With eyes burning with determination, Arthur advanced deeper toward the Dungeon to begin his mission. The faint blue glow of the crystalline walls illuminated the corridor around him while the distant cries of monsters echoed endlessly through the underground labyrinth.
'System, what exactly is that gift reward?'
The other rewards were already enough to ignite his greed, but this final one had completely captured his attention. An item capable of transforming into whatever he desired most sounded absurdly overpowered.
[It is exactly what it sounds like. Once received, it will transform into the object the host desires most at that moment.]
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly while continuing to walk.
'Are there restrictions?'
[The host's thoughts and current condition will be analyzed. I will prioritize an item suitable for your present level of strength.]
Arthur immediately understood the implication behind those words.
'So you're saying you won't suddenly hand me something ridiculous like "Void God Azathoth" from Tensura?'
[Correct. At your current level, such an ability would exceed all acceptable parameters.]
Arthur secretly smiled to himself after hearing that answer.
That meant the possibility still existed in the future.
For now, however, he pushed those thoughts aside as he finally reached the massive entrance leading toward the lower levels of the Tower of Babel. At the center of the underground structure, a gigantic spiral staircase descended endlessly into the Dungeon itself like the maw of some ancient beast waiting to devour adventurers whole.
With every step downward, Arthur felt his excitement growing stronger.
Around him, crowds of adventurers moved constantly through the area. Some loudly recruited party members while others argued over supplies or attempted to sell potions and weapons to passing travelers. The entire place buzzed with noise and tension.
Several individuals tried approaching Arthur after noticing his appearance and equipment, but a single glance from him was enough to make them instinctively retreat.
The pressure hidden behind his eyes carried traces of his [Ruler's Authority]. Even without fully activating the skill, his mere gaze unconsciously intimidated weaker people around him.
Finally, Arthur stepped into the Dungeon itself.
The walls and floors appeared to be made from some kind of pale blue magical stone, giving the environment an eerie glow that illuminated the corridors naturally. A massive passage stretched forward almost endlessly while smaller side paths branched outward like veins.
Not far away, several novice adventurers struggled against goblins near the entrance.
One of the monsters suddenly noticed Arthur and charged toward him recklessly with a crude weapon raised overhead.
Arthur didn't even bother moving.
With a slight shift of his eyes, invisible telekinetic force instantly crushed the goblin's neck mid-charge. The creature collapsed lifelessly before shattering into ash moments later, leaving only its magic stone behind.
Arthur crouched calmly and picked up the crystal.
After examining it briefly between his fingers, he tossed it into his inventory.
He quickly realized the upper floors would be useless for him. Not only were the monsters weak, but the corridors were crowded with inexperienced adventurers constantly slowing movement.
Without hesitation, Arthur activated Shunpo.
Several nearby rookies widened their eyes in shock as his figure vanished like a blur.
Thanks to [Instinct] and [Perspicacity], Arthur moved through the Dungeon with absurd efficiency. His senses naturally guided him toward the shortest and safest routes downward while simultaneously identifying monster ambushes long before they appeared.
Within less than two hours, he had already reached the ninth floor.
Strengthened ants, kobolds, goblins, and various lower monsters attempted to block his path repeatedly, but every single one of them died instantly from a single strike imbued with Touki. None of the creatures even managed to slow him down.
Soon afterward, Arthur stepped onto the tenth floor.
Unlike the previous levels, the atmosphere here changed drastically. Thick white fog covered the entire floor, greatly limiting the vision of ordinary adventurers. The environment felt colder and quieter as distant monster sounds echoed unnaturally through the mist.
Arthur, however, barely felt affected.
His senses were so sharp now that the fog might as well not exist from his perspective.
"This should be good enough."
Arthur finally slowed his pace before glancing toward the glyph on his hand.
"Lilith, you can come out now… and you too, Garviel."
Soft pink light emerged from the mark before Lilith materialized beside him elegantly.
She wore her usual dark gown, though this time she had concealed her tail, wings, and horns to avoid being mistaken for a monster. Covering her face was a thin translucent black veil decorated with delicate golden embroidery, while a beautiful golden diadem rested atop her head like the crown of some hidden queen.
