165. Legacy of the Living
165. Legacy of the Living
- 1 -
"Hoo..."
The magic pen moved automatically before Sonia, continuing its record, then halted as if by fate.
"Mmm...!"
She stretched briefly and gazed out the window.
The window was actually an illusion carved into the cave wall, yet the mana carried in the sunlight that streamed through it was entirely real.
Quite like Libertas's treatment of them...
A contradictory light where affection and possessiveness coexisted.
'It's already been half a year.'
Five months had already passed since she had formed a contract with the dungeon's master and taken her as a teacher.
Sonia found her own situation ironic.
After all, she was serving the very person who had killed her friends, dominated them, and in the end made even her kneel.
But at the same time, she understood why Libertas had been unable to live any other way.
She believed she understood.
'Meeting her eyes so often... I've become unable to hate her.'
Hatred and anger still quietly smoldered in a corner of her chest, but what came to mind more often was the way Libertas looked at her with tender eyes.
Sometimes, even those eyes were tinged with loneliness.
"Sonia? Your hand has stopped."
Mure had been watching Sonia's subtle shifts in expression with interest.
Of all the demons and dungeon lords she had ever seen, Libertas was the most fascinating existence. And Sonia was Libertas's first disciple.
Observing their relationship had become one of Mure's small pleasures lately.
"Ah... No matter how much I extract and extract, there's simply no end to it."
"It's only to be expected."
Mure answered Sonia's weary sigh with a smile.
For days now, the two of them had been repeating the same task in the workroom where the sunlight from outside the dungeon streamed in.
Namely, the work of documenting Areupina's vast knowledge.
"This bitch... ah, forgive me. According to her memories, this woman essentially spent over ten years devouring humans."
At Mure's consideration—hastily correcting her term of address out of awareness of Sonia—Sonia gave a wry smile.
It was as she said.
Areupina had been a wanton woman who, whether the knowledge was needed or not, indiscriminately seduced and devoured anyone who possessed appealing knowledge.
"She simply hoarded the knowledge of all those humans she devoured without organizing any of it, so this volume is only natural. Well, thanks to that, I've been encountering many new avenues of knowledge lately, so it's not bad."
Ironically, her lewd and cruel disposition had resulted in bequeathing that enormous body of knowledge to a dungeon lord somewhere.
Though it was not systematically organized and not all of it was useful, once this vast power was refined and absorbed, the dungeon's military strength would be strengthened even further.
Sonia found that...
"Does it not trouble you?"
At Mure's sudden question, Sonia flinched and straightened her back.
It was as if she had seen right through her thoughts.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You are human, after all, Sonia. Yet you work for the dungeon."
Areupina's knowledge would ultimately be used to place the dungeon lord, Lady Libertas, above all humans and demons.
The notion that humanity's vast knowledge was to be freely wielded in the demon tribe's grasp.
"I am asking whether that does not make you uncomfortable as a human."
"...Are you testing me?"
At Sonia's stiffened expression, Mure raised both hands with feigned innocence and laughed.
"Fufu. Perish the thought. I was merely curious as to how a human could serve the Lady with such sincerity. After all..."
Mure's voice dropped to a low whisper.
To Sonia's ears, her voice sounded sweet and dangerous, like that of a demon luring a pure maiden to devour her.
"Haven't you already broken free of the Lady's hypnosis?"
"...! How do you know that!"
Sonia felt a chill run down her spine.
Her escape from the suggestion Libertas had initially placed on her was a relatively recent occurrence.
She had not yet reported it to Libertas.
She had guessed that Libertas might have already noticed, but she had not known quite how to bring it up.
"Because I possess sufficient ability to have taught the Lady soul magic."
Gazing at Sonia, who covered her mouth, Mure concealed her amusement and offered a gentle smile.
She felt curiosity as to whether this young witch truly served the dungeon lord with sincerity—and what that sincerity's true nature might be.
"That is quite enough, Viscountess."
The one who restrained Mure as she clung to Sonia was the Alraune queen with black hair and eyes that shimmered with iridescent luster.
Nirvana had been helping in this workroom from the very beginning.
