The Lion's Miscalculation
Who am I? The Lord of one of the 7 Abyssal Palaces. (Not really.)
"A Death Knight is the Lord of an Abyss Palace? Ha! Do you honestly expect me to believe such utter nonsense?"
Well, look at him. He had looked flustered at first, but his eyes quickly filled with skepticism again. To be fair, the wolf beastman had a point. The Lord of one of the 7 Abyssal Palaces—the absolute pinnacle of the 72 Dungeons—was just a Death Knight? If you compared me to the Lich King, another Lord of the Abyssal Palaces, the difference in the quality of our undead status was night and day. Of course, things would be different if I were an Irregular Death Knight, but in the wolf's eyes, I clearly didn't look like one.
"We have no obligation to prove anything to you," Charlotte said, her voice a flat, precise monotone. "Where is your Lord? We must speak with him directly."
"...Are you serious?"
The wolf beastman, who had been shouting about "utter nonsense" just a moment ago, suddenly lost his bluster. Make up your mind. Either believe us or don't. Stop flip-flopping.
Hating tedious arguments, Charlotte let out a soft sigh. She reached into her robes and pulled out a summoning ticket for the Dungeon Chamber of Commerce. She tore the ticket, a portal materialized, and the Demon Merchant popped out. It all unfolded in a neat, perfectly rehearsed sequence.
"I pay my humblest respects to your supreme presence! Oh? Well, well. If it isn't the gatekeeper of the Lion Heart King? What brings you two together?"
"Cut the chatter," Charlotte commanded coldly. "Tell him who my master is."
She gestured toward me with polite, formal hands. The Demon Merchant followed her fingers, looked at me, and blinked innocently.
"Why, he is the Lord of the newly established Abyss Palace, of course. But why do you ask?"
Instead of answering, Charlotte merely cast a sidelong glance at the wolf beastman. The look in her sharp purple eyes clearly said, Well? What now?
The sudden transformation in the wolf beastman's expression was a sight to behold. His eyes stretched wider than I thought humanly—or beastmanly—possible, his eyebrows shot up, and his agape lips trembled violently. In fact, his entire body was shaking like a leaf. Seeing him look at me with such sheer terror made me feel a bit awkward. Man, if they ever find out I'm a fraud, the blowback is going to be brutal.
"I—I have committed a capital offense!"
The wolf beastman slammed his head against the ground from his prostrate position. He repeatedly bashed his forehead against the dirt, over and over, as if trying to inflict self-harm.
"This lowly servant failed to recognize your supreme presence and committed a grave insolence! Please, show mercy and forgive me!"
"Forgiveness?" Charlotte scoffed. "You insulted my Lord and even threatened to murder him."
"Excuse me?!" the Demon Merchant gasped, having only watched the situation unfold without knowing the context.
Even to my knowledge, there was an astronomical chasm between a Dungeon Lord ranked outside the top seven and a Lord of the 7 Abyssal Palaces. To put it in perspective, those outside the top seven were like provincial lords or counts. The Lords of the 7 Abyssal Palaces, however, were absolute monarchs whom no noble dared defy. There was a reason the top seven dungeons were feared as the Abyssal Palaces.
The Demon Merchant clutched his forehead, looking as if his worst nightmare had just come true.
"Oh dear, oh dear... What are we to do? If it were someone in the top ten, maybe, but Rank 14? This is a catastrophe..."
"What happens in a case like this?" Charlotte asked.
"Could you perhaps explain the situation in detail?"
Charlotte recounted the events word for word, without missing a single detail. Because she explained it exactly as it happened, the wolf beastman couldn't object, and the merchant's face grew paler with every passing sentence.
"Considering you are a newly established Abyss Palace, an amicable settlement might have been possible... but they launched a preemptive strike. And with clear intent to kill, no less. In a case like this, it goes far beyond a mere dispute..."
