130. The End of Debauchery
130. The End of Debauchery
- 1 -
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Libertas."
The "senior necromancer" Shue had summoned turned out to be a woman who was, at a glance, remarkably tall.
Even though she'd slightly bent her knees on her own to match my height, I still had to tilt my head back to meet her eyes.
Gray skin, elegant soft-blue hair, violet eyes, a dainty eyepatch patterned with flowers, and a slender build.
And above her long, pointed ears, large horns swept up from the sides and back of her head.
Along with her black eye makeup, folded into an alluring shape, and those eyes through which irrepressible magical power coursed.
'A high-rank powerhouse, at minimum...'
My eyes instinctively narrowed.
I couldn't pinpoint the exact level she'd reached, but my instincts told me she was stronger than I was.
If she happened to be combat-specialized and meant to act hostile or subdue me, she'd be a dangerous opponent indeed.
But there had to be a reason Shue had permitted such easy proximity between us.
"I am Myur Relix. My skills are nothing to boast of, but I do hold the title of Baroness in the demon realm."
"I saw Talaran just yesterday. And now I'm meeting another demon. Pleased to meet you. As you know, I am Dungeon Lord Libertas."
A demon. More precisely, a Delph.
Among the demons who constitute the mainstream race of the demon realm, a minority ethnic group specialized in magic and spirit arts.
In the continental tongue they are called "Infra-Shades" or "those of deeper shadow"—a race regarded as something akin to high elves among the dark elves.
In fact, their appearance is exceptionally similar to dark elves, and the reason for that is tied to their origin.
They were hybrids of dark elves and demons who ultimately succeeded in establishing themselves as a distinct race.
'It's not widely known on the continent, but...'
They were originally mere hybrids who, through repeated interbreeding with various dark elf and demon bloodlines, eventually became a race of their own.
Having thus emerged as a race, the Delph became the only race among demonkind capable of handling spirit arts.
That is to say, they were the only demonic race capable of producing spirit mages on a racial scale.
"So you have seen him. I am acquainted with him as well."
"He was a warrior so excellent you could tell just by looking."
"And what about me?"
"You seem to be much the same. I'm very much looking forward to how our meeting today unfolds."
"I'm honored. I shall endeavor not to fall short of your expectations."
"Good... This way."
When we proceeded to the reception room and took our seats, my disciple Sonia joined us, along with Shue in her capacity as the introducer.
And there, Myur opened the conversation with talk that seized my interest at once.
"In truth, I have been greatly anticipating a meeting with you, Lady Libertas, for quite some time."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. To the point where I've often felt tempted to simply toss aside the research assignments I'd received in the meantime."
"..."
The statement was somewhat exaggerated, yet for some reason it didn't feel like a lie. When I fell silent for a moment, she glanced back and forth between Shue and me and offered a soft, eye-crinkling smile.
Before Shue could stop her, she let those words out.
"Wait. That's..."
"I'd really wanted to meet the person that rebellious Lin Xue so obediently follows."
"Rebellious?"
Before Lin Xue, who had caught on, could object, my interest was piqued.
I'd heard remarks with a similar nuance from the trading company before, but they'd never given me the full details.
"Yes. You might be surprised if you saw just how violently this werewolf acts when she's in a foul mood."
In truth, it was a story I already knew.
Because no matter how much she tried to conceal it, I could see it.
But I also had a strong desire to learn about the side of Shue that others knew—the side I didn't.
"Master..."
"That does sound interesting."
Shue appeared inwardly inclined to stop me, but once the words had left my mouth, she resigned herself and sank deep into the sofa.
Her displeasure showed, but it was a gesture that suggested she had no intention of overturning my decision.
Myur, who had been observing her demeanor with interest, began to recount various stories she knew.
"There was once an escort request, and because she objected to the client's conduct..."
"He had the nerve to try to make me his concubine..."
"And another time, the client was a mage, and because she took a liking to the materials he possessed, she simply helped herself..."
"I needed them to become stronger... He wouldn't give them to me even when I offered to buy them."
"And then..."
When I listened to the details, including the supplementary remarks Shue interjected along the way, most turned out to be acts that had their own significant justifications.
She had simply ignored formality and etiquette in the execution, for the most part.
These were stories I could never have gotten in such detail from the Mammon Trading Company.
In the beginning, they had been in the position of "selling" Shue to me, so they wouldn't mention anything that might make her look bad.
And among those stories, there were also things I needed to hear.
"That first story. Tell me in more detail."
"Master...?"
After pressing Shue's head—she had at some point drawn close and clung to me—into my shoulder to block any objection, I gestured toward Myur.
This was a far more important matter than the main subject I was supposed to discuss with her today.
"You said there was someone who tried to make Shue his concubine?"
Much more.
"Ah... Yes. Um. Must I really tell this story?"
Myur's expression said, "I know I've stepped on a landmine, but could you let it slide?"—but.
"I really must hear it."
I shook my head firmly.
She maintained silence for a moment even under my continued glaring, then slowly opened her mouth. Keeping an awkward expression on her face all the while.
"...As I understand it, his name is Harpas. He serves under the Archduke of Pride, bearing the name of Ruin, and is one of the three marquises."
Indeed, he was a person of such fearsome renown that if the current me were to display even a sliver of hostility, I could be swept away on the spot.
Not that I had any intention whatsoever of overlooking it or retreating.
"Harpas, is it. I'll have to remember that."
Since it was a past affair, it was possible to take extenuating circumstances into account.
The only problem would be the next time I saw him.
