Estijel, the half-demon despised everywhere.
She hid away in a secluded cave, trying to avoid the eyes of the world. Her only desire was to live quietly without drawing attention.

'Why do I have to face such trials?'

It all started when the 72nd-ranked dungeon was explored. Unfortunately, the core of the 72nd dungeon was created in the very cave Estijel inhabited, and this dungeon core transformed her into the 72nd-ranked boss.

Naturally, the number etched itself into Estijel's mind.
I'm the boss of the 72nd dungeon! But 72nd rank...!

Being revealed as the 72nd dungeon boss meant her peaceful life would be invaded. Estijel hid deeper within the dungeon, attempting to keep her identity a secret.

However, the Merchant Association, preparing for an upcoming gathering, launched an exploration of the 72nd dungeon. Soon enough, Estijel's dungeon was discovered. Despite the merchants' persistent questioning about whether she was the 72nd boss, Estijel denied it fiercely, though it was clear she was only fooling herself.

The merchants saw the dungeon core with their own eyes.
Artificial dungeons could not create a dungeon core. As soon as they confirmed that she was indeed the 72nd-ranked boss, it was all over.

‘If you don’t attend the gathering, you’ll suffer consequences. It would show disrespect for the efforts of our Merchant Association.’

Though a lord, she was at the very bottom, ranked 72nd, and a half-demon.
The merchants weren’t hesitant to threaten Estijel.

This was the first gathering in 100 years.
All the lords were expected to attend, or it would lose its significance. Of course, other lords would have hostility toward a half-demon like her, but it wasn’t like anyone else was worth worrying about.

‘Do I really have to go...?’

‘Do as you wish. But if you don’t attend, you’ll have to face the consequences.’

Estijel knew well the world’s scorn for half-demons. She had always feared this day, which was why she had lived in hiding for so long.

Attending meant she would be subjected to scorn, but refusing to attend could bring repercussions from the Merchant Association.

In the end, Estijel reluctantly agreed to attend, tears in her eyes.

The fateful day arrived, and just before it, she heard something that struck her like a thunderclap.

‘…A half-demon committed suicide?’

‘Yes, did you just find out?’

It was the news of a half-demon who had accompanied the last gathering as a guard, now dead by suicide.
Estijel’s mind spun. She had already reached the palace’s banquet hall—there was no turning back now.

Mentally, Estijel wanted to bite her tongue and end her life just like that half-demon.
After all, I too could end up being the one to commit suicide, right?

Still, just a sliver of hope remained, and she entered the banquet hall.
It took less than 10 seconds for that hope to shatter.

“Isn’t she a half-demon?”
“Yeah. The 72nd-ranked half-demon, I guess.”
“Has no shame, showing up at the gathering as a 72nd-ranked half-demon.”
“Should probably replace her again.”

Ah.

‘I’m done for now!’

The scorn and murderous intent poured from all directions.

“Move!”
“Uh, uh…”

It wasn’t just a rude shoulder bump; they shouted insults directly in her face, and someone even spat on her shoes.
The atmosphere was one of violence, with the threat of a collective beating looming.

Unable to bear the humiliation, Estijel decided to blend in as much as possible, retreating to a corner and standing there motionlessly for hours.
Thankfully, the attention gradually shifted elsewhere.

Though she felt a sense of relief, anxiety gnawed at her.

‘Please, let time pass quickly…’

A minute in this place felt like an hour. Simply standing still made it hard to breathe.

“Lord Barugor, the Death Knight of the Faithful Mausoleum, has arrived!”

The announcement startled her, and when she realized who it was, her heart nearly stopped.
Estijel had ears and eyes; she had heard the rumors, and she knew exactly who Barugor was.

The Abyssal 7th Palace. Barugor, the master of the Faithful Mausoleum!
He was born a single entity in the 7th Abyssal Palace, opposed the 5th-ranked boss, and earned the blind loyalty of the 6th.

Most importantly, he had killed two heroes and even claimed the awakened holy sword. His emergence as a new dungeon lord was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Other Abyssal 7th Palace lords would likely be impressed by his achievements.

“That’s the one who killed Lord Gergore...”
“A boss killing another boss…”

Estijel’s ears perked up as she overheard the conversation.
And then came the shock that almost sent her reeling.

‘He killed a 21st-ranked lord!?’

A newly minted Abyssal 7th Palace lord had slain the 21st-ranked boss, without hesitation and with a single strike.

The shock was brief, but Estijel was now consumed with fear.
The one who killed the 21st-ranked boss without a second thought was here, in the same room. And she, a half-demon, was standing in his sight.

‘If our eyes meet, I’m dead!’

Quickly, Estijel turned her back to the entrance, hoping to avoid eye contact.

CRACK!

The sudden sound of breaking air startled her.
She glanced over and saw Barugor, his holy sword in hand, standing over a fallen boss who had taken a nasty fall.