The merchant trailed off and let out a heavy sigh. The Chamber of Commerce's duties included mediating conflicts and negotiating treaties between dungeons. The current situation was a massive headache for him. I'm sorry, but I didn't expect this either. I only came here to recruit Balutak, and somehow things ended up like this.
"If it were a mere monster, it would be one thing, but the responsibility for a gatekeeper lies solely with their Lord," the merchant explained. "You two must hold the Lion Heart King accountable. I only pray you will resolve this with a generous heart."
Well, I'm certainly not doing it for free. I wasn't about to kick away a golden opportunity like this. Depending on the Lord's attitude and the compensation he offered, an amicable settlement might—or might not—be reached.
And if it's the Lion Heart King...
He was a minor boss from an early-to-mid-game chapter, so he hadn't played a major role. I racked my brain, forcing the old memories to the surface, until it finally clicked. The Lion Heart King, Lionheart, was a boss obsessed with flaunting his wealth. He went so far as to deck his entire body in gold and jewel-encrusted accessories. In fact, the only reason I remembered him at all was because of his gold pendant. Players used to joke that the gold pendant was the real boss, not the lion.
And it's an incredibly good item.
Simply equipping it granted absolute immunity to all debuffs of A+ rank and below. While it was useless against anything higher, sunlight was only a B-rank debuff for the undead. If I could get my hands on it, my days of suffering under the sun without Charlotte's help would be over.
"I—I will guide you there," the wolf beastman stammered, but I raised a hand to stop him.
"Just tell us the location. The three of us will go on our own."
A picture was already forming in my mind. I feel like I can squeeze a lot more out of this guy.
The Rank 14 Dungeon Lord, Lionheart, had originally established his dungeon in the Demonic Realm. Had he not let his greed get the better of him, he would still be living there today. His downfall began when he attempted a reckless expansion of his dungeon. The tunnel his minions dug for the expansion happened to lead, by some stroke of abysmal luck, straight into the dungeon of the Rank 12 Lord. He had made a colossal blunder by failing to survey the area beforehand. Suddenly, the two dungeons were connected. Normally, Lionheart could have simply sealed the breach. However, the Rank 12 Lord, offended by the intrusion, demanded that Lionheart relocate his dungeon immediately. He even threatened to treat any refusal as an act of war, leaving Lionheart with no choice.
Damn it! How was I supposed to know another dungeon was right there?!
How could his luck be this atrocious? Lionheart cursed the heavens. He had been utterly lost on where to relocate. He needed a place where the Dungeon Core could draw sufficient nourishment, and that offered a geographical advantage. A place where the dungeon wouldn't be degraded by its surroundings and could sustain itself naturally. Whether his scouts were incompetent or the land was truly barren, no such territory remained in the Demonic Realm.
“Your Majesty! What about this location?”
It was then that his adjutant pointed to a spot within the human Empire. At first, Lionheart had unleashed a deafening roar without even listening to the rest. The dungeons that humanity prioritized conquering were those rooted within their own borders. Dungeons located in the Empire were almost always natural occurrences; any self-respecting Lord would move to the Demonic Realm if they could. Unless they were an anomaly like the 7 Abyssal Palaces, no Lord would willingly base themselves in the Empire.
“Your Majesty, please hear me out. This is a rainforest located at the southernmost tip of the Empire. I have personally investigated, and humans barely set foot there these days. Besides, a forest is the natural home ground for us beastmen, is it not?”
When he put it that way, it was an enticing proposal. A tropical rainforest untouched by humans. A perfect synergy between beastmen and the forest. Being in the far south, the climate was also ideal for them. The only thing left to verify was the nourishment for the Dungeon Core. If the site was suitable for a core, it was worth executing immediately.
“Have you looked into the forest's ecology? Even if there are no human natives, there might be wild beast tribes.”
"Beasts" referred to wild monsters. It was only natural for a dungeon built in a forest to anticipate beast invasions. While they could be a threat, they could also serve as a food source, and highly intelligent beasts could even be tamed.
