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Chapter 10
The [Black-Horned Demon] looked like something straight out of a Western horror movie. Its jet-black skin and chilling red eyes were unforgettable—unforgettable in the worst possible way.
“An intruder.”
The demon beat the ground with a massive spear, its tattered crimson wings twitching as if torn in several places.
Thud. Thud.
The sound echoed louder and louder, just when you thought it might stop.
“I shall ask you. Intruder.”
Its hissing voice wrapped around Mona’s ears as it reverberated through the cave.
“Who are you?”
Ah… where am I supposed to hit this thing?
As Mona hurriedly recalled the strategy, she glanced sideways. Riota, as calm as ever, was casually swinging his sword.
He’s not even shaking.
The [Black-Horned Demon] lifted its spear toward the ceiling and asked again,
“Who are you?”
For a monster that had only just been born, it was surprisingly curt.
“Does it really matter who we are?” Riota asked suddenly.
“Well… I guess not?” Mona replied, gripping her staff as cold sweat trickled down her back. Traveling with such a laid-back player was starting to feel dangerous.
When neither of them spoke, the background music swelled ominously, growing more terrifying by the second.
To hell with it.
“Die!”
In battle, the first strike mattered. Mona thrust forward a skull-shaped staff and shouted.
And then… what happened next again?
As Mona mass-produced potions using [Potion Crafting], she thought back.
They did defeat it, but—
She had hesitated over the final blow, unsettled by its grotesque appearance, when the demon slammed its spear deep into the ground and slowly looked at them.
Then—
“I am merely the beginning, foolish humans.”
A line she’d heard far too many times before.
That was the signal for phase two.
After a flashy transformation sequence, the demon revealed its true form. Mona stared at it and thought,
Wow. That’s genuinely ugly.
After that, things were resolved quickly using her staff’s [Level Adjustment] function.
Surprisingly, the two of them worked well together. When one moved, the other followed—so much so that even Riota’s cheap sword clashed evenly with the demon’s spear.
Mona’s long-held belief that dungeon parties were just like group projects cracked a little.
Of course—
That staff did most of the work.
The memory of the demon evolving into dark blue skin made the embarrassment she’d forgotten rush back.
“Mona!”
“Ah.”
She snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of her name. The flushed face of the [NPC Serious Guard] appeared on the screen.
Several system notifications popped up—apparently he’d tried to talk to her multiple times.
Isn’t he a little too close to the camera?
She closed the alerts and subtly resized the window.
“Yeah?”
“You got transferred, right?”
“How’d you know?”
“How could I not? It’s already on the notice board. Is it true?”
Mona replied flatly.
“Yeah.”
“Where to?”
“Messana Raha. The witch incident got pretty big. The quest’s done, but they said it’d be better for me to leave naturally. Apparently, that’s how the storyline goes.”
“Whoa, that’s huge. That’s a full-on city. You got a promotion!”
“I dunno. I kind of liked being in Newbie.”
“You’re always saying it’s boring being alone. Isn’t this good? But more importantly—how was the dungeon?”
Of course, that was what he really cared about. When she dragged things out, saying she’d already explained the strategy, he grew impatient.
“Would my specs be enough?”
“Well… with that account, maybe…”
“Really?”
“Like I said before, it’d probably take you a month just to beat the mid-boss.”
Her mocking tone earned her a miserable groan from the guard.
“And did you see the drop rate? What is that? Are they insane? My dream of turning my gaming life around…”
“Told you. Getting the hidden quest is faster. You’re guaranteed the first clear reward.”
“So—about that guy. You knew him already? People are going crazy, but there’s zero info.”
“He used to come to my shop. Why?”
“Why do you think?! Everyone’s dying to know. If even one screenshot leaks, it’ll get reposted until the image disintegrates!”
“Hm…”
Leaning against the wall, Mona thought quietly. Did Riota like attention?
I hope I didn’t mess things up. Still, he didn’t seem like the type to care.
Taking her silence the wrong way, her friend pressed harder.
“They’re saying he’s a noob who doesn’t even know how to use it properly! O-of course, I totally disagree. So… let me see him! Please!”
Begging to be invited just to hide in a corner and watch, the guard pleaded—but Mona shook her head.
“I don’t know when he’ll come.”
“How can you stay so calm after getting that? If it were me, I’d run around half-naked with just the sword!”
Funny. The guy who actually got it looked completely indifferent.
Mona recalled the legendary sword embedded in the floor, gleaming with light.
‘This… is for me?’
And then—yank.
Riota had pulled it out like he was harvesting a radish.
…I should send him off quickly.
“Hey, isn’t the dungeon party almost full today? You sure you’ve got time for this?”
“Ah!”
The [NPC Serious Guard] panicked, said he’d visit soon, and logged off in a hurry.
Soon after, the usual curious newbies flooded the shop.
“So this is the famous place?”
“Huh. It’s not that impressive.”
After the storm passed, the shop grew quiet again.
It’s been a while since things felt like this.
The past few days had been overwhelming.
“So this place is ending too, huh.”
Mona looked around the shop she’d grown attached to, her expression dark.
There’s another potion shop anyway… and now that my identity as a witch is out…
Her supervisor said they’d move her somewhere quiet and told her to “act appropriately nostalgic” if asked.
How exactly was she supposed to act appropriately nostalgic?
As long as it’s not field work like the guards. ‘Quiet’ doesn’t mean completely deserted, right? Anyway… I should tell Mr. Riota.
That afternoon, Riota finally visited.
Still dressed in his black robe, the only difference was the sword at his waist—one with an absurdly high rarity.
Does he even know how valuable that is…?
No. Surely not that clueless.
Mona greeted him first.
“Hello, Mr. Riota.”
She caught a glimpse of his smile beneath the hood. In his hand was a sack stuffed with wolf claws.
Wow. Impressive.
She’d thought he might’ve already left for the continent. Mona laughed softly.
“You really haven’t changed, Mr. Riota.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“Oh—nothing.”
She took the sack. The weight was serious.
“That’s more than usual.”
“I’ve been training. After what happened, I felt like I should do something.”
“Haha. Guess I can trust you with wolves now. Amazing.”
“It’s thanks to you, Ms. Mona.”
After handing him the payment, Mona looked down for a moment, then spoke.
“There’s something I wanted to tell you.”
“I have something as well.”
She blinked in surprise.
Him?
“You wanted to speak to me?”
“Yes. To you, Ms. Mona.”
His voice was unusually careful. The atmosphere felt strange.
“You go first.”
“Well…”
“Yes.”
Silence fell.
After waiting patiently with no response, Mona finally spoke.
“Then I’ll go first. I’m leaving the village.”
Riota lifted his head. Mona looked away.
“You mean… you’re leaving Newbie?”
“As you know, I’m a witch. This was inevitable. The villagers tried to stop me, but this is what I want.”
“That’s not allowed!”
“It is. I’ve already decided.”
She continued.
“I wanted to thank you. Especially you, Mr. Riota. You’ve helped me so many times. I was worried you wouldn’t come, but I’m glad I got to see you before leaving.”
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Seeing his silence again, Mona turned around to retrieve something.
“Please wait. I have a reward for you.”
She checked [Reward Complete] and brought out potions she’d prepared in advance.
Since when did I like this sort of thing…? One unlucky wolf, and here I am.
She even added a faintly nostalgic gaze.
When she finally turned back—
She froze.
“!”
Deep black eyes met hers.
“R-Riota…?”
The man before her answered calmly.
“Yes.”
He took off his robe…?
Mona fought the urge to cover her mouth, gripping the potion bottles tightly.
That’s… that’s a face you see on TV…
