Ch 29
29 – The Monster Lemegeton Steps Into the Line of Defense for the First Time
Registration Cards are specially-made Recording Stones. It contains Adventurer-specific information if you're an Adventurer, and Monster-specific information if you're a Monster.
That includes Avatar information as well.
However, Avatars have a lot of information associated with them, and since a vast amount of Magical Energy would need to be supplied in order to manifest one as well, there needs to be a Recording Stone exclusively meant for storing Avatar-related information.
That's why it's normal for Registration Cards to be in sets of two. One for personal information, and the other for Avatar information and Magical Energy
The devices that connect the Avatar to one's mind resemble cocoons.
There are two large white round cocoons that are connected to each other via multiple pipes.
One cocoon is meant for oneself to enter, so it needs the Registration Card with the personal information stored in it.
The other cocoon is to remain empty, so the Registration Card with the Avatar information stored in it goes there.
Then you just step inside the cocoon and lay down on the bed provided.
You'll then wake up instantly.
You then exit from the cocoon that was empty just earlier. That's right, that's all it takes.
The Avatar is constantly synched with the Registration Card, so everything experienced as the Avatar will get sent back to the main body upon getting defeated.
The same happens when exiting the Dungeon via a Safe Room.
I went to the staff-exclusive Link Room, a room meant for transferring one's consciousness to an Avatar, and used the cocoon for the first time as a Monster.
My outfit was still essentially a black robe, but it was more exaggerated compared to before. The hood covered a lot of my face, up to around my nose.
Avatars already included equipment, so all I needed was a mask to cover my face.
The biggest change was probably the horn.
A black horn, just like the Demon King and Master.
The only difference was that I didn't have two of them coming out from the sides of my head, but rather-
「Does that work for you, Lemegeton? I did as per your request.」
It was Her Majesty.
Her hair that was the length of her body was neatly tied up today. Thanks to her hairstyle, her hair wouldn't be getting in the way.
The crimson Demon King looked at me, Lemegeton, with a curious look.
「Yes, this will be perfect for becoming a Monster. Thank you for doing such a good job on it.」
The Demon King Castle completely covered the cost for my first Avatar manifestation. Apparently they'd be covering half of the cost for every instance afterward.
The creation and maintenance of Avatars cost money, but Monsters are typically meant to get defeated.
Since Monsters on the first stratum and such are bound to get wiped out regularly, that means that they'd easily run out of money trying to keep up with the funds necessary for recreating their Avatar each and every time it happens. That's why the dungeon itself often partially covers that fee.
Also, since Avatars are essentially a clone of yourself, the cost for creating them depends on your amount of Magical Energy, physical size, structure, and other special abilities.
To put it simply, the cost for creating most Avatars will vary widely from those of Heroes or the Demon King, for example.
In other words, a monster defeated in the lower stratums won't have to pay nearly as much as a Hero would have if they got defeated.
My Avatar is a bit of a weird place because of my unique circumstances, so I actually have to spend as much money as Fenix.
During my Adventurer days, I mainly avoided taking damage as much as possible. I usually used my Black Magic to ensure that the three vanguards would defeat the enemies before they reached the rearguard consisting of Lily and me.
「You sure are a strange one. The only Majins with one horn are-」
「Yes, I know.」
I nodded, interrupting Her Majesty's words.
That's right, I only had one horn growing out the left side of my head.
There wasn't any horn on the right side.
「Hmm… I see. Did Grandfather say anything to you? I believe you also made a request regarding your Dungeon Name, as well.」
「Ahaha… I know that you're the one that's supposed to decide that kind of thing, though.」
Her Majesty laughed while shaking her hand.
「No, it's fine. Grandfather's just as much of a Demon King as I am, after all. I'll let you fill in the blanks to your setting. But remember, don't name yourself yet. You are to be no more than a「mysterious robed man」today.」
「Yes, I know.」
Until Fenix's party reaches the tenth stratum, my job is to repel any other parties.
Fenix's party was the 4th most popular in the world, after all. Many have seen the broadcasts of their Dungeon Clears of the Demon King Castle, and many have been inspired by them.
Naturally, some Adventurers have started thinking「We could probably do that too, huh?」.
If Fenix's party was able to clear it, then others should be able to follow their example at least to some extent.
If they could clear the first stratum of the Demon King Castle, then they could too.
It was basically the new trending thing.
The first stratum already has a Recommended Level of 4, so only certain parties could enter it, but even then, reservations were packed.
Starting from today, it was my job to deal with those parties to a certain extent.
They wouldn't be making me take care of every party. I was probably expected to work on preparing the tenth stratum as well, after all.
The first stratum was the Domain of the Watchdog.
Our guests today are from the 249th ranked party in the world. They were the real deal. Of course, they didn't have a Black Sorcerer, but they did have two Warriors.
They were the pure rushdown type.
They probably felt they were similar to Fenix's party's style.
Which meant they were probably thinking of taking on the Dungeon in the same style as well.
The Impregnable Demon King Castle has a reputation to maintain, one that Luci had worked hard to build up, and I couldn't afford to let it get tarnished.
「Now that you've hired me, I'll have to make sure I produce some results.」
「I'll be counting on you. This will be completely different from your Adventurer days.」
While I wouldn't exactly be going all-out right out the gate, I'd at least now be able to use my magic as I liked.
Everyone else was already waiting at the wastelands.
I headed towards the Recording Stone installed in the room.
Adventurers create their Avatars using their personal information stored in their Registration Cards, but Monsters instead had that feature installed into their bodies.
That's why I was able to transfer just from touching the Recording Stone. It felt a bit strange, but I was sure I'd get used to it eventually.
「C-Chief of Staff!」
I turned around to the sudden voice to find Cashew.
Cashew was peeking out from the entrance to the room.
A smile naturally crept on to my face.
「You can do it!」
「Thanks.」
「Oh, by the way, you'll have to remember to talk like Lemegeton.」
I nodded to Her Majesty's words.
「Oh, right. My speech doesn't have much impact right now, huh?」
「You don't have to be as extreme as Carmilla, but you wouldn't want to get mistaken as the Black Sorcerer Lem, right?」
「Right. I'll keep that in mind.」
I waved to Cashew and once again headed to the Recording Stone.
I teleported to a narrow, dark space.
I immediately began touching the wall nearby and pressed a specific portion of it.
Light shone out.
Upon stepping foot past the shifted wall, I came across the wastelands.
The Recording Stone was hidden inside a giant boulder.
Once I exited, the hole behind me immediately closed up.
One of the Hellhounds was waiting for me.
I pet its head.
「Hey, there. Wait, I mean… I'm looking forward to working with you.」
I tried making my voice a little deeper. Hmm, I think I still need more time to develop this Lemegeton character.
I once again pet the hellhound as its tail wagged and brought my voice back to normal.
「You'll be the ones to hold off the Hero party. I'll simply be helping you guys out. But don't worry, we'll win as long as we work together.」