The dungeon grew busy for the first time in a while.
This time, everyone was bustling about to prepare for Celia and Kazel’s outing.
They had only one purpose in going out.
To inform the adventurers of the dungeon’s existence.
In other words, it was a dungeon publicity plan.
Recently, as adventurers had stopped coming to the dungeon, Celia’s worries had grown.
Because that meant the number of sacrifices to offer to Master had decreased.
In the long term, it was the same as saying the dungeon’s growth would come to a halt.
To protect the dungeon, they had to keep intruders out, but to make it grow, they needed intruders—a contradictory relationship.
In that sense, Celia intended to go directly into the human world and promote the dungeon.
Accordingly, the skeletons had been moving busily since early morning.
They were occupied with inspecting the splendid carriage Celia would ride.
When Queen Irena ascended the throne, the nobles of the Seil Kingdom were purged en masse. At the same time, their property was confiscated by the royal family.
Celia had received a portion of the confiscated wealth from the royal family, and the carriage before them was one of those items.
The carriage, engraved with luxurious patterns, exuded the dignity of a noble.
“Krrk, no need for guards?”
But the patterns on the carriage were, if anything, too conspicuous.
Worried about the eye-catching carriage, the Goblin Lord asked Celia.
Though no human would likely be bold enough to touch such a splendid carriage, he suggested assigning guards in case they got caught up in some troublesome matter.
However, Celia shook her head.
“Guards won’t be necessary, Goblin Lord.”
This matter was focused entirely on spreading rumors about the dungeon.
As such, it needed to be carried out discreetly and swiftly.
If they added guards to an already extravagant carriage, it would truly stand out.
“Well then, I’ll be off. I trust you’ll manage the dungeon well, Goblin Lord.”
“Got it.”
The dungeon’s general manager would be absent, no less.
But there was no need to worry.
She had left the dungeon several times before, and each time the Goblin Lord had managed it in her stead.
On top of that, there was no longer any need to worry about the dungeon’s defenses.
Not only did they have the Goblin Lord and the goblin scout unit, they also had a new undead force made up of lamia ghouls.
Above all, had not even the 5-star vampire Baalcherit become affiliated with the dungeon?
Celia smiled and climbed into the carriage. Kazel followed after her.
On the coachman’s seat sat a skeleton knight, its appearance concealed beneath a cloak.
It was an unavoidable choice, as they needed someone to drive the carriage.
Kazel knew how to drive a carriage as well, but he needed to coordinate the plan with Celia while they traveled.
Just before the carriage departed, Celia seemed to recall something and called out to the Goblin Lord.
“Ah, now that I think about it, how about planting some of the plants from Area 3 outside the dungeon as well?”
Area 4 of the first floor was filled with carnivorous tentacle plants.
Though they had suffered heavy losses during the lamias’ invasion, they had been restored with the power of the elves.
However, the power of the elves was not infinite.
Celia thought it would be better to spread the plants out rather than concentrating them only in Area 3.
“Let’s have Riche plant the ones outside the dungeon. You understand, don’t you? Make sure you have Riche do it. I’ll inspect it when I return.”
“Got it. I’ll make only Riche do the work.”
At Celia’s order, the Goblin Lord nodded.
Riche was Baalcherit’s alias.
Celia knew this as well, but she deliberately called her Riche to match those around her.
And Baalcherit had become part of the dungeon.
Celia absolutely could not stand to see Baalcherit lazing around.
“Very good. I’ll leave it to you.”
Satisfied with the Goblin Lord’s reply, Celia smiled and departed in the carriage.
The rear of the carriage grew smaller and smaller as it moved away, leaving the dungeon behind.
* * *
The carriage driven by the skeleton knight proceeded without issue.
Inside the carriage, Celia and Kazel were deep in discussion about the dungeon publicity.
“Using the adventurers’ desires is certainly a good idea.”
Kazel spoke.
Stories of glorious adventures and treasures would quickly draw adventurers’ attention.
They planned to use rumors for this dungeon promotion.
