SWNOVELXO Chapter 129
– 1 –
“You’ve worked hard.”
Zarkra’s daughter, named Berggrisa.
Under the guidance of the heir to the Dungeon, I gathered everything that needed to be collected within her dungeon and returned to my own dungeon.
“It wasn’t a big deal. Thank you. And, um…”
“I will soon deliver your parents’ corpses.”
“Y-yes…”
The bodies of Zarkra and Hira Jull were quite damaged due to the necessities of the battlefield.
There was no need to show their children how badly they had been mutilated.
Looking at Evangeline, she nodded as if she understood.
Even though she hadn’t said anything yet.
Trusting her, I quickly turned my gaze elsewhere.
‘Not too shabby.’
The main harvest was Zarkra’s core and Berggrisa herself, but there were various mystical potions and tomes that Zarkra had been researching, so it wasn’t such a bad loot after all.
Additionally, among them were books containing knowledge from other realms.
“Just opening these would corrupt the minds of ordinary summons or humans. I could manage reading them, but Xue and Lan…”
“Is that so…?”
“Yes. The knowledge from other realms is quite dangerous.”
“Hmm.”
When I see it myself, I can’t grasp the level of risk, and ironically, it makes their actual abilities seem diminished.
I should keep these in my personal room, not the library.
After all, these are books only I should see in my dungeon.
Swish!
Hearing the sound of magic activation, I looked up to see Xue and Sonia returning.
They had just returned from Melzeros’ dungeon.
“Weren’t there any other heirs or factors involved?”
“There were just rebellious ones… so I took care of them.”
“Master, I found quite a few strange books instead…”
Now that I think about it, there must have been books containing foreign knowledge over there as well.
Just in case, I decided to issue a strong warning.
“Don’t even think about opening them. If you do, you’ll never see me again. In a bad way.”
“Y-yes?”
Upon hearing my words, Sonia’s face went blank, while Xue wore a triumphant look as if to say, ‘I prevented her from seeing it.’
Skeletons were seen stacking the loot they brought from Melzeros’ dungeon.
“Don’t even think about opening them until I classify them and let you know.”
I ordered them to bring all the books containing knowledge from other realms to my personal room.
However, I couldn’t thoroughly verify the degree of danger alone, so it would be best to consult with Evangeline or mages armed with magical tools resistant to corruption.
And Evangeline had the most work to do in my dungeon.
So.
“Jinkyung.”
I decided to put to use the person who had only contributed to the dungeon’s combat strength so far.
“When we return, receive artifacts from Eve. There are things to research together.”
– Me?
“Yes.”
With a puzzled expression at being referred to and Sonia looking a bit disappointed,
I gestured to my student and reached out to pat her head as she approached.
“These are dangerous books. If you mess up, you could die. Just wait.”
“Ah, I see… I understand.”
Nodding as if she got it, she then began to look at Jinkyung with worry.
She was quite the overly concerned type.
“There are many things even I can’t understand.”
Seeing Sonia’s gaze caused Jinkyung, who seemed oddly anxious, to stand still, and I turned my head to check other loot.
Perhaps, since they had more experience as dungeon lords than I, there were quite a few items I didn’t know.
“I’ll classify it and call in the merchants.”
I simply nodded at Lan’s report.
Ordinary materials could just be stacked away, so the ones needing classification were relatively few overall.
She would quickly sort and organize them.
– Master!
“Come here.”
With the classification of items left to my people, I approached with Mary on my shoulder.
Evangeline remained behind to sort, and Xue naturally stayed back as a guard with an axe.
The ones at my destination were the defeated troops, who were now lost regarding what to do next.
It was the direction of the Were Dragon Quirisia and her subordinates.
“Lady Quirisia. Our pact has been fulfilled.”
“Lady Libertus… congratulations on your victory.”
Quirisia tried to maintain a dignified posture, but at the same time, there was little authority in her demeanor.
