CHAPTER 137. Anguish and Shock

UNCERTAINTY IS INHERENTLY UNSUSTAINABLE. EVENTUALLY, EVERYTHING EITHER IS OR ISN'T.

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Today's meme is here. [ ]

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The boss recalled how despondent he felt when the news of the much-trusted Vulcan and Metus falling reached his ears.

Even though the Radiru clan was nominally Nobles, they were actually ranked 20th, the very last spot on the list of the demon's hierarchy. Meaning, they were the weakest among the Nobleic clans.

If they were to face off against an enemy that took care of Vulcan and Metus quite easily, the boss knew that he'd have to sacrifice quite a lot of their own; even then, they wouldn't be able to scratch him as long as that abomination was inside this man's shadow. However, such a terrifying enemy was saying that he'd leave on his own volition.

'Should I believe him….?' The boss asked, feeling not entirely convinced.

"Is that the only thing you want from us?"

As if he was waiting for that, Jin spoke up.

"And also…."

'But, of course….' The boss's forehead creased up in a frown as the situation unfolded as he expected. The demands of the strong were always unfair and constant.

Even before hearing the ridiculousness of the demands that would insult the clan's honour and ridicule his proud soldiers, the boss could feel his chest tighten in frustration already.

Sure enough….

The man placed his hand on the shoulder of the boss's daughter and spoke.

"I wish to borrow this girl from you, too."

"….What did you say??"

The boss and the knights all cried out in astonishment simultaneously. Jin scanned his vicinity, feeling genuinely puzzled now.

'Mm?'

Esil told him that she knew where the Entry Permits were in the higher floors. He only asked to 'borrow' her for a little bit so she could guide him to where the permits were, but this was…..

'Did they still take this the wrong way?'

Jin could only tilt his head this way and that as he alternated his gaze between the heavily-trembling boss, the knights who couldn't hide their astonishment, as well as Esil and her deeply-blushing face.

****

"My daughter, as a guide??"

Esil's explanation and Jin's saying the exact same thing finally managed to calm down the boss's agitation. He settled back down on his throne to think.

'The floor entry permit, and a guide? Are they truly everything he wants from us?'

From the moment the demons found themselves locked up here, they had to constantly hear the order to protect this land in their heads.

The order itself was not what one would call forceful. However, just like one would follow their instincts to eat when they were hungry and sleep when they were tired, the demons all thought that they had to carry out this order.

That was why the boss felt his heart fall to the pit of his stomach when he heard the news of black-armoured soldiers, two huge beasts bigger than even his castle, suddenly invading this land and hunting down all the demons. He knew that the thing they were supposed to protect this place from had finally arrived.

The boss gave it a lot of thought before ordering the subjugation force to move out. And surprisingly, the platoons made up of black soldiers proved not so easy to defeat as no matter what you do to them, they never die.

According to the reports made by the advanced scouts, there were enemies on a completely different scale compared to those easy-to-defeat black soldiers present as well.

They said that against platoons led by the robe-wearing giant 'knight' that could spit out flames, or a knight with something lengthy attached to its helm, there was no guarantee of victory at all.

Then one humongous beast would cause the land to tremble just with the simple movements of his feet.

Or the woman with a sword that will kill any demon just by scratching them with her sword.

Or the speed thingy who moves so fast they can't catch even a glimpse of.

And that was why the entirety of the Radiru Clan was getting ready to sortie to subjugate those three forces.

Unfortunately, those reports failed to mention the man in front of the boss's eyes. Not even once. Meaning, the enemies' true combat force was someone entirely different.

'If I knew this monster-like human was the leader of those soldiers, I wouldn't have started fighting in the first place. Plus he had that calamity as it's pet he can't imagine what this man is capable of if he could subdue that beast. 

The boss could see it.

He rejoiced after hearing the news of those black soldiers suddenly vanishing. But, they were now gathered right in front of his eyes. They were hiding within the man's darkness, waiting for an order to attack. And that thing would demolish them with nothing but gesture of his finger.  

Even now, the boss felt a chill from the countless soldiers inside the shadow shooting him cold glasses filled with thick, bone-chilling murderous intent.

'Negotiating with a mere human hurts my pride, but….'

