Volume 2 Chapter 6 (1/2)

We left the city and headed toward the dungeon of the [Time] Demon Lord Dantalian.

Since I was going to build a dungeon somewhere between his dungeon and the city of Eclaba, going through the proper procedures was a must or else it would seem like an act of aggression.

Truth be told though, Marcho had already contacted him beforehand. She had thoroughly conveyed to him my purpose on building my city and that it wasn’t my intention to snatch away any of the visitors from his dungeon. I really owed Marcho so much, I couldn’t even look her in the eye.

We finally arrived at our destination after a long journey. The walk by itself took a while but we also encountered some monsters on our way. I experienced the walk myself and I realized that it was truly better to have a city halfway.

The [Time] Demon Lord’s dungeon was of the high tower type. It was a dungeon that felt somewhat sinister and intimidating.

“It really is a popular dungeon with all the people coming and going.”

Dumbfounded, I murmured so. A lot of humans were entering and exiting the tower. Stalls, although small in scale, were open for business. The shops that sold food and medicine as well as the shops that did simple repairs on the adventurers’ equipment were numerous.

“Kuina was surprised but there’s really an awful lot of injured people here.”

Just as Kuina said, there really were a lot of injured people here. Since they fought monsters as a profession, being injured was unavoidable. It was unavoidable and yet humans still continued to challenge the dungeon for its rewards were far more alluring than the risks.

“Master, I understand that we’re here to visit the [Time] Demon Lord but how shall we do it? Do we have to fight all the way to the top floor of the dungeon?”

Elder dwarf raised a legitimate question. It was, after all, normal for Demon Lords to stay hidden within the innermost space of their dungeon where their crystal was held.

“I don’t think that will be necessary. He has been informed beforehand that we will be coming this evening and he’s one of the most powerful Demon Lords so I’m quite sure he’s got something planned.”

It would be just like going to hell itself if we ever did have to fight all the way to the top since dungeons of old Demon Lords were easily comprised of more than a hundred levels.

“You all got your weapons?”

Each one nodded in response to my question.

We then pumped ourselves up and advanced into the dungeon.

◇

I was shocked by the fervor that greeted us as we entered the dungeon.

Countless humans and monsters were fighting with one another.

I wondered how the [Time] Demon Lord was able to acquire such a number of monsters and then thought there might have been some kind of method to increase the number of one’s monsters that I didn’t knew about.

We slipped our way through the fights and advanced ahead, avoiding fights with the monsters as much as possible. The sole purpose, after all, of us being here was to meet with the [Time] Demon Lord Dantalian and thus, I wanted to avoid killing his monsters and getting on his bad side pointlessly.

At the exact moment we exited the first floor, I felt some kind of mysterious energy.

I then looked at Kuina’s direction and noticed she was moving strangely slow. But it wasn’t Kuina that was slow, it was the world itself.

What could this be, I wondered as my consciousness faded out.

◇

A mild headache assaulted me as my consciousness returned. I then heard a voice talking to me.

“I believe this is our second time to meet each other. I am the [Time] Demon Lord Dantalian. In the name of fairness, I would like to say beforehand that Marcho has already informed me all about you.”

The suit-clad, big-monocle-wearing, wineglass-in-hand handsome young man sat on a throne with his legs crossed as he spoke.

I took a moment to look around and noticed I was in a western-style room filled with the finest furnishings. Beside Dantalian was a crystal. I guessed that this was most probably the innermost part of his dungeon.

Fortunately, my monsters were with me.

“Thanks for having us. Earlier, my body suddenly stopped moving. Was that perhaps Dantalian-sama’s power?”

“Exactly. I didn’t want too many humans seeing your transfer so I froze the flow of time for everyone in there. Afterwards, a monster of mine used [Transfer] and transported you here.”

I shivered at his words.

He was able to, at the very least, stop the flow of time in all of the rooms in his dungeon. On top of that, he was also able to choose which targets he wanted transport.

If this war a [War], our side would have already lost, and my monsters and I dead, then and there.

But I shouldn’t just jump to conclusions. He only did those things right after we exited the first floor so perhaps there was some kind of restriction behind it. Also, by everyone there, he might have meant everyone in the room he chose rather than everyone in the three-roomed floor.

“I see. Just as Marcho said, you’re quick-witted and very cautious.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course. Because if you were otherwise, you won’t be able to survive for long. I expect much from you.”

He was terribly looking down on me and he had every right to for at the present, he was vastly superior compared to me.

“Well then, shall we tackle my main topic at hand?”

“Hmm, before that, I would like to ask you something… have you already slept with Marcho?”

I was dumbfounded for an instant. What on earth is this guy talking about?

“No, I have not. Our relationship is that of a parent and her child. If we’re anything more, it’s that we are friends.”

“I see. I’m relieved by that.”

“Relieved?”

“I have been courting her all this time, you see, but have only been rejected so far. She won’t even let me hold her hand.”