“We can put the beasts to work as well. The majority of them are insectoids, and they possess quite a high level of intelligence. If we utilize them properly, we can complete the construction as quickly as possible without even needing the Chamber of Commerce's help.”
“Put them to work?”
Insectoids could lift weights up to ten times their own body mass. Furthermore, while not quite on par with kobolds, they were highly specialized in digging tunnels. After all, most insectoids lived in subterranean networks like ant colonies.
“Of course, despite their high intelligence, their instincts are incredibly strong. Every single one of them is highly individualistic, aggressive, and completely devoid of any sense of obedience. It is their nature. However, I do not believe that will be an issue at all.”
No one would complain if they worked the insectoids to the bone. If utilized correctly, they would undoubtedly provide a highly efficient labor force that could replace the Chamber of Commerce. Ultimately, Lionheart chose the forest as his new dungeon site, and upon arrival, he found it to be an absolutely magnificent location. Lionheart felt immensely proud of his adjutant's contribution and his own decision.
“This time, we shall build a tower, not a labyrinth.”
Just thinking about labyrinths triggered his PTSD from his previous failure. Thus, the new dungeon took the form of a towering structure.
Sip.
At the very peak of the dungeon, Lionheart sipped his tea, reflecting on the past. As his gaze drifted out the window, a satisfied smile naturally spread across his face.
"Most satisfactory."
Countless insectoids were completing the finishing touches under the direction of the beastmen. Without suffering any major losses, Lionheart had successfully subjugated the stubborn, resilient insectoids. He had gained a useful supply of slaves, and his dungeon was nearing completion. Due to the relocation, his current rank—the number engraved in his mind—had slipped from 14 to 16. Yet, a broad grin remained plastered across Lionheart's face.
"A shift in the rankings is merely a matter of time."
This place was absolutely perfect for a dungeon. The Dungeon Core drew nourishment from the forest's natural environment itself, and the forest—the home ground of his beastman subordinates—stretched out like a vast green ocean. Furthermore, he could construct and rebuild his dungeon using the insectoids without relying on the Chamber of Commerce. His old dungeon in the Demonic Realm was already a distant memory.
Rank...
Every Lord had a number engraved in their mind. It was a source of two conflicting emotions: a mark of shame, yet also a badge of pride. Rank 16 was an indelible insult to Lionheart. However, just as the ground hardens after the rain, this was merely a trial preceding his ultimate success. Once the dungeon was fully completed, Lionheart intended to turn his ambitions toward the entire forest. What if he turned this forest into his own kingdom in the near future? A king of a nation. And eventually...
"Even the 7 Abyssal Palaces will no longer be a mere dream."
The anomalies among dungeons, synonymous with the bottomless abyss. The 7 Abyssal Palaces, boasting an unchanging history of a thousand years, were Lionheart's ultimate goal. If things went well, he could even set his sights on a throne among them. To think that he, Lionheart, would become a Lord of the Abyssal Palaces—feared by the Empire and coveted by the Demonic Realm. The mere thought made the corners of his mouth twitch upward. If he dared to be even greedier, perhaps he could rise beyond the Abyssal Palaces to become a Lord of the Outer Reaches. And beyond that, even reach the legendary realm of Samghata. Of course, simply joining the 7 Abyssal Palaces would leave him with no regrets, but dreams, by nature, knew no bounds.
Knock, knock.
The polite tapping at his door shattered his pleasant reverie.
"Enter."
The figure that appeared through the opening door was not one of his beastmen. Lionheart's eyes widened in surprise.
"...The Demon Merchant?"
"Have you been well, Your Majesty?"
The Demon Merchant bowed at a perfect right angle. For a representative of the Chamber of Commerce to visit suddenly without prior notice was highly unusual. Before asking, Lionheart tried to deduce the merchant's business. Only one possibility came to mind.
