Dungeon of Lust: Managing Otherworldly Beauties

Chapter 271: Among Us Once Again

Metal shrieked against metal as the knights tightened their gauntleted fists.

Vale braced himself for another outburst — a tirade about how Lust could never be trusted. No matter how disciplined one was, he understood the fear of leaving a lone girl in the presence of Lust.

Yet, to his surprise, the first knight drew a slow, steady breath before he said:

"If this talk must happen, let me be present."

Another knight stepped forward beside him, voice firm.

"I as well."

’Splendid...’

Vale slowly laced his fingers together.

"Now then, if that’s settled, you three, follow me. As for the rest of you, it would probably be best if you stayed away from one another until we return."

Looking over at his forces, Vale ordered:

"Go to the arena and station yourselves there until directed otherwise."

Then Vale turned back to the knights.

"For now, it would be in your best interest to remain where you are. Your grievances are evident. Whichever among you retains a measure of reason, see to it that your allies are kept in line."

A few of the knights shifted, sabatons scraping harshly against the stone.

’Wow, they do not like receiving an order from a Vice.’

But he knew they would listen — the loyal followers of ’Sir’ Grady.

Vale turned and set off down the path toward the Floor Two orb, then glanced over his shoulder, beckoning the three forward with a small motion.

’This is the only time I’ll let them come this far...’

But it was necessary.

Vale gestured toward the lounge.

After cautiously entering, the two observing knights unhooked their sheaths with deliberate care, then lowered themselves onto the crumb-strewn couch. Vale took the [Wingback Chair], and Sandra sat across from him.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Vale’s mouth as he spoke:

"Now then, let’s remove those helmets."

The two knights remained still, their silence stretching as they exchanged a brief glance, but neither moved.

Sandra, crossing her legs, said:

"I apologize, Vale, but we know the dangers of locking eyes with a Vice."

Vale lifted both hands in an easy, dismissive motion.

"I know, I know. However..."

Vale leaned back, then reached into the [Nexus of Beginnings], withdrawing a strip of dark fabric and tying it around his head — a repurposed Imp-Possible uniform.

’Sorry, Greed.’

"What I want is for you to interrogate them, Sandra. Ask them their names and important identification information, not using anything they could learn from what’s been said."

Sandra tilted her head slightly, uncertainty threading through her voice.

"I’m sorry, Vale, but I don’t follow."

"I’ll explain shortly."

Sandra released a quiet breath through her nose, then nodded.

"Alright then... take off your helmets."

Vale tapped his foot against the floor, casting a faint, uneven rhythm as he listened to the two knights reluctantly wrench their helmets free.

When they finished, silence settled over the room. Vale couldn’t tell where their gazes rested, but he circled a hand through the air in a prompting motion.

"Go on."

After a light cough, Sandra asked:

"What is your name?"

In a deep voice, the first knight who’d stepped forward replied:

"Bradshaw."

"And yours?"

The second knight shifted.

"Eric... Seriously, should we be doing this? Is it not obvious he is plotting something?"

Sandra ignored him, then asked:

"Bradshaw, what is the name of the Supreme King?"

Bradshaw replied:

"Captain, why ask when you know it is treasonous to utter His Grace’s name?"

Sandra wasted no breath responding. She asked another question:

"Eric, what is the name of the general of the Second Brigade?"

"Sir Gallahandarathanadraothandro."

Sandra exhaled slowly, as if satisfied by the precision of the answer.

’Uh... yeah. He’s clear.’

The barrage of useless questions continued, but none allowed Vale to glean anything meaningful about Akkuron beyond names — not that it had ever been his goal.

"Bradshaw, wh—"

"You may stop," Vale cut in, lifting a hand. "You two can put your helms back on."

Vale listened to their armor shifting, and metal sliding back into place, then removed his blindfold.

When he did, Sandra studied him, her gaze tightening with suspicion.

"Would you mind telling me why we did that?"

Vale leaned back, sinking into the chair, activating the [Comfy] Enchantment.

"You see, there was a little tiny piece of information I withheld from Grady."

"Which would be...?"

"Envy doesn’t particularly like me."

Sandra’s eyes widened. For the first time, urgency cut cleanly through her composure.

"You don’t mean?!"

Vale sighed.

"Good. From the look on your face, you understand."

After a moment, he continued:

"I don’t think she’ll try to provoke a confrontation between us. From what I know, she intends to kill me directly, not target my dungeon. And she’ll want to be in position to claim my Dungeon Core once I’m dead. However, her first step toward that end would be disguising one of her troops as one of my Legion. Or at least, that was the only way before. Now, she has a new way to infiltrate."

Sandra nodded.

"I understand, Vale."

Vale smiled, then said:

"On that topic, let us craft the barracks for the fifty-one of you."

Eric murmured, almost to himself:

"But there’s only fifty of us..."

Having already noticed this, Vale brought his hands together in a sharp clap, then tilted his head toward him.

"Case in point."

The three knights shifted uneasily, glancing between one another.

A low, guttural sound rumbled from Bradshaw’s chest.

"Y-you’re lying!"

Sandra straightened sharply, her spine snapping rigid.

"I counted no extra knight. How would..."

Vale interrupted her.

"Why would a spy let you notice them?"

Vale chuckled softly, then added:

"They’re skilled at hiding their presence, and you were all focused on me. It’s not surprising they slipped past you."

Eric surged to his feet, armor clattering as his boot struck the stone.

"H-how did you know?"

"Because I can count. I know I live in a cave, but I’m not that stupid. All I said was that there were fifty-one of you, not that one of you was a minion of Envy."

Sandra rose from her chair and bowed deeply at the waist.

"My apologies, Vale. Such an oversight is unbefitting my station... and deeply embarrassing. What a terrible first impression I’ve made."

Vale’s smile softened, the edges of his expression easing.

"It’s of little consequence. She was bound to sneak one or two in sooner or later. But I have a request of you three... Don’t let her know I know. And try to keep track of them for me, but don’t go out of your way looking for them — there’s a high chance they’ve already integrated into my Legion."