NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27
“Could it be that it’s my inadequacy that the boss is trying to learn necromancy… It was just as I thought. I’m sorry. I’m useless in this dungeon, just as the boss predicted.”
Charlotte is capable.
Objectively speaking, even before my awareness, she was a competent subordinate. Being the second-ranked guardian of a dungeon is no easy feat.
‘Back then, I found it a bit irritating.’
Apart from having borrowed money without permission, Charlotte has exceeded her role up until now.
It’s just sad to see her gnawing at her own self-esteem without realizing that.
Thud.
“Ouch.”
I tapped Charlotte on the head with the edge of the book.
As she looked up at me, she rubbed her head.
It was just a light touch, but maybe the edge made it hurt a bit.
“It’s yours.”
“…Huh?”
“The Necronomicon. I brought it for you, Charlotte.”
“…Huh?”
Did time turn back? The same expression and reaction repeated again.
I grabbed the dazed Charlotte’s wrist and directly handed her the magic book.
Charlotte looked up at me with eyes widened beyond their limit, which made the magic circle patterns in her irises more noticeable.
With my hands now empty, I lightly patted her shoulder.
“Don’t even think about rejecting it. As I said, I went through some trouble to get it for you.”
“Uh, this… how….”
She stuttered like a broken machine.
After fumbling around, Charlotte finally managed to form a sentence.
“Why are you granting me such a grace?”
“Because it’s you. It’s not a loss giving a gift to a hardworking subordinate.”
You need to get stronger so that the dungeon’s power can be bolstered, and that keeps me alive.
Forget about the hunting party, let alone the bosses of Dungeon 72. Even Balutak might challenge my authority someday.
The first line of defense against all those storms is Charlotte.
“For now, focus on your studies.”
I hope you struggle for a bit.
I’ve evolved you into a demon. I gave you an S+ grade dark magic book. I’ve done it all.
Let’s just push through to level 90, Charlotte.
“Um, well, how can I dare….”
Charlotte, who was like a machine, started malfunctioning like a real one.
Wavering. Charlotte’s fingers fidgeted with the book, then suddenly she hid her face behind it.
The book wasn’t particularly big, but her small face was completely covered.
It was clear she didn’t want her expression to be revealed, but her level already betrayed her inner feelings.
‘She’s really blushing hard.’
It reminded me of when Roseha proposed—such a deep hot pink. It couldn’t possibly get any deeper than this.
I couldn’t.
Unintentionally, I broke Charlotte’s affection record.
It was an assignment I handed to my subordinate at work, but could it have seemed like flirting to her?
‘Why are there so many boneheads in this world?’
In my previous life, I couldn’t attract a single girl, but now that I’ve become a Death Knight, suddenly there’s no shortage of female attention.
The problem is that the contenders are a murderous Witch and the Succubus Queen, who defaults to being a stalker.
Maybe it’s a good thing I’m a castrated Undead.
*
[Lv: 70]
Race: Death Knight
Permanent Traits: [Advanced Swordsmanship], [Natural Healing]
Active Traits: [Enhancement], [Evolution]
Bound Item: Solari’s Sun Sword (+1)
My level skyrocketed to 70 in an instant.
If I put down the holy sword, I drop to level 56. That’s my true level.
I only gained 12 levels from the experience of killing Wilhelm.
‘Pretty underwhelming.’
I thought being a hero would at least get me 20 levels, but that was a big expectation.
Even so, there was no need to feel too disappointed.
The biggest prize was the holy sword, and looking at my status window, it was clear that leveling up through the sword was much larger.
Without equipping it, I’m 56. With it, I’m 70.
To think there’s such a difference just because of one weapon; truly, it was a holy sword.
At first, I wore the EX-grade item, Calandas’s Rival Sword, yet I’m only at 70? It made me doubt a bit.
But what good is a great weapon if I can’t use it? In the end, it’s just a pretty facade.
Looking back now, even getting to 70 was generous.
The awakened holy sword’s abilities are only two versions: attack power and healing power.
Let’s assume I fight Charlotte using the holy sword before I evolve.
If she shoots magic from a distance, I won’t have any way to defend myself nor any mobility to approach, so I’ll just game over.
Even using Balutak, who’s the same level, I probably couldn’t win. Just seeing his speed would likely lead to my instant death.
With base stats in the 50s and having no way to deal with levels over 70, it’s a tough spot.
I glanced at Isabella, who was clapping hands with Balutak.
Feeling my gaze, Isabella turned her head toward me. For a moment, our eyes met.
“Uh… Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
“Uh, um. Uh-huh.”
She went back to clapping hands with Balutak, grinning like an idiot.
I still think I could beat you.
Now the title of the weakest has officially passed to her.
‘By the way, the holy sword.’
I still couldn’t believe that the awakened holy sword was in my hand.
But now wasn’t the time to rejoice.
What does it mean that I killed Wilhelm and snatched the holy sword?
The Empire’s Suppression Command and the church would surely have their eyes on me, ready to strike.
Let’s assume I managed to keep the holy sword.
The weight of the awakened holy sword also meant I was carrying out Wilhelm’s task, or rather, a divine revelation.
Helm’s task also carries the weight of the divine revelation.
