SWNOVELXO Chapter 117
– 1 –
The dungeon call of Solemio Inner Castle began shortly thereafter.
The first thing I did was create a door connected to my dungeon.
Among the two conference rooms in the inner castle, the one on the second floor was reserved for Solemio, while the Grand Conference Room I built in the underground of my dungeon was placed in the first floor conference room, and the corridor in front of my personal room was allocated on the top floor of the lord’s chamber.
After connecting all these, I ensured that passage was possible at any time.
“The door will always be open, so if you want to come, feel free to drop by, Amelia. For you, or even your family.”
“Yes, Master.”
Amelia’s family, including her younger brother, had all become part of my domain, and her parents were allowed to reside in my dungeon.
Naturally, the contracts for all of them had been finalized.
“How do you feel?”
“I feel comfortable, Master.”
“If something new needs to be decided in the future, just ask me. If it’s a decision similar to before, you can make it with reference to the decisions I’ve made. I will take responsibility.”
“Yes…”
Amelia needed time to adjust to her newfound freedom.
“Come follow me shortly.”
“I’ll tidy up and be right there.”
After gently patting Amelia’s head as she ate the grapes I handed her, I moved to the conference room on the first floor of the inner castle.
– 2 –
“Kamaya.”
Preferring to walk rather than use short-range teleportation, I encountered my “friend” on the first floor.
My friend with gigantic wings, who was stubbornly walking on the ground.
“Oh. Libertus. I never knew the castle you spoke of was really a human city.”
Kamaya, speaking with an air of nonchalance, showed no signs of deceit on her face.
It could be one or the other.
Either she was already an excellent actress or she really didn’t expect me to achieve that.
“Your acting skills are impressive, Harpy Queen.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
I believed it was the former.
Despite her massive physique, she had a surprisingly agile side.
“Come here. I must take you to see someone who has achieved remarkable results.”
“Wait…”
This wasn’t expected.
Smiling a small smile that matched her size, Kamaya picked me up in one arm and walked toward the conference room we were originally headed to.
Given the size difference between her and me, it was only possible because of that.
“Please put me down.”
“I just want to express my desire to carry you, so bear with me a little longer, my future Dungeon Lord.”
“Sigh…”
As I leaned comfortably against her, the feathers that were covering her large breast happened to be next to my body.
With no place to hold on, I resigned myself to balancing half-upright on her arm as we moved.
“Your nobility is, indeed, noteworthy.”
“Indeed, you should look up to it.”
“That will happen soon.”
When our eyes met, Kamaya just smiled.
In a bit of mischief, I plucked a feather from her arm.
“My feather is splendid, isn’t it? Next time, I will offer an even more splendid feather.”
But only this kind of reaction came back, so I ultimately gave up.
By the time we entered the conference room on the first floor, the other queens had already arrived.
“Oh my. You two look really close.”
Alraune Queen Nirvana.
“Welcome, Libertus. Kamaya.”
Lamia Queen Echidna.
“It’s good to see you again, Libertus.”
Muirmikian Queen Orea.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Master…!”
And even the current Arachne Queen Fortuna, who is under my command.
“Your place is certainly here.”
Including Kamaya, it made a total of five queens.
Kamaya, still holding me, carefully knelt before the largest seat.
I floated up with the psychic power I had recently gained through magic and took my seat, looking around.
“The Human Castle is so vast. There are incredibly many humans living inside.”
Echidna was expressing curiosity about the Human Castle she was seeing for the first time.
Although she didn’t actively wish to engage with humans, she was interested in their culture.
“You haven’t seen the northern castles yet, Echidna. There are many bigger than this among the Human Castles. Entire cities are surrounded by castles.”
“Really? I want to see them someday…”
“Perhaps in the future.”
Nirvana continued to explain as she looked at Echidna endearingly.
Choosing the first floor Grand Conference Room as the gathering spot with the queens proved worthwhile, as she had also arrived here in her physical form, not just as an image.
However, her form was still semi-naked.
She covered herself with petals and stems of flowers, but it was clear that she wasn’t one to be particular about her appearance.
“It’s good to see you again. Sanme… or is it Fortuna you’ve introduced yourself as?”
“Oh, hello…”
“You still seem timid. From now on, you must carry yourself with the dignity befitting a queen.”
Orea appeared curious about Fortuna, the third daughter of Tigris who became the Arachne Queen, and was engaging her in conversation.
By the power I bestowed, Fortuna had acquired elite-level strength and was another means of legitimizing my authority to the queens.
It conveyed a message: ‘If you follow me, you too can become strong.’
“I’m still just a subordinate who follows Queen Libertus. My dignity comes from her, so my conduct isn’t that important…”
“On that note, Orea is right. Fortuna. When you return, I will have my mentor accompany you, so make sure to at least fix your stuttering habit.”
“Yes, yes… Queen.”
Fortuna responded with a pout while Orea comforted her, and as I turned my gaze around, I noticed…
“Etna! You look healthy these days!”
“It seems I’m less worried lately. I expect it will keep improving.”
