Chapter 69
Finally, the dungeon was completed.
To be precise, this means that all floors, entrances, surface layers, middle layers, deep layers, and even the lowest layer dungeon now have teleportation gates installed.
All that remains is to steadily set traps and continue making improvements.
For now, we can say that it’s completed.
That night, a large number of my subordinates and forest monsters had gathered in the deepest area of the lowest dungeon layer, known as the “Abyss Room.”。
They were here to celebrate the completion of the dungeon.
A feast. Yes, a feast.
There were many there, including Ann, Pururu, Una, Dos, Tres, and many others such as Gonzo the rhinocerous, the leader of the animal-type golems and homunculi.
It had been a while since I last saw Gonzo and Taman (a cat-type golem homunculus).
Apparently, they too were collecting materials and recruiting monsters to help build the dungeon.
By the way, among the animal types, Gonzo is the leader and Mei, a bird type, is the vice-leader.
Una oversees all these golem creatures.
The forest monsters that were present included executive-level members of various races linked to the four chiefs, as well as other races of monsters.
It seems that Ann had completely taken control of the Yuguru Great Forest.
In the process of making the dungeon, Ann visited the homes of the forest monsters and gradually brought them under her control.
Well, it seems she had quite a lot of help from the four chiefs.
But still, it’s an incredible achievement.
After all, the number of monsters she has brought under her control is said to be in the tens of thousands.
Not all of them are here, but the executive-level members and chiefs of each race are present.
You could see all sorts of monsters, including orcs, goblins, kobolds, and slimes.
It’s incredible to have all these different monsters coexist.
In addition, there are also some wetland, desert, and snowfield monsters who were recruited by Una, Dos, Tres, and others.
In particular, the snow bunnies and snow mice that Tres and Pururu recruited are incredibly cute.
The sight of two of them riding together on the head of Tres, who is holding Pururu, is extremely soothing.
Lovely cyclone.
The healing effect is unstoppable.
Anyway, the “Abyss Room” was bustling with a multitude of monsters.
Despite the room’s spacious design, it felt like a party venue.
Sigh… I have to address this large crowd, huh…
I’m feeling a bit heavy-hearted.
I’m not good at this kind of thing…
Elibel looks at me, silently urging me to start speaking.
Oh boy…
Alright, I get it. I’ll do it. I’ll do it.
I step onto a stage that’s set a little higher and look at everyone.
…The pressure is tremendous.
Especially the gazes of the forest monsters are frightening.
There’s even one with an atmosphere that feels like he could attack at any moment.
Ann, standing in front of them, looks truly dignified.
The four chiefs waiting at her side also give off a sense of grandeur.
Am I really out of place here?
For now, I brace myself and start thought transmission.
『Erm, the reason I’ve asked everyone to gather here is straightforward. Just now, we’ve completed the installation of the teleportation gate in the deep layer, thereby finishing the dungeon.』
There’s a stir in the crowd.
『From now on, we’ll shift to full-scale dungeon defense. Adventurers have started to show up in the Yuguru Great Forest and the first layer of the Add Mountain Range. However, they won’t become our concern until the second layer or beyond.』
The entrances in the Yuguru Great Forest and the Add Mountain Range have already been discovered by adventurers.
They haven’t begun full-scale exploration yet.
They seem to be gradually investigating the first layer.
It’ll probably be a while before they pass through the teleportation gate to other areas or go to the second floor and beyond.
Elibel has already decided on how to deploy the forces.
My subordinates and the four chiefs are already aware of this.
『Things will likely become busier from tomorrow. We have to gain more strength to protect ourselves from the adventurers. Today’s feast is for that purpose. I want everyone to eat as much as they can and replenish their energy.』
Taking a step forward, I announce loudly.
『For the prosperity of the dungeon and us!!』
A loud cheer rises.
Wow, that’s loud. It’s hurting my ears.
It’s also hurting my stomach from stress.
I think I’ll ask Elibel to make me something like a stomach medicine.
Then, thanks to the effect of “Gluttony,” my stomach won’t hurt in the future.
Oh, by the way, these lines were memorized from what Elibel came up with yesterday.
She took care of it for me just like that.
I’m grateful.
Amid the cheering, a large teleportation circle appears on the ground of the “Abyss Room.”
The ground shines brightly with the teleportation circle.
My subordinates and the four chiefs know what is happening, but the others are visibly on guard.
Well, it’s quite a surprise.
And when the light fades, a massive amount of magic stones, monster meat, nuts, and fruits are placed everywhere.
Furthermore, the light continues intermittently, and meat, nuts, magic stones appear as if bubbling up from the ground.
The monsters look at this scene with disbelief in their eyes.
