A Shared Solitude

This was not good. Why is she pink again? In the meantime, Charlotte's level color had shifted to hot pink. Truly, she was living up to her reputation as a bone-obsessed witch. Charlotte and Balutak merely stood guard by my side, refraining from joining the conversation. Since Estizel was a solo entity and had no companions with her, the two of us were able to converse freely.

When I raised my hand, a demon serving wine approached. Seeing me, Estizel also cautiously accepted a wine glass.

"A toast."

"C-Cheers..."

Clink. We clinked our glasses, and Estizel brought it to her lips. Being undead, I simply watched her drink.

"Cough! Hack!Wheeze!"

Was my gaze really that burdensome? Before she could even finish half of it, she choked and let out a dry cough. The attention already focused on us began to intensify.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Conscious of the staring eyes, Estizel quickly covered her mouth with both hands. Once she finally calmed down, she rolled her eyes upward to steal a glance at me.

"Um, Lord Vargore?"

"Speak."

"I know this is presumptuous of me, but... well, won't this only ruin your reputation, Lord Vargore?"

Just as she said, the majority of the levels around us were dyed with hostility. I hadn't caused any harm. Simply talking to Estizel was enough to make their colors shift by the second. It was a clear indication of what the 72 Lords thought of her.

"It does not matter."

I didn't care much about their opinions anyway. Since I was one of the Mugan 7 Palaces, I only needed to carry myself well in front of the other members of the Mugan 7 Palaces.

"Um... I'm really, really curious. Why are you being so nice to me?"

"You must dislike it."

"No, no! It's not that..."

"There is no particular reason. I simply saw potential in you."

Blessings come to those who wait. Though slow, the Estizel stock was bound to skyrocket.

"Potential? In me?"

"Yes."

She clearly didn't believe me. Well, believe it or not. I had no intention of begging her to believe me.

"At any rate, if you ever need help, do not hesitate to speak."

"...I did run up a debt with the merchant guild, though."

Even after speaking, she was secretly gauging my reaction. Realizing she might have overstepped, Estizel quickly lowered her gaze.

"How much?"

"A-A little under a million cells."

I let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded. I guess even this was a massive debt to the 72nd Lord.

"I will take care of it as soon as the assembly is over."

"Ah! Thank you so much!"

"Do you need any other assistance? How are your dungeon's defenses?"

"Uh... I haven't had a single intruder yet, so I'm not really sure."

That was only because it hadn't happened yet. The 72nd dungeon was highly vulnerable to being conquered. It might actually be a good idea for her to move to my dungeon. Solo entities could easily relocate by abandoning their dungeon and simply taking their Dungeon Core with them. In the game, there were cases where a solo boss moved to another dungeon, resulting in two bosses residing in a single dungeon.

"Have you ever thought about coming to the Tomb of Faith?"

"...Pardon?"

"I am asking for your thoughts. Whether you wish to become a member of the Mugan 7 Palaces."

At my question, Estizel froze completely. Soon, her eyes widened, and her mouth stretched open as wide as Kirby's.

"Someone like me, joining Lord Vargore's—! Mmph!"

Fearing she would draw attention again, she hastily covered her mouth.

"There is no rush. Take your time and think about it. You can tell me your decision when the assembly ends."

"N-No... how could someone like me dare to join the Mugan 7 Palaces..."

From that moment, the color of Estizel's level changed. The 'Lv' turned a light green, while the number '44' remained a deep black. It was an ambiguous mix of goodwill and fear. But wasn't this a massive step forward? It felt like the satisfying moment when a wary, terrified puppy finally opened its heart.

"There is plenty of room. My subordinates will welcome you as well. You are welcome to come whenever you wish."

"Uaaah..."

"The 72nd dungeon is dangerous. Most of those who hold the 72nd rank are replaced within a matter of days."

Estizel was a boss with high magical potential. With Charlotte's guidance, she would surely blossom and make rapid progress. Who knows? She might even break into the top 50 in less than a month.

And she would probably like it too.

If you stripped away her fear, Estizel would obviously welcome the offer. She was a classic introverted loner—but one who desperately wanted to make friends. Her life as a recluse, hiding away forever, was merely a forced choice to escape the harsh storms of the world. In reality, she was a lonely girl starving for human warmth.

