Just before installing the Black Obelisk he had received from Tona, Sage Saito was on high alert.
If the mastermind behind the Dungeon Terrorism or one of their subordinates had managed to infiltrate the conquest party, now would be the best—or rather, the last—opportunity for them to strike.
Once the Black Obelisk was installed, it could not be easily destroyed.
It was an extremely sophisticated Magic Tool created by the Master. Once it took root in a dungeon, it became functionally indestructible; even if the physical obelisk were shattered, it would simply regenerate from its roots.
If the mastermind was a traitor among the collaborators, they would certainly be aware of that.
That was precisely why they would see this as their final window for interference. Once the Obelisk was active, the danger level of this dungeon would plummet.
(If the culprit intends to use this dungeon to trigger a massive Stampede, they would want to avoid the installation of the Obelisk at all costs...)
Up to this point, Saito had managed to fight with very little consumption. For a dungeon of this caliber, such progress was nothing short of miraculous, even if they were only on the Shallow Floors.
(Though, that is largely thanks to Junkie-niki-dono...)
The most significant factor was that after entering the Kobold fortress, Takeo had defeated almost every enemy single-handedly.
Because of that, even if Saito were to be attacked by a collaborator of similar level to himself, he should have no problem holding them off until Zenichi or Kurage-chan could rush to his aid.
(So far, there is no sign of anyone launching an attack...)
Standing at the furthest depths of the Audience Chamber, in front of the crater the Leveling Junkie Bro had gouged out, Saito stole a glance behind him.
The conquest members who had followed him this far were all standing at a distance. None of them appeared to be on the verge of taking any sudden action.
However, he did not lower his guard. While constantly monitoring the area behind him through an application of Spatial Magic, Saito turned back toward the crater and retrieved an Item Cube from his Spatial Storage.
The Item Cube containing the Black Obelisk—an ultra-high-capacity storage item entrusted to him by Tona—was far too precious to risk losing. Consequently, he kept it stored within a pocket of space via Spatial Magic at all times rather than in an Expansion Bag.
Saito held the cube over the bottom of the crater and activated it to manifest the Black Obelisk.
The monolith appeared in mid-air and slammed into the center of the crater with a heavy thud.
Immediately afterward, countless intricate lines of light, resembling electronic circuits, began to race across its surface.
(............)
He focused his awareness on the scene behind him, which he continued to monitor magically. Takeo had started walking toward him, but he didn't seem to be in a hurry. The other members were watching with interest, and while they looked surprised, none of them showed signs of hostility or intent to attack.
(...Was I overthinking it?)
Was there no traitor among the group that had stormed the fortress? Or was it possible that no one in the entire conquest party was a traitor after all?
(No, I cannot let my guard down yet.)
Saito remained vigilant until the very end. He kept a close eye on his surroundings while observing the Obelisk's activation.
Lines of light pulsed across the monolith's surface like a beating heart. This lasted for only a few seconds.
The next moment, the Obelisk erupted with an even more intense brilliance.
Starting from the base of the crater, the circuit-like lights spreading from the Obelisk’s surface raced outward. They surged across the floor of the Audience Chamber, climbed the walls, raced across the ceiling, and—though he couldn't see it from there—spilled out of the chamber, through the fortress, and out into the open air. The light continued to expand until it had saturated the entirety of Floor 1 of the Sendai Castle Ruins Dungeon.
The light moved at near-instantaneous speed, blanketing the floor in a heartbeat.
『Whoa!』 『What is this?!』 『Wait, it’s glowing like crazy! Is this safe?!』 『This isn't some trap by the Dungeon Master, is it?!』
From the drone camera floating near Saito, the VOICEROID voice read out the incoming comments.
The entire first floor—literally the floors, walls, ceilings, the ground, the trees, and even the sky—was now covered in electronic light, pulsing with a steady rhythm.
This spectacle would persist until the alteration of the floor was complete.
However—
(What does this mean? The roots have already taken hold. There was no attack... Does this mean I truly was just being over-cautious?)
The Black Obelisk had struck its roots throughout Floor 1.
Now that the process had reached this stage, it was impossible for even Saito to remove the Obelisk from the dungeon. In fact, it would likely be impossible for anyone other than the Dungeon Master himself.
This territory was now officially under the Master's management.
The anticlimactic conclusion left Saito stunned for a brief moment.
However, he quickly snapped out of it and turned around. Takeo and Sakura were approaching him, their eyes scanning the glowing environment with curiosity.
"Saito-san, is the installation complete now?"
When Takeo asked, Saito nodded in response.
"Indeed, it should be finished. The Obelisk will handle the rest on its own... probably. By the way, do you two have some business with this one?"
