Chapter 49
Unlike all the floors Vlad and his group had gone in to, this particular room was all grandeur. It's as if they went into a real castle instead of a dungeon.
In the ceiling that stood high were golden flickering lights and a golden chandelier layered and filled with different colored stones. In the walls were pillars of pure white and statues of steel-armored soldiers holding weapons of all kinds. And on the floor was a blood-red carpet that stretches from the entrance to the end of the room and treasures unkempt lying on its sides.
People will awe in the sight of the room. But that was not the case for Vlad.
He was relaxed and had expected that the boss's room will be of something like this.
He casually stared at the enemy, and...
[So you can talk, huh? I guess I shouldn't be surprised since my Vampire slaves can, too... But aren't you supposed to be a monster? Hmm... But considering you're a high-level NPC, you might really be able to...] he mutters, without the worry of being attack by the person he's talking to.
In the game, monsters weren't installed A.I dialogs. Bosses were supposed to have their own dialogs, but it was still rare to see low-level and mid-level dungeon bosses to have one. Because of this, Vlad felt lucky to meet a high-level dungeon boss that can actually talk.
[This is great. How about we talk a little? I have many things to ask about.] Vlad casually said.
[No... aren't you supposed to be human? How are you able to understand me?] the demon-looking boss asks Vlad with a confused tone.
[Mn? Does that mean humans aren't supposed to understand your language?]
[Yes, and not just humans, even elves, demons and other races except monsters aren't supposed to understand me... Then how are you...?]
[Well, you can consider me as none of those.]
(I still don't have any experience talking with other races except humans and my summons... But if I can understand this guy's language, does that mean I can understand the others, too?)
[You... just what are you? To come here by yourself without even the fear of getting killed...] with a heavier gaze much than before, he asked Vlad.
[Hmm... You don't have the smell of a living being, I thought that you mask it with a skill or an item, but that doesn't seem to be the case. And you're also showing no fear... There's only one kind of monster I know that will not show any fear... Are you one of the Undead?]
(...)
Since the moment he had stepped on the room, Vlad had shown no fear towards the enemy.
After his fight with Arthur, Vlad had learned the obvious truth that levels work here the same as it was in the game, meaning that all enemies that have weaker level than him, he can defeat. At first, he was warry and afraid that might not be the case, but having experienced it himself, he gained the confidence he has right now.
But right now, hearing the words of his enemy in front of him, he had shown his serious side again. It was the first time someone was able to figure out his real existence. It shocked Vlad and he reacted negatively to it.
[It seems you're perspective...] he gazed back at the enemy.
(It's a good thing I prepared a sound barrier. If Alicia and Caiden will know my true ident.i.ty, I will have no choice but
Vlad has many spells that influence the minds of his enemies, one of those spells is called "Hypnosis". In the game, it was used to paralyze, impair the movements of the enemy, and control weaker-level newbies, but in this world, it can also be used to erase the memories of one or more people.
But since Vlad hadn't tried it to anyone yet, he was afraid he might make a wrong move and remove memories that were not intended or to even delete all their memories.
He was thankful that he was able to prevent that from happening - a compliment to the spell he had used just after he left his group -
Since Vlad was expecting the boss, even if it was just a little, that it will be able to talk, he had prepared a spell that will block any sound-based attack, it works in a way in which no sound will enter nor will go outside.
[I've lived many years, I know what my instinct, guts, and senses are telling me.] he replied to Vlad's small words of flattery.
[Your guess was right, I'm one of the undead. My race is a vampire.] with no chance of hiding it anymore, he admitted.
He then frowned his eyebrows and looks at the being in front of him.
He doesn't exactly know what the creature is other than it's the dungeon master and it looks like a demon.
He's not afraid but he's being warry. He asks himself the question -
(Just what the h.e.l.l is this guy?)
[A vampire, huh? Three years ago, a vampire had visited this dungeon, too... They came to ask for help. Will you ask for the same thing?]
(Vampire? So there really was a Vampire that took shelter here three years ago? I guess the rumor was true, except that the dungeon boss itself is a completely different being from a vampire.)
and so, he replied with this thought in his mind -
[No, I did not come here for that.]
[Then, did you come here to challenge me, undead?]
[No, I just came here because I was curious. I want to ask things about vampires.]
[Ohho~? You came here just for that? You've killed my pet and my minions just because you were curious? What a strange person!] he spat with a smile on his face that almost turned into a laugh.
(Seriously... Just what is this guy?) Vlad murmured on his mind as he gets annoyed by the response of his enemy.
Other than the creature's level, everything about it won't register on his appraisal skill. It was surely not one of the monsters and beings he knows of and existed in the game.
[That's right, I came here only because I was curious and want to know something.]
[I hear so. And it seems you're really serious.]
[Yes, and now you've got your answer, it's now my turn to ask.] he cut off his laugh.
[I'll a.s.sume you won't be able to provide me with an answer more than I already have, so I will change my question: what are you?]
From wanting to know more about the race of vampire in this world, Vlad changes his question for the curiosity that gone over him just now.
[What...? Are you serious? You don't know what I am? I am the dungeon master. I am the dungeon itself!] he laughs at Vlad.
[This body is just a part of this dungeon; a part of me. I am called the 'boss' outside of this dungeon, but I call my self the master of it. I never thought that the current people outside will be this stupid!] he leaned his large body forward and he mocks him as if he's looking at a child.
He's looking down at Vlad as if he's trying to intimidate him. He showed a small smirk on his face and waited for Vlad to react in fear, but no matter what, he was still the same, unmoving.
[Why are you not afraid...? Are you so afraid that you can't even show it properly? Or are you really just an arrogant a.s.shole?] with his brows frowned in annoyance, he asks Vlad.
[I'm neither of those.] Vlad replied without a hint of fear on his eyes.
[Then, are you so proud of your strength that you don't fear me? I can crush an ogre's head with my bare hands, I can kill a wyvern with just my fist, I can stand on ground with ancient dragons. Hearing that, do you still not fear me!?] he voiced as he raises and grips one of his hands in an exaggerated manner.
But still, despite his self-proclamation of strength, Vlad remained unmoving, only staring at him with threatening eyes, and then he says with his usual voice:
[I can probably do all of those things too if I get the chance. No, I can probably kill all of them without even moving a muscle. The same works for you, too.]
Silence took over...
[This is the first time I see an Undead looking down on me...] he was stunned. He had never received such a reaction from anyone in his lifetime.
And so, they remained there, only staring at each other.
Until...
[You mere Undead! I won't take this humiliation!] he stood up from his seat and shouted.
[Undead. How about I give you the chance to die for a second time? You will have no chance! Even if you're Undead, I'm sure I've lived a much longer life and had experienced much than you, you will regret acting too arrogant!] he shouted as he pointed his trident to his front.
*Cling *Crank *Crack!
Then, all the steel-armored statues came to life and surrounded Vlad.
[You will be punished for even thinking you can defeat me!]
[I asked that we talk properly and this is what you will do?] ignoring the enemies that had now surrounded him, he continues to stare at the boss.
(But since it had turned out like this...)
[You said that you are the dungeon itself, right? Hmm... I wonder what would happen if I kill you?]
[Huh...?]
[Will the dungeon collapse? Or will it survive on its own? In the game, you're supposed to revived after a day, but I wonder how will it work here?]
[What nonsense are you blabbering about!?]
[I hope you survive this since I still have many things I want to ask you.]