Chapter 107
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: The Reason for Not Washing
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At the very moment two 5-star heroes in the northern continent engaged in battle with the half-dragon tribe, similar events were unfolding across various parts of the continent.
In the eastern continent, two heroes skilled in espionage—dispatched to periodically monitor the status of dungeons scattered throughout the region—melted into the shadows to investigate the local situation.
"As expected... it's the same here?"
"The demons' power has risen across the board for some strange reason. It's not enough to break the balance yet, but..."
The heroes investigating the demons' movements grew serious. It had been a full ten years since they began spying on the demons in the east. Yet there was a clear difference between the power levels they'd consistently observed over that time and what the demons were showing recently.
"What on earth is causing this? It's not just one or two—every demon's power has increased..."
"From what I've heard, it's not just the east. It seems like something's changed in demons across the entire continent."
Just a week ago, the demons' power had surged, and a few days back, another increase was witnessed. Of course, the second one wasn't as dramatic as the first...
"Looks like the demons have noticed too. Well, how could they not when their own strength is going up...?"
"Tch. Look at them acting all cocky. Those guys look ready to charge in any second."
"Classify them as top-priority threats."
Without revealing so much as a hint of their presence even when right under the demons' noses, the heroes calmly recorded the demons' appearances with a magic tool—capturing the fools drunk on their newfound power as they boasted about showing it off to humans.
"Let's head back for now."
"What, already?"
When one hero proposed a swift return after finishing their survey, the other looked at him puzzled.
"Why? We still have more ground to cover."
"Haven't you heard? Word is that 'Empress' has been stirring things up in the east lately."
"The Empress...?"
Empress. What an absurdly grandiose title.
There was only one empire on the continent—the humans' Holy Empire—and the current emperor was undoubtedly a man. So who could possibly bear such a title?
"Let's hurry back. This is enough for today..."
"What a filthy stench."
"...!!!!"
-Slash!!!
A sudden intruder broke into the heroes' hushed conversation. With hands so pristine they could only be described as jade-like, she tore through the shadows where they hid, yanking out one hero and severing his neck with a casual hand chop.
"Jacob!!!!"
His comrade, who had evaded detection by any demon for ten years of joint reconnaissance, fell in an instant. The surviving hero leaped from the shadows in shock, glaring bloodshot-eyed at the demon holding his severed comrade's head.
"How dare you touch my partner...!"
But the hero's vengeful glare faltered. Trembling in disbelief, he uttered the name of the being before him.
"E-Empress...!"
"Nice ring to the title."
"Damn it! Why are you here? You monster cooped up in the demon realm...!"
-Slash!!
The moment the hero spat the word "monster" in horror, a red line appeared across his body, splitting him in half and ending his life.
"Monster? How rude."
The demon called the Empress had dispatched two veteran heroes in a flash. Instinctively raising her bloodied hand to her mouth, she stopped herself. She couldn't reveal this side of herself outside just yet.
Then, to the fallen heroes' corpses, she answered the final question one had cried out before death.
"Why am I here? Because that person called for me."
Her eyes wistful, as if longing for something distant, the Empress gazed hazily southward.
"But I can't go just yet... not with you lot getting in the way."
Recalling the heroes' conversation from moments ago—where they'd already known she was on the move—she let out a sigh. Abandoning the speech pattern that had become second nature from constant use, she dredged up one from her distant past, barely remembered now.
"Forgive my rudeness in not coming to you directly... Once all my duties are fulfilled, I shall return to your side without fail."
With a brief bow toward the owner of that energy she'd yearned for even in dreams just recently, the Empress headed back to her abode.
The eastern demon realm. Toward the "Silent Citadel."
"Erzsebet. Were you some kind of royalty?"
"What brought that on?"
"Well... Listening to you talk, you sound like nobility or at least someone high up."
I asked Erzsebet, who after swallowing the dragon blood said she needed time to digest it and had lately increased her meditation time (aka sleep). Her power was gradually returning, but the stronger she got, the lazier she seemed. Right now, she was just lounging around, answering half-heartedly.
'At this rate, once she regains full strength, she'll fuse with the bed.'
"Hm. Royalty... Not sure about that."
I couldn't bring myself to rouse her—after all, she'd insisted absolute rest was needed to stabilize her power—so I just shot her a dissatisfied glare. Oblivious to my look, Erzsebet reminisced about the past.
Ever since unleashing her prime power once before, fragments of memory had been resurfacing vividly.
"But I was definitely in quite a high position. I even had a personal attendant."
"Really?"
"Yes. A maidservant who served me closely."
Though her memories were full of gaps, she closed her eyes like she was savoring happy recollections, focusing on the faint images. A child who trailed after her devotedly. Born unusually weak among the Blood Demon Tribe, the kid faced bullying, so she'd even shared her own blood...
