Chapter 3: The Vampire Judith

 

The path continued on even after I was transported.

So, I followed it.

Before long, I spotted something ahead.

A table, a chair—and a girl sitting in that chair.

She was dressed in a dazzling, elegant gown, the kind a noble lady might wear.

“My, how unusual. For an intruder to come to this place.”

Saying that, she took a sip of her tea.

“Uh…”

Her behavior was so out of place in a dungeon that I couldn’t help but be confused.

Just who is this girl?

“So then, what business do you have in a place like this?”

She looked straight at me as she spoke.

“I’m… looking for the exit to this dungeon,”

I answered honestly.

Maybe—just maybe—she might know where the exit is.
With that faint hope in mind, I spoke to her.

“Ah, I see…”

She made a gesture as if she had understood.

And then—

“How rude of you. I cannot believe you would behave in such a manner toward me, the great True Ancestor vampire, Judith.”

“—Huh?”

Before I knew it, she had closed the distance between us.

And then, she thrust a crimson blade straight into me.

“For that sin, you shall atone with your life.”

The moment those words reached my ears, my consciousness was swallowed by darkness.

 

◆

“Ah…”

Time had rewound again.

“What the hell…”

Why do I have to keep getting killed over and over like this?

The vampire Judith—that was the name of the one who killed me.

Come to think of it, Ageha mentioned that the hideout in this dungeon was made by a vampire.

“Damn it.”

Cursing under my breath, I stepped onto the third teleportation circle.

This time, hopefully, nothing happens.

The place I was transported to by the third circle was, as before, a straight path stretching ahead.

So, I followed it.

Eventually, I came upon a single sword stuck in the ground.

But it wasn’t just any sword.

Its blade was pitch black, and its ornamentation was quite elaborate.

What the hell is this sword…?

Thinking that, I examined it closely.

To be honest, being unarmed in a place like this made me extremely uneasy. If it was safe to use, I’d gladly take it—but being left out in the open like this, it also screamed “trap.”

“Well, trying it out shouldn’t hurt.”

With that lighthearted thought, I grasped the hilt.

“Ah—gaaah…!”

The moment I touched it, pain surged through my entire body.

Ever since I was thrown into this dungeon, it’s been nothing but this kind of agony.

“Gah…! Damn it! Why the hell do I have to go through all this!?”

I shouted, trying to dull the pain even a little.

The excruciating agony lasted for several dozen minutes.

Enduring it the whole time, at some point, I lost consciousness.

“Ah—”

I woke up.

I was lying flat on the ground.

Looking around, I realized I was still at the place where the black sword had been. Apparently, I’d just passed out—not died.

“What a nightmare…”

Muttering that, I tried to stand up—but my body felt unbearably heavy.

“Huh?”

Something was wrong with my right arm.

It had transformed into something indescribable. It was as if the black sword and my arm had fused together.

From my shoulder down, my right arm gradually turned into some hard, black material, becoming sharper toward the tip. And its length had grown unnaturally long.

When I tried to move it—

“God, this thing’s heavy as hell.”

I realized I couldn’t even swing it properly.

“Damn it… Guess I’ve got no choice but to move forward like this.”

With that thought, I kept walking.

Since I couldn’t properly lift my blackened right arm, I dragged it along the ground as I went—until I encountered a monster.

“Grrrh…!”

The monster glared at me warily.

An A-rank monster—a werewolf.
A bipedal wolf with huge claws.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me…”

How the hell was I supposed to fight in this state?

My right arm was too heavy; I couldn’t even run away.

Was I going to die again…?

I was half ready to give up.

Because, no matter how I looked at it, there was no way I could win.

“Huh…?”

For a second, I couldn’t comprehend what happened.

My right arm moved on its own—and the blade’s tip turned toward the werewolf.

“What?”

The arm fused with the sword yanked my entire body forward.

Dragged along, I stumbled ahead—

And with a slash—the black blade cleaved through the werewolf.

“What the hell…?”

I couldn’t make sense of it.

It was as if the sword itself had a will of its own.

“Well… whatever.”

As long as I could get out of this dungeon, I didn’t care what I had to rely on.

Even if that meant using this ominous, cursed-looking sword.

◆

The black sword that had parasitized my right arm moved of its own accord, cutting down monster after monster without any input from me.

I had no idea what this sword really was, but since it was the reason I was still alive, I had no choice but to rely on it for now.

Taking breaks along the way, I continued deeper into the dungeon.

“This should be the room where the mid-boss appears.”

I stopped in front of a large door.

When I adventured with Ageha, I remembered that a similar door had led us to a mid-boss.

Back then, we fought a rock golem.

This time, since I’d taken a different teleportation circle, the monster would probably be different—but either way, I had to go inside.

“Kreeeeeeeee!!!”

A giant eagle, a griffon, let out a piercing screech.

As expected, this mid-boss wasn’t the rock golem.

The black sword began to move on its own, as always. I focused only on not getting in its way as it swung freely.

And before I knew it, the giant griffon had been slain by the black sword.

“…It feels like it’s getting bigger.”

That was what I thought as I looked at the sword.

At first, it had been about the size of an ordinary blade, but now it was clearly one size larger.

What’s more, it had originally transformed from the tip of my arm into a sword—but now, it had spread from my shoulder, taking over that entire side.

It felt as though my body was being devoured.

“You’re… still okay, right?”

Though unease gnawed at me, there was nothing I could do.

So, I had no choice but to keep moving forward.

 

◆

After that, the black sword kept defeating monsters one after another.

With each kill, it definitely grew stronger. And as it grew, it became heavier.

Dragging the sword was becoming harder with every step.

When monsters appeared, the sword would act on its own, but the larger its mass became, the more violently it pulled me along.

It dragged me across the ground like a runaway carriage, slaughtering monsters as it went.

Because of that, my body was scraped and torn all over.

Blood flowed from the wounds left behind.

“This is… bad…”

The black sword had already consumed half of my body.

And at some point, a yellow eyeball had formed on it. That eye darted restlessly around, scanning our surroundings.

“It’s a dead end…”

I’d kept descending through the dungeon’s lower floors, only to end up at a dead end.

I wasn’t sure where to go next.

