I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 272

The area. In other words, the depth of a dungeon is an indicator of its difficulty.

Dungeons within the same area—at the same depth—have similar difficulty levels.

In other words, even going just one level deeper significantly increases the danger of the dungeon.

“Hoo.”

After clearing all the dungeons on the shortest route from Area 6 to Area 7, I stared at Area 7, which unfolded in the darkness, with a fresh perspective.

The 6th to 10th areas, known as the ‘Deep Demon Realm,’ which can be considered the latter half of the dungeon, are incomparably vast and difficult compared to the previous areas.

Area 6 is the weakest of them, so it was possible to force our way through like this, but Area 7, where we have to carry out the rescue operation tomorrow, won’t be as easy as today.

‘The good thing is that [Wolf Den] is close.’

The Wolf Den is at the entrance of Area 7.

We should be able to clear it quickly and get out fast. That’s if everything goes according to plan.

“Alright, everyone worked hard today!”

Base camp.

It was time to end today’s free exploration and return.

“Let’s go back quickly, wash up, and rest!”

I encouraged the party members, who were exhausted from clearing several dungeons today.

We have to work hard tomorrow too, so they need to rest well tonight.

The tired party members yawned or stretched, entering the teleport gate one by one.

Even the sulky Lily and the particularly exhausted Godhand disappeared into the gate. After all the other party members had returned.

“Verdandi.”

I turned back to look at Verdandi, who was seeing us off.

“Thank you for your cooperation all this time.”

Verdandi smiled softly. Every time I see her, I can’t tell if she’s smiling or crying because of the beauty mark under her eye.

“You’re welcome. This is all to save my companions, after all.”

That’s right. Currently, Verdandi is only helping us to save her party.

But it’s also true that she has actively helped our dungeon exploration for the past few weeks.

I think we’ve formed a pretty cooperative, not bad relationship.

“Since we’re helping each other, it’s not really a repayment for your help, but……”

I took out a dagger from my pocket and handed it to Verdandi.

“Take it.”

“Huh? This is……”

Verdandi widened her eyes and accepted it.

Blink Dagger. It’s an SSR-grade dagger that came out of the last box opening.

I thought about it a lot, but I decided to give it to Verdandi in the end.

She’s the only dagger user, and if the battle gets intense tomorrow, it would be better to give Verdandi a trump card.

“It’s a Blink Dagger. You know how to use it, right?”

“Wow, such a precious item……!”

Verdandi, who immediately recognized what it was, looked surprised, but she accepted the dagger politely with both hands without refusing.

“Thank you so much, Ash. I will use it well.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just giving it to you because you’re helpful to us. Don’t feel burdened.”

I took out another small pouch from my pocket and gave it to her.

“Ah, and this is sunflower seeds. I got some more.”

“Heok! Thank you so much!”

It seems like she likes this more than the SSR-grade dagger.

Watching Verdandi happily taking the sunflower seeds, I suddenly became curious.

She likes them so much, but I’ve never seen her eat them. Does she save them and eat them occasionally?

I quickly shook my head, imagining Verdandi secretly hiding in a corner and nibbling on sunflower seeds one by one. She’ll eat them however she wants.

“Then, see you tomorrow!”

As I waved my hand and stood in front of the teleport gate, Verdandi suddenly reached out her hand.

“Huh?”

Does she want something more? I don’t have any more sunflower seeds.

As I looked at her questioningly, Verdandi awkwardly wiggled her fingers.

“You, you taught me when we first met, right? When humans greet each other, they do this, shake hands……”

“Ah……”

I swallowed my laughter and said, grabbing Verdandi’s hand.

“Okay. Nice to meet you again, Verdandi.”

“Haha. Yes. Have a safe trip, and see you tomorrow.”

After awkwardly waving her hand, she let go, feeling embarrassed.

I made eye contact one last time and threw myself into the teleport gate.

Flash-!

***

“……”

The base camp where Ash had disappeared.

