129. Contact (3)
129. Contact (3)
- 1 -
"You've worked hard."
Guided by the daughter of Zarkra—who had received the name Bergrisa—
I gathered everything that ought to be collected from the dungeon of this dungeon heir and returned to my own dungeon.
"It was nothing. Thank you. And I..."
"Your parents' remains will be delivered to you shortly."
"Yes..."
The remains of Zarkra and Hwira Jul, badly damaged out of necessity on the battlefield.
I need not show them to their child in such a wretched state.
When I looked at Evangeline, she gave a nod as if she already understood.
Before I had even said a word.
Trusting her, I immediately turned my gaze away.
'That went rather well.'
The principal spoils were Zarkra's core and Bergrisa herself, but the assortment of sorcerous elixirs and spell tomes he had been researching was no poor haul either.
Among them, there was also a volume containing otherworldly knowledge.
"Merely opening it would corrupt the mind of an ordinary summoned creature or human. Someone like me could manage reading it, but Shue or Ran would..."
"That bad, is it..."
"Yes. Otherworldly knowledge is exceedingly dangerous."
"Hmm."
Since I cannot feel the peril myself when I look at it, it is ironic how diminished my ability appears.
I shall have to keep them in my private quarters, not the library.
After all, in my dungeon, I am the only one who can read them.
Shuah!
At the sound of mana activating, I raised my head and saw Shue and Sonia likewise just returning.
They had come back from the dungeon belonging to Melzeros.
"He had no other heirs or persons of consequence, then."
"There were only those who resisted... so I killed them and came back."
"Master. More than that, we found a great many strange books..."
Come to think of it, there would have been books filled with otherworldly knowledge on that side as well.
On the chance that it might happen, I decided to warn them in the strongest possible terms.
"Do not, on any account, think of opening them. If you do, you will never see me again. In the worst sense."
"What...?"
The moment she heard my words, Sonia's face went pale, while behind Shue—who wore a triumphant look as though she had prevented Sonia from opening a book, practically saying 'I kept her from doing it'—
I could see skeletons piling up the spoils taken from Melzeros's dungeon.
"Until I have sorted them separately and informed you otherwise, do not think of opening them."
I gave orders that all of the otherworldly books among them be brought to my private quarters.
Still, since I cannot fully verify the danger alone, I will have to examine them together with at least Evangeline, or a mage outfitted with magical implements that resist corruption.
And Evangeline is the busiest person in my dungeon.
Therefore.
"Jin-kyung."
I decided to employ someone whose sole contribution up to now had been the dungeon's combat strength.
"When you return, receive an artifact from Eve. I have something to investigate with you."
- Me?
"Yes."
Jin-kyung pointed at herself with a baffled look, while Sonia seemed subtly disappointed.
I gestured to my disciple, and when she came close I laid my hand on her head, stroking it as I spoke.
"The books are perilous. If you look at them wrongly, you could die. Wait a while."
"Ah, I see... I understand."
She nodded as though she comprehended, then began to gaze at Jin-kyung with an air of concern.
She was a remarkably fretful creature.
"There is much that even I cannot identify."
Leaving Jin-kyung—who had met Sonia's eyes and was growing uneasy for some reason—to her own devices, I turned my head and inspected the other spoils.
Perhaps because they had belonged to dungeon lords of far longer standing than myself, there were quite a few items I did not recognize.
"I shall have them sorted and will summon the trading company."
I merely nodded at Ran's report.
Ordinary materials can simply be stockpiled, so the quantity that truly required sorting was not so great relative to the whole.
She would have them sorted and organized in no time.
- Master!
"Come here."
Leaving the sorting of goods to my people, with Mary perched on my shoulder I stepped to one side.
Evangeline remained to assist with the sorting, while Shue, acting quite naturally as my guard, fell in behind together with Axe.
My destination held the defeated remnants, the soldiers who were now fretting anxiously over what was to become of them.
The were-dragon Kyricia, and the direction where her subordinates stood.
"Lady Kyricia. Our secret pact has been fulfilled."
"Lady Libertas... I congratulate your victory."
Kyricia seemed to be striving to maintain as dignified a bearing as possible, yet at the same time there was no true majesty in her appearance.
