S-Class Dungeon’s Mistress - Chapter 136

“J-Just…… tell the truth…….”

“I don’t know to what extent the truth is, but based on what Master thinks…”

As Adelaide stuttered, Lisianthus calmly laid down the information.

“It is true that Caladium killed Mitchell, but this was due to his false testimony. He never assaulted Mitchell in the past. It is true that he is fighting many demons in Esperanza right now, but neither is it coercive nor a ruthless assault, it is just a battle between demons……. Like this?”

Everyone was silent. Those who knew and valued Caladium well could also feel that the story was not convincing. No one would believe it, and of course, there will surely be backlash.

Adelaide bit the inside of her lip in frustration. She wanted to somehow prove Caladium’s innocence, but things aren’t working out.

“…… I’m sure it would only make it more chaotic if I talk for a long time. Let us simply state our position. Caladium is innocent, and the information reported by Dungeon Daily is not true. We’ll block reporters from coming requesting an interview.”

“Yes, Master. But inevitably, public opinion will only get worse. Especially since Greenville has built up a certain image so far.”

“That’s true.”

Greenville’s recent popularity among demons was due to its unprecedented slogan, ‘Dungeon without Discrimination’.

Greenville, who saved a Durahan and a Harpy by defeating the Sol Dungeon, was almost like a revolution to the demons who were tired of the abuse of the powerful, and many demons praised the fact that they recruited subordinates without discriminating them for their race.

However, if that Greenville dungeon covers up the evil misdeeds of its devil, as well as his assault on the weak, there would definitely be a big impact. Their popularity will also drop to the bottom, and the number of demons applying will decrease significantly.

“I can take that much. It’s not like I’m trying to be popular with demons anyway. The number of our demon subordinates…… We can increase it later.”

“If that’s what Adele wants, I understand. Let’s make a statement right away.”

“Yes.”

Adelaide nodded her head with a resolute expression.

Contrary to her firm answer, in fact, she felt very complicated inside. Her heart pounded at the anxiety and her head felt dizzy. What will happen next? Is Caladi okay? Is my decision right?

Many worries swirled around, but she pretended to be calm on the outside. She couldn’t reveal her uneasiness and make the demons around her worry.

Within days of announcing their position, everything she was prepared to accept became reality.

The other dungeons cursed Greenville as if they had been waiting for the chance, demons lamented that it was truly him, and every day, from the usual 20 demons, their applicants dropped in half. Adelaide firmly accepted all of this. She didn’t think she would be heartbroken because she already expected it.

However, a variable that she did not expect eventually broke her heart, it was the request of her existing subordinates to terminate their contracts.

“Are you really……. leaving?”

Adelaide asked in a trembling voice. One of the demons standing in front of her answered without hesitation.

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

Contrary to him saying sorry, his voice didn’t show any regret at all.

The demons who requested the termination of their contracts were the Death Knight and the group that followed him. They were newly recruited demons after reopening the Greenville dungeon.

They have never met Caladium. They applied to Greenville on the grounds that they did not ignore the weak, so they were very disappointed with Adelaide’s decision. They thought that she had abandoned her ideals in order to not lose the devil, an excellent power.

The Skeletons, who were monsters from the same human origin, told them good things about Caladium, saying it was a misunderstanding, but those who had already made up their minds no longer heard them.

In the end, not long after that, at least five members announced that they would leave Greenville.

“Is there really no changing your mind?”

“Yes. We decided to join Greenville because of your ideology.”

“If it’s because of what’s happening right now….”

“It’s not just that. Contrary to the saying that it is a dungeon without discrimination, there is discrimination in Greenville, which I have personally experienced. Only demons who signed a contract first and stayed in the second living space can go in and out of the first living space, and we can’t do that because we signed much later. If that’s not discrimination, then what is?”

Adelaide was speechless and closed her mouth.

Yes, discrimination was discrimination. She also thought that she had no choice but to keep Lupinus’ existence from being discovered, but she was worried that the demons she contracted with would be displeased.

However, because she felt guilty about that fact, Adelaide spared no expense in supporting the third living space and the demons residing there. To the extent that Lisianthus pointed out that it was excessive. She paid them handsomely, hired a famous chef, refused to receive monthly rent, and bought whatever they needed. The level of welfare could not be compared with other dungeons.

Even in the case of the demons who declared that they were leaving now, if they were to be compared to the demons who have stayed in Greenville for a long time and developed their skills, they lacked a lot of fighting power.

As a result, the number of times the demons staying in the second living space had to deal with the warriors increased, but they never complained about it.

“I heard that most C-Class dungeons also pay their subordinates salaries……. no. That’s enough. There’s no need to speak at length when we’ll be leaving anyway.”

Perplexed by this, the Skeleton Captain’s jaw, as he stood next to the Death Knight, opened and dropped.

