Strength. If I had to pick a word that’s several times scarier than that, it would be cruelty.
The strong are relaxed, but the cruel are merciless, just as the word suggests.
Strength and cruelty—a combination of the two is nothing less than a calamity that should never be united.
If anyone were to encounter a cruel strongman, they’d all agree it’s best to run away.
But I didn’t even have that luxury.
[Lv. 93]
In the fifth-ranked Hell’s Arsenic, where death breeds decay, the boss Calandas Bon Elderich stood before me.
Is this what a grim reaper who permits life and death looks like?
With Calandas’s appearance, all actions in the arena came to a halt.
The oppressive aura made the air feel heavier, choking the life out of everyone present.
The crowd was so breathless they couldn’t even catch their breath.
All of life and death in this place was held in the grasp of just one person.
“Everyone, bow down! He who governs bones, the Lich King (Calandas Bon Elderich), Lord who defies fate with thousands meet their ends! The boss of the fifth-ranked Hell’s Arsenic, the illustrious Calandas Bon Elderich!”
A ghostly blue light swept across the surroundings.
Those who met his gaze flinched as if struck by a chill.
Is it even possible to feel freezing dread just from being looked at?
When I was a regular worker, I thought the absolute beings in fantasy were just illusions casting a puny ceiling.
Now that it’s become reality, I understand.
Right before my eyes stands not a mere illusion but the real deal.
“O magnificent Lord of the Five Fingers! The humble minions greet the movements of the Lich King!”
The Demon Merchant bowed down so deeply that his forehead nearly touched the ground.
Following him, hundreds of Kobolds, Dwarves, Vampires, Charlotte, and Balmunk—all except me—bent their bodies low.
Those who were already small shrunk down even further before Calandas.
Saaaa—
A corpse-like chill emanated from Calandas’s mouth.
The breath of the dead seemed to choke the living, freezing even the air around us.
The level of the Undead was incomparably beyond what I could fathom.
Calandas leisurely turned his gaze without a hint of response.
Even after a minute had passed, not a single person dared to lift their head.
“What a high waist you have.”
With his first spoken words, Calandas flicked his fingertips.
“Crack—!”
Instantly, a scream followed.
In a perspective that changed in an instant, a Kobold collapsed without a hint of warning.
There was no blood. No wounds. Yet somehow, it felt certain it had become a corpse.
Suddenly, the shadow beneath the corpse vanished.
The shadow of agreement vanished.
As if it were a foreboding sign, the kobold jumped up.
Thud.
The undead kobold bowed its head as if crumbling.
A chilling laughter accompanied by coldness echoed.
“Delightful.”
Before the words could finish, everyone dove down.
Chins lowered, closed eyes cast downward, trembling foreheads bowed.
As hundreds knelt, a thick sandstorm arose.
“…”
Here, what stance should I take?
Honestly, I’d like to bury my head too.
The reason I stood, even after witnessing the kobold’s death, was that Calandas’s purpose for visiting was painfully clear.
“Rise.”
The crowd, cautiously glancing around, began to get back on their feet, and it wasn’t until quite some time later that everyone stood up.
Couldn’t they bear to look at Calandas? Countless gazes turned toward me.
Their attention on me made sense since I had business with them, but I was equally on edge.
It was the moment I accidentally met Calandas’s eyes.
“Oh.”
Instantly, the number 93 turned a faint green.
A sigh of relief escaped me. The sigh transformed into chill, proving my undead status.
“As I’ve heard, you are the Death Knight. Yes, wonder of wonders, are you the master of the new Seven Lairs?”
Calandas extended a bony white hand.
The reason he seemed to take a liking to me was likely twofold.
He saw me as a fellow business partner, the new lord of the Seven Lairs. And my undead kinship probably played a role too.
‘So, let’s not be scared.’
From the looks of it, it was just two bosses of the Seven Lairs facing each other.
Plus, making a big deal out of it would backfire, and if doubts crept in at the last moment, wondering if “this coward is really from the Seven Lairs?” would be the end.
“That’s right.”
“Pleasure to meet you, friend. Please, reveal your true name.”
“I was just born not long ago. I have no name.”
Somehow, I fumbled my way through that.
I quickly brainstormed, anticipating the response that would come next.
“You should name it. The other lords of the Seven Lairs did the same.”
“…Barugore.”
What flashed in my mind was the nickname of my first character.
At that moment, I was now the Death Knight, the boss of the Seventh Lair, ‘Barugore.’
“Barugore. My first dead friend. I regret arriving unannounced, but I have two urgent matters for you.”
“What matters?”
“First, let’s take a walk.”