Most of all, dignity cannot live when one cannot meet the other's eyes.
'She has little choice.'
After all, the true military strength of my dungeon that she witnessed with her own eyes would be more than enough to tell her that her surrender was not even necessary.
Brute force is a value that works far more effectively on demons, whose instincts are stronger than those of humans.
I offered her no particular remark on the matter, and simply did what needed to be done.
"Take these with you."
It was a distribution of the spoils.
Had we not, after all, been allies, however temporarily?
If I sent her back without any spoils at all, she would lose considerable standing within the archduke's faction, and in the worst case might even be expelled.
That would clearly not suit my palate either. Since, after all, it would happen as a result of my own machinations.
And the cruelty that needed to be carried out today had already been entirely spent.
"These as well."
"You are giving... these books... to me?"
"I am, of course. Take them and show them to Archduke Astaroth, and they will serve as sufficient justification for your actions this time."
Though what I handed over was a very small quantity, among them were even volumes of otherworldly tomes that felt as though they contained comparatively less vital knowledge.
It was knowledge that Dantalion—the one who styles himself as secrets, and is called so—had bestowed upon his subordinates.
It would suffice as spoils with which to curry the favor of another archduke.
Yet, what seemed to startle her was not the books, but my attitude.
"You refer to an archduke... so plainly."
"He is not the lord I serve, merely the sovereign of one whom I regarded as an enemy. Surely I do not need to go to the trouble of showing him exaggerated deference."
"... Huh."
Kyricia's eyes, which had held unease and a measure of fear, were tinted with astonishment, but I ignored her and surveyed her forces.
A legion composed chiefly of marine were-beasts.
Even a glance revealed where reinforcements were needed.
"I shall also provide you with a portion of the surrendered soldiers from Melzeros and Zarkra. That will help you strengthen your position within the archduke's faction."
"Why go so far?"
"You must know without my having to say it."
Upon hearing my words, she shut her eyes tightly, then opened them, and after a moment gave her answer.
"I cannot come out on my own."
"There is no need."
An answer born of her misconception.
When I shook my head immediately at those words, her expression became oddly wounded, as though her pride had been injured.
Was I too firm?
"Were you not trying to draw me into your Demon Realm?"
"The distance between you and my dungeon is very great, is it not. There would be little benefit in doing so. Let us simply maintain cordial relations."
This action of mine was, at most, nothing more than a reprieve of that future of hers, but it was also, to some small extent, sincere.
Her dungeon is an island at the northeasternmost edge of the Eastern Continent.
My own dungeon lies at the continent's center, so unless I possess influence spanning at least a nation, even taking her as a 'handmaiden' would be useless.
It would rather become more troublesome. Because the defensive front would stretch too wide.
"Are you sincere?"
"If not?"
"... Hoo. Understood. Should there be tidings that seem useful to you, I will send them."
"That will suffice."
When I nodded, her expression cleared and she opened a gate.
She must have steeled herself for becoming my handmaiden through defeat and surrender in war, or even for death in the worst case, so she is likely relieved that it did not come to that.
"Then... I shall take my leave."
"Very well. Next time, I shall invite you to a tea party, so do come if you are able."
"A tea party, you say? ... It seems it is not only your appearance that resembles a human."
At my casual remark, her face looked as though she had heard something exceedingly bizarre.
Although she used the title of 'baron', her attitude suggested she had never once considered human culture.
Well, human culture is likely flowing in more actively toward the Demon World.
Over there they can import directly from anywhere on the continent, but the surface world is blocked by the front lines.
"Do you dislike it?"
"No. I will come. I shall await your word."
"Good. Farewell."
- Goodbye!
Receiving my and Mary's farewell, Kyricia and her subordinates passed through the gate.
The glimpse of the dungeon on the far side showed, as expected, a cavern suffused with the colors of the sea.
"Was there truly a need to let her live...?"
"Now there will be at least two factions—an archduke who is wary of me, and his subordinates. One side must be left alive to leave room for reconciliation."
Establishing fronts on two sides is a fool's errand.
I only won this time because their constituent forces were weak; I had no intention of inviting that folly upon myself.
Perhaps much later, though I cannot say.