『This is what I prepared for today’s banquet!!』
The magic stones are, of course, some dug up from the dungeon’s deep layers and some discovered when creating the dungeon in other areas.
The fruits and nuts are from the forest I raised in the Eld Desert.
When Elibel investigated, it was revealed that they are very delicious ingredients with no toxicity, high magic power, and high nutritional value.
I eat them often, and everyone else also likes to eat them. The next day, they bear fruit again.
The deep layer forest is amazing.
The monster meat is from a giant dragon that Ann and the four chiefs hunted a few days ago.
The creature’s name is as it sounds, a “Giant Lizard,” a King-class monster.
It’s quite huge, and there is enough meat for all the monsters on this floor.
Apparently, this dragon had wandered into the Yuguru Great Forest, and it was defeated by Ann and the four chiefs.
I was quite surprised when I heard the story, but Ann said they somehow managed to win.
They were pretty battered, but it was still amazing.
Before I knew it, Ann had become capable of taking down King-class monsters.
She and the others are becoming stronger and stronger without me even realizing it.
By the way, this meat is quite delicious.
I’ve tried it myself, and it’s a flavorful meat with a good bite.
You really feel like you’re eating meat.
What’s presented here is already butchered meat.
Starting with the magic stones, the skin, scales, bones, and eyeballs have already been collected by Elibel for the creation of weapons and elixirs.
I also got a bit of the skin.
Got material for a golem.
I’ll make a golem later.
Oh, I shouldn’t forget.
Everyone looks like they’re eager to eat.
Una is drooling without even noticing.
『Now, everyone! Eat as much as you want!』
At my signal, the monsters all begin to devour the meat and magic stones at once.
Everyone starts to eat messily, as if competing with each other.
Among the forest monsters, some are even eating while crying.
They must have been really hungry.
Until yesterday, they were at odds with each other, but from now on, let’s have them work together to defend the dungeon.
Mainly for my safety.
The monsters of the Yuguru Great Forest will be deployed to the special environment forest area built in the middle layer dungeon.
It’s a special environment created by Elibel and me, based on the data obtained from the forest in the depths.
The light source is perfectly provided by the light magic stones.
The “forest” spanning three floors is recreated with astonishing accuracy, making one feel as if they have really wandered into a forest.
They should be satisfied with this.
By the way, this dungeon.
It doesn’t have what you’d call a floor boss.
In a typical dungeon, Ann, Pururu, and the giant golems would probably be the floor bosses.
But in this dungeon, there are magic stones set up in various places for surveillance, and we can freely monitor from Elibel’s lab.
If powerful adventurers or monsters come, we decided to use a large number of golems and traps to weaken them as much as possible and then send in everyone, led by Ann, and the four chiefs of the forest using the teleportation gate.
Weakening enemy forces is basic.
There’s no need to make a boss room and wait for adventurers to come.
They call it the beauty of form, but that’s just the adventurers’ logic.
It doesn’t matter to me.
Safety first.
Well, still, we made several large rooms in the dungeon where Ann and the others can fight to their heart’s content.
By the way, Elibel laughed and said, “You sure do come up with nasty ideas.”
『…Now then, I guess I’ll eat something too.』
Because I’m not used to making speeches, I’m hungry now.
I eat a magic stone nearby.
Crunch, crunch, crunch… gulp.
Ah, delicious.
The magic stones I eat with the completion of the dungeon are the best.
『Lord Earth!』
『Hmm?』
While I’m indulging in the taste of magic stones, Ann approaches.
She carries two swords, and is wearing a mantle made from my skin.
…I think every time, but that mantle is questionable.
Somehow, there’s an indescribable strangeness to an ant wearing a mantle.
I’ve gotten used to it recently, though.
『…Lord Earth, may I sit beside you?』
Maintaining a certain distance, Ann asks.
『Ah, sure.』
I pat the ground with my hands.
『Then, I’ll make myself comfortable.』
With that, Ann sits next to me in a respectful manner.
Even so, she sits a little away from me.
Recently, even when Ann comes close like this, I hardly feel any resistance or disgust.
This is also thanks to the drug.
『…It’s a wonderful sight.』
Ann murmurs softly.
『Wonderful, this banquet?』
It’s extremely noisy, though.
Ah, the leader of the monkeys and Gonzo are fighting over meat.
Gonzo’s tackle explodes, and the monkey leader is blown away.
The monkey executives are watching it and laughing.
Tres and Pururu are eating fruit while chatting with the spider leader.
Una is drinking alcohol from the cargo left by merchants who visited the surface earlier.
Next to her is the dog leader, I guess.
Dos is leaning against the wall with the snake leader, watching the feast.
