Dungeon of Pride, Laplace



In fact, she had stressed that it was a dangerous energy that even she was unable to utilise and that it wasn't something that should have been present in this world. Moreover, Irene had warned Simon against interacting with it, stating that it wasn't an energy that shouldn't be trifled with, much less someone of his level should come in contact with.

However, unlike others who usually recoil or experience adverse effects upon coming into contact with the curse energy, Simon had always felt a connection with it. Instead of the expected abhorrence, Simon felt an almost natural resonance with the energy, as if it recognized him as a kindred force.

For him, the curse energy felt docile, almost obedient, as if it had undergone some form of unspoken training under his guidance. It was as if the energy was tamed by his very presence, a power that acknowledged his mastery and willingly obeyed his commands.

In that regard, he was perhaps an anomaly, capable of manipulating this energy without being ensnared by its corrupting influence.

The origin of curse energy and the reason for his unique relationship with it, was a mystery, something that even Irene, with her knowledge, couldn't put her hand on. So how had the Kingdom of Blackthorn managed to acquire and utilize curse energy?

The more he thought about it, the more interested and puzzled he got.

.

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Now back at the Main Hall, of the White Palace, Bea's questioning gaze was fixed on Simon. Her confusion was palpable as she sought to understand his decision regarding those people he sheltered.

"Master, I don't understand. Why did you allow them to stay here? If it is because of the favour you owe them, haven't you repaid it already by saving them and treating their wounds?".

Simon settled into his favourite seat and spoke with a grin on his face "Bea, I believe there is a use for everyone. Besides, it was not solely about repaying a debt. They journeyed here through difficulties, navigating the unknown dangers of this dungeon, facing the threat of their pursuers, and even withstanding the onslaught of a salamander".

"It was not easy for them to arrive at my doorstep, seeking refuge. In a way, their presence here is a testament to their determination and courage".

"I don't understand…" Bea blinked her eyes perplexed.

"Let me explain" Annette, the smartest amongst the Valkyries, stepped forward to explain. "Think about it. If someone you hardly know, someone you only briefly encountered in the past comes to you seeking help, it's not a simple decision to make. They need not only the means to reach you, but also the courage to ask for aid. I believe Master saw some worth in them right?".

"It's as you say" Simon leaned forward slightly "I do like people who are tenacious and are willing to struggle till the end. I'm sure seeking shelter is not the only reason they arrived at my dungeon. However, unless I see some value in them I am hesitant to involve myself in their struggles".

"As for their protection, as long as they remain within the boundaries of this dungeon, even their most determined pursuers will be unable to reach them. As such, there's no need to send them away when they've taken such steps to reach here," Simon explained.

"Also, I must express gratitude to Annette. Her quick thinking allowed us to detect their presence and intervene when necessary." He glanced towards the spectacled beauty who stood by his side, her demeanour composed and observant.

"It is my duty, Master does not need to thank me" Although Annette said that, there was a faint trace of happiness in her facial expression.

"For a demon noble, especially a true demon noble, a debt of gratitude is a binding force, it is not a matter of honour to repay a debt, but something much more compelling" Simon explained with a thought gaze.

"Debts are chains that can shackle even the most powerful among us. The very nature of being indebted to another is a form of submission, a relinquishing of control. For beings like us, who are the very incarnation of desire and power above all else, owing anything to anyone is a deeply uncomfortable notion".

"We are creatures of authority and dominion, and anything that threatens that autonomy is to be avoided at all costs. It is for this reason that many demon nobles are unwilling to be indebted to others. Because if even once the scales tip in that direction, they are compelled to fulfil that obligation. This is why I am cautious about forming such connections and repaying any favour I owe".

And although Simon did not mention it, for him this obligation was even more of a binding force. As someone who possesses the Fragments of Pride, the concept of owing someone something goes beyond mere obligation.

It's a fundamental opposition that he feels to his core. This sentiment was true even when he possessed only one fragment, and now, with the second fragment, that feeling has only intensified.

As Simon slowly learned more about his origins, he was able to learn that the Fragments of Pride was more than just something that augmented his powers, it was his core. They shaped his very essence, influencing how he perceived the world and how he interacted with others.

That is why, for him to owe someone a debt, goes against the very core of his being. And even if he did, he was bound to repay that favour no matter what. This was not a matter of choice; it was the very nature of his core and the concept itself.

"I see thank you for explaining master" Bea nodded her head in understanding. She finally understood why her master went as far as to even shelter them. It was because of the nature of the demon nobles.

"I will leave the two of you in charge of our new guests. You can ask the Diluvian High Orcs to build them a proper shelter on the training floor. Also, make sure to give to give them proper hospitality, I don't want them complaining about us lacking in this area".

"Another thing, notify all the inhabitants of the dungeon that we have guests and that they should avoid the [Training Floor] for the time being especially the Forest Spring Spirits. I don't want their existence to get released"…

"Understood Master"

After giving his orders, Simon returned to his work. The life of a dungeon master and a demon who chose to forge his own fate, was quite busy after all. Training, strengthening the dungeon and fighting the giant piles of paperwork, amidst all this, ten passed by.

During this time, Simon's level never remained stagnant, it rose at an astonishing speed every day.

Using the method he created, he efficiently absorbed dozens and dozens of Mana crystals. His levelling speed only came to a stop when he reached level 560 and met a wall.

This wall was different from the bloodline wall that restricted one from reaching greater ranks, this one meant the end of his talent. If he wanted to press forward from this point on, he would have to do so by putting hard work.

That is to say, using Mana crystals to expedite his progress would be in vain; he needed to push himself to the limit and challenge the boundaries of his physical and magical capabilities. Only that way can he breach this wall that was looming in front of him, the wall of hard work.

In tandem with his own development, the dungeon had also grown significantly in these past few days. It now comprised 90 floors, not counting the ancillary floors like the [Training floor], [Workshop] and such.

Each of the lower floors was populated with powerful monsters and new ecosystems befitting the dungeon's rank. Not only that, it was also sprawling with numerous magical traps, arrays, mutated monsters and treasures.

Then there were also the special areas that provided high risk high rewards like the Hidden Chambers and Danger Zones to challenge the adventurers.

All in all, the dungeon Laplace was quite different from the time when it recently increased in rank. Now it was befitting of the name intermediate ranking dungeon and probably could even match some [B] rank dungeons in difficulty.

Of course, all of these changes weren't the result of his own efforts, his subordinates also helped out a lot. If not for the [Helpers], it would still have taken the dungeon a long time to reach the level it was currently on.

Other than that, Simon was also informed by Annette and Bea who were tasked with monitoring the guests, that the other two people he had saved, the burly knight and the old assassin had also woken up.

They had been moved to a shelter that was built by the Diluvian High Orcs on the training floor.

Speaking of the Diluvian High orcs, they were quite an organised bunch. Thanks to their unique trait that allowed them to coordinate almost seamlessly with each other, they were the perfect labour force.

Simon was not saying that just based on the single traits of theirs alone, but because the Diluvian High Orcs were a colonised group that followed ranks and orders just like an army. 

Coupled with the fact that they possessed powerful physiques, they were perfect for tasks that require manual labour. The shelter that they built was quite impressive in its own right and any stone mason and builder of this time would feel humbled if they saw their ability.