Chapter 68
The middle-layer dungeon and the bottom-layer dungeon construction are progressing smoothly.
At this rate, it should be completed in about another month.
The dungeon’s completion is also imminent.
「Well then, it’s about time we start placing defensive monsters」
Elibel suddenly said.
『Defensive monsters?』
I tilted my head.
If we’re talking about monsters, we already have the Ann’s antlings, the golems I created, and the monsters from the Yuguru Great Forest.
Then, Elibel’s expression suddenly became genuinely surprised.
「Huh? What’s wrong with you? Did you think that traps, Ann’s antlings, and the forest monsters alone would be enough for defending the dungeon?」
Isn’t that enough?
That’s what I thought.
Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Elibel let out a deep sigh.
「You… Even if antlings are numerous, they can’t possibly defend this nearly 300-floors dungeon entirely. Well, if we take enough time, it might be possible, but a dungeon with only one type of monster would be nothing more than a hunting ground. It’s the bottom of the bottom dungeons, easily conquered.」
『T-That’s true…』
Although there are many forest monsters, they are overwhelmingly outnumbered by the antlings.
And the same goes for Elibel’s undead as well.
If it were one layer or floor, it might be possible to create a well-balanced defense line, but for all the floors, it’s practically impossible.
Well, it could be said that Ann’s breeding capabilities are just that incredible.
There are also the mud golems and lava golems installed in special environments, but even they are limited to several floors.
Certainly, if we consider defending the dungeon, we are severely lacking in combat power.
…At this rate, adventurers will conquer it quickly.
I look towards Elibel.
「So, you have that expression like you’re wondering how the dungeon will repel adventurers, right? Come on, quickly search through my knowledge. Section three of the Dungeonpedia: ‘Monsters Generated in the Dungeon.’」
Prompted by her words, I perform a search in the Elipedia.
Let’s see, about the dungeon… Ah, found it, is this it?
Ah, I see.
So that’s how it works.
―――There are two types of monsters inhabiting the dungeon: those that have settled in from the outside and those created by the dungeon itself.
When the dungeon itself generates monsters, it possesses a high-purity magic stone called the “Dungeon Core.”
The magic stone produces monsters as its means of defense.
Come to think of it, that’s right.
I remember having that knowledge when I consumed Elibel’s ruins.
Yeah.
I completely forgot about it.
「…I can clearly see now that you’re not effectively utilizing the legacy I left behind. Sigh… For my legacy to be squandered like this…」
Elibel holds her head in her hands.
「Anyway, now you understand, right? The magic stone called the ‘Dungeon Core’ can create defensive monsters to protect itself. Well, in your previous dungeon, it seems that monsters were generated irregularly even without the ‘Dungeon Core.’」
『Eh?』
「Pururun, the slime, naturally emerged from the abnormal concentration of magical energy in your dungeon. Well, you probably didn’t notice.」
『Oh, is that so…?』
Upon hearing that, I recall what happened back then.
Now that she mentions it, there was certainly a sense of something being off.
When it came to creatures like the earthworms, Ann and antlings immediately killed them without notifying me. However, when they discovered Pururu, they didn’t kill it right away but instead contacted me to inform me of its presence.
That situation must have been because Pururu wasn’t just an ordinary slime but a naturally occurring entity in my dungeon. Ann and the others were unsure whether it was permissible to kill it and contacted me for guidance.
So, that’s what it was…
I completely didn’t realize it.
But then again, no slimes or similar creatures appeared afterward.
No… Could it be that other monsters were generated, and I just didn’t notice?
Haha, no way… That can’t be true.
「That slime, in its own way, is an irregular among irregulars. It appeared in a dungeon without a ‘Dungeon Core’ and evolved into a ‘King-Class Designated Species’ within a few days of becoming a subordinate. You and your subordinates are all quite extraordinary, but among them, the one that can be called the most ‘abnormal’ after you is Pururun.」
I really never get tired of this place, Elibel adds.
「Well then, let’s leave Pururun aside for now. What I mean to say is, let’s prepare a ‘Magic Core’ that can generate defensive monsters in this dungeon, ‘kay?」
『Yeah.』
I nod firmly.
「Then, let’s return to my research floor.」
Together with Elibel, I pass through the teleportation gate, moving from the middle-layer dungeon to the research area.
And so, we arrived at the research area.
「Alright, let’s infuse this with magical power.」
Elibel said, taking out a transparent glass-like sphere.
It was quite large.
It must have been around a meter in size.
『Elibel, what is that?』
「This is what I mentioned earlier, the ‘Dungeon Core.’ Although, in this case, it’s a pseudo Dungeon Core that I have researched and created. By infusing your magic into this, we can generate defensive monsters for the dungeon.」
Elibel explained while rubbing the large glass sphere.
It’s an incredible creation.
To think that simply infusing magic into this could bring forth monsters—it’s almost cheating.
Wait, when did she create something like this?
