Chapter 2

―――46th Floor

Gwooooh! Ggagggoooh!

The presence of the approaching monster fills me with the certainty of death. I can't move a muscle, and I listen to the thudding footsteps while enduring the intense pain in my leg.

(Fuck. Fuck! Fuck!!)

Tears stream down my face, unceasing. Before me is "death," and my "rage" at my own powerlessness.

I'm surprised by how little hatred I feel toward Kyle and the others. No, to be precise, I've even given up on the idea of revenge.

This is something I brought upon myself. I shouldn't have entrusted my "dream" to anyone else... Despite the injustice, it feels like everything is my own doing.

Gwooooh!!

In front of me stands a formidable monster, a dragon wielding an axe...

(Soldier Dragon...)

Facing this "S-Rank" monster for the first time, the thought of death flashes through my mind.

"Ah, I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die! Someone... Dad... Mom..."

I call out to my parents, who are no longer in this world.

Grrrooooh!! Gah!!

(Why? Why me...?)

The efforts I've made and Kyle's words flash through my mind like a slideshow. Learning water magic to provide everyone with water, and fire magic for torches and campfires—all of it seems futile now.

"Luke, just leave it to me."

"Hey, Luke, your parents were great people."

"We're leaving you behind, Luke."

All these words were nothing but lies. I believed them... Despite his somewhat domineering nature, Kyle was important to me.

The Soldier Dragon raises the axe in its hand. Sharp fangs, vicious claws, and scales that look impenetrably hard.

(Why did it come to this...?)

As I mutter this in my heart, a surge of hatred for Kyle and the others finally wells up. It's the first time in my life I've felt such hatred, and it's born in the face of my impending death.

"I won't forgive you... Never..."

I no longer feel the pain in my leg. It doesn't matter anymore.

Because I'm about to die...

Accepting the approaching "death," I close my eyes, and a tear rolls down my cheek. The thought of seeing my parents again makes my heart feel a little lighter.

Thud, thud, thud, thud... Boom!!

Opening my eyes to the cacophony of sounds, I see the Soldier Dragon, pierced by a light arrow and a black arrow, about to fall.

Kaboom!

It collapses with a loud noise, dissipating into a black mist, leaving behind only a large magic stone.

"...Huh?"

I don't understand what just happened, but the fact that I'm still alive brings tears to my eyes again.

"...Are you alright?"

Turning my head at the voice from behind, I see a girl looking at me with concern.

Six black feathers on her left side and six white feathers on her right. Black hair and eyes on the left, and lustrous golden hair and eyes on the right. She is both ominous and divine, terrifying yet warm. Her slender body is adorned with ample breasts, and her beautiful limbs are slender and supple.

She is like an angel and a demon at the same time. If I could only say one thing to this contradictory being, it would be...

"You're beautiful..."

Her beauty is so overwhelming that it makes me forget about my near-death experience, the betrayal, the pain in my leg, the blood on my face, and even the most important thing to me, my "dream."

My breathing is labored, and my heart is pounding.

"Are you okay?"

She approaches slowly, releases my restraints, and whispers,

"‘Heal’"

The wound on my leg, inflicted by Kyle, heals rapidly. I am captivated by her every movement, but I realize I haven't thanked her and hurriedly open my mouth.

"Ah, thank you... so much..."

"No..."

Even as she murmurs, I can't take my eyes off her. She looks at my face, tilts her head slightly, and opens her mouth.

"Are you a 'god'?"

"...No, I'm not."

"You smell like a 'god'..."

"Huh...? What? No... I can only do 'laundry'..."

"‘Laundry’...?"

Even though I've been saved, I realize that the only thing I can do is 'laundry,' and I bite my lip hard.

She tilts her head again. Her large, differently colored eyes catch me, and her plump lips look seductive. Her black and white dress suits her well, accentuating her cuteness.

Feeling helpless, I laugh through my nose and open my mouth.

"‘Laundry’ means... washing away dirt from clothes and objects."

