Mistaken as the Dungeon Boss Monster - Chapter 28

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Mordor

◈ Mistaken as the Dungeon Boss Monster ◈

Chapter 28: The Name of the New Seven Palaces of the Abyss

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“Could it be that the Boss intends to learn Necromancy because I’m lacking... I see. That must be it. I’m sorry. Just as the Boss thinks, I’m useless in this dungeon.”

Charlotte was capable.

Even by any objective measure, not just in my own estimation, she was a capable subordinate. Being the Keeper of the second-ranked dungeon was no easy position.

‘Though I was a little annoyed back then.’

Aside from borrowing from a loan shark without permission, Charlotte had done more than her share so far.

It was simply sad to see her wear away at her own self-esteem as if she didn’t know that.

Tap.

“Ow.”

I tapped the crown of Charlotte’s head with the corner of the book.

Charlotte looked up at me and rubbed the top of her head.

It had only been a light tap, but maybe the corner had hurt.

“It’s yours.”

“...Pardon?”

“The Necronomicon. I got it to give to you, Charlotte.”

“...Pardon?”

Had time turned back? She had the same expression and the same response all over again.

I took the dazed Charlotte by the wrist and placed the magic tome directly in her hand.

Charlotte looked up at me with pupils widened beyond their limit. It made the magic circle patterns in her eyes even clearer.

With my hands now empty, I patted Charlotte on the shoulder.

“Don’t even think of refusing. Like I said, I went to the trouble of getting it for you.”

“Uh, this, no... How could you...”

She was stammering like a broken machine.

At last, after making nothing but incoherent sounds, Charlotte managed to form a proper sentence.

“How could you bestow such grace upon me?”

“I’m giving it to you because it’s you. It isn’t a waste to give a gift to an adjutant who works so hard.”

You need to grow stronger so the dungeon’s fighting strength can increase. That’s how I survive.

Not only the Extermination Party, but the bosses of the 72 Dungeons too. Even Balutak might challenge my authority one day.

Charlotte was the first breakwater that would shield me from all those storms.

“Devote yourself to your studies for a while.”

In other words, suffer for a while.

I evolved you into a Magic Human, didn’t I? I gave you an S+-rank Black Magic tome too. I’ve done everything for you.

No more and no less, let’s push through to level 90, Charlotte.

“B-But still, how could I dare accept this...”

Charlotte had been like a machine, but now that she’d broken down, she was malfunctioning like a real one.

Her fingers fidgeted as they caressed the book. Then, without warning, she hid her face behind it.

The book wasn’t even that large, but it covered Charlotte’s entire face because her face was so small.

It was obvious she didn’t want me to see her expression, but I could already see how she felt from her level.

‘That color is seriously intense now.’

It was a deep hot pink that reminded me of when Rose Sha had proposed to me. It probably couldn’t get any darker than this.

I had unintentionally set a new record for Charlotte’s Affection.

I had assigned a task to a subordinate at work, but had it looked like flirting from her perspective?

‘Why are there so many skeleton fetishists in this world?’

In my previous life, I’d gone through life without attracting a single woman. But after becoming a Death Knight, I somehow gained luck with women.

The problem was that the women in question were a murderous Witch and a Succubus Queen whose default setting was death by pleasure.

Maybe it was a good thing I was an impotent undead.

* * *

<Lv: 73>

Race: Death Knight

Passive Traits: [Advanced Swordsmanship], [Natural Healing]

Active Traits: [Enhancement], [Evolution]

Bound Item: Solari Sun Holy Sword (+1 Enhancement)

My level had shot up to 73 in one go.

If I let go of the Holy Sword, I was level 59. That was my own level.

Killing Wilhelm had raised me by fifteen levels.

‘That’s rather stingy.’

I had expected at least twenty levels from a Hero, but that had been wishful thinking.

Still, there was no need to be too disappointed.

The greatest gain was the Holy Sword, and looking at my status window, the level increase from the Holy Sword was actually greater.

Level 59 without it equipped. Level 73 with it.

One weapon made that much difference. It truly was worthy of being called a Holy Sword.

At first, I thought, an EX-rank sword meant to oppose Kalandas, yet only level 73?

What good was a weapon if it was ultimately just a flashy piece of junk?

Now that I thought about it, level 73 was already generous.

The awakened Holy Sword’s abilities only came in two modes: attack and healing.

Suppose I fought Charlotte before her Evolution while using the Holy Sword as a weapon.

If she fired magic at me from a distance, I had no way to defend myself. I also had no mobility, so I wouldn’t even be able to get close before it was game over.

Even against Balutak, who was the same level as me, I didn’t think I could win. I wouldn’t even see Balutak move before dying instantly.

As long as my base stats were in the fifties, I had no way to deal with attacks from high-level opponents above level 70.

I glanced sideways at Isabella, who was playing pat-a-cake with Balutak.

Sensing my gaze, Isabella turned toward me. Our gazes remained locked for a while.

“Uh... Did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

“Uh, um. Y-Yes.”

Isabella went back to clapping hands with Balutak, grinning brightly.

At least I can beat you now.

I had passed the title of weakest to her.

‘Still, the Holy Sword...’

It still didn’t feel real that the awakened Holy Sword was in my hands.

This wasn’t the time to relax and celebrate, though.

