Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Second Zone Boss
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Thud…
Thud…
Even as I followed Amon, I couldn’t help but be skeptical.
‘He said he’d show me something interesting….’
After returning from her external duties, Amon had shut herself away completely. She rarely showed her face, even having goblins order meals delivered to her quarters.
No, quarters was no longer the right word. The space she’d built for herself in the spare area was dismantled and rebuilt into a new location the instant she returned.
[Amon's Secret Laboratory construction complete.]
[Deploying Amon to Amon's Secret Laboratory will increase efficiency of all production and research facilities.]
[Activating Amon's Secret Laboratory has a chance to produce inventions. Inventions can include familiars, traps, cursed talismans, and more.]
[Inventions are classified as Groundbreaking, Amazing, Surprising, or Junk.]
[Tip: Certain familiars allow construction of special facilities like Amon's Secret Laboratory.]
……
Amon's Secret Laboratory.
This was why the great demon Amon was hailed as a true must-have unit, not just any throwaway.
Sure, she cost a fortune in resources, but plenty said this lab alone made her worth every bit…
‘Even setting aside Amon’s own combat prowess.’
Among special facilities, this secret lab ranked pretty high. For one, it wasn’t picky about terrain. Unlike facilities that needed geothermal vents or resource deposits, you could plop this one down on any empty plot.
It could even count as a field itself, and right now—as I pondered building a lightning field—her lab sat exactly where the new field would go.
Whirr-
Whirrrrr-
Upon entering Amon’s lab, her mechanical arms glowed oddly as they probed me.
“Can’t this thing be fooled somehow?”
“Ah, just leave it. Once registered for this visit, it’ll spot even your doppelganger.”
“Where’d all these mechanical arms come from anyway?”
“Curious one, aren’t you? Did you think I’d tell you that too?”
Ah, right—this tied into Amon’s character story. Like Phenex’s, it was info unlocked through intimacy and character growth.
…Honestly, I’d just tossed out the question to fill the silence, so let’s move on.
“By the way, do you know about this?”
“About what?”
“Phenex, that freeloader.”
“…Freeloader?”
“Do you think there’s a kinder term for a demon who fails at her role? I consider it merciful.”
“Hmm…”
Amon seemed thoroughly merit-based.
If I tried arguing Phenex wasn’t a freeloader, considering the other demons I could use as replacements… yeah, she kinda was.
“I took a closer look after our chat, and she hasn’t even inherited her name yet.”
“……”
“I mean her true name. Did you know?”
I did.
That’s why she kept failing, after all.
“…You knew. Cruel master.”
“Cruel?”
“Why not just release her now? Unless you’re into pity parties.”
Amon turned and explained.
“Demons’ power mostly comes from their names. Out of hell’s teeming hordes, only 72 have true names infused with power. That’s why those 72 names are strong.”
Amon was right.
Demons listed in the Lemegeton all draw strength from their names.
Probably the power accumulated over eons of being remembered by someone… It’s an unsolved lore bit, so even I don’t know the details.
“That’s why she’s only half-baked. Hasn’t even received her master’s name yet.”
No, that wasn’t right.
The name had definitely passed to Phenex.
‘She just hasn’t shouldered it yet.’
I’d been mulling this myself. If my planned approach turned out wrong later—if game knowledge diverged from reality here too, like it had elsewhere…
“Enough. I didn’t call you for this. Let’s talk about your dungeon core first.”
“About souls.”
We’d touched on it before. Time for the details.
“You snagged a decent soul last time, but you’ve got a long way to go. You know better than anyone how unstable you are, right?”
“Of course.”
“You’re shattered. Or more precisely, broken from imbalance.”
Probably why my stamina sucked, and why I could only survive symbiotically with the dungeon core.
“At this rate, the moment your link to the dungeon core snaps, you’re done.”
“So as long as the core’s safe, I’m good?”
“Tch… The dungeon core’s a treasure everyone on this land covets. Someday this place’ll be swarming with intruders, no room to step.”
“What do I do?”
“You need more souls—stronger ones. So lure in more intruders. Before your core catches the eye of true powerhouses.”
“Ironic. Call in the strong before they come hunting.”
When could I live without absorbing souls?
“What troubles you?”
“…Just thinking how many lives I’ll have to take to keep this body going.”
“What a foolish thought from a fool.”
“Why?”
“Every being stands atop crushed lives. Thinking coexistence is the only way to live is crude. Lions eat other creatures’ flesh from birth to death. You think that’s wrong?”
“I’m not a lion.”
“Didn’t you decide to live like one?”
Ah.
This guy…
Amon grinned.
“You watched dozens of lives crushed in my hands back at the mansion. No emotional stir at all. Remember?”
…Yeah.
Growth, I guess?
“If you chose to live as a lion, then do it. Don’t half-ass it dreaming of rabbit life.”
