Chapter 16

Note: Thanks to Alex for beta reading this!

“Big brother!” Garnet threw herself at me. She wrapped her arms and wings about my body. Even her tail slid around me. She pressed her face into my chest and sobbed. “I ... had to ... She killed ... Mom ... And ... and ... I ... choked ... I kept squeezing and...”

“Shhh,” I whispered, rocking my little sister. I dropped my spear and stroked her back. Pain tore at my heart. It fed the anger in me. It blazed hot for one second.

The yuki-onna’s eyes stared at me from my memory. Pain. Scared. I executed her. I—

I battered down those eyes. She attacked me. Her Lord Led and his cock-sucking brother were responsible for this. I wouldn’t feel guilty about what I did. Not when they made my little sister cry. I held her tighter.

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “We all had to fight.”

“W-why couldn’t we ... we ... love?”

My blood boiled.

Maya whimpered as she approached. She walked stiffly, the ice in her legs and limbs slowing her down. Her liquid face twisted in pain. I held out my right arm to her. She fell into me. She held me so tight, pressing her face into my shoulder.

“You were amazing, Maya,” I said.

“I just didn’t want them to hurt any more of my family,” she groaned, her voice fierce.

“I know.”

“We did it, Lord Leo!” Cikata said. She had re-formed into her human appearance, her darker-blue hair swaying like stiff plastic around her smiling face.

“Yeah,” Usiku said.

I stroked Maya’s back. She was so cold. That wasn’t good. I had to get her to the baths, but Garnet clung to me. She was still rubbing her face into my breastplate. I didn’t want to pry her off, but Maya whimpered.

“Garnet,” I said gently, “Maya needs the hot spring. She’s hurt. I have to get her there.”

“Okay,” she said quietly.

“So you got to let me go. Okay?” Her head lifted, her red eyes raw. “For Maya.”

“Right!” she said. She pulled away from me, her tail swishing behind her. She rubbed at her eyes and sniffled. “We won. Kweh, heh, heh, we’re awesome.” Her Anime laugh sounded so forced. So pathetic. Not her usual exuberance. Her eyes weren’t as bright.

I would murder those bastards. Kill them. But their monster girls were so strong.

As I picked up Maya in my arms, I sent to Souleen, Why did their monster girls do so much damage? It was an even fight when I arrived with my companions, and they still almost won.

They were Level 2 Monster Girls, answered Souleen. Yours are only Level 1. They just ... can’t compete.

They fought hard, I growled, anger swelling in me. My monster girls were amazing.

Of course, they did. They love you. They’re all sleeping and dreaming of you. I could feel Souleen’s smile. They’re proud of serving you, Lord Leo. You’re a kind master. I don’t think all Dungeon Builders are.

I glanced down at Maya. She whimpered in my arms. Garnet clung to my right arm while Usiku and Cikata trailed after us. That was all that was left of my forces. My dungeon felt so empty right now. Murderous rage built and built in me.

It scared me. The yuki-onna’s eyes glared at me.

I had to kill her. She served the enemy.

Garnet opened the door to the hallway that led to our quarters.

I have to find another Mana Vein to gain Level 2 Monster Girls, right? I asked Souleen.

Yes, Souleen answered. It takes two for that. Four for Level 3 and sixteen for Level 4. You’ll also gain access to Intermediate Magic. No more relying on Beginner Magic for you.

Christ, they’ll be even better at magic than me, I realized, shuddering.

I’m afraid so.

They had a lot of Level 2 Monster Girls, I sent as Garnet opened the door to our living room.

They would have gotten rid of all their Level 1 Monster girls to be able to maximize how many Level 2’s they could have.

My step faltered as I crossed the living room to the door to the large hot spring bath. What? They killed their own monster girls?

Yes. Their souls are sleeping in the Void Crystal.

Dreaming of the masters who tossed them aside? I found myself hating the twins even more.

Garnet opened the door to the bath. Warmth washed over me. Maya quivered in delight as I carried her to the large pool of steaming water. I didn’t hesitate to step into the water, the bottom of my gray robe billowing out, my boots getting soaked.

I lowered Maya to the surface and sat her down on the water. “Thank you, Leo.”

She smiled as she sank beneath the water. She rested on the bottom, almost invisible in there. I smiled back at her, the fury and pain in my heart retreating for a moment. “I love you, Maya.”

“Oh, yes,” Garnet groaned and settled down into the hot water. Usiku sat down beside her, the wounded fomorian groaning in relief.

Cikata jumped in with enthusiasm. She floated in the steamy water, a big smile on her face. She was happy to win and to serve me. I drew in a deep breath and then I walked out of the water. My robes clung heavily to me as I left the bath behind.

They almost won today, I said to Souleen as I unfastened my breastplate.

You prevailed. You defended me. Just like you promised to.

Why? I demanded at her. Why do I have to defend you?

So you’ll live and prosper.

That’s not what I mean? I threw my breastplate on the floor with a clatter. I was brought here by some twisted entity and forced to attack others. To fight and to kill to survive. If it’s not other Dungeon Builders, it’s the local humans who think I’m a monster.

You’re not a monster, Souleen said as I stripped out of my wet robes.

Not yet. I swallowed. How do you think monsters are made, Souleen?

Metaphorical ones? She hesitated. I don’t know how.

Maybe by anger. Rage. This sense of helplessness. The pain that batters their soul. Naked, I marched to my bedroom. They started good, wanting to help, but the world beats them down. Adventurers attack them. Other dungeon builders send raids of monster girls. They suffer and bleed. They watch the monster girls they love die over and over again. They start to recoil from the pain. Harden their hearts.

Doing good just leads to agony. I threw open the door to my bedroom and marched around the large bed to the door to the vault. Why do good?

Why not take, Souleen? Conquer. Preemptive strikes. Lash out before they can hurt you. Crush your enemies beneath your feet. Maybe that’s what happens to other dungeon builders. Why the world sees us all as evil.