After absorbing the power that Damon had, the dungeon experienced an unprecedented boom.
At first, resources were invested into the damaged dungeon, making a deficit inevitable, but thanks to the supplies obtained by taking three knights as hostages, the situation quickly improved.
When Damon’s dungeon, the second dungeon, was restored, profits more than doubled, and the interior expanded up to the fifth floor.
More than half of the budget was poured into military expenses, and the remaining gold was used to renovate the interior.
An artist imp, introduced through the monster agency, oversaw the construction.
“Such shabby stone walls, is this a prison or what? Cover the wall over there with smooth obsidian tiles and make use of the reflected light. Change the tables from cheap wood to luxurious marble. And get rid of those tacky torches and put in magical lights.”
As the dungeon grew to the size of a mid-sized company, Rupia also changed.
“Heh, I don’t need to hide cream buns on the throne anymore…!”
Rupia smiled, tapping the snack warehouse I had built for her. In front of the warehouse, the warning “Don’t touch Rupia’s stuff” was scrawled in crooked letters.
Inside, there were enough cream buns and other snacks to last a year.
“While you’re eating, could you stamp the new monster contracts for me?”
“Got it. Om nom nom.”
While munching on a cream bun, Rupia stamped the paper I held out without hesitation.
That day, over a hundred different monsters were inducted into the army of the Demon Lord Balotus.
I deployed them based on their abilities and checked the territory I had worked on previously.
Just then, Sofien returned, bringing the sword that had been confiscated last time.
“Phew, my mission ends here, right? I’m going back now. The debt I owed you is paid off.”
Sofien shuddered as if tired of everything. After getting involved with me, she had been caught up in the battle with Lauro, imprisoned in the Empire’s dungeon, and had many unpleasant memories etched into her mind.
“I don’t mind, but are you sure? In the human world, you’d be burned at the stake because of rumors about being allied with Death Knights.”
“…”
“Why don’t you stay in the village I worked on before and help me out there? I’ll make you the village chief.”
“What, help with what?”
Sofien narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She used to faint just by looking at me, but now she was much bolder.
“This village is growing, and I’m willing to take in anyone who can be rehabilitated—whether they’re thieves or vagrants. The most important thing is coexisting with monsters.”
“Are you saying… you’ll release monsters into a human village…?”
“Exactly. You’ve gotten used to monsters by now, so you can help them learn to coexist with each other.”
Sofien widened her eyes in surprise.
“No, no way…!”
“You’re a saint, right? You were with the Barkan Church, right? I checked, and one of their teachings is against discrimination of other races.”
“That’s for elves and dwarves, not monsters…?”
“If it doesn’t exist, then create it. Anyway, didn’t you get excommunicated? I’ve lived with both humans and monsters, and honestly, there’s not much of a difference.”
“…”
Sofien, at a loss for words, finally nodded weakly. For her, there were no other choices.
I then inspected the Demon Lord army’s forces.
“Hm, it’s looking quite well-rounded now.”
Rain, who had been appointed as the commander, and soldiers of various monster species, including golems and orcs, stood proudly.
The once useless Demon Lord army, which couldn’t even catch a single wolf, had now grown into a powerful and organized force.
Above all, there was Rupia’s ability.
“Look closely, General…!”
Sparks of lightning flashed as Rupia realized her power to turn back time.
Though the range was uncertain, it was undoubtedly a power with limitless potential.
Having restored Rupia’s authority as the Demon Lord, it was now time to restore her full abilities.
‘I need to either acquire a large number of magic stones or find a way to fully develop her powers.’
By the way, Lauro, who had been responsible for Rupia’s training, had fled to Raven Gorge as soon as the contract ended. Given that even she couldn’t change Rupia’s stats, it seemed that something was blocking her growth besides magical exhaustion.
Just as I was lost in thought.
“Excuse me, are you there?”
A shady black cat merchant appeared at the dungeon entrance.
Unlike the first time I saw him, his fur was unkempt, and he looked quite shabby.
Of course, that wasn’t my concern.
“After getting scolded, you still came back?”
“Eek! P-please, wait a moment!”
Before I could turn him into butterfly soup, he hurriedly rummaged through his bag and pulled out a letter.
“Oh, I didn’t come to sell anything today! I came to deliver a letter for Rupia!”
“A letter? You’ve worked as a postman too?”
“I do anything that makes money. You were my only regular customer, but you haven’t bought anything lately… Ugh.”
He was basically saying he barely survived by selling things because of me.
Anyway, a letter.
