The Weight of Potential

My thoughts on the Magic Crystal were simple: "Save it."

Sure, if I were certain of the outcome, I could use it on Ryun to birth a 6-star unit, but the success rate is still too low. It would be a waste to use it on Mei, who is only a 3-star. Even though I got the crystal through her, there will be other opportunities to acquire them later. But using it on Ryun or Eila right now also worries me. "Couldn't the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠success rate increase as their levels and grades rise?"

I’d already boosted the overall probability of monster summoning by upgrading the summoning facility. Just as upgrading the facility increased the odds, I figured that improving the quality of the monsters used as the base for breeding would eventually raise the success rate as well. "Even if it only goes from 0.1% to 1%, that’s a chance worth taking."

So, I’ll keep the Magic Crystal sealed away unless it’s absolutely necessary. I still have ways to grow my forces, and I haven't even fully grasped the potential enemies out there. "Extract information from Mei, use that as a baseline, and expand the dungeon."

Currently, I have three potential categories of enemies. First, the definite threat: Forneus’s dungeon forces. The day the inter-dungeon portal opens, an invasion from her dungeon is a real possibility. Then, there’s the danger created by kidnapping Ryun—an attack from the Elf Forest. They won’t just sit idly by after I’ve snatched a girl of noble blood. Unless they’re all as weak as Ryun, they shouldn't be underestimated. And finally, Mei’s village. Since Richard’s knight order and their mage, Mei, have gone missing, the humans might come to attack the dungeon. I’ve already repelled the forces of the Count’s territory that Eila used to command, but back then, my allies from Forneus’s dungeon were a huge help.

"Ultimately, if I just grow stronger, everything will be solved."

If I keep expanding the dungeon and ascend to the position of an absolute sovereign like Solomon, all my worries will vanish. Demon Lord Pahuu. But the title of "Demon Lord" is already Solomon’s unique property. If I were to earn a title, I would dare to call myself this: Gluttony King Pahuu. I don’t think I need to explain exactly what it is I’m eating so ravenously.

Huu, huu.

I fell asleep while tickling the back of Ryun, who was sleeping soundly with her head resting on my arm. Today was exhausting—I’d "fired" way too many shots, in more ways than one.

***

That night, in the human village.

Richard’s little "play-knight" order hadn't returned even after nightfall. Even Mei, the strongest mage in the village, was missing. The village chief, realizing the gravity of the situation, gathered the villagers in the square. People were shouting, veins bulging in their necks as they argued.

"We have to find the children! Who knows what will happen if the night passes!!"

The faction demanding an immediate search for the missing was centered around the parents of Jack and Kai. On the other side, there were those who urged caution: "It’s too dangerous! The mage hasn't even returned yet! It must just be taking her a little longer than expected!" They appeared calm, but in reality, they were terrified that something catastrophic had occurred.

"Ugh..." The village chief bit his lower lip, seething with irritation. It wasn't just that his son had vanished; he was deeply annoyed that Mei, an asset, was gone. "Richard, that brat, he’s just a kid born from my wife taking someone else's seed anyway, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whatever." He patted the waist of his wife, who was clinging to him and weeping. If it weren't for that ass of hers, he would have kicked her out of the village long ago.

"...Now, now. Let’s all calm down." The chief stood up, suppressing his rage to mediate. "...We can’t do anything on our own. If they haven't returned by tomorrow morning, then we’ll move."

"Chief! It’s dangerous!"

"Dangerous or not, we have to do it. If the kids were just playing late, that’s one thing, but if they don't come home at all? If no one returns by tomorrow morning, I’ll be the first to grab my sword."

The chief’s declaration quelled the agitated atmosphere. He nodded with a benevolent smile at the crowd, which had gone deathly silent. "...Then let’s all gather here tomorrow morning. I’m sorry, but the patrol squads, please work hard tonight."

"Yes, sir!" four young men replied, their discipline sharp. The chief patted each of them on the shoulder before taking his grief-stricken wife home.

"Dear..." his wife was sobbing in deep despair. The chief pulled her into his arms and sat her on the bed. "It’ll be fine. Richard is a strong boy. After all, whose son is he?"

"...Hic."

She buried her face in his chest. The chief patted her back, but his eyes were cold as ice. "I have to find Mei." Even if Richard came back as a corpse, Mei had to be recovered.

"She’ll be back smiling by tomorrow morning. Now, get some sleep..."

"Dear, I don't think I can sleep tonight..." She rubbed her face against his chest, crying. "Richard will definitely come back, right?"

"Of course." To help her forget her anxiety, the chief laid her down on the bed. "Ah, haa, hang!" She let out even louder moans to drown out her fear, and the chief, not even wanting to look at her face, pounded away from behind like a beast. "As expected, Mei is tighter."

Slap!

A slap, carrying many meanings, struck his wife’s hips and pelvis. The night in the village grew deeper.

***

At that same time, in the Elf Forest.

"This is strange. Haven't you seen Ryun?" Luna, the Forest Guardian, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠searched the young elves' shelter with a sharp expression. The elves, who usually welcomed her, turned sullen the moment she asked for Ryun.

"...We don't know. Why are you looking for that half-breed?"

"'Half-breed'? Watch your tongue." Luna scolded them with a stern glare. "Ryun is also a member of our forest. She is family, born on the same day and hour as you."

"...But Ryun is weird." A young elf muttered, pouting, and the others nodded in agreement.

"Weird?" Luna tilted her head, frowning. "What on earth do you mean?"

"She’s always talking to herself when no one is around."

"Yeah, there aren't even any spirits nearby, but she keeps talking like she's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠chatting with a Sylph."

"..." Luna pressed a hand to her forehead. She knew Ryun was a peculiar child, but she never imagined she had drifted this far from reality. She hadn't even cared enough to pay attention.

"It can't be helped. I’ll have to go find her—"

"Guardian, why are you here at this hour?" A mature elf woman called out to her with a menacing look. Luna knelt slightly and bowed her head. "I greet the First Elder."

"Answer what I asked."

"...One of the young elves is missing, so I was just..."

"...Who?" The First Elder scanned the young elves with wide eyes, then snorted when she noticed one with blonde hair was missing. "...The war with the demon race is intensifying. This forest cannot escape the flames of war."

"Does that mean...?"

"Strengthen the perimeter immediately and search every inch of the forest. Find traces of any demonic infiltration."

"Yes!" Luna jumped up and leaped high. The Forest Guardians followed the First Elder’s orders, scouring the forest in every direction. However, the young elf was nowhere to be found. There were no traces of demonic infiltration either.

"Is that so? Then she left the forest on her own. That child is a traitor. Do not look for her ever again."

At the First Elder’s firm voice, the search was called off. Luna sensed a hint of relief in the Elder’s tone, but she obeyed the order. Those who break the laws of the forest are no longer members of the elves. Those who leave on their own cannot return. But in Luna’s heart, a strange thought began to sprout. "What if someone kidnapped her...? And erased the traces?"

Unfortunately, there was no way to verify it. "I hope you’re safe."Luna prayed to the moon hanging in the sky, vowing to search the forest in her spare time whenever she could.