Chapter 116
Deep within the dungeon, in Elibel’s laboratory―――
The Holy Dragon Elja lies stretched out on a bed in the lab.
The layered barrier that Gijie cast wore off, allowing healing magic to be applied. She fell asleep as soon as her injuries were healed.
This bed, by the way, isn’t used by Elibel――she doesn’t need to sleep since she’s undead――it’s for her assistant and familiar, Berg.
However, Berg rarely uses the bed because he often falls asleep (or faints) on the spot from constantly assisting Elibel with her research.
Therefore, Elja drools in her sleep on a relatively new bed.
「Mmm… Earth, my dear… No, it’s not right… we aren’t married yet… hehehe…」
「Ah, she doesn’t look worried at all.」
Elibel notes, glancing at her relaxed face.。
Elja must be having a happy dream.
Considering the horrors she’s seen in reality, Elibel hopes that Elja finds some happiness in her dreams.
「Well, it’s better for us if she’s relaxed.」
Beside the sleeping Elja, Elibel operates a terminal extending from a brilliantly colored sphere at a staggering speed.
She’s analyzing Elja’s biological data while she sleeps.
Elibel collected samples of hair, blood, skin cells, and even tears and urine that she found in the dungeon.
She’s already finished physical examinations and magical scans while Elja slept.
If she could, she’d have loved to slice and dice Elja for a thorough investigation, but she restrained herself.
Now, she’s processing all the collected samples in an analyzer, and it’s spitting out detailed data.
The screen is filled with an astonishing flood of numbers and letters.
Elibel’s fingertips tap on the terminal at a pace too fast for the naked eye.
Her computational and analytical abilities are three times those of Gijie’s.
She didn’t earn the title of Sage for nothing.
「Hmm, this is the Holy Dragon… Hmm, she certainly has an immense amount of magical power. It’s hard to tell because she’s in human form, but she’s definitely at least Disaster-class… And her magical power would undoubtedly increase even further in her Holy Dragon form…」
She squints at the data being punched in.
「Her basic attribute is ‘fire’… And it has derivative attributes of ‘light’ and ‘lightning’. Her magic circuits and attribute corrections amplify her magic to several times the power of a typical monster.
Moreover, like the White Wyvern, she can draw magical power from the outside, although it requires sunlight. Well, there’s a rumor that the White Wyvern is a servant of the Holy Dragon, so that might be possible. And this… this is the Holy Dragon’s ‘Unique Magic’… Hmm, fascinating…」
The results of the analysis were enough to overturn Elibel’s common sense.
It was delightfully thrilling.
The joy of touching something completely unknown.
A supreme irregularity.
Nothing could be more fun.
Elibel was excited by her uncontrollable curiosity.
The excitement nearly brought her to a small climax.
Although, being undead, she doesn’t have the body to fully experience such feelings, which is a bit of a shame.
And then, she was certain.
With her abilities, she could return Earth to his original state.
No, not only that, but she could also take it to the next stage, even recover the power she had when she was alive―――
「Hmm, indeed, the Dragon King species is fascinating. It’s full of new discoveries. Ah, I really want to dissect her. The book I saw when I was alive, ‘Descriptions of the Dragon King Species’, had pages intentionally ‘torn out’… This must be what they were hiding. Damn that old hag, hiding something so interesting!」
Over two hundred years ago, when Elibel was still ‘alive’, she read a book in the royal library of Borhelic Kingdom called “Descriptions of the Dragon King Species”.
It was one of the few books written about the Dragon King species on the continent.
However, she remembered that the book was in such bad condition that it would be generous to call it an incomplete book.
At the time, it didn’t provide any useful information, as it only contained knowledge Elibel already had, so she thought it was meaningless. But now she understands.
The pages were intentionally removed.
And the one who did it was likely―――
「Elibel! I’ve hunted the materials you asked for! Will this be enough?」
Elibel, deep in thought, was interrupted by a voice from behind.
Turning around, she saw a skeleton draped in a black robe, a large scythe on its back.
Its appearance perfectly fit the image of a Grim Reaper.
It is a Death Lord.
It was Robun.
He was the top servant of Fáfnir and the ruler of the 90th floor, the man who fought a fierce battle with Elibel.
Behind him, the undead army, trained by Elibel, collapsed in exhaustion.
There was even one muttering, “Kill me, just kill me.”
…Probably a figment of imagination.
Undead can’t be tired.
「Oh my, Robun, you’re quick.」
「Of course, if it’s a request from you, Elibel. And if it could prolong Fal’s life, I’d be more than willing to help.」
In stark contrast to his previous dignified demeanor, Robun hands a package to Elibel with an unpretentious air.
This, perhaps, is his true nature.
Elibel accepts the package, examining its contents.
