Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Warrior, Hearing the Proposal
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It had been three days since Pepira came to the first floor for her apprenticeship, but she was still struggling to adjust to the place.
"Kieeeeeng… Lord Balrak, are you really a demonnnn…."
"But Pepira, don't you feel like you've gotten stronger all of a sudden?"
"That's why I hate it even moreee…."
Having been utterly wrecked from head to toe by Balrak, Pepira melted into the floor.
Still, she and Kairel, sharing the misery of shared suffering, comforted each other.
Balrak knew how hard it was for the two of them, so he called Ophelia.
"You called for me, Father?"
"Yes, you came quickly."
"Huh? Boss, why'd you call Ophelia?"
"Go play in the mini-dungeon for a bit with her and these items."
Thud!
Balrak handed various magic tools and potions to Kairel and Pepira.
"I-Is that really okay?!"
"Training nonstop without breaks will lead to burnout. Relaxation is always the right call. Besides, the little kitten is here on apprenticeship, so consider it a change of pace. Ophelia will go with you as an escort, and the youngest will watch over you too, so relax."
"B-Boss!!"
The rookie employee was moved by the chairman who cared for his staff's welfare once again today.
Afterward, not knowing what the mini-dungeon was like, Kairel and Ophelia took the hook-headed Pepira and teleported away.
The three arrived on a sky island with refreshing winds and a stunning open sky, and Pepira's eyes went wide at the sight.
But….
"Wh-Why is this place called 'mini'?"
"I don't know either."
"Father's sense of naming is beyond even the subject herself."
"This really destroys all common senseee…."
Soon after, even with Ophelia there, they equipped auto-escape, defense, and attack magic tools in case of trouble.
Only after downing various buff potions did the three start wandering the sky island.
Of course, this place was extremely dangerous due to its highly aggressive spirits.
However, their information had already spread through the spirit realm via Zephyra.
Plus, the spirits were under orders never to bother Balrak, so the low-grade spirits approached the three very friendly.
Thanks to that, Pepira got to meet spirits for the first time in her life, and the little ones became friends and played together.
"Haa~ This is healing right here…."
"The subject concurs. Then, sister, shall I offer a lap pillow?"
"I-Is that okay?"
As colorful low-grade spirits and Pepira frolicked on the sky island, Kairel lay with her head on Ophelia's lap, feeling all her fatigue melt away.
But there were eyes watching their antics.
"Nya, Nyaotribe?!"
"The race that vanished a year ago—why are they here…?"
"Come to think of it, didn't they say Nyaotribe were spotted at that shelter place? And those people… they're shelter employees?!"
Humans, dwarves, and elves exploring the sky island were stunned by the sudden appearance of the three.
Naturally curious about the situation, they approached.
[ Get lost, you scum! ]
"Huh?"
Boom!!!
The high-grade spirits moved because beings working under Balrak had come to the mini-dungeon.
Not wanting to ruin the fun time their little siblings and Pepira were having, they wouldn't tolerate any disturbers of that peace.
Beyond Balrak's measures, Kairel and Pepira were able to play very safely on the sky island.
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Confirming the three were enjoying the mini-dungeon, Balrak turned off the video magic tool and called Orek.
"Hmm… I didn't expect the spirit realm to step in like that."
[ Tell me about it. ]
"Still, just in case, Youngest, can you keep an eye on their status?"
[ Got it! ]
Even with Ophelia and high-grade spirits there.
Their opponents were players mad for amusement!
Some were even obsessed with spirits, so layering safety measures was the way to go.
Now that the three were truly safe, he thought back to Ferguson's recent call.
[ Brother Balrak, uh… knights sent by Hero Beren's wife have arrived? ]
Could that empress be… here to repay the mercy I showed last time?
He'd let them in for now, but if they sent any weird trash, he wouldn't listen and attacked the intruders who came through the shortcut with his swordsmanship.
Ping ping ping!!
"What the hell?!"
"Defense! N-No, scatter!!"
"Urk?!"
Clang!!!
Clang clang clang!!!
Oh ho, they held up well even to a surprise attack?
These guys had better gear than the old knights who came last time.
But could anyone short of sword saint level block giant weapons flying from all directions?
Soon enough, all but one knight dissolved into blue powder, and the last one was on the verge of being chopped to pieces.
