I’m Telling You, I’m Not a Boss Monster!

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“Ugh… there’s never a day to relax…”

“Tell me about it.”

“Hehe. Balutak likes this. I’ll eat them and evolve.”

Isabella and Charlotte are tense, while Balutak seems to be enjoying himself, chuckling.

I really want to give him a smack. Some of us are stressed to death here.

The Empire has declared an assault on the Shrine of Faith.

It’s said that Cecilia has organized a large-scale hunting party.

Thinking of it as Cecilia’s operation before her heyday makes me feel more at ease.

But it’s obvious that that little worm, Calandas, is just waiting for a chance to target the Empire.

It’s not just a matter of whether the hunting party will succeed or not; it’s a real headache.

‘… I’m the mastermind behind it all.’

I’ve killed two heroes, a border count, and the Grand Sage.

If I end up killing Cecilia too, I’ll have to consider negotiating with Calandas.

After all, thanks to me, the Empire ended up with a windfall, so mutual assistance is in order.

This is strictly a last resort, as I really didn’t want to get entangled with Calandas.

Right now, though, my main concern is the dungeon defenses.

“Charlotte, is the trap placement in the upper tiers completed?”

“Yes. As you commanded, it’s all set.”

During this time, Charlotte and Celina revamped all the existing traps from the first to the third levels.

For Cecilia, ordinary traps wouldn’t be more than a nuisance.

I know firsthand which traps will be bothersome to the hunting party.

Thus, I directed the types and placements of the traps.

These traps are designed to delay the hunting party’s progress and wear down their pace rather than cause damage.

That’s all I needed to intervene.

No matter how much of a veteran I am with 30,000 hours in this game, facing a dungeon boss for the first time is still new territory.

I entrusted Charlotte completely with all other dungeon defenses, and now it seemed her eyes were heavy with fatigue, as if consumed by worry.

The unmistakable signs of sleepless toil were evident.

She’s not showing it, which is impressive.

“You’ve done well.”

“…Thank you.”

Charlotte took charge of the overall dungeon defenses.

I assigned Isabella another critical task.

The strategy of the dungeon hinges on the advantage of information.

Naturally, the hunting party would usually gain the upper hand.

Attempts to conquer Dungeon 72 would be at least ten times, if not dozens, leaving considerable collected information about the dungeon.

On the other hand, from the dungeon’s perspective, the hunting party changes every time, which is intrinsically a disadvantage.

The idea that defense is ten times more favorable than offense doesn’t apply to dungeons.

However, the Shrine of Faith is different.

Among the Seven Lairs, it’s a new and unexplored dungeon. The advantage of information is indeed on our side.

“Check the route through Berntheherk City to the islands.”

“Yes, sir!”

Isabella, capable of bat mimicry, was perfect as a scout.

Looking at the Empire’s route, they would definitely have to pass through one city to get here.

That city, Berntheherk, is located in the central-southern region. The hunting party would come through there.

A hunting party moving in unison of hundreds of people would be easily noticeable from a distance.

I believed Isabella could handle it beautifully.

Two days passed, and thankfully, Isabella returned safely.

“The hunting party had around 100 members. Hmm, and they were all mounted. It probably took them at least two days to get here, maybe even four.”

“Did you see a silver-haired short-haired woman? Including the weapon she had.”

“Yes, I did. It looked like an amazing sacred sword. Just like you said, the guard was crescent-shaped.”

…Disaster upon disaster piled on.

I had an inkling, but I never thought it would be true.

“I may not have the best eye, but everyone seemed really strong. They looked like they had prepared a lot…”

No need to say more.

They had the divine relics on their side, so it was clear they selected only the elites from the hunting party.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Yes! Let me know if there’s anything else you need me to do.”

If they needed at least two days, then having perfect defenses ready within that timeframe is a given.

Most of it was already set up, but if we’d been slow, it would have been a disaster.

“Lord, I will fight with the honor of the Queen on the line.”

