Chapter 74
Now, several days have passed since the Tres incident.
I was once again watching the surface dungeon and entrance from the surveillance room.
Even today, the entrance and the first floor are filled with a fair number of adventurers and merchants.
Through the teleportation gates, exchanges between people from the west and east have become more active.
If things continue smoothly like this, in another month or so, full-scale trade might start.
I thought so because the number of people had increased.
I increase the volume of the video audio.
『―――――How are things on your end?』
『Well, not too bad. Oh, if you want, this product is―――』
『Ah, is that blue steel from Harshalud?』
『That’s right. The quality is good, but unfortunately, it’s necessary to cross the snowy mountains――』
『Hmm, so that’s popular in Wano Country……』
『Hey, look at this. My right hand has become a pile bunker just like great masters in the past――』
『Hey, is this fruit also sold here?』
『Ah, can you sell me this magic stone? I can’t get it in Wano Country!』
In this way, the exchanges among merchants from each area are deepening.
While it’s still at the stage of primitive barter, it’s not bad.
The groundwork for trade has already been laid.
Things are looking good.
Meanwhile, more and more adventurers have started challenging the dungeon below the second floor.
I manipulate the brilliantly colored sphere and switch the video feed to show the scenes from the second floor and below.
The video now displays adventurers at three locations in each area.
There were those who were trying to conquer it solo, those who formed parties, and even adventurers who have monsters as their companion.
So, monsters can be tamed…
A magician-like woman is shouting commands at her tamed slimes and goblins.
I turn on the audio.
『Hmm, so this is the new dungeon. It’s pretty big.』
『Darn, these golems are annoying! Just die already!』
『Hey! I found a treasure chest! It’s filled with amazing magic stones! Hurry up and get here!』
『Ooi, I found a staircase going down over here.』
『Huh? Did we take this passage when we came here before?』
『We don’t have enough equipment. Should we go back up for now?』
『So this is the third floor…』
『How far has the mapping been released by the guild?』
Hmm, it’s become lively.
Defense also seems to be functioning smoothly.
Well, the surface is a relatively mild dungeon, after all.
For adventurers, it’s probably a fairly profitable hunting ground.
Currently, adventurers on the surface dungeon have reached the seventh floor.
Elibel said it’s an average pace.
Well, there are twenty-five floors just in the surface dungeon alone.
At this rate, it will take quite a while before the surface dungeon is completely conquered.
The levels of the adventurers are not that high, either.
Most of them are around D~C-Rank.
The highest-ranked adventurer who has come so far was B-Rank.
That party made it to the seventh floor.
By the way, the reason I know this is that I had Una look it up.
Una, Dos, and Tres are registered with the Adventurer’s Guild.
Fortunately, when they went berserk in the Eld Desert, they were disguised and wearing masks, so their true identities were not exposed.
So they are acting as adventurers again, each in a different town gathering information.
Especially the B-Rank above. They are fairly well known.
I had Una and the others investigate well-known adventurers from each area.
Using that collected information and conversations within the dungeon, they investigated the identities of the adventurers.
I switch the video back to the surface and near the teleportation gates.
Then, a very interesting image appeared.
『――――Wow, that’s a rather large caravan we have there.』
What was displayed there was a large caravan of a scale completely different from those seen so far.
That emblem… they are people from the Harshalud Holy Kingdom in the north, if I’m not mistaken.
They have loaded their interconnected wagons like a freight train, transporting their goods.
A large number of adventurers are surrounding them.
There must be more than twenty adventurers hired as guards alone.
Those people passed through the teleportation gate and started moving to different areas one after another.
「The Holy Kingdom of Harshalud, Land of Snow――――It seems they have recognized this dungeon as a regular trade route.」
A voice came from behind me.
It was Elibel.
Berg was standing by her side.
「It’s looking good. With this, it might not be long before this dungeon becomes a trade hub for various nations.」
A satisfied voice from Elibel.
I nod in agreement.
『Yes, we’ve obtained one of the three.』
The other two are just a matter of time.
According to reports from bird-shaped golems placed in major towns and villages near each entrance, the movement of caravans in each village has become more active.
Probably soon, the other two nations, the Magic City Endymion in the west and Wano Country in the east, will fully use this dungeon as a trade route.
In addition, I’ve strictly ordered the monsters in the Yuguru Great Forest not to attack those entering the dungeon.
But are free to do as they please to anyone who enter the forest.
Let’s hope everything goes smoothly.
「―――By the way, Earth. Is the thing I asked for ready?」
Elibel, who had been watching the images until then, switched the topic and looked at me.
『Oh, you mean ‘that’? It just got finished.』
Well, I was making it while watching the video.
The completed piece is placed right next to me.
「Oh really? As expected, you work quickly when it comes to making golems.」
Don’t say ‘only.’
What’s with that?
The way you say it makes it sound like I can’t do anything other than making golems.
『But, Elibel. Are you really going to use ‘this’?』
I say so and point to “that” which was placed nearby.
「Yes, of course. Finally, the preparations are done. It’s about time I start moving as well.」
Saying so, Elibel snapped her bony fingers.
I looked again at “that”.
My pride and joy, which I had recently finished creating.
A golem equipped with a new function.
It’s a simple, drawing mannequin golem, but an entire different existence overall.
I called it――――The Vessel Golem.
This golem itself has no will and doesn’t move on its own, it connects the user with a magic corridor for remote operation.
But of course, that’s not all.
A boring golem that only operates remotely is not something I would create.
This golem is designed to allow the user to feel the stimuli it receives, such as visual information, in real-time while operating it remotely.
Simply put, it’s a tool that can link the user’s consciousness and senses to the golem and control it from afar.
It can perform actions in real-time, and to some extent, it can also reproduce magic.
The use of magic depends on the magic stone embedded in it, which is an ultra-high purity magic stone from the Eld Desert.
It should be able to handle up to advanced-class magic just fine.
I utilized the technology I used before to project the visual information of golems and Una onto a mirror.
Also, by flowing magical power into it, this golem can change its appearance at will.
It’s similar to the nature of a doppelgänger monster.
Well, Elibel composed most of the magic inscriptions, and I just created the golem according to that.
Still, it took quite a bit of time to create.
After all, it’s a masterpiece I spent a week to make.
Given its capabilities, it consumed a substantial amount of magical power.
But, in return, its performance should be pretty good.
Elibel plans to use this to go outside the dungeon――to check the current state of Faudo.
I’ve created three of them, including one for Berg and a spare.
『Don’t overdo it, okay? The outside world is dangerous.』
The outside world is full of dangers.
It’s a perilous world with jerks who destroy other people’s dungeons and adventurers who sport punk fashion.
I don’t want to go out.
I want to relax in the dungeon.
I’m watching the outside world through the screen, but I wonder if I should ask for some souvenirs.
『Oh, speaking of souvenirs, can you get―――』
As I was leisurely contemplating what would be nice, Elibel said something outrageous.
「Heh, what are you talking about? You’re coming with me.」
『What？』
Involuntarily, I let out a bewildered voice.
I didn’t understand what she was saying.
「Like I said, you’re going to use this vessel golem to go outside with me too. Okay?」
…………………..Pardon?