What did it mean that I had killed Wilhelm and taken the Holy Sword?

The Empire’s Extermination Command and the Solari Church would surely be after me.

Let’s say I somehow managed to protect the Holy Sword.

The awakened Holy Sword also meant inheriting Wilhelm’s duty, namely the god’s revelation.

‘Stopping Kalandas.’

The one who would one day plunge humanity into the abyss of the End.

If that bastard destroyed the Empire, my own life would be in danger next.

Where would Kalandas target after swallowing up humanity by turning them into undead?

There was nowhere but the Seven Palaces of the Abyss.

The game developer had even said so officially.

Q: What happens to the story if the player fails to stop Kalandas’s invasion?

A: He turned all of humanity into undead, so he became incredibly powerful, right? He destroyed the Empire and grew stronger, so now he has to rule the world. Kalandas will turn the Seven Palaces of the Abyss into enemies and try to make the world his own.

He would attempt world domination, though the result was unknown.

The fact that my life would be in danger from that attempt alone was certain.

Besides already being at odds with Kalandas, I was sure Kalandas had heard by now that Rose Sha and I had formed a temporary alliance. Kalandas had probably marked me as an enemy.

Ah, Wilhelm. He was a good Hero.

Now that Wilhelm had tragically departed, the Holy Sword’s duty belonged to me, its next owner.

First, I needed to see how Kalandas would act at the assembly.

At the same time, I had to clearly identify the other bosses who supported Kalandas.

Know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll never be defeated, right? To devise a plan, I first needed to know who my enemies were.

‘I need to steadily build alliances too.’

With a solid alliance with Rose Sha in mind, I should also bring in lower-ranking bosses who would grow powerful later.

According to the original story, Kalandas would begin moving in earnest a year from now. That was only according to the original story, though.

Wilhelm was dead now. Since the Hero Kalandas had feared most was dead, Kalandas might move the plan forward.

Yet what Kalandas had feared wasn’t Wilhelm himself, but the Holy Sword. That Holy Sword hadn’t vanished. It had fallen into my hands.

‘Who knows? Kalandas might be wary of me instead.’

The Hero of the Holy Sword.

The Seven Palaces of the Abyss Boss with the Holy Sword.

From Kalandas’s perspective, the latter was probably more frightening.

If Kalandas truly regarded me as a threat, Kalandas might postpone the plan rather than advance it.

There was no answer to be found by thinking about it any further.

I would have to subtly feel him out at the assembly and see what happened next.

For now, keeping an eye on the Extermination Command’s movements came before worrying about Kalandas.

...Two days passed after that.

They were two uneventful days, regardless of the tension.

“Boss.”

Charlotte called to me while I was idly passing the time.

After spending so much time together, I could read her feelings even through her expressionless face.

For some reason, she looked strangely excited now.

“I have news to share. You two should gather as well. Quickly.”

Charlotte called the officers together while holding a newspaper.

I stopped examining the Holy Sword and plopped down on the floor in front of Charlotte.

Balutak and Isabella, who had been slacking off, hurried over as well.

The adjutant had something to say, so of course we had to listen.

Charlotte cleared her throat.

Rustle!

She pointed at the newspaper’s headline.

“The Empire has officially named our dungeon.”

“Oh!”

“Kirik?”

With the exception of older dungeons that already had names, the Empire’s Extermination Command named newly registered dungeons.

I had seen it in the Easter egg, but the 72 Dungeons regarded those names as badges of honor.

The Command’s naming sense was quite stylish, and the other bosses understood the awe contained within those names.

Isabella and Balutak stuck their heads in like little meerkats.

Their heads blocked my view of the newspaper, making me want to smack them on the head.

‘There really is no going back now.’

It struck me anew. A mere Death Knight like me had suddenly become the boss of the Seven Palaces of the Abyss.

How had things ended up like this? Lamenting wouldn’t solve anything, and since I had already crossed the river, I had no choice but to see this through to the end.

“Oh! I think the name is really cool!”

Isabella made a big fuss after reading the newspaper.

Balutak crossed their arms and nodded.

“Kirik. It definitely has a ring to it-dak. Balutak likes the name-dak.”

“Balutak, can you read?”

“I cannot-dak.”

“Then what do you mean it has a ring to it?”

“Kirik. Balutak is smart-dak. I can tell at a glance-dak. Which letters are good and which are bad-dak.”

“Wow. Amazing.”

“Kirik. The letters in Isabella’s name are obviously crappy-dak.”

“Pardon?”

I couldn’t see the newspaper because of those troublesome kids.

I didn’t show it because of my dignity as the Boss, but honestly, I wanted to see it most. It was my dungeon. Did it make any sense that I didn’t know its name?

I tried to casually wedge myself between them, but there was no opening.

“I really love this name. I feel like I finally belong somewhere!”

“You didn’t feel that way before?”

“Huh? Ah, no. Of course I did, but...”

No, move aside. Let me see too.

Charlotte noticed and moved Isabella aside, opening up a space for me.

As expected, you’re the only one who thinks of me.

I looked closely at the newspaper headline and let out a quiet hum.

The other three fell silent and focused their gazes on me.

It was good that they were watching the Boss’s reaction, but this was too much pressure.

“...I like it.”

The moment I muttered that, the three spoke as though they had been waiting.