assistirfilmes Chapter 44
Chapter 44
After returning to the dungeon via the trade portal with Estizel and Hellboki, the Insects resting on the 10th floor swarmed toward me like moths to a flame.
“Kirik! The Chief is back!”
“The Chief is here, chirp!”
They’d never seemed so excited to see me before. It seemed even grotesque, oversized bugs could grow on you over time.
“Kirik! The tribe has grown!”
“There’s livestock, chirp! Is the human food, chirp?”
“Haha...”
Estizel didn’t seem particularly disgusted, likely because she’d already gotten used to seeing Valutak. I’d half-expected her to shriek like she’d seen a swarm of cockroaches, but instead, she seemed unfazed. For some reason, I felt oddly let down.
Meanwhile, off to the side, a pair of Insects were enacting a bizarre romance drama.
“Kirik. Buraltak. My mate.”
“Kirilirik...”
“Buraltak is my tree, chirp. Always waiting for me, shading me, chirp.”
There they go again—Buraltak.
At this point, I was too tired to even comment. Whether it was Kelotak or Buraltak, they could call each other whatever they wanted.
“Boss, look at the workers,” Charlotte said, catching my attention.
The Insects’ appearance had indeed changed slightly. Their forelimbs now had a reinforced chitinous texture, seemingly evolved for mining like kobolds. It was an improvement worth celebrating, but I didn’t have the energy to be enthusiastic.
I’m so exhausted.
Even as an undead, mental fatigue piled up all the same. Without physical exhaustion to offset it, the mental toll felt twice as heavy.
Today’s meeting had been one grueling ordeal after another. I could handle Gergoer’s tasks and the banquet events, but the round table meeting had been nerve-wracking to the extreme. Who could have predicted that Roxanne, not Kalandas, would be the one to act out?
Still, I’d managed to navigate it somehow. As a reward for my efforts, I deserved to hole up in the boss’s room and rest for a while.
Glancing at Charlotte, I noticed she too looked fatigued. No wonder—being surrounded by monsters and enduring Roxanne’s death threats must have taken a toll on her.
“Get some rest and recover. When you have time, start teaching Estizel magic. Estizel, for now, stay in the lieutenant’s room.”
Since they were both human, there shouldn’t be any discomfort living together. Charlotte’s expression remained stoic, as usual, but I could tell. Having known her for so long, I could see the faint signs that she approved of Estizel.
The two shared a bond as former outcasts—Charlotte a witch, and Estizel a half-human, half-demon. With time, they’d grow closer, especially as teacher and student.
“Yes, I’ll do my best. Estizel, follow me,” Charlotte said.
“Y-Yes?”
“In this place, you are not the 72nd-ranked Lord. You are a member of the Shrine of Faith within the Seventh Abyss. As your senior, I may speak informally. I ask for your understanding.”
“N-No problem at all! Speak to me however you like!”
“As a member of the Seventh Abyss, you and I both have much to learn. Let’s grow together as we serve the Boss.”
Estizel nodded vigorously, clenching her fist in what I assumed was meant to be a determined expression. She still looked like a kid, though.
“Boss, may I ask you something?” Charlotte’s question broke my train of thought.
I nodded.
“Does the hellhound have a name?”
“A name?”
Now that she mentioned it, I realized I hadn’t told them Hellboki’s name. Nobody had asked, and I wasn’t one to volunteer information unnecessarily. Maintaining the stoic boss image was part of the act.
But that expressionless face...
Something about it reminded me of when she named Skeleton Horse. She might suggest a name herself if I didn’t answer. No way was I letting that happen—Hellboki already had a perfectly respectable name.
“If it doesn’t, how about Hellboki?”
“...”
“Hells for ‘hellhound,’ and Boki because it’s always smiling happily. The name Hellboki came to mind right away.”
The suggestion shocked me.
Did she just match my naming sense? The same person who named Skeleton Horse Golgol?
-Huff, huff.
As if responding to its name, Hellboki trotted over to Charlotte, rubbing against her. Maintaining her stoic expression, Charlotte began petting the hellhound, which promptly rolled onto its back, exposing its belly and basking in the attention.
It seemed to like her even more than me. Seriously?
“...Hellboki it is.”
I’d never admit it aloud, but it seemed Charlotte and I had similar naming instincts. The thought was deeply unsettling.