Though she had no knowledge of soul magic, she, like Areupina, possessed a certain expertise in seduction.
"Whatever past she may bear, whatever heart she may harbor now... what matters is that she serves our master at present. Or, Viscountess, do you perhaps harbor some other ulterior motive?"
Nirvana's expression remained gentle. As if she had no intention whatsoever of interrogation or dispute.
But within her chest, a wariness toward Mure was steadily growing.
Among the countless dungeon lords she had encountered while wandering the surface for over a century, Libertas's existence was one of a kind.
It was only natural to be wary of Mure, who seemed to be threatening that value.
Mure, too, did not miss the sharp spirit flowing from Nirvana's eyes.
'Now this is...'
Mure's eyes narrowed slightly.
For she had seen right through it—that what lay within was not pure consideration or camaraderie.
It was jealousy and desire.
A smile settled on Mure's lips.
"How could that be? I was simply curious, that is all. A human who has not even been corrupted serving the demon tribe... is not exactly a common occurrence, is it?"
It was only natural that hearing those words twisted Nirvana's inner thoughts.
For what lingered at the corner of Mure's mouth was a perverse delight.
Though outwardly courteous and gentle, she was, in truth, a rather distorted being.
As demons and the demon tribe tended to be.
"You may regard it that way, but it is a surprisingly common occurrence in this world. The demon tribe and humans may cooperate, or one side may place itself beneath the other."
"Is that so...?"
Mure nodded quietly.
Nirvana was a monster queen who had grown thoroughly seasoned on the surface.
It was only natural that she was more knowledgeable about surface affairs than Mure herself, and there was nothing to be gained by arguing the point.
"Lady Sonia. Let us resume the work promptly. Is our teacher not awaiting the results of this work?"
Nirvana's words carried a deeper consideration than usual.
To her, Libertas was not merely a master but an object of intensely powerful desire.
She considered that helping her disciple Sonia would be to her own benefit as well.
"Ah, yes. I must."
Sonia nodded and picked up the pen again.
Complex emotions flowed through the lines her quill drew. Rage and compassion—and perhaps something akin to a maternal sentiment.
She still had not found conviction on how she ought to treat Libertas.
'An interesting person, surrounded by interesting people.'
Mure watched this entire spectacle with enjoyment.
Lady Libertas and the relationships that surrounded her. She was curious to see how all of this would unfold going forward.
But she herself had yet to notice that she, too, was slowly falling under Libertas's spell.
- 2 -
Dalkak.
Not long after they had immersed themselves in the work once more, the door to the workroom quietly opened.
"You have all been working hard."
A gentle voice that put the listener's heart at ease filled the room.
Its owner—who looked as though a queen painted in a palace portrait had stepped straight out of the frame—was Libertas herself.
"Everyone. Won't you come here?"
She slowly surveyed the interior.
The sound of her black dress's hem brushing the floor echoed like a melody.
The white legs occasionally revealed through the semi-transparent lower edge of her skirt were enough to capture the gaze of any beholder.
"Lady."
"Teacher."
"Master."
The three bowed their heads respectfully at the same time, and as they raised their heads and met her eyes, a gentle smile blossomed on Libertas's lips.
She already knew everything about the situation in this room.
"Mure. I see you have been busying yourself with worthwhile observations lately. Do not become so consumed by curiosity that you torment my people. I would rather not have to dismiss the one who is my teacher for an act of disrespect."
Mure's eyes widened for an instant before settling back down.
It was an expression unmistakably betraying the deep consternation of a schemer whose inner thoughts had been exposed.
"Forgive me, Lady."
"It is all right. So long as it remains within the bounds of curiosity."
She quickly lowered her head in answer, concealing her face.
Though it came in the form of a gentle admonishment, it was the word of a demon who had subdued a mage several tiers more powerful than herself.
Libertas's warning—that tormenting her disciple too much would exact a commensurate price—sent a chill down Mure's spine.
"Nirvana. I am grateful for your loyalty, but do not be so tense. I would be glad if this place could become a place of rest for you as well."
