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「◈ 73rd Throne Guide, The Outcast Faro Moriar.」
「◈ Solomon's Calendar; Year 2001, Month 5, Day 2. 」
「◈ Arzalon's Dungeon, Lowest Floor (36th)」
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I have heard of countless rumors about Arzalon, the 73rd Demon Lord. Not the talks that you'd exactly expect spreading around a Demon Lord. One was not allowed to insult or offend any Demon Lord. Doing so could be punishable by death. But, Arzalon, all of his rumors were demeaning insults towards him and the most common one which the other 72 Demon Lords call him too. Outcast. That was fine. I was assigned here by the last ruler before his descension.
"The Demon Lord you will guide will be the same as you,"
Those were the words he said when I asked him why he chose a half-breed like me. It seems like he has chosen me as a pure joke. That was fine. Insults are nothing. I've long past emotions. It was not needed when one was born in the caste I am in. As long as I am able to do my job and gain compensation, I shall do what is needed. Nothing less, nothing more.
"Come out, Faro,"
A gentle voice called out to me, and I heeded his highness' call. I knelt down on one knee while hovering and lowered my head. Etiquette is a must in front of his highness.
"Your highness,"
I couldn't help but feel uneasy around his highness. Perhaps it is because of the rumors regarding him. After all, rumors are 10% true and 90% false, so there must be some truth inside these rumors. No, I should not question things. I shall do what is needed. Nothing Less, Nothing more.
"Faro,"
His highness called to me once more, repeating my lowly name. I raised my head and gazed upon his visage. Sharp facial features, a pale complexion, purple pupils, black hair, and two horns protruding at the side of his highness' head.
It seems like the rumor of him being called a vampire turned Demon Lord has some truths into it. But that's not important, what is essential is being focused on my job in guiding his highness so that this one gets paid proper compensation. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Tell me the details about the war for the throne,"
His highness was straightforward.
"This one shall state what your highness has asked for,"
I activated the storage magic which all guides exclusively possessed.
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1. All 72 Demon Lords must participate in this war. Those who withdraw shall have their land and nobility taken from them.
2. All Demon Lords' cultivation levels have been reduced to their lowest state so that an equal playing field is possible.
3. An appointed guide would be summoned for each Demon Lord. Each will be at the preference of each Demon Lord.
4. Each Demon Lord will be given a dungeon to gain strength from.
5. Humans will be granted varying powers to avoid their extinction.
6. To win the war, you can either exterminate all the other demon lords or unite them under your power.
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"This one has given all the crucial details,"
"Interesting."
It seems like his highness is highly anticipating the war. Tis only natural for someone of his caliber.
"Faro, do you know why there is a 6-month delay before the humans awaken their Luminescence?"
That was information I haven't told his highness yet. Perhaps his highness has the ability to read the minds of others. That's it. After all, he is a demon lord. Questioning things would lead to doubts, and doubts lead to terrible events. I shall only do what I'm asked and not ask.
"This one knows, your highness,"
"Speak,"
"It is to give time to the Demon Lords to strengthen themselves. The humans are considered obstacles that would hinder the Demon Lords throughout the war,"
These humans were an inferior race to the demonkind. Powerless and fragile, but the demonkind still holds them above us half-breeds. That was fine. Now, this one held a position of power, and those below me cannot bring back those dark days anymore.
"Strengthen ourselves, you say?"
"That is what this one has stated, your highness,"
I am fully aware that what I have just said may have had my head cut off, but it was this one's duty as a guide to give information. Kissing his highness' feet would only do more harm than good.
A small smile formed on his highness' lips. It was evident from his expressions that he ridiculed these humans and laughed at them to be even considered obstacles.
"Faro, what's the purity of the lumina in my dungeon?"
"About 47%, your highness,"
Like all Demon Lords, his highness is also capable of feeling the lumina in the air. I had learned to grasp this concept when I was at the young age of 28. This one was but a mere infant back then trying to understand his way in the demon world.
I would enter slave auctions and ask if I could also be sold. They would agree at first, but when they found out I was a half-breed, they would apply lumina in their fist and beat me up half-dead. With the feeling of lumina being pounded throughout my entire body, I have learned to feel this power.
Time and time, I would go back to the same slave auction, and I would be treated the same way until they would give in and bribe me with a piece of stale bread so that I would go away. Those were one of my best memories.
"Faro, lead me to the cultivating platform,"
Information that I also haven't disclosed to the highness yet. No, do not question it. Just follow his highness' orders.
