Chapter 03: DP Baby!

I'm daft.

For the past several days, I've ruminated on how to design and construct this prison cell—in the midst of it all, becoming irked and incensed—only to recall that I now live in a place essentially designed for what I intended to build, making my previous ideas (almost) obsolete.

Walking down one of my many Dungeon corridors, one of the furthest from my throne, I eventually came upon an open doorway leading to a vacant chamber, the size of it slightly larger than a standard prison cell from our world, measuring fifty square feet. 

Stepping inside, I turned to the doorway and used [Mana Construct] to create six bars composed of innumerable black feathers, each one writhing as if alive. 

Satisfied, I opened [Storage] in the center of the room, letting out the disoriented Porfiry, the latter at first standing, then collapsing to his knees.

Motioning my hand forward, I formed a chain around Porfiry's neck, attaching it securely to the wall behind him. 

At this time, one would've normally begun questioning their captive. 

What were his intentions with the Elf? Why was he here in the forest? Who does he work for? Things of that nature.

However, none of this is any of my concern. All I care for is what benefits me.

Making sure Porfiry's restraints were adequate, I exited the chamber amid his shouts and curses, my mind wandering to the Elf woman, Thessalia. 

The reason I haven't removed her from my [Storage] yet is rather simple: she's wounded, and presently, I have no way of aiding her. 

I would've liked to heal her immediately, but upon searching through the [Shop], I realized, unfortunately, I didn't have enough [DP] to do so, leaving her in [Storage] for the time being. 

On the topic of [DP], I just received [20] from Porfiry.

[DP: 810]

"Hmm, not bad," I thought, a small smile on my face as I entered the throne room and sat atop my throne, Kei jumping onto my lap as soon as I did so. 

For a while, I sat stagnant, ruminating about my next move. 

It took some time, but eventually, it came to me: I can capture something that can heal. 

How long will that take? I have no idea. Will I ever find one, let alone capture it? That, too, I do not know. 

However, what I do know is that, presently, healing Thessalia isn't imperative anymore; with a source of [DP] now in my possession, I can take my time (so to speak).

"Alright, Kei, a plan has been devised; now, where shall we execute it?"

In the Haunted Forest, there are four regions: the Northern (where I live), the Eastern (where fairly strong monsters reside), the Southern (the weakest region), and the Western (the strongest).

"I think I'll traverse the Eastern forest today," I mused, petting the purring Kei. "There's bound to be something worthwhile there."

Nodding my head in affirmation, I exited my Dungeon, placing Kei atop my shoulder as I flew toward my destination. 

—

"Oh?"

From the sky, I spotted a group of twenty-five Elves and humans (twenty Elven women and five human males) spread throughout a clearing; the former clothed in rags and bound with shackles around their wrists and ankles, the latter, in armor similar to Porfiry and Caden's, guarding close by, their weapons glinting in the moonlight. 

Perching myself on a tree branch, I watched over the scene with intrigue. 

"What shall I do? What shall I do~?" 

On the one hand, I could save these Elves, indebting them to myself and acquiring [DP] (and even possibly something that I can heal Thessalia with); on the other, I can do nothing and watch how this scene transpires before me. 

Thinking tersely, I made my decision: 

"Yeah, the latter is more entertaining."

Getting comfortable, I began listening to the conversation of two soldiers. 

"Do you think Porfiry is dead?" one asked another, both guarding ten Elves, seven women and three children. 

"Preposterous!" the other retorted, scoffing. "Porfiry's strength is second only to our Captains. There should be no beast in this godforsaken forest that can impede him," he said, gesturing widely, laughing. 

"Knowing him, though, he's probably enjoying himself at the moment."

There was a minute of silence before the soldier who spoke first spoke again. 

"Fun, huh? There was a lecherous grin on his face as he gazed at the women in his charge. 

"Fuck," I mumbled, knowing what was about to happen. 

I know it's paradoxical of me—having made the decision earlier to sit and watch—but I can't espouse this. 

How could I? 

Assault is vile; end of discussion. 

Now crouched, I took inspiration from a game I played frequently in my past life, Dishonored, and linked the soldiers—including Caden, who was further away—together using my mana.

Initially, I wanted to fight the contingent of soldiers; however, after hearing what was said, I wanted neither my katana nor my fan near them. Such abject humans aren't worthy. 

In the palm of my hand, I constructed a single black spearhead, shooting it at the would-be-assaulter with a mental command. 

"Now, which one should I—" *THUD*

"Huh?" *THUD*

*THUD* *THUD* *THUD*

"How uneventful," I muttered. 

