READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 112
“Have you arrived?”
Charlotte skipped towards me through the open door.
Looking at her deep pink attire, I couldn’t help but worry it might provoke the Hermit.
Charlotte’s gaze shifted behind me, capturing the Hermit, who was following cautiously.
She alternated her stare between the Hermit and me, eventually settling her focus on me, as if questioning who this was.
“Introduce yourself. This is the Hermit, the new member of the Dungeon.”
“Uh, h-hello…?”
The Hermit stumbled over the words and slowly waved his hand, hiding his face with nine tails.
I had mentioned there was an officer outside, but it seemed like he wasn’t mentally prepared for this.
“…Kumiho.”
Charlotte muttered it softly to herself.
Kumiho’s characteristic is to charm men like a succubus, and it was something Charlotte was well aware of.
Sure enough, her expression sharpened further as she regarded the Hermit.
Ahem. I cleared my throat to catch Charlotte’s attention.
“The Hermit is different from the Kumiho you know. He’s quite shy, doesn’t speak properly, and struggles to make eye contact. You could say he has no social skills.”
“Uh, y-yes…?”
The Hermit mumbled, sounding a bit daft.
“It might feel rather frustrating when talking to him. No, it’s definitely going to be frustrating. But he’s kind at heart, so make sure to get along.”
Charlotte scrutinized the Hermit carefully.
She was matching his traits against mine.
It wasn’t long before her gaze softened.
It seemed even she concluded that the Hermit was a gloomier nerd.
“….”
Naturally, Charlotte’s eyes were drawn to the Hermit’s chest area.
Even her usual blank expression widened in surprise.
The Hermit flinched, aware of her gaze, and his shoulders trembled slightly.
His tails curled inwards, cloaking his whole body like a curtain.
“You saw, right? He’s someone who feels pressured just from a gaze.”
“Is that so.”
“Just give him appropriate attention as a senior. Excessive interest is off-limits.”
“Yes, understood.”
With that, Charlotte moved towards the Hermit.
But the distance didn’t close. The Hermit was timidly backing away as Charlotte approached.
Thud.
He reached a wall and finally stopped.
“Uh, uh, oh no….”
With Charlotte in front of him, the Hermit flailed his arms in a panic.
His face, pale as a sheet, would make anyone think he was about to be devoured.
Ignoring that, Charlotte reached out her hand.
“I’m Charlotte, the boss’s aide. I look forward to working with you.”
“…huh? A, ah?”
“Introductions are polite on first meetings.”
“Ah, ah! Um… I’m the new member… the Boss needed me… my name is Hermit…”
The Hermit glanced at me as he trailed off.
I had explained to him that he was a double entity, but officially he was just a mid-boss.
I kept mum about the fact that over 30% of my power resided within him, as well as the rank engraved in his mind.
Because I could face unnecessary suspicion.
“I’m a mid-boss of the Dungeon…? You could think of it that way.”
“Mid-boss, you say.”
Although Kumiho falls under the powerful category, most hover around level 80.
One could certainly question if a mid-boss managed to occupy a position in the Seven Lairs.
But then again, compared to the Death Knight being a boss, Kumiho was a light snack.
“The skills are definite.”
Aside from Briyagon in the Mausoleum of Faith, the Hermit was the strongest.
After all, who could argue against my own declaration?
Charlotte nodded without suspicion.
“I trust the boss’s judgement.”
She shook her hand up and down for the Hermit to see.
The Hermit, who had been merely dodging, cautiously extended his hand.
They shook hands once, and Charlotte withdrew her hand.
“…You have a lot of sweat.”
“Uh, y-yes? Sweat? Ah! S-Sorry! I tend to sweat when I get nervous….”
The Hermit hurriedly wiped his hands on his clothes.
Every action was just so characteristically Hermit.
“We’re done here. Let’s start heading back.”
***
As soon as we returned to the Dungeon, I summoned the executives.
A new family member had arrived, and while we could skip the initiation, introductions were necessary.
“Uh, um… I’m, uh…”
Being a shy person, the Hermit was likely to fumble.
Even in front of Charlotte, he had stammered, so how bad would he be before everyone?
The Hermit’s pupils bounced around like a pinball machine. He was sweating profusely.
