The World is Out to Get Me
The world was truly out to get me. I had managed to escape by some miracle, but where the hell was I supposed to go now? To avoid humans and sunlight, a cave would be ideal, but then I ran the risk of being mistaken for a dungeon boss again.
Should I actually head to the Demonic Realm?
The thought was dismissed as soon as it arose. Crossing the continent was far easier said than done. There were roughly five hours left until dawn. Time was ticking, and no suitable location came to mind.
First, let's put some distance between us.
Right now, the most terrifying prospect was Charlotte chasing me down. The anxiety that she might come looking for me made me want to get as far away as possible, even a second sooner. Should I head to a nearby village? To find a proper sanctuary, I needed to travel far and wide, which was practically impossible on foot. If only I could get my hands on a horse.
Fortunately, I had plenty of experience riding horses, thanks to my father forcing his hobby on me. Back then, I wondered how on earth this would help me get a job, but then I woke up in a medieval fantasy world.
Ah, Father. You were right.
This was the foresight of a man who had reached the age of fifty. Just how many steps ahead were you looking, Father?
Thinking of my father made me suddenly miss my family. Of course, wallowing in tears and lamenting my fate wouldn't change a thing. I swallowed my sorrow and kept moving.
If it's a medieval village, there's bound to be at least one stable, right?
Plan A: Sneak into the village, steal a horse, and ride like the wind. They say well begun is half done. If I could just pull this off, the rest would be smooth sailing—or at least, I could figure it out then.
Had the heavens not abandoned me yet? Not long after descending the mountain, a village came into view in the distance. As expected of a medieval village, there wasn't a single light on at night. It was so dark that a normal human would have walked right past it, but luckily, I was a Death Knight with perfect night vision.
Stealthily making my way toward it, a wooden palisade surrounding the village perimeter soon appeared. There were militia guards stationed at the entrance with torches, but...
"Zzz..."
The two guards on duty were nodding off.
Man, I really want to call the Duty Officer on them.
As a fully discharged sergeant of the Republic of Korea Army, it took everything in me not to smack them upside the head. Still, their slacking allowed me to slip inside safely.
Fortunately, there was no one wandering the village streets either. There was a tavern with its lights still on, buzzing with unabated noise. Unless someone stepped out to throw up, they all seemed content to stay glued to their seats inside.
The only worrying thing was that the stable was right next to the tavern. But I couldn't back out now just because of a little anxiety. Slipping quietly into the stable, a magnificent black stallion immediately caught my eye. A black knight on a black horse? Oh, I couldn't pass this up.
"Ah."
A sharp gasp broke the silence. Turning toward the source of the sound, my eyes locked with a kid sitting in the back. I hadn't anticipated a stable boy guarding the horses.
"Thief! Everyone, wake up! There's a horse thief!"
The boy's shrill voice shattered the quiet night. Deciding against trying to muzzle him, I threw my foot into the stirrup and swung myself onto the black stallion.
Neighhh!
But the horse bucked wildly, thrashing with all its might, and threw me straight to the ground.
Ah. Right.
Only then did I remember that undead couldn't ride living mounts. I took back what I said about having good night vision. Damn this useless bag of bones.
"A-A Death Knight! It's a Death Knight! The rumored Death Knight is here! Help, everyone!"
This little brat...!
Slam! Doors flew open, and a flood of footsteps rushed toward the stable. Without looking back, I bolted.
"A Death Knight? Where?"
"Over there! He's running away!"
"Heavens, it's real! The rumors about a Death Knight on the back mountain were true!"
"Fear not! I have arrived! The Death Knight is... Hm? Ah, there he is!"
"Hero! Where are you going?"
"Are you going to chase him?!"
What? Hero?
My gaze snapped back reflexively, catching sight of a figure charging toward me at terrifying speed. But what truly arrested my attention was the level floating above his head.
Are you insane? Looking closer, the man's face seemed strangely familiar.
A massive, mountain-like build, a shaved head, and a beard so thick it looked like his hair had grown upside down. He wore martial arts robes, and the wooden prayer beads around his neck were as thick as fists. The Eastern-style attire combined with Level 82 made his identity crystal clear.
The memory of my first encounter with Charlotte overlapped with the current situation like a vivid déjà vu. The Hero of Faith, Valmonk. The man was none other than one of the Empire's Four Heroes.
Why the hell is he here?! Is being a Hero some kind of government job? Did they dispatch him? Damn it! He should be meditating in some secluded mountain. What kind of wealth and glory was he seeking by bursting out of a village tavern?
"Be careful, Hero!"
"Fear not, my brothers! I shall purge this undead without fail!"
I didn't even have the luxury to lament my fate, let alone think. I just ran like hell. I might have been a skeleton, but I ran with the desperate urgency of a man who knew exactly what it felt like to have his life on the line.
Ah, why is my life like this?
Of all things, I had to possess a Death Knight, only to be mistaken for a dungeon boss. To make matters worse, I ran into a crazy witch who claimed I was the lord of one of the Mugan 7 Palaces. And as the cherry on top, barely after escaping, I was now being hunted by a Hero. Tossed around, battered, and utterly screwed. The world was truly out to get me.