“Name and rank.”
“Y-yes?”
“I asked for your name and rank.”
“…I am Brutalgrim, rank 34.”
“I’ve remembered you. Consider yourself lucky to stop here.”
“…”
“Next time, be ready to have your tongue pulled out. Understand?”
“Y-yes, I won’t do it again…”

With that, Barugor turned and walked away.

Estijel gulped heavily, the weight of her own breath suffocating her.
In a banquet meant to foster connections, Barugor had threatened a kill without hesitation.
This was a lord who had slain the 21st-ranked boss...

“Ugh!”

Estijel quickly turned away, pretending to be deep in thought, but her mind was far from meditative.

‘If I get caught, I’ll die. I’ll die, I will die. Please, please, please...’

Her body trembled uncontrollably.
It was a pitiable sight, but in this hall, Estijel’s existence as a half-demon only provoked hostility, not sympathy.

The sound of approaching footsteps drew closer.
Clink, clink. The sound of metal scraping against metal grew louder.

A chill ran down Estijel’s spine, and cold sweat dripped from her brow.
Please, not this way. She fervently prayed to the heavens, hoping for some mercy.

But as if betraying her prayer, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder.

‘...Ah.’

Estijel froze, knowing instantly that they had recognized her for what she was—a half-demon.
Fear overwhelmed her, and she could barely move a finger.

If ignored, she would die in one strike.
Like a malfunctioning puppet, she slowly turned, her head snapping back to face the one who had touched her.

Her gaze met Barugor’s piercing eyes, and without meaning to, she burst into tears.

“P-please, just spare me...”

Barugor stared silently at her. His gaze was filled with murderous intent.

“Ugh!”

Overcome with fear, Estijel stammered, and Barugor moved his hand quickly.
Instinctively, she shut her eyes tightly.

“Hand.”
“…?”

In the brief glimpse of light, she saw Barugor holding out his hand.
It appeared as though he was offering a handshake. On the surface, it seemed like a gesture of goodwill.

But in the world of Abyssal 7th Palace, a half-demon was the lowest of the low.
The lord of the Abyssal 7th Palace would never make contact with someone like her.

A whirlwind of thoughts crashed through Estijel’s mind, and in an instant, the answer became clear.

‘Is he trying to break my wrist...!?’

***

Estijel, with a face full of fear, looked up at me.
Her emotions were so clearly visible, there was no need for level colors to read her.

“Hand.”

She hesitantly extended her hand, her tone surprisingly gentle.

I had thought long and hard about approaching her.
For the Abyssal 7th Palace to take on the 72nd-ranked boss, a half-demon, as a patron? It would surely cause a storm in the wrong direction.
Yet, despite that, I chose to recruit her because I recognized the potential she held.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said hand.”

My arm was starting to feel sore from holding it out, but the answer I received was baffling.

“W-wait, are you planning to do something to my wrist...?”

I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded. Did she think I was going to cut off her wrist or something?

Reluctantly, I took her hand in mine and shook it.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Barugor, Lord of the Abyssal 7th Palace. Now, your introduction.”
“Eh?”
“I said your introduction.”

For a moment, it felt like time stopped for Estijel.
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, her eyes fluttering without pause.

“You’re stalling, huh.”
“Y-yes?”
“Just tell me your rank and name.”
“U-uh... aah…”

She stumbled over her words, hesitated, and fumbled through her sentences.
I had to stop myself from sighing in frustration.

“I-I’m Estijel, ranked 72nd. I… I’m sorry, it’s late, but I greet you, Lord of the Abyssal 7th Palace...”

Estijel bent her waist in an awkward bow, like a folder folding shut.
Whether she stood still or shook my hand, she seemed constantly scared, making me feel like the bad guy.
She looked like a freshly-minted adult, which only made me feel more guilty.

“Rank 72, Estijel. I’m interested in you.”
“Interested? In… me?”
“Yeah.”
“Uh, are you interested in me as a toy? Or maybe as an experiment…?”

What exactly does she think of me?

“That’s rude.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I’ve sinned terribly!”

“No, I’m not interested in you as a toy or an experiment. Do you have a moment to talk?”
“U-uh...”
“There’s no hostility. Let’s talk. I want to form a connection, so don’t be afraid.”

Estijel took a deep breath, clearly still nervous.

“A connection? With me?”
“Yeah.”
“But I’m ranked 72nd...”
“I know.”
“And you’re the Lord of the Abyssal 7th Palace...?”
“You think I wouldn’t know?”
“...And I’m half-human...”
“And what of it?”

Honestly, it matters, but your potential is more important to me.

Despite everything, her level color hadn’t changed.
At that moment, Charlotte and Balutak approached from either side of me.

“Let me introduce these two. This is Balutak, the guard of the Faithful Mausoleum.”
“Kirrik. Nice to meet you. Balutak.”
“And this human is my lieutenant, Charlotte. Not a half-demon, but a pure human. She’s a witch, though.”
“...It’s an honor to meet you, Lord.”

