Shortly after that, a dome of black mist expanded outward.
This sensation... It was Girimehkala's curse boundary. I had wondered why he had yet to show himself, but as expected, he had stepped in. Well, it would have been far more unnatural if he hadn't. Besides, his curse boundary wasn't something easily shattered. It also kept information from leaking outside, making it quite convenient for us.
Granted, it did bring some minor inconveniences. The barrier's formation had thrown the positional data Belze went through the trouble of sending me into complete disarray. Even so, the reason I could remain this composed was because word had just reached me that Laila had been secured by Deimos, completely unharmed. According to his report, while searching the ruins outside the curse boundary, Deimos had found her fast asleep with color in her cheeks.
Of course, given the timing, there was definitely something going on behind the scenes. Or rather, considering how utterly unsubtle the method was, the ones they kidnapped were probably my subordinates in disguise. If that was the case, continuing this fight held no purpose beyond simple pest control.
However, they had dared to lay a hand on someone close to me. In that case, I would crush them, twist them, and tear them apart. Thoroughly enough that not even a single weed remained.
"Great One-chama. I found it for you-dechu."
Belze's voice echoed in my mind. At the same time, a vivid map and visual projection of the complex layout within the curse boundary appeared before me.
Not that it mattered, but Girimehkala had really gone overboard. Still, being this thorough meant not a single one would escape. As long as Laila was safe, that was fine by me.
Sprinting along the designated route on the map, I came upon a massive, grotesque structure of pulsating, crimson flesh.
The one who tried to kidnap Laila had to be inside this distasteful building. Judging by its sheer vulgarity, it certainly wasn't human. Most likely, a sentient undead had emerged and run wild.
"How utterly foolish."
In a world overflowing with true powerhouses, I couldn't fathom how anyone could construct such a thing without a shred of shame. It was practically begging to be exterminated.
I used Divine Eye to survey the interior. Two people—a man and a woman—lay atop a large platter with only a single cloth covering them, accompanied by Belze, and a monster with a round, balloon-like physique wearing otherworldly spectacles known as sunglasses. There was also a sickly-looking chef and a butler. It seemed that balloon-shaped man in sunglasses was the ringleader.
Come to think of it, the two shedding tears on that platter were my teammates. Hmm. I had threatened them, so I assumed they had given up and gone home, but it seemed they had ended up captured by these trash undead instead. Leaving them to die would leave a bad taste in my mouth. Might as well wrap this up quickly.
I drew Murasame from my back and took a high guard. For obliterating this structure, that technique was the most suitable.
After confirming with Divine Eye that no other humans were present, I locked onto everything except Belze, the two captives, and the balloon-like man.
"True Kai-Style Swordsmanship: One-Sword Style, Seventh Form—World Destruction—Kai."
I brought Murasame, shrouded in a black aura, sweeping down toward the building. The moment the casually swung blade made contact, a black wave of collapse rippled across the entire structure, utterly obliterating every trace of it.
In an instant, the area was reduced to a vast, barren wasteland.
Before me knelt the fly-man, a lone table stood untouched, and the balloon-like man let out a shrill scream.
Amidst this surreal sight, the battle-crazed entities of the Subjugation Compendium surrounding the perimeter dropped to their knees before me in unison.
"You have done well."
When I offered those words of appreciation, every single one of them bowed their heads deeply.
"Now then, all that's left is to dispose of you."
With merely a glance from me, the balloon-shaped man in sunglasses began to tremble violently.
"Have mer—Gyaaaahhhh?!"
As he tried to spit out a plea, I closed the distance and severed his right arm.
A piercing shriek echoed across the flattened expanse of Area 5.
"Have mercy? What nonsense are you spouting? You attempted to rob me of something precious. Even if your power is utterly negligible, you will pay the price, without exception."
I felt nothing more from him than the strength of a common goblin roaming the fields. A piece-of-trash undead of this caliber would eventually be exterminated by Babel or the Hunter Guild if left alone. However, this creature had attempted to harm someone dear to me. I was not so softhearted as to let such a pest walk away.
"Why, is this DEEEATH?!"
"Hah?"
"Why, why, why, why am I feeling pain, is this DEEEATH?! I am supposed to be immortal! There is no way I should feel pain—!"
As he rambled on, I sliced off his left arm as well. Rolling across the ground, the balloon-like man in sunglasses writhed in agony.
"Shut up with your endless noise. As if I care about your wretched physiology. Immortal or not, the moment you angered me, you guaranteed your absolute demise."
"This cannot be... DEEEATH..."
Staggering backward, he shook his head side to side, his face contorted in sheer terror.
"Hah?"
"There is no way someone like me could ever be destroyed, is this DEEEATH?!"
As he shrieked and tried to leap backward, I severed both of his legs clean at the base. Once again, a scream tore through the air.
Looking down at him, I said:
"You're going to die right here. Pathetically, miserably, dying all alone. But... I have some rather unfortunate news for you."
I delivered his final notice.
"Unfortunate news...?"
To him, merely parroting my words, I continued:
"It's that I have no intention whatsoever of granting you a clean, simple death."
Having handed down his death sentence, I lowered my stance and pointed the tip of Murasame behind me. Then, I began channeling magic into the blade.
This technique was a heretical art that struck directly at the soul. Even in that Easy Dungeon, I had only used it a handful of times. I reserved it primarily for moments when I judged an existence to be truly unnecessary. This balloon-like man in sunglasses was completely worthless to me. Besides, I couldn't risk letting him escape only to target Laila later. I would exterminate him permanently right here.
"N-Nooooo!"
With all four limbs severed, the balloon-like man in sunglasses turned his back to me and attempted to flee by floating into the air.
"True Kai-Style Swordsmanship: Eighth Form—Shiranui."
Murasame flashed in a single line, cleanly slicing through him vertically from the crown of his head. The wound instantly expanded, entirely swallowing the balloon-like man in sunglasses.
Though it looked simple, this was the Eighth Form—Shiranui. An exceedingly dangerous art that directly attacked the soul. It was another technique I had acquired while registering entities into the Subjugation Compendium. It carried various strict limitations and likely wouldn't work against the truly powerful, but against small fry of this level, it functioned without issue.
Good grief. With this, that pointless exam—that farce—was finally coming to a close.
"All of you did well. You have my thanks. We'll hold a banquet later."
When I expressed my gratitude, the entities of the Subjugation Compendium bowed their heads in unison once more before returning inside the compendium.
Turning my gaze toward the fly-man who remained kneeling, I spoke:
"Belze, I'll leave the rest to you. Give those pieces of trash sneering in the shadows the finest hospitality possible."
I gave the order that would seal their absolute doom.
"By your will-dechu."
Nodding heavily, Belze vanished like smoke.
I approached the two trembling atop the platter, sliced through their bindings with Murasame, and pulled clothes from my Item Box before tossing them over.
"Well then, shall we head back?"
Even I wasn't heartless enough to leave behind two people who had completely lost their will to fight. I decided to escort them to the plaza.
"..."
"..."
To the two of them, who remained frozen in utter silence, I said:
"What's wrong? Aren't you coming? If you want to make your own way back from here, that's fine with me."
"W-We're coming!"
"Me too!"
When I asked them again, they hastily threw on their clothes and scrambled after me with desperate expressions.
Shrugging my shoulders, I began walking toward the plaza where Rose and the others were waiting.