“Demon Vanquisher! Glacial Shift! Alright, go!”

“Got it!”

“Understood!”

“I’ll target the Basilisk at the back!”

I released [Demon Vanquisher] toward the Earth Dragon and Basilisk, and once they collapsed, I froze everything but their heads with [Glacial Shift]

Normally, I’d just freeze their legs, but since I’m helping Estina and the others rank up, I’m being extra cautious and freezing more thoroughly.

“Amazing… This rapier pierces right through the Earth Dragon’s neck and freezes it…”

“Whoa, these twin swords are incredible! They cut easily! Is this what it feels like to wield heroic rank equips?”

“The Hawk Eye skill and this magic bow are incredible too! Even with magic of a rabbit, it pierces easily!”

“I’m glad it was useful. Those equipments were wasted on me anyway.”

“This Wind Dragon Breastplate and Wind Dragon Cloak are also super light and make it easy to move around.”

“Even this Black Dragon Bikini Armor is incredible! I was shocked when I heard it was legendary, but it’s light, doesnt get hot, and easy to move in—this is awesome!”

I also can’t help but love that V-cut on your butt, Liz.

Ah, perfection—just the right amount of curves and bounciness.

“This Saintess Robe is also really light; it’s become my favorite! The Protection Circlet doesn’t slip, either. It’s amazing!”

Sheena is fast, but her durability seems low, so I used full protection equipments and a support role, sub dps.

The lack of exposure of her skin is a bit disappointing, but there’s no helping that. Still, her breasts, pushing up from the inside of her silk robe, definitely the most striking part about her.

Since early morning, we’ve been on the 41st floor, training with our new equipment and searching for the stairs to the 40th floor.

After meeting them two days ago, I invited them to my magic tent.

Once we got through the usual bath-time embarrassment, Estina and the others changed into casual clothes and helped make dinner, though I ended up just watching.

They all know how to cook, so I had nothing to do.

All three of them were born in some kind of breeding institution, Liz and Sheena had lived with other children there until they were taken by a slave merchant licenzed by the Empire

Estina, being an elf, was raised by the elders in the elf village until she could form a contract with a spirit.

She said she learned house chore there.

Then, around the age of 30, she successfully contracted with a low ranking water spirit, and an official slave merchant came to retrieve her.

By the age of 30, elves will look like 18 years old human, and then the aging slows down. Their typical lifespan is about 700 years.

It’s long lifespan, but their birth rate is exceptionally low.

I mean, someone who wears the Stagnation Ring can live up to 5,000 years, so it’s probably the nature’s way of balancing things out.

After cooking, we ate together.

I was speechless—it was incredibly delicious.

My previous meals that I cooked, without any real understanding of ingredients or seasonings, were basically a dog food in comparison.

No one spoke during the meal.

It was apparently their first proper meal in two days, so even Estina, who had a refined etiquette, ate with great enthusiasm

I began to think she might be a glutton.

Liz and Sheena seemed very hungry too; apparently, their stomachs had been growling since they had juice after the bath.

As they ate, I quietly looked away and quietly finished my own food.

After dinner, we officially decided to form a party until we reached the surface, and I became the party leader.

Estina apologized, saying she didn’t want to trouble me, but Liz and Sheena were thrilled to be able to sleep in my magic tent.

Inside, I was just as thrilled to share my space with such beautiful companions.

As their leader, I felt it was my duty to protect the team, so I laid out various skill books and equipment I’d collected from treasure chests and skeletons, letting them choose what they wanted.

I even managed to get Liz to wear the bikini armor by patiently explaining its benefits.

I don’t think she noticed my grin. Probably.

When I appraised the equipments and accessories and explained the results of the gear they chosen, they were astonished.

Even by the standards of the Termina Empire, these equips seemed exceptional.

When I offered to give them the equips, they declined, saying nobles would just seize it.

It makes sense; if they’re wearing better equipment than their master, it could lead to trouble.

