Story: I'm a Daemon, so what?
Disclaimer: I do not own the original setting.
Chapter 104: Interlude - Spies!
There are up to 15 chapters ahead at [email protected]/theogbasilisk
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- Gadra -
Gadra let out a hum of interest as he passed through yet another barrier. The capital city of Azeroth truly had some extraordinary defenses, on par with the defenses back in the Eastern Empire in fact.
Sneaking into Azeroth was no easy feat, there were various roads that led to various parts of Demon Lord Felix's territory, yet to use those roads you would need to be thoroughly looked over as well as have all your cargo inspected.
Security was taken very seriously here. The Eastern Empire had similar practices though those were relaxing a bit due to the preparations for war being made. Not to mention the outskirts of Azeroth was filled with nasty undead that he had to navigate around. He even heard the roar of a mighty Undead Dragon. Demon Lord Felix truly had extraordinary defenses.
But he was not a master mage for nothing. He had already discovered the way the barriers functioned, they were powered by magicule batteries buried around the capital. All he needed to do was analyze the formula and make his own energy invisible to the barrier allowing him to pass through harmlessly.
Of course that would be nigh-impossible for almost everyone on this planet. The magic formulas inscribed onto the battery were incredible, in fact he would very much like to meet the creator of that invention for it was truly extraordinary. If he did not have the magi-tech knowledge from the Eastern Empire then even he would have failed to bypass the barrier.
Sasha had been the one to invite him to a meeting, yet he would do some recon first. Lieutenant Kondou had asked that of him after all. His students should currently be in Tempest conducting reconnaissance for the inevitable invasion, while he was in Azeroth doing the same.
Personally he was quite excited for the invasion, it would finally be time for him to get his revenge. Adalman and Albert would be avenged. While the Seven Luminaries seem to have been killed, their leader was still around as far as he knew. The Luminary of the Sun, Gran, also known as Granbell Rosso, the traitorous student of Emperor Rudra.
Now he was walking through the capital city. The capital city of Azeroth was a marvel to behold. Towering spires and grandiose architecture stretched into the sky, with structures woven from both magic and masterful craftsmanship.
The streets were filled with people of all kinds, from merchants peddling exotic wares to armored guards patrolling with a disciplined vigilance. It seemed to Gadra that Demon Lord Felix had not only invested in military might but also fostered a city rich in culture and thriving with life.
It was a thriving city that could very well be called a metropolis. Even from the perspective of someone like him with otherworlder knowledge. He found it to be quite wondrous, he was getting tired of the same old thing back in the Eastern Empire.
Aside from the Empire's capital of Nasca, its surrounding cities were filled with the stench of animals. Here, however, there was nothing of the sort which was a relief.
It was a shame that it would all likely come crumbling down in the future, but he was far more dedicated to his revenge than being a "good" person. He saw where that got his dear friend Adalman.
Gadra pulled the hood of his cloak lower over his face, masking his keen gaze as he observed his surroundings.
He had to admit, despite his loyalty to the Eastern Empire, he was somewhat envious of the harmony and prosperity he saw here. The streets were clean, its people unafraid. The walls themselves practically thrummed with protective magic, reinforcing the security measures that had initially made his infiltration challenging.
It was a truly wondrous city, on the level of the Eastern Empire's own capital city but with more prosperity, less competition. The Empire was a very competitive place, if you were not winning you were dying, it was as simple as that. And the Emperor actively promoted this mindset, in his own words conflict meant growth, and the Emperor was always looking for growth.
As he continued through the city, he took note of various locations of interest. He had asked around a bit and learned of a few key locations, unfortunately they were all incredibly well protected from the quick glance he took with his senses, and on top of that they were situated very close to the palace.
Thankfully he knew for a fact that there was some chaos going on in the West at the moment so chances were Demon Lord Felix had bigger fish to fry. He was likely attempting to take advantage of the opportunity to expand his hold over the Western Nations.
There was the Grand Library which was located in the palace itself. It was said to be a powerful nexus for magical research and study. An uncountable number of Magics were recorded there, same with Arts. There were even rumors that so-called unbeatable Spells were stored in the library, though Gadra doubted that, for there was nothing absolutely unbeatable in this world.
Still, he knew that a single breach of its defenses would have likely triggered a series of alarms, but for now, he was content to learn all he could from the outside. His goal was, after all, to gather information that could serve the Empire's interests.
