There's a cave to the north of the sword village where the thieves reside. In reality, the leader of these thieves has been replaced by one of the demon king's henchmen.
In this case, following the typical pattern of enemies in erotic games, they kidnap young girls from nearby villages and subject them to humiliation, a very straightforward and despised behavior.
Interestingly, this event starts right after the game begins, and as time passes, the girls from the sword village start disappearing one by one.
The first girl disappears the day after the protagonist stays at the inn for the first time.
During the first playthrough, due to the strong enemies on the way to the cave and inside the cave, players often fight a bit, retreat, and rest. This makes progressing through the event without any girl being abducted quite challenging, even with a bit of luck.
However, during subsequent playthroughs, players can easily defeat the enemies in the early cave. Consequently, they often prioritize confronting the thieves first.
Nevertheless, the demons that appear in Demon Lord Regnos generally don't kill humans and refrain from causing severe injuries. Humans aren't considered enemies from the demons' perspective. They are more like pets, and demons often show affection toward humans they like. However, this affection is usually of a sexual and sadistic nature.
Naturally, the demon posing as the leader of the thieves wouldn't kill the kidnapped village girls. When the thieves are defeated, the abducted girls return to the village unharmed, resuming their normal lives without any lasting effects.
However, their dialogue changes. They talk about how they were violated by the thieves and are now defiled.
While situations like this might be acceptable in a game setting, in our current realistic world, they can be distressing, especially when you know that you can save them.
The demon pretending to be the leader of the thieves in this cave is one of the final bosses, Gangal of Purgatory, one of the demon king's four heavenly kings.
In the first playthrough, the protagonist easily loses to the revealed Gangal, who then departs. This is what's typically known as a defeat event.
However, this defeat event isn't forced. During subsequent playthroughs, players can defeat Gangal.
But wait, this boss is allowed to be defeated. And Gangal is the type who kidnaps village girls and continues to violate them…
Perhaps it's worth trying this out.
I adjusted the clothes I left on the bed and put the mirror back into the item box. I entrusted the key to the innkeeper and left outside.
The sun is still high. Maybe it's before noon?
First, I'll visit the weapon and armor shop.
The initial cloth outfit is actually not for sale. While its stats are no different from other cloth outfits, it has a unique design.
It's a shame for a one-of-a-kind item to go to waste, so I'll buy new armor.
With my current defense, I don't really need armor, but I can't go around naked.
…Huh, exposure stuff… No, no, not the time for that now.
At the armor shop, after buying the inexpensive "Leather Armor" following the cloth outfit, I was handed something of significantly larger size.
It clearly doesn't fit someone petite like me.
"Isn't this a bit too big?"
"What's the matter, young miss? Is this your first time buying equipment?"
Oh? Did I do something wrong?
"It is my first time…"
In this run, that's not a lie.
"Equipment automatically adjusts its size among party members for reuse, you know. You'll see when you put it on. Will you equip it here?"
"Oh, yes."
I see. In games, characters of different builds and genders often wear the same armor.
Alright then, let's equip it… Wait.
To equip it, I need to take off the cloth outfit first and then put on the leather armor…?
In front of the shopkeeper?
E-Exhibitionism? Already?!
I can feel my face getting hot. I must be blushing intensely right now.
I didn't think I'd be this much of a novice. I was fine being naked in the inn, but it's a whole different story when people are watching.
Is there anything I can do?
Leaving the armor shop… wait, changing outside would be worse.
Could I quickly equip the leather armor from the item box? But when I checked, the just-purchased leather armor wasn't in the item box. There was only one I kept for item completion.
Do I have to "obtain" the leather armor first? Would it be weird if the armor just disappeared suddenly?
By the way, can anyone use the item box? Is it a privilege only for player characters? Is it okay to use it in public?
Hmm, hmm, what should I do?
"N-No, it's a joke. You can change back at the inn."
The shopkeeper seemed troubled by my intense blushing and spoke up.
I see. I can change in the inn's room then.
However, since this is an erotic game, I'll be controlling a girl's body, and I plan to do various lewd things in the future.
Every beginning has its challenges.
It's not that interesting to just let the armor shopkeeper tease me.
