263. Two Doors (3)
263. Two Doors (3)
- 1 -
Inside the dungeon, the vast grand hall.
In a space lined endlessly with black marble pillars, figures bearing three distinct auras gathered.
The first was a faint, mist-like presence that could not be grasped.
The wails of wraiths echoed through the hall with each step.
The second was a sweet aura, as if laced with poison.
The deadly miasma wafting from the hem of a dark crimson dress was alluring.
And the last was a cold killing intent, like the chill of midwinter.
Beneath a black helmet, a pair of vivid red eyes blazed.
"Come now, children."
I greeted them in a relaxed posture, seated upon the throne.
Though they had come as proxies for the Archdukes of the Demon Realm, I had no need for excessive formality.
'Their displeasure is blatantly obvious.'
Their thoughts seemed to differ, however, as gazes laced with ill intent—each differing in degree and direction—were returned to me.
I could feel Shue and Saya beside me growling visibly, but their signs of hostility vanished the moment I waved my hand.
"This power..."
The three Dungeon Lords looked tense at the aura the two women had so lightly displayed.
Smiling at them, I offered them seats.
"Let us hear your lords' proposal. Take a seat."
At my voice, the flowers in the grand hall emitted mana.
Chairs were formed behind their backs.
Now, at least part of the dungeon could move entirely according to my will.
It would still take time to fully assimilate it, of course.
"..."
Feeling the unease emanating from them, I rose from my seat.
It was time to speak with them as the master of this dungeon and the new lord of the Demon Realm.
"Her Highness has recently been concerned about the undead..."
"Regarding your mana..."
For a while, a probing exchange continued between the envoys and me.
It was a conversation that held meaning for me, though not for them, as it allowed me to at least clearly grasp the atmosphere of how they treated me.
"To wield the power of the Demon Realm so quickly. You are remarkable."
Dantalion's envoy, the wraith knight, gave a strange smile beneath his helmet.
What I felt from his words was a mix of light admiration and strong wariness.
It was laden with the intent of hostile probing.
"I still have much to learn."
I feigned ignorance of his feelings and answered softly.
The wraith's power he had been emitting quickly dissolved and vanished into my own power.
It was only natural for his face to stiffen.
"... You learn very quickly. It is no wonder His Highness is paying close attention to you."
Within that politeness lay a veiled threat.
It was only natural for them to be wary of a Dungeon Lord who might become a new Archduke of the Demon Realm.
"Convey to him that his attention is more than I deserve."
"We are also quite interested."
Agares's witch covered her mouth with her sleeve.
I could feel the sweet poison wafting from that red sleeve.
"Especially since your growth is exceptionally fast..."
"Unlike you, I am not among humans. Therefore, I have no choice but to struggle."
I gently cut her off.
The witch's face stiffened awkwardly. What surfaced on her face was displeasure.
It seemed she had correctly understood my implication: 'Unlike you who grow comfortably under the wing of an archduke, I am in a position where I have no choice but to be fast.'
Of course, that wasn't the whole truth, but it wasn't a lie either.
"Your mana is very unique."
Eligos's Black Knight muttered quietly.
His black mana was probing the dungeon.
"I am glad I asked my lord to allow me to come here. To see such a rare sight."
"Thank you. You have a discerning eye."
"You flatter me."
The Black Knight lowered his head. But from his entire being, he exuded the same wariness as the other two.
In the end, the only difference was whether they were somewhat friendly or hostile.
All of them were still in a position of probing.
"Then, I will attach a guide so that you may look around the dungeon."
"... We may? Truly?"
The witch asked with a puzzled look.
For a Dungeon Lord to truly reveal the layout of their dungeon was that unusual an occurrence.
"Of course."
I nodded nonchalantly.
I had no reason to refuse.
Even if they were to turn the entire dungeon upside down, I had already taken measures to ensure they could not take a single step toward the places containing important elements.
With the eye of an ordinary Dungeon Lord, they would be unable to find my core, let alone the personal chambers.
"Then, please follow this way."
Saya took the lead, the envoys were in the middle, and Shue stood at the back.
I smiled.
They had failed to properly grasp even the scale of my abilities, let alone the essence of my power.
- 2 -
At the same time. Leoperum, capital of the Duchy of Leoper.
In the council chamber where sunlight streamed in, Duke Frederick sat facing his two daughters.
"The time has come to decide Rheinhart's disposition."
The Duke's voice resounded.
His deep wrinkles were filled with fatigue.
It could not be helped.
Just a week ago, he had been forced to witness the spectacle of his children waging a civil war over Leophere.
[I cannot obey that order. Your Highness!!]
Rheinhart had vehemently opposed the proposal from the Archduke, actually Adelaide's proposal, to return his army.