「Well, to be precise, it’s a bit different from creating monsters. You can think of this as a magic tool that automatically performs your spells.」
『My spells?』
「Yes. The monsters that can be created using this ‘pseudo Dungeon Core’ are limited to Golems and Golem Homunculi. You won’t be able to create normal monsters like Orcs or Goblins.」
『Is that so?』
「Of course, it can’t do that much. The truth is, we still haven’t fully understood how the ‘Dungeon Core’ creates monsters. This tool is designed to incorporate your golem-making spell, alchemy, into the dungeon itself and activate it automatically.」
Elibel explained, touching the glass sphere once again.
「This sphere contains all the information about the golems and golem homunculi you have created so far, as well as the complete information about this dungeon. By infusing your magic into it, this tool can create golems throughout the dungeon, using the magical corridors. However, for golem homunculi, additional materials are required since they are created based on the caster’s cells.」
I see.
So, if I infuse magic into this, I can instantly create a large number of golems.
And not just drawing mannequin ones, but combat-ready golems placed all over the dungeon.
That’s incredibly convenient.
「Of course, I have incorporated safeguards into the spell so that it doesn’t attack you or your subordinates」
Well, it would be counterproductive if the defense golems started attacking my subordinates, after all.
『By the way, what kind of golems can be created with this?』
「Hmm… It’s mostly random. Since the sphere contains information about the golems you’ve created so far, it should create golems that resemble them. As the process is repeated, the core itself learns and creates higher-quality golems.」
That sounds amazing.
I’m no exception, but doesn’t this Sage have any self-restraint?
『Understood. Well then, let’s infuse it with magical power…』
I touched the sphere and infused it with magical power.
Suddenly, my magical power was rapidly drained from my body.
The “pseudo Dungeon Core,” which had initially appeared as a transparent glass sphere, gradually changed its color and turned into a pitch-black sphere.
All of my magical power had been completely depleted.
『Huff… Huff… Is this… enough?』
「Yes, more than enough, actually.」
Elibel replied, satisfied as she looked at the “pseudo Dungeon Core.”
「Now then, ‘pseudo Dungeon Core’―――――ACTIVATE!」
At that moment, the pseudo Dungeon Core began to emit a faint light.
The magical power emanating from the core took root in the dungeon.
「It seems to have activated successfully. Now, let’s see golems being created all over the dungeon.」
She approached a brilliantly colored sphere nearby.
The image of the dungeon appeared on the sphere, displaying the walls of a simple corridor.
From there, something began to crawl out, bumping and protruding.
It had a simple form, a Noh mask-like face, and a body composed of only the necessary minimum parts.
Among the golems I had created, it was the most numerous but also the weakest.
―――――――The golem that was created was a drawing mannequin golem.
『Wow…』
I couldn’t help but let out a sound.
On the projected screen, I could see golems being created one after another.
There were golems in the shape of animals and golems in the form of monsters, all being produced one after another.
Each one of them was a golem that I had created in the past.
I started to feel nostalgic for some reason.
But somehow, their designs seemed more refined than when I created them.
Damn it… It’s doing a better job than me.
「Hmm… relatively speaking, the drawing mannequin golems are the most numerous.」
『Well, if it’s the drawing mannequin, they can be used for tasks rather than combat, so I think it’s fine.』
If necessary, we can equip them with weapons.
The newly born golems were wandering around the dungeon.
Hmm? On closer inspection, they’re slightly different from the normal drawing mannequin golems, aren’t they?
The drawing mannequin golems born in the dungeon are slightly larger and have slightly different colors.
With this, it should be easy to tell them apart.
「Well, yeah, I suppose so. Well, it’s my first time creating a ‘pseudo Dungeon Core’ like this, so I want to gather various data. Later, let’s call a few of them to the research floor.」
Then I suddenly thought of something.
『Oh, but is it okay if I don’t infuse it with magic again?』
If a golem is created, the magical power stored in the ‘pseudo Dungeon Core’ should decrease by some amount.
And if it decreases, I’ll have to infuse it with magic again, won’t I?
「Oh, that’s not a problem. The created golems are designed to be absorbed back into the dungeon at regular intervals. And since they’re infused with this much magical power initially, they will multiply on their own… thanks to your blood.」
『Eh?』
I couldn’t quite make out the last part she’s saying.
In essence, it means that I don’t need to infuse it with magic anymore?
「Well, with this, the defense line should be sufficient. We just need to complete the dungeon itself.」
『Yeah, you’re right.』
Regardless, there’s no point if the dungeon isn’t completed.
After replenishing my magical power by consuming magic stones, I worked with Elibel to set up the teleportation gates and traps.
Oh, by the way, the placement of the pseudo Dungeon Core is, of course, on the lowest floor.
With the help of the newly born golems, our dungeon was constructed at an even faster pace.
―――――And then, one month later.
Finally, the dungeon was completed.