Elibel is eating magic stones with Berg and the undead.
…Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves in their own way.
『I’ve seen the ‘coexistence’ of monsters since I was a killer ant, but I couldn’t even imagine a scene where such a diverse group of monsters gather in one place.』
Ann says with deep emotion.
Well, I think so too.
When I first started digging a dungeon in the Eld Desert, I never thought it would become such a large gathering.
While casually nibbling on magic stones, I watch the banquet.
『Everyone was able to come together like this because of your existence, Lord Earth. This can also be said to be your ‘power’.』
『Even if you say so…』
I don’t quite feel it.
The one who actually pacified the forest was Ann, and the one who thought about the traps and the dungeon structure was Elibel.
If I think about what I’ve actually done, nothing really comes to mind.
At most, I made some drawing mannequin and provided magical power.
Wait…?
Could it be that I’m not really contributing that much?
No, but the magical power… providing magical power should be an important job.
Yeah.
However, I don’t know if Ann sensed my unrest, but she lets out a worried voice.
『Lord Earth, just one thing… Could you grant me just one wish?』
『Hmm, what is it? I can’t promise anything unreasonable.』
After a slight pause, Ann opens her mouth as if resolved.
『…Please, never leave us. To us, you have become an irreplaceable existence. There is no replacement for you anywhere. So please, can you promise to always be with us?』
Is that all?
That’s not a problem.
『There’s no way I’m going anywhere.』
I answer without hesitation.
『Ann, there’s no place for me other than here.』
Who would willingly go to the outside world?
I just want to live at ease while being a recluse.
『This place is my home. My place is here.』
At my words, Ann seems relieved.
『Yes, you’re right. …I apologize, I’ve said something foolish.』
『It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.』
Right, there’s no way I’m going anywhere.
My dungeon is my home.
This is my place.
『And, Ann. About what you said earlier.』
『Yes?』
『You said that ‘there is no one who can replace me’. I think that’s something that can be said about anyone, don’t you?』
『—Huh?』
At my words, Ann raises a slightly confused voice.
『Whether it’s me, Una, Dos, Elibel, Pururu, and of course, Ann, there’s no way anyone can replace anyone else, right?』
『…Lord Earth.』
The only thing that can be replaced is a job in a company.
No one can replace the person themselves.
Well, if it’s a precarious position like Dungeon Master, you can change it anytime.
I just want to live quietly.
Growl~~
Oh, I’m hungry.
Speaking of which, I am hungry.
I want to eat magic stones.
There are still some left over there.
『Ann, it looks like there are still some magic stones left over there. Want to eat?』
I look at Ann.
Now, what will Ann’s response be?
『――――Yes! Lord Earth! Let’s eat together!』
A buoyant voice comes back.
Of course, I’ll eat too.
I’m still not satisfied.
I head to the corner where the magic stones are placed, together with Ann.
The feast was lively as ever, and it showed no signs of ending anytime soon.
Chapter 4 “The Second Dungeon” End
To be continued in the next chapter, Chapter 5 “Trade and Defense”
…Earth is making sense.
Could it be an imposter?
About the Current Dungeon
Entrances
The entrances have been made in four areas in total: Eld Desert, Yuguru Great Forest, Add Mountain Range, and Guor Volcano.
Eld Desert (Entrance Only)
Floors: 27 floors (however, this is an old dungeon site)
A spiral staircase has been installed in a massive vertical hole. Using it to descend, one can reach the entrance in the depths. A teleportation gate is installed right after descending the stairs.
Traps have been set up, such as steps that explode when stepped on, and golems that integrate with the wall and appear when a person passes.
These are primarily for surprise attacks, so their combat power is low.
They are hit-and-run type golems that retreat into the wall after attacking once.
The vast underground forest beyond the teleportation gate is a place where, without proper equipment, one could become prey to poisonous pollen and ferocious carnivorous plants.
It’s safer to not approach the forest.
And also, because it’s located almost at the center of Eld Desert, just reaching the “vertical hole” is challenging.
This is probably the least used “entrance.”
Because Earth acquired strong resistance to poison, hallucinations, and paralysis due to the “Gluttony” effect, he can freely wander through this forest.
One of the Four Chiefs, the leader of spider, Taran, likes this area, and if you’re lucky, you can meet it.
And, inevitably, you will be preyed upon.
This entrance, if anything, carries a strong implication of being a camouflage for the deep dungeon built beneath.
Yuguru Great Forest, Add Mountain Range, Guor Volcano
Entrance and Surface Dungeon
Floors: 25 floors each (This is common to all three places, and their construction is almost the same)
There are multiple entrances set up in these three places to enter the surface dungeons.