Verdandi looked back and forth at the items in her hands. The Blink Dagger, a top-tier piece of equipment, and the pouch of sunflower seeds.

‘……Ash is a good person.’

Moreover, he promised to save her companions who were captured by the monsters. Although time is running out…….

Verdandi wanted to trust Ash.

He was one of the few kind humans she had met during this endless, hellish dungeon exploration. Verdandi clenched the dagger and the pouch tightly.

‘……Shall I go?’

After packing her things, Verdandi left the base camp.

The space where she and the Holy Grail Expedition party had set up their base was separate.

After walking for a while in the darkness of the dungeon, she soon reached the place.

A space where the water supply between Area 5 and Area 6 was connected. Here, water leaking from broken pipes seeped into the excavated stone walls.

Rarely, clear water flowed, and nameless grass and moss grew luxuriantly around this narrow passage.

Verdandi, an elf born and raised in the trees, found this place the most comfortable in the dungeon, and the party had set up their base here.

Verdandi, returning to the empty base after all her companions had been kidnapped, entered the hut, unpacked her things, and headed to the small patch of soil next to the waterway.

And in that finely tilled soil, she carefully began to plant the sunflower seeds she had received from Ash.

“……Hoo.”

After emptying the contents of one pouch and wiping the sweat from her forehead with her soil-covered hand.

《You’re doing a futile thing, elf?》

Along with a carefree giggle, a seductive voice suddenly rang out.

《Planting flower seeds in this dungeon where not a single ray of sunlight reaches. Are you stupid?》

“-?!”

Startled, Verdandi quickly drew her dagger and turned around.

Sarrrr.

How had she been hiding that sinister aura all this time?

A being exuding a suffocating evil energy slid out of the shadows at the far end of the passage.

It was a woman who revealed her voluptuous figure through her tattered monk’s robes.

Her hair was a shimmering pink, unlike anything of this world, with horns protruding near her temples. And a demon’s tail.

Verdandi gritted her teeth, raised her dagger, and called out the opponent’s name.

“Salome……!”

The 7th in the Nightmare Legion.

The eldest daughter of the succubus.

Femme fatale, Succubus Queen, Great Seductress-

Salome, the legion commander of the succubus legion, narrowed her eyes and smiled. Her red eyes glowed with a bewitching light.

《Ahaha. Nice to meet you too, darling.》

Verdandi stared at Salome with a bewildered gaze.

“How did you get here……! I put up several layers of perception-blocking magic……!”

《I just teased one of your companions a little, and they spilled the beans? That you would be here.》

At those words, Verdandi’s eyes widened.

“What did you do to my companions, succubus!”

《They’re ‘still’ alive. Elf.》

Salome covered her mouth and chuckled.

《But what to do? I don’t think they’ll last long. They’ve been trapped in my ‘dream’ for quite a while. Once their last bit of energy is drained, they might wither and die?》

Immediately, Salome shook her index finger from side to side.

《Ah~ I know what you’re thinking. You’re going to come rescue them with your new friends, right?》

“……!”

《Do you really think you can? You must have felt it when your party members were captured.》

A sneer like a crack appeared on Salome’s porcelain-white, beautiful face.

《The difference in power.》

“……”

《Even that nameless one has repeatedly failed after charging in alone to save those who were captured. It’s impossible for you to rescue your companions with your power.》

The Plague Legion. The Succubus Legion. The Werewolf Legion.

The legion commanders of the three legions had formed an alliance, and Verdandi’s Holy Grail Expedition party had been helplessly defeated by them.

Having experienced the overwhelming power of the enemies, Verdandi couldn’t easily deny Salome’s words.

The Great Seductress declared in a rather cheerful tone.

《Above all, I’m not stupid. If you try to take my guests by force, I’ll immediately destroy their dreams. Then the minds that were watching the dreams will collapse.》

“……”

《You know? I’m just keeping them alive. Once my mercy ends, your companions will die. Or suffer something even more terrible.》

“What…… do you want from me?”

