In the 6th zone of the Lake Kingdom’s dungeon, [Research Lab].

Fully named [Magical Research Lab], it was one of the largest dungeons deep within Lake Kingdom.

"Hehehe."

Atop the grand facility of this lab.

A woman, perched on the rooftop, revealed a sinister grin.

One of the Nightmare Legion’s commanders. The leader of the Unholy Legion.

She was the Succubus Queen - Salome.

"Hehehehe."

Salome watched as Ash and his team approached. Her captivating lips curved into a clear line.

"I’ve been waiting for the day to see you again, Ash."

After being thoroughly defeated by Ash previously,

Salome reorganized her legion and waited for Ash’s return.

Predicting that Ash would someday come to this [Research Lab] dungeon, the largest in the 6th zone, she nested here, laying various traps.

And after a long wait, Ash finally arrived.

"This time, I’ll definitely make you submit."

The malevolent smile on Salome’s lips grew increasingly wicked.

"And once I’ve captured you... like this, and like that... hehehe... Oh!"magic

Blushing while lost in her fantasies, Salome quickly snapped back to reality. Her underling succubi stared intently at her.

"Ahem, ahem! Uh-huh!"

Regaining her dignity with a forced cough, she signaled with her hand, and her succubi flew to her, presenting a full-length mirror.

Salome adjusted her alluring pink hair, added decorations to the horns on her forehead, and tied a ribbon on her swaying tail.

She even changed out of her usual ragged monk’s outfit into a new one.

Following her subordinates’ advice(?) that being more modest was trending in the sex industry, she buttoned up to her neck.

Her clinging succubi then applied makeup to her face. Salome gazed at her reflection, twisting and turning her body.

"How, how do I look? Do I look good? This should work, right?!"

While she could seduce anyone in the dream world, Ash was immune to any mental disturbances.

Though not a typical succubi method, she needed to lure him with her physical charms...!

Salome, seeking validation, received approving nods and thumbs-up from her succubi.

She grinned broadly and raised her fist triumphantly. "It’s time for revenge, Ash! Prepare for a fiery defeat!"

Watching Ash’s face as he entered the dungeon, Salome smiled confidently.

"You’re mine!"

***

"Cut the crap and buzz off!"

"Aaaaah!"

In the large hall of the 6th zone dungeon [Research Lab],

I punched with all my might, striking Salome’s jaw. She shrieked and tumbled around on the ground.

"It’s you again, Salome?"

Relaxing my fist, I gritted my teeth. Of all the Nightmare Legion commanders, she was probably the least threatening.

Holding her jaw and blinking, Salome’s eyes lit up.

"Oh, you remember me? I’m so happy!"

"Why are you even happy about that...?"

I looked around, rolling my eyes.

The hall was filled with the bodies of defeated trolls.

However, unlike the ordinary troll legions we’ve faced, these had a distinctive faint pink aura emanating from them.

The remaining standing trolls also emitted this pink aura. I sighed.

"You might act like a fool, but you’re not completely brainless, are you?"

My passive skill [Unyielding Commander] nullified all mental disturbances. It even covered a radius of several meters around me.

I could single-handedly counter the entire Unholy Legion.

And then, these fiends changed their tactics—instead of targeting me and my party members, they enchanted what could be considered their allies, the troll legion.

"Enchanting allies, forcefully casting a frenzy spell on them, and squeezing out every last bit of their life force to make them fight... Interesting use of enchantment. I’ve learned something new."

"Hehe, that’s a compliment, right? You’re complimenting me now?"

"Yeah, great job. Now die here!"

I drew my staff, [Maestro], and unleashed a barrage of magical blades.

"Kyaaaah?!"

Salome scrambled on the ground, desperately dodging my onslaught. Just die and make things easier for both of us, will ya? Huh?!

"That’s so mean!"

Salome, using the enchanted ally trolls as meat shields against my attacks, yelled in frustration.

"There are too many of you!"On our side, there were 25. Five full parties.

