WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Mordor

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Mistaken as the Dungeon Boss Monster ◈

Chapter 31: What Can You Guys Do?

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I’d prepared myself mentally, but now that it was actually happening, I was scared shitless.

I had to walk into a den filled with seventy-two monsters.

Six of them were among the strongest beings in the world, capable of killing someone like me as easily as breathing.

It really hit me that I had to stand shoulder to shoulder with those monsters.

Apparently unaware of how I felt, the Demon Merchant kept blabbering on.

“My congratulations are late. Wow, Rank 7 Faith’s Tomb! I can only offer my congratulations and tremble in awe at Your Highness’s great achievement. No one could have imagined that you would defeat two Heroes less than a month after your birth.”

“Grrr...”

The look on the Demon Merchant’s face was as refreshed as if they had just downed a soda.

Overcome with emotion, the Demon Merchant’s tightly clenched fist trembled.

“Even Wilhelm, who awakened the Holy Sword...! Don’t ordinary humans rely on faith to stand against Your Highness, the Demon King? In that sense, Your Highness is truly the model Demon King.”

“...”

“The Empire fears the return of a new Abyssal Palace more than anything. Your Highness’s achievements have caused a huge uproar in the Demon Realm as well. They say you have gone beyond the Seven Palaces of the Abyss and become the end of humanity itself...”

“Enough.”

Having someone kiss my ass right in front of me felt pretty damn weird.

There had to be a limit to the ass-kissing. End of humanity, my ass. It was embarrassing for the person hearing it.

“My apologies, Your Highness. I got carried away and made a fool of myself.”

“Explain the Assembly in detail.”

I might’ve been a thirty-thousand-hour veteran, but this was my first time as a dungeon boss.

Naturally, a single convocation notice wasn’t enough information. Maybe the merchant had come as both a courier and an explanation machine.

“Since this is your first Assembly, allow me to explain.”

As if they had been waiting for that, the Demon Merchant began speaking smoothly.

The 72 Dungeons gathered in one place to enjoy a banquet and attend an auction hosted by the Merchant Association. Finally, the Seven Palaces of the Abyss took the seats of honor while the 72 Lords held a Roundtable Meeting.

The agenda mainly seemed to involve plotting humanity’s annihilation, settling political disputes and conflicts among themselves, and strengthening their unity.

“This time, though, it will be a little different. Because Your Highness, the New Seven Palaces of the Abyss, will be there.”

I waited silently for the merchant to explain what exactly that meant.

The merchant lowered their head slightly as if apologetic, then continued.

“Most of the Lords see this Assembly as both an initiation and welcoming ceremony for the New Seven Palaces of the Abyss. Their curiosity was already piqued by the return of the Seven Palaces of the Abyss, and then you achieved such dazzling feats. The Demon Realm, the 72 Dungeons, and even the Lords of the Seven Palaces of the Abyss have all taken an interest in Your Highness. In other words, everyone wishes to see the real person behind the veil.”

So the Assembly wasn’t even the point. They were all coming to get a look at my face.

The pressure was fucking insane. I was already trying to lie low because I was worried my limitations might be exposed, damn it.

But what if I, the reason everyone had gathered, didn’t show up?

That alone could raise doubts, and my absence might draw even more attention than my attendance.

More importantly, there was nothing to gain from earning the bosses’ hostility.

Since that was the purpose of the gathering, they would all leave with an impression of me.

‘What? That guy looks like a total weakling. Is he really from the Seven Palaces of the Abyss? Isn’t he an impostor?’

It wouldn’t have been strange if thoughts like that stuck to me like gum on the bottom of a shoe.

So I had no choice but to steel myself and conduct myself properly.

I had to look like I belonged to the Seven Palaces of the Abyss, no matter who saw me.

“...But if the dungeon’s core forces leave, who will guard it?”

It would have been nice if I could use that as an excuse not to attend.

“As you said, the dungeon’s core forces will be absent, leaving it defenseless. Still, please don’t worry. The Dungeon Association and the Seven Grand Dukes of the Demon Realm will take full responsibility for the defense of the 72 Dungeons. Free of charge.”