If someday we met again,
'and that man once again covets Shue and behaves rudely before me...'
Even if he is a marquis, I intend to show him what becomes of those who cast their eyes upon a woman who holds my favor.
At the very least, I won't feel satisfied until I've ripped out those eyes and that tongue.
"Master... That man is."
"Don't you worry. I'm not planning to overdo it... not all that much, anyway."
My words, which implied that I would, if necessary, go so far as to overdo it in opposing him.
At that, Shue wore a worried expression and quietly flushed her face.
"And Myur. I won't say that you were the one who told me, so you needn't worry either."
"Oh my. I hadn't even thought of that. Thank you, my Lady. But..."
Her expression was different from her usual languid blankness or her brutality on the battlefield, so when I toyed with her cheek, the redness gradually deepened.
Myur must have sensed that Shue's breathing was growing a little rougher, because she glanced my way.
"...Would it be better if I excused myself for a moment?"
"Don't tease. ...I'll go bring more refreshments."
After that, Shue left the room.
Even though there was still plenty of food left to eat with the tea, and this was normally work the noble attendants would handle.
In any case, I'd found out everything I needed to know.
"Let's return to our original topic."
"Ah, yes."
Myur's eyes were watching me with deep interest as I recovered my cool expression, but I had no further thoughts on this matter.
The more I spoke of it, the more unpleasant it would be.
"I heard from Shue that you could help me with the magic I wish to develop."
"Oh. I've certainly heard about it as well. That you desire communication with your summoned creatures."
"Yes. But now that I've met you in person, it occurs to me that this may be possible precisely because you are a Delph."
The Delph, like dark elves or elves, possessed spirit mage aptitude across their entire race.
An inevitable fact, given that their origin was dark elf.
And at the same time, she was also a necromancer.
It wasn't difficult to surmise that the union of these two talents had developed her ability to communicate with spiritual entities beyond that of any other being.
But she denied my conjecture.
"That's not incorrect. However, I'm capable of sufficiently smooth communication not only with spirits, but also with the skeletons or zombies I summon."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes. This was a matter of effort, not talent. I'm confident I can be of help."
"Hmm."
I nodded, then drained the slightly cooled tea before handing her the documents that had been beside me.
"This is...?"
"Contract documents. Surely knowledge requires a price, does it not."
"Oh... What would you do if I turned out not to be helpful...?"
In the demon realm, it seemed there weren't many cases where a contract preceded the work.
It was often the case that people would first act together and verify whether someone truly possessed the ability.
And during that time, there were many instances of unpaid work.
The gremlins who had done my dungeon construction and taken an unusually favorable stance toward me—that too was not unrelated to this.
Lifespans vastly longer than humans, and a society that revolved around the strong—those things must have created such a culture, I suppose...
"Don't worry about that."
I had no reason to follow it.
Labor requires compensation. Even if the laborer happens to be my slave.
Of course.
"Once you sign the contract, I will extract whatever benefit I can from you."
Provided that labor must necessarily be "effective."
But whether it proved helpful to me or not, if the result didn't come out because someone "couldn't" do it, that couldn't be helped.
However, to those who "don't" produce a result, I cannot give compensation.
"That's a little frightening...?"
"You'll do well, so it shouldn't matter to you."
"That sounds as if there are those who don't do well."
"Yes... even though they're my subordinates."
This also applied to those who had already joined as my subordinates.
For example, a certain man who was now in Copherin.
- 2 -
"Good day."
"Come in, welc— oh my."
Alexis, who'd been greeting the person his 'Master' had sent to assist him, opened his eyes wide in surprise.
Lank, murky white hair, and a majestic black armor covered in scars that encased her entire body.
A long greatsword slung over her back, and several other weapons hanging from her waist.
Even though she was a knight who radiated a veteran aura as if she'd spent decades on the battlefield, the face revealed beneath the hood was beautiful and young.
Literally a face that could sober you up.
"I never expected someone so beautiful to come..."
"Beauty can also serve as a weapon at times."
"Ah, you know that too. I make good use of that weapon myself. Ah, but please, come in."
A knight of such overwhelming beauty and presence that anyone who saw her could not help but be startled.
Thinking that Lady Libertas must have leaped even higher while he was away from the dungeon, Alexis ushered her inside.
'The smell of alcohol...'
Meanwhile, the black knight Evangeline furrowed her brows as she stepped into Alexis's private room.
A stench that could only be described as ingrained filled the space.
The smell of alcohol, the smell people commonly call a bachelor's stench, the smell of sexual intercourse, and even the smell of trash not disposed of in time.
At the very least, it was certain the maids weren't doing their jobs properly.
Even though this was a noble's residence, even if it was only a single-story building.
"I was surprised to hear you were suddenly coming to provide support."
"Master is concerned that your results are behind schedule."
"But one must elevate a noble title with care. You have no idea how many are already keeping me in check. Calling me a newly risen noble."
Evangeline nodded.
Alexis's words were reasonable.
It was just that the cause he presented was a lie.
"I've heard the rumors are rampant that you slept with the Countess of Copherin."
In truth, they already knew the full circumstances.
His activities, revealed under Ran's surveillance, were practically the epitome of debauchery and indulgence.
She had come here to inform him of the price for those actions.
Right after 'the war' had ended.
"Oh my, has the rumor already spread? Well, I'll be..."
Alexis scratched his head awkwardly and laughed, as if he had no idea whatsoever of the true meaning of this situation.
Shhk.
But his body was already moving toward the sword beside him.