***
Though I resolved to rest, the cursed nature of my skeletal body meant I couldn’t actually sleep—a torment I would never escape.
-Huff, huff.
The only comfort I had was Hellboki, who seemed to enjoy my touch and constantly nuzzled up to me. Ah, this is healing. To think I’d only get to experience the joy of having a dog after becoming a death knight.
I threw a bone, and Hellboki dashed after it, retrieving it promptly.
By the way, that "toy" bone was one of my ribs. It had been creaking for a while and wasn’t of much use anymore, so I repurposed it for Hellboki.
Knock, knock.
What if he doesn’t like chess? What if he’s just humoring me and forcing himself to play?
However, a glance at the boss's face put all her concerns to rest.
He’s genuinely engrossed.
Contrary to her fears, it seemed chess had piqued his interest. His intense focus and deliberate movements showed his deep immersion in the game.
As with the first match, this game also ended after a fierce battle of wits.
“I’ve lost again...”
Charlotte let out a quiet sigh, covering her face with her hands as if wiping away invisible stress. Through the gaps between her fingers, she stole a glance at the boss.
Though it was difficult to read his undead expression, she had a hunch about his feelings.
He’s enjoying this.
Whenever he claimed victory, he gave a slight nod, as if satisfied.
Charlotte smoothed the pieces back to their starting positions, then asked, “Would you like to play another round?”
“Let’s.”
In playing chess, she once again glimpsed the human side of him. She had always known he was deeply altruistic, but now she saw a competitive spirit that was distinctly human.
Charlotte loathed and despised humanity more than anything in this world. Yet, paradoxically, her affection for him—who retained a human heart—only continued to grow.
...And he likes human women, too.
Undead were typically known for hating humans. But he didn’t just tolerate humans; he held affection for them—or more precisely, for human women.
It wasn’t as if he loved all of humanity, which would have disappointed her. Instead, his preference was clear, as demonstrated by the fact that he kept both Charlotte and Estizel as subordinates. When asked to choose between a lich and a vampire, he unhesitatingly opted for the vampire.
Understanding this had subtly nurtured a sense of closeness in Charlotte. Where she had once harbored self-loathing for being human, she now found herself thinking it was fortunate.
If she weren’t human, she wouldn’t have been by his side.
...And he wouldn’t see me as a woman.
“It’s your turn.”
“Yes.”
Charlotte decided to put up a good fight again this round but ultimately planned to lose. No matter how trivial the game, a lieutenant shouldn’t defeat their boss.
Initially, she intended to lose tactfully while making the game enjoyable for him.
However...
Stealing a glance at him, she noticed how intently he focused on the board.
Seeing how much he seemed to enjoy his small victories made her want to keep letting him win.
...Is this really the same person?
This was the same man who had slain two heroes and dominated the atmosphere of the round table. Now, he was engrossed in a simple game.
The disparity might have been disconcerting, but for Charlotte, it was the opposite.
She found his unseen, deeply human side utterly captivating.
Until now, she had seen him as an aloof, detached overlord who dominated with overwhelming strength.
Yet here he was, displaying thoughtfulness, warmth, and an earnest focus on a small game.
When he dispatched the heroes, he’d shown no reaction. But now, he seemed genuinely pleased with each minor victory.
While he stared intently at the chessboard, Charlotte couldn’t help but stare at him. His silent concentration was almost... adorable.
...What am I thinking?
Even admiring him felt like a betrayal of her place. She shouldn’t be entertaining such thoughts, much less finding him endearing.
“Checkmate.”
Charlotte blinked.
Her gaze met his, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.
“Would you like to play again?”
Checkmate. And yet he delivered the line with such pride. Even as his lieutenant, she couldn’t deny it.
How can someone be this adorable?
No, get it together. She scolded herself internally, shaking her head to dispel her improper thoughts.
“You don’t want to play anymore?”
“...Pardon?”
“Let’s end here, then.”
“No, that’s not it. Not at all.”
“Then why were you shaking your head?”
“I was... looking around.”
“There’s no need to force yourself. If you feel like it later, we can play again.”
With three wins under his belt, he left the table without hesitation.
Charlotte, on the other hand, remained seated, watching his back as he walked away.
“...Play another round,” she whispered, barely audible.
Her lips parted and closed repeatedly, and a quiet sigh escaped.