The tension in Nirvana's shoulders eased slightly.
Though her gaze still harbored desire toward Libertas, Libertas did not bother to point it out.
For desire was the very essence and driving force of the Alraune.
"And... Sonia."
Libertas approached Sonia with elegant steps.
As the hem of her black dress swayed quietly, her white hand came to rest gently on Sonia's shoulder.
"In just a few days, your progress has become remarkably swift. You have done splendidly."
"Teacher..."
"But..."
Sonia lifted her head at that warm touch.
In Libertas's violet eyes, there dwelled a genuine worry.
"...Do not overexert yourself. Your health is more important."
In that moment.
'This is...'
Sonia truly understood why she had chosen to remain here—even after freeing herself from her power, even while feeling a certain sense of betrayal about it.
Beneath the chest she pressed down upon, her heart began to beat faster and faster.
Because of something that transcended hatred and compassion.
That was the true emotion holding her here.
Whether she knew of her state or not, Libertas turned away from her, raised a single hand, and spoke.
"Now, all of you take some rest. How about a cup of tea?"
At a single gesture from Libertas's raised hand, all the documents on the table moved as if dancing, each finding its proper place.
Sonia's eyes widened as she watched the organized and unorganized documents each being tidily arranged without intermingling.
Her teacher had not even been present in this place all this time, yet she had already grasped the progress of all the work.
Dalkak.
While the documents were being organized, maids and ladies-in-waiting wheeled in trays bearing tea from outside the door, unfolded a black folding table, and prepared teatime.
In a dungeon that took the appearance of an antique manor, a tea fragrance that was both fitting and contradictory filled the room.
"The work is important, but time spent together like this is also a meaningful thing."
All three smiled, each in her own way.
The small peace wrought by Libertas's gentle charisma was melting away all the wariness and tension that had filled the workroom.
"Sit."
She personally moved her mana to pour tea for the three of them.
Each cup bore a different hue and aroma.
The queen of this dungeon knew the preferences of her disciple, her guest, and her vassal alike.
Considering that her true nature was an existence spreading fear and chaos across this surface world, such a sight was terribly incongruous.
But the women gathered here were not the sort to be concerned with such things.
For in this moment, only this peaceful time with Libertas mattered.
- 2 -
"You mean the master is coming in person?"
- That is correct. So make the necessary preparations.
When Talhan asked in a voice edged with tension, Evangeline's gentle voice resonated through the communication magic device.
But Talhan knew well—he had better do things properly while she was still being gentle.
"Ah... Understood. Thank you, Chief Steward."
- Then, good luck. Talhan.
After the communication cut off, the head of the Kopjerin Information Guild—and now, having had his ability and experience recognized, the man entrusted with overseeing all of Haisen's central region, Jason...
...Or rather, Talhan, who wore his body, briefly wore a flustered expression.
The news that his true master—not the humanity that all information guilds served—would be visiting his location.
He knew the reason was inspection and a test.
"You all heard, I take it?"
"Yes!"
When Talhan spoke in a coldly settled voice, his already assembled subordinates answered in unison.
His initial fluster had already vanished. His eyes had grown cold and composed.
For he had instinctively grasped that this was soon to be the new opportunity she was granting him.
"Prepare to organize and report your achievements from each position. This is our chance to show what we have been doing and receive the rewards commensurate with it. Move!"
"Yes!!"
The monsters who had received the order swiftly scattered in their human guises.
Listening to the sound of their footsteps receding, Talhan clenched his fist with resolve.
'Has the time come to receive the rewards I have deferred...?'
If this task went well, all of Haisen's information networks would fall into his and his master's hands.
Once he devoted that information network wholly to his master, and once the dungeon found stability... he would be able to rise to a higher place than where he now stood.
Both in the lands of humans, and in the dungeon.
"Good."
A smile brimming with zeal settled on Talhan's lips.
His driving force was a different kind of greed from Nirvana's.
Namely, the power to wield the world of humans at will.
That was among the highest values he pursued.
'For the great master.'
Of course, he knew full well that all of it would be realized only when he proved his loyalty to his master.