“Whoa!”

“Rawr!”

Carleon and the 9th Legion decided to guard the fifth tier.

Showing my face once to boost morale ignited everyone’s fighting spirit.

It’s best if they all rush in from one tier, but doing so would impose greater spatial constraints on us.

Thus, distributing personnel across different tiers was essential.

The fourth tier is Charlotte’s Undead tier.

The fifth tier is where the 9th Legion, Charlotte, Isabella, Balutak, and I would gather.

I intended to pour just about all our strength into the fifth tier.

Other dungeons may have many troops clearly organized by tiers.

Aside from the 9th Legion, I’ve got only the executives here.

Favoring quality over quantity, I thought this setup might serve us better.

‘I can’t use the 9th Legion as mere fodder.’

Losing the entire 9th Legion, including Carleon, would leave me too embarrassed to face Roseha.

Either way, if the fifth tier is breached, the dungeon would effectively be conquered.

If we detonated the divine relic right away and started the fight, our win rate would be at least 90%, but I still had three paths I was contemplating.

Should we detonate the divine relic immediately to seize the initiative?

Should we be mindful of Calandas and let Cecilia go while sending a divine relic too?

Or should we kill Cecilia and seize the divine relic for ourselves?

Amidst the dizzying dilemma, I ultimately reached an ambiguous conclusion.

I would overpower Cecilia and send her back alive. As for the divine relic, it would be mine.

This might be a non-choice, or it could be a decision that catches both hares.

Of course, that’s just a plan.

Depending on the situation, I might have to kill Cecilia or blow up the divine relic.

“Hey. Chief, tell Balutak what to do.”

“Go face the wall and stand there.”

“Sure! Got it!”

I had Balutak practice facing the wall.

This was the right fit for that bug who was useless in combat.

“Um, Boss…? What should I do?”

“Go study.”

“Yes….”

Estizel didn’t have any capabilities to help yet, so I had her focus on growing.

She might not help much now, but it’s a significant investment for the future.

Celina usually plays the role of a gardener, but it’s impossible to grow carnivorous plants in such a short timeframe.

It’s also too ambiguous to mobilize her as a fighter.

So she decided to take care of the kids and Helboki instead of participating.

“Thanks for your consideration. I want to help, but….”

“That’s a significant help as well.”

“…This dungeon is quite peculiar. Normally, we should be the ones guarding the boss.”

That’s because if the boss dies, the dungeon collapses.

This place isn’t without a dungeon core.

Well, even if there was a dungeon core, logically, protecting the kids was paramount. I brought them in on the premise of safeguarding them.

*

Two more days passed.

“You’ve come.”

Charlotte was slowly revealing the hunting party entering via the crystal ball in her hand.

At the forefront, moving alone, was the lady of the Moonlight Sword.

Just gazing at Cecilia made the tension grip me unconsciously.

“…Is everything in the fourth tier ready?”

“Yes.”

The fourth tier comprises the Undead tier, including Wilhelm and Astoria.

Rather than expecting a response, it was meant to demoralize the hunting party.

If they saw Wilhelm and Astoria as Dullahans, they would be thrown into shock, and that shock could significantly lower their morale.

‘In the fourth tier, expecting just to buy time might be too hopeful.’

Even if it’s not her prime, Cecilia was wielding the Moonlight Sword.

We had to approach this with the mindset of facing the boss of the Seven Lairs.

*

Seeing the hunting party risking their lives is also termed as a desperate mission.

That’s why the hunting parties of the Seven Lairs are sometimes called desperate missions.

This time, the hunting party at the Shrine of Faith was being touted by the Empire as a desperate mission of a hundred members.

Two heroes had fallen foolishly, and now, a new Seven Lairs, the Shrine of Faith, stood before them.

The desperate mission of a hundred members had taken their first steps towards death.

Drip. Drip.

Water droplets occasionally fell from the stalactites.

