Chapter 127
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Demonic Realm
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Every dungeon has its own name, and all of them were given by humans.
The dungeons that exist in the current era all bear names that were assigned either before the dungeon maintenance policy came into effect or right after it was established. These names are determined based on testimonies from heroes who have directly experienced the dungeons or from scouts who have witnessed conflicts between demon tribes.
The demons of the dungeons take considerable pride in the names humans give them—names infused with fear and wariness—and adopt them as their own. There are occasional cases where demons dislike the human-given name and come up with their own, but...
'Dungeon merchants don't sell information on other dungeons.'
The primary source of information for dungeon masters across the continent is the dungeon merchants. However, these merchants don't sell direct information on other dungeons. So, if a dungeon master wants intel on another dungeon, they have to resort to indirect methods, like gathering the information that's circulating among humans.
In the end, when demons seek information on a specific dungeon, they rely on what's spreading among humans—and naturally, they end up using the names humans have given it.
"My dungeon still doesn't have a name attached to it, right?"
"Yes. It's been a long time since the dungeon maintenance policy was established and humans started naming new dungeons. Still, we fully expect your dungeon to earn a splendid name."
The dungeon merchant was still calling me VIP and rubbing his hands together pleadingly. I glared at him with sharp eyes.
To read my mood and flatter me, the dungeon merchant started bringing up all sorts of trivial topics beyond what I'd asked for, eventually capping it off with some sycophantic praise.
Why was this guy acting like this?
"The losses from the faulty information you sold aren't just a pittance."
"Aigoo... We have our own methods for gathering information, but that doesn't mean they're perfect! If we were omniscient beings who knew everything, why would we be slaving away as merchants?"
I knew full well how crucial information was. After stocking up sufficiently on magic beasts and various consumables, I'd been trading for all sorts of intel through dungeon merchants.
And lately, what I'd been most focused on was information about the Hero of Radiance.
The most recent purchase from these dungeon merchants had been about the Hero of Radiance's movements. They'd sold me the intel that after defying the emperor's orders, the hero had been placed under house arrest, stripped of some hero privileges.
But what had actually happened?
A hero—no, not just one, but a raid party including several standout heroes and even a saintess.
I'd prepared thoroughly, and with points overflowing to the brim, I'd poured them out like water to fend them off. Otherwise, my head might've rolled.
"To take down that fearsome 5-star hero... As expected, you truly deserve to be called the new southern demonic realm..."
"Shut it. So, what's the compensation for my losses?"
But fending them off was fending them off. Regardless of whether it was the dungeon merchants' incompetence or whatever, the fact remained that they'd sold me bad intel for money. So, I was grilling the merchant, demanding compensation.
"Understood... Since our faulty information caused you harm, we'll compensate you with double the losses..."
"And I want information on top of that."
"Guh..."
Surprisingly enough, though. Dungeon merchants were practically in the position of the powerful party to dungeons, yet he wasn't playing dumb—he was properly discussing compensation...
'What the hell are these guys really up to?'
My curiosity about the dungeon merchants' true identity and why they did this grew even stronger, but I knew they wouldn't answer even if I asked. So, I squeezed out a reasonable compensation, plus 'information' as a bonus.
"What kind of information do you want?"
"...Demonic realm. Specifically, info on the eastern demonic realm."
"Oh dear, customer? Even if we messed up, we don't trade direct info on other dungeons..."
"Indirect info that's circulating among humans will do."
"Hmm. If it's just that much..."
I didn't really get the difference, honestly.
They claimed it was different because they weren't selling dungeon info but human intel— wasn't that just splitting hairs?
The dungeon merchant stroked his beard thoughtfully for a moment, then slowly began to divulge the information.
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The continent is divided into east, west, north, and south, centered around the central region where the Holy Empire Yukram of humans is located.
First, the southern continent. The area where Eugene's ruins are located is already well-known as the 'weakest'.
The demons there are too busy surviving themselves to launch invasions against humans, so naturally, humans don't station many troops in the south either. Unlike other regions, they don't even deploy 5-star heroes.
In contrast, the northern continent earns the title of 'strongest'.
The master of the northern demonic realm, 'High Dragon's Lair', who is also the lord of the half-dragon tribe, rose supreme amid the brutal survival struggles of the north. He subjugated all surrounding dungeons and brought every dungeon in the north under his command.
The demons of the harsh northern environment, united under one being, represent the greatest threat to the Holy Empire right now.
To keep them in check, humans have exceptionally stationed their most powerful weapons—two 5-star heroes—on the northern front.
The western continent is rated as the 'otherworldly demonic realm' or 'realm of the strong'.
The west, home to the continent's vastest forest called the 'Great Forest', is deemed the most bountiful thanks to the diverse flora thriving in that expansive woodland. Paradoxically, however, endless battles rage among demons vying to monopolize those rich resources. The idea of the strong devouring the weak is more deeply ingrained here than anywhere else.
