Chapter 30: A Village Takes Shape in the Abyss
A few days later, over a hundred people had gathered in my foundation.
"Whoa, this foundation is huge for real."
"Man, at this scale, we could build a whole city."
"Did this guy get chosen by the Abyss or something? A foundation this big?"
"I thought it was bullshit, but it's legit."
"Well, Alexandr wouldn't lie about it."
The abyssal entities who had gathered through the open chat room looked no different from humans—in fact, they were so battered and sickly that they stirred pity in me.
"We've all suffered under the Spectrum, you see."
At Alexandr's words, I scanned them with a troubled heart. Some were missing arms, others a leg.
"These are really abyssal entities? Not humans?"
"Heh heh, can't blame you for doubting."
One old man removed his glove. Embedded in the palm of his right hand was a core the size of an eyeball.
"With a core this weak, I became a wanderer drifting through the Abyss."
"Me too!"
"Mine was just acne-sized, so I got chased out of the village right after birth."
"I was too weak to fend off the climbers' invasions."
"Invasions..."
So that's how it goes here too. The old man chuckled heartily.
"Well, even so, up to the 40th floor, it's just wraiths. Past that, new dimensions open up."
A woman with her hair tied back stared at me intently. She was missing one eye.
"But really, is it okay? Hiding us in your foundation."
I tilted my head at her words.
"What's the problem?"
"Even if you can hide us from the Spectrum, the Magic Tower Alliance or mages will have something to say."
"And you won't be able to open the foundation to outsiders if you're hiding abyssal entities."
I furrowed my brow at the woman and the old man's words.
"Just make sure no one fights here. Killing intelligent beings who can think like humans is absurd, isn't it?"
"Huh."
"Well, everyone says that at first..."
I shrugged at the woman's words.
"If you're uneasy, feel free to leave. But as long as it's mutually beneficial, you can live comfortably until then, right?"
I joked lightly.
"I'm footing 300 million an hour in ether costs—my back's about to break."
The woman laughed at that.
As long as there's mutual gain, the peace might last.
Having no retort, she extended her hand to me.
"True enough. I like that we won't mooch off your kindness."
She smiled brightly and took my hand.
"Take care of us, landlord. Ether processing is no big deal for us."
"Right, that's our specialty."
I gripped her hand firmly and smiled.
"Likewise. Space and ether are plentiful. I hope you'll be a great help."
I glanced at the empty shoreline.
"Now, about building a village here..."
We could chop wood for shacks, but I doubted they'd make livable homes.
"Don't worry about that."
The old man swung his staff, and a massive magic circle unfurled in the sky. From it emerged enormous stone structures.
"Huh?"
*
Monica sat on the sofa, listening to the little one's tale.
"Whoa..."
She checked the calendar in disbelief. It had been barely two months since the little one met Alexandr.
According to her, a village of abyssal entities had sprung up in the foundation.
"So, an abyssal village appeared in your foundation?"
Monica blankly rubbed her forehead.
"Damn, this is too much even for aggro bait."
"Aggro?"
Monica shook her head at the little one's question.
"Never mind, kiddo. So, like with Alexandr showing up in your foundation, other abyssal entities appeared too?"
"Well, the method was different, but broadly speaking, yes."
Monica scratched her head, struggling to understand. Then she finally clapped as if it clicked.
"Ah, so a ton of abyssal entities showed up, enough to form a village? And you sorted them out? Must've been tough."
The little one shook her head at Monica's words.
"No, the abyssal entities are forming a village there."
"......"
"And they've agreed to help with ether processing too."
Monica sat there blankly, then pinched the little one's cheek.
"Ow! What is this?!"
"Hmm... not a dream, huh."
"Pull your own cheek! This is barbaric!"
The little one hopped mad, and Monica burst into laughter. She was so cute; Monica wanted to snap a photo.
If only she stayed this adorable forever.
Thinking that, Monica stroked the little one's cheek apologetically.
"But your cheeks are like glutinous rice cakes—can't help but touch. That unique texture..."
Monica grinned cheesily, and the little one sighed, shaking her head.
"Anyway, act your age and position. A master should be dignified and grave."
