Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Forest and Rocks (1)
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The background of a dungeon usually follows its name.
The dungeon where I encountered Sun was called "Ancient Desert."
True to its name, it had a sweltering desert backdrop.
'And.'
The dungeon I was standing in now was called "Forest and Rocks."
True to its name, the background was straightforward.
"Man, it's literally just forest and rocks. Nothing more."
I looked around.
To my left was a dense thicket.
It was so packed that even the midday sun couldn't penetrate it.
'And to the right.'
A vast rocky expanse stretched out.
Whoooosh.
The sound of fierce wind made it look refreshingly cool just to gaze at it.
Beyond the horizon, jagged stone mountains loomed, as if no plants could grow there for some reason.
"Everyone..."
I nodded and opened my mouth.
The first priority upon entering a dungeon is securing safety.
"Appear and form up!"
From Bone One to Bone Six.
Clatter clatter!
They emerged from the ground in response to my command.
Among these six subordinates.
The one in charge was none other than Sun.
"My lord."
"Yeah."
"But why did you summon Bone Six?"
"......"
Bone Six was a lifestyle type.
There was no real need to bring him into a dungeon.
But.
"Look at those stone mountains."
I boldly pointed at the rocky zone.
"......?"
Sun tilted his head.
"Look closely. Doesn't it scream mineral zone?"
"......Hmm, does it?"
"Listen, production classes always think this when they see a majestic sight like that. 'Oh, what materials are waiting for me there? What ingredients will bring me joy?'"
"......"
It was a habit I'd picked up lately from raiding C-rank dungeons.
Bone Six, true to his blacksmith nature, had a great nose for minerals.
'Even if he doesn't have Mining skill.'
If I brought him close.
He'd craft a bone pickaxe and just dig away wildly.
'The advantage of my bony minions is that they grow, after all.'
Just like how skills are generated following the old man's teachings on the Ten Thousand Arts Elder.
If he mined recklessly, maybe he'd pick up the 'Mining' skill?
That was my thinking.
"I had no idea my lord was a production class."
"Bone Six is the production class."
"......Aren't you favoring Bone Six a bit too much these days?"
I looked at Sun in surprise.
"What, are you jealous or something?"
Lately, going into dungeons solo.
I'd chatted with him a lot as a conversation partner, and he definitely felt closer than before.
Who knew he could say stuff like that.
"No, my lord."
"Yeah, I figured."
I grinned.
Whatever Sun's past.
Bonding with him was important.
They say that rapport with a summon—especially one that can grow—brings out even more potential.
"Then, after securing the perimeter, I'll handle reconnaissance."
Sun shook his spear and muttered heavily.
He was reliable.
When I was busy, he'd control the bones in my place.
He handled all these miscellaneous basics himself.
Creak!
They took their positions.
['Bone-3' uses the skill, Secure Vision (Lv. 9).]
Bone-3 shared the surrounding scenery through his senses via the skill.
"Hmm."
I closed my eyes and fully immersed in the sensation.
Dense forest and barren rocky zone.
The dungeon revealed nothing else.
No clue where this place was.
Or what stages it might have. It was all a mystery.
"My lord, from what we can sense, it's a vast area. Not quite as expansive as the desert zone I controlled, but close."
"Hmm......"
"Wouldn't we have to pick one side or the other?"
"Wait, hold on."
I didn't open my eyes.
Whirr!
Through the arrows Bone-3 fired, I tried to detect something.
Every dungeon has clues to solving it.
"Hm?"
That was the moment.
At the boundary between forest and rocks.
Far away, I sensed something alien.
'Qi?'
It was definitely a fierce fluctuation of 'qi.'
The kind of qi movement I couldn't have detected without cultivating the Azure Purity Heart Method.
"Okay."
I muttered.
Sun seemed to read my mind and stepped back with a nod.
"Direction's set. Head that way. No need to rush—take it slow."
"As you command, my lord."
We moved slowly.
Cautiously prepared for any traps.
This was my first crack at an A-rank dungeon.
Needed to stay sharp.
"You were right, my lord. I sense lifeforms over there."
Fortunately, nothing happened on the way to the target.
Though the sight at the destination wasn't exactly fortunate.
"What the hell are those?"
White steam leaked from my mouth.
"Long ears and short stature...?"
I'd never read fantasy novels, but I'd seen a few movies.
No need to go that far, actually.
They were right there in the monster manual for hunters.
"Huh, elves and dwarves?"
Forest and rocks.
And the root of racial conflict.
Their identities were revealed in that instant.
* * *
"Damn elves! Kill them! Smash them with your hammers!"
"Warriors of the sturdy earth! Do not retreat!"
"Arrows? Magic? Mere tickles!"
The dwarves roared.
"Hmph, ridiculous."
"You think mere earth-dwarves can take on the scouts of the rugged forest?"
