S-Class Dungeon’s Mistress - Chapter 201

Chapter 201

Adelaide immediately went to the dungeons under Greenville's control. Most of these were inherited after the fall of Los Halde, while some had independently approached Greenville to express their desire to contract.

The dungeons were in a flurry, hastily preparing to receive her with unexpected visit. While bringing out all sorts of delicacies, they were also anxious, fearful that she might dump the damages from the recent policy onto them, as other successful dungeons might do.

Of course, Adelaide was not such a petty demon.

"Times are tough these days, right? Here, take this."

"This is...?"

"It's support funds. It's not much, but it should cover your losses."

The dungeon masters were moved by her generous offering. However, a few questioned her intent, wondering why she was being so kind. They were wary, suspecting she might suddenly backstab them.

To this, Adelaide responded:

"Well, you can't achieve anything by only looking out for yourself. To survive in this harsh world, you need companions, don't you?"

So please take care of yourselves, she added with an unpretentious smile.

For Adelaide, she was simply speaking her true feelings, but for the small dungeon masters, her words carried a deeper meaning.

Not just out of sympathy, but for mutual survival. The resonance of her words was significant, spreading beyond Greenville's dungeons to others.

As rumors spread, everyone began expressing their desire to join Greenville's dungeons. Adelaide accepted them as long as the dungeon itself had no major flaws or operational issues. She even drastically reduced the commission rates compared to typical contracts.

These were benefits unheard of anywhere else, but there was one condition.

"There must be no unreasonable discrimination within the dungeon. While dungeon management is entirely the dungeon master's right, and I won't go around checking everything, if I hear of any unjust stories, I'll cut off support immediately."

"Of course! Discrimination? That's absurd!"

Most dungeon masters answered this way and signed the contract.

However, practices that had continued for hundreds of years would not change so easily. Various reports of discrimination came in, and Adelaide cut off support as promised. Even when they begged on their knees, claiming it was a mistake, nothing changed.

After several examples were made public, dungeon masters began urgently modifying their rules, afraid they might suffer the same fate. While the demon realm, being fundamentally a power-based hierarchical society, couldn't show perfect equality, it had changed dramatically compared to the past. After all, perfect equality doesn't exist.

Meanwhile, established dungeons reacted in various ways to Greenville's approach. Some criticized it as an impossible dream, while others mocked it as mere show-boating. This was exactly what Adelaide had expected.

But then came a completely unexpected response.

I will stand with you.

It was an extremely brief letter. With just that one sentence and nothing else, it could easily have been mistaken for someone's prank.

However, the crucial point was that this letter came from the dungeon master of Eligos. The Eligos dungeon - one of only two S-rank dungeons in the demon realm, and the more famous of the two!

"The dungeon master of Eligos knows of my existence!"

Adelaide jumped around, saying it was unbelievable. Just knowing of her existence was surprising, and now they want to stand together? This meant he was willing to align with Greenville.

"How surprising. I've heard the Eligos dungeon master is quite difficult, but it seems Greenville's recent actions have pleased him. It's all thanks to Adel."

"My thanks are―!"

She waved her hand, saying she did nothing, but contrary to her words, her face was full of pride. Being praised by the intelligent Lisianthus made her spirits soar.

Good things continued to happen afterward. As Eligos began supporting small dungeons and indirectly opposing the Demon King's Palace, other dungeons that had been cautiously observing began to carefully voice their agreement. She even started receiving replies from dungeons she had sent letters to.

A large-scale alliance of dungeons that had never existed in thousands of years - this was truly a moment to be recorded in history.

'Alright, at this rate, we can definitely stand against the Demon King's Palace!'

Watching the number of dungeons joining the alliance grow day by day, Adelaide smiled proudly.

But when good things happen, sad things inevitably follow. An unexpected tragedy was about to disrupt her seemingly peaceful daily life.

"Adelaide. A letter came for your friend!"

"A friend? Penelope?"

"Yes! Here."

Adelaide received the letter from the skeletons with an excited face. A friend's letter was always welcome. Especially if they hadn't been in contact for a while due to being incredibly busy.

However, the contents were far from what she expected.

Adelaide.