Then, I noticed a teleportation circle.

Hmm… stepping on this one should take me farther down.

“Oh my, I thought something strange was happening… so it’s parasitized a human, has it? And it’s already grown quite a bit, I see.”

Standing before me after I teleported was the vampire, Judith.

“What do you want?”

“My, so the host still retains his consciousness?”

She looked surprised as she said that.

“You asked what I want? Why, to dispose of you, of course—or more accurately, to destroy that parasitic sword on your right half.”

“Parasitic sword…?”

“The Parasitic Sword—Puppetmaster. That thing you’re wielding is a dangerously unstable being that latches onto humans, devours monsters, and grows stronger. I thought it would be safe sealed this deep in the dungeon where no one comes, but… well, I suppose these things happen.”

“So you’re saying… you’re here to kill me?”

“Yes, that’s correct. You’re quite perceptive, aren’t you?”

As she murmured that, Judith tore off her own left arm with her right hand.

Blood gushed from the wound in a violent spray.

What the hell is she—? I barely had time to think before the blood gathered and hardened.

From her severed shoulder, a new arm formed—an arm made entirely of blood.

And the torn-off arm itself transformed into a crimson greatsword.

“Now then—please, die for me.”

As she spoke, she swung her blood-forged greatsword. The Parasitic sword didn’t stand idly by, either.

Its strikes were so fast even Judith’s eyes could barely follow them, yet the Parasitic sword met every blow.

“This won’t be easy, I see.”

She threw her severed left arm high into the air.

In the next instant—

The arm exploded.

“Scarlet Stormfall.”

With the explosion, countless blood spikes rained down. They pierced my body, leaving me riddled with holes.

“I hate using that technique, since it renders my left arm useless for a while… but I suppose I had no choice.”

By the time she spoke those words, my life had already come to an end.

 

◆

“Ah…”

I opened my eyes.

Time had rewound again.

“Damn it… what the hell am I supposed to do…?”

I muttered, but no good ideas came to mind.

For now, I tried to organize my thoughts.

If I take the first teleportation circle, I meet the sealed Ageha. If I break that seal, I’m killed by someone wearing her face.

If I take the second teleportation circle, I’m killed outright by the vampire Judith.

If I take the third teleportation circle, I find the Parasitic Sword. Using it lets me reach the dungeon’s depths—but afterward, I’m still killed by Judith.

So, the only path left is the third one.

My goal should be to borrow the Parasitic sword’s power, clear the dungeon, and defeat Judith with my own hands.

But how can I make that happen?

“You’re wielding something that grows stronger by devouring monsters…”

I remembered Judith’s words.

In other words, The Parasitic sword grows as it consumes monsters. The more it kills before I meet Judith, the stronger it becomes.

If I can push its growth to the limit, I might be able to defeat her.

Once I decided on that plan, I hurried.

“Haa… haa… haa…”

By the time I reached the place where Puppetmaster rested, I was out of breath from running so hard.

Without hesitation, I pulled the sword free.

“Gah…!”

Agonizing pain surged through my body.

Stay conscious—if I faint, I’ll lose precious time.

I tried to endure it, but couldn’t. My consciousness faded away.

“Ha…! How long was I out!?”

I jolted upright.

My right arm had already transformed—Puppetmaster had taken hold.

Damn it, I lost time.

Still, regret wouldn’t help.

I had to move, now.

Dragging Puppetmaster behind me, I pressed forward into the dungeon’s depths.

Progress went smoothly this time.

Unlike before, I didn’t stop to rest; I just kept moving as fast as I could.

“Haa… finally made it…”

After dozens of hours, I reached the dead end.

My fatigue was at its peak.

Puppetmaster’s parasitism had already spread through half of my body.

Last time, Judith had been waiting beyond this teleportation circle.

Praying she wasn’t there, I stepped into it.

“She’s… not here…”

I looked around.

Judith was nowhere to be found.

Arriving five hours earlier than before must have paid off.

While she wasn’t here, I decided to push farther ahead.

The deeper I went, the more monsters I could fight.

Before long, I stumbled into a massive horde of them.

“Perfect. I’ll devour every last one of you.”

Then, I unleashed Puppetmaster, mowing through the monsters relentlessly.

At some point, my mind went hazy—I couldn’t remember much after that. Still, the sword moved on its own, slaying everything in sight.

With each kill, blood splattered everywhere. Puppetmaster grew larger, consuming me further in the process.

“My my, you’ve grown quite impressively. Putting you down will take some effort, won’t it?”

…Huh?

My vision blurred.

I could tell Judith was standing before me.

“Oh, it seems the host’s consciousness has already been overwritten.”

Overwritten?

What… what is she talking about?

“Well, no matter. You’re dying either way.”

She tore off her left arm again, hardening the gushing blood into a crimson greatsword and a new left arm.

“Fufufu, then allow me to kill you.”

After that, I remembered nothing.

When I awoke, I was back in the room with the treasure chest.

That’s right—

I had been killed.

 

 

◆

Trial count: roughly five hundred and thirty.

I had been attempting the same strategy over and over again—using the Parasitic Puppet Sword technique to conquer the dungeon.

Yes, over and over.

No matter how many times I tried, in the end, I was always killed by the vampire Judith.

No, that’s not entirely true.

Whenever the Parasitic Puppet Sword reached a certain level of growth, my consciousness would fade away.

Most likely, the matured Puppet Sword was completely taking over my body.

At this rate, even if I did succeed in defeating the vampire Judith, there’d be no point if my mind ended up possessed by the sword.

“Why are you even here…?”

This time, I hadn’t yet been taken over by the Puppet Sword.

And that’s when the vampire Judith once again appeared before me.

I don’t know what came over me, but I asked her that question. There was no deep reason. I was just mentally exhausted after fighting endlessly.

So even if the being before me was one that would kill me, I still wanted to talk.

Why was she living in this dungeon? I was a little curious.

“Tch, how terribly rude. That’s hardly the way to address a noble progenitor vampire such as myself.”

Rude, huh…

Come to think of it, the first time I met her, she called me “rude” too—right before killing me.

“I–I’m sorry, I’m just a country bumpkin. Could you please enlighten me? Who exactly are you, and why are you here?”