“Kirrik. What’s wrong with him?”
“Seems like he’s quite shy?”
“Kirrik… he looks like he ate something bad.”
Balutak and Isabella whispered among themselves.
The Hermit must have heard them, as his shoulders drooped pathetically.
The first impression is crucial in forming relationships, and while that was the point of the introduction, it was futile for the Hermit.
Reluctantly, I decided to step in.
“His name is Hermit. As you can see, he’s really shy, so please be understanding. Hermit will take up the role of mid-boss in the Mausoleum of Faith.”
At the mention of mid-boss, skeptical looks arose across the board.
He displayed an unreasonable amount of self-esteem for his rank, even struggling against the gaze of Estizel.
Even now, as Estizel approached, the Hermit flinched as if in fear.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Estizel, the 35th Lord. Oh, and don’t underestimate me because of my rank. I originally ranked 72nd but advanced to 35th in just a few months.”
“Uh, that quickly?”
“Yeah, well. That’s not a common occurrence. I’m just really talented. Um, maybe soon I’ll be aiming for the top 10?”
“Wow….”
“That person is the 8th Lord.”
“Huh? Me?”
Isabella blushed, scratching the back of her head.
The Hermit gazed at Isabella, his eyes wide with admiration.
“If you’re 8th, doesn’t that mean you’re just below the Boss?”
“Well, you could say it’s like that?”
“…Y-You’re cool!”
“Oh, no, I’m not. Estizel here is much more impressive. She moved from rank 72 to rank 35 in under a year. That’s extraordinary!”
The back-and-forth was just wild.
Maybe feeling confident, Estizel put her hands on her hips, letting out a huff.
“Did you hear that? I’m quite significant too. No matter how much the Boss recognizes you as a mid-boss, remember we are seniors, and you’re our junior. You get that, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Moreover, we’re the 72 Lords. The 72 Lords, whose Sanctity is unblemished regardless of strength. Do you understand? Empowered by the presence of the Mammon, we defy the heavenly edicts. We are the 72 Lords.”
I was utterly flabbergasted.
Of all people, Estizel was acting like the rule enforcer.
“Oh… everyone is amazing. Unlike me….”
Witnessing Hermit’s timid demeanor only added to my amazement.
A 35th Lord showing such a deference to a 7th Lord was like a captain addressing a general with, “Just take care, okay?”
Hermit, you do know you rank 7, right?
The words bubbled up, but I suppressed them.
“Hermit.”
He turned at my call.
With shoulders hunched and body trembling, he was thoroughly intimidated by the atmosphere.
Let’s wrap this up quickly and let him have some alone time.
“Show me your specialties.”
“Other than breaking watermelons with my chest, what else would I do?”
That last bit came from Cecilia.
Just by the judging look in her eyes, it was clear she wasn’t fond of the Hermit.
“Uh, w-what?”
“What are you staring at?”
The moment Cecilia appeared, the Hermit lowered his gaze.
I began to seriously wonder if this guy really was rank 7.
I thought he’d struggle due to his self-esteem, but this felt worse than I imagined.
The Hermit peeked at me, gauging my demeanor.
“It’s okay. Show me.”
“…Y-yes.”
Hesitating, the Hermit eventually nodded.
Then he began to generate tails one by one.
Soon, 8 separate entities arose, demonstrating various transformation abilities.
Around us, the people who had been dismissive now displayed genuine awe.
“Ohhh…”
“Kirrik! What is that! How did he do that!”
“…As expected of the mid-boss recognized by the Boss.”
The Hermit’s split entities had immense utility.
During the war with Calandas, Roseha’s doll as a scout had proven invaluable.
Hermit’s ability to divide and transform made him superior, both in numbers and function.
“Hermit! I have a request!”
Right then, Isabella raised her hand and shouted.
“That thing, the split entity? Make one of them take on Estizel’s form!”
“Uh… now?”
“Yes, quickly!”
“Must I really…?”
“You’re the 8th Lord. Hurry!”
“…Okay.”
Pop!
In an instant, one split entity took on the appearance of Estizel.
“And repeat after me! Rank up! 35th! 35th!”
“What?!”
“Speak louder! Rank up! 35th! Bounce around while you say it!”
“R-rank up! 35th!”
