I Became the Guardian of Big Shots in the Game

As Ethan expected.
The combat ability of the demon worshipper Slau was pathetic.
‘This is even easier than taking her down in the game.’
Of course, back then Slau had become half demon.
She had also replaced her arms and legs with monster parts in an attempt to strengthen her body.
But now she has an ordinary human body.
Her movements are quite nimble, but when the blade grazes her here and there, red blood spurts out, unmistakably human.
“You, you lowly creatures!”
Having killed ordinary people with the power gained from contracting with a demon, she now screams in frustration at being unable to have her way against strong opponents.
It’s understandable.
‘Well, our kids aren’t ordinary people after all.’
“Ignore everything and keep pressing the attack.”
“Yes, Ethan-nim!”
“Okay, big brother!”
Sir Rashid was also surprised.
“You’re that legendary demon worshipper? Hmm, somewhat disappointing.”
Though he seemed surprised for a slightly different reason.
“W-What did you say?!”
“To be honest, it’s a bit disappointing. In old tales, demon worshippers were said to be evenly matched with Sword Masters. Yet you’re being overwhelmingly pushed back even by me, a mere knight.”
Clang!
As Sir Rashid forcefully deflected with his sword.
Slau was sent flying back, crashing into the cave wall.
“Well now. It seems I didn’t even need to step in.”
“I agree with the instructor’s words.”
“So weak!”
“I’ll take this prey myself.”
“You damned bastards!!!”
She screams while frantically scratching her neck with long nails.
Fresh blood trickled down.
“You charged in to attack out of nowhere, and now what? You mere wretches think you can kill me? There’s a limit to nonsense!”
The flow of mana twists strangely.
The blood Slau had spilled beaded up, then slowly rose and gathered in one place.
She inserted her hand into the sphere made of blood and.
Shwoop!
Pulled out a red sword from within.
An ominous energy emanated strongly from the blade.
Moreover.
-Kyaaaaaaak!!!
As she opened her mouth wide and let out an eerie sound.
“Keureureurk!!!”
Monsters that had been hiding who knows where began crawling out from all around.
“Say that again. What? You’ll kill me?”
The helpless appearance of being ganged up on just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
She now stood as Slau, the demon worshipper on the verge of evolving into a demon.
“Just try it!”

‘Indeed, not a single old saying is wrong.’
Rashid let out a tense sigh.
Strength naturally entered his two hands gripping the sword.
‘Can I defeat that thing?’
The final form of demon worshippers who received power from demons is a demon with horns, wings, and a tail.
The worshipper Slau in front lacked all three, but.
The pressure exerted by her mere presence was equivalent to about three Expert-level knights.
As a knight and as a swordsmanship instructor teaching children.
Rashid was prepared to willingly sacrifice himself.
‘Even if I can’t win, I must do this.’
Steeling his resolve.
He manifested his aura, which he rarely used due to its severe after-effects.
A clear yellow energy shone around Rashid’s body, resisting the murky energy emanating from the demon worshipper.
“Ethan-nim.”
“I’m listening.”
“I will face her. No, I must face her.”
Levi, Hwaryon, and Ponya.
All three are talents with bright futures ahead.
So they must not be harmed here, he thought.
“Please. Leave this to me.”
“…I’ll finish up quickly and come support you.”
“Thank you.”
He should be able to buy some time at least.
With more effort, he might even aim for mutual destruction.
“I leave the children in your care.”
Leaving those grave words.
Rashid leapt towards Slau.

