I unhurriedly walked down the complex maze of tunnels and chambers, vast halls, and narrow passages. I was aware of the Twilight Dungeon's denizens, who observed me from the darkness, but I couldn't care less about them. The Earth Elemental scion was slowly waddling behind me with a worried look on his face.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, without even looking towards him. I looked down a nearby well or similarly shaped crack in the stones. It was a Dungeon, so there was no way the construction wasn't intentional.

"How?" he simply asked.

"How what?" I asked and kicked a stone down into the crack. "Sorry, I'm not sitting in your head. I'm not your direct master."

I managed to count to four before I heard the stone hit the water surface below. While I waited for the Elemental's reply, I started calculating how deep the well was. A reasonably simple math and physics problem unexpectedly became a serious issue. What the hell was the standard gravity of Nilmerthis? I guess it couldn’t be much different from Earth's standard gravity because that would be troublesome for all living beings. So maybe it had a slightly stronger gravity, considering this planet was a super-Earth.

"So let's say it's a flat ten instead of nine point eight," I hummed to myself. "So... Ten by four square divided by two... Eighty meters. That's a very unnecessarily deep water well."

"How do you know it's eighty meters deep?" the Twilight Dungeon Core's voice asked in mild shock. "You checked it with your Dungeon powers?"

"Oh, that made you finally talk to me? Unbelievable..." I sighed and added, disappointed, "Nope. That would be boring. It's just simple physics and calculations."

"I see you can't gather your thoughts." I looked at Elemental, who lowered his gaze in shame. "How was I able to assign you a new spawner? How am I unbothered by all denizens that sneak in the darkness?"

"Both." He nodded after a while.

"Don't forget who I am. I am now in direct control of this place," I replied. "While I understand why you don't like me, I won't tolerate betrayal. Fighting me would be even more futile than rebelling against your mistress. Fighting is also a very unfortunate word in your circumstances. While I believe that you would give your best, I can erase you from existence by demolishing every single spawner in this Dungeon."

"NO! Please!" the woman's voice was desperate this time.

"I feel their killing intent. Don't test me." I crossed my hands behind me once again and moved forward.

"They won't do anything!" She tried to convince me, and surprisingly, most of the killing intent directed at me subsided.

"So, now we can finally speak to each other. Can you tell me your name?"

"I don't understand..." she replied slowly, but I was sure she was hiding something. I didn't even check the Truth Seeker because her lie was so apparent.

"My Dungeon is known as the Righteous Dungeon. But I..." I pointed a finger towards myself. "I am Theon Avalon. So what is your name?"

"I'm afraid that I don't have one," she replied. This time, it was the truth.

"But why?" I asked, astonished.

"*Sigh* Names grant power, but they might be used against their owner," she started answering my question with mixed tones that showed sadness, annoyance, and fear. "A long time ago, I met one of the last Heroes. Unlike his predecessors, he chose wisdom over violence. He was a Sage, so wise that his words were listened to by everyone, even the Dungeons. Unlike the previous Heroes, he wanted to change the world through his teachings because he knew that even if he died one day, his teachings would last. So he gathered his Hero party and travelled across the countries of Aderon, healing the wounds dealt during the Grand War."

"Unfortunately, not many remember him, if anyone at all. You may even be the last one," I pointed out dryly. That guy was smart, at least, teaching people instead of only solving their problems with a sword or magic. It was a shame I couldn't meet him.

"That's true," she agreed with immense sadness in her voice. "But his teachings survived, preserved in my library."

"That's fantastic news! I'll take a look at those books later." I faintly smiled and resumed my walk towards the inner sanctum of the Twilight Dungeon. "I guess it was him who told you about names?"

"Yes," she replied shortly, and that seemed to be everything she had to say, but when I was about to get annoyed, she resumed. "He said that names can provide power but also be the downfall of those overconfident. And I can only confirm that. Through the ages, I saw the rise and fall of many Dungeons. I watched many of them from the day they were born to the day they died. All of them had their name used against them, corrupted and twisted... Can you tell me how you saved the others in your service? I can sense the mark that The Darkness tried to put upon you, but you not only resisted it but also purged those responsible. How?"