Maximilian passed away last night. Come to Morpheus if time permits. There are many things I cannot write in a letter.

Penelope.

Flutter. The thin letter fell from Adelaide's hand to the floor. The face that had been flushed with joy was now pale as a sheet.

"What's wrong!"

Caladium, sitting on the sofa watching her, quickly approached, sensing something was wrong. Lisianthus and Lupinus, who had been handling tasks in places invisible to the eye, also rushed over in an instant to assess the situation.

"Mor... pheus."

Her throat was choked, making it difficult to speak. Adelaide squeezed out her words.

"I need to go to Morpheus."

Thanks to the portal installed in Belial, reaching Morpheus didn't take long. Just ten minutes - such a short distance, but for Adelaide, those ten minutes were like hell.

"Pipa!"

Having passed through the alliance's portal, she called out Penelope's nickname loudly. Instantly, all eyes were drawn to her.

"Huh? Isn't that Adelaide?"

"I heard she was kicked out. Why is she here?"

"Looks like she's got a rich man by her side now."

"Oh my, look at that man's face."

Succubi and incubi murmured while looking at Adelaide and Lupinus, who had accompanied her. It was natural for commotion to arise, given her previous fame in Morpheus.

If they had known about Adelaide's recent reputation among dungeons, their reactions might have been different. However, most members of the alliance knew little about dungeons, so their news was delayed, and they were busy mocking her.

"Adelaide, over here."

Penelope's voice came from the third floor. Specifically, near Maximilian's room.

Adelaide hurriedly climbed the stairs towards Maximilian's room. With each step, her rapidly beating heart echoed in her ears.

And the moment she opened the door, she collapsed. There, lying on the white bed as if sleeping, was Maximilian's corpse.

Maximilian had really died?

Really?

Adelaide knelt on the floor, blankly staring at the body of a being who was like a mother to her. Still so beautiful. Her delicate eyelashes and red-painted lips were as vivid as when she saw them yesterday. Maximilian was dead. It was utterly unbelievable.

"She'd been unconscious for some time. Don't blame yourself. She deliberately didn't tell you."

Penelope, dressed in black, spoke in a calm voice. Her skin had become rougher, and her jawline more defined since Adelaide had last seen her in Morpheus, indicating she had been through a lot.

"...Why? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Maximilian didn't want you to know. You know her stubborn personality."

Especially, she could never stand seeing someone worry about her. Penelope added with a sigh.

Adelaide knew Maximilian's such traits all too well. She had been frustrated by this countless times since childhood.

There was a time when she thought Maximilian only saw her as a future queen, believing she wasn't truly loved. But now she knew that wasn't true.

Even after Adelaide had become weak, Maximilian continued to watch over her. Though she never offered tender words or warm embraces, she tried in her own way to help Adelaide regain her will to live. Expelling her from the alliance was part of that effort.

"I know. The closer they are, the more awkwardly they behave."

Adelaide recalled the one time Maximilian had allowed her to call her 'mother'.

On a day when young Adelaide was very ill, Maximilian had silently stroked her hair as she burrowed into her embrace, mumbling 'mother'. Her touch was stiff, but for Adelaide at that time, it was sweeter than anything else.

Carefully reaching out to touch the corpse, she felt a chill. Maximilian's skin had always been cold, so it wasn't entirely unfamiliar.

"...I wanted to show you my successful self."

She bit her lip to hold back tears. She should have visited occasionally just to show her face. Deep regret, but such late regrets bring only sorrow.

"I told her you're doing well among some very handsome demons."

Penelope slowly patted Adelaide's shoulder.

"And Maximilian probably wanted your happiness more than your success."

Suddenly, a memory surfaced. The Maximilian from her dream who had unexpectedly scolded her, and then said something she would never normally say.

"Adelaide, actually. Actually... it's okay to be a bit lazy. Your magic, swordsmanship, demon realm political science - you don't need to excel at everything. What's the point of all those things if you're not happy?"

Was this from a few weeks ago, when she was unconscious? Thinking this, tears welled up.

Adelaide buried her face in the bed and finally let out the tears she had been holding back. Mother, she whispered softly. Asking, just this once more, to be seen on this most painful day.

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