I straightened up and asked politely.

“Very well. I shall tell you as a souvenir for the afterlife. I am Judith, a progenitor vampire—the most noble existence in this world.”

With that, she killed me.

◆

“I think I’m done for…”

After returning by death, I muttered in resignation.

No matter how many times I tried using the Parasitic Puppet Sword, I was always killed by Judith.

And whenever the Puppet Sword grew beyond a certain point, my consciousness was always taken over by it.

Once the Puppet Sword completely possessed me, I was sure I must’ve looked like some hideous monster.

Even if I escaped this dungeon like that, it would mean nothing.

I decided to abandon the Puppet Sword strategy altogether.

That said, I had no other good ideas.

…No, there was one thing I thought I might try.

“Maybe I should try negotiating with the vampire Judith.”

At first, I thought she was a pure monster, incapable of conversation.

Well, not that my impression of her had changed much, but maybe—just maybe—there was room for a proper conversation.

“Might as well give it a shot, even if it’s hopeless…”

I’d already died countless times.

At this point, what was there to fear from dying again?

◆

Beyond the second teleportation circle, the vampire Judith was sitting gracefully at a table, enjoying tea time.

“Oh my, how unusual. It’s been quite some time since an intruder reached this place. So, what brings you here?”

I remembered hearing that same question before.

Yes—she never attacked immediately upon meeting me. She always started with a conversation like this.

That in itself might be proof there was room for negotiation.

“I humbly request an audience with the great progenitor vampire, Lady Judith.”

I knelt down as I spoke.

Then, lowering my head, I made my plea.

“Please, make me your disciple.”

I’d shown as much respect as I could.

Now, how would she respond?

“Kihihi, you want to become my disciple? How amusing.”

She curled her lips into a grin.

Her reaction was better than I expected, which honestly surprised me.

To escape this dungeon, I had to become stronger. That’s why I thought—if I became Judith’s disciple, I could gain power.

“And what benefit would I gain from taking you as my disciple?”

“Benefit…?”

“Yes. I only do things that bring me profit.”

I couldn’t immediately think of any benefit to her.

Still, I had to say something.

“If you take me as your disciple, I’ll serve as your hands and feet. I’ll obey any command you give. I swear I’ll be of use to you, so please, I beg you.”

I bowed again, pledging my loyalty.

That was all I could think of.

“How boring.”

“…Huh?”

The next moment, she sliced me apart with a blade of blood formed from her wrist.

My life was snuffed out.

◆

“What went wrong…”

After returning by death, I reflected on it.

She had said “boring” before killing me.

So maybe I just needed to say something more entertaining? I had no clue what that might be, though.

Still, I decided to go see Judith again.

“And what benefit would I gain from taking you as my disciple?”

Once again, the same question.

“There’s no benefit. But please, make me your disciple anyway.”

I decided to appeal to sincerity this time, since I couldn’t offer profit.

“This conversation is pointless.”

And then she killed me again.

◆

After that, I kept going to her, only to be killed each time.

Once, when she asked,

“And what benefit would I gain from taking you as my disciple?”

I answered,

“I’ll take care of your daily needs—shopping, cleaning, cooking, anything. So please, make me your disciple.”

She replied,

“I don’t particularly feel the need for such things,”

and killed me.

Another time, she asked the same question, and I answered,

“I can handle heavy labor! I used to till the fields, so I’m quite strong!”

She said,

“I’m stronger than you,”

and killed me.

Another time, I said,

“I can be someone to talk to. Living in a place like this, you must not get many chances to talk to others. Maybe you feel lonely?”

“I’ve never once felt lonely,”

she said, and killed me.

Even after that, I kept trying and dying over and over, but I couldn’t figure out what she wanted.

“And what benefit would I gain from taking you as my disciple?”

“I can show you something interesting.”

“Something interesting…?”

This time, Judith seemed intrigued.

“Yes. I have a purpose—revenge.”

“Revenge, you say. How delightfully sweet.”

That seemed to catch her attention more than ever before.

I explained my past—how I’d been persecuted by my fellow villagers, how I lost the one I loved, and how I’d been falsely accused and exiled to this dungeon.

But I left out the part about my skill, 〈Save & Reset〉, and how I could return by death. I didn’t trust her that much.

“That’s why I want to become stronger, so I can make those villagers regret everything they did to me. To do that, I need your guidance, Lady Judith.”

I bowed deeply.

“Kihihi, how delightful.”

She was grinning.

“And what, specifically, does your revenge entail?”

“Uh…”

I’d never actually thought about how I’d do it.

“I’ll kill them all.”

I said what I thought would please the vampire before me the most.

“And how will you kill them?”

“I’ll torture them first—make them suffer before they die. I’ll kill every last one, men, women, and children alike. I’ll make them regret ever doing this to me.”

“Splendid!”

She smiled wickedly.

“I’ve developed a desire to see how you’ll turn out.”

“Then—!”

“Not so fast. You’ll become my disciple only if you pass a test.”

“A test? Thank you very much!”

At last, I’d given her an answer she liked.

I had no idea what kind of test awaited, but I couldn’t afford to miss this chance.

◆

“So, what’s the content of this test?”

“…For now, just follow me.”

Judith began walking, so I obediently followed.

“By the way, what’s your name?”

“Kiska.”

“Kiska, is it? By the way, you seemed to know my name quite well.”

“Ah, well, I’d heard rumors—about a vampire who made this dungeon her lair…”

“Well, I have lived here for quite some time, so such rumors aren’t surprising.”

In truth, I’d learned her name from Ageha after countless loops, but of course, I kept that to myself.

“Kiska, did you use the teleportation circles to get here?”

“Yes, I did.”

“And you’re aware there are three of them?”

“Yes.”

“Then this will be easy to explain. This dungeon has a rather peculiar structure—the teleportation circle you choose determines which path you take. And once you step on one, you can’t move to another route.”

Just as she said, the route changed depending on the circle chosen.

The first route had the sealed Ageha. The second had Judith. And the third had the Parasitic Puppet Sword.

“However, there’s a secret trick that lets you move to another route.”

Saying that, Judith touched the wall.

At first glance, it looked perfectly ordinary, but apparently it was a hidden switch. When she pressed it, the wall sank inward.