And furthermore, he had actually raised that army.
The Archduke had intended to gradually negotiate and reduce the army while showing some leniency if Rheinhart resisted, but he had never expected him to immediately raise an army.
Rheinhart, who had fled leaving his army behind when defeat loomed, had been captured just yesterday.
The same fatigue was reflected on Adelaide's face as well, but she bit her lip and spoke.
"First, here is the list of assets and territories held by Rheinhart and his faction."
She unfolded a thick bundle of documents.
Her neat touch revealed the meticulousness of an administrator.
"Total confiscation seems risky. In particular, the three baronies near Leoperum require careful handling."
"What is the reason?"
"His influence has spread too deeply. Especially since the marriage ties with the southern nobles are intricately entangled, new resistance could arise if we try to pull out the roots by force."
Adelaide calmly continued her explanation.
Despite the fatigue from the civil war, her analytical and calculating abilities remained unshaken.
Watching her, Frederick thought he was fortunate that she was so well-suited for such work.
After all, now that the alternative had vanished, she was the only most likely successor, and even the newly rising Elena was supporting her.
"Sister. We cannot leave those connected to the traitor untouched."
Elena's cold voice flowed out.
Her armor sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the window.
Stating that no one knew where trouble might arise even though the war had ended, she was attending the meeting still clad in her armor.
"Stern punishment is necessary. Tolerance for traitors only breeds greater treachery. Who knew Rheinhart would raise such a rebellion?"
Elena inwardly wore a bitter smile.
She was the very person who had instigated Rheinhart to begin that rebellion, by having his trusted information sources feed him a 'theory of Rheinhart's execution' and personally sending letters to fuel his anxiety.
'It was a necessary act.'
Calming herself, she hardened her expression further.
"But Elena. Among them, there are those who could be swayed to our side."
"I have no intention of stopping your mercy, sister. But we must properly judge their merits and demerits, and utilize them while imposing stricter punishments on their crimes."
"Both of you have a point."
Frederick cut off his two daughters' words.
His gaze turned toward the window.
The land of Leophere was just beginning to heal from the wounds of civil war.
Traces of war still remained on the streets visible outside the castle.
Those were the figures of the people powerlessly passing along the roadsides.
"Rheinhart shall be exiled to the north."
The Archduke, who had been deep in thought for a moment, made his decision.
"The northern part of the former Cheoks Border County that Elena now governs... Gribeler would be suitable. And his faction shall be placed under Elena's supervision. It would be better to carry out their punishment gradually."
Elena firmly hardened her face, then bowed her head with a subtle smile.
Within her territory, Rheinhart would be unable to attempt anything.
She did not truly believe they all needed to be killed, either.
It was merely a stratagem to make Adelaide stand out as the Archduke's successor.
Because the fatigue immediately following a civil war was enough to make Adelaide's mercy shine all the brighter.
"Adel, gradually persuade them. We need more loyal subjects."
That thought was also revealed in the Archduke's words as he unconsciously called Adelaide by her pet name.
A tenderness was present in Frederick's gaze as he looked at his eldest daughter.
Through this civil war, he had become sufficiently weakened.
"Now, what remains is..."
Frederick looked over the other documents on the table.
Rheinhart's disposition was only the beginning.
The true discussion to decide Leophere's future was to start now.
For that, he rallied his spirits somewhat and spoke.
"Now is the time to decide our future direction."
Frederick looked at his two daughters.
Deep concern was etched in his eyes.
Resolving Leophere's division was important, but preparing for a new era was even more so.
"Strengthening our military power is the top priority."
Elena spoke first.
Her armor shone more vividly as it caught the red light of the setting sun.
"Especially, the defense of the northern border must be strengthened. It is said the Minor Kingdom of Kiza is building up its forces. Their scouts are already being sighted in the border regions."
She spread out a map.
Places marked with red dots were locations where Kiza's scouts had been spotted.
"A diplomatic resolution is more urgent."
Adelaide countered.
Her sky-blue ceremonial dress shimmered, holding the light of the candles.
"Improving relations with Hysen, in particular, is crucial. The actions their new queen is showing are very intriguing. Especially the part about attempting coexistence between monsters and humans..."
"You mean Queen Yurena's policies."
Frederick nodded.
"But growing closer to them could be dangerous. Radical policies always invite backlash."
"However, Hysen's current power is clear."
Adelaide opened another document. It was a graph showing changes in trade volume.
"They have already reopened a new trade route through cooperation with the formerly rebellious Duchy of Orbis in the south, and their influence is growing day by day. We must join this flow as well."
Elena silently bowed her head.
Knowing the secret that only she knew, the existence called Libertas, the compromise between Orbis and Hysen was truly a radical move.
