Within The Underworld, a large throne made of bones erected in the middle of a gigantic and near endless castle. While in the outside of such castle, enormous Undead wandered about, fighting, devouring one another's souls, and living in this endless dark world, their Queen sat down leisurely atop her throne made of bones. She looked into several system-like windows in front of her, while a portal leading to a pocket dimension where she kept her treasures quickly closed.
Seconds ago, she had taken a few of the items kept inside within such an endless treasury she had kept growing since time immemorial. She never thought she would ever have any use for so many items, so she freely handled them over to her favorite Apostle of Death, Maria, and her allies. Although she was smiling now, a slight amount of annoyance was clear in her flawless, youthful face.
"Maria's really cocky. She doesn't know that as long as she's directing her thoughts towards me, I can hear them a bit? This is how prayers work at the end. And how the gods can see so many things without being present…" Hel sighed.
Gods were able to see and hear those that prayed to them, what they talked about, and even a part of their memories if they prayed. All gods always could get an update of the world around them by hearing the prayers of their believers.
For a long while now, nobody has ever prayed to Hel, except Maria. Although Maria had only done it… without knowing. Every time she thought about Hel or "talking to her" Hel heard her complains and did things accordingly to her ideas.
The whole ability of granting her rewards depending in her accomplishments was something Hel came out with thanks to hearing Maria's ideas all the time. Despite handling treasures carefreely, it still hurt her a bit to give her rewards, but she knew it was an investment.
Indeed, the queen of the underworld was very greedy and liked to hoard treasures for all the eternity she had lived in this world since her birth. This was also a reason why she was only giving Maria some low-quality items for now.
"Ungh, did she really had to get so greedy?! That Phial has the essence of the Spirit King! It took me so long to get a few dozen of them. She thinks I can just freely handle them over?" She angrily thought, but quickly composed herself. "Well, it was only one… Yes, I have to just think that."
Hel looked into the mirror she had in front of her, made of an enormous mass of bones, a Living Skeleton Mirror Sentinel, a powerful High Ranked Undead Servant she created to see the world above her domain through the eyes of her newest vessel… Root!
Indeed, she had planted a divine protection on him not only because he could become a powerful Calamity in the future, which could help her and her father's plans later on, but she also designed this special divine protection so she could see through his eyes.
Before, she wasn't that interested, so she missed the opportunity on Maria and everyone around her. Thankfully, due to sheer luck, Maria picked up Root, who had accidentally acquired the Seed of Calamity that the Abyssal Ant Queen was holding before being slain.
The small sapling died due to corrosion, but its soul was strong enough and had a strong sense of will and living, so it stuck to the dying sapling with the Seed of Calamity. When Maria arrived, she changed this tiny tree's fate forever. Now, the tree evolved into a powerful Tyrant Treant Guardian after training for a whole day inside the dungeon.
The tree never thought it would ever grow this fast! Although it was in fact a combination of the Seed of Calamity and also the Divine Protection Hel gave to him, alongside that one Yggdrasil Sap she handled, which was also a rather precious item she had to bite her nails to gift to a walking tree.
"It's all an investment… I have to think like that, yes… All an investment." She sighed, trying to calm down. "But seriously, she's growing fast! I never thought she would aim for the Hidden Boss right away. This one Dungeon is the biggest after the Sealed Dungeon, if I am correct… Thanks to her own efforts and my help, she's growing faster than anticipated."
Hel looked into the mirror as she saw Maria and her allies interact, they seemed exhausted after everything they had done, and decided to quickly go back to the surface once their dungeon adventure was over.
Suddenly, a large skeleton wearing a black knight getup emerged at her side, it was immense, towering over six meters of height. His powerful blue eyes blazing with deadly phantasmal flare.
"Milady, your father seems to be wanting to enter the Underworld once more."
"Oh, again? Sigh… He's really annoying lately, don't you think, August?"
Hel sighed, as she rubbed her face over the hard metallic armor of the skeleton, hugging him as if he were a teddy bear for him.
August was one of the many Gatekeepers of the Underworld, who took care of the souls that entered, and all of that deal.
He also used to be a King in Alfheim, who was cursed by his political foes and then burned alive on the stake as he was given false accusations.
However, amidst the despair of his death, he made a pact with "Lady Death", Hel.
In such a pact, he rose as an Undead and tormented all those that wronged him for a hundred years before he collapsed, and then emerged in the Underworld, becoming Hel's eternal servant.
He has a very stern and serious personality, but Hel treats him like her teddy bear.
"M-Milady, I think its enough with hugging me…"
"But I like hugging my big August! Mooch."
Hel gently kissed his skull face, as August flames grew red in embarrassment.
Despite being the embodiment of death she was a captivating and charming young lady.
August's undead heart has long ago fallen for her charms.
"T-To receive such affection… I am not worthy…"