When he asked, Takeo and Sakura looked at each other.
"Ah, Sakura-san, you go first."
"No, my business is of little consequence. Please, Takeo-sama, you first."
"Uh, is that so? Well then, if you say so..."
After the polite exchange, Takeo turned back to Saito.
"Saito-san, actually, it's about the drop items from the monsters we defeated on the way into the fortress..."
"Hm? Ah, come to think of it, we didn't have the luxury of time to collect them."
"Yeah. And it looked like quite a few Skill Orbs dropped, too. I thought it’d be a waste to just leave them there....Would it be alright if I went back to pick them up?"
"Hmm..."
Saito considered the request for a moment.
At this point, his suspicions regarding Takeo had almost entirely vanished. While he still harbored a natural wariness toward the Pleasure Killer's reputation, the fact that Tona and the Headshot Yakuza trusted Takeo was enough to convince him that the man wasn't a traitor.
(The surveillance will be interrupted if we move separately for a while, but... well, there shouldn't be a problem.)
"Very well," he said with a nod. "I don't mind. Even if we head to Floor 2, it won't be until after we regroup with the Professor and the others, so we’ll be idle for a while anyway."
"Really! That helps! Well then, Hinata and I are going to do a quick lap around the fortress."
"Indeed. Although there are likely no monsters left, this is still a dungeon. One never knows what might happen, so please be careful."
"Right, got it!"
Takeo nodded energetically, then spun on his heel and walked away.
Next, Saito turned his attention toward Sakura.
"Now then, Sakura-dono. What did you wish to speak with this one about?"
"Ah, yes. I was a little curious and wanted to ask the Sage something."
"I see. And what would that be?"
"What... is that thing over there?"
With a graceful gesture, Sakura pointed toward a far corner of the Audience Chamber.
Saito squinted in that direction. A corner of the dimly lit room. What could possibly be there? Even peering closely, he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.
"Sakura-dono, what do you mean by 'that thing'? This one cannot see anything..."
"Um, near the corner of the ceiling. Look, right there."
Sakura leaned in close to Saito, extending her arm from right beside him to point toward the rafters.
"Heh."
The moment she drew near, the pleasant scent wafting from Sakura stimulated Saito’s nostrils. Combined with an appearance that looked like nothing but a beautiful woman, his face naturally went slack with a faint, lecherous grin.
『Saito, your face is melting.』 『You had that kind of hobby?』 『I'm actually jealous.』 『Trade places with me!』
(No, this one normally prefers women, so being led astray by Sakura-dono's charms is... then again, as an otaku, if it's an otokonoko, I’m entirely 'good to go.' If they’re as cute as Sakura-dono, then male or female—it hardly matters... No, no! Either way, this one must remain pure to maintain my skills, so I cannot lay a hand on them...!!)
While engaging in such trivial internal conflict, he peered toward where Sakura was pointing, saying, "Hmm, where would that be, Sakura-dono—"
"How odd. I don't see anything—"
Thuck.
"—ere?"
Thuck, thuck.
"Hup! ♡ Hup! ♡"
A sharp pain lanced through his abdomen.
While making adorable little sounds, Sakura was plunging something into Saito's stomach.
Looking down, he saw a knife gripped in Sakura's hand being driven repeatedly into his belly. He hadn't seen where she had produced it from.
"————!?"
Agony. A searing, white-hot agony flared. At the same time, confusion set in. Why? Why now? But he didn't have time to search for answers.
Saito moved instantly, batting Sakura away with one hand while leaping backward to put distance between them.
"Kyaa! ♡"
The impact of landing made the wounds in his stomach scream. But it was more than just the physical trauma. His vision swam, and the world grew distorted.
Unable to stay standing, Saito collapsed to his knees.
"Guh!?"
(This sensation—!! Don't tell me, poison... No, is it a deadly toxin?!)
Even without checking his Status, he could identify the status ailment Ravaging his system.
"How cruel~! Whatever are you doing so suddenly, Mr. Sage? ♡"
Having performed a theatrical tumble onto the floor, Sakura discarded her former refined persona, wearing a mocking, playful smirk instead.
『What?!』 『Hey, Saito, what the hell are you doing?!』 『Is Sakura-chan okay?!』
Comments worrying about Sakura poured out from the drone floating near her—
『Saito, that’s uncalled for.』 『You shouldn't be violent toward a girl!』 『Wait, calm down lol. Sakura-chan isn't a girl lol.』 『You should apologize—wait, what?』 『Wait? Isn't there blood coming from Saito's stomach???』 『Huh? No way.』 『Whoa—!? For real!!』 『What happened, Saito?!』
The viewers of Saito's channel finally noticed that the Sage was bleeding.