She knew where Hysen's power came from, and just how immense it was.
"Both are important."
Frederick concluded.
"Elena shall strengthen the northern defenses, and Adel shall push forward with diplomacy toward Hysen. However...
"We must move cautiously. For we have not yet recovered from the wounds of civil war."
"Yes."
"Rest well, Father."
"You have done well."
The moon had risen.
The Archduke's daughter and the new knight commander rose from their seats, each bearing their own mission.
A new era for Leophere was about to begin.
"..."
However, that era would not belong to Frederick himself.
- 3 -
After sending the envoys of each Archduke off to tour the dungeon, Yuran approached me and delivered a piece of news I had been waiting for.
"My lord. News has arrived from Leophere."
I unfolded the letter she gave me.
It contained almost exactly what I had expected.
"So Adelaide is to take charge of diplomacy, and Elena of military affairs."
"Just as planned."
Yuran stood beside me and peered at the contents of the letter.
Her smooth, evocative scent drifted in.
"There is also talk that Adelaide will soon ascend to the Archduchy."
"It's only natural, since he lost three of his children. It's enough to break one's heart."
Duke Frederick had lost children in this civil war.
Two were princes who had served on the battlefield as knights for Rheinhart's faction, and one for Adelaide's faction.
Though their deaths were said to be honorable ones, having occurred on the battlefield, a noble as high as a border count could never have properly experienced losing their children like this.
Moreover, it was said that one of the princesses in Rheinhart's faction had lost her mind and developed a mental disorder after hearing of her brother's death.
How must Frederick, their father, feel?
"It seems he loved his children more than I thought."
"There are many cases where one only realizes after losing something, are there not?"
I nodded.
A wise person judges the value of what they hold precious before losing it and treats it accordingly.
I must not make the same mistake as Frederick, who failed to clarify the succession, unaware that a greater misfortune would befall him.
"Master. The envoys have returned..."
"I see. It seems they had a good look around."
"Yes."
A short while later, the two who had returned made their report.
They said the nobles had marveled at the army of Skeletons arrayed within my dungeon.
They had clicked their tongues at the 'revealed' traps installed throughout, calling them malicious.
And when told they would be guided to the location of the dungeon core if they guessed it, they had agonized endlessly.
Of course, they had failed to guess the correct answer.
"Dispatching these envoys seems to have been a foolish act."
I nodded at Yuran's words.
"They are still underestimating us. They apparently dislike the growth of a new Dungeon Lord, but they don't intend to make a big issue of it as long as we don't encroach on their territories."
I didn't bother to hide the chuckle that escaped me.
"This is the common indolence of those who have gained a stable foundation."
The origin of the Dungeon Lord is a successor candidate aiming to become the heir to the Demon King.
In other words, every Dungeon Lord is each other's enemy.
If they were going to play this ladder game, one or two of them should have resolved to sacrifice and utterly crush me.
But by being wary of each other, they were committing the folly of leaving me be.
"Dantalion seems to be particularly wary of us..."
"Yes. At least they have suffered losses at our hands before."
In the last invasion by the three Baron Dungeon Lords, they had lost two barons.
Even before proper vigilance, it was an incident sufficient for them to treat me with hostility.
"But even if they tried to launch a proper attack, they haven't been able to accurately grasp our full strength. The dungeon's layout, our power. And even Hysen."
Leaving the personal chamber of the dungeon, I immediately moved to my office within Hylash Royal Castle.
This office was already being 'recognized' as a part of my dungeon.
Outside the window, the night streets of Hylash were visible.
In the city where black flowers were blooming, no one realized they were already becoming part of the dungeon.
They were already in the palm of my hand.
"Master. We have captured them."
"Well done. Eve, and Ash."
And these people, as well.
I looked down at the two people Evangeline and Esther had captured.
Two murderers who had been causing serial killings within Hylash.
Among them, the one wearing red clothes glared at me through his disheveled hair with eyes full of resentment.
"You...!"
"Show some respect, murderer."
Peok!
Even after Evangeline forcefully made him kneel, his eyes, filled with rage, remained fixed on me.
His golden eyes were stained with a horrific killing intent.
"It seems you sense something."
"How..."
Gnashing his teeth, the red murderer's voice trembled, eerily low as he spoke.
His entire body vibrated as if resonating, and a bizarrely chilling music spread in all directions.
I waved my hand and erased the music.
"How can Arpina's melody be coming from you...! Why! What did you do to Arpina...!"
I tilted my head to the side.
Because I discovered one thing in his voice, a mixture of rage and obsession.
It was an interesting matter.
The fact that even in such pleasure killers, something like 'affection' for each other existed.
Even if it was a love that could never be reciprocated.