“So, it’s about stopping Calandas.”
The very one who will throw humanity into the abyss of doom.
If that guy destroys the empire, my life is at risk next.
What do you think Calandas’ next target will be after devouring humanity as undead?
Only the Seven Lairs.
The developers even officially said it.
Q: What happens in the story if the player fails to stop Calandas’ invasion?
A: Since he turned all of humanity into undead, he became incredibly powerful, right? He destroyed the empire and gained strength; now he’ll want to rule the world. If it’s Calandas, he’ll turn the Seven Lairs into foes and try to make the world his.
He’ll attempt world domination, but the outcome is uncertain.
It’s a given that just his attempt puts my life in jeopardy.
Along with having already crossed paths with Calandas, by now he must have heard about my temporary alliance with Roseha. He’d secretly designate me as an enemy.
Ah, Wilhelm. He was a good warrior.
Now that Wilhelm has unluckily passed away, the task of the holy sword has fallen to me, the next owner.
First, I need to see how Calandas will come out during the summons.
At the same time, I must clearly differentiate between other bosses who align with Calandas.
Isn’t it said that knowing yourself and your enemy means you’ll never be in peril? To devise a countermeasure, knowing who the enemy is comes first.
“And I need to solidify my alliances.”
Keeping a solid alliance with Roseha in mind, let’s pull in those lower bosses who will grow big later.
According to the original story, Calandas will officially start moving a year from now. That is, if it sticks to the original story.
Now that Wilhelm is dead, the warrior I was most wary of is gone, so he might accelerate his plans.
However, Calandas’ wariness is not of Wilhelm, but of the holy sword. That holy sword hasn’t disappeared; it’s in my hands now.
“Who knows? He might be wary of me.”
The warrior of the holy sword.
The boss of the Seven Lairs of the holy sword.
I wonder if Calandas finds the latter more frightening.
If he is truly wary of me, he might delay his plans instead of rushing them.
Thinking any further won’t yield answers.
I need to subtly gauge things during the summons and keep an eye on what unfolds.
Right now, it was more important to observe the movements of the subjugation headquarters rather than Calandas.
…Two days have passed since then.
It had been a couple of uneventful days, aside from the tension.
“Boss.”
While I was passing the time idly, Charlotte called out to me.
Having spent a long time together, her emotions peeked through her usually expressionless face.
For some reason, she seemed oddly excited right now.
“I have news to share. You two, come here quickly.”
Charlotte summoned the officers while holding a newspaper.
I stopped observing the holy sword and plopped down right in front of Charlotte.
Balutak and Isabella, who had been slacking off, hurriedly rushed over.
Rado rushed over in a panic.
The lieutenant said he had something to say, so I had to listen.
Charlotte cleared her throat with a hefty “ahem.”
She pointed to the newspaper headline with a flourish.
“The Empire has officially named our dungeon!”
“Oh!”
“Kirik?”
Excluding the dungeons that already have names, the newly updated dungeon names are assigned by the Empire’s Conquest Command.
I saw it as an Easter egg, and the 72nd dungeon took pride in it like a badge of honor.
The command’s naming sense was pretty impressive, and other bosses knew the awe contained within.
Isabella and Balutak leaned in like meerkats.
Their heads got in the way of my view, and I just wanted to give them a light smack on the back of their heads.
‘There’s no turning back now.’
I suddenly realized that this mere Death Knight had unexpectedly become the boss of The Seven Lairs.
How did it get to this point? Sighing wouldn’t solve anything, and now that I’ve crossed the river, there was no turning back.
“Oh! I think the name is really cool!”
Isabella exclaimed as she looked at the newspaper.
Balutak nodded his head while crossing his arms.
“Kirik. It definitely has a resonance. I like the name.”
“Mr. Balutak, can you read?”
“Nope.”
“But what do you mean by ‘resonance’?”
“Kirik. Balutak is clever. You can tell by just looking, right? Which letters are good and which are bad.”
“Wow. That’s amazing.”
“Isabella. You know it’s obviously a crummy letter.”
“Huh?”
The little ones were blocking my view of the newspaper.
I was the boss, so I didn’t let it show, but honestly, I was the one who wanted to see it the most. It’s my dungeon, so it makes no sense that I don’t know the name.
I tried to subtly squeeze between them, but there was no gap.
“I really love this name. It makes me feel a sense of belonging!”
“Weren’t you feeling nothing at first?”
“Old? Ah, no, of course, I felt it….”
Hey, come on! Let me see too!
Thanks to Charlotte, who cleverly nudged Isabella aside, a space opened up.
Of course, you would think of me.
I leaned in close to read the newspaper headline and let out a small murmur.
The three of them fell silent and focused their gazes on me.
It’s nice that they were observing my reaction as the boss, but it felt too pressuring.
“I like it.”
As if they had been waiting for this, the three voices chimed in.
“Right? It’s nice, isn’t it?”
“I’m glad to hear that the boss is satisfied.”
“Kirik. It definitely has a resonance. What does this say?”
Coincidentally, the two heroes who died in this dungeon were each devoted believers of their own doctrines and tenets.
Considering that, this name suited them quite well.
【Seven Thrones of The Seven Lairs, Shrine of Faith】