"Follow this one, your highness,"
I practiced etiquette before turning my back on his highness. Only guides like this one were capable of navigating which doors to open. It is because of our ability called 「Faith's Eye」that we are able to see through illusions.
"Your highness, we are here,"
It seemed like the highness was in the clouds as he was a bit startled when I spoke. I opened the door to herald the entrance of his highness, and he entered, taking a step forward, breathing in the higher concentration within the room.
His highness plans to cultivate his strength this early on in the war. The other Demon Lords must also be thinking the same. Still, the disparity between purity in all of their dungeons is significant with each difference in rank.
Unfortunately, his highness will need to have a large gap to overcome. I estimate he would need at most 2 weeks to break through to the covetous substage.
"Faro,"
"Your highness,"
"Will you support me in my journey?"
"This one does not know what your highness is implying,"
"I'm appointing you as my first vassal, do you accept?"
"This one does not deserve such a grand position, I cannot accept for I am a half-breed I am nothing but a stain of society, your highness,"
"These societal standards will crumble when I become the Demon King,"
I paused for a moment. His highness' ambition was to tear down and rebuild the demonic society. It was a grand ambition, but it may be too much for his highness. I shall leave it at that and decide only when the time is proper.
"I apologize, this one does not know how to react to your highness,"
"It is fine, take your time in deciding. When you have found your answer you must go out of your way and tell me,"
"Understood, your highness,"
I expected violence and anger from his highness when I gave an indecisive answer. Not answering a Demon Lord properly was an obscene rule that deserved punishment. I was prepared to be beaten by his highness, but he vividly had no intention to even raise a hand against me.
How peculiar. Why is his highness like this? No, I should not ask questions. I couldn't help but feel the tiniest amount of curiosity towards his highness. Curiosity leads to death most of the time. This emotion shall not bloom. I shan't ask more.
"Faro, you can take your leave,"
I nodded my head and left quietly. I hovered behind the closed door and awaited his highness.
...
...
...
Kachik.
The turning of the handle of the door resonated within the empty hallway.
"Faro,"
"Your highness,"
Something seems to be different from his highness. I ignored the fact that his highness was not wearing any clothes currently. The air around him seems to have changed.
"How long was I inside the room for?"
"About two hours, twelve minutes, and forty-eight seconds, your highness,"
I kept time on how long his highness would stay. I judged that he would need to stay at a minimum of 12 hours before he could reach a tenth of the way to the covetous substage. Perhaps, his highness lacked patience.
"This one would like to suggest your highness, to put on some clothes,"
"Hm? Oh,"
I reminded his highness out of courtesy.
"I commend you for reminding me,"
"This one humbly accepts your highness' compliment,"
His highness snapped his fingers, and specs of grey powder flew around him and formed into his clothing. Such fine control over mana.
"This one is impressed by your highness' exceptional skill in manipulating mana,"
His highness simply nodded his head.
"Faro, when's the auction coming?"
Yet another information that this one hasn't disclosed yet. I couldn't help but break my vow a few hours ago and wonder. Perhaps the highness had foresight? That's impossible. That ability only existed in demonic epics.
"A month after the humans have awakened, your highness."
The highness stood idly for a few moments from my reply. The air around his highness shook a little. I noticed blood flowing down his fist and decided to ignore it. I could feel the anger was not directed at me as his highness stared blankly in the air.
"Faro,"
"Your highness,"
"Open the shop,"
His highness kept revealing more and more controlled information. This was information that would have been disclosed when the humans awakened.
His highness stared into the shop catalog and began browsing.
"Faro, I shall buy these three skills,"
"「Faith's Seal」, 「Insight」, and 「Clarity」, these are the one's you've chosen is that right, your highness?"
I calculated the price of these three skills from the shop. Since only us guides could see the price and open the shop, this was only natural. 25,000 Angel's Tears.
"Your highness this would cost you 25,000 Angel's Tears. Just this Skill Book 「Faith's Seal」alone would cost you half your fortune. I advise your highness to change his options,"
I advised his highness not out of worry but out of necessity. 5,000 Angel Tears was barely enough to keep the dungeon running. It is my duty to guide his highness, and his decision would be detrimental to himself.
"Do not fret, for I have a plan,"
"As you wish, your highness,"
And for the third time today, I broke my vow. The vow I have kept solidly for an outstanding two hundred and eighty-five years. Just what was inside his highness' mind?