The Strongest Player is a Demon Lord

The Encounter

[Baphomet’s Dungeon.]

That’s what Merlin saw when he accessed the incomplete map looted from the female adventurer’s items. He already had an idea that this might be the case – judging from the feel of the place and, from the recent encounter with the woman and the kobolds.

“Baphomet’s Dungeon huh.”

Merlin remembers the place. More precisely, he remembers the information connected to it. One of the reasons why he became the “Emperor of Requiem” is because he read all of the files of the game.

The lore.

The tutorials.

The dialogues.

Maize takes every detail into account. That’s how he’s able to attain [World’s End] as a mere [Level 15] magician. That’s how he sharply rose to power. Overtaking everyone without any delay.

As for this dungeon, he knows that it’s not supposed to exist. It’s a place that’s already cleared in the main storyline. Meaning, when the VMMORPG “Requiem” began, this place is already destroyed – a thing of interest for him right now. After all, it’s because of this same dungeon that a monstrosity was born. The first boss of Requiem’s main storyline. One of the few that gave Merlin a hard time.

“Oh...this is going to be exciting.”

Since he’s in a dungeon, there’ll be a lot more encounters with monsters. Merlin needs to prepare. Especially because he doesn’t have information on what this dungeon, in itself, holds. As mentioned, it’s cleared at the start of the game’s story. Hence the dungeon is inaccessible during those times.

“Inventory.”

The last fight didn’t just grant a large amount of experience points for Merlin. It also handed him a lot of items. Things that will be useful for the road ahead.

[Equipped:]

[Worn Out Boots x1]

[Effect: Speed +1]

[Kobold Fur Armor]

[Effect: Defense +2]

[Regular Gloves]

[Effect: Strength +1]

[Worn Out Pants]

[Effect: Speed +1]

[Kobold Helmet]

[Effect: Defense +1]

It’s a good thing that the kobold and the female adventurer dropped loot. After all, Merlin’s beginner attire is drenched in blood because of the fight against the kobolds. That’s why he has to change to this. He did so, though he’d need a source of water to wipe away the blood that’s still on his face.

Though the blood of the kobolds is dangerous, this only applies for when it has entered through the skin. Hence the current state of the kobold blood is not of concern to Merlin. Though it does bring back nightmares from the days of torture by his former allies.

 “If only there’s a water source nearby.” Merlin sighed, knowing that he can’t expect something like this. Especially within a dungeon as dry and coarse as this one.

To get these off his head, he proceeded to the actual stuff he has on his [Inventory]. This is a function normally within games. A handy storage space that doesn’t weigh anything no matter how heavy the things placed are. Nor does it have an actual physical form.

It is simply a system window. The same as everything else which, Merlin is grateful for. He doesn’t know what he’ll do with all his loot if the inventory function doesn’t work in this new world.

[Stored Items:]

[Copper Coin x20]

[Dull Knife]

[Health Potion (s) x2]

[Mana Potion (s) x1]

[Incomplete Map]

[Kobold Dagger x5]

[Kobold Teeth x10]

[Kobold Eyes x3]

[Kobold Fur x2]

[Vial With Kobold Blood x3]

Merlin’s the one who made the last item. Using the empty vials that he also gained as loot, he filled them with the blood of the kobold that remained on the battlefield. The poison held by this is very useful. Especially in fights where Merlin is at a great disadvantage. Though it is also true that there are those unaffected by it. Lucky for him, an Alpha Wolf is not among these.

He doesn’t know if the dungeon’s main boss is the Alpha Wolf. What he does know is that it is a creature that has some relevance to his growth.

If it’s a main quest, I’ll encounter it naturally. Are the words running through Merlin’s head as he proceeded to study the map before continuing on his way. He does so by writing on the soft ground. Placing the parts that he already knows and creating connections where there are blanks.

Merlin is knowledgeable about such as well. You can even say that he has the essential aspects of this game mastered. The things that are usually overlooked by other players. That being said, he finished drawing it. Placing dots on possible monster camp locations. Then placing marks on other places as well.