Adelaide was silent with an expressionless face so the Durahans who could not stand it any longer opened their mouths.

“What an absolutely crazy bunch. In other C-Class dungeons, they don’t even accept monsters as subordinates! Salary is only given to those who are at least high-level demons!”

“You’ve never worked in any other dungeon, have you? This is probably the first time you’ve worked, right?”

“Even if it’s your first time, you should have already realized…… The immense luck that rolled in and fell into your lap. Ooh, see that? It’s flying far far away, your good luck I mean.”

David roared with anger, Peter smirked at them, and Christopher, who they thought was the softest, even pretended to be looking into the distance and was sarcastic.

“Ha! You definitely belong to this dungeon. As expected, it is overrun with discriminators. I don’t want to be in a place like this anymore.”

“Yes. Then leave.”

“I won’t keep you.” Adelaide smiled and ripped their contracts apart in front of them.

The demons, including the Death Knight, flinched, but because they knew of Adelaide’s soft nature, they were prepared to leave in high spirits and were not terrified. They already had their luggage, so they just had to go through the portal.

“Wait. Are you leaving just like that?”

Just before crossing the portal to Esperanza, Adelaide suddenly stopped them. The Death Knight turned around looking as though he was annoyed. He seemed to think she would stop them.

“I’ve said it before, I’ve already decided—”

“No. I don’t care about what you feel anymore. The armor, the sword, and the bag you’re wearing right now. Shouldn’t you leave everything behind? I bought them all with my own money, didn’t I?”

But what is this? Far from stopping them, she made a sound that was clearly a bolt out of the blue*. The startled demons protested ‘What the hell are you talking about?’, but Adelaide was stubborn.

[T/N:  A sudden stroke of lightning from a clear sky, used to mean an unexpected disaster or accident.]

It’s true that she has a gentle personality, but it was only limited to her demons and monsters. She now had no reason to show kindness to demons who were not her own.

“This…… nasty!”

“Hmm? Is it rude for me to ask you to return what I bought?”

“I didn’t know.” Adelaide shrugged her shoulders and continued.

“And you. Watch your mouth. My subordinates are very kind, but they are harsh to demons who treat me badly.”

“Grrrrr!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Bell, who transformed into his true form, growled and revealed his large teeth. He looked like he was about to swallow the Death Knight’s head right away. If it wasn’t for the Skeleton Captain securely holding his leash, that certainly would have happened.

“Get lost! You b*stards!”

“I can’t believe we were both once humans!”

“I’ll kick your a**… before…… leave…….”

Other demons also joined in and shouted harshly. Richie and Juilliard, who came in at the same time as the Death Knight, tried to say something intimidating.

The demons who were no longer affiliated with them hurriedly put down their belongings and ran towards the portal. The Death Knight also ran away with his tail tucked between his legs, as if he hadn’t just acted proudly a moment ago.

“Adela, good job! It’s much better to get rid of those j*rks right away!”

“Yes, good job!”

The Skeletons and Bell in human form approached Adelaide and comforted her. Adelaide stroked Bell’s fine hair and gave him a crooked smile.

She also thought that it would be better to let those demons go now, but, apart from that, she hated it.

At one point, they were the ones who followed Adelaide, shouting her slogan with her, even when she hadn’t asked them. Each time they met, they greeted each other warmly and wished each other a pleasant day. It was very heartbreaking to be at odds with such people in this way.

‘I wanted to make a dungeon where everyone is happy…….’

She realized that it was an impossible wish. Just because they opposed discrimination and raised their voices about the rights of the weak, didn’t mean that everyone was a good and kind demon.

‘Am I doing something wrong?’

It felt like the wall that had been firmly erected in her heart, which had prevailed no matter how hard others tried to break it from the outside, was falling apart because of a stone thrown from the inside.

Adelaide tightly clenched her teeth and tried to control her expression but failed. She knew she was going to cry if she stayed like this.

“Adele.”

Suddenly, a pretty voice she had heard for the first time called out her name. There was only one demon who called Adelaide ‘Adele’ in Greenville, but it wasn’t Lisianthus’ voice. Even the pronunciation was a bit slurred.

As she turned her head, she saw a beautiful woman with cherry-colored eyes staring at her. It was the younger of the vampire siblings, Cereza.

“Hello.”

Cereza said with an emotionless face. It was a remarkably unexpected greeting. All of the demons around her, including Adelaide, were astonished.

‘Cereza spoke!’

Cereza was a demon with a speech impediment and her older brother Cerezo said he had never heard her voice in recent decades. But now, her mouth was open.

“Good job, Cereza.”

It was not the first time he had ever seen it, so Cerezo wasn’t particularly surprised. He patted Cereza on the back with a proud smile and a compliment.

“She practiced a lot. She wanted to greet Master.”