It's not like I had any special connections in my original world.
I had fought and separated from my family, and I hadn't dated for 10 years, essentially not at all since becoming an adult.
A life without any stimulation, interest, or hobbies. However, I was still slowly accumulating funds and envisioning a stable retirement life.
I was actually working hard on investments and side jobs, earning just enough money to barely survive until I died alone of old age.
I was working like an ant, thinking I'd earn a bit more to live more abundantly…
"Damn it…"
As a result, the sense of loss from losing all of that was, honestly, no joke.
For a while, I couldn't do anything and just stayed still, and after that, I even went as far as to deny reality by shouting things like 'Log out' or searching for an interface.
That's when I finally gained the courage—no, the drive—to face what appeared before my eyes.
『Greetings, Demon Lord Candidate! Welcome to the world of 'Dungeon Lord'! I am the helper who will assist you, the new lord of this dungeon.』
"I wonder if you really think I'm glad… And you've even changed the name already."
What's happened has happened.
If I want to change something, I must do what I can now, doing my best while creatively finding other ways.
The truth I had felt most keenly while living in the modern world made me move my body somehow.
Rustle.
As I naturally brushed back the hair that flowed down over my shoulders to my back and sides, I realized I had already become accustomed to that gesture.
I hadn't consciously tried, but I guess I adapt pretty quickly.
Or maybe this 'system' did something to me.
Anyway, a tutorial.
I couldn't completely skip it because there were rewards that lowered the initial entry barrier.
『First, 'Sta…'』
"Status window."
『Name – Libertas…』
After answering the question by pressing 'Confirm,' I proceeded with the tutorial without hesitation, but contrary to that momentum, I paused here for a moment.
That's because my current appearance was fully displayed in the status window.
I had customized it, but I thought I wouldn't be able to check until I bought a mirror.
'It's small.'
The current me is much shorter and smaller than my original self.
It was natural since I had designed my ideal female character. Sure, there might be people in the world who like women close to 180cm tall, but that's not me.
I like women with petite figures.
Now, that has become my body.
Damn it.
Rustle rustle
I enlarge my image in the status window.
While fidgeting with my hair, which I had touched lightly earlier but now seemed to have become a habit.
'It looks cute when I see it like this.'
Glossy black hair falls to the waist at the back, to the chest and back on the sides, and to the neck on top.
It's essentially a layered cut with wavy hair, but thanks to the power of customization, there are no split ends or messy parts visible anywhere.
"…"
Below that, clear purple eyes look at me from the slightly shadowed area due to deep-set eyes, in contrast to my skin so pale, it's almost white.
It's not indigo or navy, nor is it magenta, but a completely temperature-less purple eye color that gives a somewhat eerie feeling as it stares directly at me.
It's somewhat fortunate that the overall impression seems delicate.
Right now, maybe because I'm irritated, I'm slightly sharpening my gaze.
'It's my first time seeing purple eyes in my life.'
Since there are said to be fewer than a thousand people with purple eyes on Earth, maybe it's natural.
Even if they exist, it's said to be an eye color that appears in people who have congenital albinism but not too strongly.
Pale skin, black hair, purple eyes, and a somewhat delicate impression with a slender figure.
And finally, what's visible is.
'Gothic Lolita… Why did I choose this outfit?'
I know why.
A cold but delicate dark princess.
It's the base setting I created when I was suddenly overcome by Chuunibyou while customizing.
Judging by the comfort it gives my body, it probably isn't as uncomfortable as an actual Gothic Lolita dress, but anyway, I'm wrapped in a voluminous black dress that looks very difficult to manage and put on or take off.
As I said, it's fortunately not uncomfortable to move in, but it might be a bit worrying later.
I can't just lie down on the bed like this, can I?
I might need to find a professional servant familiar soon.
Of course, now I need to proceed with the tutorial.
『And 'Dun…'』
"Dungeon information."
『'Pow…'』
"Power information."
『Also, 'Inv…'』
"Inventory."
After that, I completed the tutorial before any other guidance could come out.
All the functions were exactly as I knew them, so there was nothing difficult about it.
The difference was that I had to call out directly with my voice the windows that I used to have to press keyboard buttons to bring up, and functions that hadn't been unlocked yet weren't visible at all, so I had to search my memory.
In addition, I checked if there were any significant differences from what I knew.
The coming messages seemed to show signs of being a bit startled as I kept interrupting, but I didn't pay attention to it.
"There's not much difference… I see."
The result was a bit disappointing.
This game didn't have a very high entry barrier, but the 'first wave' in the middle of the tutorial wasn't easy.
You were given just one of a few basic units, and you had to place that unit, basic dungeon traps appropriately, and, if possible, wild monsters drawn from outside to defeat the adventurers of the first wave.
With just one avatar for the user who has yet to acquire any powers or skills and one beginner unit.
