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CHAPTER 273 – THE GRAND THEATRE OF MAD ELEGANCE AND COUNTLESS SINS ~ PROLOGUE ~

About half a day’s walk from Wislo’s Fourth District.

At a fork in the road, one side opened onto a vast compound, enclosed by collapsed stone pillars and walls like the remnants of an old gate. In its center stood four statues.

According to the intel Nelfie gathered, this was the entrance to the dungeon known as The Grand Theatre of Mad Elegance and Countless Sins.

The Adventurers’ Guild in Wislo always had extermination quests posted for monsters inside this dungeon’s grounds. By culling them regularly, they probably managed the risk of a stampede. Yet right now, I couldn’t sense a single soul nearby.

For any other city, a dungeon only half a day’s walk from town would be considered an important part of the city’s revenue. But Wislo already had four dungeons within the city itself—each with a different difficulty, and even safety ensured by escape stones.

With the world’s largest dungeon, Wislo’s own, practically at their doorstep, it made sense this place wasn’t popular. Still… with not even the faintest presence around, it felt like there was more to it. A strange premonition stirred in my chest.

That said, for us, the lack of people was convenient. Less chance of being noticed going in or out.

「Alright, let’s go!」

The five of us passed between the ruined pillars—and for a moment, my vision wavered.

Then, as if time had rewound itself, the broken statues restored to their original form, seizing our gaze.

Four jesters, each embodying joy, anger, sorrow, and laughter. Beyond them, in the plaza that had been empty just a second ago, a massive Western-style mansion appeared like a ruin conjured from nowhere.

「What the hell… is this trick?」

「…Mm, I don’t like this. The aura here is really bad.」

「A… Aniki… didn’t those statues just move?」

「They definitely did. Monsters… maybe gargoyle variants?」

「【Appraisal】still says ‘statue’… but stay sharp. I’m guessing that magic circle at the mansion’s entrance is the dungeon gate.」

Step by step, the bleached surroundings regained their color. A crimson sign shimmered into existence above the entrance: The Grand Theatre of Mad Elegance and Countless Sins.

When we reached the magic circle before the door, four voices rang from the void.

「At last, the day has come…」
「Yes, yes! I’ve been waiting for this, forever!」
「The cast is assembled! This is fate!」
「But… it’s so sad. To see the ending before the play even begins…」

The tones—rage, joy, mirth, sorrow—made it obvious whose voices these were: the four jesters.

「Seriously… what the hell kind of dungeon is this?」

Never before had I seen a dungeon so deliberately crafted around a single concept.

From the gate to the transfer circle, it went far beyond the ‘core’s personality’ Ars said yesterday. This was worldbuilding of a different order altogether. Which meant one thing: it was almost certainly that this dungeon was the creation of a Dungeon Master.

The transfer deposited me into an impossibly vast theater hall. But looking around, I saw no one else—none of my four companions.

So the teleport split us apart…

「Been a while since I was on my own.」

The words slipped out before I realized it. And the moment they left my lips, a spotlight flared on the stage.

In its circle of light stood a figure clad in a tuxedo and silk hat.

Dusky skin. White hair. Eyes red as fresh blood.

From his forehead, two thick horns like a ram’s broke straight through his hat. On his back stretched a pair of massive, jet-black wings like a bat’s, exuding a dreadful presence.

「Welcome, Doumeki Aun. To think you’d arrive at such perfect timing, and by your own will no less… it feels like destiny itself.」

「Who the hell are you? And how do you know my name?」

「Ah… for you, this is our first meeting, isn’t it? Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zoa. I am the master of this dungeon, its director. I am also a demon… and—one who knows you.」

「…So it’s you…」

Before I even realized it, I’d triple-stacked buffs on myself and drove my right fist straight for Zoa’s left cheek.

「Kinu and Shinku send their regards!!」

「Fuhaha… you’ve grown stronger since then. But still, it’s not enough.」

The timing was perfect for a sneak attack—but the weak impact told me it had been stopped by a magic barrier.

「Now then… perform for me. Show me what sins you carry, and what story you will weave.」

With those words, applause swelled all around, erupting from the darkness that cloaked the audience seats.

It wasn’t human. It came from twisted, warped shadowy beings, clapping in grotesque imitation.

「The First Act – Flicker of Emotion begins!」

The stage went black. A bell tolled through the void.

And where Zoa had vanished into the dark, four jesters took his place.

「Isn’t it wonderful? Wonderful! To stand on a stage all your own!」
「Why… why are you the chosen one!?」
「This story… it’s too tragic…」
「Come now, spin it, spin it! Into a storm of applause!」

Joy to drive you mad. Anger to burn you away. Sorrow to swallow you whole. Laughter to break your sanity.

They were the incarnations of emotion—creations of the director’s hand.

「Heh! Fine by me! I’ll show you a real one—an ending that’s happy!」