Chapter 37
Estizel, the half-demon.
Despised wherever she went, the half-demon Estizel had hidden herself away in a remote cave to escape the eyes of the world. Her only wish was to live quietly, unnoticed by anyone.
Why must I face such trials?
But then, the conquest of the 72nd Dungeon ruined everything. Of all places, the Dungeon Core of the 72nd Dungeon manifested in the very cave she called home, transforming the pathetic Estizel into the Rank 72 Dungeon Lord. Naturally, the number was branded into her mind.
Me, a Dungeon Lord of the 72 Dungeons? And Rank 72 at that!
If anyone found out she was a Dungeon Lord, her peaceful life would be shattered. To keep her identity a secret, Estizel hid herself deep within the dungeon.
However, with the grand assembly approaching, the Dungeon Chamber of Commerce set out to locate the 72nd Dungeon, and it wasn't long before Estizel's sanctuary was discovered. Despite the merchants' relentless grilling, Estizel desperately denied being the Rank 72 Lord, but it was a futile cover-up. The merchants saw her Dungeon Core with their own eyes. Artificial dungeons outside the 72 Dungeons could not produce a Dungeon Core. It was the definitive proof that Estizel was indeed the Rank 72 Lord.
"If you fail to attend the assembly, there may be... consequences. It would be quite disrespectful to disregard the hard work of our Dungeon Chamber of Commerce."
Even though she was a Lord, she was a half-demon at the absolute bottom of the hierarchy—Rank 72. The merchants did not hesitate to threaten her. This was the first assembly in a hundred years. For it to hold its proper significance, every single Lord had to attend. Of course, the other Lords would harbor intense hostility toward a half-demon, but Estizel was not someone they cared enough about to protect or worry over.
"Do... Do I really have to go?"
"Do as you please. But if you do not attend, you will have to deal with the aftermath yourself."
Estizel knew all too well how the world viewed half-demons. That was why she was so cowardly. She had hidden in that cave precisely to avoid a moment like this. Her mind went blank just thinking about how she would be treated if she attended. On the other hand, she was terrified of the retaliation from the Chamber of Commerce if she refused. Ultimately, Estizel had no choice but to swallow her tears and agree.
Only when the fateful day arrived did she hear a chilling piece of news from a merchant.
"...A half-demon committed suicide?"
"Yes. Did you only just find out?"
It was the news that a half-demon who had accompanied a Lord as a sentinel during the last assembly had committed suicide. Estizel felt her mind spin. She had already arrived at the palace banquet hall; there was no turning back now. In her heart, Estizel wanted to bite her tongue and end it all right there.
I might get 'suicided' just like that other half-demon, couldn't I?
Still, holding onto a sliver of hope—the faintest, most desperate hope—she stepped into the banquet hall.
It took less than ten seconds for that hope to be utterly shattered.
"Isn't that girl a half-demon?"
"Indeed. I heard the Rank 72 Lord was a half-demon, so it must be that wench."
"How utterly shameless. What was a mere Rank 72 half-demon thinking, showing her face at the assembly?"
"Looks like we'll have to replace the Rank 72 Lord once again."
Ah.
I'm dead! I'm absolutely dead!
Contempt and murderous intent far exceeding her worst nightmares poured in from all directions.
"Out of my way!"
"Ah, u-uh..."
Being shoved aside was the bare minimum; she was cursed at to her face, and someone even spat on her shoes. The atmosphere was so hostile that physical violence, or even a collective lynching, seemed imminent. Unable to bear the sorrow and humiliation, Estizel decided to make herself as small and invisible as possible.
For hours, she stood frozen in a corner, practically blending into the wall. Fortunately, the attention on her gradually waned. Yet, while she felt a brief moment of relief, her anxiety only grew.
Please, let time pass quickly...
Every minute here felt like an hour. Just standing there made it hard to breathe.
Estizel flinched at the booming voice, and as she processed the words, she gasped in shock. She had eyes and ears; how could she not have heard the rumors?
