What an exquisite vase, Ferris admired the clay display. Despite its dirty appearance, Ferris could tell that it was masterfully made underneath all that dirt.

After walking around the underground warehouse, he quickly realized that there wasn't any form of security, let alone actual people.

So while trying to find an exit, he made short but plentiful stops at certain artifacts.

Such as the vase in front of him, which clearly depicted a dragon, even the vase's arms were designed like a dragon's wings.

A dragon, then it's definitely a blessing user, Ferris assumed.

If you had a dragon blessing in the past, then you would be practically playing deity.

After an understanding nod, Ferris continued off into the endless hallway.

While walking, he took out his coat's compartment, which revealed the dagger he brought with him, or rather the one he stole from that rabid villain he showed mercy to.

But with his current power, he can't use it to devastating effect, thanks to the parasite.

Even Ferris was a bit displeased that the person controlling Kerio's corpse saw him as no threat, that they didn't even bother taking his one and only weapon.

Well... at least that meant his phone was still safe with him.

What would I ever do without it... Ferris shook his head slowly.

After walking a good distance and not finding anything that could tell him directions, Ferris decided to stop in front of another artifact.

This time, it was a luxurious golden sword that shined among the other things displayed or in storage.

Ferris paused.

It's abandoned.

So there's no harm in taking it, as long as it's for good.

Taking the sword carefully by grabbing it by the handle and the flat edge of the blade, Ferris began glancing at everything about it.

Very shiny indeed, too shiny for his taste, but better than a dagger.

But it was strangely light, which off-put Ferris. However, in his old world, there were certain enchantments or forging techniques that could create a sturdy, yet flexible and light blade.

This must be one of them! Ferris rejoiced, immediately swinging it down with extreme force coming from his raw muscles.

Clang!

Unfortunately, as he did so, the blade detached from the handle, causing the metal to rumble against the floor and create booming noises that echoed throughout.

. . .

Crap...

No one heard that, right?

Ferris quickly picked up the blade and saw a particular extrusion from its base.

A screw? It's attached to a screw! Ferris glanced at the place where he got the sword from and saw a dusty plaque.

When he began reading it, he understood why the sword was so flimsy.

Turns out, it was a custom-made sword prop given to a famous actor as a birthday gift. Unfortunately, the plaque tells that it was that actor's last birthday.

Ferris swallowed his cold saliva and politely placed the broken sword back before walking away.

I sure hope the sword doesn't become a cursed one... Ferris thought, because there were cursed weapons that existed during his old life, though he never used them.

Objects imbued with the soul of vengeful spirits.

How depressing.

Ferris apologized silently, then his eyes caught something familiar in one of the corners.

It was another steel door, but it wasn't the same one he came out of. Approaching the door, he pressed his ear on it and listened.

There's nothing. I can't sense anything beyond it, too.

Ferris found the handle and unlocked the door, and when he pushed it open, there was a golden shower of light that drenched him.

Gold, gold, gold bars!

It was the exact same layout he was previously in, only this time, the cell was filled with stacks and stacks of pure gold bars.

. . .

Shut!

A knight shouldn't steal.

But even still, Ferris couldn't help but memorize where the gold was.

Too many temptations. I need to find my way out of here...

Forgoing the quiet and hushed steps, Ferris picked up his pace to a jog, twisting and turning along the hallways and corridors.

He hoped to find a staircase that led up, but the lack of it began to plague his mind, knowing that this was likely an underground area beneath the museum.

The architects must've chosen a much more secure way of coming in and out, so instead of a flight of stairs, an elevator might've been built.

How the hell did that woman get here and out? Ferris groaned, doubting his chances of finding an exit would get higher.

But just as he was about to give up, he accidentally tripped on another ancient vase and caused it to fall down and shatter.

"!!!" The cultural history! Ferris broke into a cold sweat as he witnessed the murder he just committed.

Kneeling down, he checked to see the extent of the damage. However, there was something strange about the vase.

Although his essence detection was stunted because of the parasite, he could still barely see the aura.

It was in the form of a red mist. Though barely noticeable, it was slowly evaporating out from each of the broken shards.