Still, this much made him worth hearing out.
Halt!
All the weapons stopped with their edges touching the knight's body, and the heavily panting knight shouted loudly.
"Huff… huff… cough! L-Lord of this place! Please!! Hear me out─!!"
Even in such a desperate moment, he didn't forget his purpose!
He didn't come as a proper challenger—such a shame.
Afterward, I crossed the blue field and approached the knight who'd come this time.
Step, step.
"You who are not a challenger, who are you?"
"H-Huh?!"
The face visible through his shattered helmet belonged to a fairly young knight.
But exposed to my presence, he froze stiff.
"…Drag this out, and I'll kill you."
"I-I'm Noir, captain of the Altria Empire's Imperial Guard!!"
Aha, so he held out because he was an imperial guard captain.
Sending someone this strong with such a position, the empress really wants to talk to me.
"So, what brings a follower of the empire's sun here?"
"Th-That is!!!"
So… that means I now have ten blank checks I can cash with the empire?
Having tons of wish tickets is nice, but… what would I even do with them…?
No!
Life is unpredictable—you never know what'll happen.
The more cards like this I collect, the more options I'll have when something goes down, so I should take them.
And that wasn't the only purpose of this guy's visit.
"Even if other races enter my dungeon, it's okay to charge taxes or tolls?"
"Y-Yes!"
Thanks to Anima, he knew full well my dungeon was deep in empire territory.
So why ask my permission when they could just do it?
But… thinking it over, it made sense.
Suppose the empire started charging tolls to enter my dungeon and taxes on its byproducts.
They'd find out Anima was wandering around gathering info.
Then I'd learn the empire was profiting off my dungeon.
If I got pissed and wiped out all the dungeon byproducts as revenge, what then?
The current empress would go down in history as the idiot who slit open the golden goose.
Plus, since her husband had met me multiple times, she'd have some grasp of my temperament.
Asking me directly to avoid the worst outcome was a smart move.
Lack of communication breeds disasters beyond imagination, after all.
Anyway, I stated my position.
"I'm waiting for the hero of fate. Doesn't matter the method or the race—any and all are fine. Just keep the trash away from here. Repay the favor however you want, and bleed them appropriately."
"I-Is that for real?!"
"Hah, did you think I was some saint to deal with?"
I had zero reason to care about outside profit squabbles.
Plus, if the empire managed entrants directly, it'd cut down on criminal trash coming to my dungeon.
It'd filter out the money grubbers, letting more true challengers come—perfect for me.
What more was there to say?
Ping ping ping ping!!
"Wh-Why the weapons…?"
"We're done talking, aren't we? And sending off a rare strong visitor like this without a proper send-off feels wrong."
"…!!!"
"You'd feel a bit shortchanged leaving like this too… so come at me."
"……."
Hearing me, he gripped his weapon and stood, his eyes burning with challenge.
Hah, this guy's a true martial artist.
Too bad he didn't come as an official challenger.
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Now the empire would allow various beings into my dungeon, so I announced it to everyone.
"Now even more diverse races can come here, huh?"
"Big brother, which races do you think will show up?"
"Well… orcs could come, or all sorts of beastkin."
Beyond the major three races, what would the minor ones do in our dungeon?
And new powerhouses too!
What an exciting day.
Afterward, as I chatted with my sworn brothers in the boss room, the three returned from the mini-dungeon.
"Boss! We're back!"
"We're hooome!!!"
"Father, all have safely returned."
"Ophelia, good work."
Seeing their rotten dead-fish eyes turn sparkly was proof the break was the right call.
To ensure they really rested today, he sent them home.
"I-Is that really okay…?"
"Training beyond your level requires solid rest. But Dampir, you're juggling part-time work and magic studies too."
Back in the day, he made sure his siblings rested properly when they needed it.
So loosening up Dampir a bit was fair.
Dampir soon bid farewell with a bright face, little kitten in tow.
"Thanks, boss!! See you tomorrow!"
"Yeah, get home safe."
"N-Next timeee…."
But the little kitten's eyes as she clocked out had that look of seeing something wondrous.
Heh heh, thought this was a black company?
I was always generous about this stuff.
But for every day they slack, tomorrow's training would be twice as brutal!!!