Oh, right, I also got their permission to appraise their stats for the sake of understanding our team’s abilities.

Here’s what they’re like:

Estina

- Race: Elf

- HP/Stamina: B−

- Magic: B

- Strength: C+

- Agility: B

- Dexterity: B

- Skills: [Body Enhancement III], [Small Heal I]

- Notes: Contracted with lower ranked water spirit, Undine.

Liz

- Race: Catfolk

- HP/Stamina: B

- Magic: C−

- Strength: B

- Agility: B

- Dexterity: C−

- Skills: [Body Enhancement III], [Strong Arm I], [Wind Blade I]

Sheena

- Race: Rabbitfolk

- HP/Stamina: B−

- Magic: C+

- Strength: C+

- Agility: B

- Dexterity: B−

- Skills: [Appraisal I], [Night Vision I], [Hawk’s Eye I], [Body Enhancement I], [Small Heal I], [Glacial Shift I]

Overall, they’re around B rank.

It seems that aside from Estina and Liz, who had body enhancement skills, no other skills were given to them.

Sheena was utilized for her racial traits in Danger Detection and Area Detection, and thus she had zero skills.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Since she was hesitant, I decided to give her a skill book and forced her to learn it.

Estina, who couldn’t learn the four-element skills due to her compatibility with spirits, prioritized survival skills instead.

Liz, being a dual sword user, was equipped to handle both close and ranged combat, while Sheena, who had experience with bows, was equipped bow-compatible skills and defensive equipment.

Even Liz was initially hesitant, but while equipment can be lost, skills will foever remain.

I figured it was best for them to master the skills they’ve just learned first, as diving into too many at once might lead to being a “jack-of-all-trades, master of none.”

As someone who had rushed into learning random skills myself, I knew the feeling well

After distributing skills and equipment, I asked about the slavery system I’d been curious about.

It turned out that the slave collars were only put on elves and beastfolk combat slaves.

General Terminian beastfolk slaves, as well as those working under nobles or merchants, didn’t wear them; the collars were primarily to prevent rebellions by beastfolk who grew powerful through dungeon exploration.

The collars are also fairly expensive, so regular folks can’t easily afford them.

Apparently, slaves are protected by law—mistreating or killing them at will can lead to punishment.

Apparently, this was a safeguard established after multiple past slave uprisings.

Marriage between slaves are also permitted with their master’s approval, and wealthier individuals even arrange matches to increase their number of slave.

However, only elves lack freedom, as their high abilities and small population mean they are strictly controlled by the empire.

Once they’re too old, suffer irreparable injuries, or lose their fighting capability, they’re sent to specialized facilities, sometimes referred to as breeding institution, where male elves are drugged turned into mere baby making machine until they lose fertility. (I know some of you sick mindeds would love to live this way)

Interestingly, there’s only been one known instance of a half-elf child born between a human and an elf, confirming that crossbreeding with humans is possible, though rare.

Elves typically tolerate mating in the breeding institutions since it’s for their race’s continuity, though they would resist any forced insemination outside their own race.

Though there are dark elves among the elves, they cannot bear children together due to incompatible spirits.

Despite this, elves and dark elves don’t particularly harbor ill feelings towards each other.

Elves tend to be used by nobles as combat slaves for conquering dungeon, while dark elves are employed by merchants for both escort and protection.

Thus, they dont have much contact with each other

As for dwarves, a classic fantasy race, they supposedly don’t exist on the Terminia continent.

The dwarves once thrived in ancient times, but they were wiped out alongside the humans who incurred the God’s wrath. Small number of humans survived, but dwarves didn’t—what a pity.

Upon learning about the general state of beastfolk slaves, it seemed the reality was not as brutal as I’d imagined based on books.

In fact, it seemed less severe than the NEET Employment Law that sent us to the dungeons.

It was as if the Terminians saw them as valuable working animals. Not only arranged marriage, but also pairing strong beastfolk species like lions or tigers in breeding programs to raise and sell their offspring.