It wasn't the putrid essence of aberrants, nor was it the essence of mortal beings.

It just felt powerful to look at—extremely dense essence that was actually visible in the color spectrum.

"It's... flowing somewhere?" Ferris muttered, as he saw the red mist moving in a particular direction.

I don't see why not.

He grabbed one of the larger pieces and used it as a sort of compass.

He followed the red trail until it led him to another steel door not too far from his previous location.

The pull was definitely stronger, as he began to see the red mist flowing in a sharp, straight line.

The mist impacted the steel door, chipping it bit by bit from the impact, as if the mist was acting like a drill.

Ferris touched a spot near the impact and immediately retreated his hand from the heat.

Hot.

Ferris grabbed the handle and slowly pulled it open just in case.

Boom.

However, he was suddenly blown away as the door opened wide.

His senses were now overwhelmed by a blazing warmth, making it hard to properly breathe.

In his hand, the broken piece of pottery suddenly increased its temperature, causing him to release his grip as he saw the shard burst into a cloud of red dust that shot toward the opened door.

Ferris got back up and pushed through the force being released from the door. It was hard to see what was in front of him, but he was determined to see what was beyond that door.

He grabbed onto the door frame as he shielded his eyes.

His eyebrows shot up once his eyes took in the gaping view.

Instead of a room, it was an extremely large cavern that was nearly the size of the museum itself.

Despite the lack of lights, the entire area was lit up by a crimson glow that came from the center of it all.

That's...

A very large egg.

***

"So, what are you doing here again?"

A soft voice flowed its way inside Kerio's corpse, but he was undeterred by its seduction, choosing to focus entirely on the tea in front of him.

"Passing time. I'm waiting for that man to decide," he responded.

They were inside a warmly lit space. Its architecture was refined, much like a duke's mansion with its chandeliers and ornate decorations.

There was only a single door in one of the four walls that surrounded them, and only a large dinner table and ten high-back chairs.

Lilith was sitting in the host's seat dressed in her mourning gown, while the corpse was sitting right beside her in the guest of honor seat. Beside him was Lumine, silently standing by.

There was also a wheelchair-bound figure, clumsily using a phone, and a large warrior that only wore a helmet and a loincloth.

Lilith spoke, "I gave you three chances to interfere with the city, and you still haven't shown me any results. If that man doesn't relent, I'll happily provide assistance~"

"Absolutely not. You shall not touch my properties.

And remember.

I only answer to your higher-ups,

not

you," he said with a clear tone.

Although, despite the sour tone, Lilith wasn't affected by it. "You came to me and offered your expertise in exchange for becoming a proctor, but you did no management work whatsoever!

The only thing you did was experiment on the newbies and hope for the best results."

"Our contract is nearing its end anyway, is it not?"

Lilith smiled when she heard those words. "I know. This city has run its course. I've recruited enough villains, so this last exam will be the end of it all...

I deserve a vacation after this. I'm itching to go beaching at City 1."

"Haven't you reached your quota already? You could simply dissolve the barrier and let them slaughter each other," the corpse advised.

"I did, but the surplus will be my personal soldiers.

I made the test simple: be the last ten people alive.

After that, I'll make them mine.

But I have my eyes on a particular girl. I heard she was the daughter of some conglomerate?

Then again, I'm also interested in a particular man I saw spying on me. I wonder if he's still alive..." Lilith laid back and closed her eyes while massaging her dark horns.

After that, she met her gaze with the corpse once more. "My colleagues say that you have multiple bodies. Is that true? I'm disappointed that you chose this one. Couldn't you have come using a more handsome one?"

"I have many bodies, and a lot of them are more beautiful than you," the corpse smiled underneath.

"You rat!" Lilith shouted.

"Silence your mouths," the crippled swordsman spoke with a heavy voice as he tapped the pommel of his sword that was leaning beside him.

"I can't hear this opera with your loudness," he said, staring at a phone.

Lilith blinked. "Then just turn up the volume button, you old man."

"The volume button?"

Click.

Unfortunately, the man clicked on the wrong one.

"You've cursed my device with death, woman!"

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