Even with her face mostly concealed, her beauty remained overwhelming.
The seductive aura naturally surrounding her still made the air itself feel warmer.
Arthur stared at her for a moment before raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Where exactly did the veil come from?" he asked curiously. "And more importantly… why are you wearing it?"
Lilith immediately wrapped herself around his arm while pressing her chest firmly against him. Even through the fabric of his shirt, Arthur could clearly feel the soft warmth of her body.
"That's because nobody except my husband and his family deserves to see my beautiful face~"
Her voice carried teasing pride as she leaned closer toward him.
Arthur silently admitted that her reasoning actually made perfect sense.
Lilith's beauty was genuinely dangerous.
Even without intentionally using her charm abilities, ordinary men would likely become obsessed with her after seeing her face directly. Combined with the natural scent emitted from her body and the seductive aura unique to succubi, she could genuinely drive weaker people insane with desire just by standing near them.
Arthur's possessiveness stirred instinctively at the thought of other people staring at her greedily.
He suddenly wrapped one arm firmly around Lilith's waist before pulling her flush against his chest.
"Good," he murmured quietly near her ear. "I don't want anyone else looking at you either."
Lilith visibly paused for a moment after hearing the intensity hidden in his voice.
Then her lips slowly curved upward beneath the veil.
"My husband is acting possessive again~"
Instead of resisting, she leaned into him even more willingly until there was barely any distance left between their bodies. Arthur's hand slid upward along her back before stopping at the nape of her neck, gently tilting her face upward toward him.
"You belong beside me," he said calmly while staring directly into her crimson eyes through the thin veil. "I won't let anyone else touch what's mine."
The possessiveness in Arthur's voice sent a visible shiver through Lilith's body.
For a succubus like her, those words were far more effective than simple affection.
Lilith's breathing became slightly uneven as she reached upward and lightly grabbed the front of his shirt.
"Fufu~ Then you'd better protect me properly…"
Arthur didn't answer verbally.
Instead, he pulled the veil aside just enough to expose her lips before kissing her deeply.
The moment their mouths met, Lilith melted against him almost instantly. A soft moan escaped her throat while her fingers tightened against his chest. Arthur's possessive emotions only intensified as he felt her responding so eagerly beneath his touch.
The kiss quickly deepened.
Lilith wrapped both arms tightly around his neck while pressing herself completely against him, her body growing warmer with every passing second. Their breathing mixed together inside the cold Dungeon corridor while the surrounding fog drifted silently around them.
Arthur's hand slid lower along her waist before firmly pulling her even closer, earning another trembling sigh from the succubus. Lilith parted her lips willingly beneath his, completely surrendering to the long kiss while soft, needy sounds escaped her throat intermittently.
For several long moments, neither of them seemed willing to separate.
Eventually, Arthur finally broke the kiss slowly, though Lilith still chased after his lips once or twice before finally stopping. Her crimson eyes looked slightly dazed while faint warmth colored her cheeks beneath the veil.
"Fufu~ I really will protect you then," she whispered softly while resting her forehead against his chest. "After all… protecting you is why I exist."
Sometimes Arthur genuinely forgot what Lilith truly was.
Not merely an Embryo.
But a Guardner-type existence whose very purpose revolved around protecting him above everything else.
"Clack clack clack…"
(My lord, something is approaching.)
Little Garviel stood several meters away from Arthur and Lilith, tightly gripping the sword almost as large as his own body. Despite witnessing his lord openly flirting with his wife moments ago, the small skeleton knight showed absolutely no embarrassment or discomfort whatsoever.
From his perspective, protecting those precious moments was part of his sacred duty.
Arthur glanced calmly toward the thick fog surrounding them. Thanks to his senses, he had already detected the approaching monsters long before Garviel warned him.
"I know," Arthur replied casually while keeping one arm wrapped around Lilith's waist. "This is a good chance to test your current level. Go deal with them."
The moment Garviel heard those words, his entire body visibly trembled with excitement.
To him, receiving an order directly from his lord was the highest honor imaginable.
"Clack clack! Clack-clack-clack!!!"
