NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36
The half-human, half-demon Estizel, despised everywhere, hid away in a remote cave to escape everyone’s prying eyes.
All she wanted was to live quietly without being discovered.
‘Why is this trial happening to me?’
The problem stemmed from the 72nd dungeon being cleared at that time.
By sheer coincidence, the 72nd dungeon core was born right in the cave where Estizel lived, transforming the insignificant Estizel into the 72nd boss.
Naturally, the number etched itself into Estizel’s mind.
“I’m the boss of the 72nd dungeon! But wait, I’m only 72nd?!”
If it got out that she was the boss of the 72nd dungeon, her peaceful life would be shattered.
Estizel hid deep within the dungeon to keep her identity a secret.
However, the guild meeting approached, and the adventurers started searching for the 72nd dungeon, soon discovering Estizel’s lair.
Despite the merchants’ relentless questioning about being the 72nd boss, Estizel vigorously denied it, but it was just a game of hide-and-seek with her eyes closed.
The merchants confirmed with their own eyes that Estizel had a dungeon core.
Artificial dungeons couldn’t create dungeon cores, and it was a moment of revelation: she was indeed the 72nd boss.
“If you don’t attend the meeting, there could be consequences. Ignoring the efforts of our guild would be a mistake.”
Even though she was at the very bottom of the ranks, a half-human, half-demon, the merchants didn’t hesitate to threaten Estizel.
It was a meeting that hadn’t occurred in a century.
Every lord was expected to attend; it was only fitting.
Of course, other lords would have animosity towards a half-human, half-demon, but they weren’t worth worrying about.
“Do I really have to go…?”
“Do as you please. But if you don’t attend, the responsibility is yours to shoulder.”
Estizel knew all too well how the world viewed half-human, half-demons. That’s why she was so terrified.
She had hidden in the cave precisely to avoid moments like this.
What sort of treatment would she receive if she attended? Her mind was already foggy with dread.
On the flip side, she was equally terrified of what kind of retaliation she’d face if she didn’t.
In the end, Estizel reluctantly agreed through tears.
Finally, on the day of the showdown, she overheard a merchant say:
“…Did you hear that a half-human, half-demon committed suicide?”
“Uh-huh. Did you just find that out?”
It was news that a half-human, half-demon had killed themselves during the last gathering.
Estizel felt her mind spinning.
She couldn’t turn back now that she was already at the banquet hall.
In spirit, she wanted to bite her tongue and ‘kill herself’ like that other half-human, half-demon.
“Could I also be ‘killed’ like that…?”
Yet, out of the faintest hope, she stepped into the hall.
It took less than ten seconds for that hope to shatter.
“Isn’t that a half-human, half-demon?”
“Yep, they said the 72nd was a half-human, half-demon, so she must be it.”
“How shameless. What does a half-human, half-demon at rank 72 think they’re doing attending this meeting?”
“I guess we’ll just have to replace the 72nd again?”
Oh no.
“I’m dead now!”
Unanticipated scorn and hostility rained down from all directions.
“Out of the way!”
“Uh, uh oh….”
Shoulder-barging was just the start; curses were hurled right at her face, and someone even spat on her shoes.
With the atmosphere leaning heavily towards outright assault and a collective lynching, Estizel couldn’t stand it anymore and decided to hide as best as she could.
And so, she huddled in a corner, trying not to be seen, for hours on end.
Thankfully, the crowd’s interest began to wane.
While Estizel felt relieved, anxiety also lingered.
“Please let time fly by….”
Every minute there felt like an hour. Just standing there made it hard to breathe.
“Presenting the lord of the 7th rank, the owner of the Tomb of Faith! The Death Knight Barugore has arrived─!”
The loud announcement startled her, and when she processed the content, it jolted her awake.
Estizel had ears and eyes; how could she not have heard the rumors circulating?
How could I not know the rumors that have been swirling around?
The Seven Lairs, huh!? And Barugore from the Temple of Faith!
I heard that he was born as a singular entity in the Seven Lairs and has clashed with Rank 5, gaining an unyielding admiration from Rank 6.
More than anything, he not only killed two heroes but also seized the awakened holy sword. Truly a dignity that is hard to believe for a newborn dungeon.
I can’t help but think that the other Seven Lairs would be in awe of such feats.
“Hoh. That guy killed Gergor the Lord….”
“I never thought a boss would kill another boss…”
Ears perked up. Estizel listened intently to the sounds around her.
Then, an incomprehensible shock hit her head.
‘He killed a Rank 21 Lord!?’
The newborn Seven Lairs killed a Rank 21 boss without hesitation, in one clean stroke.
A moment of astonishment passed, and Estizel became overwhelmingly worried for her own safety.
The opponent was the boss of the Seven Lairs, who had killed a Rank 21 without mercy.
What if that half-human, half-horse—an eyesore—caught sight of her?
‘Just making eye contact would mean death!’
Whoosh! She turned and stood staring only at the wall.
If she turned her back on Barugore, she wouldn’t accidentally lock eyes with him, or so she thought.
