By the time the phrase "Dungeon perfect for losing all sense of time" had fully taken over my mind, I'd managed to review everything that had been revealed so far.
「❖ Defiling the Sewers
∎ Demon Removal 62 / ??
∎ Bonus: Find Relics 6 / 13
∎ Bonus: Recover Traces of Deceased Adventurers 5 / ??」
The quest had progressed this far. I couldn't tell the overall completion rate, but with the relics I'd found reaching nearly half, it probably wasn't too late.
I'd even picked up a new sub-mission.
"Hit a dead end, huh."
I pulled out the map and marked the path I'd just explored. It was almost fully revealed now—only one route left.
The boss monster and relics were probably clustered there, or maybe the path opened up to an additional map.
"Tch."
I shoved the pen into the cap I'd been holding in my mouth and neatly folded the map.
Waiting for the ink to dry? Pointless. The map was already soaked in goblin blood, looking pretty ragged.
It wasn't direct splatter—the blood had transferred from my hands when I pulled it out.
Still, as long as I could read it, fine. I'd found almost everything anyway.
I tucked the folded map into my pocket and searched the end of the dead-end path. I'd learned items or collectibles often hid in spots like this.
「❖ Defiling the Sewers
∎ Demon Removal 62 / ??
∎ Bonus: Find Relics 7 / 13
∎ Bonus: Recover Traces of Deceased Adventurers 7 / ??」
Sure enough, I found a laborer's corpse and adventurer traces. I rubbed my stiff eyes with blood-crusted knuckles.
"Finding this crap is a pain in the ass...."
It'd be nice if recoverable objects had outlines or sparkles to mark them.
If I hadn't heard bones crunch under my boot heel in that first alley and looked down, I'd still be wandering around wondering where the bodies were.
And if I hadn't tested whether items went into inventory without notifications, I wouldn't have recovered a damn thing.
I grumbled about those little annoyances while patting down the body I'd found.
The whole corpse was too heavy and bulky to carry. Pendants, rings, adventurer tags—proof-of-identity trinkets were the best I could manage.
'Couldn't even keep his own relics.'
Come to think of it, this class. Right after the demon possessed him, he rampaged and blew up his house along with his family's corpses. House gone? No relics saved.
That was canon, though the remake might've changed it... but considering the opening cinematic, they probably kept this detail.
Kinda pitiful.
Kyarruk!
"Hoo...."
Still, that's what let him hyper-immerse in the concept!
I carefully picked up the pendant. No way a character who'd lost his own relics would handle others roughly—and ethically, it felt right.
Unless the concept outright ignored benevolence, I wanted to stick to it. Purely because it was the right thing.
"Come on, you vermin...."
More than that, wasn't there a cooler line than this?
I raised my sword toward the goblins reappearing behind me as I pocketed the pendant.
"I'll send you back to the homeland you crawled out from...!"
Hah, even lines I'd agonized over for months fell flat. There had to be something cheesier, more badass!
Slash!
The goblins fell to my blade once more. The passage, nested with demons and sprouting bizarre roots, glistened under the swaying crimson lanterns.
Squeak-squeak!!
Rat and goblin cries echoed through the tunnel like a wretched chorus. Not pleasant listening—my ears rang.
But if I'd endured the stench, why flinch at noise?
Plus, no need to hold back irritation here. Hunting sound sources was the mission! I could vent without breaking character.
"Leave no traces behind!"
Die, you bastards! Outwardly my hated foes, inwardly saving my ears—eek!
Crunch!
I smashed the skulls of emerging goblins as I advanced. Reaching the fork of my path and the one uncharted route.
I shook off the blood soaking my body and stepped forward without hesitation. A vast space opened up.
Screee!!
The revealed chamber was blanketed in black, sticky strands. Dozens of goblins lurked within, but one stood out.
Thud, thud!
Parting the goblins like the Red Sea came a staff-wielding goblin.
「Hobgoblin│A mutant born when a goblin survives ingesting massive demonic energy. Possesses higher intelligence and special powers than ordinary goblins.」
Crimson-skinned instead of olive, twice the size of a regular goblin. Usually a trash mob, but early-game, it made a fine area boss.
"Mmph-mmph!"
Amid the squeals, something odd mixed in.
I glanced over. Behind the goblins, a child was bound tight.
"You must be the last of them...."
Rather than pity, it stirred fresh感慨. In the original, you could choose to save or abandon the kidnapped kid.
My choice? Save, obviously.
Original playthrough, I skipped it in demon-hunter frenzy concept, but this milder take? Different.
Plus, wiser now, I was all-in on protecting minors. NPC or not, didn't matter. Kids deserved happiness. Period.
"Mmph-mmph!"
Anyway, saving was saving, immersion was immersion. Matched the opening's little brother age-wise—perfect for relating.
"Repulsive demons."
The wide space suited a true two-hander over the longsword.
I sheathed the longsword and reached back. Fingers closed on instinct, grasping something solid.
Shing.
The 1.6m blade slid free.
"Consider it an honor."
Screee!
Who knows what it made of my draw. The hobgoblin raised its staff.
A few goblins peeled from the wall, creeping toward me. Addling adds pattern?
"Your deaths stand here."
But underestimating a gamer who'd cleared dozens of titles? Big mistake.
"To my sword, victory; to the heavens, glory...!"
I gripped the sword two-handed, raising it skyward. Knight pose.
Indeed, this class earned the "Demon Knight" moniker from NPCs unprompted. Even without my nickname, some called me that.
Why else the nickname? No reason—narrative mattered to me.
