Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: The Banquet Begins
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A single carriage pushed its way through the mountain slope.
Inside that carriage sat a woman in a black dress, elegantly poised.
Her hair, glowing with a greenish light, swayed as it radiated a subtle, ethereal beauty.
"Ahh, this is so boring. Are we still far from the meeting place?"
She let out a sigh laced with complaint.
She had already been sitting inside the carriage for hours.
If the interior had been comfortable, it might have been bearable.
But even now, the carriage jolted violently as it pressed forward.
It wasn't due to poor craftsmanship.
The path she was traveling was a mountain road.
A particularly steep one at that, with terrain so uneven it was riddled with rocks and tree roots.
Because of this, the carriage gave a massive lurch right then.
"Hey, damn it! Can't you drive this thing properly?!"
The rough ride was only natural.
"My apologies."
The woman was venting her frustration at the coachman for no good reason.
The coachman bowed his head and offered a calm apology before gently tugging the horse's reins.
But that was all.
"Please bear with it, Lady Arcaneya. We'll arrive shortly."
Then another voice spoke up from inside the carriage.
This one belonged to yet another woman, who addressed the one across from her as "Lady Arcaneya" with utmost respect.
"Fine. I'll hold out for your sake, Stia."
Arcaneya and Stia.
At first glance, they could pass for a typical noble lady and her devoted maid.
But they were no nobles.
Nor were they ordinary humans to begin with.
For starters, the tongues that flicked out whenever they spoke were anything but normal.
Their tongues were long and slender, forked at the tip like a snake's.
And that was just the beginning.
Their skin gleamed with a scaly sheen, giving it a firm yet sleek texture.
One might even find it alluring on its own, but the real issue lay below the waist.
Their lower bodies weren't human legs—they were serpentine tails.
That's right.
Upper bodies of alluring women, lower bodies of snakes.
They were lamia, monsters blending human and serpent features in perfect harmony.
Arcaneya was the master of the Lamia Dungeon.
And as its lord, she was en route to the social gathering hosted by the Demon Realm Merchant Guild.
Stia, seated before her, was the dungeon's lieutenant, accompanying her master purely to attend to her needs.
"Still, it's not so bad. The mountain air near the Demon Realm always feels so refreshing."
Arcaneya leaned her head out the window.
As always, the air in the mountains bordering the Demon Realm carried a sweet tang.
Even at the mountain range's outskirts, it was leagues beyond the air near her own dungeon.
'How nice it would be to have a dungeon here.'
Being close to the Demon Realm would mean all sorts of benefits in dealings with the Merchant Guild.
No extra shipping fees tacked onto item prices due to distance.
But reality was far less accommodating.
Her dungeon was nowhere near the Demon Realm—or even this mountain range.
Vast as the mountains were, this was the only viable gateway to the Demon Realm.
Nor were the mountains the sole borderlands adjacent to it.
A massive lake lay alongside the range, but crossing it was far too perilous.
'Lake Diyat...'
A vast lake supplying the finest ingredients.
Yet no one knew what lurked beneath its surface.
Even the Demon Realm Merchant Guild avoided traversing it.
Crossing it alone would slash transport times dramatically, but they never did.
"Tch."
In the end, she was the one left wanting.
Of course, the guild's technology was advanced, and they possessed plenty of artifacts.
With dimension-spanning artifacts, trade could be effortless—but those were reserved for VIPs, and she knew she didn't qualify.
"I need to expand the dungeon faster."
Then the guild would pay her dungeon more mind.
And if she could prove her worth at this social, all the better.
As Arcaneya mulled over a hopeful future, the carriage came to an abrupt halt.
"What the—! Can't you drive this thing prop—"
She was about to yell in frustration when she sensed something outside.
"My apologies. It seems we have some uninvited guests. We'll handle it swiftly in the Merchant Guild's name."
The coachman bowed once more.
He was guild-affiliated.
This was nothing they couldn't dispatch in moments.
As Arcaneya settled in to wait, voices rang out from beyond the carriage.
"Don't make this harder on yourselves—just pay the toll and be quick about it!"
"Yeah, hand over everything you've got, and we'll let you keep your lives. Heh."
Arcaneya peered out through the small window.
A group of humans—nine in total.
Their gear looked shabby; no adventurers among them.
Just common bandits preying on mountain travelers.
"!"
The bandits spotted Arcaneya peeking through the small window as well.
Their faces lit up the instant they saw her.
"Ho, looks like a fine catch riding in there. Some noble lady, huh?"
"This carriage screamed high-class. Looks like we hit the jackpot."
"I call dibs on that bitch first! Dibs!"
As they shouted hysterically, the coachman began to rise from his seat.
"Hold it. I've been bored anyway—this is perfect timing."
Arcaneya stopped him and flung open the carriage door, stepping out.
"Wh-what the hell?!"
The bandits yelped in shock at her bold emergence.
