Chapter 43: Forty-second Encounter

Forty-second Encounter

“So, you’re the new lord?” (woman 1)

She looked like a succubus from a video game. Barely wearing anything. Giant wings. Boobs a guy could drown in. Seemingly alone.

“I’m not sure what you mean.” (me)

“Ah, well, I am one of the four Demon Generals! Name’s Maxi. I’m here to serve the new Demon Lord.” (Maxi) She then kneeled down before me. Feels a little weird when I’m sitting in Sam’s lap in bed, and there’s someone kneeling on the floor.

“What do you do, exactly?” (me)

“Whatever you wish. With past lords, this has meant building castles, or dungeons, or mazes, and launching assaults against human towns. Though the last lord insisted I spend my time as his personal servant. Is there anything you desire?” (Maxi)

“Well, it would be nice if I could leave. I’m currently trapped in this room. Though I do enjoy the fact that the place is self-cleaning.” (me)

“That’s simple enough.” (Maxi) Maxi then got up, turned around, walked to the door, and punched it open.

*Bang!*

Oooh, can I finally get outside? I didn’t think to try the last time the doors were busted open, and they always close behind people when they enter normally. 

“What the?! The door!” (woman 1)

“Is that a demon?!” (woman 2)

“Shit! What do we do?! There aren’t supposed to be demons in here!” (woman 3)

An adventuring group was outside? Three ladies, and lots of brown cave walls is all I see through the door. Kinda disappointing. 

“Attack!” (woman 1)

“Run!” (woman 2)

“Don’t split up!” (woman 3)

“Please don’t kill them.” (me)

The one charging at Maxi fell to the floor rather suddenly. The one that had been standing where they started fell as well shortly after. However, the one that was running got away.

“They’re just sleeping.” (Maxi)

Since they were defeated, I willed the two sleepers away, and they vanished like all those I ‘defeat’. Finally, I could try leaving. No more interruptions!

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“Wait! I… I have a bad feeling about this.” (Sam)

“Huh? What do you mean?” (me)

“I don’t know, I just feel like leaving is impossible for you. I don’t know why. I… I’m sorry, maybe I’m just-” (Sam)

Suddenly the earth shook, and the doors and wall were restored, and I was back on the bed. Did the room just reset? Why was no one else moved? Sam and Maxi are still where they were before. Why just me?

“Oh… you aren’t a lord at all. You’re a spirit.” (Maxi)

“What’s that mean?” (me)

“Spirits are bound to the land. Though I’ve never heard of a spirit inside a dungeon before.” (Maxi)

“Does that mean I can’t leave?” (me)

“For now, yes. If this were a normal dungeon boss room, that door would not have restored itself like that, until after the room was empty of all intruders. I am an intruder, even if your companion is not. Have you had a reset happen at an odd time before?” (Maxi)

“Not that I can think of, except for the time when people disappeared in the bath once.” (me)

“Actually, when the door was broken open before, the room reset as soon as you fell asleep, not when intruders left.” (Sam)

“I see. You aren’t the only one here. Someone’s manipulating things. This deserves more investigation. Oh, and since you aren’t the Demon Lord, I don’t have to obey you! Ta ta!” (Maxi)

She then walked into the bathroom, and I heard a loud bang again. Did she break down a wall? I decided to check.

“Eh? I didn’t know there was a door at the other end of the bathroom!” (me)

Then the room reset again. When I checked again, I couldn’t find a door there anymore. Weird.

***Author Note***

I got to the door opening, then realized it was a bad idea to let Lily leave. If I do that, the story gets a lot harder to write. I actually have to create a proper world if I do that, instead of just hinting at one. I do intend for her to eventually get free, but it’s much easier if her getting freedom is the end of the story. However, the story isn’t ready to end yet. Doing that kind of ending properly requires setting up an obvious happily ever after. That requires things like resolving who her family will be, what her future ambitions are, and probably removal of any remaining threats to her existence. I haven’t accomplished any of that yet.

So that led to a change. I needed a reason for her to not be able to leave. I also needed a way to extend the chapter, because the idea I had for what would happen when she tries would’ve ended the chapter in about two sentences after the door being punched open. So I rolled some dice to help me come up with an interruption. Also: this chapter scraps a lot of ideas I had. 

Then Lily raised a flag “No more interruptions!” and I just had to make another. Sam rolled well on intuition. Then badly on his attempt to convince himself it was no big deal, except I’d opted to use a personal rule of natural 1s meaning outside intervention… So instead of Sam remaining convinced Lily shouldn’t leave, he got interrupted by the world itself not letting her leave. I’d made the rule a long time ago, but forgot about it until this chapter when thinking of ways to make things more interesting. I made it specifically for story writing: 1s and 20s are when outside factors cause things to go spectacularly badly or well. With 2 and 19 being treated as the worst or best a person can do. If I’d remembered the rule before, that incident with the spoiled brat and the spectacular guard might’ve been even weirder.

P.S. a while ago I had to decide between trying to write faster, or take my time on chapters. I’ve chosen to take my time, so the update rate is slowing down a lot. Some of the chapters had been forced out quicker, and I don’t like them as much. There’s less random details, and they tend to be more plot focused, which doesn’t fit how the story’s gone at all. This story is pretty much entirely about random details and weird side stuff. The plot is more like something that just happens to also be there somewhere in the background… and now this author note is as long as some of my shorter chapters… maybe longer. Sheesh.

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