DBOFS 24

Chapter 24

Pink hair. A woman. A guide.

Given what he said to Anella, it’s only a matter of time before he gets to me.

In other words, I’m currently being targeted by the strongest assassin and the worst serial killer.

‘He even asked me out on a date…’

If that’s not a murder notice, then what is?

Ah, I thought I had escaped death after getting hired as Harris’s guide, but now this new threat shows up.

‘This possession really is a disaster.’

That’s the thought crossing my mind now.

Would it have been less painful to just die in Harris’s rampage?

‘No, even rolling in dog crap is better than the afterlife!’

At least I’m alive and in one piece. I can eat without sterilizing food! I’m even healthy enough to go on gourmet food tours now.

“C-crazy… crazy bastard…”

Anella muttered like she was about to vomit.

Ah, well, maybe that gourmet food tour will have to be postponed after all.

“I totally agree.”

I replied with a face that screamed “fellow sufferer.”

“And his next most likely target… is probably you, Anella.”

“W-what?!”

Duke Eindelta kills those he knows first. That’s one of his rules.

The second rule is:

“Anyone who knows his true identity.”

“……!”

“He revealed who he really is in front of you.”

And not just for the sake of using her as a messenger. Duke is a man who likes cost-efficiency.

An assassin who even considers cost-effectiveness… No wonder the assassin’s guild is falling apart when its best guy is like this.

“He will definitely come for you again.”

As I explained, Anella’s complexion turned ashen.

Judging by her expression, I figured I didn’t need to mention the third rule: those who witness his killings are top priority to be eliminated.

After we heard that Duros was killed, Harris and I quickly reached an agreement.

I would help him with his revenge, and he would find the sea crystal for me.

‘From now on, you’re my bonded guide.’

…The problem was, I never had the chance to clear up that misunderstanding.

‘I’m not even a real guide, and now I’m a bonded one?’

Apparently, while I was unconscious, Harris—who suffers from guide rejection syndrome and a guiding insensitivity—cemented some strange idea in his head.

‘I guess the only way to prove I’m fake is if the real guide, Adrian, shows up…’

So I gave up on explaining and compromised.

‘…Fine, I’ll go along with it for now.’

‘For now? What do you mean by “for now”?’

‘I-I mean… maybe someday you’ll meet a better, real bonded guide…’

‘I won’t. So shut it.’

‘No, I’m telling you, there is one!’

‘I said there isn’t!!’

Seriously, has this guy never been lied to before?

Growling back and forth, we eventually formed a joint destiny under a single goal.

First, we needed to take down Duke Godwin.

And toward that goal, we decided to begin by targeting the former Duke Godwin.

‘Harris was never truly acknowledged by his father.’

That’s the former duke’s trigger point. That Harris is only a “half-duke,” never accepted as a proper successor.

In other words, if Harris is acknowledged by the former duke and reinstated as heir, it’s a deadly blow to the current duke (aka the trash one).

‘Even if I lay it all out… trust is the issue.’

Even if I exposed Duke Eindelta’s hidden powers and identity in detail, the former Duke Godwin would never believe me.

A lowly extra like me knowing top-secret intel that even he didn’t know? Highly suspicious.

“…So.”

“Yes, sir!”

Snapping back at the sound of the former duke’s voice, I looked around and saw that Anella had already left the room.

Now it was just the two Godwins and me.

The former duke’s purple eyes turned toward me.

“What is that assassin’s true goal?”

“……!”

Unlike Anella, who was captivated by Duke Eindelta’s flashy info, the former duke remained calm.

“He used his powers to create a counterfeit just to insult the House of Godwin—why go to such lengths?”

He cut right to the chase.

‘They say a tiger is still a tiger, even when old.’

His frosty gaze landed on Harris and me. It was a look that said, Isn’t this all your fault?

‘You’re right. That’s why you’re the duke—you’ve earned it.’

Given the timing of Duke’s appearance, it likely has to do with Harris’s jailbreak.

‘Once his clone was destroyed, Ellicius must’ve noticed.’

It might’ve triggered a chain reaction.

Originally in <Divine Tyrant>, there’s no mention of the former duke getting scammed like this or of the “Black Mermaid’s Tear” being distributed by the Rothdu Trading Guild.

‘He’s probably here to capture Harris…’

But—

“Well… it seems too elaborate for a normal assassin. Setting such a complex trap… it doesn’t add up.”

I tilted my head, feigning confusion.

“There may be a larger force behind this, but I couldn’t say who.”

Do you have proof? I could just say you look more suspicious than Harris.

“……”

The former duke narrowed his eyes, sensing my evasion.

“Fine, I’ll let that slide.”