'It'll be random… I hope it's a slime.'
If you're unlucky, you might get a wild dog or zombie; if you're lucky, you might get a slime.
No matter how strong they are, these basic units are just basic units and can't be stronger than a person with a sword, but if a slime appears, it's really lucky.
They're so weak that they burst with just one magic attack, but mages rarely appear in the first wave, and slimes take almost no damage from slashing or cutting attacks.
It's not impossible, even with a goblin, but still…
However, here, one difference from my thoughts appeared.
『Alpha Tester Special! You can set your first summon to any desired type, and afterward, summons of the same species as your chosen summon will receive certain benefits!』
"…Here?"
I hadn't expected any particular benefits from the moment I entered this world, but even if there were any, I thought they would only appear when entering the main game.
This changes things.
If it was going to be random anyway, I was hoping for a slime, but if I could choose directly, why not select a path that matches my preferences and knowledge?
『Goblin』
『Shade』
『Kobold』
『Skeleton』
『Zombie』
『Ghost』
『Slime』
『Gremlin』
These are the basic units for Greenskins, Fallen Spirits, Werebeasts, and three types of Undead, Monsters, and Demons, respectively.
While they're weak as basic units, each has its own unique characteristics.
'These are expensive and eat a lot, but each one is strong.'
Fallen Spirits and Demons have high summoning costs and maintenance fees. However, as the game progresses, they tend to produce more powerful mutants or elite individuals compared to their total population.
Both are highly intelligent from the start and follow strategic guidelines well, but Fallen Spirits have more substantial firepower, while Demons are trickier.
'These eat a lot but work as well as they're fed.'
Greenskins and Werebeasts have meager summoning costs but high maintenance fees.
They need to lure hostile targets from outside into the dungeon actively, but in return, they can summon large numbers and overwhelm most enemies in an instant.
Greenskins have slightly higher costs, so you can summon fewer, but they're a bit stronger in exchange.
Werebeasts are loyal and have extremely low costs, allowing you to control many at once.
'These die if you don't know how to use them.'
The Monster tree, starting with Slimes, and the Ghost-type Undead, starting with Ghosts, has more than one way to achieve victory through tactics.
Just as Slimes are nearly impervious to physical attacks, Ghost-type Undead include Specters that can absorb and reflect magical attacks.
There are also ghosts that hide underground and attack or giant rats that spray colorless, odorless poison and dissolve their targets.
They're tricky to handle, but the return is also substantial.
'They don't eat, but they're hard to obtain and persistent.'
The other two types of Undead have the disadvantage of requiring 'corpses' to summon and high summoning costs, but their maintenance fees are extremely low.
Since even repairs and enhancements of damaged units can be done through corpses, there are virtually no maintenance costs.
The remaining resources can be used to strengthen the dungeon or the demon lord candidate, and the Undead themselves don't disappear until completely destroyed, making them suitable for persistent survival.
Skeletons are strong in group tactics, while Zombies are sturdy individually.
'But… anyway, my choice is already decided.'
The first unit is essentially the identity and growth direction of that demon lord.
For example, if you get a Slime, it's easy to get through the very early stages, but it becomes difficult in the middle, and in the late game, you follow the 'Monster Lord' tech tree, which is manageable.
The three basic Undead units, 'Necromancer,' 'Vampire,' and 'Succubus,' each lead to different paths.
It's not about determining the demon lord candidate's development direction based on randomly appearing units but rather deciding the class.
When it was a game, I even did rerolls to choose the one that suited my taste.
And that taste is…
『Skeleton』
Necromancer.
…However, it was a bit much to decide on this choice without hesitation.
Because this world seems to be reality or a world-like reality after all.
Choosing Undead means you'll have to live with those corpses for at least a while, doesn't it? The situation where deformed 2D characters and the reality of monsters materializing before your eyes would be completely different.
If I chose something alive, like Beasts, Werebeasts, or Demons, I might be able to make something like a pet to alleviate loneliness.
Greenskins? Monsters? These are out of my preference from the start.
Zombies' Vampires are okay, but a Ghost's Succubus is absolutely out of the question, as I can't imagine what kind of erotic development that would lead to.
Additionally…
'If it's Undead, I know them inside out.'
Given that the most important issue of 'survival' was at stake, it was natural to choose what I was best at.
Farewell, potentially cute spirits. Potentially gentle demons.
Of course, it's not a complete goodbye since I can bring in summons from other lines later if needed.
『You have chosen the Skeleton, 'Undead – Skull' class. Your path as a Dungeon Lord will be fixed as 'Necromancer.' Do you want to confirm this decision?』
『Confirm / Cancel』
"Confirm."
Bong-!
I deliberately spoke aloud to steel my resolve as I pressed 'Confirm.'
With a sound like a temple bell ringing, the summoning began.