Amon was right.
The stage for half-hearted pity had passed long ago.
“Anyway, that’s why I have a proposal.”
“Proposal?”
“I scouted the local terrain recently. Found something fun.”
“Something fun… what?”
Minerals? Magic stones?
“A spatial rift.”
“A spatial rift…”
Ah, no way?
“It means we can build bridges from this Rotten Root to spots across the Solaria Continent.”
Commonly called a dimensional gate.
One of a dungeon’s core facilities. Once built, it opens gates from continent sites straight to the Rotten Root.
Not sure if pro or con, but it only links to coordinates set by the dungeon’s original owner.
“Use the rift to lure intruders right to your nest.”
“That ties into what you said earlier.”
“Not clueless, I see. Perfect luck for you now. It’s not far from your base facilities either. However…”
Of course there’d be a catch.
Otherwise, no need for this long talk.
“Something’s settled there.”
…Found it.
‘Second zone boss.’
It’d been a while since I hunted that giant lame spider, Agnea.
I’d absorbed most of her territory, but that inevitably bordered my dungeon with the second zone boss’s turf.
No issues so far, thankfully. But if I wanted that rift, time to clash.
“…Gotta remove it.”
Rotten Root’s second great purge—begins now.
* * *
Different from the Agnea fight.
The dungeon’s forces had grown massively.
Resources from expanding territory and running base facilities leveled up my familiars. Magic stones from outside bolstered them with diverse, high-quality additions.
Back then, only level 1 Phenex was reliable. Night and day now.
A raid party’s no different from an intruder group.
‘Time to pick my favorites.’
Phenex first.
Putting her in.
‘Gotta get my money’s worth….’
I’d been dumping growth resources into her like savings for the future. Time to cash in on a boss where she shines.
“Next…”
Honestly, who I bring doesn’t matter much. She’ll carry.
But for some help…
‘Jaqim… take that guy?’
Nah.
Might as well throw in all my new 5-star familiars except Santo.
Reason I exclude Mad Troupe Leader Santo? He’s useless in raids.
‘Doesn’t communicate well, high chance of random bullshit….’
His traits weren’t raid-friendly to begin with.
Anyway, summoned the three 5-stars sans Santo—plus Phenex—before the throne in my heart chamber.
“Got it?”
“Yeah, milord! Find the big guy and clear it out, right?”
“…Exactly.”
- Grooooar…
“Leave it to me, Jaqim shall see it done.”
“Boring, but cool. I’m off.”
“Awesome! Ruby, you’re with me!”
“Sure thing, Phenex! Let’s smash!”
…Gotta separate those two ASAP.
Thus set off the raid party: Relic Guardian Moam, Wolfman Ruby, Goblin King Jaqim, and Demon of Revival Phenex.
I left all details beyond “purge the rift-blocker” to their judgment. Now I just watch.
The raid headed into the darkness. I tracked them via heart chamber projection.
* * *
- Grooooar…
- Grooooar…
“What’s Moam keep growling about?”
“Think he’s saying don’t stick the torch in him?”
“How’d you know?”
“He’s pointing at it. Wasn’t Jaqim on torch duty? Jaqim!”
“What?”
“You were holding the torch!”
“Kekeke… Shut it. Just keep eyes forward, yeah?”
Bickering from the start.
Phenex yawned.
“Fight and you’re useless.”
Flinch…
Even without menace, Jaqim reacted sharp to the demon’s words.
“On second thought, I’ll carry it. No intent to trouble over trifles.”
“See! …Huh?”
Ruby warned at the sudden presence.
“…Movement!”
Flash!
Phenex led, already ready—the others fell in instantly.
Screeeee-!
A red-tainted rat lunged at Ruby; she swung her arm.
Crack…
Her wolf-furred hand left claw afterimages, shredding the rat along the lines.
- Grooooar…
Rrrrip-!
Moam shifted his arm slightly; the half-smashed rat became mincemeat.
“Eyes front, all.”
“…A lot of ’em.”
Ruby answered Jaqim.
Dozens of eyes glinted in the dark.
Tedious skirmish ahead…
[Phenex uses Pain Sharing.]
[Phenex fires a fan-shaped flame wave.]
[Flame wave deals 200% of combat power, divided among enemies in range.]
Roooarrrrr…
KABOOM-!
Flames burst from Phenex’s sword tip, utterly devastating the foes’ formation.
Before, it’d just whittle HP slowly. Now, grown strong, her base damage melted neutral dungeon mobs in seconds with sheer heat.
“…Whoa.”
- Grooooar…
“Indeed… demonic power. Feels like my eyes are burning.”
Phenex turned back with an innocent smile, like it was nothing.
“Let’s go?”
Whoosh-!
Jaqim grinned fiercely.
“I’ll take point.”