SWNOVELXO Chapter 121
– 1 –
“Is that really a thing?”
The war between dungeons I had known and experienced in ‘Mill Don 1′ was merely a full-scale war.
Leading the forces I had built and raised, a clash of power against power with everything on the line.
But according to my close aides, it seems that’s not how things work in this world.
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Ha… Duel of Great Warriors?”
According to Evangeline’s explanation, in this world 200 years later, the “war” between dungeons occurs in three phases.
First, there’s the preliminary battle called the Great Warrior Duel, where individuals favorable for combat are selected.
Then, there’s the small-group battle, featuring elite units below squad level.
Finally, all entities gather for a final full-scale war, making it three phases in total.
“It’s like a game or a test.”
– Game! Test?
“It does seem like the form has diverged somewhat from human warfare.”
As I thought while petting the raven Mary, it made sense.
First impressions aren’t everything, and upon closer inspection, the combat was more brutal than I had expected.
‘For humans, death is the end of everything, but for summons, that’s not the case.’
In Mill Don 1, summons classified as dead from previous attacks only suffered from diminished durability; they could still act in the next round.
Though if their durability was completely depleted, a significant cost in materials and time was necessary for their re-summoning, up until that point, they could recover.
Since this was a world that inherited from a game, there might indeed be a system for revival after death.
This game wasn’t a rogue-like; it was very much a branching game.
“Thinking about it, the battles against dungeon monsters would indeed be more deadly.”
“Yes, indeed.”
Given that, a war extended over three phases was surely a war where the Dungeon Lord had everything on the line, contrary to first impressions.
While regular summons only participated in the full-scale battles, key summons are highly likely to join every conflict.
‘The side that loses in each combat, unless exceptionally lucky, will incur irreversible consequences in the next battle.’
Summons or mercenaries expended in previous battles will struggle to wield their power in the next conflict.
Soon, they could very well face a “true” death.
Experiencing total depletion of durability.
A dungeon losing its main summons would naturally lose its growth potential.
‘Merely being of higher grade, but losing key units even temporarily would be metaphorically the end.’
Even if the core or the Lord isn’t destroyed by the enemy’s mercy, it would ultimately lead to death.
The moment growth falls behind, it becomes a situation where surrounding Dungeon Lords can devour you at any moment.
In such circumstances, if humans were to discover that position, it truly would be over.
“They may have the upper hand, but we must find a way to win.”
So this battle could be said to be a full-scale war for me standing alone but a war of attrition aimed at exhausting their growth potential for them.
“Of course, we will win. Master.”
“Right. Naturally.”
– We’ll win!
Recognizing that, contrary to appearances, this process was indeed a fiercer battle than I had assumed.
That was the reason I decided to converse with one of the enemies, Quirisia.
‘Winning the war is the best plan.’
Of course, the main reason was to dig into the enemy’s weaknesses.
– 2 –
Clink.
“Quite relaxed, aren’t you?”
As soon as the communication screen popped on, the woman’s sharp voice revealed her displeasure.
The image of her enjoying tea and reading in a sunlit library didn’t resemble that of someone poised for war at all.
– I’m relieved to see you unharmed, Lady Quirisia.
She even went so far as to extend greetings to the ‘enemy.’
“Aren’t we past the pleasantries? Lady Libertus, what did you mean in your letter?”
The Dungeon Lord leading the Were Beasts, Quirisia.
She was a humanoid Were Dragon, sporting a tail adorned with scales and fins, along with dainty magical wings relative to her size, exhibiting the features of the “Sea Serpent.”
A naturally beautiful figure, albeit her expression now contorted, revealing a ferocious demeanor.
– It seems you were quite impressed with my letter.
“Ha. If you tried to seduce me with such nonsense, I think you should rethink that, young Dungeon Lord.”
Quirisia scoffed, glaring at Libertus as fiercely as possible, but the “young Dungeon Lord” didn’t miss it.
Her eyes and the corners of her mouth trembled ever so slightly.
She leaned back comfortably in her chair, took a sip of tea, and spoke with a gentle tone while smiling.
– But you came to speak with me, which means you have doubts yourself, don’t you?
“That is….”
Quirisia was momentarily at a loss for words at Libertus’ statement.
She racked her brain for a rebuttal, but it was Libertus who spoke first.
– At this rate, you will die, Quirisia.
Quirisia made an openly incredulous expression.
No matter how she thought about it, it felt like a mere deception.
The one confronted with a crisis posed by three Dungeon Lords of the same rank laments foolishly evading the situation.
Naturally, disappointment surfaced on her face.
“I thought you had the wit to send a request through dungeon merchants, but what are you saying now?”
– I said you will die.
Yet Libertus’ expression remained utterly calm while repeating her earlier words.
“What do you base that on…?”
– Obviously, it’s because you chose your allies poorly.
