I needed to level up—I knew that. But even though my survival was at stake, I couldn't bring myself to be needlessly cruel.
So, I gave them a warning.
"Well done. You've cleared two of my rooms, but you won't survive the next one—not with your orc friend injured the way she is. If you lay down your weapons, I'll allow her and the goblin into my core room so she can be healed. We can talk—face to face."
I let the words settle, the weight of my offer hanging in the air. Then, after a pause, I finished with a final warning.
"If you ignore my words and keep pushing forward…" I let the silence stretch just long enough to make them uneasy.
Then, with deliberate finality, I said,
"The dire bear that killed Rikka's friends died in the next room."
A tense silence followed. The only sounds were the faint hum of the bioluminescent mushrooms and the ragged breathing of the injured orc woman, Grekka. Blood seeped from the deep gashes along her arm and thigh—she was still standing, but just barely.
Agu, their leader, frowned, her sharp eyes flickering toward Grekka, then toward the tunnel leading to the next chamber.
She was thinking it over.
The gnoll shaman, Chakk, tapped his staff against the ground, the bone charms clattering softly. "How do we know this isn't a trick?" he asked, golden eyes narrowed.
"You don't," I admitted. "But I haven't killed you yet, have I?"
That got a reaction—Tikk, the goblin rogue, let out a scoff. "That's not exactly reassuring."
"No, but it is the truth."
Agu exhaled through her nose, considering. Grekka's injuries were bad, and pushing forward blindly could cost them more than they were willing to lose.
"Why heal her?" Agu finally asked.
I hesitated for a fraction of a second. The truth was complicated. I wasn't trying to be merciful—I needed them alive for now. But I also wasn't interested in meaningless slaughter.
So, I gave her an answer she could understand.
"Because I want to talk. And because it benefits me more if you're not bleeding out on my dungeon floor."
Silence again. Then, at last, Agu made her decision.
She slid her daggers back into their sheaths. "Tikk, take Grekka. Walk her through the next room. You'll see why you wouldn't have won. After that, keep moving to the core room."
Tikk hesitated, but with one look at the orc's worsening condition, she didn't argue. She moved to Grekka's side, helping support her weight.
"Fine," she muttered.
The walls shifted at my command, revealing a path forward. The third room lay ahead, bathed in dim light.
As the two stepped inside, the sight waiting for them stopped them cold.
Four golems stood in absolute stillness, yet their presence was oppressive. Two towering male figures—made of smooth stone and glowing with molten veins—flanked either side of the chamber. Beside them, two female golems, slimmer but just as deadly, stood poised, their crystalline bodies shimmering faintly in the light.
Their empty eyes stared forward, unblinking. Waiting.
Tikk sucked in a sharp breath, gripping Grekka tighter. The orc let out a low, exhausted laugh, barely more than a whisper.
"Yeah… we would've died here."
A slow realization crept in as they took it all in—this fight wouldn't have just been difficult. It would have been unwinnable in their current state.
And that knowledge weighed on them.
With the urgency of their situation pressing down, Tikk hurried Grekka through the room, her heart pounding, never daring to meet the golems' unmoving gazes for too long.
Only when they reached the far end did she let out the breath she had been holding.
The tunnel to the core room lay ahead, and with no other choice, they pressed on.
I shifted my consciousness back to my body and made my way toward the goblin and the injured orc. As I approached, Nike moved to my side—my ever-protective, ever-loyal imp.
Once they came into view, I gave them a casual wave and motioned for them to come closer.
The moment they noticed me, they froze in their tracks. Wide-eyed, they stared at me and Nike, their bodies tense with hesitation.
I sighed, realizing they weren't going to move on their own. "Looks like we'll have to go to them," I murmured to Nike. Then, lowering my voice, I added, "Stay alert—the smaller one is sharp. Don't let her out of your sight."
Nike gave a small nod, her piercing eyes locked onto the goblin as we moved forward.
As Nike and I approached, I kept my expression neutral, careful not to appear too aggressive or too casual. The goblin, Tikk, tensed the moment she got a proper look at me, her grip tightening around Grekka's waist. Her sharp eyes flicked between me and Nike, the wariness in them unmistakable.
"A demon," she muttered under her breath, ears twitching. "Just our damn luck."
Grekka, despite her injuries, let out a rough chuckle. "Thought I smelled brimstone."
I raised a brow. "Well, that's rude."
