Chapter 55
Everyone prepared chairs and tables made through alchemy and took a seat.
Well, I’m an Earth Dragon, so I just sit on the ground normally.
Ann also sits on the ground due to her body structure.
There are eight of us here now: me, Ann, Una, Dos, Tres, Pururu, Elibel, and Berg.
Honestly, my dungeon has become lively in this past year.
Now that everyone is seated, shall we start the discussion?
…Huh, no one is speaking.
Why?
「…Earth, I’m afraid the conversation won’t go anywhere unless you take the lead.」
『Huh, am I supposed to lead?』
「Of course! You’re the leader here, after all!」
Ah, yeah, that’s right.
I’m the leader, I guess.
It’s troublesome, can’t I just delegate?
『Elibel, Lord Earth may be tolerant, but isn’t it inappropriate to use such language towards the leader?』
Ann reproaches Elibel in a slightly prickly manner.
「You’re too uptight… But you know, an organization can’t function with just yes-men. We need people like me to view things from different perspectives. Well, in my case, it’s also partly because I find it a little bothersome to simply show respect to this thing, but yeah…」
『…I can’t quite understand.』
Ann listens to Elibel’s words with a disgruntled attitude.
Well, Ann, or rather, ants in particular, have built a strictly hierarchical community.
A completely controlled society with the Queen at the top.
She believes in absolute obedience to orders from above.
In fact, the antlings would execute any of Ann’s commands without hesitation, even to the point of sacrificing their lives.
It’s ingrained in their instincts.
Not just Ann, but also Una, Dos, and other golem homunculus have a strong inclination in that direction.
To them, Elibel, who calmly expresses her opinions to me, must seem like a completely different existence.
On the other hand, Elibel’s opinion is not wrong.
As it is now, my peace is undoubtedly at risk.
For that reason, someone like her, who can be considered irregular for the organization, are essential.
But wait, this thing?
I’m technically the leader, but am I being treated as an object?
『…I understand. I’ll do it properly. Well then, let’s begin.』
I’m already tired of this, so let’s get started quickly.
I’m not good with tense atmospheres.
Tres, for instance, is already bored and yawning.
She’s truly free. I wonder who she take after.
『Now, let’s decide what kind of dungeon to create… Does anyone have any opinions?』
Delegation is the basic approach.
First, Elibel expresses her opinion.
「At the very least, it’s necessary to create a teleportation-based dungeon. I think everyone understands, but this dungeon has become like this due to the ‘Dungeon Destruction’ ability of the Sacred Sword Leviathan. To prevent that, it’s essential to have a teleportation-based dungeon.」
Berg nods in agreement.
『If we make it a teleportation-based dungeon, can we prevent the ‘Dungeon Destruction’ ability?』
「Strictly speaking, it would be more accurate to say that we can minimize the damage. If it’s a teleportation-based dungeon, each floor would be in a completely different location, no? ‘Dungeon Destruction’ doesn’t include the destination of teleportation, so the destruction is limited to that specific location. In other words, only a part of the dungeon, one floor, would be destroyed.」
It doesn’t prevent the destruction itself, does it?
Still, if it’s only a portion and not the entire dungeon, then indeed, the functionality as a dungeon can be maintained.
「The reason my dungeon has a teleportation-based multiple structure is for that purpose. Even if you were to completely destroy it, you would have to use ‘Dungeon Destruction’ 88 times. Realistically, that’s impossible, doesn’t it?」
『Well, that’s true…』
Once ‘Dungeon Destruction’ is used, an enormous cooldown of a hundred years is required.
However, in cases like my ‘Gluttony,’ where the ability is transferred to something else, it is reset and can be used again in a completely fresh state.
However, according to Elibel, I’m one of the few who can utilize such a loophole.
『Um, it was Lord Earth who consumed the Sacred Sword Leviathan, right? Are there any other artifacts with similar abilities?』
It was Ann who asked.
Elibel nods.
「Indeed, there are. The records in the ruins didn’t mention anything about ‘Dungeon Destruction.’ As far as I know, there are six weapons in total that possess the ability.」
『There are five more of those…?』
What is the power balance in this world? Seriously, what’s going on?
To have six of those unfair things…
While others murmur in astonishment, Elibel continues.