 “I guess that’s about it.” Merlin closed his eyes. He can’t take the image he drew on the dirt to his head. But he can save the image there. Owing to his photographic memory which seems to still be intact.

 “Good,” Merlin said as he went on his way.

There are a couple more questions running through his head. The primary one is the question of whether or not the female adventurer has allies. It may seem unlikely due to how he found her. With the kobolds running after her and nobody else following the trail to try and save her.

But Merlin knows that there are sh*t people in the real world. Individuals who would leave behind their ally in a dungeon to save their own skin. Merlin’s guildmates is a prime example of this. Individuals who wouldn’t bat an eye or think twice before killing someone close to them, so long as it would result in their safety.

Just thinking about them is making Merlin’s blood boil again. He can’t have this. He needs to be calm and collected. If he’s this way just by thinking about them, then what more when he’s come face to face against them? He can’t be in this state because his judgment would be clouded. Plus, it’d give away his identity.

He hasn’t seen how he looks like yet but, he’s sure that it’d be different. There’s demon blood mixed within him now. Half of him is Azazel the Demon Lord. That’s enough reason for him to think that he won’t look exactly like how he did in the game, or in real life for that matter.

 “Just you wait. I have plans for you already.” Merlin muttered as he continued on his path.

There’s already a goal for him in mind. Merlin plans on searching for the allies of the fallen adventurer. Not to kill them of course. He’s not going to do so unless it is required or if it’s not a person that’s on his list. No. He plans on grouping up with them until they reach the boss's room.

But there’s a problem.

Assuming that he does find an adventurer group, there is still a great chance that they are rotten people. He can’t trust them. Call it his distaste for the entirety of the human race, but he’s had enough of linking with the likes of humanity. Maybe it’s a good thing that he became a demon. This way, he is truly differentiated from the rest of his kind.

 “So do I kill them there and then?” Is Merlin’s question to himself, assuming that he does find a group. “No. That would be a major waste of resources. I should try and tail them first. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll kill them.”

This is his final decision. He will kill them. He has no choice but to do so. He can’t risk anyone’s betrayal. Not now when he’s just about to begin a life of freedom. All obstacles need to be eliminated, even if that would turn him into a true murderer. Then, there’s a stop.

Merlin flickered back. To a more hidden area behind a large rock. There is a large opening in front of him. The narrowness of the dungeon suddenly disappeared. This smells like trouble. There’s no way that a dungeon would suddenly widen out of the blue. There’s always a good reason for this. Any good player will be able to notice this.

Merlin looked at the area again. With his demonic eyes, he can see better in the dark. The problem is that there is only a certain range of this eyesight. Merlin needs to get closer if he wants to see anything.

One step.

Two steps.

Merlin threaded carefully. If there are no lights and there is a wide corridor, then any monster that lurks within it should have a way to see in the dark. And if this creature has better eyesight than Merlin, then that would be another layer of problem once again. Thankfully he’s wrong.

Kobolds. Another group of kobolds has built a camp in this new area. There are more of these monsters compared to the batch that he fought earlier. Evident by the kobold tents built around the area. With a fence built around the area and with a couple of kobolds positioned around.

It’s designed to be a trap. That’s why there isn’t any light. The kobolds are probably thinking of catching the woman should there be a chance that she comes back there. But she’s not coming back. No. She’s already dead…and so are the kobolds that are sent to chase after her.

Merlin stepped a bit closer. He’s still far from the range of the kobolds’ vision. He knows how well these are supposed to be able to see in the dark. And even if these are trained to do so, there would only be a minimal change to the increase in their eyesight range.

This is the reason for Merlin’s confidence in coming closer. And thank heavens he decided to do this because he’s finally able to see the whole camp. Up to the end of it. But that is not what he focused on. His eyes got drawn to what is in the middle, a group of adventurers tied together.

They have their faces beaten up but there’s one which Merlin can recognize quite well. Making him clench his fists to the point that his fingernails are digging through his skin. There, tied up with the rest, is one of his former guildmates.