Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Hot Like the Sun, But Colder Than Anyone Inside
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At Vallak's suggestion, the two women scowled.
But what could they do when he insisted?
And so, under Aretia's authority, the appearances of the chappagetti monsters began to change.
"I-is this good?"
"Can we make the skin here a bit more moist? Or maybe slathering it in oil wouldn't be bad either."
"Um..."
Vallak gazed at the now-completed Trash Mob No. 1, deep in thought.
What if there was only one kind of trash mob in a semi-open world?
No game that shitty existed!
Later, at Vallak's request, Bellesa brought in additional specimens.
Aretia produced all sorts of horrifying monsters.
By the time the variety of trash mobs started increasing...
Vallak's room, which had resembled a modern lounge, had transformed into something like a mad scientist's laboratory.
But he wasn't satisfied yet!!
"Right, field bosses!"
""Huh?""
Wouldn't it be boring if only trash mobs showed up in the dungeon fields?
That's when Vallak thought of field bosses—big challenges with big rewards.
Soon, the two women had to create superior versions of these abominations.
Tap tap tap!
Tap tap!!
"Eeek!!"
"Demon King! Hang in there! You can do it! Now shove 'that' in here!"
Among bugs, there's this centipede thing.
It's horrifying up close, so best not to look.
Anyway, they bulked it up bigger than a person.
Then mixed it with a cockroach, the top disgust bug.
Thus, a nightmarish hybrid bug was born.
If players defeated this twisted field boss, something like a wriggling tongue parasite would burst out, like a birthday surprise from a jack-in-the-box. That's how they set it up.
Thanks to churning out all these horrors, the women's faces turned ghastly.
Vallak, however, beamed with satisfaction at his masterpieces.
"Yes! This is it!!"
"""Hah. Hah. Hah. Hah."""
Aretia and Bellesa, their faces pale as ghosts, exchanged glances.
Forgetting their recent staredown, a sudden sense of camaraderie bloomed between them.
Sadly, Vallak wanted to upgrade the field trash mobs even further.
They had field bosses and regular trash mobs now, so what next?
Elite trash mobs, of course!
He wanted to order more tweaks and additions.
But Vallak had enough tact not to push it.
Still, if they were making them, he wanted perfection.
Vallak pondered who could help him.
First, Karian.
The guy was way too busy.
How busy? Busy enough that Bellesa had subbed in for him.
Then Karian's boss, Alterion!
...Who looked swamped even during strategy meetings, so no.
'Only one option left, then.'
Not beautiful muscle beauty—!
He thought of Hoven, the alchemist who made chimeras.
The guy looked the part of a mad scientist.
Perfect for debating trash mob upgrades and unique flavors.
Vallak decided to save it for later and cleared out all the trash mobs for now.
But after making such disgustingly vile things themselves, the women's mental stats had hit rock bottom.
The meeting adjourned automatically.
*************
Vallak apologized to the two women who'd suffered through his enthusiasm.
"I think I got carried away with my own ideas this time. Sorry."
"N-no, it's fine!"
"Yeah! We're okay!"
"Thanks for accepting my apology. Though... you two seem to have gotten close all of a sudden."
""Ahahaha...""
The two women had forged a bizarre friendship out of nowhere.
Afterward, Bellesa had her own duties, so she left first, unable to stay on the first floor forever.
Before returning to the demon realm, Aretia made one proposal to Vallak.
"Can I leave a familiar here in the dungeon?"
"Yeah, it was always inconvenient coming here anyway."
Aretia, needing two-way communication between the dungeon—practically its own dimension separate from the mortal realm—and the demon realm, wanted to station her familiar here.
"But can you communicate from that far away?"
"Think of it like a mail delivery service."
Even Anima set up relays to send info into the dungeon, a dimension apart from the mortal realm.
The demon realm was much farther.
So they settled on mail delivery over comms.
"Takes three days for a letter to arrive..."
"It's not too bad. I thought about meeting Anima for quick comms, but I figured reliable mail—even if slow—is better."
"Fair enough. So, Demon King, what kind of familiar is it?"
"Hang on!"
Poof!
"Woof! Woof!"
"Oh ho, big fella, and black too."
