137. Information Warfare (1)
137. Information Warfare (1)
- 1 -
It had already been a week since the war with the three barons.
In that war, I succeeded in obtaining the dungeon cores of Melzeros and Zarkra.
I couldn't decide their use rashly, but they were materials that could not be kept for long either.
'Since the Dungeon Core and the Lord were one body.'
A Lord left in a dungeon without its core would rampage from a torrent of emotions and uncontrolled power, and the reverse was also true.
It was a meltdown phenomenon where, by consuming itself, the core summoned and unleashed an uncontrollable, massive quantity of monsters.
That was the summary of the Dungeon Core Rampage Phenomenon.
'For now, I'm keeping them stabilized, but...'
I couldn't keep carrying the dungeon cores around forever, and they still needed to find their masters quickly.
And I had as many as five candidates who could be made into Dungeon Lords...
"As expected, it's two of you."
The ones among those candidates who would become Lords first had just been decided.
"That is how it turned out."
"Fufu. Just as you predicted, I'm sure."
I had decided to grant Zarkra's core to Harpy Queen Kamaya, and Melzeros's core to Alraune Queen Nirvana.
Kamaya was the first queen I had contacted, and Nirvana was the one among the five with the most Fate (緣).
Furthermore, Nirvana was positioned to stretch northeast, while Kamaya's base was in a location well suited to cover the southwest beyond the mountain range.
To establish this grand strategy, Kamaya had even moved her flock's nest to a place better suited for expanding outward.
It was treatment befitting the pioneer and the elder of Fate (緣), and at the same time, a selection of personnel who supported my current grand strategy.
"You might have guessed, but even though I've decided to give you the cores, that doesn't mean it's over."
A Dungeon Core was a massive accumulation of power capable of growth.
As such, granting 'qualification' to the one possessing it was a sensitive matter in the Demon Realm.
It was not something I could handle solely at my own discretion.
Because if I mishandled it, I could be attacked as 'one who insulted the Demon King and the position of the Demon King's successor.'
"Yes. I am aware."
"Please tell us what we must do, Master."
The two of them acknowledged with solemn attitudes.
Kamaya was usually someone who deliberately maintained a grave attitude, but at this moment, even Nirvana was serious.
Although she did not bother to hide her desires even after serving me as her monarch, she never forgot to respect me at all times and in all places.
It was the Fate (緣) of a monster who had experienced the chaos of at least a hundred years ago.
"Okay. Then... from now on, I'll introduce you to the person who will assist you in that process."
To those two, I introduced the person entering the room.
Someone who would be a senior to them in many respects.
"Come here. Serica."
"Mm."
The person entering was a small woman wearing a smile that seemed innocent at the corners of her mouth, yet an aristocratic grace emanated from her body.
The elder vampire who had been working in secret in the mountain range near Copherin, the high-rank Dungeon Lord Serica.
She had come here as soon as she arrived at my dungeon.
Ddok-gak. Ddok-gak.
Her steps were far more elegant and composed than when I had seen her before.
Her waist and shoulders were held straight and unwavering, and her head was held high, almost to the point of looking stiff with refinement.
Serica's transformation was remarkable.
Even though I had seen her a couple of times in between, I was astonished each time. It was like looking into a self-reflection mirror.
However, that atmosphere vanished as she approached me and deepened her smile.
"I missed you. Rita."
As she drew near, she let go of the elegant aura that had welled up with each step and threw herself into my arms.
As if the appearance she had shown so far was a lie, she sat on the armrest with no regard for etiquette, draped both arms over my shoulders, smiled bashfully, and kissed my cheek.
"I missed you too."
"I feel like I was the only one who did... even though you said you'd visit often."
"I recall saying I'd visit a few times. And I kept that promise."
"I don't believe you."
As she pouted her lips, the aegyo and an indescribable allure I'd seen before seeped out from her.
It was amazing that she could shift her expressions like that, but equally surprising and pleasing was that her attitude toward me hadn't changed.