(I won't allow anyone to interrupt my lord's date with Lady Lilith!!!)
With a battle cry filled with determination, the tiny skeleton knight rushed fearlessly toward a group of three massive orcs emerging from the fog. Compared to Garviel's small body, the monsters looked gigantic, each one carrying crude weapons and enough muscle to crush ordinary adventurers effortlessly.
Lilith watched the scene with amusement while remaining pressed against Arthur's side.
"Garviel really is a good boy~"
Even while the battle began in front of them, neither of them looked particularly concerned.
Arthur, meanwhile, glanced down toward Lilith curiously.
"I'm actually wondering something," he admitted. "Can you really understand what he's saying?"
Lilith nodded naturally as though the answer was obvious.
"I've understood him from the beginning."
Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly after hearing that.
Perhaps it was because both of them were familiars connected directly to him. Their instincts and existence probably resonated with each other naturally.
Meanwhile, Garviel had already reached the orcs.
The little skeleton immediately activated Shunpo, vanishing from direct sight before reappearing near the monsters' blind spots with impressive speed. Although the orcs possessed overwhelming physical strength compared to him, Garviel instinctively realized they were much slower.
Using that advantage perfectly, he struck without hesitation.
His blade flashed sharply through the fog before slicing cleanly through the tendons of the first orc's leg. The creature roared painfully as it collapsed to one knee. Before the second monster could react properly, Garviel spun around and thrust his sword directly into its knee joint, crippling it instantly as well.
In only a few seconds, two enemies had already lost their mobility.
The final orc reacted furiously after seeing its companions fall.
With a loud roar, it swung an enormous tree branch like a club directly toward Garviel. The sheer force behind the attack shattered the ground where the skeleton had stood moments earlier.
Garviel immediately focused all his attention on evasion.
He knew perfectly well that taking even a single direct hit would likely destroy his small body instantly.
The orc attacked repeatedly with savage swings, but Garviel dodged every strike by the narrowest margins possible. His tiny frame moved rapidly through the mist while using Shunpo intermittently to reposition himself between attacks.
After dodging five consecutive blows, Garviel sensed the monster's movements slowing slightly from exhaustion.
That single opening was enough.
The skeleton knight instantly rushed forward and attempted a precise stab toward the orc's arm in order to disarm it. The monster reacted by roaring furiously toward the ceiling, trying to overpower him through intimidation.
Unfortunately for it…
That momentary distraction became fatal.
Garviel slipped beneath the orc's raised arm and cleanly slit its throat in one swift motion.
The giant monster collapsed heavily moments later.
"Garviel," Arthur called calmly from behind, "finish off the other two and prepare yourself. More enemies are coming."
Arthur's senses had already detected additional monsters rapidly approaching through the fog.
Garviel immediately obeyed without hesitation.
With swift and efficient movements, he walked toward the crippled orcs still struggling on the ground before calmly slitting both of their throats one after another.
At the same time, Lilith casually extended one elegant hand outward.
Without even releasing Arthur's arm, she activated [Ruler's Authority]. Invisible force instantly pulled the magic stones from the monsters' corpses before depositing them neatly into Arthur's hand.
Arthur smiled slightly while storing them inside his inventory.
Having companions genuinely made things far more convenient.
Ding!
[Defeat 50,000 monsters (14/50000)]
Arthur noticed the counter increasing even for monsters Garviel defeated personally.
That realization immediately sparked another idea in his mind.
Later, he planned to test whether kills made by Lilith also contributed toward the mission count.
Around them, movement within the mist intensified rapidly.
Large shadows emerged one after another while heavy footsteps shook the ground faintly beneath them. The noise created by the battle had attracted nearby monsters, and now multiple orcs were charging directly toward their position from every direction.
Garviel showed absolutely no fear.
Instead, the little skeleton knight raised his sword high into the air before unleashing a fierce roar filled with determination.
[Your Familiar "Garviel Tempest" has learned "Provoke"]
A pulse of energy erupted outward from Garviel's body.
Instantly, every nearby monster turned toward him simultaneously.
Then—
The entire horde charged straight at the tiny skeleton knight without hesitation.
-
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