Whether she enchanted trolls or laid traps, she was no match in sheer power.

Salome’s prepared troops were being torn to shreds before us.

"And you’re too strong! Such brutal violence is too harsh for a delicate succubus like me!"

"So, what did you plan on doing with me?"

"Huh?"

"After subduing us with your troops, what was your plan for me?"

You were going to kill us brutally, right? That was the implication of my question.

Salome, who blinked in confusion at my query, scratched the back of her head shyly.

"Well, of course, I’d wrap you up gently, without a scratch! And take you to my lair..."

"Kidnap me to your lair? And then?"

"And then, naturally, you’d spend heavenly, blissful, luxurious time with me, the Succubus Queen Salome! Offering you a happiness you couldn’t experience on such a brutal battlefield! Oh, but of course, you’d remain tied up."

...It didn’t make much sense to me. Kidnap and mentally torture? A truly vile idea, fitting for an evil Nightmare Legion commander.

Evangeline, who had been listening, whistled.

"Wow. Restraint, kidnapping, and confinement? True Nightmare Legion commander material. Pretty hardcore play, isn’t it?"

"Minors should cover their ears."

Then, on the other side, Lilly, who had been listening, quickly covered Godhand’s ears.

"Godhand! What were you thinking while glancing at me just now?"

"I, I wasn’t thinking anything!"

"Both of you, cover your ears..."

Ignoring the annoying couple,

I took a deep breath, put my magic staff into my robe, and approached Salome with large strides. Salome paled and spread her arms wide.

"Have you finally accepted my offer, Ash? Hehehe! That’s it, good boy! Now, join me in a sweet dream..."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As soon as I approached, I drew my gun-type magic gun [Agate] and fired three shots into Salome’s stomach.

"Kyaaaaaah!"

Thanks to [Agate]’s unique knockback effect during close-range firing, Salome was sent flying backward. This new weapon’s effect is great!

"Just die already. I’m super busy."

We’re in the middle of a time attack, you see!

Gritting my teeth, I checked the [Emergency Equipment Repair Quest] window.

Thanks to this damn Nightmare Legion commander’s persistent interference, our time was quickly depleting!

She should’ve been near death, given my three shots and the typically low HP of the succubi.

But Salome, clutching her stomach, laughed weakly with a pale face.

"Hehe, hehehehe, you’re the first man to treat me this coldly, Ash... First slapping me and now shooting me in the stomach..."

"Really? You’re the first monster I’ve met that talks this much."

"I get chills down my spine. Yes, this is the feeling... the love the Supreme King talked about...?!"

"Shut it, please-!"

I drew out my staff once more to finish off Salome, unleashing a barrage of magical blades.

She was an annoyingly chatty opponent, but if I could easily defeat one Nightmare Legion commander like this, it was a win!

Wham! Wham-!

But then, another troll inserted itself between Salome and me.

Simultaneously, the remaining alive trolls rushed in, forming a human shield around Salome.

"Damn it, everyone, unleash your firepower!"

Upon my command, my party members launched a full assault.

Once the meat-shield trolls were all down, succubi and incubi, emerging from within the trolls, tried to block the onslaught but were instantly wiped out.

Amidst it all, Salome, with a few of her minions, began to fade, turning translucent and merging with the air.

"We’ll meet again, Ash... Next time, I’ll surely seduce you..."

"Sure, I’m game! But don’t run away! Just come here! I’ll hit you only three more times, then let’s hang out! Hey! Don’t run! Hey!"

But Salome disappeared, leaving behind a battlefield littered with the corpses of trolls and the Nightmare Legion... she had actually fled...

Damien lowered his targeting magic gun, his eyes wide.

"She... she vanished. Like she moved to another dimension."

"It’s the Succubi’s escape skill, [Reality Escape]."

Given it causes the user to disappear from reality, even with Damien’s far-sight, sniping would be impossible.

Such a potent escape comes at a high cost. Salome must have paid a significant price to use it.

Damien tilted his head, furrowing his brows.