Valmonk was a pure martial artist, meaning my Enhancement exploit wouldn't even work on him. Why on earth was a Hero a martial artist instead of using a sword? Was it really a mere coincidence that the only martial artist among the Heroes was the one chasing me? Talk about relentless. Still not dead? It felt as if the world itself was whispering those words in my ear.
"Halt, undead!"
Clop, clop, clop!
He must have mounted a horse, because the sound of hooves was rapidly closing in. I couldn't outrun a horse. Having no choice, I spun around and hurled my black iron greatsword in a wide arc.
Neighhh!
It must have hit the horse, because I heard it crash to the ground. I hoped he would take a nasty fall, but Valmonk landed gracefully with superhuman reflexes.
What a crazy monster.
People called Death Knights monsters? What a joke. To my eyes, that human was far more monstrous.
I never imagined I'd be heading back to that death trap. But I had no choice. Lesser of two evils. I immediately veered back toward the dungeon.
My pursuer was one of the Four Heroes, the ultimate military power of the Empire. Charlotte and her vampires were nothing compared to him, but I had nowhere else to turn. I knew that doing this might drag everyone down to hell with me.
I'm sorry, but I have to survive too.
I was human once, and humans are inherently selfish. When my own life is on the line, why should I care about anyone else? If there was even a 1% chance of survival, I had to take it!
"Halt! Let us see which is stronger—your skull or my fist!"
I was already a corpse; I wasn't about to die a second time. Charlotte, anyone, please just save me!
Click, clack.
The elegant sound of heels echoed through the cavern. Charlotte looked around, tilting her head in confusion.
Is this really a dungeon?
It was far too narrow, short, and small. While newly formed dungeons were typically like this, this was supposed to be one of the Mugan 7 Palaces. She couldn't shake her doubts about one of the legendary palaces being so pathetic.
"Hmm. Perhaps my assumptions were incorrect."
The origins of the Mugan 7 Palaces predated the Empire's history by several fold. For a thousand years, they had remained unchanged. In other words, the concept of a "newly formed" Mugan 7 Palace had never existed until now. This place was the very beginning of a new era. Though shabby and cramped compared to its reputation, a newly born Mugan 7 Palace would naturally look like this. Charlotte secretly thought that she might be the first person in history to discover this truth.
The dungeon was a mess, requiring work at every turn. In Charlotte's eyes, it needed a complete overhaul.
Actually, this is perfect.
This was an opportunity. If the dungeon was this dilapidated, she could fully demonstrate her competence as his deputy.
"U-Um, Deputy? I have a question... May I ask?"
Beside her, Isabella fidgeted, carefully reading her expression. Charlotte gave a slight nod of her chin, permitting her to speak.
"I just suddenly got curious. How are the rankings of the 72 Dungeons decided?"
"You must be a vampire born in the Northern Continent."
The Northern Continent was human territory, while the Southern Continent was the Demonic Realm. Monsters born in the north were often ignorant of the common knowledge of non-human races. Charlotte let out a weary sigh.
"The rankings of the 72 Dungeons are not decided by anyone. They are engraved."
"Engraved?"
"The moment a boss is born in a dungeon, a number is engraved into their mind. A number representing the dungeon's rank in the hierarchy."
The history of dungeons spanned over a millennium. Naturally, the mysteries surrounding them had long ceased to be mysteries.
"If the number is only engraved in the boss's mind, does that mean the ranking is determined solely by the boss's strength?"
"No. The ranking is determined by comparing the entire military power of the dungeon, not just the boss."
Furthermore, the rankings were fluid. If a higher-ranked dungeon stagnated while a lower-ranked one focused on reinforcing its forces, their positions could be reversed. Bosses would suddenly perceive these changes as a primal instinct. Because of this, the hierarchy of dungeons was clearly defined without the need for physical conflict. This was why they didn't fight over who was stronger, and also why the Mugan 7 Palaces had endured for a thousand years. Though they avoided clashing with one another, they had ultimately fallen to humanity.
"I also have a question, Isabella. Were there no existing monsters in this dungeon?"
"Yes, I believe so."
In a newly formed dungeon, the Dungeon Core would manifest first, followed by the boss and then the monsters. However, on rare occasions, a dungeon would form with only a Dungeon Core and a boss. These were known as Solo-Entity Dungeons.
"It is astonishing that such a place is ranked seventh. I would not have believed a Solo-Entity Dungeon could become one of the Mugan 7 Palaces if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."
Other Mugan 7 Palaces teemed with hundreds or thousands of monsters, including their bosses. In contrast, the lord of this dungeon had claimed a throne among the Mugan 7 Palaces entirely on his own. It was a feat that transcended shock and entered the realm of awe, causing Charlotte's body to tremble. A thrill ran down her spine, leaving her covered in goosebumps.
"...I cannot contain my excitement. I must show him everything I am capable of."
She would transform this place into a sanctuary worthy of the name Mugan 7 Palaces.