Tikk didn't look amused. "You're the dungeon's master, aren't you?" Her voice was edged with suspicion, one hand inching toward the dagger at her belt.
"That's right," I replied smoothly. "And you must be Tikk."
Her eyes narrowed. "You know my name."
"I make it a point to know who's wandering around my home."
Grekka let out a ragged breath. "Great. A dungeon core with personality." She winced, shifting her weight. Blood still seeped from her wounds, staining her already torn armor.
"You need healing," I said, my gaze flicking to the worst of her injuries. "I can help."
Tikk immediately took a half-step back, eyes flashing with distrust. "Yeah? And what's the price?"
I tilted my head, pretending to consider. "How about not dying?"
Tikk scowled. "Forgive me if I don't want to owe a demon any favors."
Grekka let out an exhausted groan. "Tikk, for fuck's sake—just let him do it. I'm not in the mood to argue when I can barely stand."
Tikk hesitated, then clicked her tongue in irritation. "Fine," she muttered.
I stepped closer, letting magic gather at my fingertips. A soft glow illuminated the dim cavern as I reached toward Grekka. Nike stayed alert, her glowing eyes locked onto Tikk, ready to act if needed.
Tikk flinched as the spell took effect. Grekka, on the other hand, sighed in relief as the deeper wounds closed, the tension in her shoulders easing. Color slowly returned to her face, though exhaustion still weighed on her.
"…Huh," she murmured, flexing her fingers. "Didn't expect that to actually work."
I smirked. "Happy to exceed expectations."
Nike scoffed. "What, did you think he was gonna curse you?"
Tikk crossed her arms. "Wouldn't put it past a demon."
I sighed. "If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't be healing your friend."
A tense silence followed. Tikk and Grekka exchanged a glance, unspoken thoughts passing between them.
Then, at last, Tikk exhaled sharply. "Fine. Let's talk."
I smiled. "Good choice."
"Now, let's get down to business. What do you think of my dungeon so far? My adorable little imp and I have been working hard on it."
I pulled Nike into my arms, hugging him from behind. He didn't take his eyes off our guests, ever the vigilant protector, but a faint flush crept across his cheeks at the sudden affection.
Grekka, the orc woman, narrowed her eyes. "What is it you want?"
I sighed dramatically before flashing a teasing smirk. "Other than me slipping my cock between those big tits of yours? A few things."
Tikk gagged in disgust, while Grekka just huffed, unimpressed. I waved off their reactions before continuing.
"First, I want you to take word of my dungeon back to whatever village or army you came from. If your people start delving regularly, it benefits both of us—your strongest warriors will grow even stronger, and if they perform well, they might even earn a few rewards."
I let that sink in before moving on. "Second, I need to get in contact with someone who can make clothes."
To emphasize my point, I pulled away from Nike and spun around, letting them take in my full form. My elegant, curvy body was barely covered, the scraps of silk clinging more like a suggestion than actual clothing. From the side, my massive girth was impossible to ignore. When I finally stopped twirling, my hips gave one last jiggle before I moved back behind Nike, wrapping my arms around him again.
"And lastly, I want to trade for livestock—animals, beasts, whatever you've got. I want to experiment."
Tikk, still recovering from my earlier comment, pinched the bridge of her nose. "You really don't hold back, do you?"
"Why should I?" I grinned. "It's my dungeon. I can say whatever I want."
Grekka exhaled heavily. "If we take your offer back, how do we know you won't just use it against us? Dungeons don't exactly have a reputation for fairness."
I leaned forward slightly, resting my chin on Nike's shoulder. "Fairness? No. But I am practical. If I wanted to kill you all, I would've already. Instead, I'm offering a deal. One that keeps you alive and benefits your people. Sounds like a pretty good bargain to me."
Tikk crossed her arms, lips pressing into a thin line. She was skeptical, but she also wasn't immediately rejecting the idea. That was a start.
Grekka gave a tired nod. "Alright. Let's say we take this back to our people. What exactly are you offering in return?"
I smirked. "Access. Rewards for those who prove themselves. Maybe even special privileges if they entertain me enough."
Tikk muttered, "Why does that sound vaguely ominous?"
I chuckled. "Oh, because it is."
Nike huffed at my side, but his tail flicked in amusement. I could tell he was enjoying watching them squirm.
"So," I continued, voice smooth. "Do we have a deal?"