"Like the Sage you knew, I am the Champion sent to save this world." I entered the big chamber that once was the Village of the imprisoned people. After looking around, I randomly chose one of the houses and entered.

"Are you joking? A Hero Dungeon? Or maybe a Heroic Dungeon?" The bitter mockery in her voice was more than apparent.

"I don't tend to joke about such things. But please, don't call me a hero."

"Umm... Alright," she replied sheepishly for the first time during our conversation.

"It's too dark in here for the people. How did they live like this?" I complained loudly, but the glowing moss on the wall shone more brightly. "This is barely acceptable..."

She returned to her usual self and replied without much remorse. "Many surface dwellers complained about that for the first year..."

"I see..." The home was simple, crude even. It lacked a kitchen or toilets. There were two rooms and a common space, which also served as an entrance hall. It had a few darker spots where a fire used to burn, but the shabby chimneys couldn't have provided proper ventilation. I was not an expert by any means, but I didn't need to be. It was as simple as looking at the blueprints in my RPG view to know that the fireplace was used to heat the place during some emergencies. As I exited the crude home, I asked with curiosity. "Tell me how long you have been doing this?"

I pointed around the desolate settlement with my right arm, still holding my left hand behind me. I noticed a fragment of the cavern ceiling covered in thick black soot and headed there. There should be a place nearby where the enslaved people prepared their meals.

"About five hundred years," she replied after a moment with a tone akin to a shrug.

"When someone died, what did you do with their remains?"

"What do you mean? Of course, I buried them in the graveyard," she sounded as if she had just explained the basics to complete idiot..

"I assume that your graveyard is not consecrated?" My voice was calm and deceivingly lacked any emotion.

"It's not," she replied uncertainly.

"Mhm..." I was right about that area being simply a place where people had prepared their meals. It was a crude firepit, big enough to roast a whole cow, though I doubt these people had ever seen one of those. "What is this? You call this a kitchen?"

"They used it like one."

"Oh, I am sure of that. They would have eaten things raw if they had to. The people would have chosen to adapt rather than give up and simply die." I facepalmed and decided I didn't want to look for the lavatory or whatever passed for a toilet here.

I pitied the people who spent their entire lives in this forsaken hole. Some of them had probably never seen the sun or stars, felt the wind on their faces, or felt a warm summer rain falling on their cheeks. The kids had never played in the snow or felt the fresh grass under their feet. "Tell me, did they ever try to do anything about their living conditions? Have they ever asked for improvements in their living conditions?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"They had, on multiple occasions, to be honest, but why should I bother?" Her indifferent tone slowly but surely started working on my nerves.

"Careful, Twilight Dungeon," I whispered and clenched my jaws. After slowly exhaling, I assumed a similarly indifferent tone. "Why not allow them to work on their own? Why not allow them to improve their homes? It wouldn't have cost you hardly anything."

"Oh no! That would be a waste of time!" Her voice was shocked, completely offended by my suggestion, making me rub my eyelids. I was glad I couldn't get a headache in moments like this.

"Why?"

"I have no idea how you managed to conquer so much land, and you are still so inexperienced..." she almost snarled, and I tried my best to contain myself. I kept repeating to myself that she tried her best for the good of these people despite how she was acting right now. She also wasn't helping, however. "You won't get mana from such pointless endeavours, and the slaves would be tired until they finish. That would make them generate less mana. Also, their constructions were unnecessarily complicated, so I had forbidden them to continue altogether."

"Tell me, have you sent your denizens to spy around and see how the people live?" I asked, my voice starting to show my irritation.

"Of course," she replied once again with a half sigh.

Instead of yelling, I unleashed my killing intent, which made her shriek in shock and fear. "What are you doing?!"