.
.
.
With determination, I swiftly removed the cloth outfit, revealing my underwear.
"Hey, hey?"
Quickly, I put on the leather chest armor. The moment I put it on, the armor shrank slightly, fitting my body perfectly.
Once I wear the chest armor, there's nothing I need to hide anymore.
"Don't do anything reckless, young one. It was quite the feast for the eyes, though."
Seems like he got an eyeful. My face is still burning.
By the way, not all parts of the leather armor are made of leather. It's sewn onto the cloth outfit.
Furthermore, the armor comes in separate pieces: the chest armor, a hat, gloves, and sturdy boots. When I equipped them, their sizes adjusted to fit my body perfectly.
When I checked my stats, I had indeed equipped the leather armor.
Alright, I don't need anything else from this shop for now.
It's embarrassing to look at the shopkeeper's face.
I picked up the removed cloth outfit and the leather boots and hastily left the shop.
Later, behind the shop, I put the removed equipment into the item box.
I left the village and headed towards the cave where the thieves reside deep in the forest.
Even though it's my first time this time, it's a familiar path.
Passing through the trees, I approached the entrance of the cave, which is difficult to spot unless you get relatively close. I used magic.
"Perfect Concealment"
Simultaneously, my entire appearance disappeared along with my equipment. I can't see the body that should be visible when I look down.
'Perfect Concealment' is the highest level of stealth magic among concealment-type spells like 'Camouflage' or 'Silencing'. It not only hides your appearance but also erases sound and smell, leaving no footprints.
There's a chance higher-level opponents might detect you as you get closer, but I'm level 99, so I'm not worried.
The effect lasts for thirty minutes or until you take hostile action against something. It's an unexpected attack, so it might cause significant damage.
Confirming my own disappearance, I started walking towards the cave again.
Before long, I could see the entrance of the cave and two guarding thieves standing there, but they didn't notice me.
I'll continue into the cave like this.
Upon entering the cave, a map of this cave appeared in my head, just like the menu.
It's a mini-map that's part of the core functionality of Demon Lord Regnos, only displayed in dungeons.
Normally, it only shows the area you've walked through, but since I carried it over from my new game, the entire cave is visible.
Several points are marked on the map, with white dots representing me and red dots representing hostile NPCs or monsters. Although not visible now, blue dots are non-hostile NPCs, and gray dots are party members.
It's fine, the blue dots indicating non-hostile NPCs in the rooms used as prison cells aren't visible.
Confirming the presence of a red dot in the room where the leader of the thieves is, I head straight there.
In the late afternoon, the leader and a few thieves would move towards the village, leaving the cave empty.
Since I don't need to fight the leader as part of the story progression, there's an option to enter the cave during their absence. Additionally, with Perfect Concealment, I could avoid fighting altogether. However, this time, my goal is to minimize harm to the village, so that's not an option.
The cave has lanterns placed here and there, making it quite bright. After all, this is where the thieves live.
Compared to outside, the temperature is cooler.
Is this also a result of the hyper-realistic interface? It seems the temperature changes depending on the location.
Reaching the innermost room, I indeed found the leader. They seemed to be having a meal. Right, it's about lunchtime.
With this feeling, I approach the pile of treasures haphazardly stacked in the back of the room.
Using Perfect Concealment, I search around silently.
Before long, I find what I'm looking for. It's a palm-sized, round, blue stone called the Blue Seal.
I quickly put it into the item box. I select it with my gaze and "obtain" it.
Objective related to the main story has been achieved. Next is the leader of the thieves.
I casually walk up and kick the leader's back as they eat, causing them to be blown away. At the same time, the effect of [Perfect Concealment] wears off, revealing my presence. But it's a complete surprise attack, so there's no issue.
The leader, along with the table carrying his meal, is sent flying with tremendous force and crashes into the cave wall. He was stuck to the wall for a while but eventually fall to the ground with a thud and end up lying on his back.
Alright, now it's time to reveal myself and…
...
They're not getting up. Huh?
Could it be that they're dead?
In previous playthroughs, even if I blew the leader away with a powerful attack, they would transform into their true form, the Gangel of Purgatory, seemingly unharmed. I thought the same would happen this time too. Moreover, in Demon Lord Regnos, creatures other than monsters aren't supposed to die when their HP reaches zero.