I had never heard of Rupia having any friends. Any bills from Underis would come to me, not her.
Rupia appeared, her short legs walking briskly.
“What, what’s going on…?”
“A letter has arrived for the Lord.”
I handed Rupia a black envelope with an elegant seal.
Curiously, she opened it and immediately froze as if petrified.
“What does it say?”
“I… I’m…”
Tears welled up in Rupia’s eyes as her face turned bright red. Her small shoulders shook, and she couldn’t hold back her sobs.
“I… I’ve been ranked 99th in the Demon Lord hierarchy… I’ve been called to the Demon Lord council…!”
The black curtains hanging from the tall ceiling swayed slightly in the breeze, and the marble floor shone coldly like ice.
The place, where shadows were thick, was submerged in a heavy silence so oppressive that it felt hard to even breathe.
“…My dignity is in tatters.”
Ed Rorden von Barhen.
With a slender figure, strikingly handsome features, and sharp eyes, the Emperor of the Empire spoke coldly from the throne atop a high staircase.
Below, Kyleen, the black-haired knight and the Empire’s Swordmaster, was kneeling.
“The mere fact that a monster stirred up trouble in the middle of the capital is already annoying, and now we’ve even had to pay tribute because of three fools. Isn’t it laughable?”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“I heard that creature even summoned a dragon. Using the dragon’s oath, no less.”
“….”
Kyleen remained silent.
Ed narrowed his eyes.
“Why, Kyleen? Since that day, it seems your mind has been elsewhere. You, who swept through dozens of dungeons with a single command…”
Thud.
Ed descended the steps of the throne and his voice echoed through the empty chamber, crushing Kyleen beneath its weight.
“You, who swore lifelong loyalty to me and kissed my feet, begging to dedicate yourself to the true heir of the fallen kingdom…”
“…”
His footsteps stopped in front of Kyleen.
“You’re wavering. Why?”
Kyleen did not lift her head, remaining silent in a posture that seemed as if she were already dead.
“Do you have no memory of the one who raised you from an ordinary knight to a commander of the Order?”
“…I have not forgotten. Your Majesty’s grace can never be repaid, even until death.”
“The story of the dragon’s oath is just a misrecorded history. After hundreds of years, it’s only natural for there to be mistakes in the records.”
A misrecorded history.
Kyleen closed her eyes, her head still lowered.
“Summoning the dragon was nothing more than a monster’s trick. Don’t be swayed by such deceptions, and trust your own eyes, Kyleen.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Leave.”
As the knight Kyleen left the chamber with heavy footsteps, deep silence consumed the room.
For a moment, a shadow that had blended with the darkness stirred, and the imposing figure of the chancellor quietly emerged.
Ed, staring at the door through which Kyleen had left, spoke in a low voice.
“…The dog I raised no longer wags its tail, and the livestock of the Empire cry day and night, Chancellor.”
Rumors that the Death Knight had summoned a dragon using the late Emperor’s dragon oath had already spread uncontrollably.
Even more absurd tales circulated, claiming that he had founded the Empire. To make matters worse, news spread that they had failed to conquer even one dungeon and had to offer tribute, causing public unrest.
The chancellor of the Yurrendel Empire, Alvesto, spoke.
“The enemy of the chosen people must solely be the monsters. If there is no external enemy, humans will create enemies within.”
“What should be done?”
Alvesto paused for a moment, then bowed his head and spoke in a serious tone.
“Open the Mountain.”
“…!”
The Mountain was a vast place, filled with dormant magical energy, where storms and lightning raged all year round.
Within its deep mines lay countless magic stones and treasures, so many that even the Empire hadn’t managed to find half of them.
Ed narrowed his eyes slightly as he asked.
“Are you suggesting we eliminate the guards defending the Mountain? Do you know how many human territories are near the Mountain?”
“The gods seek it. If the guards disappear, the Demon Lords will naturally flock to the Mountain. Only then will the value of the Order’s knights truly shine. We can remove some of the Demon Lords from the Mountain, and then conquer the empty dungeons. The issue will be solved.”
Alvesto spoke with conviction.
“Since a dragon has invaded the capital, it will suffice to eliminate the guards under the pretext of a strategic repositioning. Some sacrifices from the chosen people are inevitable. None of the previous emperors ruled without sacrifice, Your Majesty.”
Ed nodded thoughtfully.
“…That’s a reasonable suggestion.”
A cruel smile crept onto his face.
“Very well. I’ll open the Mountain. Gather the ministers.”
“I’ll move swiftly.”
The plans were set in motion.