"Absorb."

The former knight, now on his knees and gasping for breath, glared defiantly at me despite his condition. Losing life energy so rapidly causes an overwhelming sense of weakness, and it takes incredible mental strength to endure it.

"What... did... you... do...?"

Ten seconds—he lasted that long. That deserves some recognition.

"Spend the rest of your days reflecting on the crimes you've committed."

Leaving the immobile former knight behind, I descended the stairs leading to the underground. The passage was shrouded in darkness.

Area Light.

A glow radiated from me, illuminating a 20-meter radius.

The stairwell led to a corridor, its walls dotted with alcoves—perfect spots for ambushes. However, thanks to the map displaying their locations, any attempt at concealment was futile.

"Absorb."

Those hiding in the shadows fell one by one without resistance as I advanced deeper.

At the end of the corridor was a door. Behind it stood three figures: a grim-faced human dressed like nobility, a massive bear-like beastkin warrior, and a diminutive maid who could easily be mistaken for a child.

"You won't lay a hand on the boss!"

The bear beastkin’s shout clarified something: while they referred to him as the "boss," he wasn't the real one. For the beastkin, he was simply their leader.

The beastkin charged toward me. A collision with his massive frame would send someone like me flying—but only if it hit.

Area Saint Barrier.

"What!?"

The Area Saint Barrier, though designed primarily to trap ghost-type monsters, worked just as well on others. It could even contain a red dragon. The bear beastkin pounded against the invisible walls of the barrier in frustration, but it held firm.

"So, you've decided to strike here..."

The grim-faced human stared at me bitterly.

"You should choose your enemies more carefully," I replied.

"It seems so."

The man's fingers subtly moved on the table, triggering a mechanism. The floor beneath me gave way to a trapdoor.

"..."

"Sorry, but I can fly."

With my Fly spell, the trap was entirely ineffective.

"Heh... I surrender. Do as you will."

The man raised his hands in a gesture of defeat.

"Never thought I'd see the day when I, a top executive of Night Crow, would surrender to a kid."

His grim face wrinkled further in frustration.

"Ha, who’s a top executive? You’re just a decoy. You may look the part, but the real top executive is her—the maid."

I smirked at the diminutive maid.

"..."

"..."

The Target Search feature highlighted the maid, not the man. Its accuracy was undeniable, and it confirmed she was the true target.

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

Feigning ignorance won’t help you.

"Well, it doesn't matter. You, the bear, and the maid—all of you will die here."

"W-Wait! I admit I've done terrible things, but this maid—she’s just someone we abducted and forced to work! Look at her neck—it’s marked with a slave collar!"

Desperate, huh? But your desperation only confirms the maid’s true identity.

"Enough."

"!? Boss..."

"I am the one you seek."

"I already knew that."

I’d been saying that all along.

"What do you intend to do with me?" the maid asked.

"I told you—kill you."

"I don’t want to die."

"You tried to kill me. Isn't that convenient logic?"

She was truly shameless.

"If I die, many will be left to fend for themselves."

And? Saying you don't mind killing me but want to live is selfishness at its finest.

"The money I earn feeds orphans. If I die, they’ll starve."

"And in return, you turn those orphans into assassins, don’t you?"

"Yes, because otherwise, they wouldn’t survive. Once grown, they can’t secure decent jobs."

"You think mentioning orphans will make me spare you? That’s wishful thinking."

"I hoped it would."

"...And all the while, you’ve been trying to charm me into sparing you. Do you think I’m a fool?”

The maid had been attempting to use a charm spell on me. Unfortunately for her, the divine protection of Amalia, the goddess of creation, nullified it.

"If you have nothing else to say, die."

Sage Stone, Absorb.

"Stop!"

The grim-faced human shielded the maid, his body bearing the brunt of the spell.

"Urgh..."

Despite collapsing to his knees, he still desperately protected her. I stopped the Sage Stone.

This human... isn’t charmed? His eyes showed clarity.

Analyze.

A soft light surrounded the bear beastkin, the human, and the maid.

"What is this!?"

The human strained his heavy body upright, still shielding the maid.

"…"

I couldn’t help but admire his resolve.

"Borombo, you’ve got a loyal subordinate there."

"He’s too good for someone like me."

That’s true.

"Out of respect for this man, I’ll give you a choice."

"How do you know my name...?"

Analyze provided the answer.

"You can become my subordinate or die here. Pick one."

"What!? You can’t make the boss—"

"Silence."

"..."

Borombo silenced the man.

"If I agree to serve you, will you spare me and my men?"

"Yes. But as my subordinate, you must follow my orders."

"Understood. I will serve you."

"Betray me, and I’ll make you regret it to the point you’ll beg for death. Understood?"

"I accept."

Contract.

"The pact is sealed. From now on, I expect your loyalty."

At that moment, Pal appeared silently behind me. Her presence, undetectable by sound or sense, was only noticeable thanks to Target Search.

"Pal, Borombo has joined us as a subordinate."

“Another loli? Despite having me, why do you always go after lolis?”

“I am NOT a lolicon!”

Pal, honestly, this ruins the atmosphere.