And the western demonic realm embodies that principle most faithfully.
The western demonic realm treats only the 'strong' with respect. It accepts only a few powerful dungeons under its wing and destroys any that don't meet its standards—weak demons, minor tribes, and subpar dungeons alike—with its own hands. It continues its arrogant, dictatorial ways.
Because of this, the western continent has the fewest dungeons and demons. But conversely, the individual strength of its demons is considered the strongest on the entire continent—surpassing even those in the north.
One 5-star hero who harbors hatred for the western demons refuses reassignment to other fronts and remains stationed there, relentlessly hunting demons.
And the eastern continent, which I'd been most curious about...
"Hm... The eastern continent is... well, it's rated as the most 'peaceful'."
"Peaceful?"
"Yes. It might even be similar to the south in some ways. Skirmishes between humans and demons hardly occur... Of course, the south sees frequent 'hunts' by humans instead of battles, so it's quite a stretch to call it peaceful..."
The north sees endless clashes with invading northern demons.
The west is a free-for-all where humans, demons, and magic beasts alike fight under the creed that only the strong claim everything—even demons battle each other.
But such things almost never happen in the east. Do that, and you'd catch the eye of the 'Empress'—and meet a gruesome end.
"The eastern demonic realm, 'Silent High Castle'... Doesn't the name strike you as odd? Attaching 'silent' to a dungeon, of all things."
"It is unusual."
All the dungeon names I'd heard so far seemed to reflect the master's abilities or race.
"The reason for that name boils down to the Empress's personality. She likes quiet and hates anyone causing a ruckus in her territory."
"She likes quiet?"
"Yes. For example..."
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About 50 years ago, shortly after humans conquered the southern demonic realm.
Amid the massive war in the south, some demons who escaped with their lives fled from humans cleaning up the remnants and headed to other regions.
And the place they chose was none other than the eastern continent. Unlike the south now rated as the 'weakest', back when a demonic realm existed there, the east had been considered the weakest. So, the fleeing southern demons naturally flowed into the east.
"What're these guys? They're weak."
"...Hold on. If even that 'Overlord' of the south is dead..."
Having long lived under the southern demonic realm's rule, these demons eyed the pathetically weak eastern demons with greed.
With their overlord—the 'Overlord'—slain by the Hero of Radiance's sword, the freed demons dreamed of becoming the new ruler in his stead.
As their first step toward domination, the southern escapees began raiding dungeons and humans in the east.
"Hand over the core! The dungeon core!"
"Haha! This guy really a dungeon master? He's too weak!"
Former dungeon masters who had lost their cores but barely escaped with their lives, or demons who had been key subordinates and executives of the demonic realm—they killed the existing eastern dungeon masters and seized their cores.
Because of these sudden influx of demons into the relatively peaceful east under the Empress's rule, humans faced unexpected raids. Mountain folk hiding in forests were captured and enslaved, and such incidents became frequent.
And amid all that.
-Boom!!
"Huh? What was that?"
"Who fell from the sky..."
From the blue sky came a woman with faintly glimpsed red wings flapping and red eyes. She crashed down right among them. And then...
"Noisy."
-Splatter!!
With just those words—'noisy'—she mercilessly slaughtered the demons who had newly seized dungeon cores and were rampaging.
In a single day. In just one day, all the demons who had flooded the east and stirred up chaos were slain by the red-eyed demon. In the process, the humans enslaved by those demons were freed.
Then, as if her targets had truly only been the rowdy demons, she paid no heed to the minor demons or humans they had captured and returned to her dungeon.
"...The Empress."
"It's the Empress."
And humans, who by nature harbor endless hostility toward demons, had witnessed her that day. As if enchanted by something, those who saw her began calling her the 'Empress'.
Humans tried to quickly silence the mountain folk, but the rumors spread uncontrollably. In the end, the eastern demonic realm's master—who had lacked a proper moniker due to inactivity—came to be known by the grandiose title of 'Empress' from that day on.
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"Hm. So..."
The demons who fled from the southern demonic realm conquest? She killed them all for being noisy? And really only the noisy ones—leaving humans and the original local demons alone?
"Yes. Knowing her temperament well, the east sees very few unnecessary skirmishes. Especially around her dungeon... As a result, minor demons who quietly farm for a living are the most numerous in the east."
"........."
"Humans have stationed one 5-star hero there out of caution for her power, but no real battles have..."
The dungeon merchant shared a few more minor details, but this seemed to be the extent of what he could give me.
A dungeon master who slaughters anyone noisy... That woman's pretty insane too.
'But why info on that woman?'
Why had Erzsebet suddenly asked me separately to gather information on the Empress?