Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Merchant Visiting the Dungeon
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Molu, affiliated with the Demon Realm Merchant Guild.
After finishing all her preparations, she set off toward the dungeon assigned to her.
Moving didn't mean walking on foot.
Guild merchants used pre-installed teleports to travel easily and swiftly.
Dungeons were scattered across the continent.
Meanwhile, the Demon Realm Merchant Guild naturally existed in the Demon Realm to the north of the continent.
What if a dungeon was far from the Demon Realm?
From a human perspective, merchants were monsters too.
The merchant would likely be subjugated before even reaching the dungeon.
That was why the guild had devised teleports.
Thanks to them, the guild could trade with dungeons everywhere on the continent.
Molu also arrived at her destination using instantaneous teleportation.
'It looks like a completely ordinary dungeon...'
That was her first impression upon seeing it.
If she hadn't seen the document marking the location, she might have mistaken it for a simple cave.
No, it was so naturally concealed by vines that she could have passed right by without realizing it was even a cave.
Here, Molu latched onto one key fact.
This deal had been initiated by the dungeon side contacting the guild first.
By tearing a guild black card, no less.
There were two main ways dungeons and the guild conducted trades.
The dungeon tore a black card to signal their intent, or the guild discovered a new dungeon's location and visited directly.
The guild's intelligence network was formidable, so most dungeons reported to them in real time.
Even newborn ones that had just come into existence.
The document even noted the guild's assessment that the dungeon assigned to Molu was also a recent newborn.
One question arose.
'Where on earth did they get the black card?'
A newborn dungeon the guild hadn't detected first.
Yet it had a black card right from the start—that was far from ordinary.
Or perhaps the dungeon's master had run another dungeon in the past.
Of course, the guild would have picked up on that too.
'Can it really be hidden this perfectly?'
The dungeon was concealed with cunning precision.
It appeared as an ordinary cave, meticulously veiled by vines.
Like a predator lying in wait, breath held, with prey right before its eyes.
Her thoughts reached that point, and chills ran down Molu's spine. The dungeon assigned to her might not be ordinary at all.
Honestly, when it was first handed to her, she'd thought it would be ordinary at best.
For someone like her, who had even braced for the worst possibilities, that was natural.
Who would assign a prime dungeon to her?
Molu was born of a succubus and a human.
Even with human blood mixed in, she'd faced heavy discrimination within the guild.
She couldn't leave the guild, either.
She had already been cast out from her succubus kin, so departing the guild would leave her without refuge.
Thus, Molu viewed this assignment as her chance to build a career.
The issue was that the one who had assigned her this new dungeon was her superior.
Her boss was a succubus, just like her.
The difference? Molu was a half-succubus tainted by human blood, while her boss, Juwell, was a pureblood succubus.
That was the problem.
Juwell despised her.
Molu was the wretched product of a succubus stooping to seduce a pathetic human.
She saw it as a stain on succubus blood, so there was no way she'd view Molu favorably.
Molu knew this full well, so she hadn't dared hope for a decent dungeon.
Still, it was the first dungeon assigned to her since joining the Demon Realm Merchant Guild.
She had vowed to give her all, no matter what she got.
But putting it all together, the odds were high this wasn't ordinary.
Molu took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The moment she entered the interior, her suspicions solidified into certainty.
"The inside is surprisingly spacious...?"
From outside, it had looked like a small cave.
Yet within, a long passage stretched deep underground.
No ordinary newborn dungeon could boast such a layout.
'Did they expand it already?'
If so, how?
Even expanding a dungeon took considerable time.
And even if it wasn't newborn, the mere fact of evading the guild's notice made this no trivial matter.
Not long after Molu began walking, a monster appeared.
"Clack."
"Clack clack."
It was a skeleton.
Not much in terms of combat strength.
She scanned around for any other deployed monsters, but that was the extent of it.
"You've come from the guild?"
A seductive voice echoed from somewhere.
Molu turned toward the source.
There stood a being as alluring and beautiful as her voice.
She radiated an extraordinary presence at a glance.
'No way... a succubus?'
If she was, the deal might go south.
Even her own succubus superior disliked her, and this one seemed far higher in stature.
The chances of her taking a liking to Molu approached zero.
Still, it was her assigned dungeon.
Molu cast aside stray thoughts and offered a greeting.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Molu, a merchant with the Demon Realm Merchant Guild."
As she spoke, Molu stole a glance ahead.
'Why is she dressed like a maid?'
Ah, could it be that kind of taste?
To siphon essence from human men...?
Molu's cheeks flushed for an instant.
A mere flicker.
She quickly regained her composure and pressed on.
"I'm here to meet the dungeon's master..."
But Molu's words cut off midway.
The figure ahead had pressed a finger to her lips with a soft "shh."
"Sorry for interrupting, but the one who rules this place is someone else. I'm merely their servant."
"Pardon?"
Molu blinked.