Verdandi asked in a voice that sounded like she was about to spit blood. Salome’s eyes widened.

“You wouldn’t be threatening me like this if you didn’t want something, right? Tell me. What do you want?”

《It’s simple. The humans you’ve been getting close to lately.》

Salome stated her demands concisely.

《Hand them over to me.》

“What?”

《No, no, I don’t need all of them. I just need that human commander named Ash.》

A faint blush appeared on Salome’s cheeks as she thought of him.

《I’m interested in that guy. Oloop, Selendion, and now even Lunared, he’s taken them all down……》

“……”

《At this point, it’s definitely not a coincidence. It’s fate. There’s something about that human man.》

Immediately, Salome’s eyes sparkled, and she whined like a child.

《So, I want you to arrange a one-on-one meeting between me and that guy named Ash! Is it possible? Huh? Please~!》

“……What are you going to do when you meet him? Seduce him?”

《Ahaha! Of course? What else is a succubus supposed to do?》

Salome, who had been laughing innocently, had a sinister shadow cast over her face.

《I’ll plunge him into a dream, turn his mind to mush, figure out how he was able to do all these things, and then kill him.》

“……”

《Then the King of Kings will be very fond of me. ‘Salome! You’ve relieved my worries! You’re the prettiest and smartest after all!’ Ah, I want to be praised so badly~》

Verdandi, who had been listening with gritted teeth, trembled.

“……What if I refuse your offer?”

《Refuse?》

A cruel smile appeared on the Great Seductress’s lips.

《Can you refuse?》

“Keuk…….”

《Are you going to abandon your precious companions who have been with you through this hell? I’ve been watching you and your companions on this endless exploration for over a hundred years. Do you think I don’t know your camaraderie?》

That’s right. More than anyone else, Verdandi cherished her companions who had been with her in this hell for a hundred years.

However…….

“……”

Verdandi clenched the Blink Dagger in her hand. Her eyes also went to the sunflower seeds planted in the flower bed.

Ash’s kind face, who had offered to help without hesitation, flashed before her eyes.

Salome scoffed at Verdandi.

《Could it be that you’ve grown attached to those humans too?》

“……”

《That’s a funny story. Noble elf.》

Salome folded her long fingers one by one and continued.

《You’re wandering around this place to find the treasure that will save your country. And the reason you’re looking for that treasure? Isn’t it because your country was pushed back in the war with the humans?》

“……!”

《In fact, your country has already been destroyed by the humans, and your race is barely surviving as slaves of the humans, right? Even in this situation, you want to side with the humans? Haha, you’re really stupid.》

Verdandi, who was trembling, gritted her teeth and spat out.

“That’s why I’m looking for the Holy Grail…….”

《Hmm?》

“If I find the Holy Grail, I can revive the World Tree, activate the ancient magic, and bring our kingdom back to life……!”

Salome covered her mouth and chuckled.

《In that process, you’ll have to be hostile to humans anyway, right?》

“……”

《No matter what, humans are your enemies. And humans are also my enemies.》

The Great Seductress raised her fair, slender hand and stroked her long neck.

《I’m saying that I’ll kill your enemies for you. Shouldn’t you be grateful to me?》

“……”

After a long silence, Verdandi asked with difficulty.

“……If I hand over Ash.”

《Huh?》

“Then you’ll safely return my companions, right?”

《Of course. Of course.》

Salome affirmed.

《This is the only way to save your companions, your people.》

“……”

《The enemy of my enemy is my friend, they say. In the face of the common enemy, humans, we are allies. Elf.》

Salome slowly reached out her hand, offering a handshake to Verdandi.

Verdandi stared blankly at the Nightmare Legion Commander’s fair, beautiful hand.

The handshake she had shared with the human commander who had been helping her just a moment ago…… flashed through her mind.

《How about it?》

With a beautiful, and deadly smile.

Salome whispered.

《Will you form an alliance with me?》