At the same time, a new passage appeared.

So there really was a hidden corridor here…

Following that passage, we emerged onto a new path.

As we continued along it, I saw a familiar sight.

“If you can control this Parasitic Puppet Sword, you’ll pass the test.”

“Control…?”

Wait, what?

I’d used that sword countless times, but never once could I control it.

“This sword has a very troublesome nature—it parasitizes its wielder, growing stronger with every creature or human it kills, until it eventually takes over their consciousness entirely. Honestly, I’ve wanted to dispose of it, but since it latches onto anyone who touches it, I can’t move it carelessly.”

“So what exactly do you want me to do?”

“Let it possess you—and then overcome it. Make it obey you instead.”

“Is that… even possible?”

“Nine times out of ten, you’ll fail.”

She said it so casually.

“Well, I’ll at least give you some guidance.”

She sounded amused, but I honestly couldn’t imagine ever controlling it.

“Are you scared already? Oh, but too bad—you don’t have a choice. Refuse, and I’ll kill you right here.”

So, no choice then.

“No, I’ll do it. Please, tell me what to do.”

“Kihihi, you’ve already steeled yourself, I see. First, instead of gripping the hilt, grab the blade.”

“Understood.”

I did as she said and gripped the blade.

“Ggh…!”

Pain shot through my whole body—but it wasn’t as bad as when I held the hilt. I could still endure it.

“What do I do next?”

“Swallow it.”

“…What?”

“Tilt your head back and slide the blade down your throat.”

“Uh, wouldn’t that kill me…?”

“Yes, there’s a high chance you’ll die. But sometimes, people succeed.”

“I… see.”

I sighed.

Well, guess there’s no other way.

Resolving myself, I pushed the Puppet Sword into my throat.

And in the next instant—my consciousness faded to black.

◆

“So, you’re the one who wishes to become my master…?”

Who…?

“Ah, I am what you might call the true body of the Puppetmaster.”

The one speaking could only be described as a monster. A mass of darkness, with eyes and mouths scattered across it—it was as if the darkness itself had taken form.

“I see, the true body of the Puppetmaster, huh. Where is this place?”

The scenery around me was equally bizarre.

Flickering flames floated in the pitch-black void. That was all there was to see.

“This is what you’d call your deep inner world.”

“My… deep inner world…”

So, in other words, inside my mind?

Well, where this is doesn’t really matter.

More importantly—

“I have a request. I want you to lend me your power.”

Right now, I’m powerless.

If it means gaining strength, I’m willing to borrow anyone’s power.

“Sure.”

That response was far too casual.

“You’re agreeing that easily?”

“What an odd thing to say. You’re the one who asked, aren’t you?”

“Well, that’s true.”

I had expected refusal, so I couldn’t help but be suspicious.

“Well, you see, your soul… it carries a nostalgic scent. That’s why I thought, perhaps I wouldn’t mind obeying you.”

“A nostalgic scent, huh…”

Even though I’ve returned from death multiple times, I’ve also been possessed by Puppetmaster over and over. Maybe that’s what he’s sensing.

“Anyway, pleased to serve you, Master.”

The moment those words reached my ears, my consciousness snapped back to reality.

When I opened my eyes, the vampire Judith was sitting in a chair before me.

“Oh my, I didn’t think you’d actually succeed.”

Judith’s eyes widened in surprise.

Apparently, she hadn’t expected it to work. Even though all I did was follow her instructions.

“Well, no matter. Come with me.”

She stood as if to go somewhere.

“Uh, where are we going?”

“I told you, didn’t I? Pass the test, and I’ll take you as my disciple. From now on, I shall train you myself.”

 

◆

“How many skills do you currently possess?”

“One.”

Strictly speaking, I had two—〈Taunt〉 and 〈Save & Reset〉—but the latter was something I should keep hidden.

“And may I ask what that skill is?”

“〈Taunt〉.”

“My, how… unreliable.”

“I’m aware.”

“Then, let’s go get you one more skill.”

“Huh? Is that even possible?”

“Oh, who do you think I am?”

“The great vampire Lady Judith.”

“Quite right. I’ve lived in this dungeon for over a century, you know. Every corner of it is engraved in my memory.”

She tapped her head lightly as she said so.

“Of course, I know where every treasure chest that grants skills is located.”

 

◆

According to Judith, there were three treasure chests in the depths of this dungeon that could grant skills.

One of them was the chest where I had obtained 〈Taunt〉.

That meant there were two more I could acquire.

“There’s a hidden passage here?”

When Judith placed her hand on the wall, a concealed path appeared.

“There’s a treasure chest ahead.”

Just as she said, there was a chest at the end of the passage.

Inside was a transparent crystal.

〈Crystal of Wisdom〉 acquired.

Effect activates automatically.

I’d seen this message before.

It was similar to what appeared the first time I opened a treasure chest.

Please choose one skill from the following list to acquire.

S Rank
〈Item Box〉〈Healing Boost〉〈Mana Recovery Boost〉〈Intimidation〉〈Insight〉〈Precognition〉

A Rank
〈Healing Magic〉〈Fire Magic〉〈Water Magic〉〈Wind Magic〉〈Earth Magic〉〈Lightning Magic〉〈Alchemy〉〈Cursing〉〈Telepathy〉〈Enhancement Magic〉

B Rank
〈Swordsmanship〉〈Archery〉〈Axe Technique〉〈Spear Technique〉〈Martial Arts〉〈Staff Technique〉

C Rank
〈Physical Reinforcement〉〈Presence Detection〉〈Mana Generation〉〈Fire Resistance〉〈Water Resistance〉〈Wind Resistance〉〈Earth Resistance〉〈Sharpness Boost〉〈Accuracy Boost〉〈Evasion Boost〉〈Night Vision〉

D Rank
〈Appraisal〉〈Strength Boost〉〈Endurance Boost〉〈Agility Boost〉〈Stamina Boost〉

The list was similar to the one I’d seen before, but a few entries were new. I didn’t recall seeing 〈Intimidation〉 or 〈Insight〉 previously.

“Lady Judith, which one should I choose?”

“If I were to recommend one, I’d say 〈Swordsmanship〉. You won’t get far without it.”