Ah, fuck. I was screwed.

If I put my foot down and said I wouldn’t go because I didn’t trust them, I’d be making an enemy of the Merchant Association.

Besides, if the Merchant Association and the Seven Grand Dukes were taking responsibility, that was enough to ease my mind.

‘But what do they get out of this?’

The fact that it was free made me suspicious.

I didn’t know about the Seven Grand Dukes, but the Merchant Association wouldn’t spend resources without profit.

I was about to ask, but quickly decided against it. I didn’t really want to know that badly. They must have had their reasons for taking responsibility.

“Seventh-ranked Lord, I sincerely ask that you attend. As I said, Your Highness is the main figure of this Assembly.”

“I’ll attend.”

“Oh! A wise choice!”

If I didn’t attend, I wouldn’t be able to handle the fallout in more ways than one.

I had already finished preparing myself.

As if remembering something they had forgotten, the Demon Merchant suddenly spoke.

“Attending Lords may bring two subordinates as companions. Usually, they choose their adjutant and a mid-boss, but...”

The merchant trailed off and kept glancing at me.

An adjutant as a companion. Their hesitation made their thoughts obvious.

“It’s because my adjutant is human.”

“I’m afraid so, Your Highness.”

Charlotte and Balutak. I had already decided on the two of them without a second thought.

I put the conversation aside and summoned them.

Charlotte seemed to recognize the convocation notice at once. As for Balutak, they looked as thoughtless as ever.

I skipped the earlier details and explained only that I could bring two companions.

Charlotte listened without moving, her face troubled.

“The conclusion is that I plan to take the two of you as my companions.”

“Y-Your Highness? Are you serious?”

It seemed the merchant hadn’t gotten the answer they wanted.

“Of course, she is an outstanding adjutant, but this is the 72 Dungeons Assembly, Your Highness.”

“That is correct.”

Charlotte, who had remained silent until then, spoke.

“Seventy-two Lords will gather there. This is a sacred, inviolable Assembly. A lowly human like me must not be present.”

“There’s no racial restriction on entry.”

“That is true, but it is an unspoken rule.”

“The adjutant is exactly right.”

The merchant eagerly jumped in.

“At the previous Assembly, a half-human, half-demon person attended as a Keeper. They received harsh criticism for tarnishing the Assembly’s honor. It caused a huge uproar in the Demon Realm as well. In the end, the half-human, half-demon person was socially ruined and took their own life.”

“...”

“If even a half-human, half-demon person suffered that fate, how much worse would it be for a human? There has never been a case of a human attending in the first place. Your Highness, please reconsider for the adjutant’s sake.”

There wasn’t a single thing wrong with what they said.

Even so, I desperately needed Charlotte to come with me for several reasons.

I was already terrified about walking into a den of seventy-two monsters.

Just having a capable subordinate at my side would calm both my body and mind.

That was only part of it.

The 72 Dungeons and the Demon Realm were places where the strong ruled.

Weakness itself was a crime, and only the strong received respect.

Balutak might be acceptable, but if I brought some insignificant trash mob along, it would undermine my standing as one of the Seven Palaces of the Abyss.

‘Someone from the Seven Palaces of the Abyss brought such a worthless mob? Are they taking the Assembly lightly?’

I was one hundred percent sure reactions like that would come pouring out.

‘Still, I can’t exactly trust Balutak as my only companion.’

If I brought that low-intelligence Insect, I wouldn’t be able to control them. If they caused trouble, there would be nothing I could do.

Charlotte was the only one who could keep Balutak in check.

‘Going alone and leaving both of them behind would be even more ridiculous.’

That didn’t even deserve consideration.

Going alone might preserve appearances, but my heart wouldn’t survive it.

If I misspoke at the Assembly, my limitations would be exposed in no time.

Charlotte would be both my guard and my emotional support.

Charlotte was human, but she was as strong as a Keeper of the Seven Palaces of the Abyss.