“Of course! This gathering is to make things even better!”
“I’m looking forward to it too.”
I also spotted the royal attendants of the queens, including Serha and Etna.
Among them, the second person who caught my attention was the Lizardman chief, who was caressing the wall with an oddly deep expression.
…
Having heard from Echidna, this man named “Zarax” had lost his father to humans, so it wouldn’t be surprising for him to have complex feelings about being in human territory.
Even if that father wasn’t a good being, blood is still blood.
‘Still, if this works out, perhaps he will find a way to alleviate that grudge.’
When I turned my head again, I found Kamaya sitting beside me, looking at me as if inquiring about my intentions.
I gestured to her to stop her actions, then waved my other hand.
It was a gesture to call someone.
“I apologize for being late. Queens.”
“It’s nice to meet you. To the queens of each race.”
The “someone” was Lan and Amelia.
Lan is the Dungeon Lord and also my immediate subordinate.
And Amelia is the lord of the human territory, presently the sole owner of the castle on my land.
If the queens were to come under my command, she would also join their ranks.
Naturally, she was fit to sit at this round table.
“Welcome, Yuran.”
“Good to see you again.”
“Who would have thought the human lord would really be joining us?”
The queens seemed to recognize him as well, and there was no significant discontent among them.
“Attention.”
As Lan and Amelia sat on my right, Kamaya, with the loudest voice among the queens, raised her volume.
As the queens’ gazes gathered, she turned her eyes back to me and displayed a questioning expression.
“Today, we’ve gathered here for a reason that everyone knows.”
Only after I nodded did she continue speaking.
Clearly, she was acting like my direct subordinate, but those present understood it was an advantage of this “first interaction.”
After all, I met her even before Lan.
Hence, she was seated to my left.
“From today, we shall withdraw our one-sided support and serve a singular queen, merging into one body, moving forward with one will toward a singular goal. Should anyone have any objections, speak now.”
This was difficult to contain my laughter at.
I had rarely felt grateful for “nobility” as much as today.
I didn’t expect this to be brought up.
“SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1YWVFL2s2TS9YelIyTEdSQUcrcSs5N1prY2ZuZE5NN0FkU0pRRVdaRVhtRg”
Suppressing a smile barely to a grin, I acknowledged the queens’ expressions.
“…”
None of them stood up to object.
“It seems there are no objections.”
Kamaya nodded and gazed at me intently, silently inquiring for my opinion.
When I once again expressed my agreement, she continued.
“Then, it is time for the words of Queen Libertus, who will now lead us.”
As she finished speaking, I stood up and floated up with magic, landing on the round table.
“First, I would like to point out one thing from the outset.”
As the queens’ gazes rose to mine, I opened the floor for my speech.
“I’m not a queen. Just a Dungeon Lord.”
Meeting their puzzled expressions, I pointed out.
“And neither are you. You merely bear the title of queen as representatives of your races, but in reality, you aren’t royals.”
This might sound like a mere jest, but it was also sincere.
If a lord is termed a king, then it fits that a queen is indeed correct, but the position I desired wasn’t ‘king.’
“You are merely the leaders of groups, whereas I am your owner.”
Not a mere head, lord, or king.
An owner.
Not just someone with nominal ownership.
One who cherishes his possessions, of course.
I am one who manages or removes the causes that would make those possessions not mine.
And one who spares no effort to heighten the value of those I possess.
That’s the sort of being I am.
So,
“You shall call me Master.”
I won’t discourage them from calling me queen or grand duke externally. It’s true that such titles have been solidified by other “seniors.”
But what I wanted wasn’t merely loyalty or family love.
It was either for the subject to offer all that they have.
Or for me to take everything from the subject.
One of the two.
“Yes, Master.”
“That sounds pleasant.”
Thus, I was extremely fond of this title.
I loved being the standard for others.
I loved possessing every emotion, every heart.
I delighted in seeing them enjoy the ‘freedom’ I granted.
“Now heed your master’s first command.”
Turning my body around and scanning the surroundings of the round table, not a single person met my eyes.
They all stood, bowing their heads as low as possible to listen to my command.
“Lift your heads and look up at me.”
“I will not permit you to not make eye contact with me.”
However, that wasn’t what I wanted.
I smiled at those who cautiously lifted their heads to gaze at me.
A genuinely broad smile.
“Let the group thrive and prosper. Fill those mountains and fields.”
“Make yourselves as strong as possible and don’t cease your training or learning. You will face the nobility of the demons alone.”
“Even without separate commands, be diligent and strive to strengthen yourselves. That will bring me joy.”
I would never allow my possessions to be taken away or trampled by others, nor would I let them ruin themselves.
And thus,
“Until all things of this world have fallen into my hands. Do not stop, my possessions.”
“Yes! Master.”
Hearing that response, a genuine smile spread across my face for the first time in a while.
‘This feeling is…’
What filled me was surely a feeling that ought to be termed possession.
“Now, let’s begin the ceremony.”
This place was now my Magical Realm.