Estijel’s eyes grew wide, fixed on Charlotte.

“Is she... really human? A human is really your lieutenant in the Abyssal 7th Palace?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow...”

Estijel’s mouth hung open in awe, and her level color lightened just a little, as if she had found some hope.
I had appointed a pure-blooded human as my lieutenant, so perhaps it showed I wasn’t a racist, and that I wasn’t just picking others based on species.

Of course, with just a 72nd-ranked boss, my subordinates could have questioned the decision.
Balutak probably didn’t care, but Charlotte kept glancing at me with a troubled expression.

“Boss, may I have a word with you, just the two of us?”
“Go ahead.”

I was curious what this was about. The conversation was bound to be predictable.

***

Recently, Charlotte couldn't help but harbor doubts about the Boss’s intentions.
A 72nd-ranked half-demon boss. For the leader of the Abyssal 7th Palace to show an interest in forming a friendly connection with Estijel—it seemed unimaginable.

Leaving Estijel behind, Charlotte spoke with the Boss.

“Lord, this really can’t happen. As foolish as I am, I can’t understand your true intentions. But still, this is...”

Once Charlotte regained her composure, she stopped speaking and looked for any signs of what the Boss might be thinking.
The loyal lieutenant was revealing her inner reservations without hesitation. Charlotte bowed her head, seemingly apologizing.

“I understand your thoughts.”
“...But why?”

This could easily bring about more disgrace than even Gergore did.
Even knowing that, Charlotte still couldn’t figure out the true meaning behind this action.

“I see potential in Estijel.”

The Boss had the ability to recognize potential, something Charlotte knew well.
However, just potential alone was hardly a solid reason for this decision.

“I will not tolerate further objections. As always, trust my judgment.”
“But, Lord...”
“Enough.”

The Boss was firm, unwilling to back down.
Was it truly just because of Estijel’s potential that he sought to form a connection with a 72nd-ranked half-demon? No, there had to be something else.

Charlotte turned her gaze to the Boss’s retreating back as he moved toward Estijel, trying to read his true intentions.

After some reflection, she arrived at three possible conclusions.
Though none were certain, these were the only things that made sense.

First, the Boss might have been moved by Estijel’s persecuted condition and extended a hand out of sympathy.

But if it’s not that...

Second, he might have thought of Charlotte when he reached out to Estijel.

Charlotte, though a pure human, had lived a life much like that of a half-demon. A life filled with persecution and flight. As a witch, she was unwelcome both in human society and the dungeon.
Estijel must have faced similar struggles.

It wasn’t the bloodline that had led Charlotte to sympathize, but the shared experience of living on the margins.
She had often found herself glancing at Estijel, caught off guard by the sudden recognition of their shared hardships.

The Boss, by forming a connection with Estijel, might have been quietly offering Charlotte some comfort as well.
Don’t let being human discourage you. Even if you are human, I see you as you are.

Charlotte, with her shoulders hunched, had remained by the Boss’s side, possibly signaling to him that she understood his silent message.

But the final conclusion was the hardest to believe.

Was it that he was a pervert?

With human necrophiles existing, could there not also be undead with a penchant for humans?
Of course, undead had no appetite, no need for sleep, and no sexual desire. But the Boss was the Lord of the Abyssal 7th Palace.
It wouldn't be strange for him to possess something beyond the typical limitations of an undead.

After all, there were rumors about Lich King Kalandas feeding his hunger by absorbing souls.

Charlotte and Estijel were both striking human women.
Both had reached an age where they were just beginning to mature, their physical development similar.

Looking back, she recalled that the Boss had taken Charlotte as his lieutenant without any interview or formal recruitment process.
She wasn’t a guard or anything, but from the start, she had been assigned to stay by his side at all times.

Now that I think about it…

There had been that one time when Charlotte had been changing in the lieutenant's room, and the Boss had walked in.
At that moment, Charlotte had been topless.
If he were truly an undead without sexual desire, he would have acted normally, as if nothing was amiss.

But the Boss had coughed awkwardly and closed the door, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.
That reaction... seemed like the response of someone who was disturbed by seeing a woman’s bare body.

Was he attracted to me...?

Charlotte, with her frequent mistakes and lack of real help in managing the dungeon, couldn’t help but wonder.
Perhaps, despite everything, the Boss had kept her close for his own enjoyment.
If that was true, it meant that the Boss had developed a desire for her.

It was a shocking thought, one that had never crossed her mind before.
Had the Boss really been more interested in her body than her abilities?

“...”

Charlotte absentmindedly glanced down at her own body.
Her robe, completely covering her, offered no exposure, but she still felt constrained by the attention she imagined.

Maybe I need to get some clothes that emphasize my figure.

She secretly hoped that her last theory was wrong.