'I could also use her as an internal bomb.'
From the beginning, I had never told her I would absolutely let her live.
I had only said, 'If things remain as they are, you will die.'
In other words, even if she returns as she is and perishes from the wrath of Astaroth or other senior dungeon lords, it would not be my fault.
At any rate.
"Even though I did not intend it, having simultaneously defeated or repelled dungeon lords of the same rank... I can no longer escape the notice of the surface Demon Realm."
Whether their subordinates keep watch, thinking it not yet worthy of reporting to an archduke, or a report goes up to an archduke directly—
The attention directed at me is certain to increase.
'And the behind-the-scenes maneuvering in response will grow more intense.'
For the Demon Realm to move directly, this dungeon and its lord are still too small.
In truth, I am of greater stature than that, but even so, the true substance of my Demon Realm cannot yet compare to those who have been called the Demon Realm of the surface for at least decades.
I had to leave room for at least one of the two to become an ally.
"... I will grow quickly, until there is no need for you to do this."
That was what Shue seemed to be saying, out of discontent.
She said something admirable, through sheer will alone.
"Thank you. Always."
"It's nothing..."
- Grrrr...
When I stroked her head and ears, she too let out a rumbling sound, pleased.
- I'll grow big too! Master! Me too!
"Hehe. Very well."
After giving Mary's head a scratch as well, I returned straight to my private quarters.
The rest of the cleanup is work for my subordinates.
There was nothing I could help with by staying on the scene.
"Bergrisa. Follow me."
"Yes, my lady."
Besides, I also wished to look at these so-called otherworldly books.
- 2 -
"These are the ones you said must not even be opened... and this one, you said, is suitable as a primer."
With Bergrisa's help, who had inherited knowledge from her mother, I sorted the books from Zarkra and Melzeros by level.
This woman, who possessed deep-green skin and powerful muscles yet at the same time a bewitching appearance akin to a human's, was someone of a modesty and wisdom that ill matched what her looks and skin suggested.
Her disposition, it seems, takes after her father rather than her mother.
"Thank you."
"Not at all. Is there anything else you require assistance with?"
"I have no need of your help. Is there nothing you wish to ask of me? You have labored; I must compensate you for it."
She fell into deep thought at my question, then presently offered one opinion in a careful tone.
"... I would like a private room."
"That is a matter of course."
At this answer, her face showed disbelief.
She must have witnessed spectacles in Zarkra's dungeon.
It is not usual for a dungeon lord to grant private rooms to subordinates.
'Because for ordinary summoned creatures, there would be no need for "privacy."'
But to me, it was indeed a matter of course.
Because I am someone who counts providing private rooms even to all of my summoned creatures as one of my objectives.
Granting a private room to her, who was to become both a special prize and a subordinate, was entirely natural.
As I had no intention of explaining all of that and kept my silence, she soon made a different request.
"May I... study my mother's knowledge?"
"That cannot be allowed. It is too dangerous."
As we can see from the examples of Zarkra and Melzeros, the practical application and experimentation of otherworldly knowledge are extremely perilous.
On top of that, mere study is insufficient to master it, and the very process of mastering it is profoundly dangerous.
It is not something to be entrusted to the unskilled, even more so for someone like her, who has yet to earn either trust or faith.
"In that case... I have nothing."
"Very well. I shall set a credit aside for you, so think on it calmly."
- Kiee...!
Rustle.
She bobbed her head, and I opened one of the books she had identified as a 'primer'. The moment I did, a tentacle sprang out from within, then retreated of its own accord the instant it touched my aura.
As expected, otherworldly grimoires truly seem to be directly connected to other worlds.
"Merely looking at them gave me a headache... yet upon you, my lady, the power of the other world cannot find a hold."
"Indeed. I find it curious as well."
"... May I ask, then, why you will not permit me to study it? I would not even need to be kept under guard..."
As I focused on the book and examined its contents, a cautious question reached my ears once more.
I simply opened my mouth and answered.
Since it was a trivial matter—because she was a captive, I could use her however I pleased.
"You are my property."
"Pardon?"
"And I am a prudent owner. One who dislikes damaging goods."
"..."
