# 47. The Encroaching Fog, Swept Away Emotions (3)
Reunion.
After Aina left before my eyes like that, I thought I would never see her again unless it was through a photograph.
But in the answer sheet with the future written on it, Aina and I reunite—borrowing the form of hallucinations similar to dreams.
*...Damn it. That cursed succubus.*
Aina is dead.
I clearly saw her disappear before my eyes, so she's definitely dead.
However, the appearance of Aina I saw in that future was exactly the same as back then—her sensitive personality, but her appearance as beautiful as it was in those days.
*Even though I know it's an illusion...*
It makes me feel as if she's actually right in front of me. It makes me imagine that I might be able to reach her if I stretch out my hand.
That must be the power of the Demon King of Lust's authority.
That's why my emotions could only grow cold.
*That trash Demon King. My memories...*
I wanted to enter the dungeon right now and tear apart that bitch called the Demon King of Lust.
How dare she create Aina's illusion and humiliate me.
It would be strange if rage didn't well up inside me.
*But that doesn't mean I can choose option 1 without much thought. I need to choose carefully.*
Let me calm my emotions and think.
If I choose option 1, the Hero Party will meet the Demon King of Lust and see things they shouldn't see. It could have a bad effect on their mental state.
Is this really the right method?
I pondered it myself for a moment.
*Still, after all...*
I can't let go of an opportunity to eliminate a Demon King this easily.
Pain accompanies righteous deeds.
After thinking it over once more, my answer didn't change.
*The correct answer is option 1.*
[Really, you won't change it? You're going with option 1? Minerva doesn't want to see it.]
[1. Choose option 1.]
[2. Don't choose option 1.]
Minerva asked me once more, but my resolve is firm.
It's definitely option 1.
*Although it might be difficult for the children...*
Since the tremendous result of eliminating a Demon King awaits, there's no need to consider other options.
*As soon as preparations are complete, I'll take the Hero Party to the dungeon.*
That thought filled my entire mind.
Preparations for the dungeon tour didn't take very long.
The Hero Party's basic supplies and hooded cloaks to hide their appearances were already prepared, so there wasn't much for Lee Jun-woo to prepare.
And so, in the living room where all the Hero Party members gathered, Lee Jun-woo spoke with a voice full of determination toward the whispering children.
"Attention."
"Yees, attentiooon."
"L-Luna, answer seriously...!"
*Ahem.*
Lee Jun-woo cleared his throat once and spoke seriously.
"We're going to the dungeon today."
Dungeon.
Their thoughts about that word were similar, but their reactions were vastly different.
First, Hare and Saten's reactions were calm.
"I-I've been... w-waiting for this...!"
"..."
Hare already knew about this, and Saten wasn't interested in anything, so there was no reason for big reactions.
But Luna and Estia were a bit different from them.
"Wh-what!? We're going to the dungeon!? You're taking us to the dungeon?!"
"Yes, you need to become stronger."
"B-become stronger...? I-I understand for me! But why the other kids?!"
"It's not good for only you to be strong. You'll form a party together later, so it's better if everyone becomes stronger."
"..."
*I finally understand what the old man is thinking. I finally understand why he called me a hero and all that! He lied about me being some hero who was active 100 years ago, kidnapped me, and trained me—I finally understand why!*
Luna shouted as if she had realized something.
"Old man, you're planning to turn us into a mercenary group! You're going to build up our strength and make the four of us form a party! You're planning to create a mercenary group! Money will roll in without you doing anything! What a terrifying scheme...!!"
"Stop talking nonsense and be quiet, Luna."
"I-I'm wrong?!"
It was somewhat similar.
If she had said Hero Party instead of mercenary group, it would have been fairly close, but it was a bit different in that Lee Jun-woo had no intention of extorting money.
"Oppa."
"...Speak, Estia."
"What's a dungeon? Is it better than holy water?"
"..."
*Sigh.*
Lee Jun-woo let out a sigh.
Is this really the Hero Party that will soon face a Demon King directly?
He couldn't help but sigh.
Rather than explaining the dungeon with words, it would be better to show them directly.
Lee Jun-woo spoke to the Hero Party standing there blankly.
"First, everyone put on your hoods. We're going to the dungeon now. Especially you, Estia."
"Why?"
"It would be best not to think about running away. Never think about taking off your hood."
"E-ey~ As if I would do such a thing!?"
I'm warning you like this precisely because you were actually going to do it.
The answer sheet also recorded Estia's impulsive actions.
*P-people!! There's a kidnapped person here- Mmph-!!*
At a point where her addiction to holy water was somewhat satisfied, there was a high probability Estia would choose to run away, so I had to be careful while heading to the dungeon.
Then, before it gets too late...
"I'll distribute basic supplies to everyone in the dungeon, so let's move. Stay alert."
To meet the Demon King, Lee Jun-woo moved toward the dungeon with the Hero Party.
The dungeon entrance is managed by the Adventurer's Guild.
Since a young child might accidentally enter, Adventurer's Guild staff guard the entrance, and only verified adventurers can enter the dungeon.
In that sense, the Hero Party still can't enter according to regulations, but...