The dungeon's master was someone else?
"Ah, my introduction was tardy. I'm Celia. Rest assured—no issues here. I've been granted full authority over dungeon matters, so our trade will proceed smoothly."
The name was Celia.
She claimed to hold all authorities from a separate dungeon master.
How much was truth?
Was there really another master?
She'd heard of dungeon masters who bluffed to inflate their value.
A ploy to gain leverage in guild deals.
But did this dungeon need such tactics?
Just Celia alone exuded tremendous presence.
To the point she seemed a match for a succubus queen.
What shortage would prompt bluffing?
If true, and a separate master existed, the potential here was immense.
That doubt resolved another.
'So the dungeon master's taste runs to maid outfits?'
Well, hardly crucial.
What nagged was her superior Juwell, who had tipped her off to this place.
'Maybe Juwell actually likes me?'
Assigning her a dungeon like this?
Of course, no leaping to conclusions yet.
High potential or not, to the guild, a good dungeon was one that spent big.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Molu of the guild. Lacking as I am, for your dungeon mas... er..."
"Just Celia is fine. Hehe."
"Ah, right! I'll do everything to ensure Celia has a seamless transaction!"
Fortunately, Celia showed no rejection.
With that aura, she surely knew of Molu's human-tainted blood.
After the reintroduction, Molu continued.
"Every item our guild handles is top quality—we stake our name on it. Anything Celia needs, just say the word."
Introductions complete.
Now, proper business could begin.
Since Celia had summoned the guild, she spoke first.
"I'm looking to expand the dungeon, but as you can see, we're desperately short on labor."
Indeed, just a handful of skeletons here.
Labor shortage? Molu's role was to recommend monsters.
"Ah! Two options for that. Hire specialist artisan monsters, or bring in slave monsters. Opt for the former, and..."
Molu's explanation flowed on.
Benefits offered, price matching limits, and more.
Dungeons seeking expansion were a dime a dozen.
The guild had bred monsters with expert skills to meet that demand.
Specialists couldn't be bound to dungeons, though—temporary hires at a premium.
Prices went without saying.
Conversely, the guild's slave monsters came from other dungeons failing to pay debts, compensated in flesh.
Abilities varied wildly, but they could bind to dungeons—solid value.
"Hmm. Tough choice."
Celia had decided but feigned deliberation.
Hiring artisans meant swift progress. Costly? Top-grade magic stones overflowed—no concern.
Issue: artisans were guild-tied.
Risk of the dungeon's guts spilling out.
Guild wouldn't broadcast it, but exposure was a major liability.
Not that Celia cared.
The current layout was dead simple anyway.
Artisans could frame it up, easing later hands-on work.
Above all, the merchant Molu—a fellow succubus—stirred fondness.
Human blood or no, irrelevant to Celia.
Fondness led her to reveal just a sliver of her gaugeless aura.
Dungeon stealth effect.
She could conceal it anytime; guild artisans posed no threat.
Slave monsters offered value.
Work detail by day, defense by night.
But mediocrity—did her master need rabble?
Of course not.
One clear answer.
"I'll hire your guild's skilled artisans."
Celia smiled and added,
"Also need monsters for dungeon defense. Got a catalog?"
As she spoke, Celia cracked open her magic stone pouch.
'Jackpot...'
Molu's eyes caught the purple glint of top-grade magic stones.
The real deal.
Now she was certain.
This dungeon was a goldmine.
Indisputable.
Molu whipped out catalogs on the spot.
Normally, 2-star max, 3-star tops—but that was for average joints.
Not here.
This was Molu's big break.
Courting favor early? Smart play.
"And I'd like to sell a human I caught yesterday. Can we deal?"
Molu paused at Celia's query.
Humans glutted the guild.
High demand, myriad sources.
Guild didn't lack, but this place? Future VIP.
Personal funds if needed.
"Absolutely. How many?"
Molu greenlit it; Celia grinned, fetching the human.
Molu admired the truly bewitching smile, then glanced at the human.
"..."
This was insane.
She nearly blurted it aloud.
The sight was that staggering.
He thought it was just an ordinary human, but it turned out to be a Holy Knight.
A Holy Knight with a content expression, lying there with no wounds.
"Seems like he's dreaming."
Captured pristine, unscratched.
He was even captured in such a pristine state using succubus abilities.?
This had to be purchased without question.
"He's preserved in such a perfect condition! We will purchase him under the best conditions from the market. What about the equipment the Holy Knight was wearing
The Holy Knight possessed a standard-issue holy sword.
Even though it was an imitation of the church's relic 'Holy Sword,' its power was remarkable.
If a regular monster tried to use it, the monster would likely perish first.
In the end, it was an item she didn't need.
Altar-offer to master? Joy?
Celia shook her head.
Her master was exalted.
No true holy sword? Just a stick to him.
"Selling the sword too."
With that, Celia and Molu's trade kicked off in earnest.