The dungeon bosses would recognize her mana immediately, and judging by her strength alone, they would realize she was worthy of serving the Seven Palaces of the Abyss.

They might doubt my power in a similar way when they saw me, but probably not.

The bosses of the Seven Palaces of the Abyss possessed incomprehensible, overwhelming power beyond mana.

Looking at what I had done so far, they would be more likely to think they simply couldn’t recognize my power than to doubt me.

“...”

I weighed the options in my head.

Would I choose the fallout of bringing a human companion?

Or would I choose the suicidal option of exposing myself to real danger while risking my reputation anyway?

At least in my eyes, the former was far better.

“Charlotte.”

Our eyes met.

“I hold your abilities as my adjutant in high regard. So I’ll ask you. What do you want to do?”

“...”

Silence lingered between us for a while.

Beside me, the merchant’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Their face plainly showed that they were praying for Charlotte to refuse.

“To be honest, I’m afraid. I’m not even a half-human, half-demon person. I’m human. Murderous intent will be directed at me simply for existing.”

Charlotte’s face had visibly darkened.

“Since the Assembly’s purpose is to build friendly relations, I believe a source of such ill will should be removed. I am also afraid of the retaliation that may come after the Assembly ends.”

If she said that much, the answer seemed clear.

I couldn’t force her to come when she didn’t want to.

“But if the Boss is by my side... I don’t think I’ll be afraid. I blindly trust the Boss’s choices. Whatever the Boss decides, I’ll follow with all my heart.”

Just as expected of a loyal subordinate.

I knew I could count on you, Charlotte.

“Then it’s settled. My adjutant will accompany me.”

“Eek!”

The merchant drew in a sharp breath.

I fixed my gaze on their pale face.

“I will take Charlotte and Balutak as my companions. I will accept no further objections.”

“But, my Lord... Please reconsider. The other Lords will think Your Highness has defiled the sacred Assembly.”

I understood how the merchant felt.

I wasn’t doing this thoughtlessly, either.

“You must also consider the physical harm that may come to the adjutant. Even so, do you intend to choose the adjutant, this human?”

I was a newcomer who had recklessly made a human my adjutant and brought her into the sacred Assembly.

A thoughtless member of the Seven Palaces of the Abyss. A traitor who had colluded with humanity. Fine. They could think whatever they wanted.

But people’s perceptions changed depending on the prestige of the person involved.

“Merchant. Who am I, standing before you?”

“Pardon? Why, you are the boss of the Rank 7 Abyssal Palace...?”

“I trust and cherish this human. Who would dare harm my adjutant? That would be a challenge to me.”

Bringing Charlotte with me wouldn’t diminish my authority. It would be a display of authority so overwhelming that it established my lofty position beyond challenge.

I knew that bringing a human into the Assembly was, naturally, an outrageous act. Everyone might turn hostile toward me.

But who was I?

I wasn’t just any boss of the Seven Palaces of the Abyss. I was a single-entity Abyssal Palace. A new great evil that had killed two Heroes.

I was the person of concern being closely watched by the Empire and the Solari Church.

I had more than enough groundwork to seize the initiative.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that I was using Charlotte to impress the bosses with the image of someone strong and bold enough to crush even this absurd insolence through sheer authority.

“Do you think I would care about their stares? Merchant, answer me.”

“...I was shortsighted. Please forgive me.”

“If anyone wishes to challenge my authority, tell them to say it to my face. Whether they are one of the 72 Lords or the Seven Palaces of the Abyss, I’ll make them all shut up.”

They said this Assembly would be my initiation.

If I came in frightened and deferential from the start, I would be the one overwhelmed.

I had to be the one doing the overwhelming.

“Charlotte. There’s no need to be afraid or worry. Remember who will be by your side.”

“My Lord...”

Charlotte looked at me, visibly moved.

Even the color of her level was changing in real time.

...That was what I said, anyway.

‘Sorry, but I’m actually the most terrified one here.’

I was doing this to survive too.

Footnotes:

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