Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

103 – We Will Live in the World of our Own Choosing　

「Indeed, I have received a full reimbursement.」

Elementary Level – Beginner’s Dungeon.

There were four people gathered in Thor’s office.

Thor, Kei, Me and Fellow.

Thor and I sat on the same sofa while Fellow sat on the opposite one.

Kei is a…maid? So she stands waiting behind Thor.

Incidentally, I was asked to attend by name.

I would have been surprised if I hadn’t heard it from Fenix.

However, I knew that he partly tied me with Lemegeton, and I wondered what he would think about being ignored as my master’s son, i.e. the person who was originally supposed to inherit the horn, so I met him as Lem.

My childhood friend of ten years, Nicola with her amazing sense of smell, and now my master’s son.

Although all of them are exceptions, three people saw through my mask in a short period of time.

I think it’s fine, but I can’t help but feel a little uneasy.

…Not to mention there was Aerial who could sense my master’s presence from the Adventurer version of me.

「Truly a splendid revival.」

Fellow is smiling happily.

A refreshing smile to make one think that this isn’t a failed attempt at taking over the Dungeon.

「Anyone can think of offering a Clear reward, but to create an All Level Dungeon! Certainly, not every Monster who works in an Elementary Level Dungeon possesses elementary level strength.」

I decided to participate in the tournament part-way through this job, and I was worried about winning, but this was my original task.

Reshape Thor, who is the Master of this Dungeon. Repay their debt to Fellow.

In order to solve that, prepare Clear rewards and change the Dungeon into an All Level Dungeon.

Adequately provide a cash prize for the target clientele, newbie Adventurers, so that they can be emboldened by the Clear and be more useful in their future activities.

Drive back the Intermediate Level parties who aimed for the Clear reward despite their level exceeding the intended target of this Dungeon, making them pay up for their Avatar repair expenses.

The crucial point was to hide the fact that it was an All Level Dungeon.

As a result, Clear failure videos from Intermediate Level parties were withheld because they did not want to admit that they were wiped out by an Elementary Level Dungeon, which held back the rumors from spreading.

This is a plan to earn a lot in a short period of time. In order to defeat a load of clueless gold diggers.

But it’s impossible to keep this a secret forever. Word will eventually get out.

If that were the case, it’s not a problem at all.

It is true that newcomers are getting rich.

Yet there is unofficial but accurate information of the Monsters becoming stronger when an Intermediate level or higher party challenges the Dungeon.

「To be honest, I believed this Dungeon to be at its end. It was outdated.」

Fellow was still smiling.

「But in this status quo wherein it is difficult for a budding Adventurer to bloom, to be able to let them shine, yet also preparing something for the experts is nothing short of admirable.」

High praise.

「Y-yeah…」

Thor was baffled.

「I will give up on this Dungeon.」

「Uhm, about that…」

I mildly raised my hand.

「Ah, Sir Lem. Whatever is it?」

「About that, Thor here would like to have a discussion with you.」

I gave him a look, Thor’s eyes widened as if he just remembered something and cleared his throat.

「I heard that Sir Fellow had plans to use this Dungeon as a venue for a new type of game.」

「Correct.」

「How about if we…loan it?」

「…」

Fellow’s smile froze.

「This Dungeon has three strata in total but it was made in consideration of newbie Adventurers. There is a surplus of Magical Energy generated by the core. …It is currently temporarily lacking of Magical Energy due to the recent Clear attempts, but there is nothing wrong with the generation ability itself.」

「In other words, you won’t let my buy it, but you are willing lend it to me?」

「To-to put it simply, yes.」

Yes, this was yet another plan, but only after the repayment is complete.

The lending of a Magical Energy space of Fellow’s desired shape.

Naturally, if a contract is signed, there will be a use fee.

I’m not worried about him not being able to pay, this is the man who managed to persuade the Union to hold a Tag Tournament, after all. And they could use the money received from him to use for the Clear reward for the newbies.

「…I see…I see, I see. So this is what you have decided. Hah, hahaha! Please excuse me. I was sure that Sir Thor would have never wanted to see my face again.」

Ignoring the mistake Thor made by not properly reading it, ignoring that Fellow actually properly lent him money, he tied him to a contract that would result in the loss of the Dungeon.

Even if you ignore the ethics, Thor probably doesn’t think well of Fellow.

To talk business with someone like that…

I suppose it’s only natural to be surprised.

「Preserving this Dungeon…is the priority.」

Thor said straight to Fellow without looking away.

「…Is that so. Well then, I look forward to working with you.」

「Huh?」

Thor was flabbergasted.

It seems he was taken aback by how fast he responded.

「Truly, this is a lifesaver. To be honest, because this Tag Tournament was held above ground, the cost was ridiculous. I thought that a place that is familiar to the citizens and easy to go to would have the greatest effect. If it was done inside a Dungeon, the surrounding would be full of Magical Energy which would make it easy to continue to scatter it about, we could repair the venue infinitely with Earth Magic, we wouldn’t be forced to use the Avatar generation shops that are directly under the Adventurer Union, etc. It really was a hassle. On the other hand, there aren’t that many Dungeons that I could buy ou-…that would transfer management rights over to me. I was in trouble.」

Well, it’s difficult to accept something new so quickly.

If it becomes a new competing industry, there may not be many Dungeons that welcome you with open arms.