"He's super loyal. Feed him mana on time, and he obeys great."
Vallak, a total dog person, approached Aretia's familiar.
But the familiar cowered instantly and hid behind Aretia.
Worried about leaving it behind, she wondered how to handle it.
"Can you give me some time alone with him?"
"Why?"
"Just trust me once."
"Uh... sure."
"Woof?!"
Vallak snatched the familiar by the scruff in a flash and vanished into his room.
A short while later...
Something astonishing happened.
"Woof! Woof!"
"Hahaha! Good boy? Paw!"
"Woof!"
"Is he... doing that?"
The familiar emerging with Vallak rolled on its back for belly rubs, performed tricks, and followed him devotedly.
"Huff huff huff..."
"How did you tame this wild thing...?"
"Dogs are social creatures by nature—excellent animals. Establish clear hierarchy and make 'em see you're pack, and they become more loyal than anyone."
"Huh..."
Aretia had glimpsed yet another unexpected side of Vallak today.
But she also felt something oddly off.
'He's... obeying Vallak better than me...?'
A faint sense of deflation crossed her face—like when a woman's cherished dog prefers her boyfriend.
******************
Peace returned to the first floor once Aretia and Bellesa departed.
But the ripples they'd left behind lingered.
That apparent love triangle made for prime gossip, didn't it?
Plus, a new woman had just entered the dungeon.
"Captain?"
"Yeah?"
"Today..."
Narin, training in the practice hall and being a woman herself, was dying to know the deal with those three.
Soon after, while Vallak briefly stepped out, she spilled the events to Kairel.
"The Demon King came... and met Bellesa?!"
"You know those two, Captain?"
"Psh, of course. And honestly, you could tell at a glance."
"...They all seemed to have big crushes on Master."
No joke—anyone not an idiot could spot it.
But Vallak was drawing lines with them, right?
No way this was a harem—?!
"...Right?"
"Nah?"
"You're saying it's not?"
"You know Captain ain't the harem type. Ophelia even said he already clocked the Demon King's feelings."
"So he knew Bellesa's too? But he acted oblivious back then."
"Probably on purpose. They haven't known each other that long anyway."
"How short we talking?"
"This was Captain and Demon King's third meeting."
"What?! Just three times? Then the succubus..."
"'Bout ten for her, mostly business from what I hear."
Narin's face scrunched up.
They'd barely met, yet pulling staredowns at his workplace?
"Isn't that just a nuisance?"
"Oho, even our Pepi gets it."
"No wonder Master draws firm lines."
Total nuisance, sure.
But emotions between men and women after so few meetings—who knew if it was real love or just a fleeting spark?
Vallak pulling back made perfect sense too.
"Narin, you know Captain's endgame, right? Makes romance awkward."
"Dying in battle? Honestly..."
"I can't imagine Captain losing a fight either. But he's dead serious—upgrading this dungeon nonstop."
"Never thought he'd train his own rival. But isn't Master getting stronger too?"
"Faster than the challengers, probably. Anyway, he plans to die here, so no loose ends."
"God..."
"Saying it like that makes it sound super sad..."
What if a warrior, knowing death awaits, falls in love?
Pure tragedy.
They dove deep into this tragic romance tale.
Wondering how it'd end.
One issue, though...
"So every time they visit, it's staredown city?"
"M-maybe?"
"Total nuisance..."
Anyway, they cheered on the two women loving a man who burned fierce as the sun...
But was colder inside than anyone.
*************
With the dungeon remake's framework taking shape, time flowed on.
Vibrant flowers wilted as foliage grew lush.
Days grew hotter—summer had arrived.
Outside, two groups reached Laiter.
"...This the place?"
"Princess Serin, all procedures for entering the city are set."
"Then let's go."
First came Princess Serin of the Black Tiger Tribe, dispatched to help beastkin exercise self-restraint.
And second—
"This is Laiter!"
"Whoa, heard it was a nothing town before—now it's packed!"
"Thanks to that dungeon, I guess. Explosive growth."
"Wow... in just a year..."
"Alright! Everyone quiet! Students, over here!!"
"""Yes!!"""
Students from the Imperial Academy had portaled in for a special practical exam.