VIP Chapter 446: Interlude: Shuna Meets Carver
“……”
She didn’t speak, just processed the information.
And also…
Processed her own disgust.
Even though those things looked no different from plaster statues on the surface, Shuna still felt a physical revulsion.
You would surely feel extremely disgusted if you saw a statue begin to writhe like a real person.
However…
Because she hadn’t spoken, Daisianwei seemed somewhat unsatisfied.
“What’s wrong? Are you scared? What a shame… I thought Shuna Polol, the child who has killed me once while alive, would be happy to see such a ‘mother’.”
Shuna discovered…
That Daisianwei, or Reviers, truly, truly, truly liked her.
Without a trace of deception, she liked her very, very much.
She liked her as if she were her own “child.”
“After all, I’ve created countless children who could ‘kill me,’ yet not one managed to develop the consciousness to ‘survive’ within the rules of a Dungeon monster and a God-Attuned, and actually survive.”
Her tone was uncharacteristically “disappointed,” like the disappointment one feels after meeting someone who likes the same celebrity, only to find out their favorite aspects are completely different.
Except, the “celebrity” they liked was named Death.
She showed Shuna all of this almost without reservation, and seemed to eagerly await Shuna’s “response.”
“No, it’s not like that. Your Highness Daisianwei, it’s just… it’s just a bit too shocking for me. I think… I need some time to process it.”
If she truly trusted her, this was something she could use.
She had to grasp it firmly.
She had to make her truly believe that she was indeed her rare “child.”
“Is that so? Because you are already my confidante, a being very close to me within this Dungeon, that’s why I’m telling you this—”
Daisianwei approached Shuna. As she drew nearer, the giant statue behind her began to slowly descend, returning to the spring.
Once submerged in the spring, it vanished as if it had never existed. Even standing on the bank, Shuna could no longer see the thing that symbolized Reviers’ true nature.
Thus, Daisianwei’s voice, which had been playing in multiple layers, reverted to a single voice, sounding much more pleasant.
What Shuna was thinking about now was…
How to convey this important information to Will in her next letter?
What Daisianwei had told her with all her heart, Will might not know. Such crucial information had to be told to him. If he knew this secret, he would surely… surely take action.
However…
She took a deep breath and stood firm.
She could sense that Daisianwei hadn’t brought her here and wanted her to do only this.
She wasn’t some kind of “good person.” After releasing so much information, she certainly wanted something from Shuna in return.
“Because, all ‘beings with consciousness’ should know their ‘origin’ and ‘destination’ to be complete. Now that you know how you came to be, do you feel a flicker of desire to continue staying here?”
“Yes. Your Highness Daisianwei.”
Shuna felt it. She was about to make her pay a “price”…?
“In that case, welcome to our ranks, join the army that will make Death Hall the truly deepest Dungeon— Hmm… for a special individual like you, if… if it could expand to everyone being like this, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Daisianwei leaned in, and Shuna sensed a subtle wrongness.
“This way, no internal personality would ‘die,’ and everyone could happily… live here forever.”
She twirled around, lifted her skirt, and walked in front of Shuna.
“Stay here. I can see that you, too, will eventually be someone who savors death—”
She caressed Shuna’s hand.
“Okay. Daisianwei… Your Highness.”
Shuna had a strong premonition that Death Hall now felt too much like a cult.
Although, if Daisianwei was truly Reviers, she wasn’t a cult at all, but the only existing “true religion” in the entire world.
“Then, Your Highness Daisianwei, considering there might be Adventurers arriving today, may I return first…”
“Of course, of course! I welcome anyone willing to forge a path in the Dungeon!”
Daisianwei’s voice was exceptionally high-pitched. Shuna felt she was even more excited than when she had first entered.
Just as Shuna was preparing to leave…
“Caw—caw—Visitor approaching, please open the door, beep, please open the door.”
A nearby jet-black crow let out a sound like a doorbell.
“Hm? Mr. Carver?”
“What? You can enter and leave my place as you please, but now you’re starting to be reluctant about yours?”
Accompanying this voice, Shuna turned her head…
In the deepest part of this Dungeon, which they had to reach by falling, from the right side of the Sacred Spring, as if “landing” directly from the spring…
It was Carver.
Carver Hysterm, the Guild Master of the Adventurer’s Guild, Will’s biological father, and the one who… killed Will.
“!?”
Shuna stared in shock at the direction of the voice.
He walked in slowly, as if this were the lobby of the Adventurer’s Guild.
Dressed as he always was for business negotiations, often seen in newspapers, he wore a casual white shirt and elegant, ornate gold-rimmed glasses.
It was really… Carver?!
Although she knew that as the Guild Master of the Adventurer’s Guild, he had dealings with Death Hall and controlled all the Dungeons from behind the scenes…
Yet, he could enter Death Hall in such a casual manner, as if visiting a friend?!
Had their relationship with Daisianwei become this close?
“Next time, use my method to enter.”
Daisianwei clearly didn’t offer him a warm welcome.
“No. I don’t want to jump off a building every time. I have my own ways. Tasting too much of death dulls its thrill, doesn’t it?”
Carver spoke very smoothly. Despite his barbed tone, it was hard to find fault with him socially.
Shuna stood there.
If Carver had suddenly appeared here, he must have something he wanted to do in conjunction with Death Hall…
He didn’t seem to care that she was present, and perhaps she could overhear more at this moment…
“Next, we need to discuss… when we will clear ‘Zero Demon City.’ Hmm… if it’s convenient, I’d still prefer it to be just the two of us.”
Carver finally glanced at Shuna.
“Please, this lady, step aside for a moment.”
He made…
A request to be excused.
Wait…
Clear…
Zero Demon City?!
Isn’t that the Dungeon where Treya is located!?