Crack!
Suddenly, the sound of a fracture rang in her ears.
Out of instinct, she glanced sideways and saw Barugore holding the holy sword, with a boss lying at his feet, as if he had just fallen on his backside.
“Ugh….”
“Your rank and name.”
“Y-yes?”
“I asked for your rank and name.”
“…I’m Brutalgrim of Rank 34.”
“Got it. Best to stop here, considering the circumstances.”
“….”
“Next time, be prepared for your tongue to be pulled out. Answer?”
“Y-yes. I won’t do it again….”
With those words, Barugore returned to his place.
Gulp. The weight of saliva felt heavy in her throat.
In the banquet hall where they built camaraderie, a murder threat to a lord was delivered without hesitation.
Indeed, the Seven Lairs who killed a Rank 21 boss….
“Ugh!”
Estizel quickly turned her body.
At a glance, it seemed like she was meditating, but in her heart, she was far from it.
‘If I get caught, I’m dead. If I get caught, I’m dead. I’m definitely going to die. Please, please, please….’
Her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
Though she looked miserable, Estizel was nothing more than a half-human, half-horse who provoked spite instead of sympathy in this place.
It was then that footsteps grew closer.
Clank, clank. The steps accompanied the sound of metal against metal.
A wave of fear washed down her spine, and cold sweat trickled down.
Please, I earnestly prayed it wouldn’t be this way. Estizel prayed with all her might to the heavens.
As if betraying her prayers, she felt a sensation on her shoulder.
‘…Ah.’
Estizel froze in place.
It was clear they recognized her as a half-human, half-horse.
The fear pressing down on her body made it nearly impossible to move even a finger.
If she ignored it, she’d be killed in one blow.
Like a broken wooden puppet, Estizel creaked and strained to turn around.
Due to the huge height difference, she’d have to twist her neck to see their face.
But she shouldn’t have looked at that face. The moment she saw the ghastly glare of the Death Knight, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of dread.
“P-please just spare my life….”
Barugore silently cast his gaze.
In Estizel’s eyes, it felt like he was ready to kill her.
“Yik!”
Terrified, she stammered, her hiccup escaping.
Immediately, Barugore moved his hand. Estizel reflexively squeezed her eyes shut.
“Hand.”
“……?”
In her barely lifted vision, Barugore was reaching out his hand.
From the looks of it, it seemed like he wanted to shake hands. But only if you looked at it superficially.
In the magic realm, half-humans and half-horses were as low as unapproachable untouchables.
There was no way the noble owner of the Seven Lairs would casually touch a half-human, half-horse.
Countless guesses whirled in her mind, and in an instant, the answer struck her.
‘Is he trying to break my wrist…!?’
Esitizel looked up with a face full of terror.
With that expression, there was no need for a level color to show her emotions clearly.
“Hand.”
She cautiously reached out her hand, her tone gentle.
She had thought long and hard about coming to her.
The Seven Lairs has a level 72 boss, and also becomes the guardian of a half-human, half-demon? That surely would cause chaos in a bad way.
Nevertheless, the reason for her recruitment was that I saw great potential in Esitizel.
“Did you not hear? Just give me your hand.”
My arm was starting to ache.
But the response I got was ridiculous.
“W-wait, are you going to do something to my wrist….”
I couldn’t believe it. Did she really think I was going to cut her wrist?
Reluctantly, I took her hand and shook it.
“Nice to meet you. I am Barugore, the lord of the Seven Lairs. Your introduction, please.”
“…Huh?”
“I mean, introduce yourself.”
For a moment, it seemed like time stopped for Esitizel.
As she stood there, mouth flapping like a goldfish, her eyes blinked incessantly.
“This is going to take forever.”
“Y-yeah, four?”
“Just tell me your rank and name.”
“Uh, um, ahhh…”
Stumbling, mumbling, she was hesitating and fidgeting.
Her actions were so frustrating from start to finish that I barely held back a sigh.
“I-I’m Esitizel, rank 72. It’s, um, nice to meet you, the master of the Seven Lairs…”
Esitizel bent nearly in half like a flip phone.
Whether standing still or shaking hands, she kept acting like I was the bad guy.
If you judged by appearance alone, she looked like a freshly minted adult, which made me feel even more guilty.
“Rank 72, Esitizel. You’ve piqued my interest.”
“Huh? Interest? Y-you mean in me?”
“Yes.”
“I-I mean, as a toy? Or are we talking about a test subject here?”
What on earth does she take me for?
“That’s rude.”
“Ah! I-I’m so sorry! I’ve committed a mortal sin!”
“Neither a toy nor a test subject. Do you have a moment?”
“Um….”
“I bear no hostility. Let’s just talk. I want to build rapport, so don’t be afraid.”
Ugh. Esitizel took a deep breath.
“Build rapport, with me?”
“Yes.”
“B-but I’m rank 72?”
“I know.”
“And you’re the Lord of the Seven Lairs…?”
“Do you think I wouldn’t know?”