Following her advice, I selected 〈Swordsmanship〉.

〈Swordsmanship〉 acquired.

So far, so good—I’d successfully obtained it.

“Well then, let’s go claim the final skill.”

And so, we headed toward the location of the last treasure chest.

It was near the deepest part of the dungeon.

“Beyond this lies the boss of this dungeon.”

Ahead of Judith’s gaze stood a massive door.

“Defeat the boss, and I can finally leave the dungeon, right?”

“Of course.”

“Does that mean even you, Lady Judith, have to defeat the boss to go outside…?”

I asked, curious.

Her hidden chamber had a bed and table—meaning she must occasionally leave to shop.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“With your power, you could easily take down any boss, couldn’t you?”

“No, not quite.”

She denied it, paused briefly, and then said—

“For nearly fifty years now, I’ve been unable to leave.”

“…What?”

“Unfortunately, with my current strength, I cannot defeat this dungeon’s boss.”

She bit her lip in frustration.

“I see…”

If she couldn’t defeat it, then what kind of monster was it?

The final treasure chest was hidden down a secret corridor near the boss’s chamber.

〈Crystal of Insight〉 acquired.

Effect activates automatically.

〈Crystal of Insight〉? Never heard of that item before.

〈Attribute Imbuement〉 acquired.

“Oh my, that’s quite a rare skill you rolled.”

“Uh…”

“The 〈Crystal of Insight〉 grants a random skill to whoever uses it. Though… this is a bit inconvenient. 〈Attribute Imbuement〉 is a magic-based skill, so without 〈Mana Generation〉, you can’t use it.”

“So, in other words… a dud?”

“Well, no need to be so discouraged. You can always plan to acquire 〈Mana Generation〉 later.”

“I see…”

Which meant she already had an idea how I could get it.

“Then, training begins tomorrow.”

And so, the days of training under the vampire Judith began.

 

◆

“The Parasitic Sword: Puppetmaster is already within your body—fused with your flesh and blood.”

Before training started, Judith explained this.

“Its nature is quite similar to the blood within me.”

She extended her left hand.

“Rose Blade.”

At her murmur, a blade of blood jutted out from her wrist.

“I can manipulate the blood flowing through my body like this. You, too, should be able to freely summon and retract the Puppetmaster that resides within you.”

“Understood.”

Closing my eyes, I focused on the presence of the Puppetmaster flowing inside me.

〈Skill Acquired: Master of the Parasitic Sword: Puppetmaster〉

“Wha…?”

The sudden message shocked me.

“It seems you’ve elevated a mere technique into a proper skill.”

I’d heard of such cases before.

For example, those who train daily with a sword may eventually awaken the 〈Swordsmanship〉 skill. Most skills are innate, but some can be earned through sheer effort.

That same logic must have applied here.

I closed my eyes again.

This time, I could clearly sense the Puppetmaster flowing through me.

I brought it forth into the world.

〈Derived Skill Acquired: Black Blade〉

When I opened my eyes, the message appeared before me—and in my hand was a one-handed sword, black as night, its surface lined with grotesque eyes.

“At the very least, you can now fight properly,” Judith remarked.

“Well then, shall we begin your training?”

 

◆

And so began my training under Judith.

“Tighter grip on the sides! Your footwork’s too soft!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Facing me, Judith swung a sword made of blood, while I struggled to block with my Parasitic Sword.

Each strike was heavy enough to knock me off balance, but I held my ground with everything I had.

“Don’t fear the monsters—attack boldly!”

“Got it!”

In addition to sparring with her, I also fought against real monsters.

Right now, I was battling an A-rank monster—Headless Mule.

Judith had promised to save me if I were about to die, so I could fight without hesitation.

Monster elimination confirmed.

Skill points acquired.

 

When I sliced through the Headless Mule’s neck with my sword, a message window appeared at the same time.

“Yes!”

I couldn’t help but pump my fist in triumph.

For the first time, I’d managed to defeat a monster while maintaining control over the Puppetmaster.

“Hm, you’ve got quite the talent, haven’t you?”

The sudden praise from Judith made me blink in surprise.

“…You think so?”

Honestly, I didn’t consider myself particularly gifted in combat.

“Yes. I didn’t expect you to be capable of defeating one alone at this stage. How should I put it… you’re remarkably good at reading an enemy’s movements and dodging their attacks. Have you had much real combat experience?”

“Not really, almost none.”

“In that case, perhaps it’s an innate talent.”

While she was complimenting me, deep down, I knew exactly why.

I’d avoided the Bugbear’s attacks countless times through all my deaths and resets.

If nothing else, I’d gained plenty of experience in dodging monster attacks—and that seemed to be paying off now.

“Since you’ve earned some skill points, why not try levelling up a skill?”

“…Good idea.”

Replying to her, I opened my status screen.

〈Kiska〉
Skill 1: Save & Reset
Skill 2: Taunt Lv1
Skill 3: Swordsmanship Lv1
Skill 4: Attribute Imbuement Lv1
Skill 5: Master of the Parasitic Sword: Puppetmaster Lv1

Before I knew it, all five of my skill slots had been filled.

Thinking back to when I only had Save & Reset, it felt oddly nostalgic.

Anyway, let’s bring up my current skill points and see how many I’ll need to level them up.

Current Skill Points: 16

〈Taunt Lv1〉
Skill points needed to level up: 10

〈Swordsmanship Lv1〉
Skill points needed to level up: 30

〈Attribute Imbuement Lv1〉
Skill points needed to level up: 50

〈Master of the Parasitic Sword: Puppetmaster Lv1〉
Skill points needed to level up: 70

It seemed each skill required a different amount of points to level up.

Taunt only needed ten points, while Master of the Parasitic Sword Puppetmaster required a staggering seventy.

Might as well check the details on that one while I’m at it.

Skill: Master of the Parasitic Sword Puppetmaster Lv1
Derivative Skills:
Lv1 — Black Blade
Lv2 — ???

My eyes lingered on the line reading Lv2 — ???.

So, levelling up would unlock additional derivative skills?

Interesting.

I was honestly curious what kind of new ability it might grant.

Still, seventy points was a lot, so I’d have to put that off for now.

