* * *
"How is it?"
"I'm happy... that I've become a servant closer to you, Master!"
"I can see even better now that your heart is sincere."
"Aah...!"
Hailey and her family became 'Grendels' after going through the contract of demonization.
However, even though they became demons, they can continue to enjoy the noble life they've been living so far.
"We look the same, but to become this strong..."
"Father. Does this mean I can go to the academy too?"
"Of course you can...! You too, Rosie!"
"Wow...!!"
Grendel is a type of 'Greenskin' monster that hides among humans who enter dungeons and causes chaos when the moment of battle comes.
In other words, it's one of the species capable of perfectly mimicking humans.
If necromancers have Cerebrum Skulls, Greenskin Dungeon Lords have these Grendels.
"Be careful of our adversaries, and be careful of situations where you might lose consciousness."
"Yes...! We'll do our best!"
They might be able to enjoy life even more abundantly due to their bodies that are more powerful and have better magical efficiency than ordinary humans.
'If they're careful about a few things.'
Grendels can take on a form perfectly identical to humans, and even make their blood red, but.
They are clearly Greenskins.
They just take on the appearance of humans due to their chameleon-like characteristics of skin and blood, but originally they are a race with green skin and dark red blood.
So if they lose consciousness and their mimicry is undone, it becomes a big problem.
'There are hidden issues too, but...'
Cannibalistic preferences and belligerence.
These two are representative characteristics of Greenskins.
Both are antisocial in nature, so it was somewhat worrying from the perspective of someone who knows, but I also know that there's no need to worry anymore.
When I saw the knights of Solemio who had already succeeded in becoming monsters, belligerence just appeared as a slightly rough temperament when fused with human personality, and many didn't even know they had cannibalistic preferences.
Except in very rare cases where the two characteristics match perfectly, that is.
"I'm glad everyone likes it."
Some might say if you're going to change them into monsters anyway, wouldn't it be better to do so from the beginning, but.
To this question, I would answer that the emotions of those who have undergone monsterization are greatly influenced by the emotions they had before.
"Your joy is my joy, Master."
"We will do our best from now on."
"I will apologize for my slip of the tongue...!"
"I'm happy to serve such a beautiful master!"
Those who originally liked me will like me even more after becoming monsters, that is.
The child in front of me now was proof of those emotions.
"I've become prettier! Such a beautiful master!"
The appearance of the child looking at me and rejoicing without hiding sparkles. You could say the cute light has become even stronger than before.
The appearance of deceptive individuals tends to change to be good at deceiving opponents.
Thanks to this, the family members of Baron Shum's family have changed to be slightly more 'handsome' than before by human aesthetic standards, and this was a characteristic that would strengthen a bit more as time passes.
"Rosie!"
"It's okay. This is natural for children."
I picked up Rosemary, the child who was stretching both arms towards me showing familiarity.
It might not be a natural scene to look at since I'm not that tall, but there was nothing difficult about it in terms of strength.
Rather than me, it was the child's parents who were uncomfortable.
"M-Master..."
"Huk..."
Thinking it's disrespectful, Hailey's face had turned completely pale blue.
Gerald beside her was the same.
To their faces, I gently admonished.
"Children are just right at the level where it's hard to distinguish between loyalty and affection. Let her be spoiled."
"But..."
"Rosemary. Grow up well."
Chu.
"Yes!!"
It's good for children to be childlike.
They'll learn as they grow up.
Seeing that they didn't seem to be at ease even though I said it was okay, I lightly kissed the child's cheek, and only then did their faces bloom.
The whole family.
"The academy is good, but if you want her to learn something, rather send her to me. I'll arrange a suitable school or tutor."
"If you do that, it would be a lifelong honor...!"
"Don't call it an honor for something that should naturally be done. Your future is mine too, so I'm just taking care of what's mine."
We don't know what will happen if we send them to a human academy.
So it's better to keep them under my watch.
'It might be good to establish a few schools for those under my rule in the city that has become my territory.'
Schools are also good places to cultivate loyalty, so it would be even better to gather all the children in my territory and raise them together.
Of course, I absolutely don't intend to raise people like that mustached youth.
At most, it would be like a gifted school. With the difference that sometimes I might create and attach talents that don't exist.
Anyway, it's one of the things I must take care of for the future of 'my land', and further, 'my country'.
And also.
'Then...'
This school might be able to fill a bit more of the empty part in my heart too.
* * *
"I've kept you waiting, Teacher Mur."
"No, it was very impressive, Lady Libertas."
Mur's words were sincere.
This would be a sight difficult to see on the spot for any other demon.
'The process of a Dungeon Lord dominating humans.'
At least she had never seen it in her lifetime.
The last time Dungeon Lords rampaged 'safely' on the continent was 150 years ago.
After that, even the numerous established Dungeon Lords died out under the attacks of the entire continent's forces.
Now, only the areas ruled by 6 demon realms remained on the surface, and apart from that, there were only those dominated by humans or those in hiding.
'But...'
The Dungeon Lord now visible to her eyes, and in front of her.
Might accomplish something greater than all those countless Dungeon Lords who died put together.
Because.
"Good work, Grace."
"A-Ah, no, it's nothing, Lady..."
"Go in and rest. I'll see you in a bit."
"Yes..."
