The deeper levels of the haunted dungeon were vastly different from the upper floors.
The corridors had gradually become wider.
The walls older.
The darkness thicker.
Ancient runes glowed faintly beneath layers of dust accumulated over centuries.
The air itself felt heavier.
Every breath carried traces of ancient mana.
The kind that lingered in forgotten places where countless lives had been lost.
The party continued forward.
Karos led the front.
Lucien remained beside him.
Luna occupied the center.
Valeryn guarded her flank.
And Kel watched everything from behind.
The deeper they traveled, the fewer monsters appeared.
That should have been reassuring.
Instead—
It made everyone more alert.
Because experienced adventurers knew one thing.
When weak monsters disappeared—
Something stronger usually occupied the territory.
Eventually—
The corridor ended.
A massive stone gate stood before them.
Ancient symbols covered its surface.
The gate itself had partially collapsed from age.
Only fragments remained standing.
Beyond it—
An enormous hall revealed itself.
Everyone stopped.
Even Karos grew silent.
The chamber was gigantic.
Large enough to hold an entire academy building.
Hundreds of ancient pillars stretched upward toward darkness.
The ceiling was so high it vanished into shadows.
Broken statues stood throughout the hall.
Some depicted warriors.
Others depicted strange beings no longer remembered by history.
Moonlight entered through cracks high above.
Silver beams illuminated parts of the chamber.
Dust floated lazily through the air.
The atmosphere felt ancient.
Forgotten.
Mysterious.
And strangely beautiful.
Lucien slowly whistled.
"Now this is impressive."
Karos nodded.
"I'll admit."
The black-haired noble looked around carefully.
"This is much larger than I expected."
Meanwhile—
Luna adjusted her grip on her staff.
Something about the room bothered her.
The feeling lingered in the back of her mind.
A warning.
An instinct.
Yet she couldn't identify why.
Valeryn's crimson eyes swept across the hall.
The noblewoman observed every shadow.
Every pillar.
Every possible ambush location.
Kel silently did the same.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren spoke.
"Something is here."
Kel nodded internally.
"I know."
The goddess became curious.
"Will you tell them?"
"No."
A brief pause.
"They need to notice things themselves."
The party slowly spread out.
Searching.
Investigating.
Exploring.
Soon—
Treasure appeared.
Several old chests hidden near broken statues.
Ancient weapons.
Rare materials.
Monster cores.
Mana crystals.
Nothing extraordinary.
Yet valuable enough to justify the trip.
Karos laughed.
"Now we're talking."
Lucien immediately began inspecting a crystal.
Luna started cataloging items.
Valeryn carefully checked a weapon rack.
Everything appeared peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Then—
Kel stopped moving.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The center pillar.
The largest pillar in the chamber.
Something was wrong.
The mana there felt strange.
Unnatural.
Almost alive.
The atmosphere shifted.
Subtly.
Dangerously.
Then—
Movement.
A crack appeared upon the giant pillar.
Everyone froze.
Another crack followed.
Then another.
Then—
A beautiful woman stepped from the stone.
Silence filled the hall.
Complete silence.
The figure looked human.
Perfectly human.
Long silver hair flowed down her back.
Her skin appeared flawless.
Elegant black clothing covered her body.
Gentle crimson eyes looked toward the party.
The woman seemed fragile.
Delicate.
Beautiful.
The kind of beauty that immediately attracted attention.
Even Karos blinked.
Lucien looked surprised.
Luna frowned.
Valeryn narrowed her eyes.
Meanwhile—
Kel's hand tightened slightly around his sword.
The woman smiled softly.
"Travelers..."
Her voice sounded gentle.
Almost musical.
"I've been alone here for so long."
The words echoed through the chamber.
The atmosphere softened.
The tension lessened.
The woman lowered her gaze.
"I was beginning to think nobody would ever visit again."
Karos looked uncertain.
Lucien appeared equally confused.
The situation felt strange.
Yet the woman seemed harmless.
Very harmless.
Far too harmless.
Then—
Kel spoke.
His voice cut through the atmosphere like a blade.
"Do not lower your guard."
Everyone immediately looked toward him.
The silver-haired young man never took his eyes off the woman.
"Maintain formation."
The command carried unusual seriousness.
Karos immediately obeyed.
Lucien did the same.
Luna moved slightly closer toward the center.
Valeryn's hand settled upon her weapon.
The beautiful woman smiled sadly.
"Why are you treating me like this?"
Her expression appeared hurt.
Lonely.
Vulnerable.
"I haven't done anything."
Kel remained expressionless.
"Exactly."
The woman blinked.
The answer confused her.
Then—
The smile disappeared.
Instantly.
The gentle atmosphere shattered.
Like glass.
Because she realized something.
These humans weren't approaching.
They weren't relaxing.
They weren't being charmed.
They weren't making mistakes.
And that was a problem.
A very big problem.
The beautiful face twisted.
The elegant body distorted.
Bones cracked.
Flesh expanded.
Silver hair transformed into writhing tendrils.
Crimson eyes became enormous glowing orbs.
The woman vanished.
A monster emerged.
A horrific creature nearly five meters tall.
Countless limbs extended from its body.
Rows of sharp teeth filled its massive maw.
The beauty from moments earlier disappeared completely.
The true form revealed itself.
A Devouring Siren.
