Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Ofer Dungeon
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Edrike, momentarily distracted by Eugene's striking appearance, suddenly felt chills run down his spine.
The three nobles' warning not to be fooled by looks flashed through his mind once more.
"Ahem! So, you're saying you've accepted my sister's proposal to subjugate the dungeon?"
Eugene nodded as Edrike took his seat.
"Yes. To do that, I have to pass through your territory, so it was only right for me to pay you a visit. But you invited me first through various knights. I consider that very fortunate."
'Fortunate? So if I hadn't sent anyone, you'd have come barging in on your own and caused a scene? And I should be grateful for that?'
A chill ran through him, and cold sweat trickled down Edrike's back.
Even if Eugene had shown up, he wouldn't have been allowed into the castle, but if he'd raised hell at the gates or in the village, Edrike couldn't have just stood by.
That would inevitably lead to casualties, and this knight would either die or be badly wounded and confined to the castle.
Essendra would have used that as leverage to press him.
'This is trouble.'
Edrike swallowed hard inwardly and forced a smile.
"Hahaha! It's only proper for a lord to host a distinguished knight visiting his lands. However, as you know, things are a bit delicate between me, my sister Essendra, and brother Gabriel. You understand, right?"
When Edrike brought it up first, Eugene readily agreed.
"I understand completely. Lady Essendra worries a great deal about her younger siblings. She said she wants to resolve the succession issue quickly and get the marquisate running normally again. However..."
"However?"
Edrike's growing anxiety made him down the glass of wine in front of him in one gulp before asking.
"She mentioned no financial difficulties, but she wants the dungeon subjugated as soon as possible. As you know, Count Edrike, delays in subjugation let monsters breed roamers. Your territory would suffer the brunt of that damage first."
Essendra wasn't extraordinary, but she was a capable border countess.
That was why she'd genuinely expressed concern for her brother's lands to Eugene.
But Edrike interpreted it not as sisterly care, but as Eugene's scheme.
'He's openly threatening me now!'
A calm thought would reveal it was just worry about an impending problem.
Yet, his deep-seated fear of Eugene led him to overinterpret every word.
And with the alcohol kicking in, he couldn't hold back his irritation and snapped a bit.
"So, are you saying you can resolve it?"
"I won't know until I go in, but I didn't make this decision without a plan. I just need some help from you, Count."
"My help? You don't mean hiring mercenaries, do you?"
"Pardon? No mercenaries needed. I'll enter the dungeon alone."
"......!"
Edrike had thought it unlikely, but here was Eugene saying he'd really go in solo.
"I just need you to provide some monster butchers and porters, Count Edrike. They'll wait at the entrance, and once subjugation is done, they can process and carry out the corpses."
Monsters killed inside a demon realm decayed much more slowly.
Even left for a day or two, they'd only be as far gone as a fresh corpse from outside after a few hours.
Of course, it was a loss compared to bringing butchers and porters inside, but since subjugation was the goal, even Essendra would accept it.
'The question is whether Count Edrike will go for it.'
"How many?"
Eugene, expecting some haggling, was surprised by the direct question on numbers but answered promptly.
"One, ten or so should suffice, right?"
"I'll send double. When do you subjugate?"
"The sooner, the better."
"Tomorrow, even?"
"Yes. Well..."
"We'll need people to manage the workers outside too, so I'll attach Sir MacBer and a few soldiers. Just in case... No, never mind. Anyway, I won't skimp on support."
Edrike held back from saying it was to have witnesses that if Eugene died, it was to a dungeon monster, not their fault.
Better to send this madman to the dungeon ASAP without further talk.
"I look forward to your exploits, Sir. And wouldn't it be good to let my sister know you're being safely hosted in my castle? How about drafting a letter, just in case?"
Edrike asked, hiding his trepidation.
Eugene wondered if it was necessary but nodded, given Edrike's unexpectedly full cooperation.
"Sure, why not."
"Someone! Bring paper and a pen!"
Before he finished, a waiting servant rushed in, and Eugene wrote the letter and stamped it with his seal, still puzzled.
'Strange. Is everything going this smoothly?'
'Thank goodness. At dawn tomorrow, off to the dungeon with this lunatic!'
Regardless of the process, both achieved their goals.
* * *
The next morning, early.
A force led by Sir MacBer—six or so soldiers, plus monster butchers and porters—followed Eugene out of the castle.
"We wish you heroic feats, Sir! Hahaha!"
"Take care, Sir Eugene!"
From Edrike on down, nearly all the castle's nobles saw Eugene off.
'Is Lady Essendra's name that powerful? If he's doing this for her, why hasn't he sided with her before?'
Puzzled by the situation, Eugene tilted his head inwardly. Still, this atmosphere boded well for his post-subjugation tasks.
To avoid leaving a bad impression on Edrike, he forced a bright smile that didn't quite form.
"Haha. Thank you. I'll be sure to tell Lady Essendra of your consideration, Count. I'll return with definite success."