In those circumstances, her Highness is quite welcome of such methods. She’s flexible.

「I shall confirm the contract. If you plan to fool this pig of a Master again…I hope you’re prepared for what is to come.」

「…Kei. Stop with the pig Master thing.」

Fellow raised his hands to show no resistance.

「Of course. Let us conduct business where both parties are happy.」

「…shove it up your-」

「Hey now, hey now.」

Thor soothed a seething Kei.

And then we more or less talked about the new business.

The discussion that day was over.

Just as I thought about why he called me to the meeting in the first place.

「Sir Lem.」

I was getting ready for the final task for the Beginner’s Dungeon after this.

Fellow called out to me in the hallway.

「Was all that your proposal?」

「I shall leave that to your imagination.」

Giving a forced smile is my specialty. I give one in response to his forced smile.

Come to think of it, I stopped doing it recently. I feel like I’ve been genuinely smiling a lot lately.

「You wish to become a hero, yes?」

「Yes.」

「And you believe becoming a Monster…will make that come true?」

「Human or Monster, it doesn’t matter. A hero is someone who energizes the people, gives them hope, and gets them excited. If I win with my allies and make Demi-Humans think『It’s ok for us to win too. Monsters aren’t just there to be defeated!』, I believe that is unmistakably a hero.」

「…Incredible. Why not take it one step further? How about overturning this current situation, where Monsters are perceived as evil?」

「By erasing Dungeon Clears?」

「That’s right.」

「No way.」

I reply immediately, smiling.　

「Why?」

「Because I love Dungeon Clears, Defense as well. Both as my job and as entertainment. So how about you, Fellow? Why don’t you take one step further?‘」

「…What do you mean?」

「It is better to cast aside your anger towards Dungeon Clears and spread new values while preserving this form of amusement.」

His eyebrow twitched.

「Did my daughter mention something?」

「No. Just a guess.」

If I were him, I’d be angry too.

The strongest Demon King, who single-handedly drove back multiple parties, which included a young Aerial, in a Clear.

To have such a father that you’re so proud of just…disappear one day…

Perhaps he was sick of it all.

The cause was possibly due to the evil setting that still remained.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to break that.

「Is that so? You’re right, I hate Dungeon Clears. I do not mind the power struggles. But the current established setting is unnecessary. However, if you were to abolish the setting alone, it would not change people’s perception. It is faster to get rid of it all entirely.」

Faster. He noticed it too.

That if you do it slowly, there is a way to preserve it.

As I thought, he is hurrying for master’s sake.

「Is that so?」

「Yes. This time, you saved one Dungeon, but the demise of all Dungeons have advanced a step.」

「It’s not over.」

「I wonder about that.」

「Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have a task to attend to.」

Even if we talk about this more here, there will be no conclusion. No, we have already come to that conclusion, so we won’t cross paths.

「..When…when you told my father that you wanted to become a hero, what did he say?」

There’s no reason to play dumb now.

「A lot. But he never once said it was impossible. That made me…very happy.」

「…I…see.」

I gave a quick bow and left the scene.

◇

The task of the day was a big favour that I asked Thor for.

I asked about the appointment and asked if I could participate in it one last time.

The deepest stratum, the Orc Forest.

Four people remained in the completely destroyed Field.

Thor and I.

Nicola and Philip.

Thor and Philip were exchanging blows.

Outside, Thor is usually unreliable, but in the Dungeon, he’s a martial artist. Letting out a war cry while whittling down Philip’s Diamond with his fists. What fearsome punches.

No matter who else remains, if someone like the Floor Boss or Dungeon Master loses, it’s all over.

But I don’t have time to go and help him. No, perhaps that’s unnecessary, looking at him now.

I should probably focus on my own fight right now.

Sorry, Fenix.

I said that I would preserve my Magical Energy for the horn, but this isn’t an easy opponent.

All my allies have been defeated, it’s a one-on-one fight.

It’s tough fighting as a Black Sorcerer against her silver.

「No matter what you see from now on, don’t be surprised.」

Having said that, I unleash…the horn.

I control and limit the tremendous amount of overflowing energy.

I limit my transformation. Only my right arm turns pitch black.

I can’t be expected to empty the horn of Magical Energy every time.

It’s important to only pull out the appropriate required amount.

She knows that I’m Lem.

Yet she’s seeing me, her opponent, reveal a strange-looking right arm.

I wonder what she thinks of this form.

「…Ha…haha. What is this Magical Energy? Looks like I have to get stronger too…!」

Nicola looked happy. It’s impressive that she wasn’t surprised.

She makes her silver fist as large as it possibly can while still being able to use it effectively.

Then we both approached each other, both raising our right fists until we…clashed!

With a thunderous noise, her silver arm is smashed to pieces and only my body continues advancing until I pierce through her chest.

「…How frustrating.」

The Silver Prince’s new form was beautiful yet noble, wild yet strong. It was so cool.

I want to fight her again.

And so I say…

「…I’ll be waiting for you in the Demon King Castle.」

She blinked at those words, then her whole face smiled as she nodded.

「…! …Yeah. Yeah…! I will definitely come and take you down!」

And then her body disappears.

We are given a Job decided by God.

We live, choosing our own occupation.

There are things we won’t be suited for, but we can’t give up, because there are things that you should aim for.