The air inside the dungeon was damp and cold.
Drops of water slowly fell from the jagged stone ceiling, echoing through the long corridor like the ticking of a clock. The deeper one went, the darker and heavier the atmosphere became.
Kaito Renji adjusted the strap of the worn leather bag on his shoulder as he walked behind the rest of his party.
As always.
Behind everyone else.
At the front walked their leader, Ryuji Kurose, his long sword resting casually on his shoulder. His confident steps echoed through the dungeon corridor.
Behind him was Hiroto Masuda, the party's tank, carrying a massive shield that almost looked too heavy for a normal person.
Further back was Airi Kurosawa, their mage. Her dark hair swayed gently as she walked, a staff glowing faintly with magical energy held loosely in her hand.
Finally, at the rear beside Kaito, Yuna Tachibana moved silently, her bow ready and eyes constantly scanning the shadows.
This was their formation.
It had always been their formation.
And Kaito had always been the weakest among them.
"Stay alert," Ryuji said without turning around. "We're approaching the lower level."
A faint tension filled the group.
Lower levels meant stronger monsters.
And stronger monsters meant higher rewards.
But it also meant greater danger.
Yuna suddenly stopped.
"Something's wrong," she said quietly.
Everyone halted.
Kaito immediately gripped the short sword at his waist.
"What is it?" Hiroto asked.
Yuna narrowed her eyes toward the darkness ahead.
"I smell something… strange."
Airi frowned slightly.
"Monster?"
Yuna slowly shook her head.
"…No."
Then she said the word that made the entire group tense.
"Demons."
Silence fell instantly.
Demons rarely appeared in normal dungeons.
When they did, it usually meant something very bad.
Ryuji's expression hardened.
"That's impossible. This dungeon shouldn't have demon activity."
Airi's eyes darkened.
"Unless…"
Her voice stopped.
Because suddenly—
Heavy footsteps echoed from the darkness ahead.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The sound was slow.
Calm.
Confident.
Then shadows began to move.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Figures slowly emerged from the darkness.
Tall.
Humanoid.
But their eyes glowed with a crimson light that clearly did not belong to humans.
Demons.
And there were many of them.
Hiroto immediately raised his shield.
"Damn…"
Airi quietly whispered a spell under her breath, magical energy gathering around her staff.
Even Yuna's normally calm expression stiffened.
But Kaito noticed something worse.
The demons weren't attacking.
They were just standing there.
As if waiting.
Then another figure stepped forward from behind them.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
He was taller than the others, his long black coat flowing slightly as he walked. His silver hair reflected faintly under the dungeon's dim light, and two dark horns curved slightly from his head.
His crimson eyes slowly scanned the group.
Then he smiled.
A calm, amused smile.
Kaito felt a chill run down his spine.
Because he instantly understood.
This demon was different.
Much stronger.
Much more dangerous.
Airi's face suddenly turned pale.
Her voice trembled slightly.
"…Raizen."
Ryuji stiffened.
"You know him?"
Airi nodded slowly.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"One of the Six Demon Calamities."
Silence crushed the group like a weight.
The Six Demon Calamities.
They were not ordinary demons.
They were generals.
Monsters that could destroy entire armies.
And one of them was standing right in front of them.
Raizen looked at them as if observing a group of small animals.
Then he chuckled softly.
"Well, well."
His voice was calm.
Almost amused.
"Humans wandering into this dungeon… I must say, I didn't expect such an interesting encounter."
No one moved.
No one dared move.
Because everyone knew the truth.
They had no chance.
None.
Hiroto tightened his grip on his shield.
Ryuji slowly raised his sword.
Even knowing it was hopeless.
Raizen watched them quietly.
Then he tilted his head slightly.
"Relax."
His smile widened slightly.
"I'm not particularly interested in killing you."
The party froze.
Not killing them?
Raizen continued casually.
"But I will offer you something."
His crimson eyes slowly moved across each of them.
Then he raised a finger.
"Leave one of you behind."
Silence.
Raizen continued.
"And the rest of you may leave this dungeon alive."
The words echoed through the corridor.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
But Kaito felt something inside his chest tighten.
Because he already understood.
Understood what everyone else was thinking.
Ryuji looked down slightly.
Hiroto clenched his teeth.
Yuna avoided looking at anyone.
And Airi…
Airi was the first to speak.
Her voice was calm.
Cold.
"Realistically speaking… we cannot defeat him."
No one argued.
Because it was the truth.
She continued.
"If we all fight, we die."
Hiroto growled.
"So we just sacrifice someone?!"
Airi looked at him calmly.
"If we all die, the information about the demons here dies with us."
Her gaze slowly moved across the group.
Then it stopped.
On Kaito.
Just for a moment.
But it was enough.
Kaito felt it.
The shift in the air.
The unspoken conclusion.
Ryuji looked troubled.
"This isn't right…"
But his voice lacked conviction.
Airi spoke again.
"Think about it logically."
Her voice remained calm.
"Who contributes the least in combat?"
Silence.
Hiroto clenched his jaw.
Yuna looked away.
And Kaito…
Kaito slowly lowered his eyes.
He already knew.
Of course he knew.
He had always known.
He was the weakest.
The slowest.
The least useful in battle.
Ryuji spoke quietly.
"…Kaito."
The name felt heavy in the air.
Kaito looked up.
Their eyes met.
There was guilt there.
But also decision.
"I…"
Ryuji hesitated.
But Airi finished the sentence.
"He's the only logical choice."
The words cut deeper than any blade.
Kaito said nothing.
Because what could he say?
That he deserved to live more than them?
That he was useful?
Even he knew that wasn't true.
Raizen watched the entire scene silently.
Then he laughed softly.
"Ah."
"How fascinating."
Humans truly were entertaining creatures.
Kaito slowly stepped forward.
"Fine."
Everyone froze.
"I'll stay."
Hiroto looked shocked.
"Kaito—!"
But Kaito shook his head.
"It's fine."
His voice was calm.
But inside, something hurt.
Something cracked.
Yuna avoided his gaze completely.
Airi said nothing.
Ryuji looked like he wanted to say something.
But he didn't.
Raizen smiled.
"Good."
"Very good."
He stepped forward slightly.
The other demons moved aside.
"Then the agreement is complete."
He waved his hand lazily.
"Humans, you may leave."
The party didn't move at first.
Then slowly…
Ryuji turned.
Hiroto hesitated.
Yuna followed.
And Airi walked away without looking back.
Kaito stood alone in the corridor.
Watching their backs disappear into the darkness.
The people he trusted.
The people he fought beside.
Gone.
Just like that.
Raizen observed him quietly.
Then he spoke.
"Tell me, human."
"Do you hate them?"
Kaito said nothing.
He simply stared at the empty corridor.
His chest felt strangely hollow.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"…I don't know."
Raizen chuckled softly.
"How honest."
Then he looked down at Kaito.
"Come."
"Your life belongs to me now."
Kaito slowly turned.
And for the first time…
He looked directly into the eyes of the demon calamity.
Something dark flickered there.
Not fear.
Not despair.
Something else.
Raizen noticed it immediately.
His smile widened slightly.
"…Interesting."
Maybe this human would prove far more entertaining than expected.
And so—
The weakest member the party sacrificed…
Began walking toward the demon realm.