One of the elite Abyssal Palaces! Lord Bargore of the Tomb of Faith!
She had heard that he had manifested as a solo entity of the Abyssal Palaces from his very birth, antagonized the Rank 5 Lord, and earned the blind affection of the Rank 6 Lord. Most of all, he had slain two Heroes and even seized an awakened Holy Sword. It was a level of majesty completely unbelievable for a newly born dungeon. Even the other Abyssal Palace Lords would likely marvel at such feats.
"Ah. So that is the one who killed Lord Gergoar..."
"To think a Lord would kill one of their own..."
Estizel perked up her ears, listening intently to the whispers.
A moment later, an unspeakable shock struck her like a physical blow.
He killed the Rank 21 Lord?!
A newly risen Abyssal Palace Lord had slain the Rank 21 Boss. And he had done so with a single, merciless stroke.
Her astonishment was brief, quickly replaced by sheer terror for her own safety. The being before her was an Abyssal Palace Lord who had ruthlessly executed a Rank 21 Boss. What would happen if a half-demon, an eyesore to everyone, caught his attention?
If our eyes even meet, I'll die!
Swish!
She spun around, facing the wall completely. She figured that if she kept her back to Bargore, their eyes could never meet, no matter what.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the sharp sound of tearing wind echoed near her ears. Reflexively glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bargore holding the Holy Sword, and on the floor before him sat a Boss who had been knocked flat on his backside.
"Ugh..."
"Your rank and name."
"Y-Yes?"
"I told you to state your rank and name."
"...I am Brutalgrim, Rank 34."
"I shall remember that. Out of respect for this gathering, I will stop here."
"..."
"Next time, be prepared to have your tongue torn out. Your answer?"
"Y-Yes, yes. I will never do it again..."
With those words, Bargore returned to his spot.
Estizel swallowed hard, the saliva in her throat feeling incredibly heavy. Even in a banquet hall meant for socializing, he did not hesitate to threaten another Lord with death. Truly, an Abyssal Palace Lord who had slain a Rank 21 Boss...
"Ah!"
Estizel quickly turned back to face the wall. To an outsider, she looked like an ascetic monk deep in meditation, but her internal state was anything but peaceful.
If he catches me, I'm dead. If he catches me, I'm dead. I'm going to die. Please, please, please...
Her entire body trembled uncontrollably. It was a pitiful sight, but here, Estizel was a half-demon who elicited only murderous intent, not sympathy.
It was then that footsteps began to draw near.
Clank, clank.
The footsteps were accompanied by the heavy scraping of metal against metal. A wave of terror washed down her spine, and cold sweat poured from her brow. Please, please, let him pass by. Anyone but me. Estizel prayed to the heavens with all her heart.
As if to mock her prayers, she felt a touch on her shoulder.
...Ah.
Estizel froze solid. He had definitely realized she was a half-demon. The overwhelming dread pressing down on her made it impossible to move even a finger. If she ignored him, she would be killed in a single blow.
Like a broken wooden doll, Estizel slowly, creakingly turned around. Because of the vast height difference, she had to tilt her head far back just to see his face. But she shouldn't have looked. The moment she saw the chilling, piercing blue light in the Death Knight's eyes, tears welled up, and she burst out.
"P-Please, just spare my life..."
Bargore silently stared down at her. To Estizel, his gaze felt like pure, murderous intent.
"Hic!"
Terrified out of her wits, a hiccup escaped her lips.
Immediately, Bargore moved his hand. Estizel reflexively squeezed her eyes shut.
"Your hand."
"......?"
Forcing her eyes open, she saw Bargore extending his hand toward her. Judging by the gesture alone, it looked like he wanted to shake hands.
Only judging by the gesture, that is.
In the Demon Realm, half-demons were treated like untouchable pariahs at the absolute bottom of society. There was no way the supreme Lord of an Abyssal Palace would willingly touch a half-demon. A storm of wild theories raged in her mind, and in an instant, the "correct" answer flashed before her.
