-5th Floor-
(Náli's Pov)
"From this point on, Fainith will be the final boss or the Queen of the dungeon or whatever you want to call it, and you 4 will answer to her." I declared as my 2 last DP were used to change the hierarchy of the dungeon.
[System Notice. 'Fainith' 'The Silk Lady' has become the sole final boss of the dungeon, and the 'The 4 Queens' were demoted to mid-floor bosses. Rearrangements will be automatically made to the dungeon's structure to accommodate the change. Dungeon name: Nightmare Trove, Location: Planet Earth, has been confirmed to have risen in rank from Rank I to Rank H. New limitations have been imposed, and old restrictions removed.]
"I will soon, allow you all to prove yourselves, and if you aren't able to even deal with this, I'll kill you. But don't worry, it's not going to be anything you haven't been doing for a while now." I made it clear.
It was obvious that the 4 Queens were worried about failing, while Fainith seemed to be having the time of her life. I hope she understands that what I said applies to her as well, though it would be a bit annoying if she failed after I gave her everything she needs.
Just as I was thinking about that, all 4 Queens underwent a rank-up upon having the dungeon's limitations removed as now that the dungeon was a higher rank, a lot of new things were possible. To summarize their rank up, their severed limbs were back and they were now curvier than before just like Fainith.
"Be ready to fulfill your new duties and things will only improve for you. For now, that's all, I'll be leaving for now." I announced.
"Master!... Can I instead go with you?" Fainith asked me.
"No. Just do your work and if I need you, I'll come and get you." I refused.
"Yes! Master! I won't disappoint you!" Fainith took it better than I expected and accepted it.
"For your sake, you better not." I warn her, before finally taking my leave, and transporting myself to the first floor instantly. As a part of my
Using the typical dungeon teleportation pad, I left the first dungeon of my 6,969th life. In the end, I spend more time there than I initially planned, but that wasn't a big deal or a problem. By the time I was coming out, it was about 3 in the morning the next day. Considering I got in at 4 p.m., it was a pretty good amount of time, I spent in there.
The guards outside the dungeon were surprised to see me, as they believed me to be dead by now, but looking at how I came out empty-handed, they simply assumed I got scared and found somewhere to hide until it was safe to leave. The fact they didn't even notice I was wearing different clothes only that it more obvious, that they thought I was just a random low-rank slayer, which is precisely the image I need for now.
"No! That's not it! T-... The dungeon! It rose in rank while I was exploring it! So I had no choice but to escape!" I faked panic as best as I could.
"What?!" The first guard was shocked.
"Are you sure about that?!" While the second came closer to me semi threatening me, because of how many idiots tried to fake things for fame.
"Yes! It even said that nobody will be able to enter or leave the dungeon once it starts adjusting! I almost didn't make it out!" I kept the act and pushed it further.
"That's not something that would just happen! Especially in an abandoned dungeon like this one. Do you think we're stupid?!" The first guard reacted.
"Relax! We can check that out ourselves, and if your lying you better confess now or you're in big trouble. Falsification of dungeon information can lead up to 25 years in prison!" The second guard continued trying to scare me, and even though he wasn't lying, what I was doing would at worse get you 5 months in prison, what he was talking about were much more serious offenses like selling a fake dungeon map, and the sorts.
"It's the truth!" I replied.
They looked at me for a bit before the second guard tried to enter the dungeon only to get blocked by a barrier as if the dungeon portal had become a solid wall, and of course, this was my doing, though it was going to eventually actually undergo this change, but rather than wait for it, let's just set things up.
"Call the Slayer association right now! This is big!" The second guard ordered the first one who was stunned for a second before going to actually do it.
In time, he came back and they asked me to follow them to file in the report, and I don't really mind, so I just agreed.
Going with them to the Slayer association building didn't take too long and soon, I was made to wait sitting on a chair until they decided to call me in.
"So, you're the guy who found the dungeon ranking up? Do you realize how lucky you are to have actually escaped?" A man with bright green disheveled hair that covered his eyes with a typical mustache, and a small goatee, wearing a black T-shirt and white pants asked carrying a tired look and bags under his eyes. The worst part is I didn't hear him coming at all... Not a good sign.
"Well yes... I'm sorry, but who are you?" I had to ask as this man didn't seem connected to the people who asked me to wait, and more important even, I couldn't feel anything from him... No matter how weak someone is, everyone has a bit of energy as that's how the Reality Balance System works, so the only reasons you can't feel anything from someone are they use a concealment technique more powerful than your senses or the difference in your energy pool is large that you can't detect their as it just blends with the environment.
"Ohhhh... You seem a bit strong for someone at the rank I-... Let me guess? You faked your test, didn't you? Don't worry I did that too when I was just starting, but that was a while ago... And I'm Rolls, just another agent who was a little bored and heard of the news." He didn't seem to mean any harm, but it's dangerous to be around someone at a much higher level, in my current condition.
"Just don't want unnecessary attention." I throw away a half-truth.
"I get that, it's annoying when you're young. Oh well, I'll be honest with you, I just passed by cause I need a cig, I left my last pack in the board meeting room, and I'm sure they got rid of it by now." So he's important enough to be in a board meeting? Just who exactly is this Rolls guy?
"Sorry, I don't smoke." I responded.
"Ah... A pity indeed. Oh, and kid, don't waste your talent by staying in the shadows. While there are dangers involved with the limelight, if you play your cards right, you'll see that the rewards are much more." The man said a few words as he was leaving, but I didn't care about that, as I noticed something weird about him... The sound of his footsteps... It's slightly delayed?... Is he doing this for training? It's hard to say but there's definitely something odd going on.
As I was distracted, I heard one of the guards come to finally call me in and I went to the office, and while on the way I took the opportunity to ask.
"Do you know a green-haired man with a messy tired look and a goatee?"
"Hum... Do you know the name?" He asked in response.
"He said his name is Rolls." I replied.
"How do you know Sir Rolls?!" He inquired with his eyes narrowed.
"I don't... That's why I asked..." I raised my eyebrow.
"Oh right... *sigh* Sir Rolls is one of the six pillars of the hexagon, it's not secret or anything but not that many people even among slayers know about him." The guard told me. Hexagon... As in the slayer group only second to the 10 miracles in terms of power? No wonder he saw through me... I just met an end-game-type individual by coincidence...
Soon after we reached office where I would have to make the report. Let's make this quick.