How can they do this to people who speak the same language as them and can communicate with them? Its just disgusting

Even so, it was appaently far better than being a noble’s slave.

Being a slave of the adventurer who affiliated with Empire’s guild was also challenging but manageable, as long as the law protected them.

Noble slaves, were viewed as a particularly unlucky fate, because those nobles could easily bent or broke the law.

Some nobles dragged slaves into dungeons they couldn’t handle, using them as shields to escape.

That red-haired woman from before was like those Blade Demons— even worse because she forced them to obey.

With elves having no choice but to serve nobles, they were supposed to be well-treated, but Estina, who served both an earl and a marquis, said her experiences were both terrible.

“Still, Akutsu’s unique skill is amazing. I can’t believe it can completely immobilize a dragon-race.”

“Right? I had no idea there was a paralysis skill like that!”

“It’s true! Akutsu-san’s skills are incredible!”

“Haha. It was tough at first, but after working hard to increase my proficiency, it started working on dragons, too.”

Though honestly, I don’t actually know if there’s such a thing as a paralysis skill.

Its my[Demon Vanquisher]. However… After talking over some things with the others, I realized it’s far more dangerous than I had imagined.

Apparently, this dungeon is known as an Ancient Dungeon of “Demon.”

There are three kinds of Ancient Dungeons: “Demon,” “Time,” and “Netherworld,” each containing rare skills in the final boss room at their lowest floors

Nobles from the Empire constantly attempt to conquer them.

This Ancient Dungeon of “Demon,” in particular, requires pure combat power to progress.

The difficulty of the entire dungeon is so high that no one has ever conquered it before. Let alone there’s some rumor about Demon King as the final boss.

If anyone did conquer it, it must have been in the age of legends or myths.

In the records written in that era said that the skill you could obtain in those dungeon was said to grant everything in the world.

The skeletons scattered in the floors of this dungeon were probably those of heroes.

No wonder they had a lot of valuable items.

Well, I dont think anyone knows the of a skill that only exist in those legends.

But to be safe, I wont say anything when casting skill, unlike before when I shouted in Japanese.

I will also use the Termina language since I’ve learned it. It would be bad if I accidentally spoke Japanese.

While hiding the details of the skill’s effects, which are pretty dangerous, I suspect that the royal family knows something.

There’s good chance of them being aware that Demon Vanquisher is a fusion of Mana Drain and Magic Transfer skills.

Otherwise, no one other than the royal family would be allowed to enter this [Ancient ‘Demon’ Dungeon].

After all, the reward was a skill that can grant everything in the world.

Even if they manage to defeat Vritra and gain Mana Drain, it’d be pointless without also acquiring Magic Transfer.

(Akutsu got Mana Drain from treasure chest inside Vritra’s treasure vault. And got Magic Transfer from a skeleton.)

And even with both, you need the idea to transfer the mana to air.

The Magic Transfer skill is likely hidden in another high-level dungeon somewhere.

The skeletons near Vritra probably belonged to a royal who had Magic Transfer. Not sure why they didn’t use it before fighting Vritra, though.

[Demon Vanquisher] isn’t that special if it only could transfer mana to magic stones.

It only becomes deadly when you could transferred mana to air, which is what allows me to defeat dragons.

Maybe they think gathering all the necessary parts takes time and a lof of sacrifices, so they allow anyone to enter Ancient Dungeons?

And they can just dispose of anyone who acquires those skill before the royal family?

If the royal family find out, they might come after me with everything they’ve got.

I must never let them know.

For that reason, I’ll let Estina and the others believe it’s just a unique paralysis skill.

As for the skill that removed the slave collar is called [Unlocking], an unique skill that can open any lock.

I don’t know if such a skill actually exists, though.

My lies work mostly because unique skill books are very rare.

No one knows all the unique skills that exist, apparently.