She had already succeeded in getting her hands on a human, or more precisely, a half-elf priest.
"How did you meet her?"
"Her? Do you mean Hailey, or Grace?"
Come to think of it, this Dungeon Lord had been calling them by name from the beginning, unlike ordinary Dungeon Lords or demons who just call humans 'human' or 'human male'.
As if respecting them.
'It makes me curious.'
It was a difference she only realized now, even though she had heard it from the beginning.
There were many outstanding beings around this Dungeon Lord.
Like the young magician who was always by her side, with an unusually high level of magic power.
"Grace... it is."
"Well. The trust between us hasn't built up enough to talk about that yet."
"Ah..."
'Me too...'
Hearing the words of refusal, Mur was surprised at herself for momentarily having such a thought.
'My goodness.'
She had unconsciously realized it.
That standing by this Dungeon Lord's side would be something that fulfills both self and interest.
'No.'
But that could be an act of suicide.
She already belonged to Belphegor, the Archduke of Sloth, and Libertas's position was extremely unstable.
'There are already many Archdukes on the continent.'
The Archdukes of demon realms are soon candidates for the successor to the Demon King.
They naturally wouldn't want the existence of juniors chasing after them, and if they learned of such an existence, they would try to destroy the stairs leading up to their position in any way.
Or tear apart that existence itself.
Either way, it was something with no benefit for Mur herself.
But even so.
"That's quite unfortunate."
"Yes. It's regrettable."
Mur could not possibly shake off this feeling that suddenly arose.
In her heart, which was trying hard to shake her head, an image of herself bowing her head to this small woman was already being drawn.
* * *
Four worlds related to magic.
The spirit world, one of the three worlds excluding the human world and demon world, which are material worlds among these four.
After repeatedly contacting that place with Mur's help, I was able to gain one understanding about it.
That the spirit world is a four-dimensional world consisting of four coordinates that should be called 'time', 'existence', 'transcendence', and 'spirituality'.
"You've understood correctly."
"Indeed."
"Yes. It's a bit different from existing theories, but since the magician's own understanding is more important, let's move on."
The time of the spirit world uses an axis similar to the time applied to the material world, but it doesn't necessarily correspond 1:1.
In other words, to prevent the handle of a sickle from rotting while enjoying life as an immortal, one must clearly recognize the coordinates of their own world.
"You've been helping me until now. Thank you."
"It's nothing."
The fact that I had been able to go back and forth between recognizing the spirit world and the present world without deviating from the flow of the original world was all thanks to Mur's help.
This is how important the help of a senior, or teacher, is.
"A world that can't be completely separated from the material world."
"The interesting thing about the spirit world is that it's dependent yet independent enough that it can't be contacted by ordinary means."
"Hmm."
The other three coordinates were inseparable from each other, like the three axes that form a three-dimensional space.
Among these, the 'existence' coordinate indicates that all beings in the spirit world are connected to beings in the material world.
All spirits or ghosts in the spirit world.
In other words, souls cannot be separated from the beings of the material world. Whether they are intelligent beings, or sometimes some objects or components of nature.
"Our souls are in the spirit world of the demon realm. That's why a ceremony to move that existence is needed when connecting a being from the continent to the demon realm."
"I understand."
That's why one coordinate is named 'existence'.
It's a coordinate that determines where that soul is attached.
"All living beings belong to the spirit world too... huh."
"It's an interesting fact. Our existence is not just in this place."
"I see."
The other coordinates, 'transcendence' and 'spirituality', are coordinates that exist attached to this 'existence'.
'Spirituality' is simple.
It's a coordinate distinction based on which aspect of this spirit world the observer sees... that is, whether they see spirits or ghosts.
But 'transcendence' is a bit more complex.
It's a coordinate about how much 'intersection of existence' that soul maintains with its source existing in the material world.
"It's obvious, but in the end, spirit users will lose their power if they can't maintain their existence in the elemental world and spirit world."
"That's right. That's why some magicians study ways to attack that connection itself."
"But they must be aware that it can be a weakness for them too."
Most spirits are linked to the natural world, and some contracted spirits are linked to spirit users.
This is the difference between spirits of the natural world and spirits of spirit users.
Also, the souls of the dead sometimes seek other bodies to influence the material world, and living souls sometimes detach from their bodies to travel.
The former is possession, and the latter is a living spirit.
"Interesting."
"Congratulations. You're quite early."
"It's thanks to you."
When I completely mastered the sense along with this understanding of the spirit world.
『Veil Keeper - An acquired quality. As a result of constantly attempting to communicate with evil spirits or elemental spirits, you have become capable of empathizing with beings without physical bodies. You can share this sense with others.』
I was able to gain a new characteristic and at the same time obtain a hint to fully acquire the priest.
The demon realm and the continent are separated, but their respective spirit worlds are not.
After observing both spirit worlds, I could quickly feel that they are both part of the spirit world.
The distance is ridiculously far on the 'spirituality' coordinate, but the 'existence' coordinate is the same.
"If there's a spirit world in both the demon realm and the material world, naturally there must be a part of the spirit world linked to the celestial realm too."
"That's why the souls of priests are tricky to handle. It's not even easy to obtain them."
"I see..."
But the three material worlds in the spirit world are merely spaces connected within the spirit world.
They're just very far apart, like each continent in the material world.
There was a hint there.