“How did it look?”

Judith asked as she waited nearby.

“Well, I think I’ll focus on saving up thirty points first. I want to raise Swordsmanship before anything else.”

“That’s certainly the most sensible choice.”

With that, my plan was set. I resumed hunting monsters to gather more skill points.

 

◆

Ever since I became Judith’s apprentice, a strange daily life began between us.

She had several hideouts scattered throughout the dungeon, and where we slept depended on her mood that day.

Each hideout had only one bed, though, so we always slept separately.

As for her diet, being a vampire, she preferred drinking blood.

That said, it didn’t have to be human blood—monster blood suited her just fine.

After hunting monsters, I’d drain their blood and offer it to her.

“All right, the blood’s ready.”

Since becoming her apprentice, preparing her blood had become my job.

I poured it into a teacup and handed it to her.

“My, you’re always so diligent.”

Back when we first met, the teacup she was holding hadn’t contained tea—it was filled with blood.

Apparently, Judith had a particular fondness for drinking blood from teacups.

“Ah, exquisite as always.”

She grasped the handle elegantly and drained it in one smooth motion, her expression full of satisfaction.

Personally, I couldn’t imagine ever wanting to drink blood, but she certainly made it look enjoyable.

“Kiska, have you prepared dinner yet?”

“Yes, though it’s just grilled monster meat.”

As a vampire, Judith could survive perfectly well on blood alone, but if she didn’t eat ordinary food occasionally, she’d still feel hunger.

“It’s monster meat steak.”

“Again? Just like yesterday.”

“Can’t be helped. We’re low on seasonings. It’s no wonder the dishes all taste the same.”

Meat was plentiful in the dungeon, but flavorings were scarce.

So, the recipe was simple: grill the meat and season it with pepper.

As for fire, it could easily be made by using monster cores as fuel.

“Oh, and since I defeated a Dryad today, we have salad too.”

“Ugh, I never did like salad made from Dryads.”

“You can’t just skip your vegetables. You’ll end up malnourished.”

“I’m a vampire. Nutrition doesn’t apply to me.”

“Well, in that case, I’ll eat it myself…”

Vampires might not need vegetables, but as a human, I did.

Living sealed inside a dungeon meant an unavoidable diet of monster meat, which wasn’t exactly balanced.

The Dryad was a savior in that regard.

Its branches were covered in leafy greens that could be eaten—bitter and awful, but edible.

Occasionally, some Dryads even bore fruit, and when that happened, Judith and I would inevitably fight over it. The last time, it didn’t end well for me.

“It still tastes terrible.”

“Well, we’re short on seasonings after all.”

If only we had cheese or tomato sauce, we could enjoy a wider variety of dishes.

“If we could leave the dungeon, we could restock on seasonings easily.”

She’d once said she hadn’t been able to leave the dungeon for nearly fifty years.

As a result, all her furniture and supplies were from fifty years ago—worn and faded with time.

“Still, escaping the dungeon right now would be difficult.”

“Didn’t you use to come and go freely, Judith?”

“Yes. It was comfortable here—no sunlight, a damp atmosphere. Ideal for a vampire.”

“Then why can’t you leave anymore?”

“Someone destroyed the teleportation circle.”

“The teleportation circle…”

I immediately thought of the circle that had brought me here.

That one connected the outside to the dungeon, but not the other way around—a one-way trip.

“There used to be a circle that allowed free travel between this dungeon and the outside world. I used it all the time.”

“There was something like that?”

“Yes… it was my secret, known only to me. But fifty years ago, someone destroyed it. And so, I was trapped here.”

“I see… So defeating the dungeon boss is the only way to get out, huh?”

“Indeed. But I can’t defeat it alone.”

Huh. A monster even the vampire Judith couldn’t beat—what kind of creature could that be?

“Do you have any idea who destroyed the circle?”

“None at all.”

Her expression was weary, resigned.

Someone had destroyed it on purpose—but why?

“…Actually, there is one possibility.”

She suddenly remembered something.

“I suspect the one who sealed Hero Ageha inside this dungeon. To make sure she could never escape, they probably destroyed the circle as well.”

The moment I heard the name Hero Ageha, my heart skipped a beat.

“You know Ageha, Lady Judith?”

“…I’m more surprised you know that name. Her era was long ago.”

She looked genuinely puzzled.

“I’ve only heard rumors. They say a girl was sealed inside this dungeon.”

“Well, she was a remarkable person.”

“She was?”

“Yes. After all, she was the hero who defeated the Demon King.”

Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning.

A hundred years ago, the Demon King was defeated by a hero—that was common knowledge among humans.

But the name Ageha? I’d never heard it.

In the history I knew, the one who defeated the Demon King was Hero Elysium. Everyone knew that name. It was legend.

“Kiska, what’s wrong?”

“It’s just… that’s not what I’ve learned. In my country, history says Hero Elysium defeated the Demon King.”

“Elysium… I think I’ve heard that name somewhere. Perhaps there was more than one hero.”

“Then, why was Ageha sealed in this dungeon?”

It was something I’d wondered for a while.

Why was she sealed here at all?

“Who knows? Probably the result of some quarrel among humans.”

Given how cut off from the world she was, it made sense that Judith didn’t know the details.

“But let me offer one warning,” she said solemnly. “Never break her seal. I can’t even imagine what might happen if you do.”

I couldn’t begin to guess why she’d say that.

“…Understood.”

I could only nod in response.

◆

From then on, the days of training with the vampire Judith continued for months.

Skill points have been used.
The conditions required for level up have been met.
Skill <Swordsmanship> has leveled up.
Swordsmanship Lv2 ▼  Swordsmanship Lv3

Skill points were steadily accumulating, and at last, my <Swordsmanship> skill had reached level 3.
“At this rate, the day we escape this dungeon together might not be so far off.”

Lately, Judith had begun to say things like that more often.

“That’s right. Once I’m strong enough, I’ll take you outside, Lady Judith.”

“Kukuku, you’ve learned how to talk, haven’t you?”

She laughed as she said it.

Maybe because we’d been spending so many months together, I felt like we’d grown quite close.

“Well then, I’ll get started on dismantling the monster.”