"Therefore, devote yourself to learning and studying only that which I have filtered for you. That alone should prove helpful. If you have nothing to request as a reward, then withdraw now. I wish to read further."
"... Yes."
At my gentle yet firm dismissal, she rose from her seat, performed a deep bow, and withdrew.
I had the vague sense that she had become somewhat more courteous, but I merely supposed that was the case and turned my focus back to the book.
Click.
Alone in the space now, I set down the 'primer' and drew out one of the 'dangerous' ones.
The book Zarkra had classified as dangerous possessed a cover and atmosphere that seemed, on the contrary, far more innocuous than the others.
Of course, I knew the truth.
That a truly potent poison must be mixed among seemingly ordinary things to be fatal.
Whoosh...!
When I summoned my mana and opened the book, a single 'gaze' was felt from beyond it.
- « ».
An indescribable will could be felt.
Along with a sense of goodwill... for some reason.
Yet that goodwill was certainly vicious enough that, ordinarily, it would destroy whoever saw and felt it.
Like an elephant paying no heed to the circumstances of an ant.
Even so, it was not something I could not endure.
'Weaker than the Demon King.'
I could even leave behind such a leisurely impression.
I also suddenly felt a confidence that now, even if I were to receive the Demon King's true form, I would no longer feel the same pressure as before.
A confidence that ought not to have been felt merely from advancing a single stage since that time and growing proficient in it.
But I did not think this was mistaken.
"Who are you?"
- « ».
"... I cannot understand you yet. I shall see you next time."
With that, I concluded my audience with the otherworldly being who sent me a feeling of 'regret'.
It seems I truly must start by slowly reading from the 'primers'.
At the very least, I must be capable of conversation before I can either learn that knowledge from beyond or decide not to.
Tseutseucheut...!
After fitting all the otherworldly books into one of the empty bookshelves, I traced several layers of security magic across its face.
Sealed more meticulously than ever before, there is now no one in the dungeon besides myself who can lay eyes on these.
There is one scene in all manner of films that I detest above all others.
The scene where someone unqualified takes out an ancient tome or forbidden book to read it, and triggers a calamity.
"Master...?"
"Shue?"
When I turned at the voice, I saw a wolf-kin woman hesitating by the door, only her upper body leaning in.
She must have seen me doing something, and had been debating whether to enter.
"Come in."
When I said that with a gesture, Shue gave a small smile and walked in.
Behind her, the sound of her footsteps was barely audible, and her white, luxuriant tail swayed pleasantly, though not energetically, from side to side.
Considering her usual lively movements, this was unlike her.
"What is the matter?"
"Well..."
In the woman who approached me and knelt demurely with her knees together, no trace could be found of the berserker who had rampaged during the day.
In that state, she pressed her face into my lap to act spoiled, so I scratched the nape of her neck.
In truth, I had already guessed from that appearance what thought had brought her here.
Though I am not connected to her by a summoner's contract, I know her heart.
"Do not worry yourself needlessly. Even if I am not the self you once knew, I do not fear your cruelty or ferocity."
The desire 'to be seen as beautiful'.
That is to say, the fear of how one appears to someone they like is an emotion close to the instinct of all sapient beings.
It is a matter on an entirely different plane from the trust or faith one has in another.
I, too, was no different in the past.
And I am no different now.
"As expected of you, Master..."
Shue nuzzled her face against my skirt, wearing a contented smile.
Lest her face be harmed, I changed into the comfortable clothes I usually wear inside my private quarters.
At that, absently, Shue lifted her head.
Only then did another errand seem to occur to her.
"Ah, right. Master..."
"Yes. Tell me."
"Word has come from the necromancer we contacted a while ago."
"Oh."
At those words, spoken as she idly kissed my wrist, a pleased smile graced my lips.
For this was news of that necromancer who, it had been said during our discussions on developing a communication spell with the summoned creatures, might be able to assist me.
"I see. Is that what you came to tell me?"
"Yeah... He says he'll come tomorrow or the day after. Shall I tell him to come?"
"Yes. The sooner the better. Thank you for your efforts."
"It's nothing... it was no trouble."
After that, I spent personal time with Shue.
Until Evangeline arrived to report that the sorting of the spoils was complete, and started a pointless staring contest with Shue.