I Entered a Gacha Game That Had Been Abandoned for 10 Years chapter 108

108 – Hierarchical Development (3)

Inside the purple haze of the Demon Realm.

On the truly massive round table in what could be called the commanders’ meeting room, the commanders were seated, discussing matters.

“Agaresh didn’t know how to lose for real.”

“Ho-ho-ho-ha! Aren’t you a bit too careless?! Even if that’s the case, it’s a bit much to die at the hands of just two heroes, isn’t it?”

The ongoing discussion was about Agaresh.

Someone was cheerfully laughing while looking at Agaresh, who was sitting with a face full of irritation.

Someone else couldn’t hide their surprised expression while looking at Agaresh.

And it was understandable because, at least among the commanders gathered here, no one thought Agaresh would appear in the intermediate realm and face defeat.

Therefore, the conference room, which had been noisy for a while, became quiet in an instant due to the intervention of Vice Commander Beor Darkheart.

Just a moment ago, Commander Noksius, who had been teasing Agaresh until the intervention, spoke with a boyish face full of discontent.

“We can’t start the meeting yet; Commander of the First Legion hasn’t arrived.”

“The First Legion Commander won’t come.”

“Why?”

“She is currently at the ‘summit.'”

Words from Vice Commander Beor.

In response, Noksius expressed his discontent with a very dissatisfied expression.

“No, isn’t this giving too much special treatment? Even if you’ve obtained the position of a legion commander, shouldn’t you participate in the meeting? It’s not like we don’t have time, right?”

Noksius spoke.

“Honestly, I agree.”

“Me too.”

As soon as his words ended, Beor observed the legion commanders, who seemed to have accumulated quite a dissatisfaction, bringing up one or two stories. After exhaling a sigh, Beor spoke.

“Then bring them.”

…”

Beor’s words.

However, as soon as his words ended, the other legion commanders, as if they had been waiting, sealed their lips. Even Nocius, who had expressed the strongest dissatisfaction, also remained silent.

It was natural because the First Legion Commander was not a presence they could bring even if they decided to.

“If you can’t bring them, let’s start the meeting. Hasn’t the First Legion Commander never participated in a meeting before, anyway?”

“…Never participated and just stayed quiet at the top.”

“If you’re so dissatisfied, bring them.”

“…Tch.”

That’s why Nocius, as if expressing his dissatisfaction, clicked his tongue and remained silent at that moment.

The place where the commanders were discussing, and at the same time, the place closest to the blood-red sky in this demon realm.

At the top, a woman was sitting.

Like demons, but different from true demons, she had pale white skin indicating the race before becoming a demon—elves, with long ears.

…”

Behind her, countless weapons were stuck in a state of not moving, pierced by dozens or hundreds of demonic beasts at the back of the top.

A truly contradictory space.

While the blood-red sky was enchanting and beautiful, the place where she was present was endlessly provocative.

In that place where the immortal demonic beasts constantly revived, unable to even scream due to the embedded weapons, only shedding purple blood.

“Sigh-“

In the dilapidated wall, the commander of the first legion of demons gazed into the emptiness.

“…”

Once known as the Hero King, she now looked at the sky with weary eyes.

####

Before entering the labyrinth, Kim Hyun-woo began telling Elena about the labyrinth, just as he had done before.

“If we use the Shardra Golem, we can quickly reach each level, but you and the apprentice knights will have to handle the bosses.”

“I know. Don’t worry.”

As he looked at Elena nodding firmly, as if making a solemn vow, Kim Hyun-woo explained not only how to defeat the boss on the 5th level but also the boss on the 7th level.

The reason was that it was easy to speculate that, with Shardra’s Golem, Elena would be able to reach the boss zone without any harm. The difference in strength between the bosses on the 5th and 6th levels and those on the 4th and 5th levels was not significant.

In other words, assuming Elena could preserve her health well, judging that if she knew the strategy, she could easily kill them in an instant.

Of course, the boss on the 7th level felt quite challenging for Elena at the moment. However, if the apprentice knights who would descend into the labyrinth with her could join forces to defeat the boss on the 7th level, it would be more than possible.

“The difference between apprentice soldiers and apprentice knights is substantial.”

As the apprentice soldier route was a waiting-type route, apprentice soldiers were generally weaker overall than any other species that could be promoted from regular soldiers.

However, once they moved beyond the stage called the weakest apprentice soldier, they would gradually show their worth.

“Of course, at this point, they are only slightly stronger than other 2nd job soldiers.”