"...She felt different from other Nightmare Legion commanders we’ve encountered."

"How so?"

"The others radiate clear hostility. They seethe with intense malice, as if denying our very existence. But she didn’t have that."Damien, cradling his gun, looked up at me and added,

"And she’s... incredibly weak..."

"..."

Well, matchup issues played a huge role.

Without my passive skill, the Unholy Legion would have been one of the most formidable of all monster legions.

However, my passive made them more of a pushover.

"They’re the least threatening of the Nightmare Legion commanders. But they’re like annoying summer flies, sticking everywhere."

I sighed softly.

I expected frequent encounters with Nightmare Legion commanders, but the nonchalance of their appearance was still unsettling.

We managed to win easily this time because they were the relatively weak Unholy Legion...

’If we had encountered another Nightmare Legion commander, it would’ve been dangerous.’

But the real threat now was the remaining time on the urgent quest.

There was less than 30 minutes left. Watching the ticking clock made my mouth dry.

Luckily, most of the dungeon’s monsters had been lured out and enchanted by the Unholy, meaning I didn’t have to hunt them down.

Originally, this lab-like dungeon was vast, with various mechanisms in each room. But since the monsters had taken care of themselves, most traps had been disabled.

In this sense, maybe the Unholy Legion actually saved us some time...?

’Thank you so much!’

Next time we meet, I’ll "thank" you properly by killing you, Salome!

***

Leading my party members, we delved deeper into the research facility.

As its name suggested, the dungeon’s interior was unlike other areas, featuring bright and clean equipment.

Inside the dungeon room, various unidentified materials and specimens floated in a green liquid.

If there had been more time, I would have explored every nook and cranny for information. Sadly, I was in the midst of a time attack!

Skipping non-essential rooms within the spacious dungeon, I pushed forward, obtaining the necessary keys and codes to access the next room.

[Emergency Equipment Repair Quest]

- Time remaining: 15 minutes

The urgency was palpable. Finally, I was able to enter the boss room!

Kugugung!

Upon entering the deepest part of the laboratory’s boss room, I saw a large contraption with a geometric design; it was an alchemical device intricately intertwined in motion.

"Those damned nameless traitors..."

In front of the device stood a massive troll in a lab coat, grinding its teeth as it turned around.

"Having leached under the protection of the Lake Kingdom, you should be grateful to be used as research material for dark magic here!"

Wow, a troll wearing glasses.

...Wait a moment. Is this some kind of racism?

"You think you can ride the chaos outside and cause a riot as mere test subjects? Ha! Don’t make me laugh! Not a single one of you will escape! I’ll throw you all into this device!"

As I watched the eloquently speaking boss monster, a thought occurred to me.

During my dungeon exploration, I encountered monsters that... spoke like Lake Kingdom citizens.

"Become fertilizer for the future of humanity, you traitorous bastards!"

Were these people’s souls intact, with only their physical bodies transformed into monsters?

Or was it a monster that devoured a person’s soul, reading their memories... mimicking human voices, merely imitating human speech?

[Lab - Boss Room]

- Defeat the Boss!

- Lv.45 Troll Sorcerer ;Dark Magic Lab Director Dirandahi

Dirandahi, the director of the dark magic lab.

A rare mage-type boss monster.

As the creature raised its staff, magic surged, resonating with the magical apparatus behind him.

Lucas, with his sword raised, in the front lines urgently shouted,

"My lord, give us the tactical directive!"

I nodded, voicing a strategy I had considered earlier.

"Duruchigi."

At my words, the party members tilted their heads in confusion.

"Duru...?"

"Chigi...?"

"What do you mean, my lord?"

"It’s a very traditional and prestigious pork stir-fry recipe... No, I mean, it’s the strategy for a big boss."

Duruchigi.

Going around and smacking the shit out of everything. In other words,

"Swarm!"

With our sheer numbers, high levels, and above all, the ticking clock, what’s the need for a strategy?

Just everyone attack full force-!

--TL Notes--

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