"Yep, got it, old soul."
Monica stood from the sofa and slipped on her jacket.
"You believe me?"
"Yeah. Your wild tales always turn out true."
She'd been toying with the little one's cheeks while piecing it together. The stele from America's Aster Abyss, Alexandr and other abyssal entities—it all fit together like puzzle pieces.
"Well, we'll see for ourselves. An abyssal village? Color me curious."
Monica recalled the desolate 41st floor: towering spires amid abandoned buildings. Clear signs of civilization.
If abyssal entities are a strong humanity in the Abyss, they could have built civilizations inside.
Thanks to the little one, humanity's knowledge might advance a step.
Monica thought as she got in the car.
An abyssal village in a foundation.
Mages usually grew by stirring up incidents, but the little one's scale was blatantly abnormal.
Maybe she's hiding it on purpose?
Wrapped tight to avoid worldly harm. Only bad things seemed to find the little one: marked by a Mage Hunter at just seven, trapped in Abyss bubbles twice.
Monica stared piercingly, and the little one panicked.
"Monica? What's up? Uh... eyes on the road while driving... Monica? Monica!"
Monica returned to her lane, deep in thought.
Maybe it's better to throw her into the world...
Her musings deepened.
*
On the 1st floor where Monica arrived, she tossed off her sunglasses and surveyed the scene.
"Holy crap!"
Colossal stone statues, stone architecture, even outer walls etched with ether-wave patterns.
My foundation was becoming a proper village—a ruin-like one filled with ornate stone buildings.
Fascinated, Monica poked around everywhere.
"No way! Abyssal entities really built this?"
"Whoa! That's an ether tank cartridge!"
"What's with this architecture? Never seen it!"
"Is this tower an ether collector? Amazing!"
As Monica rummaged through the village, Alexandr appeared.
"Hey, staring like that is a nuisance."
"Ah, Alexandr kiddo!"
"Why keep calling me kiddo? Save it for your disciple!"
Monica approached nonchalantly and ruffled his hair.
"A few weeks ago, I visited our kiddo's foundation, right?"
"Oh, yeah?"
"It was a barren wasteland back then."
Monica looked around in wonder.
"Fountains, roads, streetlights and all!"
Alexandr tapped a building casually.
"Simple teleportation magic. Structures attuned to ether waves can be moved easily with ether."
Monica clapped and stroked the outer wall.
"Ah! That's why the wave patterns—to let ether flow naturally."
As Monica traced the wavy designs in awe, a sharp woman's voice cut in.
"Exactly. It's for mobility, but Abyss ether gales are deadly to buildings."
"Who?"
"Who're you?"
As the two women eyed each other, I cleared my throat and stepped between them.
"Now, now."
I introduced Yupri to Monica first.
"Monica? This is Yupri, leader of the abyssal village."
Yupri nodded curtly.
"Yupri. This is my magic master, Monica."
Monica beamed and offered her hand.
"Hi! Nice to meet you. You've got a total big-sis vibe."
"Big... sis?"
"Haha. Reliable onee-san type."
I sighed at Monica's words.
"Watch your words. She is my master."
"Sorry, sorry, kiddo~"
Monica continued as she toured the village.
"But building a massive village in weeks? Insane magic."
Yupri shook her head at Monica's comment.
"Nothing compared to our homeland."
"Still, ether generators, collectors, concentrators?"
"......"
Yupri looked flustered at Monica's words.
"You spotted it at a glance. Impressive."
"Heh heh~ Not for nothing am I a 7-level mage."
"But you still have far to go to match the mayor's demands."
"Mayor?"
I puffed out my chest proudly.
"I am the mayor of the city within the Abyss, Byeolbada."
"Oh..."
I scratched my head.
"But hitting my target output is tough."
"How much did you order?"
"Enough for eight large ether tanks."
"...A month?"
"What? That's the daily requirement."
"......"
Monica's jaw dropped.
"Pulling 2.4 billion won worth of ether daily? Kiddo, your ambitions are nuts. No foundation can sustain that."
I shrugged.
"According to Yupri, double that is possible."
Suddenly, dollar signs flashed in Monica's left eye.