There was even an easter egg in the game that revealed her true personality. If a player entered the 72nd dungeon unarmed, Estizel would let down her guard and approach. The dialogue she delivered to the player was quite unexpected:

"Are you here to hide too? Then you can stay here with me."

Seeing the very first boss approach so warmly, anyone would think the same as I did. Ah, so that's why she's a half-demon. The developers are obviously trying to backstab me with that innocent appearance. At first, I thought it was a deceptive trap. But as it turned out, Estizel's words were completely sincere, without a single lie.

"I'm in the same boat as you! We should be friends!"

Indeed, if you clicked the accept button, Estizel's affinity gauge would appear. Players seeking a wholesome experience would even abandon the main story just to play house with her. But I was a player who valued efficient progression. I would always enter unarmed, build up her affinity, and then backstab and kill her. It saved more time than the standard strategy, and I could kill her without taking any damage.

"W-Why are you trying to kill me? I thought we were friends..."

Even her dying words wrenched the players' hearts. Because her dialogue, screams, and facial expressions were so realistic, she was famous among gamers as a notorious guilt-inducing boss.

"B-But still, how could someone like me..."

Estizel mumbled, her voice trailing off. Well, seeing her in person made me feel strangely guilty. I had killed her hundreds of times, after all.

Well, now it's the opposite.

Instead of being her killer, I was in a position to nurture her. It would help unlock her potential and ease my guilt.

Pat.

When I placed my hand on her shoulder again, she flinched slightly.

"You run a solo dungeon, do you not? It must be incredibly lonely on your own."

"It is, but..."

"I, too, am a solo boss just like you. I understand that feeling better than anyone."

"!"

Estizel stopped breathing and stared up at me blankly.

"Look. That is why I keep subordinates by my side."

"O-Oh, so that's why?"

"So, think about it positively."

Before I knew it, the green in her level had deepened, and the black had faded. As expected, nothing bought goodwill quite like a sense of shared identity.

Tap. Tap.

It was then that the sound of something tapping against the floor echoed. At the source of the sound was a troll shaman who looked like a hunched-back old crone. Babayaga, the Rank 8 Lord, was walking over, tapping the floor with his Elderwood Shaman Staff. Seeing him draw closer, Estizel gasped. I glared at Babayaga in silence.

"You look well," the raspy voice of the old troll rasped, laced with unpleasantness.

Just before he could step right in front of me, Charlotte and Balutak blocked his path. Only after I gave a slight nod did the two of them step back simultaneously.

"What is it?"

"Hoho... My apologies for the late introduction. I am Babayaga, the Lord of the Swamp Valley of All Diseases, Rank 8."

His level glowed a pale red—blatant hostility. In response, my tone sharpened.

"Did you come all this way just to exchange names?"

"Well, yes. It would be an honor if the Lord of the Abyss remembered me."

Even as he spoke, his sharp glare pierced Estizel.

"By the way, you seem to have it quite easy. For a Lord of the Abyss Palace to associate with such a half-baked creature."

Estizel, already intimidated, shrank back even further. Was he constantly watching for an opportunity, only to seize upon this perfect excuse? I hid Estizel behind my back and tilted my chin.

"Do you have a complaint?"

"Hoho, of course not. How could I dare harbor a complaint against the will of the Abyss Palace? Rather, all of your actions up until now finally make sense."

Babayaga twisted the corner of his mouth.

"I was wondering what you were thinking when you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠killed Gergoar, but now I see you weren't thinking at all."

This went beyond sarcasm; it was a direct, raw insult. Before I could even step forward, reactions erupted from both sides.

"Apologize for the insult, Lord Babayaga. This is the Lord of the Abyss Palace."

"Kirik. Troll, you speak too much-dak. He is my Great Chief-dak."

"Even your subordinates are a human adjutant and an insectoid guardian. You are truly dragging your own name through the mud, aren't you?"

Even though it was only a difference of one rank, an immense gulf existed between the Mugan 7 Palaces and Rank 8. Without exaggeration, the gap was wider than ten ranks. Knowing this, was he acting rashly out of sheer anger? Or was he overconfident in his faction? But before that, was he even acting of his own free will?

"This is an act of irreverence that would make the other Lords of the Abyss lament if they heard it. Do you not know this, Your Noble Highness?"

