CHAPTER 218: 218. BACK HOME

Jake left the core area and went to the living chamber. Jasmine and Fiona followed him while looking around in fascination.

As Jake sat on his usual throne, he told Lena to call everyone else. The fairy was still stuck to his abdomen and showed no intention of leaving.

A while later, news of Jake’s arrival spread all over the dungeon. Eventually, his right abdomen got occupied by Erin. Yunna, Perry, and Irene also got on his lap.

"Welcome back, Master!"

More and more were coming. Ruxa, Minerva, Calliya, and Ariel came together. Although they would’ve loved to hug him, their master was already being bombarded with kisses. So they just waited for the early birds to finish first.

However, a certain someone’s arrival caused everyone to pause and look back. Flying across the expansive room, Droge carried a curvy young woman in a red dress.

’’Oh."

"It’s her!"

The women latched onto Jake parted and looked at the dragon girl who got down on one knee in front of their master. They seemed to be somewhat scared of her.

"Yvonne is pleased to have you back, my lord." She said, paying no attention to others. However, she side-eyed Fiona, recognizing the homunculus.

"Stand." Jake nodded. He then told everyone to find a seat.

After everyone except Lena had arranged themselves around a large circular table a foot below the dungeon master, they looked at the new girls.

Jake introduced Jasmine and Fiona to the others. Jasmine quickly became friends with Amelia and Ariel.

However, Fiona was quite awkward at socializing. Also, her 4th Circle rank deterred others from striking conversations with her.

Eventually, Minerva opened up to her. The necro lady was at first intrigued by Fiona’s beauty but was surprised to find how childish she was.

While everyone began talking, Jake looked into a far corner and gestured. Immediately, Ash flashed behind him like a ninja.

"Yes, master?"

"Check on those elves. I heard there’s quite a lot of 4th Circlers among them."

"I shall. But don’t worry, master. Lady Yvonne’s magic is very formidable." Saying this, the dark knight nodded and turned into a shadow.

"Well..." Jake glanced at the dragon girl. "She is indeed formidable. Nearly killed me while I was corrupting her."

Thinking about that incident still made him feel chills. Jake closed his eyes and used his authority as the dungeon master to check the floors.

He first went to see Isa, the spider girl, before moving on to check on the other monsters.

After a while, he told Perry to come sit on his lap. While fondling her shapely peaches and lemons, he listened to the report she’d prepared.

While he was gone, the influx of adventurers had quadrupled, contributing to the increase in evil mana.

The surrounding villages’ population had also increased and new constructions were going on right now.

However, the most pressing news was about the battle with the invading elves. Perry recounted every week’s event in detail and told him about how it really went.

"We almost lost the battle if not for her." The priestess glanced at the dragon girl who was asking some questions to Fiona.

"Also, I have to report some... casualties." Perry added nervously.

"Hmm?" Jake didn’t have a good feeling about this.

"It’s best that you see them for yourself." The priestess stood up and glanced at Lena who quickly hid behind the throne.

"The fairy can open a passage to..."

"No need." Jake interrupted her and telepathically looked through Lena’s recent memories. The connection between them as the master and fairy allowed him to do so.

A few minutes later, he grabbed Perry and teleported to the 50th floor.

There was a frozen chamber here with five corpses caged in icy coffins. Jake recognized each one of them. He walked forward and touched one of the see-through coffins.

The cold ice melted quickly and the lifeless Vin fell in Jake’s arms. Her expression was one of bravery, preserved from the moment an elven arrow pierced her heart.

Jake didn’t speak a word. He remembered corrupting Vin back in the summer after returning from Erpis Village. She was one of those solo adventurers who didn’t have a family.

Jake hadn’t developed deep feelings with her but she still belonged to his harem

"Hold her," He told Perry who was standing meekly behind him.

He then defrosted the other girls as well. Ria, Viscount Dorstone’s adopted daughter... Lovia, the woman that came with Prince Splennar... Riri and Diana... the very first adventurers that he confronted.

Jake gently closed their eyes and sighed. He was supposed to be a demon, to be ruthless and cold. Who cared about some humans? A true demon surely doesn’t.

"A trait of my human self from Earth..." Jake muttered, stroking Riri’s face. She looked even whiter now.

"Perhaps it’s not so bad to feel sorrow."

A cold and mournful aura radiated from Jake as he put down the dead young woman and turned around.

"I want them buried where they died. Now, bring me where those elves are kept."

"Y-Yes!" Perry stuttered. She’d never seen her master being so angry.

...

The 63rd floor housed the most secure prisons in the dungeon. At the moment, one of the chambers was filled with fourteen elves and seven cloaked summoners.

Despite being tied to stone pillars and having their magical powers sealed, they still hadn’t given up.

"It’s been three weeks... Are they just gonna trap us here?" Linda, one of the 4th Circle squad captains, struggled to tear the magical chains binding her.

"Ugh... this thing is so... t-tight!"

"Don’t bother." An old elf sighed.

It was Edgar, one of the four Moonlight Protectors. He’d left the forest to raid this dungeon in hopes that he’d find a way to revert the dryads back to their normal selves.

"Even Lord Issac can’t break these chains."

"So? Does that mean we should just stop trying?" Some other elves confronted the old druid.

"All of you, be quiet." Issac spoke.

After being captured, he’d also tried everything he could to break out. As the commander, he knew how devastating it would be for Leafsong village if they didn’t return in a month’s time.

"By now, the diviners should’ve known what happened to us..." Issac muttered.

"The Princess as well." Someone added.

"Right..." The elven commander went into a trance. He seemed to fondly whisper the name of his princess.

Seeing this, the other elves naturally went silent. Although nobody would say it outright, everyone kind of knew their commander had feelings for Princess Valerie.

That’s why he had come to this dangerous mission to retrieve the Elixir of Life.

"Perhaps we can persuade those-" As one of the squad captains was about to voice his suggestion, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching.

The others heard it too and immediately became wary.

"Is it that human again...?"

Ash had just checked in on them, so they remembered the Dark Knight. However, the silhouette that these prisoners saw was quite unfamiliar.

A tall, muscular man with demonic features dressed in a luxurious black and red coat walked inside.

Following him was a voluptuous priestess wearing a dark red robe with revealing cuts. This attractive woman’s lower belly had a noticeable bump on it, which she stroked from time to time.

"Master, we’re here." Perry said, stopping by the entrance.