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The reality that unfolded before Arpina was cruel.
"I... lost?"
It was unbelievable.
The numerous abilities she possessed were instantly shattered by a single light-infused fist of Abelus.
The magical power of her strongest hypnosis and psychological manipulation magic bounced off without even penetrating his skin.
Before the name of the strongest, she was powerless.
His family returned to the hands of their head, and she was defeated.
Even though it was a battle that started with her having captured his family in advance.
"I already knew. That you were the culprit behind the numerous assassinations and disappearances that occurred here."
Abelus's voice, looking at one of humanity's worst criminals, was cold and firm.
Just like his power.
"What will you do with me now?"
"Put you on the execution stand. Many citizens will watch your end."
She was captured by him just like that, and was actually executed.
That's what had happened.
'If it weren't for the reincarnation technique... what would have become of me.'
One of the many spectators who came to watch the execution.
By stealing the soul and body of an unnamed woman, she survived.
A sorcery that possesses someone with similar physical conditions and soul wavelength to her original self.
It was one of the many abilities she had stolen.
"Power..."
Of course, the price was great.
She lost a considerable amount of the numerous abilities and magical power she had gathered.
'It's okay. I can regain them.'
But that was only a part of it. Her essence still remained.
At least, that's what she believed at the time.
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"Have a safe trip."
"I will return soon with results."
Right after Ran left the dungeon for Elena's business.
"Hmm...?"
Light rose from the communication crystal I had kept separate for contact with Serica.
-I'm coming over! Open the door!
"Alright."
A straightforward sound, but not too surprising.
Serica's contacts were always like this.
Even now, after learning noble etiquette, she always started with the main point when talking to me.
It might seem like she's trying to cover up rudeness with a direct attitude, but in fact, it's probably because she wants to be honest with me at least.
Since she's communicating normally with other nobles, there shouldn't be any problem.
"Rita-!"
"Welcome, Serica..."
As always, she rushed into my arms before I could finish speaking.
Whoosh
Various flower fragrances rushing in like a wave following her body.
'It's become even more amazing.'
This fragrance, which had been growing stronger as she regained her power, now swept in so grandly that it seemed to fill the entire dungeon space by itself.
The sweetness of lilac mixed with the scent of roses, and on top of that, a harmony created by layers of exotic flower scents from unnamed flowers.
It felt like a feast for the nose, as if bringing an entire spring garden.
It's amazing that it doesn't give me a headache despite the overwhelming amount of scents.
It felt even more so because the blood scent that used to be strong before had completely disappeared.
Woong-
Behind her, the door still open was spewing out a few more silhouettes.
It was a different magical effect than usual.
'Did she... bring many people?'
"Huaah...!"
Although I was curious, I focused on Serica in my arms rather than examining that further.
She had already buried her nose in my neck and was taking a deep breath, so I couldn't help but pay attention.
"Rita's elegant and deep scent...! I missed it!"
"I don't use anything like perfume though."
"I like it more because it's your natural scent!"
"I see."
The rumor that perfume is used to cover up body odor was just a rumor on Earth, but it was true in this world.
For one thing, nobles' body scents were quite strong, and with magic, perfume combinations became much easier, so they weren't expensive enough to be considered luxury items.
It's a world that extremely values power. It was natural that the value of such technical magic wasn't very high.
"You've regained a lot of power."
"Yes! I'm ready to digest the core too!"
As Serica's magenta eyes sparkled, magical power swirled around her, emitting a soft light.
The phrase 'digesting the core' refers to the final path that a Dungeon Lord and core reach.
An elite-rank Dungeon Lord can embrace the core into their body in the process of reaching high-rank.
'Like the dragons or divine beasts of the Western Continent.'
The process of making the heart of the dungeon, itself, a part of oneself.
Only then does a Dungeon Lord perfectly become one with the dungeon.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't digestion, but unification.
"That's something to celebrate."