“Who’s Estizel! Totally identical!”
“Kirikiririk!”
Isabella and Balutak were rolling on the floor laughing, eventually clapping their hands together as they guffawed uncontrollably.
How could I foresee that this would lead to Estizel being teased for quite a while?
“Hermit, you’re talent incarnate. An asset our Dungeon cannot do without.”
“Kirrik! Welcome!”
“Hehehe…”
Caught up in the atmosphere, Hermit (the main body) awkwardly smiled.
On the other hand, Estizel wore a frosty expression.
The other Hermits behind him were unaware of it.
Poke, poke.
Estizel poked the Hermit in the back.
When he turned around, he looked down at her.
“Follow me, Hermit. I’ll show you around the Dungeon.”
“Uh? A-Are you sure?”
The Hermit obediently followed Estizel.
After they ascended the stairs, their figures vanished, but their voices rang clearly.
Thanks to the sharp hearing of the Death Knight.
“Looks like everyone likes Estizel. I can see why, though. She’s really cute. Small and charming.”
“Ugh… Hermit…”
“Y-Yes?”
“I’ve told you repeatedly. No matter how much of a mid-boss you are, I’m your senior. And I possess no rank otherwise in this Dungeon. Do you know why?”
“Uh… I don’t really…”
“That’s because I’m the 35th ‘Lord.’ A Lord doesn’t need any rank, you know?”
“Th-thats true…?”
“I’m saying it again, I’m a Lord. Seven. Thirty. Two. Lord. In the Seven Lairs, we revere the 72 Lords. Do you understand what that means?”
“….”
“From now on, call me Lady Estizel. Do you respond?”
“Y-Yeah, of course. Lady Estizel….”
She may look like that, but she truly is rank 7.
I should probably set a proper ranking soon.
***
Mausoleum of Faith.
Starting today, the Hermit became a member of the Seven Lairs.
Initially, my feelings mixed with anticipation and trepidation, but having gone through it, worry loomed larger than expectation.
In the personal room prepared for him by the Boss, the Hermit sighed heavily.
“It was scary….”
“That little guy was way too frightening….”
“What did we do wrong?”
“We didn’t do anything….”
“Maybe it just felt off. We were in the wrong.”
“Ugh… we’re unlucky….”
Sharing the gloom with his split entities felt like multiplying his misery.
He knew it, but the solitude was still daunting.
The Hermit placed his hand on his heart and let out a long sigh, as if the weight of the ground was pushing him down.
Even though it was only the first day, it felt like he’d spent an entire year using up all his social spirit.
The demi-human kept bullying him, and the silver-haired human’s glare felt like premeditated murder.
He couldn’t see how to mix with them or navigate this path ahead.
“…At first, I feared the Boss.”
“But that wasn’t it. The Boss was the kindest of all.”
“He intervened against the demi-humans. It would’ve been tough had he not.”
“Right….”
As I thought of the Boss, a sense of guilt pierced my heart.
In hindsight, things like division, transformation, and even becoming a Kumiho were all blessings from the Boss.
To not have realized that and lived hiding all this time. I was grateful to the Boss for his forgiveness and felt sorry at the same time.
“The subordinates are scarier…. The Boss is not scary…. I really like the Boss….”
“Yes. The Boss is my favorite in the Dungeon.”
“But if you just consider looks, isn’t the Boss the scariest?”
“Is that so? I think it looks fine now.”
“Before that, I wonder how the Boss looks? Should I try transforming into him?”
Saying that, the split entities had already transformed into the Boss’s appearance.
The main body and the split entities stared blankly at the Barugore transformed entity.
“…I think I look handsome.”
“Hah!”
“Number one has lost it!”
“No, no, look closely. Doesn’t he rank among the good-looking Death Knights? He’s tall, built, and formidable. What about that deep voice?”
“Crazy! I think you’ve gone bonkers!”
“Hey! I am your main body! My word is gospel!”
“What does it matter? We’re your opposing persona.”
“You too, doubt if you have it?! That’s why we’re affirming it instead. If we were absolutely sure, we would’ve agreed with you.”
“The main body has no resolve…. He’s unsure…. Always like that….”
“Uh, you guys are the same!”
“That’s because we’re you!”
“…That part is true.”