The remaining four maintained their formation.
They repelled the monsters attacking mindlessly, having lost their reason.
‘There are too many of these worm-like things.’
Levi looked around while swinging her whip.
Disgusting creatures constantly popping out of holes all around.
Levi, Hwaryon, and Ponya were still fine for now, but.
They can’t fight monsters forever like this.
A brilliant plan is needed to break through this predicament.
But Levi wasn’t too worried.
‘Ethan-nim will surely have a good plan.’
She just smiled softly while watching Ethan stab an Evil Lizard in the nape of its neck.
Hwaryon and Ponya were the same.
They believed in Ethan and simply waited for orders to come.
Ethan likewise.
Was waiting for the World Tree’s Root.
‘There’s no way that thing isn’t here, controlling this many monsters.’
A mana relay device.
For one or two monsters it might be possible, but.
To control dozens or hundreds of monsters simultaneously with magic, that device is necessary.
‘Unless they were born with the brain of an archmage.’
But judging by Slau’s actions, that didn’t seem to be the case.
So he asked the Root to search for points where mana was gathering, feeling assured.
[The World Tree’s First Root reports detecting an object where murky energy is clumped together.]
‘Really? Where is it?’
[A mana relay device is hidden behind a luminous stone embedded in the wall. Sharing visual information.]
‘I see it. Thanks!’
[The World Tree’s First Root sincerely cheers for your victory.]
“Kids, follow me!”
“Yes!”
Ponya deflected attacks at Ethan’s side.
They charged straight for the wall.
A total of five relay devices were confirmed in this space.
Crack!
As the first relay device was destroyed, the control over the monsters weakened.
Some monsters far away began to break free.
“Ponya! Break the third luminous stone on the right!”
“Yes!”
“Hwaryon, the second luminous stone on the left!”
“Got it, big brother!”
After destroying two more in succession.
Monsters that escaped the sphere of influence came to their senses and began fighting amongst themselves.
The fourth relay device was destroyed and.
Just as he extended his sword towards the final mana relay device.
Clang!
The sword of blood, stretching out long like tree roots taking hold, wrapped around the luminous stone.
“Youuu!!!”
‘Sir Rashid… has fallen.’
The bleeding is severe, likely from a critical wound.
But if treated quickly with a recovery potion, he should be able to be saved.
“How could you! Those were specimens I had prepared! Uwaaaaah!!!”
Ethan didn’t bother saying anything out loud.
Just making eye contact was enough for everyone to know what to do.
The three jumped in to draw attention while Ethan laid Sir Rashid on his back.
Fortunately, there were no fatal wounds besides his right forearm.
After twisting a handkerchief for him to bite down on, Ethan poured recovery potion generously over the wound.
“Kuuuuuuk!!”
“Bear with it a little longer.”
After emptying the second bottle onto the wound as well.
Ethan put the third bottle to his mouth before joining the fray.
“Get away! I said get away!!!”
Slau retreated while having a fit upon seeing the .
‘This isn’t the time to use it.’
She bit her lower lip hard enough to split it.
Raising her hands above her head, she made a clapping sound.
Sssssssss!
The entire cave reverberated and.
“Shishishishi!!”
A gigantic white snake appeared.
“You must be very tired, but lend me your strength one more time.”
“Shishishi.”
The white snake flicked its tongue while turning its creepy purple eyes this way and that.
“Everyone close your eyes!”
“Kyahaha! Too late, too late!”
Great White Snake.
It’s a mid-boss that appears in the 80th underground floor range.
As a monster possessing mental attack abilities, it’s classified as extremely dangerous.
‘To think she had captured something like that.’
Of course, no countermeasures had been prepared.
[The World Tree’s First Root bestows its blessing upon you.]
[You can resist mental attacks for a short time.]
‘Thank you.’
With Slau’s gaze directed elsewhere for now.
Ethan barely managed to move his body that kept slumping due to the mental attacks, and plunged his sword into the fifth relay device.
“What are you doing! Do you think such futile struggling will change anything?!”
Instead of answering.
Ethan elegantly raised his middle finger with his left hand before collapsing.
“Shishishishi!!!”
“Y-You bastards, really!”
The Great White Snake, freed from control, felt extreme hunger.
Of course, it was partly due to its large size, but.
It was also because Slau had starved it for a long time, saving even the monsters meant as food to use as sacrifices.
“Shaaaaak!!!”
Of course, a mere monster taking care of a demon worshipper is impossible.
Even now with her strength greatly diminished, if Slau swung her sword the snake’s head would fall.
However.
“Go, Ponya!”
Despite being hit by the monster’s mental attack.
Ponya displayed her usual nimble movements.
Swish!
“Ah?!”
Slau’s right wrist was cleanly severed, leaving a smooth cross-section.
Before the pain could even be felt.
The giant snake swallowed her whole.
Gulp!
“Never let your guard down!”
Ponya grinned while raising her greatsword.
It was a kind of victory pose.

The Great White Snake that had a meal after a long time.
Its stomach was still empty and prey was strewn all around.
Especially four pieces of fresh, living prey.
“Shishishishi!!!”
The strange force suppressing its will had been in place for too long.
It was time to savor freedom and return as the boss of the labyrinth’s depths.
The beastkin looks strong, so first that collapsed human female…
“Shishishi?!”
The dark red killing intent flowing from Levi was a threat the monster had never felt in its life.
It had always reigned as the strong one, and.
Weaker monsters became its food.
So it was even more baffling.
Having no choice but to avert its gaze.
“Shii!!”
Behind the red-haired human female.
Something that shouldn’t be touched was sitting firmly, its form indistinct but clearly present.
So finally it turned its gaze to the male.
“Are you crazy?”
“Won’t you get lost?”
“We’d appreciate it if you’d quietly withdraw while we’re still letting you live.”
Receiving countless killing intents from the three females simultaneously.
Realizing that something whose existence was hard to fathom was watching the human male.
“Shiiii…”
It fled with its tail between its legs.
And then.
“Um, excuse me…”
“?”
After ending the fierce battle.
As the group was taking a rest.
“We surrender!”
“Please spare our lives!!!”
A group of looters appeared and performed a ‘please just let us live’ act.