Karansa stood in front of the two, scrutinizing the little girl.
A child with only apprentice mage-level abilities—at least, that’s how it seemed.
The fact that she could survive here was extremely bizarre.
What had this little girl done to live in such an environment?
She didn’t know.
She had encountered far too many people during countless missions—those who lost their humanity just to survive were not few, and those were often the most terrifying kind.
She would not underestimate someone just because she was a girl.
“I… have no… ill intentions…”
The girl’s hoarse voice rang out again.
It sounded much better than the first time.
As for her defense, Karansa didn’t believe it, and Veronie believed it even less.
After entering this room, her mind had become much clearer.
It seemed there really was something in this room that could also prevent the Steel Angel from entering.
But standing before her, no matter how she looked, this was a powerless and weak human.
What did she rely on to survive?
“If I did, I wouldn’t have let you in. Messenger… will kill you all one day.”
The following words became a bit more fluent.
Perhaps seeing the resolute reactions of the two, and failing to defend herself, the girl turned her gaze to Vellandelle.
“I can feel that you are… a kind person. Would you… be willing to trust me?”
Vellandelle fell silent.
Why was she suddenly asking her?
Was she some naive fool?
Did just one look at her make people think she was a good person?
Of course, to be honest, when she first saw this little girl, her initial reaction wasn’t caution but rather heartache.
Heartache that she had suffered such pain, and she couldn’t imagine how she managed to live.
After some thought, Vellandelle spoke slowly.
“I want to trust you too, but you should at least have something to prove you have no ulterior motives toward us, right?”
“No… I do have ulterior motives toward you.”
The girl’s gaze grew heavy.
“In this Dungeon, time is frozen for the body. I don’t know how many years I’ve spent here—one hundred, two hundred… I’ve long since lost count.”
Her words made the others even more alert.
Lived for hundreds of years?
This was even more hellish than the Angel outside.
“I can let you survive here, but in exchange, I hope that Miss… can stay here with me…”
Maybe she was too nervous.
The girl’s hand trembled as she pointed at Vellandelle.
“Me?”
Vellandelle froze.
Veronie was also surprised, though not as agitated as before.
“Why?”
Vellandelle asked curiously.
She truly hadn’t expected that this little one wanted to help them just because she took a liking to her.
“Because I’ve never seen…”
“Seen what?”
“Such a radiant existence like you.”
***
She couldn’t remember how many years ago it was.
Kefir had gotten lost in the forest while chasing a butterfly.
Only after excitedly catching the butterfly in the sky did she realize she had wandered into a dense grove.
It was late, and the sky had grown dim—the time when wild beasts appeared.
Nervously, Kefir tried to find a way out, but a hungry old wolf had set its sights on her.
Kefir was chased through the forest, losing all sense of direction until she came upon a strange Dungeon.
Looking at the ancient building, Kefir initially thought it was an abandoned place.
She entered through a small door, hoping to escape the old wolf.
But from the moment she entered, it became her nightmare.
At first, luck was on her side.
She encountered a righteous Knight who helped her escape danger and taught her how to survive.
But as the days passed in endless darkness, Kefir grew more and more desperate.
Even the once pure Knight began to change.
One time, facing a monster, the Knight was overpowered and pushed Kefir out to save herself.
Unfortunately, the monster sensed only magic and chased the Knight instead.
In the end, the Knight was brutally torn apart, her face destroyed and her armor shattered.
Kefir seized the opportunity, found the monster’s weakness, and killed it with a Knight Sword.
But what she gained was the Knight’s hatred.
Facing the mad Knight who wanted to kill her, Kefir was powerless, her throat squeezed, pounded relentlessly.
Even her consciousness began to fade.
She called and prayed countless times, but it was all useless.
On the verge of death, her suffering attracted an ancient being.
That ancient existence bestowed upon her a pair of eyes—the True Sight Eyes—that could see through the soul.
When she awoke, the Knight was lying in a pool of blood.
She had survived, now possessing special eyes.
In the days that followed, she used these eyes to watch one lost soul after another.
Some were self-proclaimed righteous nobles, some Knights, others were sinners soaked in evil.
But here, their souls grew more and more tainted.
Acts against humanity became a daily sight.
She prayed countless times, wishing for true peace.
Once, a god responded.
She was told that by finding a pure soul, she could escape this place.
So once again, she regained hope for life.
***
“So you’re saying only those with pure souls can open the exit to leave here?”
“What, I’m a pure soul?”
Vellandelle’s thoughts and Veronie’s were completely different.
This explanation did clarify why the girl wanted to help them.
Of course, it could also be a lie.
Veronie remained wary.
She wasn’t worried about leaving—she had absolute means to escape.
She was here only to uncover secrets.
Even if the girl had no intent to deceive, it was uncertain whether the information was true.
But to these Lost, it had already become the only salvation.
“Where is this place? Why can’t the monsters outside enter?”
Veronie phrased it more tactfully.
She called them monsters instead of Angels.
She’d heard the girl’s earlier term, ‘Steel Angel,’ and now ‘Messenger.’
Did she also know the Steel Angel’s identity?
“This is the Prayer Room of the God of Suffering. Because it’s a god’s room, Messengers don’t dare enter. Oh, and I should remind you—that’s not a monster. Outside the door is a Divine Emissary, charged with destroying all evil.”
“As long as you’ve prayed to the god and bear the god’s aura, you can stand with the Divine Emissary outside and be safe.”
Veronie raised an eyebrow.
God of Suffering?
Wasn’t it supposed to be the Disaster God…?
But the God of Suffering was still active today, unharmed.
“Huh? What do you mean, the Divine Emissary of the God of Suffering? Isn’t it the Disaster God? Don’t all Faren worship the Disaster God?”
Even though Karansa wasn’t a scholar, she knew these basics.
“What is the Disaster God? From the beginning, haven’t the Faren always worshipped the Lord of Suffering?”