“…I’m even mixed with human blood.”
“What difference does that make?”
There technically is a difference, but your potential is more important.
Even after saying all this, her level color remained unchanged.
Just then, Charlotte and Balutak approached me from either side.
“I’ll introduce this insect first. This is Balutak, the guardian of the Shrine of Belief.”
“Kirrik. Nice to meet ya. Balutak here.”
“And this human is my lieutenant, Charlotte. Not half-demon or anything, just an all-blood human. Though she is a witch.”
“…It’s an honor to meet you, Lord.”
Esitizel’s dilated pupils were fixed on Charlotte.
“Are you really a human? Is a human truly the lieutenant of the Seven Lairs?”
“Indeed.”
“Wow….”
Esitizel’s mouth dropped open in shock.
Just as planned, the black color of her level slightly faded.
Having an all-blooded human as my lieutenant meant I wasn’t a speciesist, right?
Of course, they might question why I was associating with someone ranked only 72.
Balutak seemed too clueless to care.
Charlotte, on the other hand, kept glancing at me with a complicated expression.
“Boss, may I have a word with you, just the two of us?”
“Sure.”
I could already predict what we would talk about.
“Lord, this really isn’t acceptable. Clearly, as the foolish one I am, there’s no way for me to comprehend the boss’s true intentions. Nevertheless, this is truly….”
Charlotte snapped out of it and surveyed her surroundings.
The lieutenant serving the boss revealed his negative thoughts without filter.
Charlotte bowed her head, seemingly apologetic.
“I understand your thoughts.”
“…But why?”
This could potentially cause an even greater loss of honor than with Gergor.
Even understanding all this, trying to gauge their true intentions remained an enigma.
“I saw potential in Estizel.”
Charlotte knew that the boss possessed the ability to see potential.
Even so, potential alone was not sufficient justification.
“I will not entertain any further dissent. Trust my decision as you always have.”
“But, Lord…”
“Enough.”
He stubbornly refused to bend his will.
Is it really just the potential that has him wanting to forge a bond with the half-human, half-demon ranked 72?
No, there must be some other reason.
As Charlotte gazed at the figure of that being heading towards Estizel, she pondered on the underlying meaning.
After a lengthy contemplation, she arrived at three conclusions.
While not entirely certain, there was nothing else that came to mind.
The boss, unlike typical undead, harbored a deep sense of altruism.
The first possibility was purely out of pity for the oppressed, reaching out a hand.
‘Unless that’s not it.’
The second seemed to indicate he was considering his lieutenant’s feelings.
Charlotte, though a pure-blooded human, had lived a life akin to that of a half-human, half-demon.
Filled with persecution and escape, Witch Charlotte was a being unwelcome among both humanity and the dungeons.
It was clear that the same held true for the half-human, half-demon.
A lack of kinship and empathy felt towards other humans was evident.
However, upon seeing the half-human, half-demon Estizel, those feelings became crystallized.
At times, her gaze would inadvertently drift toward Estizel.
The boss was, without hesitation, offering consolation to Charlotte through his relationship with the half-human, half-demon.
“Don’t feel disheartened just because you’re human. I see you for who you are, regardless of your humanity.”
It’s believable that Charlotte continued to remain by the boss’s side in a withdrawn state.
If he had noticed her true feelings, all of her actions would now make sense.
‘Lastly….’
Truth be told, this was the hardest to believe.
That he might be an oddly sexual being.
With corpse lovers being among humans, who could say there aren’t human lovers among the undead?
Of course, undead typically lack desires for food, sleep, and sex.
But the boss was the lord of The Seven Lairs.
It wouldn’t be strange for him to possess things that undead cannot.
There are rumors that Lich King Calandas satisfies his appetite through soul consumption.
Both Charlotte and Estizel were strikingly beautiful human females.
Moreover, both seemed to be at a similar age, just entering adulthood with comparable development.
Now that she thought back, despite not having interviewed, she was immediately accepted as a lieutenant—not even a guard.
As a lieutenant who must always remain at the boss’s side.
‘Now that I think about it, back in the day…’
There was a time when she was changing clothes in the lieutenant’s room, and he had walked in.
At that time, Charlotte had been in a state of undress.
If he were an undead devoid of sexual desire, he would have simply gone about his business without a care.
Instead, the boss kept clearing his throat and pretended he didn’t see anything before closing the door.
That was a reaction one could have when seeing a naked woman, fueled by sexual desire.
‘He didn’t see my abilities, but rather wanted to indulge in the physical…’
Charlotte, full of mistakes and lacking in dungeon management, had been little help.
Yet he kept her around—could it be that he enjoyed her presence visually?
If that were true, it would mean the boss held desires for her.
It was a shock she had never considered before.
It truly could be that his intention was not her abilities, but rather her femininity.
“….”
Charlotte looked around her body.
The robe concealed her entirely without any exposure.
While her body felt comfortable, the stares were stifling.
‘I need to get some clothes that accentuate my figure.’
She inwardly hoped this last hypothesis was false.