A certain scroll named 'Entry Permit' could also be found on the list of things the demons were supposed to protect. However, wasn't the cost of protecting that single scroll far too high?

No, even if the boss was prepared to sacrifice every single one of his clansmen, he was sure that they would lose against this human and his soldiers.

Not only that, this man….

'….Is hiding his true abilities.'

No mere man can have that thing as a pet.  

It was uncertain what he was aiming for, but there was little doubt that he was hiding almost all of his powers like an iceberg floating on the quiet water's surface. Fighting against an enemy no one could truly comprehend was a terrifying prospect, indeed.

The boss asked again with a nervous expression.

"Truly… is that all you want?

If the boss could protect everyone simply by handing out that Entry permit, then there was no reason not to. Also, since he'd be doing that to protect this land, he wasn't exactly going against that order from the unknown source, either.

Jin nodded his head.

"You will not bring harm upon my daughter?"

Suddenly, Jin felt Esil's glance.

'A monster worrying about his daughter, is it…..'

Jin was somewhat surprised but it's not like it was something he didn't expect so he didn't forget to nod his head regardless.

The boss pondered for a short while, before a smile formed on his face.

"We'll do that, then."

The moment he agreed to hand it over, the boss felt as if a persistently -annoying aching tooth had finally come loose or some such.

If the event of stopping the prophesized advent of calamity by handing over a scrap of paper didn't qualify as a matter to rejoice, then what else would?

"No, if you could do that, we'd be very grateful."

Jin had been getting ready for the eventuality where things go the other way, but after seeing the boss's bright smile, he too smirked and let go of all the built-up tension in his body.

'I guess Esil got her personality from her old man.'

Was this how the System's setting was for this place, or what she said was really….

Jin quickly shook off the distracting thoughts and gave his assurance to the eagerly-waiting boss.

"I keep my promises."

"Very good."

The boss snapped his fingers, and a soldier hurriedly brought a large scroll from somewhere to present it before Jin. He then unfurled the scroll.

'It is really the Entry permit.'

Confirming the contents of the scroll, a thick smile formed on Jin's lips.

[Item: Entry Permit]

Rarity: ??

Type: ??

A permit allowing you to enter the 81st floor of the Demon's Castle. Can only be used on the 80th floor's floor-transfer magic circle. 

He had his own suspicions of whether he could get an item from monsters through nothing more than just dialogue, but this was really the Entry Permit he was looking for.

If there was one difference from the permits found on the lower floors, then it'd be the red emblem of the Radiru Clan stamped on the bottom of the permit itself.

'So, this means I'm supposed to take the permits away from different clans from this floor onwards. 

This wasn't a concern for Jin's. So he just grin.  

He preferred this arrangement a lot more than hunting monsters endlessly and waiting forever for the permit to randomly drop without notice.

Jin rolled the scroll back up and sent it to his Inventory.

"Hey, is it fine if we get going now?"

Jin urged Esil and turned towards the exit, but then, the waiting knights suddenly blocked the doorway.

'...?'

Jin looked back feeling puzzled, only to find Esil grinning brightly back at him.

So, what is going on now?

The boss quickly walked over and stood before Jin.

"We'd never let an important guest of the Radiru Clan go like this."

A certain overbearing aura came off from the boss's large frame. However, seeing that there was a smile of a friendly neighbourhood uncle etched on his face, it didn't look like he was trying to intimidate the other party.

The boss spoke with a pleading tone of voice.

"As a celebration of the successful negotiation, would you mind having a feast with us? We also need to prepare my daughter for the long voyage ahead."

Jin shifted his gaze over to Esil.

She was cautiously waiting for his answer, although he could easily see that she also wanted this.

Well, she did keep her side of the bargain. So, wouldn't it be only right that he too behaves in a gentlemanly manner, too?

After all I wasn't a bastard engiugh to that even if she was just a fragment of the original soul. 

Besides, he also needed to eat anyway, and he had grown sick and tired of the stale bread and jerky strip combo being sold in the Store by now as the food he had stored in the inventory was already out of stock.

"….Okay, I will."

Jin finally consented after a short bout of hesitation, prompting the boss to break out in a big grin.