Gadra's path eventually led him toward the palace, which rose like an imposing fortress in the center of the capital. Tall, reinforced walls of enchanted stone surrounded it, with runic inscriptions visible even from a distance. It wasn't as grand as the Emperor's imperial palace, but it was still a sight to behold.
But he reminded himself of Lieutenant Kondou's instructions. Recklessness could compromise the mission, and while Gadra had confidence in his magical prowess, he knew better than to underestimate Demon Lord Felix's security.
He could learn more about the interior of the palace from Sasha, he had a feeling that if she chose to stay in this kingdom then she was likely offered a rather good deal to continue her research here. She likely knew a thing or two most others wouldn't.
As for Sasha… he wasn't quite sure what to do with her. She had proven useful, a surprisingly cunning strategist for someone so young. And she was a great student, same as Razen.
Gadra wasn't sure yet how loyal she was to the Demon Lord, but that could work to his advantage. He suspected that Sasha's unique position within Azeroth made her an invaluable asset if he could convince her to turn against Demon Lord Felix, even subtly. But he would soon meet with her, and he needed to carefully gauge her intentions before making his move.
The first step, however, was to ensure he remained undetected. He was focusing on maintaining his concealment, making his presence blend seamlessly into the crowd.
Even the Anti-Magic Area around the city couldn't do much to stop him from doing that much.
Anti-Magic Area was a barrier that completely prevents all casting of magic that makes use of magicules. There were many misunderstandings about what Anti-Magic Area did. Some believed that it prevented rewriting of the Laws of the world, others thought it just negated all Magics.
Both were false, in reality what it did was destabilize all magicules within the Anti-Magic Area, making the magicules impossible to use to fuel a spell. That was why other sources of energy could work perfectly fine.
This applied even to one's internal magicule supply, the moment one tried to use their own magicules in a way that the magicules left the body, the barrier would work to destabilize the magicules.
But he was merely making it so that his energy was perfectly concealed as well as making himself invisible to almost all other senses as energy would just harmlessly pass through him, nothing that an Anti-Magic Area could affect.
Not to mention his control was great enough that he could fight through the destabilizing effects of an Anti-Magic Area.
The magic he was using required delicate control, but it was nothing beyond his expertise. Satisfied, he continued his journey through the city, ready to observe, to learn, and to set the stage for the Empire's eventual invasion.
So far he did not have any actionable information to report back, he was sure Kondou's spies already knew what he knew at this point so he would have to investigate a little deeper.
He understood the Lieutenant's wariness, the tales of Demon Lord Felix had already spread within the walls of the Eastern Empire. Such a rapid rise to power was unheard of, while Awakening did grant a rather large power boost, it was absurd that Awakening alone would be enough to ascend to the level of the True Dragons.
After all, the rumors said that Felix White had fought Veldora to a draw. While Veldora was weakened to his knowledge, that was still absurd.
He was there during the initial attack on Veldora centuries ago. He remembered the entire army being wiped out in a single breath. Veldora was a monster of the highest order that Gadra could never see himself defeating.
For a Daemon of no renown to do such a thing was very concerning.
For now he would focus on the military, he did not know how the military was structured, the weapons they were given, their general strength level, nothing.
For some reason he shivered out of nowhere. The weather couldn't affect him at all yet for some reason he felt something was wrong. He knew chances were if he felt something was wrong, something probably was wrong, but he was in too deep now. His Extra Skill: Danger Sense hadn't informed him of anything, neither had his Extra Skill: Presence Detection.
He wondered how his students were doing on their recon in Tempest?
- Lalatina -
She giggled lightly as she hovered above the foolish wizard that thought he could sneak into her beloved Master's territory. Her six demonic wings gently cascaded behind her as she watched the wizard conduct his reconnaissance. They had already known to expect the Court Mage of the Eastern Empire, Sasha had invited him with her Master's approval after all.
Though they had also been expecting him to use less than savory methods, they didn't know how loyal he was to the Eastern Empire or anything.
They knew of Adalman's connection to Gadra but that wasn't enough to be completely relaxed about Gadra's presence. And they were right to be wary of him, he had snuck into the city instead of going through the official channels through which Sasha would be informed and could arrange a meeting.
