“Alright. Cough, cough, forget what just happened. It seems you aren’t just random ‘Adventurers’ who stumbled here… So, why are you looking for the Empress of the ‘Tenth Demon City’—me—for?”
After the commotion at the Dungeon’s entrance finally subsided a little, it gave Will some time to observe Lucifer before him.
A BOSS-type demon girl with a human-like appearance, who acted cute, kind, and even a little clumsy. She didn’t even look like a young girl given her apparent age.
It seemed, just as she said, she was indeed the Empress of the “Tenth Demon City,” and the “boss” that the various “low-level” demons outside were referring to.
So…
The mystery she revealed, which felt like it leaped hundreds of chapters ahead and hinted at the Dungeon’s deep secrets, should also be true—
“Because we need energy from Adventurers’ battles to allow the Dungeon to expand downwards.”
Although it sounded a bit strange.
But…
As someone who had read the Original Work, Will believed this was likely one of the settings that existed in the Original Work but was never revealed.
After all, when he first entered here, the Original Work had only just finished detailing the tragic fates of three defeated characters who were brutally killed and separated from Xiu, as Xiu and the Empress of the “Apex of the Galaxy” embarked on a journey into the true “inner circles of the Dungeon.”
If the Dungeon’s expansion energy truly came from Adventurers’ battles…
It seemed to explain the otherwise peculiar actions of the original Empress.
For example, why she didn’t pursue Adventurers who clearly intended to retreat, and why, despite being able to arrange the content of each floor of the Dungeon at will, she still followed a pattern of increasing difficulty. And why, on some floors, she deliberately left “weaknesses” to increase a sense of accomplishment, encouraging them to challenge again next time—it all sounded exactly like the work of a game designer.
She seemed different from other Dungeon Emperors; she didn’t just “know this,” but unreservedly “spoke it out.”
Will glanced at Shuna.
Her hand was never far from the dagger sheath on her leg, and while her expression seemed relaxed during their conversation, she was clearly ready to fight at any moment.
However…
Will felt something was off.
His objective in the Tenth Demon City was actually to “find materials capable of forging a sword for the yandere Princess within the Tenth Demon City.”
But…
In the past, he and Shuna had come here because they needed to know one thing—
Where did the “Green Ghost Stone,” which came from the original game, originate? And who brought it in?
Why… did the answer they heard from Lucifer feel so disconnected from their question?
It was like asking “what is 1+1” and being answered with “obtuse angle.”
What they truly wanted to hear was not “the secret of the Dungeon’s operation,” but…
Shuna turned and looked at him, mouthing “You’re secretly looking at me again,” and as if sharing a telepathic connection, she nodded and stepped forward.
“There is indeed a crucial question. Because… someone recommended we come to find you; she said we could get the answers we desire here.”
“Someone… recommended?” Lucifer’s surprise seemed even greater. “It’s been almost three months since an Adventurer challenged us, how could that be…”
“We’ve been searching for the origin of an item. And the origin of this item seems to be related to the struggles within the Dungeon…”
Shuna pulled out a fragment of the “Green Ghost Stone,” which she had taken out countless times before, from her pocket.
Even though it was broken into tiny pieces, like dust, anyone who was the creator or had used it would immediately recognize that something was wrong with it.
After all…
This item, carelessly drawn by a game artist, was too conspicuous!
She spread her hand open and pushed it towards Lucifer.
“That’s right, it’s this. Are you the creator? Or do you know the creator…”
“Hmm…”
Lucifer carefully picked up the small fragment with her finger and held it up to the light to examine it.
Her expression was serious.
She seemed to have a look of recognition!
This was it!
—Just as Will and Shuna thought.
“What is this thing that looks like scrap from a third-rate stall in a mining area?”
“…”
Huh!?
After a brief silence, Shuna and Will exchanged a look of confusion.
It was Lucifer’s turn to panic, as she was already inexperienced.
“Wh-what’s wrong, I-I… did I do something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Will rushed forward, snatched the stone from her hand, grabbed her shoulder, and shook it in front of her eyes.
“Look again, you really don’t recognize it?”
“I… I really don’t recognize it.”
She showed him her wide, innocent eyes.
“No Adventurers have come for the past year, and a year before that… I don’t think I saw it then either.”
This was bad.
Will’s heart sank.
They had been following this clue to the Empress of Moonlit Ice Extreme, Clodell, who might have cut this stone. Through her, they met Lis, Liya’s mother, who was suspected to be the transporter of this stone.
But now…
The clue…
was broken?
Was the clue Lis gave them wrong?
Or had they misunderstood what Lis meant by the answer they desired?
No, no, no, it was strange to have trusted Lis in the first place. Lis might be the Witch who transported the Green Ghost Stone to various Dungeons! On one hand, she was in league with those people, and on the other hand, she was a Witch who enjoyed playing tricks, so her words were inherently untrustworthy…
One could only say that the identity of “Liya’s mother” was too misleading.
“Th-then… I really don’t recognize it. Can… can you let me go? I’m just a spiritual BOSS, my demon body is very fragile.”
Will released his grip.
He realized he might have been too anxious and had applied too much force. Red handprints were left on Lucifer’s exposed shoulder.
“I’m sorry, I was a bit heavy-handed.”
“Uh… actually, you attacking a Dungeon Empress as an Adventurer and then apologizing… is quite strange.”
Lucifer seemed to shrink back onto the bed fearfully and then spoke.
Never mind, it was fine.
This clue had appeared in a strange, abrupt manner to begin with.
If it weren’t for it being identical to a game item, he might not have paid attention to it at all.
It was an unavoidable fact that it had broken off in an equally abrupt manner.
One could only say…
The person who created it was extremely cautious.
As if fearing that others would discover the secret behind it.
The BOSS floor, which had been filled with lighthearted banter, now seemed to have fallen into an ice-cold silence.
Shuna seemed to be lost in thought and hadn’t spoken.
Will was waiting for Shuna’s response.
In this silence, the one who seemed most eager to break the awkwardness was the Dungeon’s ruler—
Lucifer looked left and right. She now resembled a child who had done something wrong and was trying to make amends.
“Um, it’s… it’s okay if I don’t know about this, right? You… as Adventurers, don’t you want anything from challenging a Dungeon? This is a rare demon-dominated Dungeon, why not get some rare materials?”