Before them lay an endless darkness.

The overall eerie atmosphere heightened the tension.

A chill ran down the spines of most.

They’d prepared for death, but it was hard to shake off the instinctive fear.

It was still just the first tier, and outwardly, it seemed similar to other dungeons.

There was no reason to start feeling tense so soon.

They were, after all, just about to become anxious out of psychological pressure.

‘Is this woman even human…?’

Hero Leon was astonished as he watched Cecilia’s back.

She moved at the forefront, wielding the Moonlight Sword as a torch ahead of her.

Leon, especially, possessed superhuman senses.

In such situations, the tiniest body tremors, changes in complexion, and heartbeats could be distinctly perceived.

Even heroes would feel it, but… Cecilia didn’t show any minuscule change in emotion.

This was the Seven Lairs, where two heroes had already perished.

Could it even be possible to maintain such emotional indifference knowing that?

Leon stopped trying to understand her any longer.

He internally concluded that she was a superhuman beyond human comprehension.

Entry to the third tier went smoothly.

Thanks to Cecilia, who pierced through the traps alone.

In the process, Cecilia navigated as if handling mere stone plates.

“Wow….”

“She’s becoming a real monster.”

“If Cecilia were on their side, ugh… just the thought is unsettling.”

It was somewhat lacking for a Seven Lairs trap, likely because it was new.

However, even considering that, Cecilia’s solo performance was far beyond comprehension.

She managed to traverse the third tier without encountering a single monster.

After descending into the fourth tier, it was still just darkness filling the area.

It only felt like that at first.

Wham!

Cecilia slammed her sword onto the ground.

Creak!

The response came quickly.

The sound served as a signal, bringing forth Undead that crawled up from the depths of the ground.

Estimates suggested that their numbers easily surpassed a hundred, but quantity was inconsequential.

Clang, clang.

The distant sound of armor-clad Dullahans approached.

“…Wilhelm?”

Leon’s pupils shook violently as he beheld him.

Moreover, seeing the other Dullahan, who was raising his sword beside him, he sucked in a breath.

“Sir Astoria! W-why are you here!?”

The missing border count appeared as a mere minion at the Shrine of Faith.

“…Then what of the Grand Sage?”

“No, that can’t be…. It can’t be….”

Despair spread across their faces.

Only Cecilia remained unfazed, scanning the two with blank, glazed eyes.

“Should we retrieve the bodies?”

“Of course! What kind of question is that!”

Sigh. Cecilia let out a small sigh.

Previously a hero, of noble blood.

Yet now, as an Undead, none of that mattered.

…Wait.

If it’s Astoria, then the border count?

“That Undead was said to be the northwestern border count.”

“Exactly! We must keep him intact—”

Whoosh!

Before the end of the sentence, Cecilia leaped.

In an instant, she was before Astoria.

Thud! Slash!

The Moonlight Sword pierced, slashed, and tore through Astoria’s body.

Wilhelm’s attack came too late, cutting through empty air.

Cecilia fixated relentlessly on Astoria as if only he existed in her realm.

Ignoring Wilhelm’s attacks like a fly.

“W-why…?”

This way, they wouldn’t be able to recover the body.

I know that for sure, but Leon couldn’t utter a single word amidst the dread.

From Cecilia’s half-open eyes, a chilling intent was evident.

Even now, as she tore her opponent apart, that intent never wavered.

If someone tried to intervene, it felt like she would kill them too.

Slash!

In the aftermath of the brutal tearing, Astoria was mercilessly dismembered.

His body shattered into pieces like glass, all but unrecognizable.

Finally, Cecilia leaped back, putting distance between her and Wilhelm.

Leon hesitated before cautiously asking,

“Cecilia? Wh-what just happened…?”

It was the first time he’d sensed such intense emotions from her.

She usually appeared emotionless; why had she suddenly gone berserk?

Cecilia quietly spoke.

“He was the one who insulted my master.”