Her presence was completely concealed, to the point that a man as old as Gadra couldn't feel her presence. She knew very well how powerful Gadra was, now with an Ultimate Skill of her own she could see far more of the world than previously.
She was now even stronger than her peak in the Daemon Realm and she couldn't be happier. And it was all thanks to her beloved Master.
Her, Arcueid, and Megumin had almost immediately gone to spar to test out their new powers after becoming Devil Lords once more. Oh, their battle was glorious, she finally faced her old rivals at their full power and it was amazing!
Her Master had even said that once they get the hang of their new Ultimate Skills he'd like to spar against them in a 3v1. Ordinarily even a single one of them was a nigh-unbeatable foe to most. All three of them together was a force that even Guy Crimson had to take seriously. Probably.
But she didn't doubt that her Master could take all three of them on at once. He was her Master after all, it was only natural that he was stronger than her. Her Master was a Devil Lord before she even met him, and his strength had been steadily growing since, now she couldn't even read the vastness of his Aura, only knowing that he was stronger than her.
Watching Gadra with an amused smile, Lalatina continued to observe him from above. She was more than ready to act if he tried anything beyond mere reconnaissance, such as interrogating her Master's people. She didn't personally care much for them, but they were under her Master's protection so it was her duty to protect them. Though she found it unlikely that Gadra would do such a thing.
Still, she couldn't help but admire his resourcefulness. She wouldn't have detected him without the sneaky measures her Master put in place.
Her Master purposefully left small loop holes within the barrier system that could be exploited by an experienced enough mage. It wasn't too obvious to make it suspicious, but it was just hidden enough that the people trying to sneak in could just think of it as a simple mistake and gloss over it.
So while the weakness in the barrier was left there intentionally, it was still incredibly difficult to spot, perhaps only Razen, the Majin of Farmenas could have spotted it and he was a very skilled mage himself. Best in the Western Nations according to her Master.
Anytime someone accessed the loophole she and Megumin would be notified, her because she was in charge of general security as well as intelligence gathering, and Megumin because she was responsible for the bulk of the military force.
She had considered alerting her Master to Gadra's presence, but he was currently busy. The attack had only recently been dealt with according to Arcueid who had sent her a Thought Communication.
She imagined he was busy in Ruberious. She could handle Gadra if he pushed too far, she wouldn't be allowing him into any restricted areas. He wouldn't be allowed to leave just like that no matter what, but she wanted to see what he would do before she took any action.
She descended silently, allowing herself to get a closer view as Gadra navigated the city.
Personally she hoped Gadra did something stupid so she could have some… fun with him.
- Shinji Tanimura -
Shinji sighed as he and his teammates walked around Rimuru City. He was getting tired of the crappy medieval cities even if the Empire was quickly modernizing itself, still the change of pace was nice.
They had been able to enter the city with ease since they had Adventurer IDs that the shadow of the Empire had arranged for them. He didn't know who the shadow of the Empire was, he just knew that even Gadra was wary of him. And if Master Gadra was wary of someone then they were not to be messed with.
They were selected by the Court Mage Gadra to conduct reconnaissance on Tempest for the impending invasion.
He really wished he wasn't here right now, he wasn't an idiot after all!
He didn't want to get on the bad side of a Demon Lord! He couldn't even run away either, or else the legendary darkness of the Empire would track him down and put a bullet in the back of his head.
So unfair.
They were chosen because they were members of the Mixed Corps and, perhaps most importantly, acquainted with Master Gadra. He taught them for a time after all, just as he had taught many others.
When he first appeared in this world he was rather helpless, he had a powerful Unique Skill known as Healer which allowed him to basically become the ultimate plague master.
It allows him to manipulate viruses. He can manipulate the air composition to spread viral poison. It can also be used for healing purposes as well, making him nigh invincible against living creatures. Though he was aware that there were still many others that could slap him around, he was one of the Imperial Guardians after all, he could see Mt Tai.
"Woah! Is that cotton candy!" One of his compatriots yelled.
He turned to look where Mark Lauren was pointing and his eyes widened slightly. "Huh, it is, isn't it?"
The three of them were all otherworlders that Yuuki sent to the Eastern Empire. He was grateful to Yuuki for that, it was a shame that the guy died.
He was a university student from Japan who had spent most of his days in the lab doing research. Without Yuuki he would have had a lot more trouble, but the past was the past.
Even in this world, he loved wearing a white coat, which had now become his trademark look.