"Such a cute child. Even while attending me, she was always saying she wanted to be just like me..."
"...Hm."
Wanted to be like her? Hearing that while she was sprawled on the bed made it hard to shake off the dubious feeling.
Well, anyway, having an attendant meant she really was someone important.
"I wonder where she is now, what she's doing..."
"......"
I couldn't bring myself to respond to Erzsebet's wistful words. From what we'd heard from various demons and dungeon merchants, the Blood Demon Tribe was nowhere to be found on the continent anymore. That attendant she mentioned was probably...
"More importantly. You were busy preparing something for a while, Master, and now you're back to cleaning?"
Erzsebet abruptly changed the subject, her expression turning distant for a moment. Uncomfortable myself, I readily took the bait.
"Yeah. There's more prep to do, but I've handed it off to Alfred and the others for now, so nothing urgent for me."
Equipment distribution, troop deployments, demon training, barrier setups outside, intel gathering—all delegated to my subordinates. No point cowering in worry over when 5-star heroes might invade. Better to clean.
"How about visiting the lake?"
"Eh... there..."
Every time I went, Aqua dragged me deep into the water. My gear let me breathe underwater fine, but I hated getting soaked anyway.
So instead, I'd been deep-cleaning all the nooks and crannies I'd glossed over before. Big areas first till now, so these spots got postponed.
"Kyuing!"
"Oh, good job. Next, over there, please."
"Kyuuing!"
"...Does it understand you?"
"Seems like it?"
The slime that bounced over to my side listened, then hopped off to clean elsewhere. Couldn't register it as an [Employee] for some reason, but lately, this little guy—who cleaned better than most staff—had been easing my worries a bit.
"The other slimes aren't evolving..."
"Not every slime evolves just from eating anything. That one's core just happened to match."
I'd bought tons more slimes hoping to replicate it, fed them [Cleaning Solution], ran all sorts of tests—no luck.
-Current Pollution Level: 51.7%
'Well, it's good enough anyway.'
With other demons busy prepping for hero invasions, I couldn't assign cleaning, so progress had slowed. The slime zipping around on its own was a godsend.
I'd hand one out to every household if I could.
"Hieeek! G-Get off me...!"
I rescued Lilith, who—spotting the slime on her way by—freaked out and tried desperately to peel it off her body.
"Told you to wash..."
No matter how many times I said it, she wouldn't. No wonder the slime stuck and went nuts. Phew, the smell.
"Why do you keep avoiding baths so much?"
I couldn't fathom why she dodged washing despite my nagging, so I just asked outright. Maybe some other reason?
"W-Well..."
Lilith hemmed and hawed before cautiously speaking up.
"D-Don't laugh, okay...?"
"What would make you say that..."
"B-Because... I'm hiding my charm...?"
"........."
"........."
Hearing Lilith's explanation, Erzsebet and I both stared at her blankly.
"...Pfft."
"D-Don't laugh!"
Unable to hold back, Erzsebet burst out laughing, and Lilith bowed her head, face beet red.
"Hiding your charm...? Don't tell me the grubby look and those rags are for the same reason?"
"Y-Yes... If I wash properly and wear decent clothes, then... th-then...! Men might get enchanted..."
"Puhahat!!"
"Eek."
Erzsebet finally cracked up at Lilith's words. Lilith's face turned crimson to the limit before she bolted from the room. I lightly knuckle-rapped Erzsebet's head—but no tickle reaction. So I tuned the [High-Pressure Cleaner] to moderate power and fired.
-Pak!!
"Kak...! Why, Master?!"
"She answered seriously. Can't mock her like that."
It might sound arrogant at first glance, but I'd watched Lilith's eyes when she spoke. No lie—just genuine worry.
'Some backstory, huh?'
Maybe the long messy hair half-hiding her face and the alluring illusion she wore had reasons too.
"Uuu... I-I was serious though..."
Back in her room, slumping and grumbling a bit, Lilith muttered timidly. Even as she said it, she wasn't sure why she'd done it.
When she first awoke in these ruins, memories were fuzzy, but the instinct to stay grubby and hide her charm stuck firmly in her head.
Her shy nature made interacting hard, pushing people away even more, sure...
"......."
Still, it stung her pride a little. Master had asked earnestly, she'd mustered courage to answer straight—and got laughed at. Master didn't mean to mock her, but...
"........."
After agonizing, Lilith cautiously eyed the mirror in her room.
"...Just a little..."
Recalling how Erzsebet had laughed at her, a spark of defiance ignited. Lilith changed clothes and began washing up—unaware of what it might bring.