It's do or die. Who would have thought I'd bet my life on enhancement failure.
With the vampires about to die from spears and swords, drawing aggro was the priority. When I deliberately made loud footsteps while moving forward, the reaction came quickly.
"A Death Knight?"
At someone's muttering, they turned their heads one by one to look at me.
Unlike the ordinary people I saw before, either they had guts or no one stepped back.
Starting with the level color being orange which means caution. In their eyes, I seemed to be nothing but a monster to subjugate.
'Everything depends on luck.'
Life or death, it was heaven's will.
==
Sharp glowing eyes gently swept over the members.
Knight of Death, Death Knight. The members who confirmed its existence watched Sergei's hand signals.
"What do we do Captain. Keep going? Or run?"
A pure-blooded vampire and now a Death Knight. The fact-checking was essentially done.
There was no gain to be had from persisting here anymore, only risking their lives.
Sergei silently raised his sword toward the Death Knight.
"You were once a knight. I too was once a commissioned sword."
"And?"
"I must grant freedom. That is chivalry."
"What are you on about chivalry for? Even if we die, we don't know anything?"
"Don't worry. I plan to run right away if things look suspicious."
There were no lifeforms detected behind the Death Knight.
Though the vampires were still alive, they were essentially retired and sprawled out.
Of course, a human single-handedly dueling a Death Knight is close to suicide, but that rule doesn't apply to Sergei.
Before Sergei, former Imperial Guard knight, even a Death Knight becomes mere 'fodder'.
"I beseech Solari, grant peace to that pitiful soul."
Though it's said to be a knight's sword, as a knight it's proper duty to end its breath rather than serve a lich.
Using a sword in a narrow cave creates many restrictions.
Half-swording to minimize those restrictions. Sergei gripped the blade like a short spear.
Through experience from numerous dungeon conquests, half-swording became his main sword technique.
Meanwhile, the location's restrictions would fully bind the Death Knight.
Kiing─
The faint blue light dwelling in the blade emitted an even more dazzling sunlight.
Crack!
Suddenly the sunlight went out.
More precisely, the sword itself shattered like glass and disappeared without a trace. Everything from the tip to the pommel.
'Mental disruption trap?'
Judging by the sensation in his grip, it wasn't an illusion.
There was no other energy felt and no magical remnants visible either.
Sergei's lost gaze stopped on the Death Knight.
Though he couldn't even grasp the cause, his instinctive intuition said it was definitely this guy's doing.
The moment Sergei snapped to his senses and drew his short sword.
Crack!
"...!"
Once again the shattered sword disappeared without leaving even debris.
An incomprehensible phenomenon to human thought occurred twice.
The approaching friction sound of iron against iron.
Sergei had no choice but to step back with the Death Knight approaching before him.
'...So this is the Invincible 7 Palace.'
Seven labyrinths that human thought dare not fathom.
Not all Death Knights are the same Death Knights.
Foolishly, he hadn't considered the possibility that an Invincible 7 Palace Death Knight could be an irregular entity.
That's when laughter was heard from below.
The pure-blooded vampire's crimson eyes curved like crescent moons.
"Foolish human. Do you still not know who the master of this dungeon is?"
"...What?"
"That person is this dungeon's boss. Without even knowing that, what? Grant peace? How dare you approach so arrogantly, you walked into a dragon's lair without fear on your own feet."
The Death Knight is the dungeon's boss? Not just any dungeon but an Invincible 7 Palace? Then why does the boss appear at the entrance?
The more he thought, the more questions arose.
She wouldn't have lied to cause disruption.
For monsters, a dungeon boss is like a king.
Even if they were a dungeon guardian or lieutenant, impersonating the boss would be smearing the boss's face.
They wouldn't fearlessly impersonate the boss knowing impersonation alone means death. Especially not in a disadvantageous situation like now.
The Death Knight was just slowly approaching.
Just looking at that appearance made it difficult for Sergei to even breathe.
Only now did he realize. That gait wasn't even leisure. It was closer to consistent boredom shown before mere insects.