Then there was Mark, someone who had become a good friend of his over the years. Mark was a brown-haired, muscular man in his mid-twenties, making him the oldest of the three.
As a guy in peak physical condition, he was the type to wear a tank top and jeans all year round, even in the winter. Not that it mattered since he was an Enlightened, normal weather couldn't do much to them.
"Indeed, this is all quite nostalgic." The last member of their group said. Shin Ryusei was the youngest of them at just 17. He was a young man of few words. While you could never quite tell what he was thinking, he would carry out his orders to a T.
He wore a loose Chinese-style outfit with his braided, black hair running down his back. It seemed like he always had various weapons tucked away underneath his loose clothes.
Overall they had been teamed up for a while so they understood each other rather well.
"Let's get some!" Mark said enthusiastically.
Shinji sighed but relented. "Fine, but after this it's serious work time!"
Mark saluted him. "You got it boss!"
He sighed at Mark's response. Once Mark got each of them some cotton candy he began leading the group towards The Dungeon. That was the main thing they were going to be investigating.
As they munched on the cotton candy he told Mark and Shin the plan. They would be posing as Adventurers and would work their way through The Dungeon to gather information on it to report back.
The Dungeon was one of the most mysterious phenomena in Tempest so the Empire was very interested in it. They had heard a lot about it, how there was… floor loot, Monsters would drop items and money sometimes.
It all sounded like a shitty rpg game to him leading him to think of there being some otherworlder involvement.
They weren't meant to stay long, just quickly investigate before leaving. Their people in the Empire would arrange for a Warp Portal to transport them back once everything was finished.
Before any of that they secured an inn to stay at. This would likely take multiple days after all, The Dungeon was 100 Floors deep according to the information he had. And at the bottom was the Storm Dragon Veldora. He would definitely not be going that deep, he valued his life.
As they left the inn Mark looked to him. "Hey, why don't we go sightse– I mean why don't we investigate the city a bit? I'm sure there is a lot of information to be gathered." Mark said righteously.
Shinji's lips twitched, but he also kind of wanted to go look around. If they had cotton candy what else could they have.
"Fine, but we won't be taking too long, I do want to get into The Dungeon today."
Mark nodded. "Great!"
Shin sighed. "You always humor him."
Mark placed a hand over Shin's shoulder. "Come on buddy! Don't tell me you don't want to see what this fancy city has?"
"I suppose that is true. I wonder if they have teriyaki chicken?"
Shinji rolled his eyes.
As they explored Shinji's eyes progressively got wider and wider. Yuuki had seriously done some crazy stuff, he modernized the shit out of this world and yet it was all lacking in comparison to Tempest.
Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and yakisoba were just the beginning. There were also a wide variety of pastries to be had, such as crepes and cakes. A handful of extremely pricey treats also lined the shelves, leading him to wonder where the ingredients even came from.
From food stalls and coffee shops to fine dining restaurants. The lineup was filled with various types of food that made Shinji jealous of those who lived in this city.
"It shouldn't even be possible to make half these!" Mark yelled in frustration.
"Fufufu." Shinji stiffened as he turned around only to be face to face with one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
The woman exuded a refined elegance, with her long, dark hair tied back in a low ponytail that cascaded over her shoulder. Her piercing blue eyes held a calm confidence, and her smile was gentle yet knowing.
She wore a stylish, form-fitting outfit that combined a high-collared white top with gold accents and a sleek, dark corset-like vest.
From the bottom of Shinji's heart, he knew she was out of his league. Not in looks but in power, she wasn't releasing any Aura but that alone was a massive give away that he was in front of a big fish.
Every being in this world released some Aura, perfect control like what the woman in front of him was demonstrating was nigh-impossible.
He had only seen the… Marshall and the Emperor do something similar. Perhaps the Single Digits could do the same but he had never met one of them.
"Hallelujah." Mark said with a whistle.
Shin elbowed Mark in the rib. "Oww! What was that for!?"
Shin sighed. "Be respectful, keep your American ways under control." That had to be racist.
Mark was the classic jock in Shinji's eyes, the kind of guy that asked for the nerd's lunch money. But he was alright.
"You three are otherworlders then, right?" The woman asked.
Shinji nervously nodded. "Y-Yes ma'am!"
