I couldn’t help but wonder—could this device heal more than just wounds? If someone with a chronic illness were to come near it, would it heal that, too?

These were idle thoughts, but something else nagged at me.

It made sense that this device lacked features like a shop or forge. After all, who would collect the money if items were sold, and even if it could modify weapons, who could wait around here for hours or even days?

But something else was more concerning.

In the game, recovery devices scattered throughout dungeons acted as markers to prevent players from getting lost. Usually, the path to the objective was straightforward, but as the dungeons grew more complex in later levels, even experienced players could end up wandering aimlessly.

So, the latest entries in the series had introduced these marker systems.

The recovery devices would remain inactive until players approached, then light up and stay active until the dungeon was cleared. Seeing a glowing device meant, "You’ve already been this way."

Granted, it seemed unlikely that someone would get lost in a game with mini-maps.

But now that this game had become reality, had things changed? Could this device have been running for thousands of years?

Or…

Perhaps someone had already passed through here.

I looked at the large stone doors leading into the boss chamber.

In the original story, they weren’t locked. They would open automatically as the player approached, though the exact mechanism was never explained.

Probably magic.

“Are you all ready?”

I turned to face the group.

Claire, who had been admiring the dungeon’s interior; Alice, examining the recovery device; and Leo, watching me expectantly—all looked my way.

Bella, who had been leaning against a wall, also turned her attention toward me. At some point, she’d placed the relic back in her bag, though its glow was subdued by the intense light from the recovery device.

“It seems we’re at the heart of the ruins. If the ancients built this to protect something…”

“...then there’s likely a powerful guardian or security system inside,” Alice added, glancing back at the recovery device.

I nodded.

Whether the device had reactivated because someone passed by recently or had been running since ancient times, its durability was undeniable.

The state of these ruins, the lingering perception-dampening magic—it all hinted at a once-great civilization, far more powerful than the Empire.

As I checked my shotgun one last time, the others inspected their own weapons. All three wielded swords, but each was distinct. Alice’s was a broad two-handed blade sturdy enough to double as a shield, while Leo’s and Claire’s were slimmer, manageable even with one hand.

While they all used variations of the Grace family’s swordsmanship, Leo’s approach was more straightforward, whereas Claire’s had a trickier, more unpredictable style.

…Technically, I should enter last, but considering I’d be using a shotgun, that might not be ideal. It wasn’t a magic weapon, so firing from behind could risk hitting the others.

Bella’s style was different from the rest. Though she used a sword, her reach made her more suited to mid-range attacks. Leaving the rear to her wouldn’t be a problem.

And if things went wrong, I could always rewind time.

“Are you all set?”

Everyone nodded, gripping their swords firmly. I stepped up to the doors.

As soon as I touched the surface, a light spread outward from my hand, tracing geometric patterns like circuit boards across the stone. The glow only lasted a few moments, but it was clear the device was working.

After a moment, the doors began to open with a low, rumbling sound, scraping against the ground.

A faint vibration traveled through the floor, and some sand drifted down from the ceiling. For a moment, I worried it might collapse, but finally, with a heavy thud, the doors were fully open.

Inside was a brightly illuminated chamber.

From the abundance of slimes we’d encountered, I assumed the boss would also be a slime.

That assumption was half-correct. The floor was slick with a viscous substance, like the residue left behind when Lena had fought that slime.

It was… the remains of one.

“…Is that a person?”

Standing in the room, surrounded by the slimy remains, were people.

Or, rather, multiple figures.

“…What the…”

Bella muttered under her breath.

“…Father…?”

The voice behind me was Alice’s.

“Father? Alice’s father?” Claire sounded shocked.

“So then…”

Leo whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.

Standing in the deepest part of the dungeon, facing a tall figure whose shoulders were more than a head taller than mine, was a man with golden hair, meticulously parted and groomed.

His beard was trimmed neatly along his jawline, giving him an appearance that was both youthful and mature. His piercing blue eyes, calm and unreadable, exuded a serious, almost intimidating aura.

“To surprise my daughters, I made some preparations, but alas, I couldn’t give you a proper welcome due to these unwelcome guests.”

The Emperor’s tone was jovial, even with the ominous figures in front of him.

“Y-Y-Y… Your—Your Highness?!”

Leo stammered, his voice stumbling like a scratched record.

Under normal circumstances, calling out so informally would have warranted reprimand.

But our Emperor didn’t seem to mind.

“A child of the Grace family, I assume? It’s the first time I’ve seen you in person.”

The Emperor’s demeanor was almost casual as he asked the question.

From the glow inside his red cloak, it was clear he, too, had brought an imperial relic.

“…Did you leave the enemies here on purpose?”

“If I’d marked my path, you wouldn’t have been as surprised.”

The Emperor smiled, as if he’d read my expression of shock.

“…”

“Let’s save the reunion for later.”

As the Emperor spoke, I could hear Leo struggling to catch his breath. Being born into nobility wasn’t always as easy as it seemed.

Though, it was probably better to be born into a respectable family than one with mixed blood.

Keeping one eye on the Emperor’s opponent, I raised my shotgun.

The figure standing against the Emperor… their age was hard to guess. Judging by their frame, they didn’t seem to be a man. Unless they were deliberately cross-dressing, this was unmistakably a woman.

She wore a plain white mask with nothing but two dark holes for eyes. Black fabric draped from the mask, leading into a robe that flowed down to the floor. She looked almost like a character from a famous space opera franchise—if only her robes weren’t so tattered at the hem.

From her slender shoulders to her hips, her build was delicate. Even through the robe, her chest was prominent enough to make her gender clear at a glance.

She stood there silently, not even making a sound.

In one hand, she held a sword. Like the Emperor’s and Alice’s, it was a long, double-edged blade, though it appeared quite old, with chips and nicks along the edge.

“…”

Even as she faced the Emperor of the Empire, she showed no signs of hesitation or fear.

Who… is she?