“Excuse me. I am Suu from the Underworld Merchant Guild. Ah! My department is the Dungeon Support Department!”
A clear voice, though somewhat clumsy, echoed through the dungeon.
The owner of the voice was Suu, a monster belonging to the Underworld Merchant Guild. Taking the form of a human woman, she slowly strode forward, observing the interior of the dungeon with curious eyes.
‘Ah… the dungeon is definitely here!’
Suu looked around the dungeon with an expression filled with emotion.
It had been quite some time since she joined the Underworld Merchant Guild, but she hadn’t gotten the chance to be in charge of a dungeon despite the long wait.
‘This is the first dungeon I’ll be in charge of!’
Her colleagues who joined at the same time were already in charge of several dungeons.
As it was her first time being in charge of a dungeon, Suu had a nervous expression.
*Clap-*
At that moment, someone clapped their hands, catching Suu’s attention.
“Hello. I am Kaleido, who serves Lord Necros.”
*Clap-*
Kaleido clapped his hands again, introducing Necros.
“And here beside me is Lord Necros, the owner of this dungeon.”
“Tuk-tak.”
(It’s nice to meet you. Welcome.)
In response to Necros’ greeting, Suu bowed her head and smiled brightly.
“Ah, my name is Suu! I look forward to working with you!”
As Kaleido and Necros greeted her warmly, Suu felt a sense of relief flood her heart.
‘It’s a relief that they seem like good-hearted people.’
She had heard that some dungeon owners treated merchants harshly, but this place seemed far from that atmosphere.
Above all, she felt a strange sense of familiarity in this dungeon.
It felt as cozy as if she had come to a place she had known for a long time.
“Ah, and I apologize for being late… Actually, I wasn’t supposed to be this late, but our guild has been very busy lately…”
Suu bowed her head and offered her apologies.
Her words were only half true.
The Underworld Merchant Guild had been busy lately.
Specifically, they were investing most of their information-gathering resources into the Sail Kingdom, leading to a shortage of monsters available to work.
However, the Underworld Merchant Guild was a vast organization.
With several departments, there was no reason for a shortage of merchants in charge of dungeons.
Yet, there was a hidden reason for her late arrival.
-“Hmm. A new dungeon has appeared, but its location is terrible. It’s right in the middle of a place where many humans frequent.”
The words of Valor, the Team Leader of the Dungeon Support Department of the Underworld Merchant Guild, came to mind.
As the team leader had said, the location of this dungeon was indeed not good.
It was a miracle that it had survived until now, being smack in the middle of human-populated areas.
This matter had also been discussed at the guild.
-“And for some reason, the energy of the new dungeon suddenly disappeared. No one here is unaware of what that means, right?”
The dungeon’s energy disappeared. The implication was that it had likely been subjugated.
Even so, Suu had come here due to the suggestion of her colleague, Evanellin.
-“But Team Leader, wouldn’t it be better to at least go and see?”
Evanellin was a monster of the Harpy species.
She couldn’t be underestimated just because she was a Harpy.
She carried the blood of a high-ranking demon.
Therefore, no matter how much of a team leader Valor was, he couldn’t ignore Evanellin’s opinion.
-“Hmm, that seems like a waste of time… I don’t really have anyone to send.”
At this, Evanellin pointed to Suu.
-“Then how about sending Suu? She hasn’t been in charge of a single dungeon yet, so let’s send her this time. Since the dungeon is in a place with many humans, wouldn’t Suu, being a doppelganger, be perfect? What do you think?”
After that, the matter was quickly dealt with.
Even though it was uncertain whether the dungeon would even exist, Suu was chosen as the 담당자 for the new dungeon solely because she was a doppelganger.
It was truly a “poisoned chalice.”
If the dungeon had indeed been subjugated and its energy vanished, Suu was essentially taking the fall.
“……”
In fact, Suu knew this too.
She knew that her colleague Evanellin had a significant influence on how she ended up here.
For some reason, Evanellin disliked her.