They say a cornered rat will bite a cat's nose, but even that desperate struggle requires fighting spirit.
Sergei couldn't move a single step, his mind and body possessed by fear.
'I was... an idiot.'
Not knowing whether life was precious, I thought about returning alive from the Invincible 7 Palace.
The price would be unbearably tragic.
"Captain!"
"Hurry and come out!"
Sergei's head whipped around.
The members had witnessed the series of events that unfolded in an instant. Nevertheless, they were running toward Sergei without hesitation.
Being blinded by emotion is only possible in fairy tales. In reality, comradeship like this now is just dying foolishly, nothing more or less.
"If you come any closer you'll all die! Escape the dungeon! That's how you survive!"
The members hesitated at the thunderous shout.
With his back to them, Sergei drew a dagger from his thigh belt.
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Blood splattered each time he stabbed his thigh.
Only then did his legs, which had been shaking like aspen leaves, stop trembling.
"Listen well! I will be buried here today! No more than one can enter the grave! Go now!"
The hesitating members tightly shut their eyes and turned toward the entrance.
As expected. They listen well.
Though they looked back with lingering attachment, Sergei had already turned his back.
The Death Knight facing such a Sergei was.
==
'No, why am I being treated as the bad guy?'
I was dumbfounded.
Who was it that invaded first and tried to kill the vampires?
I didn't even use force and only destroyed weapons before trying to resolve things through dialogue.
Even walked slowly to avoid scaring them when approaching, but they let their imagination run wild and ended up in this state.
Grab!
The man suddenly rushed and hugged me. In his own way, he seemed to be trying to buy time for his companions to escape.
'This feels disgusting.'
Could there be more unpleasant skinship than receiving such an intense hug from a man.
"Ugh!"
I angrily shook him off but he ended up flying far away.
Cough! Cough!
The man embedded in the wall kept coughing. Honestly, even this didn't quell my anger.
I approached him as he lay fallen and lifted him up by the collar with one hand.
"Don't come again."
Whoosh!
The man thrown toward the entrance disappeared into the darkness. This should make them leave on their own.
Honestly, I thought about killing him but held back thinking that might be too much. No matter how angry, murder is going too far.
"My lord, you are truly strong...."
It was Isabella's voice, who was relatively okay.
But 'relatively' is the key word here, as she was still lying down unable to support herself like the others.
Though she didn't show it, Isabella seemed dejected.
Understandable. She got excited about awakening as pure-blood but nearly died without even showing her worth from the start.
'Well, I nearly died too.'
8% probability and 16% probability.
Even to my math-challenged self, these were possibilities bound to fail.
However, since it wasn't 100% and my life was on the line, I was really nervous. Wondering what if this succeeds?
In the end, it was fortunate that two consecutive enhancement failures made the opponent lose their will to fight.
If they had kept coming, I might have succeeded in enhancement once.
'But is this considered lucky?'
I preserved my life thanks to two consecutive failures, so I'm not sure if this counts as good luck or bad luck.
The fact is heaven was on my side. How could anyone stop a Death Knight that even god favors?
I bent my knee before Isabella and extended my hand.
Isabella reflexively grabbed my hand and stood up.
"Don't be discouraged. The opponent was just strong."
"...Just those words make me grateful."
Now that I think about it, I hadn't expected the vampires to be this sincere.
Even if I saved their lives, we were strangers with no particular bond. They could have turned a blind eye with strong resolve.
If it were me, I would have prioritized my own life over any benefactor to survive.
'They didn't do that.'
Not a single one showed movement trying to escape outside.
Especially Isabella, who faced a level 52 opponent risking her life, that courage was admirable.
Though she wasn't much help, her heart definitely came through.
When someone is willing to risk their life to repay a favor, I can't help but acknowledge it.
"In the end, I'm indebted to you again."
Now I see that was why she was dejected. Well, it's understandable to feel ashamed after having your life saved twice.
"I have a request. Could I stay by your side until I can repay today's debt?"
That won't do. I understand your pride, but I have my own circumstances too.
Even with subjugation parties coming and going, I needed to leave here as quickly as possible.