Saying that, I shrank the size of Puppetmaster to about the size of a knife and began the dismantling process.

At first, I struggled with dismantling, but now I had it down to a routine.

“Sorry for always making you do the dismantling.”

“No, I’m your disciple, Lady Judith. This much is nothing.”

“I see. Then, I’ll head back to the nearby hideout first.”

“Understood.”

With that, Judith left alone for the hideout.

By now, I’d become quite familiar with the dungeon’s internal structure. Naturally, I also knew where the hideout was located.

“That should do it.”

I murmured after finishing the dismantling.

I carefully squeezed out the blood Judith would drink into a special pot.

Then, carrying both the meat and the blood-filled pot, I made my way to the hideout.

“Oh my, that was fast.”

When I stepped inside, there stood Judith—completely naked.

Naked. In other words, unclothed.

She must have been in the middle of changing; she was holding something like a sheet in her hands.

Her skin was pale and clear, her two full, ample breasts, her silky long hair, and her sharp red eyes—
Everything about her was perfectly balanced, like a work of art.

I found myself staring at her naked body for several seconds.

And then it hit me—I was doing something very bad.

“S-Sorry!”

Panicking, I quickly stepped outside the hideout to get her out of my sight.

“Kiska.”

When Judith called my name, a bad feeling ran through my head—I thought I was about to be scolded.

“You have quite an amusing reaction, don’t you?”

But contrary to my expectation, she wore a mischievous smile, as if entertained by what she saw.

“Please, give me a break…”

All I could do was say that in defeat.

That only seemed to amuse her more, and she giggled softly.

 

◆

“Lady Judith, I’ll be going to sleep now.”

There was only one bed in the hideout.

So, when it came time to sleep, we always went to separate hideouts and slept in our respective beds—that was the rule.

“Kiska, why don’t we sleep together tonight?”

When she said that, I honestly doubted my ears.

“Uh, what’s brought that on?”

“No particular reason. I just felt like it, that’s all.”

“If there’s no deep reason, then I’ll just sleep in the usual hideout—”

“Kiska, you’re being unusually mean tonight.”

She pouted slightly.

That look was honestly unfair. It was cute, of course—but more than that, I knew that if I refused, I’d be haunted by guilt for the rest of my life.

“…Alright. Let’s sleep together tonight.”

Yes—just sleep together.

If it’s only sleeping, there’s nothing indecent about it.

That’s what I told myself as I lay down beside her.

“It feels like it’s been ages since the day we first met.”

“It really does…”

When we first met, I’d only thought of the vampire Judith as a terrifying being.
Now, thinking that she was the one lying next to me felt somehow surreal.

“Lady Judith, you tried to kill me when we first met, didn’t you?”

“Oh my, so you noticed?”

She said that with a small laugh.

She probably thought I’d simply sensed it—but in truth, I knew because she had actually killed me multiple times before.

“But please forgive me. Every human I’ve ever met has always tried to kill me on sight. I was only being cautious.”

“I don’t hold a grudge.”

She had killed me countless times—but thanks to her, I was who I was now.
If anything, I owed her gratitude, not hatred.

…Though, for just ‘being cautious,’ she sure seemed to enjoy it a bit too much.

“Hearing you say that puts me at ease.”

“…I see.”

“Hey, Kiska.”

She said, placing her hand gently on my cheek, meeting my eyes.

Those transparent crimson pupils drew me in.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

“When you saw me naked, what did you think?”

She smiled as she said it.

I could tell right away that she was teasing me.

“What did I think…? Well…”

“You can be honest.”

“I—I thought you were beautiful.”

“And?”

“I thought you were…gorgeous.”

“And?”

“Um…cute?”

“There’s more, isn’t there?”

“Uh…sexy, I guess…”

“Pervert.”

She whispered it softly into my ear.

I could feel my face burning red. Why did I have to go through this kind of embarrassment…?

“Please don’t tease me.”

“Oh my, forgive me.”

She said it, still laughing—a clear, bell-like laugh.

“Hey, what would you do if I said I’d show you again?”

“Show me… what?”

“What else could I possibly mean?”

After a brief pause, she spoke slowly—

“My naked body, of course.”

At that moment, I unconsciously realized—
a long night was about to begin.

“If I said I wanted to see it, would you really show me?”

“Ah, well, I suppose so……”

Judith the vampire blushed faintly, as if embarrassed at this late hour.

As for me, I was watching the situation as if it were someone else’s affair.

What came to mind were two people.

Beloved Namia, and Ageha, who had killed herself.

After all, because of Namia, I couldn’t help feeling resistance toward this kind of thing.

But if I rejected her, I was terrified it might end up like Ageha.

So what should I do in this situation?

“Um, Lady Judith. Do you remember the first time we met……?”

“And what of it?”

“I have a purpose of revenge.”

“Oh, that’s right, you did say that.”

When I first met her I had spoken of taking revenge on the villagers. She’d said it was interesting.

“My life now isn’t that bad.”

Although I couldn’t leave the dungeon, I wasn’t exactly destitute. If I had to pick a complaint, it was that the cooking was awful.

“That’s why I’m afraid.”

“Afraid, are you……?”

“If I keep living comfortably like this, I’m afraid the desire for revenge inside me will fade away.”

When I was being killed over and over by the armored bugbears, I cursed my fate.

I hated the villagers who’d put me in this situation with every fibre of my being.

But now?

I’d grown strong enough to beat monsters, and there was even a cute girl by my side. If I stayed immersed in this life, it felt so comfortable I might forget about revenge entirely.

“I like you, Judith. But I’m sorry. Right now, I can’t be that kind of person with you.”

That was my best compromise at the moment.

The word “like” wasn’t a lie. I really did think I liked Judith the vampire. But to move forward there were many loose ends I had to settle.

“…I see.”

She wore an expression of acceptance.

Good. It seemed she actually understood me.

“Then we’ll pick this up after your revenge is finished, won’t we?”

She said that, and then leaned over me──

“Nn.”

and kissed me.

It was a long kiss.

I think our lips were pressed together for almost a minute.

“Um… please stop. You’ll make me lose control.”

“As for me, I wouldn’t mind going all the way right now.”

I caught sight of Judith’s cleavage.