Have those money-grubbing parasites finally taken notice of Our dungeon?
Not long ago, he had heard news of the newly established Abyssal Palace from a beastman merchant. He recalled hearing that the Chamber of Commerce was desperate to build a close relationship with this new Abyssal Palace. If that was the case, the Chamber would have initiated contact first, which perfectly aligned with the current situation.
"Very well. Let Us hear the reason for your visit."
"It is nothing other than this: a person of high standing wishes to speak with Your Majesty."
As expected, his prediction was spot on. A "person of high standing" surely meant an executive from the Chamber of Commerce had stepped forward. At the same time, a wave of disgust for the merchant washed over him. They ignored me completely when I had that friction with the Rank 12 Lord, but now that they see me growing, they crawl back like this?
"How utterly insidious. You truly are nothing but golden parasites, looking out only for your own self-interest."
"Your Majesty, what on earth do you—"
"Silence! Hold your tongue in Our presence, and go deliver this message to your 'person of high standing.' No matter what tricks you try to pull, We, the Lion Heart King, shall not bat an eye!"
The merchant's face was a perfect picture of sheer flabbergastation. He had dealt a satisfying blow to that cunning parasite. Lionheart laughed aloud, filled with a sense of triumph.
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself and listen to me first."
"We told you to shut your mouth! Must We personally tear those lips apart before you understand?"
The merchant opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it. Bowing deeply, he retreated from the room. When he returned, he was accompanied by a Death Knight and a human. Unable to believe his eyes at this bizarre combination, Lionheart blinked and stared again.
"What is the meaning of this? Why has the Chamber brought a human?"
"The Chamber? I have no idea what you are talking about, but we are not with them," the human woman replied with a perfectly calm face, showing no sign of fear.
The fact that a human, who should have been trembling before the King of Beastmen, dared to maintain such composure wounded Lionheart's pride. It was even more insulting because she looked utterly unremarkable.
"...Fine. Are you the 'person of high standing' who wished to see Us?"
"Not me. Him," the human said, gesturing with both hands toward the Death Knight beside her. "To introduce him, this gentleman is—"
"Bwahaha!"
Lionheart burst into laughter, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"A mere Death Knight is the 'person of high standing'? What an utterly foolish human. No matter how much you wish to elevate your master, you must consider the status of the person you are speaking to!"
"..."
"Do you truly believe a pathetic Death Knight is worthy of such respect in Our presence? He is nothing but a worthless, low-grade undead!"
"Why is everyone always so eager to dig their own graves?" the human muttered with a sigh.
Before the angered Lionheart could speak, she beat him to the punch.
"It seems you haven't heard the news regarding the newly established Abyssal Palace. Quite surprising, considering a Rank 14 Dungeon Lord should be well-informed about such matters."
"...The Abyssal Palace?"
Lionheart had actually been quite interested in the newly established Abyssal Palace. He had gathered information through the Chamber of Commerce and made several discoveries. He knew the Chamber had contacted them immediately upon their emergence, that they had slain Valmonk, the Hero of Faith, and that the Rank 6 Lord, Rosesha, had shown a keen interest in them. He had also heard that their Lord was an undead. A Lord of the Abyssal Palaces must surely be a High Lich, Lionheart had assumed.
"..."
Looking closely now, the merchant's anxious gaze was not directed at him. For some reason, the merchant was nervously watching the Death Knight's every move.
...No. It can't be.
The Lord of the newly established Abyssal Palace was an undead. A Death Knight was also an undead. When he connected their attitudes with the human's words...
He realized too late that he had made a catastrophic mistake. The realization struck him like a physical blow, but the damage was already done.
"A worthless, low-grade undead, you say?"
The Death Knight pulled up a chair opposite him and sat down. His glowing blue eyes, completely unreadable, locked onto Lionheart.
"I suppose a Lord of the Abyssal Palaces amounts to nothing more than that in your eyes."