In particular, entrances are predominantly set up near the forest entrance, at the foot of the mountain range, and around the volcano.
This is so that adventurers and merchants can widely use it, and learn about the usefulness of the dungeon.
In the large hall in the center of the first floor of the surface dungeon, there are also teleportation gates to the Add Mountain Range and Guor Volcano, thus each area is interconnected.
This allows for smooth trade in the north, west, and east.
In particular, the towns and villages around the Add Mountain Range have a difficult time with daily trade because the massive mountain range is an obstacle.
Therefore, Elibel predicts that many people will use this dungeon as a means of transport once it is established by this dungeon.
There are no monsters or traps in the first floor.
So, once the rumors spread, the mapping of this first floor will probably go relatively smoothly.
A little further from the central hall, there is a staircase leading to the second floor.
Starting from the second floor, golems wander around, and traps are set everywhere, making it a real dungeon.
Due to the effect of the “pseudo Dungeon Core,” treasures such as chests are also installed besides golems.
The contents are a surprise until you open them.
If you’re lucky, you might get a super high purity magic stone.
If you’re unlucky, you might die a little.
The difficulty is on the lower side.
It’s a dungeon setup that’s relatively self-restrained and within the range of common sense.
Middle-Layer Dungeon
Floors: 25 Floors x 9 (total of 225 Floors)
This is the original dungeon, designed for Earth’s safety.
It is a dungeon use to break adventurers.
This is the original dungeon, built for the safety of Earth. This is undoubtedly a dungeon intended to break people.
You can reach it by going through the teleportation gate set up at the lowest 25th floor of the surface dungeon. Each area has a 25-floor dungeon built, which is connected by teleportation gates.
No matter which surface dungeon’s teleportation gate you go through, you end up on the same floor, but you teleport to different starting points.
The middle-layers are built approximately 200 meters below the surface of each area.
The outer walls of each area are specially designed to prevent magic from leaking out.
This is to prevent direct intrusion into the dungeon from each area, as was previously done by Earth against Elibel’s ruins.
Additionally, special environmental areas such as deserts, large forests, snowfields, and lava zones are also set up, with traps laid out everywhere.
Golems such as mud golems and snow golems, which can only operate in these areas, are also wandering around.
From the middle-layer onward, in addition to the golems, antlings and undead also appear.
However, there is no such thing as a layer master or a floor boss.
At the deepest part of each layer, there is only a teleportation gate installed.
Basically, the deeper the layer, the more difficult the golems and traps become.
In the mid-layer, there are also treasure chests, and weapons that Earth and Elibel have made without restraint exist within them.
However, all the weapons made are recorded by Elibel, so the countermeasures are perfect.
Unlike in games, there is no such setting as save points, or being able to go straight to a floor you’ve been to before, and movement is always one floor at a time.
Therefore, the deeper you dive, the harder it is to get back.
However, this is only for adventurers, Earth, his subordinates, and other monsters can move freely within the dungeon from any teleportation gate.
All dungeons, including the surface and deep layers, are under the surveillance of Earth and Elibel.
So if the opponent is a troublesome adventurer, they are weakened with a large number of golems and traps, and then a large number of strong monsters are all thrown at once.
The difficulty level is ridiculously high.
Deep-Layer Dungeon
Floors: 20 floors
The location is the underground space below the entrance in the Eld Desert.
It’s often said that it’s darkest under the lighthouse.
This is the most important area where Earth, Elibel, and his subordinates live. There are twenty floors, but half of them are living spaces.
Earth’s bed and Elibel’s laboratory are at the very bottom.
As this is a living space for Earth and his subordinates, the magical energy concentration is incomparable to that of the middle-layer, but most of the magic power is absorbed by the trees of the Eld Desert underground forest above, so no magical power leaks out.
The golems wandering this dungeon are all handcrafted by Earth himself.
Therefore, their numbers are few, but in terms of combat power, they are far superior to the middle-layer.
He plans to gradually increase their numbers over time.
The main experiments with new traps and combat training for monsters are also carried out on this floor.
This is because the magical power of the monsters increases faster in high-magic environments.
Also, all of this dungeon, including the surface, mid, and deep layers, is currently under construction, with the arrangement and types of traps changing on a daily basis.
The corridors can be remotely altered, making mapping extremely difficult.
The dungeon is filled with traps designed to crush the spirits and efforts of the adventurers.
Come on, everyone, let’s take on the dungeon!
Earth’s dungeon is waiting for your challenges!
But, if you are really strong, please refrain from coming.
I would appreciate it if you could keep it moderate.
Probably, the MVP of this dungeon is the drawing mannequins.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the unnamed drawing mannequins who worked until they broke down, the dungeon was completed.