Before I could say no, light shining from outside entered the corner of my vision.
'Dawn already?'
Time was consumed by the vampires, then listening to obvious stories, and finally dealing with the subjugation party, and now it had become dawn.
Isabella and the vampires looking at me with bright eyes. My gaze goes to their wounds rather than expressions.
'Can't tell them to leave when they got hurt because of me.'
Above all, having multiple people was safer than staying alone until night.
I let out a cold sigh and nodded.
"Thank you boss!"
"We'll definitely be helpful!"
"Just take good care of those wounds."
I said while waving my hand dismissively.
'Will another subjugation party come during that time?'
Maybe I'm being too paranoid about safety.
How likely is it for three groups to barge in within two days? It's almost like getting ganked 3 times in 2 minutes in top lane.
Please just leave me alone for even one day.
==
Fortunately, night came without any invasions.
It's regrettable but time to say goodbye to the vampires I've been with.
It was fun being together and let's never meet again. Just kidding, we'll probably meet again if there's a chance.
That's what I was thinking at the time.
"Seems like there's another intruder. It's just one person, but they're coming this way."
What the hell, another invasion after just a few hours.
'They really must think this is a dungeon, both these guys and those before.'
I should quickly get out of here.
By the way, one person. At first glance the number might be reassuring, but the intention is concerning.
How common is it for one person to break through a forest and enter a cave at night?
They obviously came with some firm purpose like the subjugation party, but there was something else I needed to know.
I stared at the entrance while keeping my distance. More important than the number of people and intention was the opponent's level.
I always consider the worst case scenario. And under the premise that the opponent is overwhelmingly stronger than me, the worst case scenario could happen.
[Lv. 72]
For a moment I thought my eyes were wrong.
But even after closing and opening my eyes again, still level 72.
We're fuc- no, stay calm. You never know right? They might be human relying on weapons like before.
If Enhancement Art fails well, maybe we can somehow resolve this.
However, what appeared behind the level was a wide-brimmed pointed hat, symbol of a mage.
Of all things, a mage. A mage immune to Enhancement Art.
In this reality where a level 72 mage is coming this way, what exactly can I do? Nothing but lament my fate before dying to explosion magic.
I stopped the vampires trying to meet the uninvited guest and wracked my brain.
This far exceeded any problem they could handle by stepping up.
'This time let's really resolve it through dialogue.'
This isn't a dungeon and I'm not a boss. Killing me will only give you guilt. I have zero hostility toward you so please just spare my life.
I rehearsed all sorts of lines in my head and even left my greatsword behind to avoid misunderstandings.
I raised both hands high and slowly walked.
As our distance closed, the mage's face became clear.
For some reason, a familiar face.
'Charlotte?'
Attire typical of a mage. Purple eyes. An appearance that looks exactly how game graphics would look if made real.
Though her face was youthful like she had just become an adult and breathtakingly beautiful.
'But she's a complete psycho!'
Charlotte is an infamous named boss. Charlotte the Witch of Ash, without blood or tears.
Charlotte was none other than the guardian in charge of one floor of the 'Ten Circles of Hell', the 2nd ranked dungeon of the Invincible 7 Palace.
What's puzzling is that the Charlotte I remember exceeded level 80. Looking now, her appearance seems slightly younger too.
Could I have possessed someone in the past timeline?
No. That's not important right now.
When the timeline is, why Witch Charlotte came here - though there are many questions, finding a way to survive is the urgent priority.
I signaled with my eyes for the vampires to stay away.
If we accidentally offend her, we'll all just become friendly ashes together.
At some point Charlotte stopped right in front of me.
It's a nervousness that makes even non-existent balls shrink.
Her sharp gaze felt like it was piercing through my neck.
"Perhaps you're-"
"Let's skip introductions and get to the point."
Suddenly?
Though I don't know why, I was secretly relieved.
For that Charlotte, it wouldn't be strange to suddenly cast magic, but she gave room for dialogue.
Also, having business means she wants something. Let's agree to everything and send her away quickly. Before I breathe my last.
"Can you accept me into this dungeon?"
...What?