“…”
Her rough expression and tone had no effect on Libertus, who maintained a demeanor that was exceptionally calm and routine.
That attitude was enough to resurface fears within Quirisia.
What Libertus presented was something Quirisia herself had contemplated at one point.
To her ear, slowly, her words seeped in.
– You know it too, don’t you? You are not a welcome presence among them.
She was under the command of Grand Duke Astaroth of the Abyss, but the other two Dungeon Lords were affiliated with Grand Duke Dantalion of the North.
And all the surface Grand Dukes maintained a rather strained relationship.
They kept watch over one another whenever possible.
– For you to cooperate with them means exposing your being to them.
In such a situation, a Dungeon Lord serving another Grand Duke would appear before the eyes of the other two.
Quirisia herself knew well how she would act in such a scenario.
If there was an opening, she would use it, and if not, she would plot to devour them in any manner possible.
For her, this assault was a hasty decision veiled under the pretext of “loyalty.”
– They surely suggested, “We will support elite troops, why not take the lead and claim the first merits?”
“What do you mean by that…? Cough…!”
Hearing Libertus correctly guess what they proposed, Quirisia revealed her confusion before retreating into silence.
To her, Libertus whispered once more.
– They will stab you in the back whether you win or lose.
– If you take victory from me, you will die at their hands.
– Or else, you will lose to me and die.
– What is the meaning of such meaningless death?
Quiet yet unmistakably, the voice grew the doubts buried within her heart.
Following that rising suspicion, the voice flowed even more subtly.
– Recall. Alone within a dungeon whose name you don’t even know…
“Enough, enough! That’s just speculation!”
Finally, Quirisia shouted in a fit, cutting it off as she heard the voice.
Upon hearing this, Libertus nodded in agreement, smiling even wider.
– Of course, it’s just speculation. But think about it.
“What about…?”
– What you seek to do to me is fundamentally the same.
“Ugh…”
All Dungeon Lords on the surface were, after all, mutually competitors and enemies.
Competitors in the ‘Demon Lord Candidate Selection’ that had spanned over 200 years.
Since moments of memory surfaced, they raced towards a single goal, needing to obstruct and undermine one another.
As time progressed, the most viable opponents emerged, leading to subordinate Dungeon Lords seeking to benefit from their labor at the scraps.
So, it was to be expected that the other two would try to pull Quirisia down.
“What then? If I pull out of here, they will declare war on me instead…!”
– There’s no need to worry about that. Proceed with the offense as planned.
“What…?”
Though her tone remained unchanged, Libertus’ expression had been reduced to stoicism as she issued orders to Quirisia, who merely stared at her in bewilderment.
Libertus manipulated the communication screen to draw her face close, whispering a single statement.
– What you must do is but one thing.
“What is that…?”
In response to her retort, confident she had piqued Quirisia’s interest, Libertus gently narrowed her eyes before she continued.
– It’s simply…
– 3 –
“Will she truly act in that manner?”
It was Sonia’s question as she observed the conversation between Quirisia and me.
To her, I gestured with my hand and spoke.
“It doesn’t matter whether she does or not.”
“Pardon? But…”
My first disciple, seated with her back to me on the floor.
At first glance, she seemed considerably more relaxed, although she maintained a straight posture and kneeled modestly, not forgetting the minimum respect.
“Of course, if she obeys my words, things would certainly become easier. However, even if she doesn’t, I, we will not lose, Sonia.”
“But what if you get hurt…?”
“It’s fine. Trust your master properly.”
“… Yes.”
Nodding at my words, I placed my hand at the back of her head and began channeling my magical energy.
Suddenly, Sonia’s hair began to move naturally along with my magical power, forming shapes according to the actions I envisioned in my mind.
Amelia once told me that using magic for such mundane matters was a ridiculous “waste of prestige.”
Yet for me, using magic for trivial things was purely entertaining, so I didn’t mind.
In fact, I even doubted if the concept of waste applied to magic that refills itself.
“How is it?”
“… I like it. It’s very pretty, Master.”
“Right. Let’s stick with this for a while.”
I divided her magically guided hair into two sections and tied it back up once more.
A common, half-tied braid style.
The iconic hairstyle of the famous Japanese animation’s heroine.
“It looks hard to maintain…”
“Come to me every time it gets messy.”
“Then… wouldn’t that be troublesome?”
“Why would the effort for you be troublesome? Don’t hesitate to come by.”
“… Yes!”
Sonia smiled brighter than usual.
Having spent more time with me recently, her expressions had gradually become more pronounced.
As I stroked my disciple’s head, which had seen more physical affection as of late, I recalled what I had said to Quirisia earlier.
– If you think you’ll lose, surrender.
That was incredibly easy yet challenging for a Dungeon Lord.
Yet within Quirisia’s heart, the seeds of that action had been planted.
‘This is to prevent my own danger.’
A seed of a vine that would help her cross the high wall of pride known as survival instinct.