He didn’t press further.

“You said you want to be acknowledged as my grandson.”

Then he shifted the focus.

“I doubt you’re clinging to sentiment like familial affection. You’re after the right to succeed, aren’t you?”

“……”

I was speechless. I mean… that’s not wrong. But could you not phrase it like that?

“Given my relationship with your damn father, I assumed you wanted my help just to slap him across the face.”

So you’re just going to destroy any hope of reconciliation between grandfather and grandson, huh?

“Fine, I don’t mind that kind of calculation.”

The former duke smirked coldly.

“But I don’t raise the incompetent.”

…So we are burning this bridge.

“Prove yourself.”

No wonder Harris became a shadowy mastermind. His villainy runs in the family DNA.

“Prove whether you’re a useful tool—or just some pitiful brat.”

Seriously, is that something you say to your grandson?

“Very well.”

…I guess it is.

While I was reeling, Harris remained indifferent.

“What do you expect from me?”

His red eyes gleamed like he was glad he didn’t have to fake politeness anymore.

“Foolish brat. You think you can handle what I want?”

“Your long preamble suggests it’s a tough one. Just get to the point.”

“Insolent boy.”

“I grew up uneducated. Thanks to you.”

“And if you had been educated, would it have changed much?”

“I would’ve grown up modeling myself after you elders, so I’d be just what you expected.”

As this verbal slugfest between them dragged on, I quietly let my soul drift away.

Ah… What a terrifying family. I’m drained just standing here. This grandfather-grandson relationship is a train wreck.

‘I want my physical body to escape too…’

And just as I was about to bolt—

“Fine. I’ll give you a chance.”

Thankfully, the former duke dropped the snarling act and returned to the matter at hand.

He spread out a map and pointed to a spot with his finger.

“A dungeon.”

“……!”

My fleeing soul snapped back into my body.

Dungeons are a hallmark dystopian setting in <Divine Tyrant>.

Technically, there are three stages: Rifts, Dungeons, and Gates.

First comes the Rift.

Every world has a kind of natural boundary protecting it from external threats. A Rift is a crack in that boundary.

‘And Rifts, in order to grow stronger, begin pulling in entities from other worlds.’

Those entities are monsters. Next comes the Dungeon, and finally, the Gate.

A Rift that evolves into a Dungeon continues to rot and expand until it finally constructs a Gate—a portal for things from other worlds to invade.

‘If you fail to resolve a dungeon before it evolves into a gate… it’s game over.’

Rifts and dungeons can sometimes be fixed, but once it becomes a gate, there’s no turning back.

The one small mercy is that, for now, gates haven’t begun to appear in full force.

‘So far, dungeons are the most serious threat.’

But that doesn’t mean dungeons aren’t dangerous.

“It was quiet at first. But the dungeon we failed to suppress early on has now consumed nearby villages.”

So they failed to manage it when it first appeared.

“We sent knights and mercenaries to deal with it…”

They never returned.

For the first time, the former duke—who had been relentlessly pushing Harris—let his expression waver.

“I can’t tell you what’s inside or what level it is.”

“……An unknown dungeon.”

A dungeon so terrifying that even this cold man hesitated to ask whether Harris would go.

Something that dangerous…

‘But maybe… this could work in our favor.’

The higher the dungeon’s rank, the more valuable its byproducts.

That part is fine. But the issue is…

‘An unknown dungeon in Godwin territory? That doesn’t seem right.’

Nothing comes to mind. I sifted through my memories of <Divine Tyrant>’s setting.

Harris and Adrian appear two years from now. And at that point, there’s no mention of any “unknown dungeon.”

“…So?”

The former duke’s face was calm again, like he had never hesitated.

“Will you do it?”

A long-contaminated dungeon in Godwin territory. Even the former duke couldn’t handle it. Probably top-tier.

“If you clear it, I’ll recognize you as the next Duke. I’ll also help strip the title from your father.”

It was a reward equal to the risk.

“I’ll do it.”

Harris had been waiting until the price was right before answering.

‘My Harris, once he sets a goal, he never hesitates.’

As expected of my favorite. So cool. This kind of person is destined for success!

Even as I fangirled internally, I started to worry.

‘Can Harris really clear the dungeon alone?’

There might be support, but the actual clearing would fall on him.

Of course, Harris is an S-rank Esper, as <Divine Tyrant> declared. A transcendent being, practically.

‘But that evaluation is from two years in the future. Right now, he’s probably not as skilled as other S-ranks.’

And to make matters worse, his early partner—the genius guide Adrian—isn’t here…

‘…Wait, does that mean I have to guide him?’

My face went pale.

No way. I’m fake!!