It is filled with rare materials such as medicinal herbs and magic stones, all essential for her magical experiments.
Ever since Fáfnir’s dungeon merged with Earth’s, Fáfnir’s followers can now freely emerge on the surface, not just within the dungeon.
The surface-dwelling creatures of the Hà Giang Empire naturally prefer to stay within the dungeon. Yet, for the deeper-dwelling creatures――like Robun and Othel, both having potent combat abilities――they had been tasked with gathering rare materials to aid Earth’s restoration and prolong Fáfnir’s life.
Incidentally, Othel, Fáfnir’s another follower, was convinced to lend a hand by Elibel showing him treasured footage of Tres, taken without her knowledge.
He even agreed to use his unique magic to aid in these surreptitious recordings.
The recent memory of his heated handshake, given with the promise to spare no effort if it meant obtaining more footage of Tres, was fresh in mind.
Perverts, it seems, understood each other well.
「…Hmm. The quality seems good. Thanks, Robun. You’ve been a big help.」
「No, it’s… not much. And… and besides, for… for you, Elibel―――」
Ignoring Robun, who was on the verge of saying something, Elibel extracts a piece of parchment from a drawer.
「Alright, here. This is the next list.」
「I am… Huh? Oh, alright.」
Still in a daze, Robun reflexively takes the parchment.
Glancing at the list of items written on it, he suddenly feels dizzy.
「Well then, do your best, Robun. It’ll be tough, but I believe this is something only you can do. Good luck.」
While patting his shoulder, Elibel encourages Robun.
「Y-yes! Of course! For you, Elibel, I’ll gather whatever materials you need. I’ll show you right away!」
「That’s the spirit. I’m counting on you, Robun.」
「―――Yes! Leave it to me! Come on, everyone! Our next mission awaits! Let’s get going!」
With that, Robun, leading a regiment of undead, disappears through the teleportation gate.
His demeanor is less like the dignified head of Fáfnir’s follower and more akin to a newbie employee or a club junior being used as a gofer.
From the eyes of the undead trailing behind him, something seems to glisten, but it must be a trick of the light.
They’re undead.
They can’t shed tears.
They don’t tire, so there’s no chance they would say things like “I want a break,” “I want to rest in peace,” or “Kill me – just put me out of my misery.”
It must all be in the imagination.
「…They’re working hard, aren’t they?」
Observing the scene, Berg makes a casual remark.
The undead regiment may be exhausted, but the quality and power they exude are clearly more refined than before.
「By the way, what exactly did you ask for?」
「Hm? Want to see the list?」
Berg takes a look at the list and his eyes widen in surprise.
Even he, who has lived for ages, has only encountered some of the rare materials listed a few times.
「Ermm, Miss Elibel. These are all materials even I would struggle to obtain, you know…?」
「Berg, listen here, okay? If they’re usable, we shouldn’t stop until they’re broken, right? Don’t worry. If they break, we’ll just fix―――I mean, heal them properly.」
She smiles sweetly.
She’s a demon.
Berg is reminded of this yet again.
Well, if that’s what they want, then so be it.
But the ones being dragged along have it tough.
「Alright, now it’s time for the main event, Berg. We’re about to begin the process of creating the miracle cure to restore Earth’s body.」
「Roger that.」
The two of them begin their experiment based on the data they’ve gathered.
Elibel glances at Elja, who is lying down.
「Heehee… Oh, my love, you shouldn’t… not here… don’t lick my neck scales… that’s a love bite… ehehe…」
「Sigh… she really does resemble that idiot, the lack of tension and all…」
Elja is sleeping with a face devoid of any tension.
Shouldn’t she learn to be a bit more alert?
No matter how much she was fooled, being this easy makes it less interesting.
Then, Elibel starts speaking.
「…I wonder why I was so irritated with her back then?」
She’s reminded of a recent event.
When Elja confessed her love to Earth through the monitor.
She remembers being oddly irritated at that moment.
Even now, she finds it strange.
Why was she so angry?
「Is something the matter?」
Berg, working beside her, asks.
「No… It’s nothing.」
With that said, Elibel returns to her work.
She knows she must gather as much data as possible while Elja is asleep.
Her feelings can wait.
With that resolve, Elibel plunges back into her work.
People often overlook what’s closest to them.
Once, she longed for a boyfriend, sought her destined partner, arranged countless meetups, blew up venues each time, pushed men to the brink of death with dark enchantments, and wreaked havoc every time she spotted a happy couple in the city.
She harbored resentment towards those who had boyfriends, hatred for the married, destroying and burning everything in her path.
It was, frankly, terrible behavior.
But because of this, she never truly loved someone.
And thus, she failed to recognize the budding emotion within her.
The moment she understood the nature of the “feeling” sprouting within her was yet to come…
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