In Kim Hyun-woo’s judgment, even that slight advantage could be enough to clear the labyrinth without any casualties. With this assessment, he shared the information with her.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

“I’ll be waiting, Dad!”

With a bow and a lively farewell from Elena and Shardra, they left the office.

And not long after, Kim Hyun-woo saw them leading the soldiers into the labyrinth.

“Well, since I’ve finished everything I need to do right now…”

Without hesitation, he walked out of Yeongjuseong and decided to upgrade it over the past few months.

“I can’t just leave it alone until the end anyway.”

Kim Hyun-woo looked at Yeongjuseong.

Although the scenery of Lartania’s territory had changed significantly, Yeongjuseong was not much different from before.

There was gold here and there, and compared to level 5 buildings, Yeongjuseong’s buildings were a bit shabby.

“Upgrading this Yeongjuseong will make it inconvenient to use the Yeongjuseok properly for a day…”

On the other hand, he couldn’t keep postponing the upgrade of Yeongjuseong forever, so he immediately lifted the suspension of the upgrade and started upgrading Yeongjuseong.

####

Elena didn’t particularly like Shardra.

That was a given.

Shardra had said something that made Elena feel unpleasant at their one and only encounter.

But just because she heard such words didn’t mean Elena harbored any resentment towards Shardra in this labyrinth.

This place was inside the labyrinth, and she was very well aware of the terrible consequences that could come from a moment’s carelessness.

Well, even if Elena did harbor resentment, it didn’t seem like it would cause any major problems in conquering the labyrinth.

It had only been about 2 hours since they entered the labyrinth.

Kwaaang-!

Thanks to the iron golem rampaging in front of them, Elena and the apprentice knights were not taking any damage.

Of course, there were occasionally labyrinth monsters that suddenly popped out from behind, but it was much more comfortable than having to deal with the labyrinth directly, so the apprentice knights and Elena were able to conserve their stamina and move forward.

During that time,

“Oh, you seemed quite swift earlier, didn’t you?”

Elena, who was watching Shadra suddenly speak, responded promptly.

“Thank you for the compliment. Thanks to you, it was a comfortable journey.”

“Well, it’s my father’s request – it’s only natural.”

Elena, seeing Shadra smiling in a somewhat repulsive way, said.

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“…But I’ve been curious for a while. Isn’t it a bit strange to call Lord as Dad?”

“Why? He is my dad.”

“I heard that there is no direct blood connection, though.”

To Elena’s words, Shadra thought for a moment with a sound and then spoke.

Well, it’s true that there is no direct blood connection. Still, I consider him as my dad.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Besides, it will soon become that kind of relationship anyway.”

“…Soon?”

Elena, unknowingly asking again, Shadra smiled and said.

“It will soon become that kind of relationship.”

“…If it’s that kind of relationship?”

“It’s a family. I’m planning to become a family with my dad. It might be tough right now, but as soon as the Matapju term ends, I’ll move my affiliation to Larutania immediately.”

“Oh…”

“I’ve always cherished the dream of becoming a family with my dad.”

Elena nodded in understanding at Shadra’s words, smiling as she spoke.

“…It’s not as little as I thought,” she thought.

Upon reflection, she realized that even back then, Shadra didn’t really clash with Elena and even now, she casually conversed with her without any intention of confrontation.

As a result, Elena’s expression became somewhat awkward.

Now that it had come to this, she realized that she had been unnecessarily self-conscious while the other party hadn’t given it a second thought. Elena scratched her head and spoke.

“…It seems being a daughter was your dream.”

“What? A daughter?”

In response to Shadra’s question, as if asking what she was talking about, Elena spoke in a moment of confusion.

“What? No, you said earlier that you wanted to be a family.”

“Right?”

“Since you always call the lord ‘dad,’ I thought that’s what you meant…was I wrong?”

Elena’s question.

“Oh, that?”

Shadra laughed as if vaguely understanding the situation.

“You can be a family without necessarily being a daughter, you know? It’s a much closer relationship than that.”

“…But isn’t that being a daughter? If that’s the case, the title of ‘dad’ doesn’t really suit.”

“Oh, come on. You can still use the title of ‘dad’ even if you’re not, you know? For example-“

As if pondering something, Shadra moved her head slightly and then, as if a great idea had come to her, she smiled brightly.

“Lena’s Dad-“

“Like this?”

She gestured as if embracing a child, showing a deep smile as she spoke.

“Ah, Lena was one of the names that Dad said was pretty. So it would be nice to use it as the first name.”

“…”

Playful yet seemingly sincere, Shardra’s words left Elena dumbfounded without her realizing it.

…A sense of crisis welled up in Elena’s heart.