Saint―Oswald Weidenreich

“The search for Saint Oswald Weidenreich, who is likely in the deepest part of the dungeon. And the retrieval of the holy relics that Lord Oswald is equipped with.”

“Oswald Weidenreich…?”

‘One of the highest executives of the Holy Church—the College of Cardinals—and the name of the leader of the Knights of the Stigmata. Moreover, a prodigy who was canonized as a saint while still alive.’

“(The College of Cardinals and the Knights of the Stigmata?)”

It’s troublesome to have technical terms thrown at me when I lack education.

As if embodying the epithet of the Sagacious-Eyed Vampire Princess, Ekarraat in the shadows began explaining to the searchers.

‘The College of Cardinals, in short, are the clerics second only to the Pope. The Knights of the Stigmata occupy a special position among Holy Knights: an elite, independent combat unit of seven whose main purpose is monster extermination.’

The College of Cardinals―the highest executives.

The Knights of the Stigmata―an outstanding professional combat group among Holy Knights.

Something like that?

So they are at the core of the organization, yet personally stand on the front lines to slay monsters.

That’s quite a big name to be thrown out.

‘He was the Holy Church’s strongest force, and that old man killed me. Well—it was a mutual kill, though.’

I remember the time I encountered Ekarraat.

In the deepest part of the dungeon—a main chamber like an ancient temple—in the center lay Ekarraat’s corpse, her chest speared and a lake of blood pooling around her.

And I recall there was the corpse of a white-haired old man slumped against the wall.

That old man was Oswald Weidenreich!

“(The Holy Church also schemed to clear an S-rank dungeon and threw its strongest force at Ekarraat, resulting in a mutual kill. The Church then entered the S-Rank Dungeon 【Crimson Night Moon】to search for Oswald, who was delayed on the return—so that’s the situation?)”

Still, what kind of monster takes down Ekarraat one-on-one…?

I can’t imagine how one could kill Ekarraat, who had an Undead body.

‘Because of a troublesome holy relic. It nullified my Undead nature and pierced my vital point.’

“(So she was taken down by an overpowered meta-gear trap move.)”

I had wandered into the now-empty deepest chamber after the mutual kill, drank the blood of the Progenitor Vampire, gained an Undead body, and awakened as a Shadow Necromancer.

The Necromance I cast on Ekarraat miraculously succeeded by chance, and that’s how things came to be…

It’s unpredictable how the Holy Church’s actions, in hating the Shikai Tribe, would come full circle and awaken a member of the Shikai Tribe.

“Um… is something the matter?”

“No, it’s nothing. I was just surprised to hear a famous name.”

――Though, to be honest, I just learned of him now.

As I conversed with Ekarraat in my head, the young sister peered at my face with concern.

She was much shorter, so she was looking up at me.

“Then your priority is to rejoin your comrades. I’ll escort you to the stairs leading to the upper floors. Dungeon monsters don’t usually change floors unless something odd happens. Wait for reinforcements at the stairs. This is as far as you can go.”

“Please wait! Th-that is, your objective is to go to the deepest part, right?”

“Yes, but.”

“That would be a problem!”

If I were to steal the holy relic from Oswald’s corpse, it would be a significant blow to the Holy Church, and the discovery that Oswald is dead would also be inconvenient for them—they’d want to keep it hidden.

“I won’t touch Oswald’s corpse or his holy relics. And I promise to tell no one about this. Are you satisfied with that?”

“No, p-please take me to the deepest part too!”

“What…?”

Apparently she couldn’t trust my words.

Fair enough.

A verbal promise to a stranger I met only once by carriage could hardly be trusted.

But—even though she’s still a low-ranking, barely-grown child—the courage of a girl who acts for her organization’s goals over her own safety is… not something I dislike.

“Alright… then let’s go together—you can retrieve your superior’s corpse and the holy relic there. I’ll accomplish my own objective, understood?”

“Y-yes! I understand! Thank you!”

Not wasting time, I headed toward the deepest chamber.

“Um, exc—”

“Hm? What is it…?”

“I—I haven’t asked your name yet… I’m Florence Cuticle. It’s long, so I’d be grateful if you’d call me Flo—”

“I’m Sid. Sid Ranorus of the Shikai Tribe.”

“Sid… Ranorus… of the Ranorus clan…”

“Is something the matter?”

“N-no, it’s nothing! P-pleased to meet you, Mr. Sid!”

“Alright then, shall we go—Flo?”

I called the girl’s name.

The sisterly girl—or rather Flo—blushed happily and responded in a loud voice, “Yes!”

She’s a friendly, naive girl who doesn’t know how to doubt others, yet has a solid core—an odd sort of girl.