"Thank you!"

The complexions of Esil and the knights also brightened considerably. Soon, the boss was yelling at his subordinates.

"What are you all doing? Prepared for a grand feast!"

***

Since he had spent way too much time on the 80th floor, he wasn't planning on wasting any more on other floors.

And he wasn't worried about whether Esil, coming with him as a guide, could use the floor-transfer magic circles as he knew it would work, with the party feature.  

[A Demon Noble has requested to accompany you.]

[Will you allow it?]

[Once allowed, the companion will be able to use the magic circles, and depending on the rate of contribution, experience points earned will be shared as well.]

' Just as expected I'll be sharing my experience points with my companion, but can I level up Esdeath or any of my future women?  

With this exp share as there are many dungeons in the world and I can't clear all of them even if I wanted to.  

But can I add Esdeath into party, and then just do my own thing and she could get exp by killing.  

If so then it is quite overpowered and the best way for my women to gain power.  

Or do I need to be nearby while they are part of my party?  

There were a lot more questions in my mind but it wasn't time for it.  

The thing about sharing experience points got on his nerves slightly, but thankfully, there was the clause about 'rate of contribution'. Which meant that, as long as he didn't give his companion a chance to fight, the experience points wouldn't be divided at all.

Jin quickly shook off the distracting thoughts and gave his assurance to the eagerly-waiting girl.

So, Jin made sure to drill this point into Esil.

"Even if battles break out, you must not interfere. I shall take care of everything. Understood?"

"…..Y-yes."

Esil replied rather shyly.

'….??'

In any case, Jin agreed to her accompanying him and hurried his steps. A few steps behind him, Esil did her best to chase after Jin while carrying luggage several times the size of her actual body.

The luggage itself wasn't heavy, but keeping up with Jin's normal walking speed was proving somewhat challenging to her. Jin had no choice but to stop and wait now and then so she could catch up to him.

"We can see it now over there."

After arriving on the 81st floor, Esil began checking out the map of this very floor, and then pointed at the faint outline of a castle far away from them. Jin nodded his head, having already thought as much.

"Please wait."

Esil put down the large luggage, and began rummaging through it. Soon, a ceramic liquor bottle rested in her hands. Jin had to ask her about that even though he knew what she was going to do.  

"What are you planning to do with that now?"

"This is a bottle of the finest liquor that the Clan Head of the Garuche Clan enjoys. If we go and speak to him about it, the negotiation will be….."

"Negotiation?"

Jin smirked and summoned his Shadow Soldiers out.

'Come out.'

As soon as he called, the soldiers instantly revealed themselves.

Shururu….

BAM!!! 

'How can this be….?!'

Esil doubted her own sight, then.

There were 30 or more soldiers with similar levels to that of an upper Noble Demon. 

Then the two beasts even try to look at them. She can't see their face while standing so close to them but she in her instance screams in her mind to run away as far as she could  just by glancing at them, it was when they didn't seem to even acknowledge her existence. 

She can't imagine what will happen if she even try to look into its eyes.    After being subjected to an aura that was sharp enough to almost slice her flesh simply by standing near them. 

And then, nine deadly-looking daggers suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started to spin around him, slicing the air apert. She looked at the very person who summoned these soldiers.

Esil had to do a double take to make sure that the man in front of her eyes was the same person she had been conversing with until just now.

"Y-you're not going to negotiate with them??"

Rather than an answer, Jin asked back, instead.

"By any chance, is your clan friendly with this Garuche or whatever clan?"

"N-no, not at all. We the Nobles always competed bitterly against each other for a place in the Demon World's nobility ranking, so…. Still, they are a group we can hold civilised meetings with."

Hearing that, Jin simply grinned.

"In that case, it's fine."

Making one exception was enough. Just as important as finding the Entry Permit, he needed to raise his level, too. The goal of reaching level 150 is what matters to me.  

Even if I had to spill the blood of countless innocents.  

"You, wait here."

Jin told her as so, and while leading his soldiers forward, headed towards the distant castle.

As he stopped and called his three soldiers out.  "Swift, Buster, Gold" Jin called out his three shadow soldiers and they instantly pushed past the other soldiers and knelt down in front of him.