She brought one hand to her lips as she held in a chuckle. "Ara, I am now ma'am, I'm still only 20! Or something." She said with a sigh. "Anyways I just thought to bug you guys a bit since your reactions were pretty funny. Though lots of otherworlders have reacted similarly."
Shinji held his sigh of relief.
Good, she doesn't suspect us.
"Where are you three from?" She asked.
Shin coughed lightly. "We are mere Adventurers originating from the Eastern Empire. The border town of Euclid more specifically."
They already had a cover story prepared in case they were questioned. It was the same story they told the guard at the entrance to the city. There were lots of people who came and left from the Eastern Empire so it wouldn't be suspicious. As long as they didn't say they were from the capital they would probably be fine.
The woman raised a brow. "Oh? The Eastern Empire hmm?" Shinji really didn't like the way the woman said that.
All of a sudden the woman's eyes widened and Shinji's heart almost leaped out of his chest. The woman lightly bumped her head with her fist. "Oops! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Chloe, nice to meetcha!" She said with a goofy grin.
Before he could even introduce himself and his compatriots the woman continued. "Anyways I gotta go now. Enjoy Rimuru City!" She said as she left with a wave.
"Damn, she was a total hottie." Mark said with a dreamy sigh.
Shinji groaned. "Shut up Mark."
"Shinji is right, that woman is dangerous." Shin said with narrowed eyes.
Mark sighed. "Whatever, she's gone now so let's have some more fun!"
Shinji nodded. "Right… reconnaissance is what you meant."
Mark lightly coughed. "Yeah right, that."
- Chloe Aubert -
They were totally spies. How fun!
As she playfully skipped away from the group she met back up with Veldora. She had been comforting Veldora since Veldora had wanted to go to Ruberious to help deal with the attackers.
He hadn't gotten to let loose in a little while from what she knew, so he was rather upset that he had to stay in Tempest. Though Veldora going to Ruberious to help Luminous was bound to cause some trouble. She knew very well how Luminous felt about Veldora.
She also wanted to help, not just because Luminous was her friend but also because she wanted to show her good side to Rimuru.
"Yes! We need to show off more, show how reliable we are!" Chronoa added.
But Rimuru had asked her to stay behind to manage Veldora and protect Tempest and Azeroth in case anything happened while Rimuru and Felix-nii were away. She could never say no to him.
"So what were you doing, Chloe?" Veldora asked as he chewed on some takoyaki.
She tilted her head. "Hmm? Just found some interesting people. Spies from the Eastern Empire I'm pretty sure."
All three of them were Enlightened, that was not common at all. Despite the general level of strength in Tempest, Enlightened level fighters were incredibly rare all throughout the world. Even in Tempest not many reached that level. According to Chronoa all three of them also had Unique Skills as well.
"Indeed." Chronoa confirmed.
She was still getting used to having another voice in her head, but she couldn't deny just how useful Chronoa had been. Controlling most of her power had been a lot easier than it would have been on her own.
She knew very well that she had tons of power, her EP was a bit above 50,000,000 since Chronos, Lord of Space-Time cost her tens of millions of EP.
She was honestly looking forward to the fight with Felix-nii, he beat her to the ground so much in the other timelines, she knew it was for her own good as without that training she would have been worse off, but she was still looking forward to it.
Chronoa was too. Chronoa wasn't her, but she still experienced her memories meaning she carried some of her emotions. Chronoa was looking forward to showing off, both to Felix-nii and Rimuru, as was she.
Veldora's eyes widened. "Eh?! Seriously? Shouldn't we do something about that."
Chloe tilted her head. "Probably, they haven't really done anything bad so far, it's not like spies are uncommon." Some Kingdoms in the West had sent some people over to investigate as well.
She was sure that there were many other spies that remained undetected or unaware that they were even spies in the first place. She didn't doubt that the Eastern Empire likely already held considerable information on the happenings of Tempest and Azeroth.
Veldora raised his fist. "It is my duty as Tempest's protector to take care of any misfits! I will show them the vastness of Heaven and Earth, for throughout Heaven and Earth, I alone am the Honored One!"
Chloe rolled her eyes. She had also read Jujutsu Kaisen in another timeline, she also knew that line was stolen from the Lotus Sutra.
"Or we can just watch them a bit? I'm sure they're going to visit The Dungeon at some point, you're the King of The Dungeon so why don't we mess with them a bit?"