I say this with a self-deprecating tone, but she makes a thoughtful gesture, saying "Hmm..." She circles around me for a while, then suddenly opens her eyes wide and leans in with her flawless, beautiful face.

"Can you... ‘wash away’ my ‘sins’?"

"‘Sins’?"

"I foolishly rebelled against God and was cast out as a fallen angel. I can't go above this floor... I no longer desire to return to Heaven... I just want to see the sun and the moon one more time..."

She looks up sadly, but there's no way to see the sun or moon in the dungeon. I want to help her, but I don't think my 'laundry' has the power to do so...

(She was also cast out...)

I feel a strange sense of kinship. I was also cast out by those guys and left here. She has been confined in this dark, ominous dungeon for a long time.

"I want to repay you for saving me, but I don't have that kind of power... I was just abandoned by my so-called 'friends' a moment ago."

"What a foolish thing to say... I sense a sacred aura from you... Normally, this place is filled with many 'dragon-like' creatures. We can't chat so leisurely here."

She doesn't seem to be teasing me. There's no benefit for her to lie, and I can see a faint trace of trust in her eyes.

(It's the same as when Dad always said, 'Luke will be fine!!'... )

The familiar feeling makes my eyes well up.

(She believes in me...)

The reason doesn't matter. It's just incredibly gratifying to be needed by someone...

"Are you okay?"

She peers into my face, meeting my gaze. I smile at the beautiful fallen angel who suddenly appeared.

(I'll give it a try...!! Acting on impulse is one of my few strengths!!)

"I'll give it a try! I've never ‘washed away’ anything other than dirt before..."

"It will be fine. You will do well because I was drawn to your aura and came to this place!"

She smiles for the first time, her cheeks slightly flushed. She is breathtakingly beautiful and irresistibly cute.

My face is probably flushed too, but I need to focus. This is different from my usual tasks. I need to wash away her 'sins'...

"Your ‘sins’ are...?"

"I foolishly rebelled against God..."

I take her hand. It's a bit cold and slender, and I hold it tightly.

(I can do this. It will be fine. I need to visualize it...)

"‘Laundry’"

As I chant, particles of light dance in the dungeon. It's like countless tiny fireflies, which only exist in my hometown, are flying around.

"Amazing... So beautiful..."

Her black and golden eyes shine. It is indeed beautiful... This is completely different from my usual 'laundry.'

The particles of light envelop her. Despite being in the dungeon, a gentle breeze caresses my cheeks, and I can feel her hand gradually warming up.

The swirling light slowly merges with her body, becoming one.

"Beautiful..."

She looks so content with her eyes closed in the light, and the words slip out of my mouth.

The light slowly merges with her body. Her black feathers, black hair, and dress gradually change color.

As I confirm that everything has merged, I open my eyes wide at the completely transformed her.

Twelve shining white feathers on her back. Her beautiful golden hair, which glows even in the darkness of the dungeon. Her pure white dress, her outstanding figure, and her slowly opening eyes, which are like golden stars in the night sky.

Tears stream down her finely textured, slightly flushed cheeks, but her face is filled with a bright, sunny smile.

"I am Lucifer... I am Lucifer. I finally remembered my name... Thank you so much... I believed in you from the moment I found you..."

Beautiful droplets run down her slightly flushed cheeks, but her face is filled with a bright, sunny smile.

I'm glad it worked.

I'm glad I was saved.

I'm glad to see this smile.

I'm glad I could be of help to someone...

"Thank you for saving me. I'm Luke Bonaparte. I'm glad you believed in me!"

Her cheeks turn a deep red.

"Luke-sama's power is divine! Only a god could erase my ‘sins’! Please call me Lucifer. No need for formalities! I hereby swear absolute loyalty to you!"

Lucifer, still holding my hand, pulls it to her ample chest, speaking rapidly.

Her deep gratitude is evident, but my heart rate spikes, and my face turns red as I realize I'm touching such a beautiful woman's chest, and I can't fully process what she's saying.

: "Luke Bonaparte"

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