Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

"I'm not saying she should go there alone since I will be accompanying her. I am already acquainted with him a couple of times, I believe he will not mind".

"I am grateful for all of your concerns. However, the master of the dungeon especially asked for me to meet him. Bringing someone alone might…"

Cynthia wanted to say that it might displease the master of the dungeon. However, before she could, an unfamiliar presence appeared in front of her door.

"His subordinate is here, it's time I meet with him" Cynthia got up from her seat and walked towards the door. The guard captain who didn't want to leave the side of the princess and her friend alone, followed behind.

"Are you ready? The lord of this dungeon is waiting for you".

Waiting for them outside, was none other than the Weretiger Alric who was assigned to keep a watch on them.

"Wait a minute, before we go to meet with the master of the dungeon, can you ask him if the princess can bring one other person along with her? After all, the princess of a country is about to meet the leader of another faction. It would be seen as less of her if there is no dignitary beside her" Alvara interjected.

Alric made a slightly annoyed face, he was just about to growl and reject her when suddenly he made a strange face. He carefully glanced at Alvara before asking "Are you the one who wants to join her?".

Alvara was taken aback for a second there; nonetheless, she replied with a nod.

Afterwards, the two of them were brought in front of a large circular teleport construct from where they teleported to the [Main Floor].

As soon as Cynthia and Alvara were brought to the [Main Floor], they couldn't help but hold their breath at the sheer magnificence of the place they were in.

The Main Floor of the dungeon was nothing short of a visual masterpiece. Every detail of this ethereal landscape was worthy of admiration. Cynthia and Alvara found themselves immersed in its mesmerizing beauty.

Forget about all the other things here, the air itself here was remarkable. It was dense with mystical energy, unparalleled in its purity. It felt like a tranquil embrace, soothing the soul and calming the mind.

This profound serenity gave rise to a phenomenon: the very air seemed to solidify, forming dense mists and clouds that swirled in gentle, graceful patterns, adding a touch of mystique to the surroundings.

The mountains, distant yet commanding, were a testament to nature's grandeur. Their towering peaks brushed against the pristine white clouds, a striking spectacle that filled their hearts with awe and reverence.

Who would have thought that such natural wonders that were even more striking and beautiful than the dreams they had seen would be present inside a dungeon?

Cynthia and Alvara glanced at each other, both could see the shock and awe in each other's eyes. The [Main Floor] of the dungeon was like an assault on their senses, rendering them completely speechless.

It needs to be mentioned that Cynthia and Alvara both had high statuses. One was a royal, the sole princess of a country, and the other a noble with significant achievements in her name.

Whether it be luxurious things or places, they have seen an opulence of things. Especially Cynthia, since childhood she had seen and visited diverse places. However, none of the places she visited came anywhere close to this place.

Even if she disregarded the beautiful landscape of this place, just the abundance of mana here was ten times; no, twenty times denser than the special place that was built by their founder, the Chamber of Guidance a long time ago. The disparity was such, that it could even be considered an insult.

"Follow me. Make sure you don't stray away from me… Growl" Alric simply growled and continued to lead them around, without bothering about the astonishment the two behind him were feeling after arriving at this place.

Although he maintained a composed exterior, he nonetheless felt quite proud inside. Why would he not? After all, this place was his new home now and the home that his master and the Lord built.

He could still remember how surprised he was the first time he was brought here by his Master Maybell. After that time, his whole outlook on the world changed and his despair turned into hope.

He knew that as long as he continued to serve his new master and home, he would one day be able to get his revenge. It came as no surprise to him that these two foreign people who came from outside the dungeon, would be baffled beyond their minds after witnessing a place of utter magnificence like the [Main Floor].

Cynthia and Alvara followed behind the weretiger. As they made their way further inside, the gentle breeze brushing past their body, carried the delicate fragrance of flowers with it.

A garden straight out of a picture, appeared in front of their eyes. The fragrance in the air was from the thousands of beautiful flowers blooming in their full splendour.

Cynthia and Alvara saw many sights in the dungeon alone in one day that they never thought could have existed anywhere in the world.

After a small tour around the Main Floor, they were finally brought in front of a huge White Palace which was a work of art on its own. The palace itself was an architectural marvel. A perfect blend of grandiosity and elegance that displayed the dungeon master's extraordinary artistic sensibilities.

Every facet of its structure was a canvas for intricate designs and breathtaking details, etched with precision and grace. The palace radiated an indomitable sense of regal dignity and power, its very presence a testament to the dungeon's magnificence.

This was where the master of the dungeon and the lord of this place resided.

"Princess…"…

"Yeah, I know"

Even without Alvara needing to say anything, Cynthia completely understood what she wanted to say.

Wealth, fame, power, territory… the demon had everything. Even the grandeur of the palace he resided in was something that even the royal palace of their kingdom couldn't match.

Who knew a demon they would encounter in the guise of an adventurer in one of their journey, a demon who was chased down by the adventurers out of their kingdom would one day become the master of a place like this?

The two of them couldn't help but be reminded of the times from a few years ago.

"The Lord is waiting for you inside" The Weretiger respectfully opened the entrance and stepped aside.

With measured steps, Cynthia and Alvara entered the palace only to find two maids waiting for them. The appearance of these maids could only be described with the words beautiful.

Not only did they have an impeccable demeanour, their bearing and conduct were simply perfect. It was like they were the textbook definition of what maids were. Compared to them, the maids in their royal palace simply seemed like garbage.

"Greetings Your Highness and Miss Alvara" the maid with long black hair tied into a bun and wearing spectacles, spoke.

As Cynthia and Alvara looked at the maids, they recalled that they were the very same maids that had seen beside the demon before when the other party came to rescue them. That is to say, they were the people closest to the master of this dungeon.

"Please follow me" The maids smiled and brought them to one of the halls.

"Master, we brought them here" the maid with the spectacle announced. A few seconds later a reply came from the other end of the door.

"Come in"

With that, the Valkyries led the two behind them and entered the hall. As soon as Cynthia and Alvara entered the hall, the first thing they noticed was how grand the hall looked.

Draped in riches and sumptuous tapestries, the hall was a testament to opulence. The floor, polished to a reflective sheen, formed patterns and images that seemed to come to life as the light played upon them.

The soft, radiant glow of chandeliers overhead bathed the room in a warm, golden light. In the centre of this magnificent hall stood an immense dining table, its surface a polished expanse of the finest mahogany. It was flanked by ornate, high-backed chairs, each one a work of art in itself, and bearing the mark of master craftsmanship.

Sitting on one of the chairs was a figure with jet black hair and a pair of horns adorning their head. The figure was tall, had a pale white skin and wore clothing that matched their stature.

Their demeanour was arrogant, sitting there laidback with their legs crossed and giving off an immense berserk and oppressive aura.

When Cynthia and Alvara laid their eyes on the figure, they were initially surprised before their expression returned to normal.

[Cynthia be careful, this demon… he has grown stronger again to the point where even I can't see through him] The voice of the Guardian Beast Leo rang inside Cynthia's head the moment they saw him.

The latter cautiously nodded her head and bowed courteously at the other party. She might be a princess with a  high status; however, her status stopped meaning anything the moment she ran away from her kingdom.

Besides, she was the one seeking refugee here, so it was only polite for her to greet him first.

"Hehe, no need to stand on ceremony, come and join me. My subordinates prepared a fine meal for this event"