Perhaps Evanellin’s influence was the reason she hadn’t been in charge of a single dungeon until now.
Of course, this was just speculation.
There was no reason for her to dislike Suu, who had nothing.
*’Well, it doesn’t matter anymore.’*
Contrary to the concerned voices, the dungeon was still intact.
*’By the way, it’s strange. I can’t feel the dungeon’s energy…’*
Suu marveled at the dungeon’s ability to conceal its energy.
She probably wouldn’t have found it if a human hadn’t guided her.
Here, Suu saw another possibility.
*’I didn’t expect them to be able to command humans too; they must be truly amazing!’*
Suu’s gaze turned to Necros.
Although her identity was unknown due to the robe and white mask, it was certain that an extraordinary aura emanated from him.
*Clap-*
Kaleido clapped his hands and addressed Suu.
“Now, I, Kaleido, ‘who serves Lord Necros,’ will guide you, Lady Suu.”
Kaleido emphasized Necros’ name as he proceeded into the dungeon.
“Yes! Please lead the way!”
Suu responded enthusiastically and followed behind Kaleido.
Behind them, Necros, the owner of the dungeon, slowly made his way.
And the moment they arrived inside the dungeon, Suu’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wow—”
Suu exclaimed in awe at the majestic and opulent interior of the dungeon.
Grand chandeliers, gold-adorned sculptures, and marble floors.
She couldn’t help but stare, mesmerized by the scene that resembled a Demon Lord’s palace.
“I can’t believe this…”
That wasn’t all.
In the center of the room was a large golden fountain, surrounded by piles of various treasures, enough to blind one’s eyes.
The magnificent sight naturally elicited exclamations of admiration from Suu.
*’Is this really a dungeon that was created not long ago?’*
A dungeon that commanded humans as its subordinates and had amassed immense wealth.
It was believable even if it was said to have been operated secretly, hidden from the guild’s eyes for a long time, given the wealth and majesty it exuded.
*’Are all dungeons like this…?’*
This was her first time being in charge of a dungeon, and it was a huge shock to Suu, who had only learned about them theoretically until now.
*Clap-*
“Well, how is it? Our Lord Necros has managed to accumulate this much wealth.”
Kaleido clapped his hands, drawing Suu’s attention.
There was no lie in his words.
All of Necros’ legitimately earned wealth and the profits from operating the arena were here.
Although some were sent to Celia’s dungeon, the incoming funds were still immense.
“Now, I will continue the tour.”
Kaleido took the lead again.
“We are currently undertaking dungeon expansion work. Therefore, some finishing touches are still incomplete.”
“No! It’s incredible!”
As they went deeper, the atmosphere changed.
Compared to the previous area, there was a certain roughness to it.
Unlike the marble tiles from before, this area was still under construction.
Ghouls were working with pickaxes, moving materials.
*’Unlike the wealth, the quality of the soldiers is lacking.’*
Suu’s gaze fell upon the Ghouls.
Ghouls were 2-star monsters.
They were somewhat questionable as guards for a dungeon.
Moreover, this was a dungeon overflowing with gold and treasures.
To guard such a dungeon with only 2-star Ghouls?
It didn’t make sense.
Perhaps the owner of the dungeon was aware of this and would request a transaction with the guild?
*’They definitely will!’*
To protect all this gold and treasure, they would surely improve the quality of their soldiers.
Various thoughts raced through Suu’s mind.
*’What if they want to buy a large quantity of expensive monsters? Does the guild have enough stock for that right now…?’*
It was a happy dilemma.
If the dungeon she was in charge of placed a large order?
That would entirely count towards Suu’s own performance.
*’If that happens, I might even surpass the legends of the guild!’*
There was one merchant in the Underworld Merchant Guild who was called a legend.
Morou, who had faced discrimination due to her half-succubus nature, was now an unparalleled legendary merchant.
Who would have known that the first dungeon she took charge of would be such a success?
*’That was a Succubus dungeon, wasn’t it?’*
Morou, who achieved immense results, was promoted repeatedly thereafter.