Really, it was damaging to the eyes.

“Don’t tempt me like that.”

“So you’re saying you’re aroused by seeing my body, are you?”

She pressed down on me from above, shifting her weight.

Her warmth and softness spread across my whole body. I felt the urge to hold her, but I resisted.

“I love you, Kiska.”

She kissed me again.

Looking into Judith’s eyes, I was certain.

There was no doubt her switch had been flipped. Her pupils were clearly those of a predator.

Even if I didn’t want it, she did.

If I stayed passive, I would certainly be overwhelmed.

Judging that, I tried to pull her off with both hands.

“Please stop!”

I said as I pushed back.

But she was many times stronger than me, so my resistance meant nothing.

“Saying it while making this bigger doesn’t make it very convincing.”

Pointing, she stroked what I had; her fingertips were unnaturally cold.

No good. If this continued, I’d drown in her. Even though my head told me that, my hands moved of their own accord toward her body.

A sharp, slicing sound echoed through the air.

At the same time, a spray of blood reddened my face.

“Don’t you dare.”

That was a third party’s voice.

“Don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me!!”

The voice of resentment went on and on without end.

Every word dripped with hatred.

“Why is it okay for her, but not for me!?”

The girl who shouted that was glaring straight at Judith.

“Ageha……”

Yes—standing before me was Ageha.

Why… why was Ageha standing right in front of me?

She should’ve been sealed away, unable to move.

No—wait.

There was one time. When she gave me the skill 【Save & Reset】, she appeared before me as a shadow.

It was the same now.

Her outline looked clearer than it had back then, almost solid, yet somehow hazy—her presence so vague that if someone told me she was a ghost, I would have believed it.

“Kiska, please run! She’s dangerous!”

I heard Judith’s desperate cry.

When I looked, her head and torso had been completely severed, and her head rolled across the ground. Even so, her mouth still moved.

As expected of a vampire’s vitality—she was still alive, even as a head alone.

“Shut up!”

And then, as if to finish her off, Ageha stepped up to Judith’s head and brought her greatsword down.

She swung it down again and again, smashing her skull to pieces until Judith finally stopped moving.

Before I knew it, her body had turned into something unrecognizably grotesque.

I couldn’t do anything.

The turn of events was too sudden—my mind couldn’t keep up.

What was I supposed to do?

“Kiska, I love you.”

She turned to me and whispered that.

Her eyes were empty. The word love was far too mismatched with the emptiness in her face.

“So if you ever get close to another woman, I’ll never forgive you.”

“—Huh?”

My vision went dark.

By the time I realized that Ageha had thrown a blade at me, I was already dead.

 

◆

“Hah—!”

That forced awakening that always came with dying and returning.

No matter how many times I experienced it, I could never get used to it.

“How far back did I go!?”

I looked around in a panic.

Behind me lay heaps of corpses—Bugbears, dozens of them.

“Haa… haa… haa… haa…”

My breathing was ragged.

Which meant I’d just finished fighting.

“…You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

I didn’t want to believe it.

Could it be that the months I’d spent living with Judith the vampire… had all been erased?

I opened my status screen to make sure.

〈Kiska〉

Skill 1: Save & Reset
Skill 2: Taunt Lv.1
Skill 3: None
Skill 4: None
Skill 5: None

Right before I died, all five skill slots had been filled. Now, they were gone.

“No… no, no…!”

I didn’t want to believe it. That all the effort I’d built up over the past few months had been wiped away.

“Ah… aah…”

For several minutes, I just stood there in shock, crying.

What had all that time even meant?

My memories of Judith streamed past like a revolving lantern—memories that had all returned to nothing.

“…Right. I’ll go see her.”

Muttering that, I stumbled forward on unsteady feet.

I’d go see Judith the vampire.

Maybe—just maybe—she’d still remember me.

Judith sat in the middle of the dungeon corridor, a table and chair set before her, a teacup in her hand.

Losing my skills was fine. Losing all the skill points I’d gathered by defeating monsters—I could bear that.

If only she still remembered me.

“My, how rare. An intruder actually made it this far.”

The moment she looked at me and said that, I knew.

Everything—the months we’d spent together—had been erased.

“Lady Judith, it’s me, Kiska. Don’t you remember me…?”

Still, clinging to a tiny shred of hope, I spoke.

Maybe, if I told her my name, she’d remember something.

“Oh my, what an odd greeting. I don’t recall having an acquaintance like you.”

Reality was cruel—she only tilted her head and replied.

“Ah… aah…”

The moment I realized there was no hope, tears spilled from my eyes.

It was all starting over again—from the very beginning.

“Ugh… uuuh…”

Damn it. I was breaking down inside.

The helplessness crushed my body until I wanted to throw everything away.

“…Are you all right?”

When I looked up, Judith was standing there.

Her eyes were suspicious, but she couldn’t seem to just ignore me, so she spoke reluctantly.

“Lady Judith, the great vampire… I have a favor to ask.”

That’s right—I’d redone everything before, hadn’t I?

My heart had broken countless times. But even then, I’d stood back up.

Until I completed my revenge, I wasn’t allowed to stop.

So I’d start again—from scratch.

“Please, make me your apprentice.”

I bowed my head as I said it.

What would she do? Maybe Judith the vampire would kill me outright.

Even so, I’d come to her again and again.

“………………”

A few seconds of silence.

No reply?

Thinking it strange, I lifted my head.

“Eh?”

Blood was gushing out.

Someone had slit Judith’s throat from behind with a blade.

Her body toppled sideways, and from behind her emerged a familiar shadow.

It was Ageha.

“If you get close to another woman, I’ll never forgive you.”

She whispered that—and swung her blade at me.

And once again, I was dead.

 

◆

“Damn it…”

I cursed as I came back from death.

What the hell was I supposed to do…?

‘If you get close to another woman, I’ll never forgive you.’ What the hell does that even mean?

“Fine. I’ll clear this dungeon alone.”

Don’t lose sight of your purpose, Kiska.

My goal is to escape this dungeon and complete my revenge on the villagers.

Judith the vampire is just one of the means to that end.

At this point, I should be able to get through the dungeon without relying on her power.

So for now—focus only on moving forward.