Veldora raised his head thoughtfully. "Hmm, fine. I have been convinced!"
Chloe stifled a laugh as Veldora proudly nodded, a glint of mischief sparking in his eyes. Despite his bluster, she knew he loved the idea of playing around with the spies, especially since it was in The Dungeon, his personal playground, where he could let loose without worrying about collateral damage.
Of course they wouldn't take personal action, that would just be unfair, but they could always rearrange the floors a bit so they were purposefully led into some funny situations.
Yes, they would be having fun at others' expense!
"So, how should we mess with them, Veldora?" She asked, folding her arms and tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Do you want to give them a few extra 'special' Monsters to deal with?"
They couldn't purposefully spawn any specific Monsters, but they could teleport a Monster from another floor to wherever the group of spies were.
Veldora's grin widened. "Oh, that's a wonderful idea! Maybe I'll throw in a few Wyverns… or perhaps a Salamander!"
"Hmm, what about we lead them to the Slime farm too!" Slimes were often thought of as weak, but in groups they could be really troublesome, they had decent regeneration and were super toxic. Rimuru had made a floor out of just Slimes.
Veldora laughed. "Hahaha, yes!"
She had already sent out someone to keep an eye on the three Adventurers, a Dryad to be specific since they could blend into the environment rather well. Plus she would fit in within The Dungeon so the group of spies shouldn't be scared off.
As they moved back into the heart of Tempest, she began to lay out her plan with Veldora. They would set some 'interesting' challenges for them on certain floors, a few illusions here and there, maybe a well-timed earthquake or two. Some Monsters, basic stuff like that. The spies were all Enlightened so they could handle it. Probably.
Chronoa chimed in her thoughts, her voice lively and approving. "We can perhaps figure out their Unique Skills as well. Don't get too cocky, Chloe. We don't have all the information on them. We may be strong now but don't let that get to your head."
'Fine fine.'
Chloe knew that Chronoa was right. She really was letting her newfound strength get to her head. But who could blame her? She had a super overpowered Ultimate Skill now!
It was a combination of Usurper which was already a cheat, Absolute Severance which could wound Veldora as a Unique Skill, and Infinity Prison which was also incredibly powerful. She hadn't fought Veldora yet but she felt confident she could at least challenge him if not beat him. She was built different now!
She smirked. Felix wouldn't know what hit him when they sparred!
- Shinji Tanimura -
They had continued their tour of Rimuru City. The plumbing was perfect, there was no smell of defecation or anything like that which was the norm in most cities in this world. The food was great, there were even hot springs!
Eventually they decided to return to the inn to leave the things they bought before finally visiting The Dungeon.
As they were walking back Mark spoke up. "Hey Shinji, can we like stay here?"
Shinji's lips twitched. He would be lying if he said he hadn't thought of that. They were somewhat well respected in the Eastern Empire, but even then they didn't have half the luxuries the common people of this city seemed to have.
Shin nodded along. "Indeed, I am taking quite the liking to this city."
"Hey!"
"Aha, I was just kidding. I think." Mark said.
Shinji sighed. "Nah, it's fine. I'm just considering the feasibility of that plan."
Mark's eyes widened. "Wait, you're seriously considering it!?"
Shinji nodded. "Mhmm, this place is pretty great after all. We can discuss it more later."
They had long since lived under the impression that the Eastern Empire was the forerunner in civilization and modern comforts in the whole world. But now, after seeing this country, they had realized just what was out there.
The town was fun, and the food was tasty. Not only did it feel comfortable to live here, but there was also no shortage of entertainment and a rich culture, providing plenty of opportunities to enjoy themselves. They had lived some pretty harsh lives till now, lots of the comforts they took for granted were gone, but in this city they could enjoy them once more.
The Empire also had cultural centers and various forms of entertainment to speak of, but those were made for the nobility and they weren't free like in this city, meaning they were prohibitively expensive for a commoner which is what they were despite their status as Imperial Guardians. The world was pretty backwards when it came to nobility and power. Compared to that, this city was…
"But Master Gadra will be a pain in the ass to deal with." Shinji muttered.
Mark nodded. "Mhmm, he will be. I doubt that guy's willing to join us either."
Shinji sighed. "Yeah, I guess we'll just have to see how everything goes. For now we continue as planned, we drop our stuff off then go to The Dungeon."