Not because she'd come out so readily, but because her lower body was unmistakably inhuman.
No matter how ignorant of monsters, no one could miss a serpentine tail for legs.
"Sh-shit! It's a monster! Everyone, run!"
One cry ignited the panic, and they all spun and bolted.
Arcaneya watched their fleeing backs and muttered softly.
"Tch, no fun."
A smile crept across her lips as she lowered her body slightly.
Her green eyes locked onto each escaping prey.
Calculations complete, she shot forward.
Her serpentine torso glided smoothly across the ground.
No one could outpace her agile rush.
The seven fleeing bandits were caught in moments, pathetically so.
They froze only after her venom sank into their napes.
One swung a weapon, but it couldn't pierce her scaled skin.
"Urgh... Ack!"
In the end, every last one succumbed to Arcaneya's poison.
Feeling their bodies stiffen, they despaired.
Soon devoured by the monster—they shut their eyes in terror.
The whole ordeal lasted mere minutes.
"...Way too easy."
Arcaneya shoved the paralyzed bandits into her mouth whole.
While she savored her meal, Stia neatly stacked the remaining two inside the carriage.
The road ahead was long.
They'd serve as minor entertainment for Arcaneya along the way.
Tending to her master's moods was a lieutenant's duty too.
After the brief commotion, the carriage resumed its journey.
Boredom and tedium returned once more.
Time dragged on like this.
Before long, her carriage entered the Demon Realm.
The destination was near.
Excitement stirred within her.
"I wonder who'll entertain me this time?"
Just thinking about it thrilled her.
The venue hosting the social gathering brimmed with abundant mystery and unique beauty.
The ceiling resembled a night sky, darkness twinkling with starlight.
All magic, yet so intricate it felt like gazing at the heavens.
Tall marble pillars upheld the ceiling, fostering a serene atmosphere amid ornate candelabras and golden carvings.
Sumptuous tables bore exotic delicacies.
Guild monsters in tailcoats approached guests with smiles, offering drinks.
In one corner, artistic music elevated the splendor.
The performers were human, not monsters—and none looked well.
Bruises marred their faces and bodies; shackles bound their legs.
A single mistake meant no future, so they poured their souls into the performance.
Of course, no one paid it any mind.
Guests simply feasted freely, acclimating to the vibe.
As the mood peaked...
"Welcome, everyone! Thunderhead extends his deepest gratitude for your precious time."
A man strode to the center.
A hulking figure with deep brown skin; his presence alone exuded raw strength.
Having introduced himself as Thunderhead, he continued.
"First, it's an honor to share this special moment with you all."
"This exchange is a unique opportunity to forge alliances between dungeons, create new challenges and experiences."
Thunderhead raised a liquor-filled glass for a sip.
"A modest feast awaits you. Indulge freely, mingle as you please."
"Introduce your dungeons, form bonds, trade goods and items— that's what this is for. Kahaha."
Clink!
"One rule: no taking lives. Violators go straight to the Merchant Guild's blacklist, no exceptions. Otherwise, do as you will."
Extreme terms.
Injuries? Overlooked. Lives? Off-limits.
Everyone who knew the blacklist's weight listened intently.
"Of course, the banquet features events—like dungeon showdowns? Save your strength for those, eh?"
Hahaha.
Laughter echoed in agreement.
This wasn't the guild's first social; its history ran deep, so even newcomers had heard tales.
Like prizes for showdown victors or the auction's rare wares—open secrets.
"We hope to forge new ties here and march toward a brighter future together."
"Enjoy yourselves as the Demon Realm Merchant Guild's exchange begins!"
Thunderhead's words ignited vigorous music.
The true social had begun.
The Arch Lich seated nearby listened raptly.
Clack!
The Arch Lich nodded while scribbling in his notebook.
Azmo beside him admired the surroundings.
"The Demon Realm Merchant Guild truly is remarkable."
Azmo was entranced by the atmosphere.
Earth had no such system.
Dungeons survived solo there.
Here on the Eldorado Continent, a guild nurtured them—mind-blowing, even if "nurture" meant trade.
Clack clack.
The Arch Lich addressed Azmo.
Time to split and act independently.
"Indeed, that seems wise. I'll scout elsewhere and rejoin later."
Azmo agreed and moved off.
The Arch Lich remained, still writing.
Then someone approached the lone Arch Lich.
Clack.
A skeleton.
An ordinary one, not particularly strong.
Likely a lieutenant tagging along.
With that thought, the Arch Lich ignored it, eyes on his notebook.
Thud.
"?"
The skeleton placed something before the Arch Lich.
A gleaming, high-quality diamond.
The Arch Lich closed his notebook.
Right—the banquet's point was inter-dungeon mingling.
Such connections could prove useful someday.
He glanced around.
No Azmo in sight.
Nod.
The Arch Lich nodded once and pocketed the diamond.