"You've become much more skilled."
"Of course. I practiced Fate (緣) a lot."
She nodded a couple of times and grinned with a face that couldn't hide her joy at the praise, then buried her head against my shoulder.
As I stroked her hair, I praised her for all her hard work.
"You really worked hard."
"I had a really hard time..."
"I know."
She had been through a lot over the past couple of months.
She had been doing many things to constantly prove herself to the nobles of her family. All of it was to maintain a standing worthy of being the heir to a marquis household, and to return to the surface world as a Dungeon Lord who had once lost her core.
And in the end, she succeeded in that task, and thus returned to the surface.
To my side.
Perhaps because of that, an unconcealable mental strength emanated from her as she still wore an innocent smile.
It was the resilience of someone who had truly weathered adversity.
Thanks to that, the time for comfort and praise was not very long.
"Are these kids the ones who will become your new 'maids'?"
Standing up from her seat, she began to exude an elegant aura in her red dress and stood beside me.
Her manner of speech was still comfortable, but at the same time, it was an attitude befitting the proper decorum she needed to maintain.
"Yes. That's right."
"Hmm..."
Serica walked around the two, examining them with a gaze that plainly revealed her desire to evaluate.
It didn't take very long.
"For natural-born monsters, you two are truly impressive."
She said this after making just one round.
"Thank you. Lady Serica."
"...Thank you."
Nirvana had taken it smoothly, but Kamaya had glanced at her briefly with a look that seemed to say, 'Who is this person to evaluate me?'
Since it was in front of me now and a task I had instructed, she probably wouldn't hold a grudge.
Still, it seemed necessary to lend Serica some authority.
Even though Serica had returned to the level of a high-rank Dungeon Lord, the difference in power between the current Serica and them wouldn't be that great.
"She is second in the line of succession for a marquis household of the Demon Realm, and also my close friend. At the same time, she will help you adapt to the power of the Dungeon Cores from now on, so ensure that your treatment of her is not lacking."
""Yes. Master.""
Since I had possessed a Dungeon Core from the moment I arrived in this world and had never experienced its loss, it was difficult for me to give them the necessary help. Ran was the same.
So that was why I had entrusted them to Serica.
Simply being aware of that fact would bolster her authority.
"You didn't have to say that."
"How could I not? You accepted my request."
Despite her words, her eyes were tinged with joy. Perhaps it was joy that I was paying attention to her.
"But there won't be much I can actually help with."
"Why is that?"
"Because I had a hard time gaining my qualifications since I'd already failed once, whereas these kids haven't."
Not a single scar showed in Serica's eyes as she discussed her own failure and past loss. Her attitude suggested it truly didn't bother her at all.
It had to be one of two things. She had healed enough, or she had grown enough to cover past wounds.
'I'll just figure out which it is as we talk.'
If it was the former, that would be wonderful, and even if it was the latter, that was fine too.
But if it was the latter, I would need to talk with her a bit more. Because when it came to loss, I was the senior.
Right now, it was about the cores.
"I see. Then... who would be the best person to talk to?"
"First, if you request it from the company folks, they'll help with most of the document procedures. I'll bring the clerk who reports to the Demon King about the new Dungeon Lords. Since it's not something that can be handled remotely."
"Okay... Can I ask you to do that for me?"
"Of course. You can ask me anything that involves Rita!"
Serica, with her hands on her hips, looked extremely relaxed and confident.
She would be quite busy returning to the surface as a Dungeon Lord, but she didn't seem to pay any mind to that.
Well, she wasn't alone anymore.
At the very least, she had me.
"In return... when this is over, you have to praise me again. Got it?"
"Isn't that only natural? I'm the one who should be grateful."
"Not gratitude, praise. Praise."
"...?"
The request she carefully made was something I couldn't quite understand. But since it wasn't a difficult one, there was no reason to refuse.
"Alright. Understood."
"You promised."
Serica smiled bashfully, embraced me deeply once more, and then crossed through the gate.