"I'll be stronger than Rita soon!"
"Serica..."
At those words, I inwardly smiled bitterly.
Although her eyes were full of confidence, I could also sense the anxiety hidden behind it.
Serica was originally stronger than me, but that couldn't be the case now.
The loss of the dungeon core she had experienced once and the subsequent rampage must have left permanent damage on her.
Even now, I could sense some cracks in her magical power.
'She's certainly recovered a lot now, but...'
Right now, she has the power of an elite as an ordinary being, and an upper-rank as a Dungeon Lord.
But considering that more than 100 days have passed since the time of that rampage until now, it was probably after receiving quite a bit of support from the Marquis family.
"Please do so. Then maybe I'll be a bit more at ease too."
I hid all those worries and smiled while stroking her head, and both her expression and fragrance were tinged with joy.
"What? Aren't you frustrated?"
"Why would I be frustrated? It's not like you're going to harm me."
She put her hands on her waist and frowned.
It was a cute, pouting expression.
And then she said.
"Really. Rita is so naive. You might get backstabbed by other demons? Of course, I won't do that!"
Two people flinched at those words.
Sonia, who thought I couldn't possibly be treated like that, and Xue, who actually knew I had been betrayed before.
In the latter case, it hadn't happened in this world.
"Then, you'll protect me, right?"
"Hehe. ...Ah! That's right."
Serica's expression changed suddenly as if she had remembered something.
She really has quite a diverse range of expressions.
"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner! I would have come quickly to help!"
This time it was quite a high concentration of genuine displeasure.
There was a tiny bit directed at me too, but it wasn't a negative emotion, more like a kind of disappointment.
Still, it's familiar.
In that her expression and emotions match over 90%.
'When did I start feeling this way?'
I was always good at reading other people's emotions on Earth, but since coming to this world, it gradually became stronger to this extent.
Perhaps I've become more accustomed to directly feeling the emotionless emotions of the summons.
So if you ask if it's uncomfortable to read emotions like this, it's not.
'Rather, it's comfortable if anything.'
Since I was originally a mind that couldn't see other people's expressions as they were.
Anyway, now it was her conversation topic rather than my thoughts.
"What?"
"I heard the ground Archduke sent something like an assassin!"
"Ah."
It seems she's talking about the 'Witch of Dreams'.
I had told people to keep quiet about it, but I wonder where she heard it from.
"Evangeline asked for help. She said to gather as much force as possible."
"Eve did?"
I felt my eyes widening involuntarily.
I was surprised as it wasn't something I had instructed, but on the other hand, I understood.
The weight of the title 'high-rank' was never light.
It's a term referring to beings who are only a few steps away from what could be called the ultimate realm in this world.
"Come to think of it, you all came over armed. Was it because of that?"
I had been wondering about the various demon-like beings visible behind Serica.
Most were vampires with light armament, who had come over carefully equipped with close-combat weapons and magic tools.
In addition, some personnel were other demon races from the demon realm with heavy armament.
"Of course!"
Serica's answer was spirited.
Like a female warrior about to embark on an adventure rather than battle.
"I thought you were on your way to clean up the surroundings in advance after finalizing the dungeon's location."
Her ground settlement had been fully approved, and the location selection was also finalized.
However, she wasn't planning to settle on the ground right away.
It goes without saying which is safer between creating a dungeon on the ground and then reaching elite rank, or reaching elite realm in the demon realm and then constructing a dungeon.
It was a strategically wise decision.
"If it were that, I wouldn't have brought so many. An escort would be enough for that."
"That's true."
As I nodded in agreement, Serica, who had smiled for a moment, frowned seriously again.
"Don't change the subject."
"Was I caught?"
"You were. Why didn't you tell me?"
Serica's voice was still tinged with sincere disappointment.
If I avoided speaking any further, she might really get hurt.
"Well, aren't you already busy helping me?"