Both Mark and Shin nodded.
Even if they wanted to move here permanently it was more complicated than that. The war would soon break out. This city would obviously be a target, there was no way it could escape undamaged.
They were well aware how powerful the military of the Empire was and believed that this country wouldn't stand a chance against it. They were each strong Enlightened and yet there were many many people above them in the Imperial Guardians, each more monstrous than the next. Especially the Single Digits.
It didn't take them long to find their way to The Dungeon after dropping off their stuff, there were signs littered across Tempest guiding people to The Dungeon. It seemed to be the main tourist attraction, even if you personally didn't want to venture inside The Dungeon, Tempest had a paid subscription program where you could watch the Adventurers currently fighting in The Dungeon on a stream that was displayed in a room adjacent to The Dungeon.
The Demon Lord ruling over this area seriously knew how to make money. He was like a shitty exploitive Japanese businessman who only looked at the profits.
All three of them approached the grand entrance to The Dungeon, taking in the massive stone archway inscribed with intricate carvings that glowed faintly with a mystical light. They were really going with the whole fantasy element, he was pretty sure the runes literally only had one function, to glow.
The area around the entrance was bustling with adventurers of all kinds, some merchants selling potions, artisans displaying charms and enchanted gear. It was all around a rather enjoyable atmosphere.
A tall, stern-looking Tempest official stood by the entry gate, scrutinizing each adventurer's ID card. He seemed to be an Ogre of some kind, though the energy that was leaking off of him was rather impressive.
He wouldn't have been Shinji's match but he would still be considered a valuable asset back in the Eastern Empire, yet here he was being stationed as a guard of sorts.
Shinji's heart skipped a beat as they joined the line. He adjusted his posture and steadied his breath, hoping their cover as adventurers from Euclid would hold up.
When their turn came, Shinji stepped forward with a confident nod and handed his Adventurer ID to the official, who examined it closely, then gave him a hard, assessing look. "You're here for the first time?"
"Yes, sir." Shinji replied calmly. "We're here to test our skills in The Dungeon and hopefully bring back some valuable loot." He had already rehearsed his lines multiple times. Was he trying too hard? Probably. But he didn't want to die, he wasn't trying to get caught by a Demon Lord with his pants down. That was just asking for a bad end.
Wasn't Demon Lord Rimuru a Slime too?
Yeah… he definitely wanted to avoid that bad end.
Ugh, tentacles.
The official nodded slowly, still eyeing them carefully. "Many of you newcomers are. The Dungeon's no joke, though. You can always respawn but… well, the Monsters down there won't show you mercy. The pain of dying will be dulled but it still isn't an easy experience."
"Woah! So that whole respawn talk was real?!" Mark yelled in excitement.
Shin had an impressed look on his face. "I do wonder about the mechanics behind such a function, that is truly extraordinary."
He had heard the reports about how death was not truly eternal in The Dungeon, though death never really was eternal in this world. Thanks to his position in the Empire he knew of the existence of resurrection spells, but those were incredibly rare and very difficult to cast. Yet The Dungeon was able to spam revive people? What bullshit was that?
The official smirked in pride. "Indeed, The Dungeon is one of Tempest's pride."
Shinji raised a brow. The official seemed to be genuinely proud of his nation's accomplishments, he didn't seem to have any ulterior motive, he was just happy that his nation was doing well.
That was rather rare in the Empire due to its competitive nature, jealousy was common as was betrayal and various other dishonest practices. Strength was supreme, if you were strong you could do what you wished, if you were weak then you deserved what had happened to you.
The Empire was an advanced nation, but Shinji knew just how messed up it truly was, and the Empire encouraged these practices.
The Emperor purposefully made things competitive to create stronger warriors for his visions of conquest. The commoners of the Eastern Empire practically lived like medieval serfs.
There was a reason Shinji and his compatriots weren't all that loyal to the Empire.
Shinji inclined his head respectfully. "Understood. Thank you for the warning about The Dungeon."
Mark and Shin gave their IDs to the official as well, who gave a short nod before stepping aside. "Good luck." He said gruffly. "You'll need it. If you wish to get to the lower level floors."
Once they walked past the man they entered the lobby of The Dungeon, they spotted a small gate that led to the first floor. From the research he did he knew it would teleport your party to a random spot on the first floor.
Mark and Shin looked around with interest. "This all looks rather reminiscent of a game." Shin commented.