If they believe my lies, then if they’re ever enslaved again and ordered to tell the Empire about me, they won’t have to suffer for keeping secrets.

I even told them they don’t have to hide my paralysis skill.

All that’s left is to keep leveling up my Concealment skill.

I need to get it to level V quickly, so I can hide my skills

“A unique skill paralysis… It certainly looks like one. But if it’s this powerful then it’s better not to let it be widely known. Unauthorized appraisal carries a severe penalty, so as long as you’re cautious with nobles, it should be fine. Raising your Concealment skill as much as possible wouldn’t hurt, though.”

“Exactly. Appraisal is regulated. If you appraise a noble without permission, they might kill you on the spot. But that skill would certainly be dangerous if it were known to the Empire. I wouldn’t talk no matter what they do to me.”

Wait, is that why that red-haired woman got so angry back then?

Glad they dont know my face and I found out before leaving the dungeon.

They allow justified killings for disrespect? The Empire’s scary.

“I will never tell, either. Akutsu-san is my benefactor.”

“I use Concealment skill daily, but it has its weaknesses, so it’s not actually that strong. If anyone asks, you don’t have to hide it for me. I don’t want you three to suffer by shielding for me.”

Well, I dont know if the Concealment skill works against modern day technology,

I also dont know how strong [Barrier] can withstand modern weapon.

After all, this dungeon only has monsters that use magic.

I wonder if I should ask Estina and the others to attack it without magic?

“Akutsu-san…”

“What the hell are you talking about! It doesn’t make sense for you to say that when you’ve been staring at my butt this whole time!”

Ugh… she noticed?!

“I-I don’t mind if you look! The rabbit owes you, after all…”

“Haha! Ma ma, dont mind it! So, where’s the staircase? Over there, maybe? Let’s go! We’re almost at the exit!”

I kept Sheena’s words in mind and put some distance between myself and the others.

I wonder if she might let me rub her chest if I asked her

♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢

–– [Demon] Ancient Dungeon, 41st Floor, Lake of the Water Spirits –– Estina’s POV

Akutsu-san was so flustered trying to cover it up. He’s such a cute guy

After being teased about looking at Liz in lewd way, he quickly collected the earth dragon and basilisk to cover up his embarrasment, which I found very cute.

Yesterday, he kept glancing at my breast and Sheena’s. Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing.

He must be unusual to be attracted to demi-humans bodies in a lewd way.

But I like the way he looked at me— he is my life saver, so kind, and never treating us differently because we’re not human.

After being viewed as nothing more than property, I dont know how to respond his enthusiasm.

“Ack! He ran away, didn’t he!”

“Fufufu, he’s funny, isn’t he? He calls elves beautiful… Even if it’s flattery, hearing it from someone so attractive is nice.”

“Eh? Ah, I guess elves has different aesthethic, right? Well, he’s not ugly. He looked amazing when he saved us, and he’s super strong.”

“Huh? You are strong and cool, aren’t you? Akutsu-san?

“Thats not it, Sheena, we’re talking about facial features. Elves all have beautiful faces, so sometimes they like faces with more character. Occasionally, one will fall for a beastkin. Well, Sheena and I both like strong men, so looks dont really matter.”

Excuse me? My taste isn’t strange. Akutsu-san’s face… it’s that perfect combination of brow, nose, and mouth. And the single black hair occasionally peeks out, I was shocked when I saw it for the first time.

I mean, how can there be a long hair sticking out from inside the nose? And its just one! I would even call that an artistic.

Liz, still 19, wouldn’t get it.

“I’m not interested in beastkin men. They’re rough and hairy. On our way here, I saw a few decent human faces, but Akutsu-san’s was leagues above.”

“Ohh, so Estina’s interested in Akutsu? I wouldn’t mind fooling around with him.”

“S-Sheena knows I’d never be seen as more than a hairy beastkin…”

“It’s not like that. I was only stating my opinion of what I saw…”

“Haha! If you ever need advice, just ask an experienced girl like me!”

