Dungeon Defense (WN)

The boy mumbled to himself.

“Offer my life……?”

“That’s right, Luke. That is the ultimate sacrifice a person can offer another.”

If Daisy had coiled around her brother and bit into his throat, then I was slowly enveloping Luke in web. To an extent, it was Luke himself who flew into the web. I wasn’t going to step forward to hurt him myself.

“You should have learned about it from Jeremi, but there is something called a slave seal.”

Luke flinched the moment he heard Jeremi’s name. For an instant, bewilderment, anger, and regret brushed across his face. It was really for only a moment.

Luke couldn’t control his emotions well, but he wasn’t so immature as to leave those emotions unchecked. He was repeating a pendulum movement right at the midpoint between maturity and immaturity. The curve Luke was drawing could be considered one of the most beautiful things in the world.

In other words, Luke was a boy.

“When a slave seal is engraved, the recipient becomes almost perfectly dependent on the other party. Even suicide becomes impossible unless ordered to do so by their master.”

A boy who could make decisions in life but was unaware of the full extent of the repercussions of those decisions.

“Not only that. If their master orders someone to be killed, the slave has no choice but to carry it out. Even if the slave does not want to take another person’s life, even if they value life above all, they must push aside their emotions and beliefs in order to carry out the command.”

A boy who may be familiar with betraying others, but is completely inexperienced with being betrayed by others.

“Picture it, Luke. Do you think a human can endure such a state?”

“……No.”

“That is correct. Normally, they cannot endure it. They may be able to persevere for a year, perhaps even five. However, consider having to endure such circumstances for 10, 20 years, or even an entire lifetime…….”

I spread my hands, presenting my palms.

“At some point, they would burn out and vanish. The appreciation for one’s own life would diminish. This is inevitable. Life is inherently fragile. What was once firmly believed and thought becomes distorted, altered, and rationalized in various ways until one ultimately transforms into an entirely different person.”

“…….”

“They would die in the truest sense. An act equal to killing yourself. Sacrificing not just your life, but everything that constitutes your being…….”

I whispered, like a spider slowly wrapping its prey in silk.

“Luke, I do not know what sin you have committed. But, can you truly live for the sake of that person? Are you willing to sacrifice everything for that person?”

“…….”

Luke bowed his head in silence.

After a moment, Luke lifted his face. There, a resolute determination was chillingly present. I had already anticipated how this boy would respond since the moment he remained silent.

“If it’s the only way.”

“…….”

“Then I’m willing to do so, Godfather.”

Got him.

There’s no going back now, Luke.

“Let me ask you one more time. You are only sixteen. The life ahead of you is much longer than the life you have lived so far. Yet, are you willing to sacrifice your entire remaining life for the sin you have committed?”

“Yes.”

There was no hesitation in Luke’s blue eyes.

“Very well, then. I shall respect your decision.”

Daisy was already my slave, so if Luke becomes Daisy’s slave, it would be no different from him becoming my slave as well.

In the end, both siblings, who were supposed to become heroes, ended up in my grasp.

“The procedure of engraving a slave seal on the heart is extremely painful. There are two individuals in this domain who are skilled enough to perform this procedure. You are free to decide who you wish to receive it from.”

“Who may the two be?”

“Jeremi and Daisy. Fortunately, they are both individuals whom you trust.”

Luke’s complexion instantly went dark. I was doing my best to hold back my laughter.

Why did it have to be Jeremi and Daisy? This was most likely what Luke was thinking to himself. He had to choose between receiving the procedure from the culprit partially responsible for his sin or the victim of his sin. Such irony.

“Uhm, Godfather. Is there perhaps anyone else?”

“Hm? Not within this domain. This is a rather difficult procedure, after all. If you were to leave this to someone with less skill, you could potentially lose your life.”

I gave a detailed explanation of how dangerous and gruesome the slave seal procedure is.

Luke seemed slightly disturbed when he heard that flesh would be cut open to engrave the seal directly on the heart. Once I explained that this was customary since engraving the seal anywhere else could allow it to be destroyed, Luke nodded awkwardly.

“……I see.”

“Do not worry. Both Jeremi and Daisy possess great skills. If it is them, they will undoubtedly succeed. To be honest, you most likely cannot find anyone as good as them anywhere else.”

Now then, Luke. Which side will you choose?

The assailant Jeremi or the victim Daisy? Your disposition will become as clear as day according to your choice.

This is a pivotal moment in your life. You must decide who will be responsible for exposing your heart. If your anger towards Jeremy is more overwhelming, you’ll choose Jeremy. If the guilt towards Daisy weighs heavier, you’ll choose Daisy.

Will you etch your thirst for revenge against Jeremi onto your heart, or will you inscribe your guilty conscience towards Daisy? Either choice would provide me with amusement, and I shall eagerly oversee your proceedings.

Ah—but opting for Daisy would be more intriguing.

Personally, I lean towards choosing Daisy. In the grand scheme of things, Jeremi is still merely an outsider. But Daisy and Luke, the two of them are kin—siblings, a family. Turning your older brother into your eternal servant, a little sister weaving such a paradoxical fate. I find this option more appealing.

Also if you consider Daisy’s position.

Daisy had already undergone the enslavement surgery by me once. At that time, she swore vengeance as she ultimately ended up harboring resentment towards me. But now, she would be performing the same procedure she received on her own brother.

What kind of expression would she wear?

How would she look at me after the surgery?

