Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Dungeon Merchant
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When I had previously taken in the invading demons as kin, the increased manpower inside the ruins had allowed us to do more things. After all, more hands meant we could tackle tasks that were impossible before.
But this time, the Red Demon Tribe members who joined us were on another level entirely.
"Yes! Plant them over here... but not too close together!"
"Don't worry about where we'll live! Just give us a few planks and some nails, and we'll handle our own housing..."
The moment I assigned them tasks, they skillfully started farming with the fertilizer and seeds the kin had bought. When they worried about living space, I gave them some trees we'd cleared while cleaning the garden, and they whipped up log cabins in no time.
Watching that, even though they claimed to be weak, it was clear the Red Demon Tribe had physical specs far beyond humans—they were all ridiculously strong. Even that slender woman named Lina was carrying two logs at once by herself...
This ruin lacked a ton of basics, but with the Red Demon Tribe here, those gaps were filling one by one.
"D-Dungeon Master... forgive us. Due to material limits, this is the best we could do..."
"...No, you did great."
They even built a separate house just for me, the (fake) Dungeon Master. Right under Dry's main body, using small planks, nails bought from the city, and a few items I'd purchased from the [Shop]'s [Decoration] category—it turned out pretty decent.
Thank goodness. Until now, I'd just been sleeping on the bare floor in a sleeping bag...
"Hm. This coffin of mine should go right here."
"...Why are you in here? Get out."
"Master, surely placing one coffin is fine?"
And somehow, Erzsebet had moved her sleeping coffin into the house they built for me... Well, it was still pretty impressive overall.
"Dungeon Master... please...!"
They even cooked meals using ingredients bought from the city—not just for themselves, but for all the kin too. They served me with awestruck expressions. Where'd they get the bowls and utensils?
'Well then...'
The first home-cooked meal since arriving in this world. Unlike the [Shop] rations I'd been eating, this was real food. With anticipation, I scooped up some soup with a spoon and took a bite.
"...H-How is it?"
"...Hm."
...It lacked MSG.
Was I too spoiled by modern food? Objectively, Lina—the woman from the Red Demon Tribe handling cooking—had decent skills, but compared to dishes loaded with modern seasonings, it fell short.
Of course, to save points, I should eat local food whenever possible... but when points are plentiful, I'll treat myself to [Meals] category items now and then. They come with buffs too... Oh, that reminds me.
"You guys want to try this?"
"Pardon? D-Did the Dungeon Master make it himself...?"
"Nah, nothing like that. Just try it."
"Ah! Thank you!"
I bought a standard meal from the [Shop] and fed it to the Red Demon Tribe. They accepted it reverently at first, without much expectation, but their eyes went wide.
"D-Delicious, Master!"
"That's it?"
"Y-Yes...? F-Forgive me! I mean, the moment it touches your tongue, it's like a heavenly vista...!"
I wasn't asking for a review, but maybe they misinterpreted? Looking pale, they started lavishly praising the [Meal] I'd given them. I stopped them and observed their status.
'...As expected, buffs don't apply to non-[Employees], huh?'
The meal I fed them had a [Movement Speed +20%] buff. Unlike others, it was one you could visibly notice right away—I'd chosen it on purpose. Yet the Red Demon Tribe only raved about the taste; no sign of increased speed.
Instead, I tried sharing meals with Erzsebet's kin next.
"You guys eat too."
"Ooh... the Master's grace!"
Ever since becoming Erzsebet's kin, they looked a bit off in the head. They knelt and savored the food I'd handed down. They obeyed well, but that attitude was a bit much.
"Ooh...! Power! Power surges within us, Master!"
"This is the Dungeon Master's blessing...!"
And unlike the Red Demon Tribe, the kin received the meal buffs fully.
[Blood Kin]: Can create their own 'kin' to assist in cleaning tasks. Low-level cleaning tools can be equipped to 'kin' as well.
'Is this why?'
They're Erzsebet's kin. Checking [Employee Management], her [Talent] section listed [Blood Kin]. Probably thanks to this [Talent], they're loosely tied to the system, allowing meal buffs to apply.
I'd never had a comparison before to test it... Well, at least I learned something new. Previously, they couldn't use [Fast Travel] though.
"By the way, what's all that you're carrying?"
"Weapons!"
I'd told them to buy food, and they come back with weapons... No, objectively, since humans might invade again, arming the kin isn't a bad call...
"You spent it all?"
"Yes!"
"......"
Obviously, weapons cost more than basic rations. Even with farming, food issues wouldn't resolve overnight, so I'd planned to send kin to the city periodically for supplies until things stabilized...
These lunatics dumped every last coin left after basics into armaments.
"The most important thing in a dungeon is strength! And for that, weapons are key!"
These crazy demon bastards. Do you not eat? Think you can survive without food just because it's a dungeon...? The fat pouch of gold from the heroes got totally cleaned out.
'Sigh... Think positive.'
Next invader? Now the kin can fight too. Relying only on me, Erzsebet, and Dry has limits...
Grit. It pissed me off that they decided this on their own with our current tight finances, but I did tell them to buy other stuff wisely...
'With the Red Demon Tribe's help, we can cover immediate daily needs.'
Housing's solved. Food can be handled somewhat with Dry's abilities for farming. Worst case, we bought enough short-term rations.
'Still, more people isn't all good.'
More mouths to feed, plus increased consumption of clothes and sundries. City-bought goods will last for now, but supplies aren't infinite.
Food might work with Dry's powers, but other items...
'Going to human cities every time will be tough.'
No real way to earn money anyway, and sending disguised demons repeatedly is risky. We've bought time, but need a long-term resupply plan.
As Eugene experienced, even mighty demon dungeons are basically places where people live. And living means needing food and daily necessities.
But most dungeons prioritize 'strength,' so they lack personnel for productive activities. How do they solve this?
First: 'Slaves.' Not weak demons under their banner, but forcibly dominating nearby demon or human villages and taking all produced goods as tribute.
They dominate demon villages that live in groups, or human villages fleeing taxes, turning them into dungeon slaves.
The Holy Empire ignores these under the pretext of 'maintaining' dungeons. No rescues or dungeon destructions.
Second: Rare self-sufficiency. Demons value strength, but personalities vary. Some dungeons employ artisans or farmers to produce necessities internally.
But few dungeons use these methods. Slaves bring issues; internal production has limits.
So most dungeons opt for the final, common third way.
"Keeek! Master! Word is a new dungeon has appeared!"
"Kyakyakya! I heard too. How long's it been?"
Golden skin. Childlike stature. Resembling the common 'goblins' of the continent, these figures muttered with greedy chuckles.
"Tired of the same old customers every day... Finally, a new one!"
"With humans stirring, even regulars are buying more!"
"Kyakyakya! Gold will rain down!"
Dungeons' third resupply method: Through 'Dungeon Merchants' run by the golden goblin-like 'Gord' race.
They trade with dungeons continent-wide, selling necessities and even tamed monsters—essential for dungeon ops.
How they source and transport it all? Unknown. But crucially, they visit every dungeon reliably.
And Kenchi, leader of the Gord and Dungeon Merchants, grinned at news of a new dungeon customer and prepared to visit at once.