Chapter 10
Azazel found himself torn between two choices—the queen bee or the serpent. Beatrix, with her control over swarms, could offer security against invaders, making her an immediate boon to the dungeon. On the other hand, Quets, the serpent god, likely held knowledge that could help develop and strengthen the snakes in the long run. One choice offered short-term benefits, while the other held long-term potential.
"Why does this have to be so difficult?" he thought, frustrated by the weight of the decision.
Time passed—at least, he assumed it did. The void around him remained unchanging, making it impossible to tell how long he had been standing there. Was it hours? Days? His sense of time was completely skewed. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he sighed and spoke aloud, hoping someone—or something—was listening.
"Is there a way to talk to these wild gods before I make my choice?"
Almost immediately, the familiar voice from the system responded.
"Would you like me to summon their spirits here so you can confirm your decision?"
Azazel blinked. So the system thinks I'm taking too long? He couldn't really blame it. If he were in charge, he'd be annoyed too. He gave a quick nod before realizing that wasn't enough—he had to actually press "Yes" on the floating panel in front of him. Right… sometimes I really am a dunce.
As soon as he confirmed, the void around him stirred. The space shimmered like heat rising from pavement, shapes forming out of the emptiness. Ethereal figures began to coalesce, shifting between ghostly transparency and solid form.
The first to fully materialize was Beatrix, the Royal.
And by the gods, she was stunning.
Her form was a perfect blend of humanoid and insect, her golden fur sleek and regal, her body curvy in a way that almost felt unnatural for a bee. The bounce of her ample chest, thick thighs, and wide hips as she landed on the unseen ground left his brain momentarily short-circuiting. But just as he was admiring her beauty, his gaze trailed behind her—right to the large, sharp stinger extending from her lower back.
Oh… right. That's a stinger.
Her initial presence was massive, towering like the gods who had sent him here. But after a few moments, her body began to shrink, condensing into a more manageable size—still tall, but just a bit shorter than Azazel himself. Her wings fluttered slightly, and he finally took in the finer details: her soft, downy fur, the elegant black-and-gold markings across her body, and… was that a backpack?
Azazel blinked. Yep. That's definitely a backpack.
It was decorated in bright yellows and oranges, adorned with a charming flower pattern. He barely had time to question it before the second presence fully formed.
Quets, the Serpent, had arrived.
Azazel had expected a snake—maybe a giant one. What he hadn't expected was a god-sized snake-man staring him down with the intensity of a predator sizing up prey.
Quets' form was striking—his scales shimmered in deep hues of emerald and gold, his long tail coiling and uncoiling behind him with restless energy. His piercing eyes locked onto Azazel, and his expression immediately darkened.
Azazel barely had time to react before Quets' voice boomed through the void, vibrating in his very bones.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! THERE IS A LADY HERE! COVER YOURSELF, NOW!"Azazel stiffened.
Then, before he could even process the demand, a massive fur coat dropped from the sky, landing squarely on his head.
It was enormous, like some extravagant robe, its thick material pooling around his feet. The coat had buttons running all the way down the front, as if designed to completely envelop the wearer.
Confused but very aware of the angry snake god still glaring at him, Azazel cautiously glanced toward Beatrix. She gave a soft, amused chuckle, but he could tell she wasn't bothered. Even so, he immediately bowed in apology before hurriedly slipping the coat on, fumbling to button it up to the very top.
Well… that's one way to make a first impression."Now, demon, why have you brought us here?" Quets' voice was sharp, filled with disdain. His piercing gaze bore into me, making me feel like prey caught in a serpent's coil. "Your kind neither learn from us nor respect us. You slaughter our kin just as easily as mortals and other monsters do. Have you summoned us here just to waste our time?"
Yeah… Quets wasn't interested in being rational, and honestly, I couldn't blame him. If I were abruptly pulled into a strange place only to be greeted by a naked guy, I'd have some reservations, too.
Before I could even attempt to explain myself, Beatrix's soft, melodic voice cut through the tension like warm honey. "Calm down, dear. You came here willingly, just as I did." She stretched luxuriously, her golden-furred arms moving with a lazy grace. "Besides, I was growing rather bored. My hives are running so efficiently that I have little to do but wait for the next season's bloom."
Her soothing presence was like a balm, pulling me away from the savage glare of Quets and allowing me to focus. But despite the warmth in her tone, there was something beneath it—an undertone of calculation, like a queen measuring the worth of a potential worker.
She tilted her head, her antennae twitching slightly. "You are right about one thing, little demon. Your kind does not respect us. So tell me, what is it that you want?"
I swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how exposed I felt, even with the coat wrapped around me. "I… I, um…" My nerves got the best of me, and before I knew it, I blurted out more than I intended. "I'm a new dungeon core, and… I'm not from this world."
That got their attention.
Both of them exchanged glances, their expressions shifting to something more serious. Quets narrowed his eyes, the intensity of his stare making my skin prickle with unease. "Unlikely, little demon," he hissed, though there was now a flicker of curiosity behind his suspicion. "But I will hear you out. And while you're at it, explain why you thought it was appropriate to summon us in such… indecent conditions."
Beatrix gave a soft chuckle, covering her mouth with one of her lower hands while the other gestured for me to continue. "Well, go on then. Let's hear your tale."
Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and began to recount everything—how I came to be here, how I ended up as a dungeon core, and all the events that led to this very moment.