Liz, experienced? She spent most of her life in that noble’s house… did she really have the time?

“Huh? Liz, experienced? All I saw was you punching any man who came near.”

“Ah! I’ve done things Sheena doesn’t know about, alright? Not like I’d be obvious about it!”

Hmm, suspicious… Undine? What do you think?

I see… Hmm? Really?

What a cute girl, heheehe

“Oh! Really, Liz? I had no idea. You’re so grown up…”

“Yes, I’ve had some sweet experiences with men and women! If Akutsu wants, I’d let him have his way with me as a thank-you!”

“Haha, sure. But for me, it has to be real love, no matter the form. At least while I’m still free.”

It won’t happen once they place me back in the breeding institution. But as long as I’m still have a little bit freedom… I’d like to experience love properly.

But that’s impossible. I’m an elf.

“Eee, everyone is an adult now…”

“Ha! If you talk about love, you’ll just end up deceived by men. Its fine if you just want to play with them.”

“Haha, thats true.”

Hehehe, she’s adorable.

Even so, Akutsu-san’s skill is amazing.

It probably wouldn’t work against magical creatures like golems, but his power doesn’t rely on just the paralysis skill.

He said he’s S-ranked, but his movements are beyond any S-rank I know.

And he can freely fly around using a unique flying skill, which requires immense magical power.

He’s likely crossed into the SS-class, the realm of heroes…

Then there’s the accessories and equipment he lent us.

All of them were things that could be obtained in the deepest levels of advanced dungeon or ancient dungeons.

First, my mithril rapier which is a heroic ranked weapon, could freezes anything it pierces.

My heoic ranked Wind Dragon Breastplates, crafted from a wind dragon, deflects arrows with a weak wind shield. It was very light and durable.

My heroic ranked Wind Dragon Cloak regulates my body temperature and also generates a wind shield. It also has high defensive ability.

They’re all so valuable that nobles would kill for them.

Even so, I can only get by with this much because I’m limited in what I can equip due to the balance with the water spirit.

Liz has legendary ranked armor, Black Dragon Bikini Armor with an auto-repair enchantment, defense fields, and temperature regulation.

The Black Dragon is a rare dragon that rarely appears even as the boss of the deepest floor inside advanced dungeon.

Her twin swords were heroic ranked equipments used for deterrence. They can also shot out wind blades.

Her boots, called Gale Boots, have a special ability that increases agility, making them perfect gear for Liz, who moves around at the front lines.

Sheena is also equipped with a legendary weapon called the Magic Bow. It’s a powerful bow that can shoot amplified magical power as arrows.

Additionally, she has a legendary ranked of accessories called the Protection Circlet. It looks like a silver circlet with a blue gem in the center, and when magic flows through it, it creates a barrier extending 2 meters around her—truly incredible equipment.

Then there’s the heroic ranked Saintess Robe, a shiny white robe that slightly regenerates magic power just by wearing it and also deploys a weak but automatic barrier.

On top of that, everyone was given free access to choose from an array of skill books.

There’s also a Purification Necklace, a Protection Ring, and a Blessing Ring.

Plus, he even handed out ultra-rare items like a Strength Bracelet and a Magic Bracelet.

And, to top it off, he casually gave us an extremely rare Storage Ring.

Even high-ranking nobles rarely have equipment like this…

And the Protection Ring and Blessing Ring are Grade 3!

This equipment is on par with royalty’s!

Where did he even acquire such equipment?

And now he was saying he want to give it all to us.

I feel touched by his concern for us, but I can’t possibly accept such things.

Nobles would just confiscate all of it anyway.

So, I’ll gratefully accept only the skill books.

I think Akutsu-san can save this equipment to share with allies when he form a party in Japan in the future.

For now, we’re just borrowing it.

Even without collars, we are still slaves…

We aren’t people—we’re property of the Termina Empire…

It’s a fate we can never escape…