Most importantly, she couldn’t make eye contact, which negates any claim of dignity.
‘It’s only natural.’
She likely understood that the real strength of my dungeon meant her surrender didn’t even register as necessary.
Force is a much better value among the demon clans, whose instincts are stronger than those of humans.
I said nothing critical to her and simply did what I had to do.
“Take these with you.”
It was the distribution of loot.
After all, we had formed a temporary alliance.
If I let her return empty-handed like this, she would undoubtedly lose a great deal of standing within the Grand Duke’s forces, and in the worst-case scenario, might get expelled.
In that case, it would certainly not sit well with my tastes. After all, it was happening due to my schemes.
I had already consumed all the brutalities that needed to be executed today.
“These too.”
“Are you giving me these books?”
“Of course. If you show them to Duke Astaroth, they can certainly serve as a reason for this venture.”
Though it was only a small number I was handing over, some of them felt like foreign books containing relatively less important knowledge.
They were the knowledge bestowed to his subordinates by Dantalion, who dubbed it as secret.
It would be sufficient to earn the favor of another Grand Duke’s forces.
However, it seemed she was more surprised by my attitude than by the books.
“You’re treating a Grand Duke… so casually.”
“I don’t serve him, and he’s just the lord of an enemy I see no need to be formal with.”
“… Huh.”
Her eyes, colored with strangeness and a bit of fear, tinged with surprise, but I ignored her and looked around her forces.
A legion primarily consisting of ocean-type Were Beasts.
Just a glance revealed which parts needed reinforcement.
“I’ll also send some of Melzeros and Zarkra’s combatants for support. That should help strengthen your position in the Grand Duke’s forces.”
“Why go that far?”
“You should know without me saying.”
Upon hearing my words, she tightly shut her eyes and opened them again, and after a moment, she replied.
“I can’t come out on my own.”
“You don’t need to.”
She gave a strange expression as if her pride had been wounded upon hearing my refusal.
Was I too firm with my response?
“Wasn’t it your magic realm that was trying to draw me in?”
“Isn’t your dungeon quite far from mine? The benefits gained from that would be minimal. Let’s just maintain contact.”
This move was merely a reprieve for her future, but a part of it was genuine.
Her dungeon is located on an island at the northeastern tip of the Eastern Continent.
My dungeon is situated in the center of the continent, so unless I held at least the influence of a nation, bringing her in as a ‘maid’ would be of no use.
In fact, it would only complicate matters. The defense lines would spread too thin.
“Is that really true?”
“Then?”
“… Huh. I understand. If there’s news that seems important to you, I will pass it on.”
“That will do.”
Upon nodding, a relieved expression appeared on her face, and she opened a gate.
After facing the defeat and surrender, I imagine she had braced herself for becoming my maid or, at worst, facing death, so it would be a sort of joy to escape that fate.
“Well then… I shall take my leave.”
“Okay. Next time, I will invite you to a tea party, so do try your best to come.”
“A tea party? … It seems like you’re not just human in appearance.”
At my plain words, she looked as if she had heard something quite bizarre.
Although she held the title of a “Baron,” her attitude suggested she had never contemplated human culture.
To be fair, human culture has been more actively flowing toward the demon realm.
They can import directly from anywhere on the continent, but on the surface, they’re blocked by the front lines.
“Don’t want to?”
“No. I will come. I’ll await the news.”
“Alright. Safe travels.”
– Farewell!
As Quirisia and her subordinates stepped through the gate, receiving our goodbyes, I caught a glimpse of the dungeon’s appearance on the other side, which resembled a cave reflecting the color of the sea.
“Was it really necessary to let her go alive…?”
“Now there should be at least a couple of forces formed from the Grand Duke who will be wary of me or her subordinates. One side must be alive to leave room for cooperation.”
Building a frontline on both sides is a foolish endeavor.