Rather than posting a request at the Adventurers’ Guild, they intended to spread rumors by word of mouth.
Kazel’s explanation continued.
“They say adventurers enjoy the adventure itself. More precisely, they aim for hidden treasures slumbering within unknown dungeons, rather than a fixed reward.”
That, Kazel said, was the defining trait of adventurers.
He was not wrong.
After all, adventurers basically explored dungeons in pursuit of a sudden fortune.
However, mere rumors alone lacked something if they were to truly set adventurers’ hearts ablaze.
“It would be even better if we had something like evidence to support the truth of the rumors, Lady Celia.”
“That is indeed a reasonable point.”
Celia agreed with Kazel.
No matter how widely they spread the rumors, if they were dismissed as nonsense, the result would be worse than doing nothing at all.
As Kazel said, they needed someone who would instill certainty into the rumors.
In short, someone to play the role of a clown on the streets.
Even as they adjusted the details of the plan, the carriage continued through the mountain range.
The carriage moved along a narrow path between the trees.
However, before long, figures appeared, blocking the carriage’s path.
At the arrival of these uninvited guests, the carriage came to a stop.
“Clack clack?”
(What should we do?)
The skeleton knight sitting on the coachman’s seat turned back and spoke.
“Those are… bandits.”
Kazel looked at the band of thieves and spoke calmly.
He was not worried.
Because Celia was riding in this carriage with him.
He had never seen Celia’s power directly, but surely she was not the dungeon’s general manager for nothing.
That belief kept Kazel’s heart at ease.
The bandits, clad in filthy armor, approached the carriage while swaggering with their swords and spears.
“We’ve gotten caught up in something truly bothersome, haven’t we?”
Celia’s expression as she said that was utterly unconcerned.
To her, they were nothing more than wriggling insects.
“Hey, you there! Hand over everything you’ve got, and we’ll spare your lives!”
The bandit who seemed to be the leader made his threat.
Celia quietly stepped down from the carriage.
Since his superior had gotten out, Kazel followed after her.
At the sight of Celia stepping down from the carriage, the bandits swept their lustful gazes over her.
The bandit leader wore a lewd expression.
“Heh heh, I’ve changed my mind. I’ll let the wench live and kill the man.”
Because it was a carriage with ornate patterns, he had assumed it belonged to a noble.
Even if there were no guards, he thought a skilled knight would be accompanying whoever was inside.
But the person who got out of the carriage was not a knight.
Nor did he appear armed or particularly well-built.
There was no weapon visible at his waist.
He looked like an ordinary man.
On the other hand, the woman beside him displayed astonishing beauty, perhaps because she was a noble young lady.
‘Looks like I hit the jackpot today.’
If he had some fun with her and then sold her, he would be able to make a great deal of money.
Thinking so, the bandit leader approached Celia.
“What terribly ill-mannered humans.”
The corners of Celia’s lips rose strangely.
“What do you think, Mr. Kazel? Wouldn’t they make rather fine clowns?”
“Pardon? I’m not quite sure what you mean…”
Clowns? What was she talking about?
Kazel tilted his head at Celia’s words.
At that moment, Celia’s eyes began to turn red.
The bandits stared at Celia with vacant faces.
Celia slowly approached them.
“Lady Celia, it’s danger—”
But as Celia walked forward, every last one of the bandits slowly dropped their weapons to the ground.
The bandit leader was no exception.
He set his weapon down and merely stared blankly at Celia.
Seeing that sight, Kazel realized Celia’s true power.
‘Mind control…!’
It was an extraordinary ability.
And only then did he understand what Celia had meant.
Clowns.
Just as she had said, they were to become the protagonists of a story that would turn rumor into certainty.
“Let’s see…”
Celia touched her lips as she pondered.
Then two shadows appeared behind Celia.
The shadows were beings without form.
Able to move anywhere, they excelled at gathering information and assassination.
Recently, thankfully, the number of shadows attempting to monitor the dungeon’s surroundings had increased.
Celia did not know who had sent them, but she had placed all of those shadows under her charm.
