TPDGR 34

Chapter 34 ….

“When I was in the Orc Dungeon, I never even dreamed I’d end up playing with kids like this. That place was basically hell, so there were no orcs having children. I never thought I’d want to have a kid either…”

If intelligence is very low, creatures may focus on reproduction instinctively, but unfortunately, orcs’ intelligence is similar to humans’.

Highly intelligent mammals don’t reproduce if their environment can’t support it.

“So, now you’re thinking about it? Marriage and all that?”

“Ahem… Well, you know, whether human or monster, instincts are basically the same.”

He said that if life is comfortable, the instinct is to settle down and start a family.

I listened to that carefully.

Hmm… From what he’s saying, Number 2 must have settled here. So he’d want to marry and have kids, right? Then labor increases twofold—with children of humans and monsters alike.

More population is always advantageous, whether for economic or military strength, so I had every reason to welcome it.

But…

“You talk as if there’s someone you really want to marry?”

“…Ahem! Ahem! Sniff!”

Number 2, who had been tickling Hena’s feet so noisily, turned away from me with a cough.

And when my gaze landed on Number 1 at the end of his sight, I opened my mouth in surprise.

“!”

Could it be… something between Number 1 and Number 2?

With humans and monsters mingling, it seems something romantic may have quietly been developing in the village.

No wonder the puppet show ladies had been pushing the Griffith-and-Saint combination…!

I was a little shocked.

These guys… were secretly drawing a line of love behind my back…?

Judging by those sticky, sweet eyes, at the very least, it was clear that Number 2 liked Number 1.

It’s just that he didn’t know how Number 1 felt.

Leaving my shock behind, Number 2 nonchalantly took Hena and moved away from me.

“Oh, a hunter’s coming in!”

Han Hyunjin’s entrance didn’t seem that important, yet he announced it loudly out of awkwardness.

I gathered my shock and looked at Number 2 and Hena with a disinterested expression.

Seeing the two sharing a friendly piggyback ride was meaningful to me too. I even wanted to watch that a little longer.

Well, since I’d decided to bring humans and monsters to cultivate the dungeon…

I might as well make this a place suitable for marriage and raising a family.

Why? Because I’m the Demon King.

Kings are supposed to cultivate their lands so their people can live comfortably.

I shrugged, feeling a sense of responsibility.

I popped the last poisonous mushroom into my mouth and quietly watched the warm scene.

Then I realized—

This isn’t Han Hyunjin.

A jet-black gate rippled like an abyss. Instinctively, my hairs stood on end at the ominous energy.

It was similar to Han Hyunjin’s energy, but distinctly different.

More importantly, Han Hyunjin, no matter how powerful, wouldn’t flaunt it like this.

What distinguishes this intruder from Han Hyunjin? Well…

Lethality.

The murderous intent made my skin tingle and chilled my limbs.

Just as I snapped back to reality, an unknown noise sharply sliced through the air.

I held my breath.

Moments later, Number 2’s large body, half-covering the gate, collapsed.

Number 2 and Hena tumbled to the ground.

I blankly watched the child hit the ground before shifting my gaze.

Where Number 2 had been, a red-haired man now stood, performing deft hand movements.

A silver dagger appeared and disappeared repeatedly between his fingers.

The man whistled. To me, his movements looked like slow motion in a movie.

The tip of the dagger was stained with blue blood.

It was Number 2’s blood.

“Wow… so people really live in a place like this?”

The intruder walked in nonchalantly, hands in his pockets, with a cocky tone.

This guy…

“Number 2!”

Number 1, who had witnessed the scene up close, shouted belatedly.

“…How dare a human creep in here! Do you know where you are?”

Number 1 raised her club threateningly and approached him. I thought,

He actually entered my dungeon?

Red hair, delinquent appearance.

A harsh, unfiltered tone as if he had a knife in his mouth.

He was a character from the original story.

AJ.

As soon as I realized who he was, warning alarms went off in my head.

“Human! You’ll regret coming here alone. I’ll smash your face to pulp!”

Orc Number 1 growled, raising her club.

A murderous and angry aura radiated from her, unseen before. Number 1 stood protectively in front of unconscious Number 2 and groaning Hena.

Though she had been holding back her temper, she was a dungeon-guarding monster. She never held back in combat with intruders. She was a warrior.

Number 1 puffed up her body and approached AJ. Then—

Fwoosh.

Suddenly, blood spurted.

In the blink of an eye, Number 1’s armor tore, leaving a huge claw-like wound across her chest.

“…Huh?”

Before I could even comprehend the situation, green blood surged from her dantian, wetting her lips, and her knees buckled.

“Guh! Sniff!”

AJ now had his dagger sheathed, replaced by a weapon like sharp beast claws.

He wiped the blood off with a stern face.

“Hmm.”

What a pity… I was going to finish it in one strike, he muttered.

Thud.

As Number 1’s body fell, a dark figure revealed itself behind.

It was the Demon King, wearing a thick bone mask and black cloak.

AJ twisted his mouth at the masked Demon King.

“If that had been just a bit deeper, it would’ve been over immediately. Ah—what a pity.”

AJ realized Ana had pulled the orc back in time. The attack intended to kill only grazed her.

A black aura emanated from the Demon King.

Sensing the dangerous energy, villagers and Griffith rushed out. Hena’s mother quickly retrieved her child from the hill where she was hanging laundry.

Griffith kneeled behind Ana.

“D-Demon King! What… What’s happening? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Use herbs to heal Number 1 and Number 2.”

His low, curt voice was edged with sharpness. Griffith barely collected himself.

Just as he drew his sword, a gloved hand stopped him.

“You’re not capable of fighting this. Stand back quietly.”

“…But, Demon King!”

Griffith looked up at Ana and froze.

Despite her cold, curt tone, an explosively dark, poisonous aura surged from her.

Even Griffith, who had closed the Demon King Dungeon, had never felt such lethal energy. It was as if a giant snake coiled around her entire body.

What on earth is this aura?

Griffith staggered, dizzy, clutching the ground.

“Griffith.”

They say extreme anger makes one calm.

Bloodied and unconscious Number 1 contrasted sharply with AJ.

Ana slowly opened and closed her eyes, breathing steadily.

“If you interfere, you won’t be spared either.”

“….”

A visible black aura danced before them. Her body seemed engulfed in black flames.

AJ smirked.

“What? I could take all of these people at once if I wanted.”

He really didn’t care.

After all, he came to kill and burn everything.

“You’re all already dead today. Did you think I’d let you live? Lowly humans parasitizing monsters…”

Bang!

Before he could finish, AJ was thrown across.

A strike landed squarely on his chest. Though too fast to track with the eye, AJ crossed his arms to block with reflex.

“Guh!”

The impact still hurt.

Above the flying AJ, the Demon King appeared.

Through the eerie holes in the monster bone mask, crimson eyes gleamed.

“Haha!”

AJ snickered.

“What a funny guy.”

I thought he was a boring monster brat, but he seemed fairly capable.

The Demon King murmured toward the laughing AJ.

“You’re really dead.”

AJ didn’t realize it yet, but Ana had lost all reason. She recalled Number 2 joyfully giving Hena a piggyback ride just moments ago.

AJ bared his teeth in delight.

“Yes, this level of aura makes a fight worth it.”

At that moment, Ana’s shadow tendrils clashed sharply with AJ’s clawed weapons midair.

Kaang!!

The explosion shook the field.

In front of Ana’s crimson eyes, a blue light rang out clearly.