「However, that’s only as of two hundred years ago. At that time, the weapons that were imbued with ‘Dungeon Destruction’ were the Sacred Sword Leviathan, the Magic Swords Gram and Tyrfing, the Sacred Sword Futsunomitama, the Treasure Vajra, and the Dragon Sword Ascalon… These six. Well, it’s more accurate to say that due to compatibility, no other weapons could be imbued with ‘Dungeon Destruction’ besides these six.」
The Magic Sword Gram and the Sacred Sword Futsunomitama, both of them, were weapons mentioned in Eruberu’s ruins.
They were already powerful, but to have the “Dungeon Destruction” ability as well…
『You certainly know a lot.』
「Well, of course. After all, I was the one who developed the foundational theory behind ‘Dungeon Destruction.’」
『…….Eh?』
Elibel casually drops a bombshell, leaving not only Ann but everyone in shock.
Only Berg holds his head and lets out a sigh.
『What?! Are you serious?!』
「What, you never noticed?」
『Of course I never did! Wait, so then, did you imbue all of those weapons?』
Upon hearing that, Elibel’s expression turns grim.
「No, it’s not me. I merely… formulated the theory… 」
The tone of Elibel’s voice changes.
「It was someone else who actually imbued the ‘Dungeon Destruction’ into sacred and magic swords…. That idiot!」
Elibel slams the table with a loud thud, startling everyone.
Hey, don’t suddenly hit the table like that. You’re going to give everyone a heart attack…
Look, even Pururu is trembling.
But Pururu trembling like that is also cute.
Love it.
「We’re getting off track here. Well… let’s put that aside for now. It would be a long story if I started talking about it. Anyway, let’s focus on the dungeon for now.」
『Oh, uh, yeah.』
She forcefully brings the conversation back on track.
The others are also unsettled.
Well, it’s no wonder they’re feeling that way after hearing such things.
Perhaps sensing their agitation, Elibel continues.
「Don’t give me that look. I’ll tell you everything once the dungeon is completed. Including what happened two hundred years ago.」
Her tone completely changes from the previous anger to a lighter one.
『Oh… I see. Well, that’s fine then.』
「You’re really easygoing… I thought you’d dig deeper.」
『Yeah, I thought so too. But if you’re going to tell us later, that’s good enough.』
I wonder if this is a side effect of the potion? .
I feel like I’ve become closer to my subordinates, or rather, I’ve started to place strange trust in them…
I don’t really understand it.
Well, whatever.
『Now, let’s get back to the topic of the dungeon.』
「By the way, Father.」
At that moment, Una raises her hand.
『What is it?』
「When you mentioned creating a new dungeon, what will happen to this place?」
This place, huh?
The location is known, after all.
『Probably abandoned… I suppose.』
「I see…」
Una sounds a bit melancholic.
Well, I’m lonely too.
There are a lot of magic stones here, and there’s no guarantee that the new place we move to will have as many.
「But speaking of that…」
Once again, Elibel raises her hand.
「I have an idea. How about we reuse this place?」
『Eh?』
Elibel wears a mischievous grin, like that of a mischievous child who just came up with a prank.
「Let’s set the entrance of the new dungeon here. What do you think?」
『Eh?』
「I mean exactly what I said. I’m suggesting creating the entrance to the dungeon right here.」
『But, um, this place is in ruins…』
「Even if it’s in ruins or its location is known, it doesn’t change the fact that this is one of the most dangerous areas on the continent. We should make use of that advantage. The entrance to the dungeon will be in the Eld Desert, where King-class monsters swarm. And once they finally reach the entrance, it will be a teleportation dungeon. Isn’t that great? I’ll relocate my ruins to the new dungeon, so there shouldn’t be any issues, right?」
『Well, that’s true…』
While it can’t be used as a dungeon, if we set up various traps, it would become impossible to even enter the dungeon in the first place.
『I think it’s a good idea. It’s much more efficient than just disposing of it.』
「I’m fine with that too.」
「Pu~」
It seems like everyone is in favor of Eruberu’s idea.
There is certainly some attachment to this place as well.
Whatever form it takes, if we can leave it intact, I want to keep it.
『Alright, let’s go with that!』
And so, the creation of the new dungeon (or rather, the making of our new home) begins.
「Well then, shall we start by setting up the teleportation gate?」
『No, Elibel, there’s something else we need to do first, remember?』
「Huh? What is it?」
Elibel tilts her head in confusion.
The very first thing.
And that is―――
『For now, let’s eat. I’m hungry.』
Eating is important after all.