"Oh, nothing," I replied in the same indifferent voice she had used to answer my questions. I had sent a mental message to my Praetorians to inform my wives that I needed Irene's help down here. "I wonder how you feel now, held down to the ground like some insect waiting to be pinned by a bug collector. I'm curious if you realise the similarities between your current fear and helplessness in the face of someone far stronger than you, just as the people you once held in your power must have felt."

"I order you to stop, Theon!" she screamed in a voice full of authority.

"I don't think so..." I shrugged indifferently, and with a snap of my fingers, I demolished part of the floor.

"I TOLD YOU TO STOP, THEON AVALON!" she yelled in panic.

"What was that supposed to mean?" I asked as I dropped to the floor below and sealed the hole above me. The Earth Elemental scion continued to follow me like a curious puppy. In the meantime, the Twilight Dungeon Core was using some kind of magic on me, but it was as effective as throwing harsh words at me. "What kind of magic did you use?"

"Hahaha! It's over! I know your name so I can order you to do anything I want! You will taste the greatest weakness of your name!" she yelled, full of self-confidence.

"Uhum." I sighed, disappointed, shrugging off curse after curse as I resisted every single gaesa she tried to use against me. "Then, no."

"No? What do you mean by no?" she asked warily in growing confusion.

"No means no." I shrugged as I walked towards the graveyard.

"Stop! What you are doing?"

"It seems that I am taking a tour through your domain and holding trial over you," I replied with a brazen smirk I couldn't hide, even if someone paid me.

"I demand you to stop!"

"You are in no position to demand anything, Twilight."

"But your name... I used your name against you..."

"Hahaha. So that's what you have tried?" I chuckled, amused by her futile attempts. "Your Sage would have probably realised that far earlier. My name is a little bit more special. I have a True Name, and that changes everything. You are not an evil Dungeon, so I can let it slide."

"But... Your name..." she stuttered angrily, close to tears.

"You know, at the beginning of this conversation, I was giving you the benefit of the doubt. After all, the people above believe you were their saviour. Your Earth Elemental scion memories showed your genuine concern for your people. So why do you act so hostile and arrogant to me?"

"Your servants attacked me! They subdued me!"

"They followed my orders. Do you really think I could afford to leave any known Dungeon unsupervised? Or maybe you thought that Nilmerthis is a simple playground for Dungeons and Gods to play with?" I asked with a deceiving calm, but I raised my voice angrily after not receiving any answers. "There is an entire world out there, Twilight! Millions of souls are struggling and fighting for a right to live another day! This is not a game! I am the King responsible for the safety of a few millions of people. Don't expect me to apologise for not leaving anything to the random hand of fate!"

"I..." My outburst seemed to take her breath away. But just after a mere moment, she regained her annoying attitude. "It never was a game! You have no idea about the brewing darkness!"

"Oh? Maybe the same one I was sent to guard this world from?!" I walked down the tunnel when suddenly all light ceased, leaving me in pitch-black darkness. "Can you stop? The attitude you are giving me now perfectly explains why I sent other dungeons after you."

"Leave me alone!" she screamed in reply.

"All right. If you really intend to act like an unruly child, so be it." I waved my hand, and she started screaming.

"No! No, no, no..." Her panicked screaming was suddenly cut.

The glowing moss started shining as brightly as possible, illuminating the path. The Twilight Dungeon Core was wailing in the background, but as I promised, I left her alone. I monitored what she was saying, but until she got reasonable, I wasn't going to pay any attention to her.

"Lord? May I ask what have you done to my Lady?" the Earth Elemental scion asked with fear.

"Just what she asked me to do. I closed her off alone in her inner sanctum and broke all the links with you all. If she wants to throw a teenage tantrum, she can do that in her room. We don't have to listen to that." I snapped my fingers and demolished another wall that stood in my path.

"That's rather cruel, my Lord," he said very carefully but did not have the guts to look at me while he said that.