Thanks to that, as the number of shadows increased, there were now enough to assign one each to Celia, Irena, and Necros.
“Convey this to Queen Irena. Tell her we need a high-class mansion in the royal capital. The name of the mansion’s owner will be—”
Celia turned her head and grasped the bandit leader’s chin.
“What is your name?”
“I am Ralph.”
When Celia asked, the charmed bandit leader, Ralph, answered bluntly.
Having learned Ralph’s name, Celia gave another command to the shadow.
“The mansion owner’s name is Ralph. Tell her to prepare an appropriate status along with it.”
At her order, one of the shadows vanished.
But something was lacking.
Celia tapped her lips lightly as she thought.
“Mm…”
After pondering for quite some time, she soon muttered as though something had occurred to her.
“As expected, it would be better to create a story. Ralph looks far too clean right now.”
With the order she had just given the shadow, Ralph had become the owner of a high-class mansion.
The story Celia had in mind was one in which Ralph had raided a dungeon and obtained an enormous fortune.
However, Ralph currently looked far too well.
He had entered a dungeon and seized tremendous wealth, yet the person himself was completely fine?
Food that looked good to eat often contained poison.
Those who heard the rumor might very well start by doubting it.
“As expected, it would be better if he were missing at least one arm.”
“What?”
At Celia’s chilling words, Kazel answered in a startled voice.
But Celia had already gestured with her hand.
Then one of the bandits behind them picked up a sword that had fallen to the ground.
At the same time, Ralph raised his left arm out to the side.
“No, Lady Celia. What is—”
Whoosh—
Before Kazel could finish speaking, the bandit brought the sword down toward Ralph’s arm.
In an instant, the blade severed Ralph’s arm, and fresh blood burst forth.
But Ralph did not make a sound.
“Uwegh.”
Except for Kazel, that is.
Blood pouring from Ralph’s severed arm dyed the ground red.
It was a truly grotesque scene.
Whether Kazel reacted or not, Celia paid him no mind.
If anything, she looked as though she were wondering where else she should cut off.
“Well, let’s stop around here, Mr. Kazel.”
“…Y-yes!”
Kazel felt fear at Celia’s power.
He had learned that with mind control, she could kill a person without batting an eye.
At the same time, he felt relieved that he had sworn loyalty to Celia.
“Stop the bleeding properly so that Mr. Ralph doesn’t die.”
Celia turned back indifferently and looked toward the coachman’s seat.
“Then we should give him a distinctive reward as well, shouldn’t we?”
Celia approached the skeleton knight in the coachman’s seat.
Then she pulled out one of the skeleton knight’s leg bones.
“Clack?”
The skeleton knight had suddenly become one-legged.
Of course, since it was undead, there was no pain.
Fortunately, it was sitting on the coachman’s seat, so there was no need for it to walk.
“If he takes a skeleton’s bone as well, it will make the story even more credible.”
Celia placed the skeleton knight’s bone in Ralph’s hand.
“Ah, we should finish cleaning up the insects too, shouldn’t we?”
When she gestured, the remaining bandits all picked up their weapons without exception.
Then they swung them while deprived of reason.
Blood sprayed along with the sound of blades cutting flesh.
The bandit whose flesh had been cut also thrust his spear at his opponent.
The sight of them stabbing and slashing at one another was horrific beyond words.
The sound of blades slicing through the air and flesh tearing apart rang out. Even in that situation, not a single person screamed, creating an even more terrifying atmosphere.
The forest was truly transforming into a hellish slaughterhouse of chaos and carnage.
Kazel stared blankly at the blood-soaked scene of massacre.
His face had gone pale with shock.
* * *
A few days later, strange rumors began to spread among the adventurers of the Seil Kingdom.
- The existence of the dungeon “Nest of the Evil God” is beginning to become known to adventurers.
- The existence of the dungeon “Red-Haired Tribe” is beginning to become known to adventurers.
- The existence of the dungeon “Dregs of the Demon Realm” is beginning to become known to adventurers.
- The existence of the dungeon “Village Shrouded in Mist” is beginning to become known to adventurers.