Calandas began to walk ahead. He seemed to float, practically levitating.
I was doing it.
Following behind, I had all sorts of speculations running through my mind.
They said they had two purposes for coming to find me, but no matter how hard I thought, nothing came to mind.
“I thought they just came to see my face since we’re both Undead.”
They wouldn’t have pointed out that obvious fact if there wasn’t something more urgent.
Besides, heading to a place where no one else was around, it was clear they had some secret agenda.
“What’s that human?”
“He’s my subordinate.”
I froze the moment Calandas pointed at Charlotte.
When Undead come back to life, their instinctual hatred for humans becomes overwhelming.
Broadly speaking, they hate all living things, but the Lich Kings who resurrected as Undead hate humans even more intensely.
“Are you saying you brought a human into the Seven Lairs?”
“…Yes.”
The tension in the air while facing Calandas was almost suffocating; I had never felt anything like it in my life.
An Undead boss accepted a human as a subordinate.
It felt like his piercing blue gaze was seeing right through my intentions.
I felt my nonexistent guts shrink in fear, and my mind was blank about how to justify myself.
“As expected, you are indeed the master of the Seven Lairs. Truly unpredictable.”
Seeing the level color was the same, his words and actions matched.
It was a moment that lasted less than three seconds, but I felt like I aged ten years.
Could it really have just passed because he was truly unpredictable? At least, I didn’t think so.
Just as he respected me, being the boss of the same Lair, it was only right to respect his subordinate as well.
The subordinate is like the brain of the dungeon. If the boss steps away, the real power effectively shifts to the subordinate.
Calandas was a ruthless boss, but he wasn’t the kind to act blindly without discernment.
On the contrary, his way was to read the dawn of the world and move systematically to expand his influence.
Regardless, it made sense that Charlotte would give me the same respect he desired.
I swallowed a sigh of relief and nodded casually.
“To me, she’s not a human but a competent subordinate. She took charge of the dungeon’s construction and has finished it well as you see.”
“Hmm. Indeed, her abilities seem useful. We’ll need to discuss rewards.”
“You flatter me.”
It was Charlotte’s words, and I had an urge to gag her right then and there.
Calandas was an Undead that would ruthlessly kill any human who spoke without permission.
I cautiously read Calandas’s expression.
Whether or not she knew my feelings, Charlotte babbled on again.
“I was born a witch before I became a human. As I grew, I was drawn to the Lich King and began my journey as a necromancer.”
“I have embarked on the path of necromancy.”
“Uh-huh.”
“All of these procedures are meant to accomplish one goal. I intend to annihilate all humans in this world.”
“Your determination is commendable.”
Calandas shot me a sidelong glance and continued.
“I cannot simply stand by while you share this goal. If your relationship with your companion improves, I will allow you to read a passage from the Necronomicon.”
“It would be the greatest honor in my life.”
“I like your spirit. I’ll have your lieutenant accompany us as well.”
“Sounds good.”
Well done, Charlotte.
My lifespan feels like a roller coaster, but I’ll be happy if it all ends well.
I just wanted to form a friendly relationship and make a quick exit.
We three strolled through the empty corridor.
Charlotte followed beside the king like a dutiful vassal, while I walked shoulder to shoulder with Calandas, despite my racing heart.
“As I mentioned, my purpose here is twofold. You may not know, but there are factions forming, knowingly or unknowingly, in the Seven Lairs.”
This was news even to someone like me, who’s been around for 30,000 hours.
Factions among the bosses of the Seven Lairs?
‘Guess they have their own reasons for it.’
Looking back, it was ridiculous that I thought playing the game so much would make me privy to all that.
Obviously, there was a lot more I didn’t know.
“Soon, the boss ranked sixth will request an audience with you. Naturally, a faction is formed around that woman as well.”
Ranked sixth?
The name sprang to mind instantly for someone like me. Of course, I could only think of her as a female.
The dungeon was a grand castle filled with melodies.
The boss was Valentia Roseha.
She was the Succubus Queen, infamous for making many male gamers indebted to her. I had been indebted to her a few times as well.
To think she could seduce men even from beyond the monitor and drain their essence…
That alone speaks volumes of her power.
“Don’t trust that vile woman. If you fall for her sweet words, you might end up in dire straits. You’re undead, so there’s no need to worry much, but still, be careful.”
From this, it seemed like she was part of a faction opposed to the undead faction.
If I were a guy with a… well, you know, I might have fallen for it, but not in this body.
I nodded instead of responding.
“Above all, I would like you to join my faction.”
“….”
I didn’t expect a recruitment offer out of the blue.
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