He's going to crush my wrist...!
Estizel looked up at me with a face pale with terror. With an expression like that, her emotions were plain to see even without looking at her level color.
"Your hand."
I gently reached out, keeping my tone as warm and friendly as possible.
I had debated this heavily before approaching her. An Abyssal Palace Lord becoming the patron of the Rank 72 Lord, who also happened to be a half-demon? It would undoubtedly cause a massive uproar, and not in a good way. Even so, the reason I decided to recruit her was because I highly valued her potential.
"Did you not hear me? I asked for your hand."
My arm was starting to get tired. But her response was truly something else.
"W-What... what are you planning to do to my wrist...?"
I was utterly speechless. Did I look like I was about to chop her hand off or something?
Left with no choice, I reached out, took her hand myself, and shook it.
"A pleasure. I am Bargore, Lord of the Abyssal Palaces. Please, introduce yourself."
"...Eh?"
"Your introduction."
For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped for Estizel alone. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly like a goldfish, and her eyes blinked in rapid succession.
"We don't have all day."
"Y-Yes?!"
"Just tell me your rank and name."
"Th-That... well, u-uh..."
Stuttering, rambling, fidgeting, hesitating. Her every action was so frustratingly slow that I had to suppress a heavy sigh.
"I-I am Estizel, Rank 72. I... I apologize for the delay in greeting the Lord of the Abyssal Palaces..."
Estizel bowed so deeply her body practically folded in half like a flip phone. She trembled when she stood still, she trembled when we shook hands—I felt like I was being cast as the villain here. Looking at her, she seemed like a young girl who had barely reached adulthood, which only added to my sense of guilt.
"Rank 72, Estizel. You have piqued my interest."
"Yes? Your interest? In... in me?"
"Indeed."
"A-As a toy, perhaps? Or... did you mean as an experimental subject?"
Just what on earth does she think I am?
"How rude."
"Ah! I-I'm sorry! I have committed a mortal sin!"
"You are neither a toy nor an experiment. Do you have a moment?"
"U-Uh..."
"I harbor no ill will. Let us speak. I wish to establish friendly relations, so do not be afraid."
Estizel gasped sharply.
"Friendly relations... with me?"
"Yes."
"B-But I am only Rank 72..."
"I am aware."
"And you are a Lord of the Abyssal Palaces...?"
"Do you think I do not know that?"
"...I even have human blood mixed in me."
"What does that matter?"
Actually, it does matter, but your potential matters more.
Even after all this, her level color remained unchanged. Right on cue, Charlotte and Balutak stepped up to my sides.
"Allow me to introduce this insectoid first. He is Balutak, the sentinel of the Tomb of Faith."
"Kirik. Nice to meet you-dak. I am Balutak-dak."
"And this human is my deputy, Charlotte. She is not a half-demon, but a pure-blooded human. Though she is a witch."
"...Greetings, Lord."
Estizel's dilated pupils locked onto Charlotte.
"A real human? A human is actually the deputy of an Abyssal Palace Lord?"
"That is correct," Charlotte replied.
"Whoa..."
Estizel's mouth parted slightly in awe.
Just as I planned, the dark, fearful black of her level color faded slightly. Having a pure-blooded human as my deputy must have cleared me of any suspicion of being a racial purist.
Of course, contacting a mere Rank 72 Lord was bound to raise questions among my subordinates. Balutak, having no complex thoughts, just let it slide. But Charlotte, as expected, kept casting troubled glances at me.
"Boss. May we speak privately for a moment?"
"Very well."
I already knew exactly what she was going to say.
Lately, Charlotte had no choice but to question her Boss's true intentions.
The Rank 72 half-demon Lord. Toward someone like Estizel, the Lord of an Abyssal Palace was openly showing friendly intentions.