To my eyes, Babayaga looked like a puppet on strings. This provocation was undoubtedly Calandas's doing. With a Lord of the Abyss Palace backing him, he had nothing to fear, even if he made an enemy of another. Furthermore, Calandas was Rank 5—two ranks higher than me. But I couldn't just stand by and let myself be intimidated by him either.

"Babayaga. Do you wish to die?"

"Oh? Are you going to kill me like you killed Gergoar?"

Babayaga shot back without a change in his expression. Because his backer was Calandas, he didn't flinch at my bluff. If I closed my eyes and let this slide, it would be the turning point where my true weakness would be exposed to the world.

As long as it wasn't physical harm, it wouldn't be a major issue. If I could threaten him just like I did with Calandas, the momentum would shift to me. Rather than dragging out the conflict, this was the most appropriate response.

...What?

The subsequent notifications that popped up seemed to mock me.

I had figured that overreliance on my Enhancement skill would eventually backfire. But to think it would be right now... A sense of utter defeat sprouted and grew in my chest. If not for my poker face, they would have seen right through me. This was entirely my mistake. I had grown overconfident because of the continuous help from my Enhancement skill. The price of that overconfidence gnawed at my heart with cruel intensity.

Babayaga raised his staff. He looked it over, tilted his head in confusion, and then tapped the floor with it again.

"Do not be so angry. It is merely advice."

"..."

"Perhaps because you are a newcomer, you do not fully understand the prestige of the Abyss Palace. In that case, shouldn't an elder like myself be allowed to offer some guidance?"

Because the enhancement succeeded, I had to wait an entire hour for the cooldown. I didn't possess the natural aura of intimidation that the other Lords of the Mugan 7 Palaces radiated. And if I resorted to physical force, I was far weaker than Babayaga. It would only expose my weakness. I had to turn the atmosphere around with words alone, but my train of thought was completely tangled. It felt as if I had been struck on the back of the head with a hammer; no solution came to mind.

"Do you perhaps wish to kill me? You have acted as you pleased until now. Go ahead, try to kill me here. I am sure the other Lords of the Abyss Palace will be absolutely thrilled."

"This is your final warning. That is enough."

Charlotte stepped forward in my stead. I could only pray that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she would buy me even a little bit of time.

"Apologize for your rudeness immediately. If you cross the line any further, there will be no turning back."

"Are you threatening me? A mere human?"

"Kirik. Great Chief is strong-dak. Troll cannot win-dak."

"How dare a worthless insect... This is not a place for the likes of you to interfere. Get lost while I am still giving you a chance."

In the distance, a crowd with red levels was approaching. They were the bosses of Babayaga's faction.

"He is not someone a creature like you can look down upon. Kneel and apologize to my master immediately," Charlotte demanded.

"Kirik. I have eaten many trolls-dak. I will eat you too and evolve this time-dak."

"You all might end up dead if you keep this up," Babayaga warned.

"Go ahead and try. But you will die first."

"Shut your mouth."

"A mere adjutant speaking so fearlessly? Who is going to die?"

In the meantime, over a dozen bosses surrounded us, and all eyes in the hall focused on our location. If a boss simply stood by and let his subordinates do all the talking, his standing would crumble beyond recovery. It would be the ultimate disgrace for a member of the Mugan 7 Palaces. Yet, we were severely outnumbered. My bluffs and authority held no sway over them. That damn Calandas. His scheme was driving me into a corner.

Fuck, what do I do?

I never expected Babayaga to push this far. I expected my bluff to at least dampen his momentum, but he hadn't flinched at all. If only the enhancement had failed, the outcome would have been different, but luck couldn't always be on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my side. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Curses flooded my mind like a tidal wave.

Rumble—

The sound of the stone gates opening made my head spin even more. Charlotte and Balutak fell silent and stole glances at me. My inability to take action despite their urging eyes made me feel utterly pathetic.

At ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that moment, all my thoughts ground to a halt. Involuntarily, my gaze drifted toward the stone gates.

The vampire Drabule and the Dullahan Karleon. Walking between the two of them was a woman with long, crimson hair. She exuded a noble aura with every step. Her mere presence drew all eyes, stirring up a wave of agitation while simultaneously overwhelming the room. A heavy pressure that seemed to weigh down the very air spread in all directions, and the level that explained why appeared above her head.

The moment her blood-red eyes turned toward me, her pure white level instantly flushed a deep pink.

"Hello, darling? I came because I missed you."

With her signature eye-smile, Rosesha waved her hand playfully.