…I'd hate for things to be this hyper-realistic.
I cautiously approach and lightly kick the leader. Just weak enough not to deal any damage.
"Hello? Are you dead?"
I even call out.
In that moment, the leader's eyes snap open.
Whoa. That startled me a bit. Like something out of a horror story.
"Hehehe… You're quite something, catching me off guard," he says while rising up as if floating, reciting the lines I've heard multiple times in previous playthroughs. Well, I should say, Gangel.
His form starts rapidly changing.
He's about three meters tall now. His head touches the ceiling of the cave.
His skin turns a coppery red and his muscles swell and bulge all over his body. Two horns sprout from his head, while countless fangs grow inside his mouth.
Bat-like wings spread from his back and a long tail emerges from around his rear and falls to the ground.
The temperature around me suddenly rises. Sparks of fire dance around Gangel's body.
This is the true form of the Flame Demon, the Gangel of Purgatory.
"Hoho, not flinching at my appearance, quite impressive", Gangel says, looking down at me and speaking as if he's impressed.
Oh, damn. It was such a familiar sight that I was just casually observing. But considering it's the first time someone's seeing it, it's only natural to be surprised. No, terrified?
How do I play this off?
"Hey? Are you listening?"
Alright.
"…Huh? What? What? Demon? Huh? Where's the leader of the thieves? Huh? Huh?"
Even though it's about myself, it's a terrible attempt at acting surprised, but I look around while muttering my lines. I really should practice my acting.
Still, it seems Gangel has taken my actions as if they were normal.
"Couldn't keep up with what's happening, huh? Well, whatever. I am Gangel of Purgatory, one of the Dark Lord's closest aides. I was pretending to be one of these thieves to check if anyone in the Sword Village could draw the Hero's sword", he force a continuation into the explanatory lines they've spoken before.
"You seem quite capable. I'll test your mettle," he says as he finish his sentence and at that very moment, a right fist that seems to scoop upwards flies towards me.
I could probably dodge it or even if I take it head-on, I think I can withstand it, but I deliberately relax and take the hit.
"Kuh!" I'm propelled high in an instant and slammed against the wall near the ceiling. There's no actual damage, but there's pressure on my chest, and I find myself gasping for breath.
I maintain the relaxed state and naturally fall, landing on my back on the ground.
"Oh, still conscious?" Gangel's line stops there.
In the past, they would usually follow up with something like "You might be able to draw the Hero's sword. I'm looking forward to meeting you again after you've improved your skills", before leaving.
But now, they're just looking at me, not saying anything. So, was my assumption correct?
I thought, but Gangel isn't looking at me. They're looking towards the sole entrance of this room.
What's going on? As I ponder this, the sound of multiple footsteps becomes audible from that direction.
"Bo-Boss? We heard a loud noise, is everything alri… Aaargh! Demon!"
The thieves who were inside the cave seem to have come to investigate, driven by curiosity.
Right. It's only natural they'd come to check with that much noise. In the game, as long as I wasn't in the enemy's detection range, I'd never be noticed, so I assumed the same for this time. So, this is hyper-realism.
The thieves scramble and flee. What were they here for?
"…Hmph."
Did Gangel have the same thought? They snort uninterestedly and turn their gaze back to me.
"You might be able to draw the Hero's sword. I'll await our rematch after you've honed your skills," they say.
Huh? Is it over? Are they leaving?
"But what a great opportunity. I'll assist you in strengthening yourself for our rematch."
I just thought that, but he didn't leave. However, assist in strengthening? What's that?
Gangel grinned slyly, reached for my leather cuirass, and forcefully tore it apart.
"N-No, stop it!" I exclaim. Acting, acting. I won't forget this time.
"Hehehe… Is your resistance just for show? Your body isn't moving despite your protests, huh? It seems the damage hasn't worn off yet. You can run if you want to escape", Gangel remarks.
While there's no actual damage, I don't want to run, so I stay put.
Surprisingly deftly, Gangel starts removing my armor and underwear.
In an instant, I find myself completely naked.