This time, it was merely due to the weakness of the members that I survived, but I had no intention of forgoing any of their troubles myself.
Maybe later it will be a different story.
‘Perhaps I can use her as an internal bomb.’
I never promised to let her live in the first place.
I only said, ‘If she stays like this, she will die.’
So even if she goes back and incites the wrath of Astaroth or other senior dungeon lords and dies, that wouldn’t be my fault.
Anyway.
“Though I didn’t intend to, having defeated three dungeon lords of the same tier at once… I can’t hide from attention from the surface realm anymore.”
Whether my subordinates are watching because they think it’s significant enough to report to the Grand Duke or not,
It’s guaranteed that the level of attention directed at me will increase.
‘And the behind-the-scenes work accompanying it will grow stronger.’
For the magical realm to act directly, it’s still a small dungeon and its lord.
While it might be larger in reality, my dungeon’s authority can’t compare to those who have been renowned as the surface magical realms for decades.
At least one of them had to be given the potential to become an ally.
“… I will grow to a size that doesn’t even need that.”
That seemed to annoy Xue.
She spoke with such earnestness.
“Thank you. Always.”
“Not at all…”
– Grrr…
As I stroked her head and ears, she let out a purring sound, clearly feeling better.
– I will grow! Master! Me too!
“Hehe. Alright.”
After giving Mary’s head a scratch too, I returned to my personal chamber.
Now the rest is up to my subordinates to sort out.
There was no point in my presence at the site.
“Berggrisa. Follow me.”
“Yes, Lady.”
I also wanted to see those foreign books once.
– 2 –
“I told you not to even open these… and I said this one is good for an introductory book.”
With the help of Berggrisa, who had received knowledge from her mother, I organized the books of Zarkra and Melzeros according to their levels.
This woman, with skin of deep green and robust muscles yet a graceful appearance close to that of humans, held a decorum and wisdom that contradicted her looks and skin.
She probably took more after her father in personality compared to her mother.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. Is there anything else you need help with?”
“I don’t need your help. Is there nothing you wish to request of me? You’ve worked hard, so I should reward you.”
Upon my question, she pondered for a moment, then cautiously voiced one request.
“… I’d like a personal room.”
“That’s only natural.”
She looked incredulous at this answer.
After all, she must have seen the sights in Zarkra’s dungeon.
It’s not common for dungeon lords to provide personal rooms to subordinates.
‘Typically, summons don’t need ‘privacy.’
But to me, it’s only given that I aim to supply personal rooms to all of my summons.
Giving a personal room to her, who would become a special subordinate, was exceedingly reasonable.
I kept silent, having no intention to explain all this, and soon she proposed another request.
“Can I study my mother’s knowledge…?”
“That won’t do. It’s too dangerous.”
The foreign knowledge has proven to be incredibly hazardous in both Zarkra and Melzeros’ cases.
Furthermore, it’s something that can’t be grasped through mere learning, and the processes of learning it are quite perilous.
It’s not something to be entrusted to the inexperienced, especially to someone like her, who has neither credibility nor reliability.
“Then… I have nothing.”
“Right. I’ll set it aside, so think about it calmly.”
– Kiya…!
As she nodded her head, she opened one of the books she had called an ‘introductory book,’ and as soon as she opened it, a tentacle sprang out and retreated as it sensed my power.
Indeed, the foreign magical tomes seem to be directly connected to the foreign realms.
“I had a headache just from looking at it, but it seems the foreign power has no hold on you, Lady.”
“Yes. It’s quite fascinating.”
“… But may I ask why you’re not permitted to study it? I mean, it’s not something that requires keeping.”
As I focused on the book, another careful question came from her.
I simply opened my mouth to answer.
I was a captive, so is it not permissible to write as I please?
“My possession.”
“What?”
“And I’m a wise owner. I dislike damaging my belongings.”
“…”
“So you focus on learning only what I’ve filtered out. That alone should provide you with some help. If you don’t have anything to ask, then you may leave. I want to continue reading.”