It was probably to bring the clerk she had mentioned earlier.
"...A strong... rival..."
"What are you saying, Kamaya? She's our senior..."
"Pretending not to know..."
The low murmuring voices of the queens grazed my ears.
But when they met my gaze, they just put on their respective smiles.
It wasn't that I had no concerns, but it didn't give me a bad feeling at all, so I simply encouraged them to do well and left the room.
According to what Serica had said, the 'inspection' period would take some time, so I would have to send the report and wait a while.
- 2 -
"Master. I have returned after carrying out your orders."
"You moved quite busily, Eve."
- He moved busily!
"I wanted to finish quickly and see you, Master."
Seeing Evangeline grin slyly as soon as she saw me, a smile naturally surfaced on my face.
Even though she had traveled via Tribres, which was Fate-linked to the dungeon through the trap mansion, the distance was such that an ordinary carriage round trip could take up to a week.
Her return was just six days after leaving on the mission to 'dispose' of Alexis.
It seemed she had used a ghost horse to make the trip in such a short time.
"What are those?"
On top of that, her arms were full of items.
Items that, no matter how you looked at them, were meant to be used quickly.
Most were snacks and food ingredients, but occasionally, flowers or personal ornaments seemed to be mixed in as well.
"They are gifts for you, Master. I bought them using up all the remaining travel expenses."
Eve said that whenever she saw various things while traveling, she thought of me.
Normally, if there was something to go out for, we would go together and just buy things to eat on the spot, but since she was moving around freely on her own this time, it looked like her spending urges had properly kicked in.
"You really..."
'I don't mind, but...'
A Dungeon Lord's body might grow, but it didn't change physically.
All the nutrients obtained were converted into mana, and physical vitality and maintenance energy were gained from that mana.
This meant it maintained the appearance it was first born with until death.
Though some Dungeon Lords grew as their mana increased...
'So far, neither my height nor my weight has increased.'
Even if I ate to my heart's content in the future, there would absolutely never be any obesity.
Though there was a sense of being full, there was no indigestion or overeating either.
'Still, I wish I'd get a bit taller.'
Temporarily increasing the body size was possible. But that was mimicry or transformation, not growth.
Ultimately, while thinking about a wish that was probably impossible, I accepted the chocolate Evangeline unwrapped first and put it in my mouth.
"Here."
Ddo-gak.
Medieval chocolate didn't have much sweetness, but even this was something I was very grateful for. The environment wasn't one where you could expect a sweetness as good as that of modern Earth.
Still, recently I had been able to sample some things approaching that taste...
That was also entirely thanks to the efforts of Evangeline, Shue, and Ran.
"Please wait just a little. I'll melt it and make it anew for you."
After all, those girls who properly knew my tastes would personally craft the main entrees and desserts at my dining table.
It was somehow embarrassing—that there were people who knew my tastes even though I had never told them.
"You don't have to do that. Aren't you busy enough with other things? Your bodies are what's important."
"Don't worry. Because we don't need to sleep. But our beautiful Master must sleep."
Even if I tried to dissuade her with such words, she just laughed with a face as clear as three-day-old Seth broth, so I couldn't protest more strongly.
"What are you talking about."
- What is he saying!
"You little rascal. You've been distorting the way I speak lately."
"Ah. I forgot for a moment after seeing you, Master, after so long. Look at this. Master."
As I scratched Mary's head once, the fellow showed the gesture of rubbing its cheek against my finger. Meanwhile,
Evangeline took something out and showed it to me.
"What do you mean, after so long? It's only been a few days. So, what is that item?"
"It was discovered at Alexis's residence."
Her expression hardened slightly, dispelling the comfortable atmosphere, as she displayed a golden picture card with a gray eye drawn on the back of the hand.
"It's the crest of Midas Dark Commerce Guild."
"What?"
An organization I had briefly crossed paths with before regarding the Haley incident, and from which I still occasionally received information.
The report was that Alexis had been Fate-linked to that dark merchant guild.