"Greedy lumps, obsessed with metal—now you've come for nature's beauty too? Shameless!"
The elves hanging from trees fired arrows in response.
A skirmish of about a dozen on each side.
They bared raw emotions, spilling blood.
Clashing fiercely.
"......Certainly exotic races."
Sun, hiding his presence nearby, observed and spoke.
He rubbed his chin in fascination.
"It's all thanks to you, my lord. Who'd have thought I'd witness such a rare scene? No need to worry, though."
"Why?"
"They're weaker than they seem. With your forces, we could crush either side easily."
I furrowed my brow.
"Weak forces, huh."
"Hmm."
Sun stroked his chin.
"I get the concern. This is an A-rank dungeon by this world's standards. Thinking there might be traps?"
"......"
No, that wasn't the issue.
As you could see, this dungeon was vast.
Judging the whole difficulty from one corner of such vastness? Even an idiot wouldn't.
'But.'
[Ding!]
[Stage: Arena of Racial Choice]
['Forest Elves' and 'Rock Dwarves']
['Forest Elves' are a proud race. Characterized by pointed, leaf-like long ears. True to their forest fairy nature, they excel with bows and spirit magic.]
['Rock Dwarves' are short but incredibly tough and sturdy. True to their rock fairy nature, they love metal and have great craftsmanship.]
[You've discovered a bloody feud between the two races.]
[Help one race resolve the conflict.]
"......"
The message floating before me left no choice but to ponder.
Pick one?
Choice matters.
Especially in a dungeon—'choice' is a gamble with your life on the line.
"Hmm, Sun."
"Yes, speak, my lord."
"Between those two races, which one do you like more?"
"......A profound question."
Huh?
Not that profound.
"First, location-wise, both pass. To this body that lived in scorching desert, forest or rocks are both paradises. Dense trees, cool winds, damp earth—all precious things rare in the desert."
"Next?"
"Those with forest power move nimbly. And they favor ranged attacks as main weapons, just like Bone-3... Huh?"
"Huh?"
"Hm?"
Sun raised his head in surprise.
His gaze had shifted to Bone-3.
Creak?
Bone-3 tilted his head in response.
"Wait......"
I frowned too.
Skeletons normally lack ears and noses.
Ear cartilage decays quickly.
'But.'
Bone-3 clearly had bony ears.
Not hugely obvious, but thumb-sized bones.
"My lord, don't tell me."
"......No way, Bone-3. Were you an elf?"
Proxy dungeons reveal my bones' past lives.
Just look at how Bone One from the Ancient Desert turned out to be Sun Spear.
"Come to think of it, using a bow is totally elven."
And now, his build looked elongated.
Several differences from the other bones.
"My lord, Bone Six too......"
"Yeah, I already knew Bone Six was originally a dwarf."
Actually, I'd asked Sun, but my heart was already leaning toward the rocky zone.
Why? Solo and hammer.
Screamed Bone Six's race.
'But.'
If Bone-3 was an elf, that changed things.
Bone-3 and Bone Six were both my kids.
Picking between two kids? Headacher.
Kablooey! Boom!
The two races kept fighting.
Had to choose quick or the stage would pass.
What if I picked both? Right as I thought that.
[Help one race resolve the conflict.]
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[If you fail to 'choose' in time, a penalty arrives.]
[Penalty = Death.]
"Shit......"
I'd wondered what happens if you don't choose.
The message kindly informed me.
You die.
'Damn.'
Heart raced.
Had to pick something.
Pick elves, Bone-3 grows.
Just living and training with them would skyrocket his growth.
Pick dwarves?
'Whoa.'
I was impressed.
If they were truly gifted blacksmiths?
That'd be huge merit.
Mastery that's billions hard to buy in reality.
Might stack it for free here.
"......"
Numbers of elves and dwarves dwindled.
"Argh!"
"Ugh!"
Casualties mounted in their clashes.
Hatred and conflict burned in their eyes.
"I've decided."
I nodded.
Love Bone-3, love Bone Six.
'But money.'
When comparing loves, heart leans to 'money.'
Blacksmithing makes money.
'Might's covered by Sun for now.'
"I choose."
Whoosh!
I swung my staff.
Clank clank!
The bones' eyes gleamed as they raised weapons.
Unleashing pent-up aura.
"First, the rocks side."
[You have chosen 'Rock Dwarves.']
[Affection changes.]
[Rock Clan: 70]
[Forest Clan: 30]
[Help the 'Rock Dwarves' drive out the 'Forest Elves'!]
System message popped up with my words.
'Affection?'
New concept, but.
"What? Who are those!"
"Who're you!"
No time for that.
The two fierce-fighting races noticed me.
"Whew, my lord."
Sun sighed faintly beside me.
"As expected, you only favor Bone Six."
"......"
Not really.
Just, the youngest is always cutest, let's leave it at that.