So I figured there'd be minimal knightly flair to justify it. This was the result.
Ah, no intent to overdo the knight bit.
If I were upholding chivalry even hunting demons, I'd just play a knight. A guy who quit knighthood to slay demons wouldn't go full chivalrous.
Knightly habits? Just this much. Fights like a fiend.
I charged, swinging.
Slash!
The two-handed true two-hander carved the air wildly.
Awkward at first due to size, but game assist and prior experience made it manageable.
Squeak!
I blocked a goblin grabbing hilt and blade, then slid fingers down the ricasso—the unsharpened blade section above the crossguard—gripping firm.
Parrying hook past, hand at ricasso, I swung: left on hilt, right on ricasso.
Slash!
Cleaveing a falling goblin in half, I regripped fast. Flipping to reverse hilt grip, I slammed the two-hander down.
Thud!
Pierced a goblin lunging for my legs.
I stomped it, yanked the blade free, swung again. Fourth goblin down. Boss's summoned adds wiped.
Next wave incoming—time to DPS the boss.
As hidden goblins surged from side tunnels, I advanced. One aiming to join them panicked, sidestepping.
But the two-hander was 1.6m long.
I swung before they could block. Ignoring defense, it shattered the hobgoblin's raised staff and cleaved its body.
Whoa, weapon destruction too? No wooden weapons, got it.
Adds out, I backpedaled. Recovered sword as shield blocked goblin bodies.
Then one latched to my back, claws in my neck. Dulled pain nerves made it a mere sting.
"Pathetic...."
HP had dropped decently, so I grabbed and hurled it. But in that instant, another hit my thigh.
One-shots, but tiny and numerous—annoying as hell.
"Die, you pests!"
Prioritizing thigh lets shoulder-clingers latch. Grimacing, I thrashed the sword wildly.
Two leapers bisected mid-air.
Then I snatched the thigh-clinger and slammed it down.
Crunch!
Boot pulverized its skull. Close-combat spec paid off.
Squeak-squeak!
Still endless adds. Boss commanding, probably.
Prioritize killing it.
Checked remaining HP, kicked off the ground. Gripped ricasso and hilt, whirling everywhere.
Sweeping blade checked charging goblins.
Four swings in? Caught the retreating boss amid encirclement. Minor scratches and tears, no biggie.
Thud!
Pre-boss strike, I downward-thrust a charger.
Two impaled simultaneously—blade locked in place.
Perfect. Released hilt and ricasso, drew longsword left-handed.
No hesitation dropping weapons. Earlier fumble left it in place.
Smooth draw sliced a goblin, aimed beyond.
Splatter!
Blood sprayed cheek, neck, vest, shirt under coat. Price of letting claws in: boss hobgoblin's blood.
Squeak!
Squeak-squeak!!
Pierced skull? Weapon win? Boss dropped dead instantly.
「Fear and Confusion│If the leader is killed before their eyes, some enemies flee in terror or lose will to fight.」
Even panicked at superior's death.
"Weaklings."
Yanked sword from hobgoblin, kicked and slashed the terrified remnants.
Recovered true two-hander mid-fight. Better for crowds in open space than longsword.
"Off to hell with you."
Post-boss adds? Cake.
I gleefully growled darkly, butchering them one by one. No escapes.
Miss one, quest fails—pain.
"Boring rabble."
All dead, I shook blood from blade, muttering.
Never felt boring mid-fight, but bravado's like that—starts with exaggeration.
"Leaving trash like this unchecked till now...."
Not pure bluff—flavor with character. Pretend tough to hide weakness, but soft-hearted inside: bittersweet tone, hint of pity, gentle undertone.
"Tch...."
Final pity-click of tongue—perfect! Immersion award mine!
"Mmm...."
Then a groan from the side.
Finally remembered the rescuee. Not forgotten, just back-burnered.
"Kid, you're lucky."
Cool expression feigned, approached the wall. Child dangled by root-like strands.
Crack.
Ripped them all free. Grip strength let me yank easy, no embarrassment.
"Th-thank you...."
Rescued kid seemed older than opening's brother. Still tiny, chest-high.
Dead brother was smaller.
"...No need to thank me."
Hit too close—smaller kid dead, my brother, killer in my arm?
Sane? I'd draw steel and slaughter demons too.
"Protecting the weak is...."
Anyway, dialogue time. Kid evokes dead brother; unlike past failure, I saved this one.
How's that feel?
"A knight's duty, naturally."
Voice quavering softly at end, I raised hand to pat head.
But right-handed dominant—right went up instinctively.
Bad move. Concept loathed this hand, switched main even. No way it'd touch others, especially kids.
"K-knight...? Sir Knight?"
Momentary dilemma.
Rude to kid too, or kind?
Latter, probably? Spiky to hide weakness ruined manners anyway. Past: knight aspirant protecting weak like elders, kids.
Wouldn't extend to kids. Pushing away? Maybe.
"Yeah."
Quick decision.
Frost in voice, but soften speech. Cold tone makes decent words seem asshole-ish.
Not just interpretation—NPCs too well-made; hated being jerk to kids over adults.
Kids must be protected, happy...
"...Why were you caught here."
"Mom... Mom went to clean the sewers and never came back... So I came looking. Sorry...."
Oh, baby. Came for mom, got caught. Uncle's crying.
"...That's not your job, kid. You should've trusted adults and waited."
"Sorry...."
"Don't apologize to me. I'm not the one owed it."
Even in game, bittersweet. Harsh world—parents dying often, kids left behind.
Hm, post-game, call parents? Long-overdue filial piety.
Game's good side.