"Oh, that's very rich coming from you," I pointed out with a dry chuckle. "So it's fine to imprison Mortals, but it's not nice to imprison an unruly Core?"

"Ummm..."

"I thought so. She acts like a child, so she is grounded in her room like a child." I sighed. "Look. I get it. She is sloppy, awkward, and full of herself. She had more luck than she deserved because I learnt everything from looking at your memories. If not for that, the backlash from this incident would be far more severe. Now, show me the graveyard."

"Yes, my Lord."

•••

Irene teleported next to me. "Theon? The Praetorian Centurion told me you asked for me."

"Yes... But before that, I will allow Twilight to see what we are doing. I warn you, there will be crying..." I rubbed my eyelids. "Twilight? Are you done with your tantrum?"

"YOU...!" She started, but I cut her off again.

"Silence." I almost sighed with a bored voice. "Twilight, meet my wife. The Second Queen of Avalon, Saintess Irene. Irene, this overgrown baby is Twilight."

"Hello, Twilight. Nice to meet you." Irene smiled.

"Greetings, Saintess Irene." Suddenly, the Core became very suspicious.

"Irene, can you consecrate this graveyard?"

"NOOOOO!" Twilight Dungeon Core started screaming, just as I had predicted.

"I could..." Irene started and raised her hand, but after a moment, she lowered it. "It would be a good idea to show this to the people."

"That's a great idea! It will take a while to bring them back here, though..."

About three hours later, the last person arrived at the graveyard. It was three hours spent listening to the pleas of the Twilight Dungeon that fell on deaf ears. The people stood awkwardly in the vast underground chamber filled with soil where the generations of enslaved people were buried. I took my time to take a look at the former slaves. Some looked around in fear, and others had their gazes lowered, but all of them had very hard-to-read expressions on their faces. Overall, they looked fairly well, if not just disturbed by the place I called them to.

"Okay... I don't want to keep them in the dark longer than necessary." I nodded towards Irene, who smiled slightly and stood up from her seat. Amber and Aoi stood close to me, feeling uneasy underground. I looked towards the people and raised my voice. "I know you have many questions; I know you are afraid and lost in the world above. However, before we can change that, there is one thing that has to be done. A thing that binds most of you within the boundaries of the Twilight Dungeon. Irene?"

"By the power granted to me by the Heavens and by Eriar, I bless this place. I bless this ground that has been the resting place of many..." She raised her hands, and a gold light illuminated the entire area.

Once everyone was accustomed to that new light source, Irene began to shine with gold in her unique set. The people stared at the Halo that floated above her head. A large golden circle encompassed the entire graveyard, slowly descending towards the ground. Since my forces had defeated her, I was the nominal ruler of this place, so I received the World System question about accepting the consecration. I looked at the people who had their hands pressed to prayer; some of them looked at me hopefully, but others had no idea about the significance of this moment. The air was tense from the anticipation and quiet prayers, so to not torment these people any longer, I was about to accept. A last moment of thought stopped me, however.

"Twilight," I called her through my link with my vassals, not allowing her to be heard by the people in case she was still in the middle of her tantrum. The people were praying so desperately for Irene to succeed, yet I could hear some of them not praying to the gods they knew but to the Twilight Dungeon for her mercy. "Look at these people. Despite everything, they still believe in you. Are they wrong? Are you really so corrupted and vile as you pose to be?"

I allowed her to make the final decision. She was silent, but I felt the doubts and fears that plagued her mind. However, after a relatively long moment, she accepted the consecration. Pillar-like beams of golden lights shot towards the heavens as hundreds of souls were released from the torments of denied afterlife or reincarnation. Most people started crying, unable to believe their relatives were finally at peace. They started celebrating; some hugged each other, and some simply cried, unable to process what they had witnessed. But as the golden lights began to subside, I saw that some people gazed at us with much warmer feelings while others were simply and outright awestruck.