Charlotte reached into her robes and pulled out a sheet of black goatskin parchment. It was a merchant summoning ticket, granted only to those who had established a favorable relationship with the Dungeon Chamber of Commerce. These tickets were not easily obtained. Having been affiliated with a dungeon in the past, Charlotte possessed a spare. In dungeon construction, the assistance of the Dungeon Chamber of Commerce, which spanned the entire Demonic Realm, was indispensable.
Rip!
In response to the torn ticket, a pitch-black portal, blending seamlessly with the darkness, tore open in midair. A red demon stepped out of the portal, landing gracefully on the ground before bowing politely. He was the Demon Merchant Charlotte had contracted with during her time in her previous dungeon.
"It has been a long time, Lady Charlotte. Oh? It seems you have entered a new dungeon. In that case, you must be in dire need of our Chamber's services."
"Then serve us with everything you have."
The Demon Merchant's brow twitched. It was a rather arrogant demand. Even if she was a capable human, he had only tolerated her attitude out of professional courtesy.
"Your words are a bit... harsh, don't you think?"
"This is a newly formed Mugan 7 Palace. And I am its deputy."
"Excuse me?"
The demon blurted out stupidly. As he processed her words, his eyes and mouth stretched to absurd proportions.
"A real Mugan 7 Palace? Heavens! I figured it was about time for one to appear, but finally! The second coming of the Seventh Demon King...!"
The demons of the Demonic Realm often referred to the bosses of the 72 Dungeons as Demon Kings.
"I was so devastated when I heard the news of the previous Demon King falling to the Heroes! If it were up to me, I would have hunted down and slaughtered every last one of them. Ah, but I digress. In any case, the deputy of a Mugan 7 Palace... As expected, your capabilities are truly remarkable, Lady Charlotte."
"Save your flattery. First, we will begin with expanding the dungeon—wait. Is there any useful monster here..."
Charlotte trailed off as her gaze swept over the vampires. Meeting her eyes, Isabella offered a bright, innocent smile, repeatedly pointing a finger at herself.
Whip!
Charlotte snapped her head away.
"I've changed my mind. Let's start by recruiting monsters."
Isabella's face instantly fell into a pout.
The weakness of a newly formed dungeon was its flimsy defenses. One could not rule out the possibility of a subjugation force catching wind of it and launching an attack. It was always best to prepare for any variable.
"Give me the inventory list of high-grade monsters your Chamber offers. Those with intelligence but no sense of self."
"Ah, high-grade monsters that are easy to control? I figured as much and brought the list with me."
With those words, the demon handed over a parchment scroll.
Charlotte scanned the list slowly before rolling the parchment back up. She then visually estimated the vertical width of the dungeon.
I can expand the horizontal width using my magic. That way, we won't get crushed, and we can use the hired monsters to clear out the rest.
At its current size, the dungeon was too cramped for large monsters to reside. However, she estimated that with a little modification, it would be spacious enough to accommodate them.
"Prepare two well-trained Minotaurs and one Basilisk."
The demon flinched. Both Minotaurs and Basilisks were classified as top-tier monsters. Three monsters that cost upwards of ten million Cells each?
"I want them ready immediately."
"R-Right now?"
"With a Demonic Portal, shouldn't it take less than five minutes?"
"Doing so will incur a 10% rush fee. Are you alright with that? Actually, before that... do you even have the funds?"
"A Mugan 7 Palace can easily secure a loan of one hundred million Cells."
The implication was clear: We don't have the cash, but if you lend it to us, we'll buy them with that.
The demon let out a low hum, weighing her intentions.
Could she be posing as a Mugan 7 Palace to borrow money? No, impossible.
The Charlotte he knew was far from reckless; she was a meticulously thorough human. Besides, if anyone dared to impersonate a Mugan 7 Palace, the Dungeon Chamber of Commerce would utterly annihilate them. There was no way Charlotte was ignorant of that obvious fact.
And if this truly is a Mugan 7 Palace, it's an opportunity we absolutely cannot afford to miss.
What the Dungeon Chamber of Commerce valued more than money wasn't trust—it was a client from the Mugan 7 Palaces. Even ten other dungeons combined couldn't match the value of a single Mugan 7 Palace. They weren't called the peak of dungeons for nothing. In any case, securing a connection with a newly established Mugan 7 Palace would undoubtedly bring immense profit to the Chamber.
"Where is the Dungeon Lord?"
"He has stepped out for a moment."
"Unpredictable, as expected of a Mugan 7 Palace. Has this been discussed with the Lord?"
"I take full responsibility for everything. Even if I act on my own, it is fine as long as it satisfies him."
"And if he is disappointed... well, I am sure you will handle it appropriately."
The Demon Merchant's lips curled upward. If things went well, this could be a massive milestone for his sales record.
"I shall bring them to you at once."
The demon opened the portal with a delighted heart. About five minutes later, massive, heavy figures began to emerge from the portal one by one.
"With this, we need not fear even if a Hero shows up," Charlotte muttered, nodding in satisfaction.