One of the most dangerous charm-type monsters found in ancient ruins.
The creature screamed.
The sound shook the chamber.
"Formation!"
Kel's voice echoed immediately.
The party moved.
Without hesitation.
Karos charged first.
Valeryn followed.
Lucien began casting.
Luna prepared support magic.
The battle began.
The next hour became chaos.
Pure chaos.
The monster was powerful.
Far more powerful than anything they had faced previously.
Its charm magic continuously attacked their minds.
Its physical strength rivaled high-ranking monsters.
Its regeneration bordered on absurd.
Yet—
The party adapted.
Again and again.
And again.
Karos blocked devastating attacks.
Valeryn severed limbs.
Lucien destroyed regeneration points.
Luna maintained healing and support.
Meanwhile—
Kel continuously directed the battle.
"Left side."
"Karos, retreat."
"Valeryn, now."
"Lucien, target the exposed core."
"Luna, reinforce Karos."
His instructions arrived calmly.
Precisely.
Like a commander directing a battlefield.
The others trusted him.
Instinctively.
Because every instruction proved correct.
Every warning saved time.
Every order created opportunities.
Eventually—
The monster began weakening.
Its regeneration slowed.
Its movements became sloppy.
Its screams grew desperate.
Then—
The final attack arrived.
Karos shattered its defenses.
Valeryn severed its arm.
Lucien blasted open the chest.
Luna immobilized it.
And Kel finished it.
One clean strike.
The monster collapsed.
Silence returned.
Heavy breathing echoed through the hall.
The battle was over.
Everyone sat down.
Exhausted.
Covered in dust.
Sweat.
And monster blood.
Karos laughed first.
A tired laugh.
Then he shook his head.
"I'll admit something."
The black-haired noble leaned against a pillar.
"When that thing first appeared..."
He pointed toward the dead monster.
"I was charmed by its beauty."
Lucien immediately nodded.
"Same."
The silver-haired inventor looked embarrassed.
"That creature understood exactly how to lure people."
His gaze moved toward the corpse.
"It approaches as something beautiful."
"It earns trust."
"It draws victims closer."
"And then..."
The young noble sighed.
"...it kills them."
Kel cleaned his sword.
Then casually spoke.
"Remember this."
Everyone looked toward him.
The silver-haired young man sheathed his blade.
"Beauty is always a trap."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Karos froze.
Lucien froze.
Luna froze.
Valeryn froze.
The next few seconds felt strangely dangerous.
Then—
Luna's eyebrow twitched.
Valeryn's eyebrow twitched.
Simultaneously.
Karos immediately stepped backward.
Lucien immediately stepped backward.
Both recognized danger.
Ancient danger.
The kind no dungeon monster could match.
Meanwhile—
Kel noticed the reactions.
Confusion appeared.
"What?"
The black-haired mage stared.
The crimson-haired swordswoman stared.
Neither looked pleased.
Then Karos covered his face.
Lucien turned away.
Both attempted not to laugh.
Failed.
Miserably.
Kel looked even more confused.
"What?"
Valeryn slowly stood.
Her voice sounded calm.
Far too calm.
"Aedon."
"Yes?"
"Repeat what you just said."
The warning signs became obvious.
Unfortunately—
Not to Kel.
The silver-haired young man answered honestly.
"Beauty is always a trap."
Silence.
Then—
THUMP.
Valeryn stomped.
Hard.
THUMP.
Luna stomped too.
Both immediately collected their treasure shares.
Neither looked amused.
Neither looked pleased.
Neither looked interested in continuing the conversation.
Karos looked toward the heavens.
Praying for strength.
Lucien nearly died from holding back laughter.
The two girls started walking toward the exit.
Without waiting.
Without speaking.
Without looking back.
Kel blinked.
Then looked toward Karos.
Then Lucien.
Then the retreating girls.
Then back toward Karos.
"What happened?"
Karos laughed.
A lot.
Lucien laughed harder.
Eventually—
Both patted his shoulders.
Sympathetically.
Very sympathetically.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren burst into laughter.
The sacred lake itself rippled.
"Kel..."
The goddess struggled to speak.
"Do you even know how rude that sounded?"
Kel frowned.
"No."
That answer somehow made everyone laugh harder.
The silver-haired young man crossed his arms.
"I simply stated a fact."
Seiren continued laughing.
"In front of two beautiful women."
Kel looked toward the exit.
Then back toward the dead monster.
Then toward the exit again.
His confusion only increased.
"I was talking about monsters."
The goddess laughed harder.
"That's not how they heard it."
Kel sighed.
Humans were complicated.
Far too complicated.
Then he finally replied.
"Even if someone gets offended, the lesson remains important."
His expression became serious.
"People should understand these dangers."
A brief pause followed.
"Especially when dealing with monsters."
The goddess gradually calmed.
Though amusement remained.
Kel continued walking.
Following the others.
"Besides."
His silver eyes reflected ancient memories.
"This isn't the first time women have reacted like this."
Seiren immediately became interested.
"Oh?"
A faint smile appeared.
Rare.
Subtle.
Amused.
"The noble parties taught me many things."
Far away.
Long ago.
Many times ago.
Many banquets.
Many political gatherings.
Many dangerous conversations.
Kel had learned one universal truth.
Monsters were easier to understand than noblewomen.
And somehow—
After today's events—
That lesson continued proving itself correct.