Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Declaring Surrender at Her Appearance
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Someone was walking through the interior of the dungeon.
His face resembled a toad, an appearance that no one could possibly call human.
His name was Gulron.
He was currently the section chief of the audit team affiliated with the Demon Realm Merchant Guild.
As befitting his position, he had escorts flanking him on both sides—skeleton knights surrounding him.
There were a full twenty of them.
"Heh heh."
Who else would receive such lavish protection?
Skeleton knights were none other than 3-star monsters.
Of course, they weren't the highest rank overall. Even so, they weren't low enough to be dismissed lightly, which made this level of escort truly luxurious.
Naturally, this was a courtesy extended by the guild precisely because he belonged to the audit team.
Gulron surveyed the dungeon interior with a satisfied expression.
'The dungeon inside is just so-so.'
It had no refined feel whatsoever, just a crude appearance.
"Hm."
But Gulron didn't judge the entire dungeon based on its rough look.
What kind of place was this, after all?
Wasn't it the very dungeon that had transformed Molu—who had zero performance records within the guild—into the top performer?
That meant transaction volumes were massive, or in other words, the dungeon's master had money rotting away in piles.
And that was precisely why Gulron had come here.
Of course, there was a separate handler for transactions.
One of the guild's rules was not to change handlers arbitrarily, so even the audit team lacked the authority to violate that.
Gulron had no interest in such matters anyway; he had come for a different purpose.
As he walked with the skeleton knights' escort, a three-way fork appeared in the path.
"...Impressive."
From what he'd confirmed, this dungeon hadn't been around for long.
The transaction records showed they'd gone through the guild for a dungeon expansion project, but could that alone account for expansion on this scale?
To Gulron, it seemed nearly impossible.
"As expected of someone with real ability."
Newly created dungeons typically received the lowest credit score.
With the risk of external raids and subjugation at any moment, plus all sorts of variables, it was a huge liability from the guild's perspective.
Yet this place was a newborn dungeon that had caught the guild's attention internally.
If the guild was paying attention, it made sense for it to demonstrate this level of capability.
As he paused at the three-way fork, someone emerged from the path on the right.
"I've been waiting for you. I am Celia, in charge of managing this dungeon."
Gulron looked at the woman greeting him first.
She possessed stunning beauty and immense dignity.
Her attire only enhanced her refined elegance.
Gulron was momentarily captivated by her presence before snapping back to attention.
"Ah, my apologies. I am 'Section Chief' Gulron of the guild's audit team."
Gulron deliberately emphasized the word "section chief."
It was a tactic to seize the initiative in any conversation with the other party.
"Pleased to meet you, Section Chief Gulron. Please follow me this way."
Celia showed no change, simply smiling as she guided him down the right path.
Gulron followed behind her, thinking to himself.
'Why is she suppressing her presence?'
He couldn't sense any aura from her at all.
There were usually two possibilities: either she was so far above him that he couldn't detect her, or she was deliberately concealing it with a skill or artifact.
'Probably the latter.'
If she were truly that superior—enough that he couldn't perceive her—she'd have to be at least 5-star, but she didn't seem quite that level despite her dignified air.
'So she's hiding it on purpose.'
And why would someone do that?
There were those types occasionally.
The kind who disliked revealing their hand to the Demon Realm Merchant Guild.
In short, a ploy to avoid entering negotiations at a disadvantage.
'Maybe this place isn't all that special after all.'
Perhaps they'd just gotten lucky and snagged a wealthy adventurer, amassing wealth that way.
Various speculations swirled in his mind, but Gulron followed Celia silently without a change in expression.
The first area they entered was a field.
There, blue grass bloomed alongside flowers and butterflies fluttering about.
All of them were monsters, not ordinary creatures.
'Lower tier than I expected.'
No, far too low.
It looked like a dungeon any adventurer with a bit of experience could clear in no time.
'I'll have to report this to the guild on my way back.'
At this level, there was no need to pay special attention.
Gulron thought as much and moved to the next area.
There was a massive lake.
Goblins were visible near the shore, drawing water.
Gulron kept mulling things over at the sight.
'The other areas must have goblins deployed too.'
He'd learned something new, but nothing worth major concern yet.
They circled the lake and proceeded to the next spot.
They finally arrived at the dungeon's core.
Gulron first examined the position of what could be called the dungeon's heart—the core.
The quality of management was evident in how it was handled.
'Security's decent enough.'
Troops were deployed around the core.
Though wrapped in large robes, obscuring their identities, it was clear they took security seriously.
"Oh... Is that a human over there?"
And another sight.
Beyond the iron bars, a human woman was visible, her belly swollen.
"This is the fate of those who dare invade this place without fear."
Celia replied with her usual smile.