*I'll find a way if I look.*
Inside the Adventurer's Guild that manages the dungeon entrance, I was heading toward the dungeon entrance with the hooded Hero Party.
"Old man! Is this the dungeon?!"
"Yes, more precisely, it's the entrance to the dungeon."
"Wooow...! E-everyone! Just stay behind me! I'll protect you! Just trust Luna!"
Luna shouted confidently toward the children, seemingly excited.
Among them, Luna belongs to the side with superior combat power, so she could certainly protect the other children from monsters on the lower floors.
While taking the confident hero and her party members, I saw a familiar face on the Adventurer's Guild wall.
"That's..."
"E-Estia and... Saten, right...?"
Did Hare also see that request posted on the wall?
As expected, her eyesight is good.
As Hare said, two people's faces were posted on the Adventurer's Guild wall.
[Looking for a person. A kidnapped child. On the honor of the Black Crow Knights, we will provide a reward.]
[Name: Cecilia Saten]
[Age: 14]
[Looking for a person. A child of the Goddess has been kidnapped by a wicked Grimoire. Please, if you find her, come to the Church. The Goddess is watching over you.]
[Name: Estia]
[Age: 14]
Have rumors about these two already spread to Henencia?
Pictures showing their faces were posted on the wall.
Even someone without good eyesight would immediately notice if they actually saw Saten and Estia.
A girl with all-black coloring like a crow and sanpaku eyes, and a girl with white hair and golden eyes aren't easy to find.
I looked around once and pressed down Saten and Estia's hoods deeper.
"...I'll do it myself, please remove your hand."
"Ah, ahhh-!! It hurts, Oppa-!!"
"Be quiet, Estia. We're going to the dungeon entrance, so don't say anything there."
After warning those two, I approached the dungeon entrance.
An Adventurer's Guild staff member was guarding the firmly closed dungeon door like a security guard.
As I approached, he blocked us and shouted.
"...One adult and four kids? Are you joking? Go back right now!"
"I'm not a kid! Luna is an adult!"
"...Be still, Luna."
"Kyaaah-!"
After tossing Luna, who was insisting she was an adult, to the back, I met eyes with the adventurer staff member.
His eyes showed no sign of backing down.
This is getting troublesome...
"I'd like you to permit entry."
"...No. Strange things have been happening on the lower floors recently, and four young children would be suicide. Plus, those four don't even have adventurer ranks!"
He's right.
First, to enter the dungeon, you need to take a rank test at the Adventurer's Guild.
You need to receive an adventurer rank like Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond to enter the dungeon.
But the Hero Party hasn't even taken the rank test yet, and Saten and Estia can't even take it, so I'll have to use another method.
*...I didn't want to use this method.*
I don't like this action very much, but to get in, I have no choice but to take out "that."
I pulled out a badge I had kept in my pocket.
Seeing it, the staff member's firm eyes widened.
"Even after seeing this, you're saying no?"
"Th-that's... Ruby rank...!! Could you hand me the badge for a moment...?!"
I handed the badge to the startled guild staff member.
He couldn't help but be surprised.
It's a jewel badge that exists above the highest rank, Diamond.
One of the twelve special adventurers suddenly appeared leading young children, so he couldn't help but be surprised.
The staff member wasn't the only one surprised by that badge.
"O-old man? Y-your adventurer rank is R-Ruby...!? Last time you told me you were an ordinary adventurer...!"
"I'm ordinary among adventurers."
"How does that make any sense?! And then you shamelessly told me to beat you! Old man, your conscience is completely dead!"
"L-Luna. Don't say bad things to the old man...!"
...The atmosphere suddenly got noisy.
Perhaps sensing the commotion in the guild, attention was focusing this way from the surroundings.
Since I don't like this kind of situation, I spoke to the staff member checking the adventurer badge.
"The adventurer 'Jun' written there is me. I guarantee there are no problems with these children's identities. So, will you step aside?"
"Y-yes, understood. P-please have a safe adventure...!!"
*Creeeeak-*
The staff member opened the dungeon door.
I dislike using authority like this, but in the current situation, there was no choice.
Thinking that, I walked into the dungeon with the Hero Party members.
*Tap- Tap-*
"There are dangerous traps and monsters inside, so be careful."
"Y-yes...!"
And the thing to be most careful of...
"...A terrible stench is also wafting through."
It must be the stench coming from that Demon King.
A strange air that makes your mind hazy.
My vision blurs slightly, and my senses feel impaired as if drunk.
Surely, that creature sensed we entered and used its authority.
And in this dungeon, just like I saw in the future...
"Wh-what!? H-holy water just passed by...! H-holy water! Come here! Let's go together!"
"O-old man...? A-are you saying you'll abandon me...? P-please don't abandon me... P-please, I'm sorry... I-I'm reflecting..."
Hallucinations and auditory hallucinations will torment us and try to test the Hero Party.
I grabbed Estia's collar as she tried to run after the holy water, roughly explained to Hare that it was an "auditory hallucination," and then looked at the illusion beckoning from far away.
*What a shitty authority.*
Looking at Aina beckoning to me from far away, with a cold heart, I walked toward the Demon King who must be there.
That trash bastard playing around with my master's image—I had absolutely no intention of letting that creature off.