Mark nodded. "Yeah, it does."
There were many other Adventurers littered around the lobby, it was rather large after all. He could see various signs, some labeled as Item Exchange where you could exchange your dropped items for coins, another labeled Adventurer Assistance where you could receive some guidance if you were struggling. There was even an Adventurer School you could go to.
Tempest was seriously going all out on The Dungeon. It was actually kind of cool.
In one corner, a group of burly dwarves laughed uproariously over drinks, while a pair of elves, their cloaks shimmering with enchantments, whispered over a scroll.
Mark whistled, taking in the scene. "This place is packed! Guess The Dungeon really is a big deal."
"Yeah, look at all these different races… dwarves, elves, even some weaker Daemons." Shin murmured, awed by the diversity of the crowd.
The Daemons were a surprise to Shinji, he didn't know that any Daemons were residing in Tempest, Daemons were reviled for a reason. They were firmly in the Chaotic Neutral alignment and would do whatever they wished to get their rocks off.
Shinji shivered as he recalled the Lake Shore Dyed Scarlet Incident, that incident firmly made him understand what true power looked like. Those piercing red eyes would forever haunt him.
As they moved further into the lobby, their eyes fell on a small but striking figure standing by a towering, intricately carved wooden column. A dryad, unmistakable by her leaf-green hair and bark-like skin, was speaking to a group of adventurers. Her dress, woven from vines and petals.
"Hey, look." Shinji whispered, nodding in her direction. "I think that's a Dryad. You don't see them outside much."
He knew the Dryads served Tempest, but they were still creatures of legend. It was a rather unique experience to see one in the flesh. Though oddly enough no one else seemed to be staring at the Dryad like they were. Maybe they were so common around here that the people became desensitized to them?
Mark whistled. "Man so many hotties! Now I really want to stay here!"
Shin scoffed. "Why? So you can embarrass yourself more? You couldn't pull anyone genuine back in the Eastern Empire, you think that'll change here?"
Mark pouted. "I can dream!"
Shinji rolled his eyes at his friends' bantering.
The Dryad caught their gaze and offered a gentle smile, beckoning them over. "New to Tempest, I see." She said softly, her voice carrying a melodic, ethereal quality. "I am Lirien, guardian and keeper of The Dungeon's natural boundaries. If you're planning to explore, there are a few things you must know."
Shinji tilted his head in confusion. This didn't seem very normal, but he would have to go along with what he supposed.
Lirien began, "First and foremost, The Dungeon here is unlike any other in this world. Each floor is a realm of its own, and the deeper you go, the more challenging it becomes. But remember, this is a place of balance, overseen by the spirits and beings of the forest, and by Lady Ramiris, the Fairy Queen. Any adventurer is free to explore, but there are rules you must respect."
He nodded. The Dryad went on to explain the basic rules he knew of. It was all mostly just common decency, don't attack another party, stuff like that.
The Dryad smiled. "Now I do hope you all enjoy." She said as she vanished into leaves.
Shinji brushed off the oddness of that interaction.
"You two ready?" Shinji asked. He already had all his gear on him, some basic armor, and a scalpel. Mark and Shin didn't use weapons but they were also decked out in some light armor.
Shin nodded as did Mark.
"Then let's go." He said as he led them through the gate. For some reason he had a bad feeling about everything.
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I am highly motivated by your guys' reviews and likes, so do that! I'll probably keep writing or something.
I have a discord server, come hang out if you want! https://discord.gg/VxR5Gn72Fp I also have a channel in Shiro's Gaming Omniverse.
Author's Note:
Sup everyone, back with another chapter of Daemon. This one was more to showcase what else is going on in the world while the stuff in Ruberious is going on. Hopefully it was entertaining to read for you all, Shinji and co are basically my vessels to showcase what Tempest is like to an average person and I had some fun writing them. Plus I hope I was able to explain a bit more about the Eastern Empire from a more average pov. All that we know about the Empire is from a privileged point of view mostly, only scraps from Misha about how shit the streets are. Rudra has a vision for world peace, but he's focused on world domination now, only after he has the world will he begin to make changes.
Gadra doesn't know that he is being watched by Lalatina so that'll be pretty fun to write.
Anyways, thanks for reading, peace.
Thanks to @Salante and @Flowerman for beta'ing this chapter.