Having subdued the soldiers, I dropped from the tree I was in and landed in front of the trembling and addled Elves, raising my hands to show I meant no harm. 

After a quick discussion, being they had no place to return to, I allowed the Elves to stay in my Dungeon; however, not for free, of course (DP baby!). 

"I won't ask for much from you, just that you treat my Dungeon like a home," I said to the Elves as I escorted them, myself in the front of the procession, Kei at the rear. 

Once we made it back safely (by safely, I mean we only encountered monsters I could handle swiftly), I allowed the Elves to explore and subsequently select their rooms. 

While they were doing so, I engaged in conversation with the elder of the group, which, subsequently, and unsurprisingly, ended up on a certain missing Elf. 

"What did you say she looked like?" I asked, feigning ignorance. 

"She resembles me, only slightly, however. Instead of amber hair, she has red. And her figure, unlike mine, is muscular. If I recall correctly, she wore a green dress and boots at the time of her scouting trip."

"Scouting trip?" Now, I'm curious.

"Indeed. Our village, Alfandale, was a small, obscure village within the southern part of the Haunted Forest. For many years, we have dwelled there. However, one night two weeks ago, one of our young ones, who was hunting for sustenance, was kidnapped, and subsequently, others, not just young but old, were taken as well. It wasn't until setting up lookouts around the perimeter that we discovered the culprit: humans," she said, her face contorting in disgust. 

"We endeavored to fight back. However, despite our best efforts, we could not prevail. One by one, our population dwindled, either murdered or taken. Incensed by our losses, the few elders that remained elected Thessalia, our most formidable warrior, to attempt to find us a new home, a place where something like this can never transpire."

"But, after days of hearing no word, unsure if she had gotten captured or possibly worse, we grew impatient, taking it upon ourselves to search for our new home. That mistake led us to this predicament."

Haste makes waste, my grandmother always said. 

After hearing all of that, it didn't sit right with me to keep Thessalia inside of my [Storage] now, knowing how much she means to the Elves. 

Without a word, I stood from my throne.

"Where are you—"

"I'll return shortly. I believe there is something I have of yours."

Leaving the Elven woman to ponder my cryptic words, I walked out of my throneroom and down one of my many corridors. 

Making sure I was alone, I removed Thessalia from [Storage].

Without wasting time, I hefted her into my arms and returned to my throne room as the wound that had previously stagnated due to my intervention began to flow again.

"Thessalia!"

As soon as I appeared, the woman rushed to my side and took Thessalia from me, her hands emitting a silver glow over the former's wound. 

"What happened?" she asked, caressing Thessalia's face with one hand while the other continued to mend the wound. 

"I stumbled upon her as she was about to be captured by two human males, knights of a nearby kingdom, I presume. Though she had already killed several, she was wounded, and the men who wished to capture her were more powerful than her. Normally, I wouldn't have done what I did, as it was none of my concern. However, before I knew it, I found myself in between her and her assailants, protecting and saving her," I informed the woman, returning to my throne. 

"Despite trying my best, I could not heal her. Hence, I kept her in a stasis, hoping to find something that would be able to do so. Fortunately, I, much like Thessalia, stumbled upon you all."

Looking at me with a gracious expression, The Elf woman thanked me profusely. 

"Please, there is no need. Now, find yourself and Thessalia a place to rest. I'm sure you need it."

Bowing her head and thanking me once again, the woman left with Thessalia, clutching her tightly in her arms. 

"Ah, I didn't get her name."

***

[Name: Kei, Level 4]

[Race: Nekomata (Unique)]

[Class: Demon]

[HP: 840/840]

[MP: 2713/2713]

—

[Strength: 680]

[Endurance: 623]

[Agility: 703]

[Mana: 512]

[Dexterity: 740

[Luck: 172]

—

[Great Skill: Ressurection (Locked)]

[Skills: Shape-shifting (Level 2), Possession (Level 2), Fire Manipulation (Level 3)

***

[Name: Tyus, Level 35]

[Race: Tengu (Unique)]

[Class: Demon Lord]

[HP: 6467/6467]

[MP: 15123/15123]

—

[Strength: 1667]

[Endurance: 1672]

[Agility: 2401] 

[Mana: 1521]

[Dexterity: 3145]

[Luck: 310]

—

[SP: 100]

[Great Skill: War God Hachiman (Locked)]

[Skills: All Speak, Martial Arts (Level 10), (Storage (Level 10), Appraisal (Level 2), Supernatural Vision (Level 1), Mana Construct (Level 1), Fan Arts (Level 2) Link (Level 2)]

—

[Demon Lord From Another World, The Selected, The ********]

[DP: 1480]

***