Leaving Estizel behind, Charlotte spoke with her Boss.
"My Lord, this is truly unacceptable. Of course, foolish as I am, I cannot fathom your true intentions. Even so, this is simply..."
Realizing what she was doing, Charlotte cut herself off and warily watched his reaction. As the deputy assisting the Lord, she had just laid bare her negative thoughts without filtering them. Bowing her head, she offered a remorseful apology.
"I understand your concerns."
"...Then why?"
This could cause a blow to his reputation even worse than the incident with Gergoar. Even as she tried to guess his motives, knowing he was aware of the risks, she remained utterly in the dark.
"I saw potential in Estizel."
Charlotte knew her Boss possessed the ability to see potential. Even so, potential alone was not a sufficient excuse.
"I will hear no further objections. Trust my decision, as you always have."
"But, my Lord."
"Enough."
He remained unyielding. Was he truly establishing friendly relations with a Rank 72 half-demon solely based on potential? No, there had to be another reason.
Charlotte watched his retreating figure as he walked back toward Estizel, trying to decipher his hidden thoughts.
After deep contemplation, she arrived at three possible conclusions. Though she couldn't be certain, she couldn't think of anything else.
First, her Boss possessed a deep altruism quite uncharacteristic of an undead. He had simply reached out because he felt pity seeing Estizel persecuted.
If not that...
Second, she thought he might be doing this for her sake.
Charlotte was a pure-blooded human, but she had lived a life no different from a half-demon's. A life defined entirely by persecution and flight. As the Silt Witch, she was welcomed neither by humanity nor by dungeons. It was obvious that the same applied to half-demons.
She had felt no sense of kinship or shared identity with other humans, but upon seeing the half-demon Estizel, those two feelings became incredibly distinct. She had even found herself glancing at the girl unconsciously.
By interacting with a half-demon without hesitation, her Boss was subtly offering comfort to Charlotte. Telling her not to be disheartened just because she was human. Showing her that even if she was human, he accepted her exactly as she was.
This theory carried weight. Charlotte had constantly stood by her Boss's side, feeling small and inadequate. If he had noticed her inner turmoil, all of his actions suddenly made perfect sense.
And the last one...
Honestly, this was the hardest to believe.
That he possessed a bizarre sexual deviancy.
If there were necrophiliacs among humans, there was no rule saying there couldn't be "humanophiles" among the undead. Of course, the undead completely lacked appetite, sleep, and sexual desire. But he was a Lord of the Abyssal Palaces. It wouldn't be strange if he possessed things other undead could not. After all, rumors said the Lich King Calandas satisfied his appetite by consuming souls.
Both Charlotte and Estizel were exceptionally beautiful human-looking women. Furthermore, both were of a similar age, appearing to have just reached adulthood, with similar physical development.
Looking back, she had been accepted as his deputy immediately, without even an interview or serving as a sentinel first. A deputy, a position that required her to remain by his side at all times.
Come to think of it, in the past...
There was a time he had walked into her deputy room while she was changing. At the time, Charlotte had been completely topless. An undead with no sexual desire would have simply stated his business without a second thought. Instead, her Boss had cleared his throat repeatedly and closed the door, pretending he hadn't seen anything.
It was a reaction that could only come from someone whose desires were stirred by a woman's naked body.
He didn't choose me for my abilities, but to satisfy his lust...
Charlotte was prone to mistakes and wasn't particularly helpful in managing the dungeon. Yet, he had kept her by his side all this time. Was it to feast his eyes on her?
If that was true, it meant her Boss harbored lustful feelings toward her.
It was a shocking realization she had never considered before. The thought that his goal might be her body rather than her abilities began to take root.
"..."
Charlotte looked down at her own body. Her robe covered her completely, leaving not a single patch of skin exposed. While comfortable, she suddenly felt her attire was far too restrictive.
I should look for clothes that accentuate my figure.
Deep down, she secretly hoped the last hypothesis was the correct one.