While preparing for the settlement of her own dungeon, Serica was handling all sorts of affairs in the demon realm on behalf of Nirvana and Kamaya's Dungeon Lordification.
I had already entrusted her with troublesome political affairs, so I didn't want to involve her in dangerous battles.
"Asking for more than this would make even someone as shameless as me feel sorry."
At my words, Serica's expression softened again, and with a whining tone, she grabbed my waist and buried her head in my neck.
"You don't need to feel sorry for me..."
"I know. Thank you. Thank you."
"If you know, treat me well."
"I'll try my best."
After calming her down by stroking her head and shoulders several times.
I gestured with my chin towards the knights who were trying hard to turn their heads away behind her, not wanting to see their master's unseemly behavior.
"Shouldn't you introduce them? They're people who came to help me because of your request, aren't they?"
"Ah, yes."
The few demons who followed her.
Most of the members were Serica's guards, and some were retainers of the Baritra Marquis family.
As it was the force she could bring as someone who wasn't even the official heir, of course, there wasn't a single high-rank among them, but...
Instead, including Serica, who was an upper-rank Dungeon Lord, all 8 members possessed elite-rank power.
'She really gathered them sincerely.'
I could tell at a glance.
That Serica had pushed herself a bit for my sake.
Considering her position within the family, this level of force is enough to reconsider her creditworthiness.
If this force is lost, it might mean her reputation within the Marquis family could fall to a point where it can't fall any further.
It was fortunate that there was no need to sacrifice them.
"They'll be a great help. Thank you for coming."
"We've heard of Lady Libertas's fame even in the demon realm. You're much more beautiful and elegant than we heard."
"I almost became a fan at first sight."
These people, regardless of age or gender, treated me with eyes full of goodwill.
Thanks to them, I could also hear in detail about how I'm currently evaluated in the demon realm.
"You were the one veiled in mystery because the East Continent Sales Department of 'Greed' was so protective."
"Seeing you in person, I can understand why. With such grace and appearance, any high noble in the demon realm would have coveted you. Anyone who sees you would surely want you as a concu-"
"Hey."
"Ah. I apologize."
At Serica's sharp call, the knight who had been speaking a bit too loosely closed his mouth.
'Greed' of course refers to Mammon's forces.
Although they appear as a company on the surface, their true nature is still 'Mammon's legion'.
"No, thank you. I'm always indebted to them."
"They probably think they're serving you. Lord Greed is so loyal to the Demon King's policy after all..."
After a moment of awkward air, another knight continued speaking with a gentle smile in response to my words.
It was a tone that clearly conveyed reverence for Mammon.
Although the Baritra family is clearly a subordinate of Satan, the Wrath Archduke, it wasn't strange for their members to have respect for other Archdukes.
"That's why I'm even more grateful."
"Wow... You're just as we've heard."
Meanwhile, Serica seemed displeased with their attitude.
Her cheeks were slightly puffed up as she crossed her arms.
"You guys never said such things to me."
"Well..."
"Right...?"
"What do you mean 'right'? You guys!"
There's a sense of familiarity without much formality.
Well, if they're willing to follow her for such a dangerous task of facing a high-rank enemy, they must be a group that maintains quite a close relationship with Serica.
Smiling at them, I finished my thoughts.
'I can relax a little.'
Myself and my close associates.
The three queens who can be mobilized for this battle, and their most powerful elite forces.
And these elites that Serica brought.
This is really a level of force that can face a high-rank head-on.
"If something happens, it will really be a great help."
"If something happens... what do you mean?"
Serica's eyebrows furrowed slightly. As if she had noticed something.
I also smiled gently towards her.
"I'm grateful that you came, but if things go well, there might not be much need for action."
However, this force is just 'insurance'.
Because I had already prepared a main strategy to capture the Witch of Dreams.
If this succeeds, there was a high possibility that battles would be minimal.
"We're about to catch a high-rank enemy."
Because she will walk into the trap herself.