Upon replicating the actions of the very person she detests, effectively aligning herself with me, I wonder what kind of reaction she will show me…….

This is bad. I can barely hold myself back. I might end up kissing Daisy again.

Luke, it’s Daisy. Daisy is the right choice. Do not let something like your thirst for vengeance mix together with your guilt. Even if Jeremi was the one to provide the source of the problem, in the end, it was you who continued to commit the sin. You wouldn’t dare to make Jeremi take responsibility, right?

Be strong! Be firm! Ignorance is not an excuse. Make your hell more pure. A human’s strength is determined by how much responsibility they can take. Do not allow yourself to weasel yourself out under an excuse when you’re a man who could’ve potentially become the hero. Do not disappoint me…….

“I…….”

Luke opened his mouth.

“I want to leave it to Daisy.”

“Very well. I will inform Daisy.”

Good job, Luke! I knew you had it in you!

I silently cheered in my mind. Even if you’re only my godson, you have the right to proudly claim to be my son. From now on, I will acknowledge you as my kin.

Is incest even a sizable sin? Adding to that, incest that wasn’t actually committed in the end. No, it’s basically nothing. Objectively speaking, what you did wasn’t sinful or wrong. Yet, Luke, you’ve placed the heaviest weight on the scale…….

What just happened? What exactly was the weight that was placed on the scale? It was Luke’s weight. Luke decided on his own to lay his life down for something trivial. At this moment, Luke became both the judge and executioner…….

“I will not ask whose slave you are trying to become.”

“Thank you, Godfather…….”

“Think nothing of it.”

I gently patted Luke’s head.

“As you know, I have killed quite a lot of people. In terms of wickedness, your and my sins are incomparable.”

“But……those were sacrifices you made for the greater good. It’s completely different from someone like me.”

“No one has the right to sacrifice others.”

I smiled.

“I am glad to see that you are confronting your problems head-on and not shying away from your responsibilities. Tough times lie ahead, along with moments of suffering. You will not have the luxury to rest like other humans anymore. But that is not because you are a lowly slave.”

I embraced Luke gently with my arms.

“Your path forward is crystal clear. While others set distant goals, your goal is the path itself, the steps you take. While others rest to progress further, if you rest, you give up on your goal in that moment.”

I pressed Luke’s head against my chest.

“There is no reason to rest because you must keep walking forward. You do not have to rush. Someday, you will understand what I mean.”

“Yes, Godfather…….”

Luke buried his face in my chest and cried.

I gently ran my fingers through the back of Luke’s hair and chuckled softly.

Ο * * * Ο

The surgery was promptly carried out two days later.

The 9th-floor basement of my Demon Lord Castle was where the prison cells and interrogation rooms were located. It was there that Luke was going to be branded as a slave. Jeremi offered to help at first, but when I explained the situation to her, she quickly gave up.

“Oh dear. I was anxious about when Luke would find out, but it seems the day has finally arrived.”

“Be careful on the streets at night from now on. You never know when Luke might seek revenge on you.”

“This one is not so weak that I would let myself get ambushed by a brat at night.”

Jeremi chuckled.

“Ahh, but it is a shame. I would love to see the expressions on their faces as Daisy operates on Luke.”

“I feel the same way.”

The two of us were currently waiting at the entrance to the operating room. We sat huddled together, leaning against the corridor wall. Our postures were less than dignified. If anyone saw us now, they would probably mistake us for pitiful homeless people.

The reason we couldn’t enter the operating room was because of Daisy. That stubborn little brat adamantly refused to let us in. She declared that if we intruded, she would abandon Luke’s surgery altogether, leaving us no choice but to remain outside.

“She truly is an ungrateful brat. After all I’ve taught her, she won’t even let me witness one surgery……. Sheesh. This is why there is no point in raising a disciple.”

“Hehe.”

I displayed a content smile. I then pulled out a square object from my pocket.

Jeremi’s eyes widened.

“Your Highness, could that be?”

“Who do you think I am? I am Dantalian, the most wicked and merciless Demon Lord in history.”

I let out a chuckle.

“I knew this would happen, so I installed a memoria spell in the operating room yesterday.”

“Kyaah! You’re amazing, Your Highness! I love you!”

Jeremi showered me with praises as she planted kisses on my cheek.

“I did not add only one. To be exact, I installed thirty-six of them so that we could watch from every direction imaginable……! The amount of gold I spent just to prepare this easily reaches the thousands!”

“As expected of Your Highness Dantalian. You know exactly where to spend your money!”

“Fufufu. I cannot wait to see what kind of expression Daisy has on her face now.”

“Yes, I am sure she will show us an expression that is both charming and extraordinary!”

We made a commotion as we giggled with excitement.

The phrase “cut from the same cloth” came to mind, but I ignored it. Such was the ordinary daily life in my Demon Lord Castle.

After all, the surgical tools Daisy was currently using were funded from my own pockets. Daisy had the obligation to pay a fee for using my belongings. Nothing amiss with that. I earnestly hoped that Daisy would stage a magnificent performance…….

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. Probably don’t have to explain why this chapter came out a bit late. Covid blah blah blah. Was dying blah blah blah. It didn’t help that it’s no longer mandatory for people with covid to stay home, so I had to go back to work after taking only 1 day off. I don’t really have much to say, so I’m just gonna truck through this.

Side note, I still haven’t read the DD webcomic. Still unsure if I should give it a shot… Oh well, maybe I’ll cave eventually.

I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.

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