quickly dealt with those who persistently tried to obstruct them with whips.

Thanks to this, the group could advance straight towards the Demon King's location without any delay.

"By the way, I heard there are numerous traps installed in the Demon King's castle... Is it really okay to proceed like this?"

Upon crossing the third portal, Cerezo peeked out and raised a question. She looked fearful of suddenly being trapped in a dangerous trap room.

Adelaide had also considered this. From various sources, she had confirmed information that S-class trap rooms have been installed in the castle since ancient times. One wrong turn could mean being trapped forever and dying.

Although Lisianthus was the former Demon King, it was customary for the castle's structure to change when the Demon King changed. So, even he might not know the exact location of all traps.

Nevertheless, Lisianthus continued to guide the way with a remarkably relaxed attitude. At every fork, he made his selection without a moment's hesitation.

Eventually, Adelaide couldn't help but ask:

"Lisian, is the structure exactly the same as when you were king?"

They couldn't have passed through multiple portals without encountering a single trap otherwise. However, Lisianthus shook his head with an expressionless face.

"No, it's completely different. However, the trap room arrangement is very similar to the algorithm I originally designed. Agapanthus has made some changes in his style, but since the fundamental concept remains the same, it's not difficult to understand."

"Ugh, copycat bastard..."

Adelaide twisted her face and groaned. The fact that someone was copying her lover's everything, and had even proposed to her, was disgustingly repulsive when she thought about it.

Lisianthus seemed to feel a similar emotion and let out a low sigh. Then he again pointed out the direction without traps for the Wyvern.

Eerily, Greenville's group crossed the fourth portal without encountering a single trap room. Moreover, nothing had slowed the Wyverns' speed thus far.

Not long after crossing the fourth portal, another two-way fork appeared before them. Adelaide thought Lisianthus would again indicate the direction and swung her whip to slice the heads of four pursuing demon army members.

However, the Wyvern she was riding began to slow down, letting out a cry. Turning back with a puzzled look, it seemed Lisianthus had not yet indicated the direction.

"...We'll stop here for a moment."

With deep furrows between his brows, he signaled the others following him to halt. As the Wyverns quickly raised their bodies and slowed down, two Skeletons hanging on became detached and fell with a scream.

"Kyaak!"

"Save my bone!"

Though they knew they wouldn't be seriously hurt in their strengthened bodies, they were still terrified. Bell, Greenville's darling, transformed back to his original form and caught them.

"Wol!"

"Oh, thank you, Bell! We survived thanks to you!"

"Indeed! There was a point to gnawing on these bones!"

Bell seemed pleased with the praise, sticking out his bright red tongue and panting happily. Though his face was adorable and one might want to pet his head, now was not the time.

"Lisian. What's happening?"

There must be a reason for the sudden stop. Adelaide furrowed her brow and scanned the surrounding magical energy.

"...The demonic energy on both paths has rapidly intensified. It seems they're waiting for us not far from here. While encountering them isn't a major issue since we'll cross paths anyway, this is making it difficult to sense Agapanthus's location."

"Hmm, so which path would be better..."

She alternated her gaze between the two paths, groaning. Then Lupinus, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"Split into two teams."

"Huh?"

"Wasn't the goal to catch the Demon King as quickly as possible? If support arrives and the war scale increases, it'll be troublesome to handle afterward. We can split into two teams, each searching for the Demon King, and the first team to find him can signal the other."

All the demons' gazes simultaneously turned towards Lisianthus. They were curious about his thoughts on this proposal from the most intelligent among them.

After careful consideration, Lisianthus nodded.

"Splitting into two teams and taking down the devils would indeed be faster. Let's do that."

"How will we divide the teams?"

"I suggest I, Bell, and the vampire siblings go with Adelaide. And Caladium, Lupinus, and the Skeletons take the other path."

The Phoenix-transformed Caladium fluttered his wings irritably, sparks flying. He clearly didn't want to be separated from Adelaide. However, he didn't raise any objections. Despite his feelings, he was certain that her being with Lisianthus was the safest option.

"If it's decided, let's depart immediately."

Lupinus gestured casually. He also didn't want to be separated from Adelaide, but right now, his desire to quickly end this war and spend peaceful time with her was stronger.

"Do you remember the characteristics of Mammon and Asmodeus?"

"Of course. I'm not as stupid as that fire bird, so don't lump me in the same category."

After a brief exchange of glances, Lisianthus and Lupinus quickly turned away. They had determined their paths, and the Skeletons were safely aboard the Wyverns, so it was time to depart again.

"...Take care of yourself."

Adelaide watched those heading in the opposite direction and offered a short greeting.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of dying before marrying you."

"Then you'll live forever. As long as I'm around, that will never happen. I don't even know how many times I'm saying this, but I'm the main wife."

Even at this moment, Lupinus and Caladium were busy bickering childishly. The Skeleton Commander substituted for them by lightly waving his bone hand.

Adelaide smiled bitterly and forcibly turned her stiff neck. Praying, almost like a whisper: Everything will be okay.

Soon, four Wyverns and one Phoenix scattered in two different directions.

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