At her response, Gulron slightly raised his evaluation of the dungeon.
This kind of ambition was what made a dungeon worthy of the name.
Passing the prison, something else caught Gulron's eye.
He didn't know what the facility was for, but multiple skeleton knights guarded it.
'Well now...'
Anyone could see it was no ordinary space.
Those skeleton knights deployed there probably represented the dungeon's true strength.
It rivaled the core's defenses in importance.
Gulron committed the fact to memory and kept walking.
They soon reached the end of the core area.
There sat a throne adorned with jewels, unmistakably the seat for the dungeon's master.
The throne.
"By the way, might I ask where the dungeon master is?"
Gulron glanced around.
No matter how he looked, there was no one who seemed to fit the role.
"Ah, the master is currently away. But no need to worry. I've been granted full authority, so feel free to speak with me."
Gulron felt a flicker of doubt at Celia's words but quickly concluded otherwise.
'No doubt she's the master.'
What master would abandon their dungeon and be absent?
Especially after being notified of the guild's visit.
It was nothing but propaganda.
"I see."
But Gulron wasn't novice enough to blurt out his true thoughts.
"In that case, I'll get straight to the point. The reason for my visit is to settle one matter definitively."
Gulron flashed a pleasant smile at Celia and clapped once.
Clap—
Two skeleton knights on guard duty dragged something out.
There lay a figure stained in blood.
It was Juwell, Molu's superior merchant.
But she was in horrific shape.
Her eyes were sewn shut with thread, red blood dripping from the stitches onto the floor.
And that wasn't all.
Her mouth was sewn the same way, rendering it impossible to open.
She barely breathed through the slight gaps where the threads parted.
Her throat was seared with a branding iron, silencing even her groans, and her ears were plugged with something unknown.
Currently, she could neither see, hear, nor speak.
In a word, all her freedoms had been stripped away.
Gulron glanced over Juwell once before turning back to Celia.
At the same time, his greedy jowls jiggled.
"What do you think? Yesterday, one of our guild employees committed a grave discourtesy against you. Consider this the bare minimum gesture of sincerity."
Gulron bowed at the waist.
It was courtesy to a dungeon boosting the guild's recent sales—and the fate of one who had tried to slander it.
"This individual is no longer affiliated with the guild. Please, Dungeon Master... no, Lady Celia, do with her as you please. You could even use her for monster breeding like that human wench. Heh heh."
Gulron laughed like a demon.
By showing the guild's brutality, he intended to crush her momentum as well.
But Celia was astonished for an entirely different reason.
'That's what you'd call punishment.'
She'd been too lenient until now.
From next time, she'd inflict at least that much on anyone who disrespected the master.
As Celia remained silent, Gulron smirked and continued.
"Of course, this isn't the end from our guild's side. For future transactions, we'll offer discounts and special treatment."
Gulron pulled a card from his pocket.
It differed from the standard black card.
A white card emblazoned with a single golden star.
It was the so-called 'White Card,' signifying a VIP of the Demon Realm Merchant Guild.
The more stars, the higher the rank, but even one was extraordinary.
White Cards weren't issued lightly.
Holders received special privileges from the guild and access to exclusive auctions—not just any card.
To issue one to a fledgling dungeon?
This alone showed how much attention the guild was paying.
Of course, Celia knew this too, with her past experience managing dungeons.
Celia paused briefly.
The incubus who had infiltrated her dungeon.
She knew Juwell was behind it and had planned to punish her soon.
But the guild had preempted her somehow.
It irked Celia, but since they were future manpower for the master anyway, she decided to let it slide magnanimously.
"I see. If the guild is going this far, it'd be hard to refuse."
Celia took the card from Gulron.
"By the way, I hear the masters of nearby dungeons are holding a banquet tonight. Wouldn't Lady Celia care to attend?"
Gulron casually mentioned it while raising his hand.
"Ah, no misunderstanding please. Since the master is away, I thought to inform you, Lady Celia."
"Thank you for the valuable information."
"It's nothing. The guild is always sincere. Until we meet again, then..."
Celia offered thanks, and with that, Gulron departed the dungeon.
Celia pondered how to deal with Juwell sprawled on the floor, then recalled Gulron's words.
"A banquet, huh..."
"Chwiik, a word of thanks to those attending this banquet..."
The orc speaking halted midway.
He rubbed his eyes, then cautiously opened them again.
"Chwiik?"
Something was off.
This was supposed to be a gathering for camaraderie among those in similar straits.
Definitely that kind of banquet—yet a being on an entirely different level had appeared.
"Uh..."
The orc stammered in bewilderment.
"I-I surrender."
With the orc's declaration, everyone at the banquet surrendered upon Celia's appearance.