“… Yes.”
Her gentle but firm dismissal made her rise, bow deeply, and withdraw.
I felt as if she had shown a bit more decorum than usual, but I put that thought aside and concentrated on the books.
Clack.
Now alone in the space, I set aside the ‘introductory book’ and picked out one of the ‘dangerous things.’
The book classified as dangerous by Zarkra had a cover and vibe that seemed far less threatening than others.
Of course, I knew.
That the real deadly poisons should be mixed among the seemingly mundane to be truly lethal.
Huff…!
As I activated my magic and opened the book, I felt a ‘gaze’ from beyond.
– “.”
An indescribable will was felt.
A sensation of… goodwill intermingled.
Yet that goodwill was undoubtedly vile enough to destroy those who see and feel it, as if a elephant didn’t concern itself with the plight of an ant.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t beyond my coping skills.
‘Weaker than a Demon Lord.’
I could even afford to linger on such sentiments leisurely.
Suddenly, confidence surged within me that even if I welcomed the Demon Lord’s real form now, I wouldn’t feel the same overwhelming pressure as before.
It seems only normal not to feel the same pressure after just one step up and perfecting it.
Yet I did not think that was wrong.
“Who are you?”
– “.”
“… I still can’t understand. I guess I’ll have to see you next time.”
I concluded my audience with the foreign being that sent me a feeling of ‘regret.’
It appears I should start reading from the ‘introductory book’ gradually.
At least, I should be capable of conversing before delving into the knowledge beyond.
Swoosh…!
After fitting all the foreign books into one of the empty shelves, I layered several security spells over it.
I sealed it meticulously, and thus the only ones who can see it in the dungeon are myself.
In various movies, there’s one scene I truly loathe.
It’s the scene where an unqualified person pulls out an ancient book or a forbidden tome and causes an incident.
“Master…?”
“Xue?”
I turned my body to follow the voice, spotting a wolf-human woman shyly peeking her upper body in through the door.
It seems she was hesitating about whether to come in after seeing that I was doing something.
“Come in.”
As I said this while gesturing, Xue walked in, smiling softly.
Her footsteps were nearly silent, and from her back, a white and luscious tail swayed cheerfully, albeit gently.
Considering her usually energetic movements, it was quite uncharacteristic.
“What’s the matter?”
“That is…”
As she approached me and knelt down gracefully, I couldn’t find any trace of the warrior she had been in the daytime.
In such a position, she buried her face into my lap and acted cute, prompting me to scratch her nape.
In truth, I had already sensed what thoughts she had come here with.
While we weren’t bonded through a summons contract, I understood her feelings.
“Don’t worry for no reason. Even if I’m not the person you know, I don’t fear your cruelty and ferocity.”
The desire to ‘look beautiful.’
It’s an emotion close to the instinct of all sentient beings to worry about how they appear to those they care for.
This speaks of a different dimension from the trust and credit held toward someone.
I had been the same way in the past.
And I remain so even now.
“You’re certainly my master…”
With a pleasant smile, Xue rubbed her face against my skirt.
Fearing that her face might get damaged, I changed into the comfortable attire I usually wore in my personal room.
Upon doing so, Xue raised her head, apparently reminded of something else.
“Ah, right. Master…”
“Yes. Speak.”
“I got a reply from the necromancer I contacted before.”
“Oh.”
At her words, which she accompanied with a kiss to my wrist, a delightful smile spread across my face.
This was about the necromancer who had offered to help discuss the development of magic for communication with the summons.
“I see. Did you come to relay that?”
“Yes… They said they’d come tomorrow or the day after. Should I tell them to come?”
“Yes. It’d be great if they come soon. Thank you for your efforts.”
“It’s nothing… really.”
After that, I spent personal time with Xue.
Until Evangeline came to report that the loot organization was complete, and we began a playful staring contest.