Dungeon Farm!

Astaroth swallowed the meat in her mouth and marveled.

"This is what delicious tastes like."

She shot Azid a subtle glance, her eyes pleading for more.

Sizzle—

Azid grilled some pork belly next and snorted derisively.

"What you just ate is all you're getting."

"I'm not exactly here just to eat with you, Your Highness," she said.

But her eyes never left the pork.

"Business done? Then get lost."

"Not yet."

"What's left?"

"His Majesty mentioned that Andromalius's presence has vanished. The last place it was detected was right here. By any chance..."

"Yeah. I killed him."

Astaroth's eyes, glued to the pork as if she'd never move, snapped to Azid. Her red pupils openly screamed, This guy's completely lost it, hasn't he?

"If you're rebelling against His Majesty, at least do it peacefully."

"He did something worth dying for."

"What could Andromalius have possibly done?"

"Barged into my territory trying to eat these guys." Azid jerked his chin at the low demons still slinking around, drooling hungrily.

Astaroth couldn't quite wrap her head around the situation.

"Trying to eat is reason enough to kill? Sure, stealing your food was wrong, but isn't this a bit excessive?"

"Be grateful I stopped at that."

"...?"

Astaroth pondered what could be worse than death.

"Anyway, I killed him. Report that to Father."

"Got it. But there's more to report. Like, where did you get food that's impossible to find in the Demon Realm?"

Azid flew into a rage at that.

"I'm barely scraping by for myself, and now you're saying I have to cover Father's share too?!"

Wow, a real psycho is a psycho through and through.How does his brain even work like that in this situation? It was starting to feel almost awe-inspiring. Astaroth's eyebrow twitched in a combo of disbelief and absurdity.

"That's not what I meant. I have to report how you got Mid-Realm food."

"Don't. Things get messy if the old man sticks his nose in."

"This ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠isn't a small issue. Unless you've been to the Mid-Realm yourself—which makes no sense—we have to report it."

"Are you threatening me by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠holding back the pork?"

"Do you think I'm like you, Your Highness? None of this makes any sense."

"I'll explain slowly, so shut up."

"If you don't explain right now, I don't think I can."

At that moment, a perfectly grilled piece of pork belly was thrust right under Astaroth's nose.

Azid sighed deeply, looking like it pained him to part with it.

"There. Convinced now?"

A vein bulged on Astaroth's forehead. She was still a 2nd-rank high official demon—29th in the Demon Realm hierarchy! Trying to buy her off with this? It wasn't even funny. Was he mocking her as a demon named Astaroth? This was too much!

Nom. Nom. Gulp!

"Ha... so good."

But the temptation was too great to refuse. Demons were a race faithful to their instincts, after all. She hadn't known the taste before, but now that she did, Astaroth couldn't resist the pork's allure.

"This tastes different from the beef."

"Convinced?"

"...I won't wait long. Report the truth to His Majesty ASAP."

"Hey. Imagine a Demon Realm overflowing with meat like this. Sound good?"

"Pardon?"

"What if every demon's meals were replaced with delicious meat instead of magic beasts or low demons?"

"Are you sane?"

"That's the Demon Realm I'm building. Don't you want to live in it?"

Honestly, after tasting meat, she'd have no complaints if that happened.

Seeing her hesitate, Azid smirked.

"Want it? Then help me."

"Urgh... No. I can't betray His Majesty...!"

"Pork tomorrow too."

"I'll help."

Astaroth had already become a slave to the meat.

"Hmm, let's see."

Could he craft weapons from the monster loot piled in front of him? As Han Ji-woo pondered, a spark ignited in his mind.

"Potions could be combined. So maybe same weapons or gear too?"

It was a solid hypothesis.

"Swords first."

The swords dropped by common demon soldiers were all "Magic Beast Swords."

"Ooh, pretty high?"

No extra effects beyond ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠attack, but +32 was impressive. The Steel One-Horn Sword was only +17, Black Hwado +50. This slotted nicely in the middle.

He opened the crafting window and placed two Magic Beast Swords, but no synthesis option.

Adding more, at five:

"Yes!"

Exactly as hoped. Han Ji-woo eagerly hit synthesize. A thicker, longer blade emerged.

"Stats time. Du du du~"

Excited, he made sound effects while checking.

"Whoa!"

The stats drew an involuntary cheer. Attack was 20 higher than Black Hwado. Sure, Black Hwado boosted agility and mana by 20 too, making it better overall, but...

"Enhanced might upgrade further."

52 more Magic Beast Swords on the floor. Used 20 to make four Enhanced.

"Jackpot or bust."

Placed five Enhanced:

"Jackpot!"

Synthesized immediately. A sword dropped—similar size, but with grotesque red engravings on blade and hilt.

"This is insane."

Attack double Black Hwado's, plus +40 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠agility. And Bloodsuck on equip. Not permanent, but no replacement anytime soon.

"10% damage absorb? OP as hell."

Meant for dungeon folks, but he wanted it himself.

"Gotta make one more."

They'd asked for one longsword anyway. Used 25 more for another Ultimate.

Opened equipment, pulled Steel One-Horn Sword.

"My first weapon here."

Memories flashed. Removing it from inventory stung a bit...

"Register Ultimate Magic Beast Sword!"

...But those stats were too broken.

Pondering the old sword's fate:

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

One-Horn Chicken crowed, asserting presence. Five horned chicks now filled the coop.

"You guys grow fast."

Pride swelled watching his livestock breed.

"Pao!"

"Yes, Master!"

"Pull three horns off those guys."

"Got it!"

Cock-a-doodle!

Three new Steel One-Horn Swords before Han Ji-woo. Added his old one and Pao's to crafting.

As expected. New sword's specs:

"Ooh! King Horn Steel Sword!"

Lame name, but great stats! Attack lower than Enhanced Magic Beast Sword, but +22 agility made it solid.

Handed to Pao.

"Here. Your new sword."

"New sword! Pao's!"

"Yeah."

Pao beamed, handling it like a treasure.

"Hey. It's for swinging."

"Master made new sword! Precious! Very!"

"Oh?"

Didn't expect that sentiment from him.

Ignoring Pao's sword trance, Han Ji-woo picked daggers from demon loot. 18 "Bone Daggers" from magic beast bones. 15 synthesized to "Enhanced Bone Dagger."

Just +25 attack, no extras, but great for self-defense.

"Swords and blades covered."

Next, powerful bow. 25 basic → 5 enhanced → ultimate.

"Whoa, bow's stronger than the sword."

+20 each over Ultimate Magic Beast Sword.

"One bow done."

Left: 7 staves, 3 knuckles, 1 gauntlet. Problem: no blueprints, couldn't craft yet. Creation skill only hope, but no designs.

"Gotta grind random combos?"

No choice.

"Failed."

Deadline with dungeon folks passed. Needed to display at shop, but only Ultimate sword and bow ready.

"What now?"

Nervously biting nails:

Bright light burst from Logaku house. A squat figure emerged, pulling twin axes from his back. Bushy beard, sturdy build—he scanned wildly.

"What prankery is this now?!"

His voice boomed like a steamed locomotive. A dwarf.