She thought it was an achievement she couldn’t possibly equal, but now an opportunity had arisen to follow in the footsteps of that legend.
*’I must seize this opportunity no matter what!’*
Suu resolved.
She had to make sure this dungeon was secured.
She intended to do her best to avoid any situation where the dungeon owner might ask to switch merchants.
Although this was her first time acting as a merchant, Suu had her own strengths.
She was incredibly knowledgeable in theoretical aspects.
For this day of practical experience, she had studied various fields such as dungeons, monsters, items, and artifacts.
*’I just need to do as I’ve prepared!’*
Suu, nervous, took a deep breath.
As she looked around the dungeon following Kaleido.
In a corner, she saw someone working alone with a pickaxe.
“?”
There was a being with a different physique from the Ghouls she had seen so far.
Suu took a step forward and stared intently at the being.
“…Hah!”
There, another shocking sight unfolded.
“Oh, oh, oh… a 5-star Death Knight!”
Even from a glance, it exuded an aura of death, and as a merchant affiliated with the guild, she couldn’t possibly not know it.
Moreover, there was ominous armor that enveloped it in pitch black.
And attached to the shield that the Death Knight was holding was a maid outfit.
“That is!”
It wasn’t just any maid outfit.
Even if others didn’t notice, Suu, who was thoroughly armed with theory, couldn’t be fooled.
*’I feel an immense aura! It must not be a simple maid outfit.’*
The sight of a Death Knight holding a shield with an unusual maid outfit doing manual labor was bizarre.
However, one thing was certain.
*’To think that someone commands a 5-star Death Knight as a laborer.’*
Suu glanced at Necros.
Although her identity was unknown due to the blue robe and mask, she was undoubtedly an extraordinary being.
*’What in the world is the owner of this dungeon…?!’*
Various possibilities swirled in Suu’s mind.
If someone could use a 5-star monster as a mere laborer…
*’They must be at least at the peak of 5-star!’*
She paid particular attention to the thick book Necros was holding.
*’Is that a magic book? Then perhaps a Lich-type?’*
If it was a magic book, then it was at least a mage.
Furthermore, considering that he led a Death Knight, it was highly probable that the dungeon owner was also of the Undead type.
The first monster that came to mind for an undead being that used magic was, of course, a Lich.
However, a Lich was a 4-star monster.
This meant it wasn’t just a simple Lich, but at least an Arch Lich.
Or perhaps a higher being, an Elder Lich.
But since 6-star monsters had appeared quite some time ago, Suu shook her head.
*’That’s impossible. Unless this place is the Demonic Realm, perhaps.’*
Information about dungeons in the Demonic Realm was kept highly confidential by the Underworld Merchant Guild.
It was information permitted only to a select few among the executive members.
Therefore, dungeons in the Demonic Realm were merely a subject of rumors.
If this dungeon were in the Demonic Realm, one might suspect it to be an Elder Lich of 6-star class, but unfortunately, this was not the Demonic Realm.
Still, complacency was forbidden.
Suu looked around the dungeon a bit more.
Certainly, being a wealthy dungeon, numerous workers were busy expanding it.
*Clap-*
At that moment, Kaleido clapped his hands once again.
“This place is…”
The atmosphere of the dungeon space had changed.
A peculiar aura enveloped Suu.
For a brief moment, she felt as if she were hypnotized, her mind becoming hazy.
It felt as if something had just brushed past her mind.
*’This place…’*
She felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
However, she quickly shook off the feeling as Kaleido’s words guided her.
“From here on, this is a secret area of the dungeon. Would you like to take a look?”
It was a sudden proposal.
Would it be different from the places she had seen so far?
At Kaleido’s mention of “secret,” Suu nodded nervously.
“Yes! Please lead the way!”
After all, Suu herself was the 담당자 for this dungeon. She had an obligation to examine every nook and cranny.
“Well then, shall we proceed with the exploration together?”
*Clap-*
Kaleido clapped his hands.