But it still backfired.
"Th-that's kind of you. Anyway, hurry on. You need to bring good news to my sister ASAP, right?"
"Still, I should report back to you for such generous aid, Count Edrike."
"Ah, right..."
Edrike couldn't say "Don't come back. Just die in the dungeon!" and saw him off with his best smile.
Once Eugene and the workers vanished, Edrike staggered at the drawbridge.
"My lord!"
"Are you alright?"
Startled nobles rushed to support him as he pressed his forehead and muttered.
"I'm fine. That guy just drained me mentally. First time someone's tensed me up more than sister or brother."
"Threatening you to the end—truly no ordinary arrogant madman."
"But he'll perish in the dungeon, so lucky us? No need to see his face again. Rest easy."
"Right. Truly fortunate. If something goes wrong there, sister might grieve, so we'll give him a proper funeral. Can't give her more ammunition."
"We'll prepare in advance."
The nobles bowed with relieved expressions.
The Archibald Marquisate's dungeon had gone unsubjugated for over half a year.
Its population must have grown, and no one knew how many monsters swarmed inside.
Moreover, it housed an upper-tier monster called the land's strongest.
'If he runs into an ogre, no corpse left.'
'The last force in couldn't even recover bodies, probably.'
'Should we make a memorial?'
'Crazy guy, but gutsy.'
Various thoughts swirled, but they settled on praying for his soul and holding a good funeral.
* * *
Rumble!
The massive stone door, a meter thick, opened, kicking up dust.
The Ofer Dungeon of the Archibald Marquis family, untouched for ages, was breached.
Would he really go in alone?
Or make excuses and back out now?
Sir MacBer's soldiers and workers watched the lone Eugene before the open door with eyes mixed of anticipation and fear.
Four atlatls strapped to his back, plus his main shortsword and two battle axes at his hips—Eugene was fully geared.
He also wore a backpack stuffed with days' worth of rations, water, and essentials.
"You've worked hard. I'll signal within three days at latest, so open then."
"Sir. You really mean to do this? A dungeon you've never seen, alone? Suicide."
Even MacBer, who recognized Eugene's feats in the Carlsbagen Peninsula despite his arrogance, tried dissuading once more.
"Lady Essendra gave me an interior map. I know the monsters too, so no need to worry."
"But still."
Rumble...!
"......!?"
MacBer's jaw dropped as Eugene single-handedly closed the stone door that took six soldiers and workers to open.
The soldiers and workers stared in disbelief at the slowly closing door and the knight swallowed by darkness.
"I'll signal from inside within three days. Knock three times. Remember: open only on three knocks, or..."
Boom!
The entrance sealed with a thunderous crash.
MacBer snapped out of his daze staring at the door.
"What are you gawking at? Set up camp. Pair up to guard the entrance. Report any signal immediately."
"Yes, Sir!"
Soldiers and workers bustled about.
Neigh!
MacBer's gaze softened with pity toward Silion, idly whinnying nearby.
"Rare bloodstock, but won't see your master again. If the count allows, I'll care for you from now on."
Any knight cherished fine horses, so MacBer reached to pet Silion.
Ptooey!
Silion violently rejected the hand and spat, drenching MacBer's face in thick saliva.
"Argh! Master and foal both mad as hell!"
With Eugene's death unconfirmed, he couldn't touch the horse, so MacBer wiped off the spit in fury.
"Three days? A miracle if he lasts hours! Hmph! Might beg at the door in an hour. Won't open it! And once your master's confirmed dead, you'll join him in the grave!"
MacBer glared between Silion and the door, grinding his teeth.
* * *
First thing Eugene did inside was ditch the cumbersome backpack.
Water, food—essentials for human survival—meant nothing to him.
Crack!
From his left glove, finger trimmed short, extended long claws turned dark red.
Wolfslayer in his right hand gleamed coldly in the dark, resonating with its master's aura.
"Grrr!"
Crimson glow flickering inside his helm, Eugene stepped into the pitch-black dungeon.
Shwaaa...!
In an instant, transparent fiend aura spread like spiderwebs into the lightless depths.
His senses sharpened manifold. Sounds, smells, even minute air currents—all detectable.
Advanced from his first dungeon in Tiwin lands.
He didn't know the stages or limits.
Just that, free from others' eyes, he'd use his full power.
Ssssh! Sssh!
Matching his strides, the Origin Vampire's fiend aura clawed the air mercilessly, expanding territory inward.
"Kieeeek!? Wh-what is this!? The new crest manifesting!? Ugh! The demon dragon inside Master rages!"
Even Mirian reeled from Eugene's potent aura then.
With the door open, external air rushed in, stirring monsters long deprived—they felt killing intent and hunger, heading to the entrance.
But soon, the alien aura from within chilled them. Instinct kicked in.
Those advancing to kill the intruder halted and fled deeper to avoid death.
(To be continued in the next installment)