Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Southern Alliance
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After showing the elves how I thoroughly cleaned the garden using the [Omniscient Shears] and the like right in front of them, for some reason, their attitude toward me grew even more deferential.
'They were already polite before, but...'
What can I say... Before, it felt like their respect was maxed out toward the dryad, and I was just being shown respect as her protector. But now, it feels like respect for me personally is surging up as well.
"Could it be that he has high elf blood...?"
"Can high elves even have mixed-blood children...?"
Still, I wish they wouldn't keep staring at me and whispering about elves and mixed blood. Hearing all that talk around me is starting to make my head spin. I'm human, you know.
"Alright... The rest of you keep cleaning the garden, and you three, go scout the forest outside the dungeon. Periodically check if any outsiders are intruding."
"Understood!"
Anyway, I selected three of the elves—whose movements had become strangely snappier—and sent them to scout the forest outside the dungeon.
With the abilities of elves, known as the forest's children, we wouldn't even need to wait for signs from the ruins anymore. We'd know in advance if humans or other demonkin tried to invade the forest. And on top of that...
"We'll plant the guardian tree seeds we have around the dungeon's vicinity. They'll form a natural barrier, making it hard for outsiders to easily find the entrance and causing them to wander lost."
"Good."
The elves turned out to be more useful than I'd expected, carrying all sorts of items that could help with dungeon defenses. From seeds of strange plants I'd never seen before to their own equipment, which looked like high-end gear.
"We trade with dungeon merchants by selling the various plants we cultivate. Elf-grown crops always have more demand than supply, so even though our dungeon's power was a bit weak, we were still fairly wealthy."
"I see."
Hmm. With the dryad's abilities growing stronger and now the elves added in, we might start having some surplus crops soon. Once we have a stockpile, maybe we should try selling some ourselves.
"Dungeon Master."
"Ah, right. Your name was... Alfred, yeah? What's up?"
After assigning tasks to the elves, the eldest-looking one among the new elves who'd joined from the ruins approached me separately.
He was the elf who'd assisted Rene for ages in running their dungeon—an expert in dungeon management, you could say.
"I've compiled and brought the information you requested."
"Mm."
I'd assigned the other elves to garden cleaning and such, but I'd pulled this Alfred aside for different duties.
Aside from the entrance to the underground, I'd given him free rein to roam the ruins' interior—including the garden and trap areas—to assess what was lacking and report back.
'Pretty quick.'
It had barely been two hours since I'd given him the task, yet this Alfred elf handed me a neatly organized report on what looked like high-quality paper. It felt like looking at a competent office worker.
'Let's see... It's written in a really clear way. Summarizing briefly...'
1. Lack of monsters.
Currently, the only monsters in the ruins are goblins and golems. And with many golems damaged this time, the number of active monsters inside is even scarcer.
Monsters are the most basic defensive force of any dungeon, and depending on the type, they can also handle farming or other chores. So Alfred recommended purchasing other monsters through dungeon merchants.
'He's even listed recommended monster types. I shouldn't decide this alone; I'll get opinions from the others too.'
The golems proved incredibly useful in defending against the heroes this time, so picking a few suitable monster types to buy should make things a lot more secure. I'll keep this in mind. Next.
2. Absence of mages.
'Magic, huh...'
Though the number of residents in the ruins had grown considerably, there wasn't a single one you could call a proper 'mage.'
Erzsebet used blood magic, and Lilith could deploy illusions, but those were more racial traits than formal magic, or so he'd said.
'True. The blood magic Erzsebet uses is mostly simple stuff like manifesting weapons.'
Among the heroes who'd invaded the ruins this time, there had been mages too. Due to their generally low physical strength and durability, they'd been wiped out by the suicide bombers right away and couldn't show their full power. But if the mages had been intact, we probably wouldn't have subdued them so easily.
'Let's see... A proper mage could set up real barriers, and high-level magic tools require mages to use them too...'
But unlike the first issue, solving this second one wouldn't be easy.
"Tch... Among demonkin, proper magic users are rare, right?"
Fundamentally, demonkin are beings born with powers like the Red Demon Tribe's flames or the Blood Demon Tribe's blood magic. As a result, most demonkin hone their innate racial traits rather than learning systematic magic.
The few proper magic experts were mostly affiliated with other dungeons anyway.
'...Should I wake Desmond after all?'
I thought of Desmond, who seemed like the most skilled mage I'd met so far, but I shook my head and dismissed the idea. It was still too soon to wake him. Who knows what nonsense he'd pull if he did.
Sure, I'd slapped a [Forced Contract] on him like a leash... but something about it still felt uneasy.
'This isn't something racking my brains will fix right now, so moving on. Next...'
After that came analyses of less critical matters, like clothing for the new arrivals or damaged gear from the battle. And on the back of each analysis were neatly outlined solutions, plus estimated budgets if resolved via dungeon merchants and such.
"It's tight, but... if we sell off everything we looted from the heroes this time, we should be able to cover these somehow..."
If we implemented everything in Alfred's report, these ruins could easily rise to the level of a proper 'dungeon.' Once we had solid enough defenses to feel secure, I could focus on the [Main Quest] again.
There were a few gaps, but for a report submitted on the first day in the ruins, it was impressively thorough.
"Good work. I'm impressed."
"I'm glad it meets your approval. But... Master, may I ask one question?"
"A question? Sure, go ahead."
After reading through Alfred's entire report and smiling in satisfaction, he suddenly brought up an unexpected question.
"Master... by any chance, has your dungeon joined that 'alliance'?"
"...Alliance?"
An out-of-left-field word. And one implying my 'dungeon' had joined some alliance—something felt off about it.
Seeing my expression and realizing I didn't know the term, Alfred began explaining the 'alliance.'
"As you're probably aware, the continent is divided into east, west, north, and south based on the human capital in the central region. Your dungeon and ours were both located in the south."
"And?"
"About 60... no, 70 years ago? Are you aware of the incident where the first 'Abyssal' dungeon was conquered by human heroes?"
"...You mean the dungeon conquered by the Hero of 'Radiance'?"
The one I'd killed—no, technically the skeleton did—but anyway, I'd learned about it while investigating Chris, the hero who died here. Humans had a badass 5-star hero nicknamed 'Radiance' who'd conquered one of the pinnacle dungeons called an 'Abyss.'
"Yes. And the location of that conquered dungeon... was right here in the southern region."
Abyss. The title humans gave to the most powerful dungeons they deemed 'unconquerable.'
But defying that title, about 70 years ago, a southern Abyss fell to human hands. They lost one 5-star hero and countless others in the process, but they conquered one Abyss and thoroughly smashed all the subordinate dungeons nearby.
As a result, most current dungeons in the south were newly formed after that Abyss fell. Compared to other regions, they had shorter histories, earning the south a reputation as the 'weakest'—with average demonkin and dungeons lagging far behind.
"After that, the conquest of the southern Abyss by humans became a trauma etched into the southern demonkin."
"Hmm... so?"
"Then, a few weeks ago... rumors spread that one of the perpetrators who conquered that Abyss was heading south."
"Ah."
Fallen.
One of the culprits who'd conquered the southern Abyss in the past, a 4-star hero considered elite even by imperial standards.
The empire, which had largely ignored the south until now, was dispatching a full 4-star hero there. Southern demonkin fell into panic.
"...We must unite our strength!"
Amid the anxiety, one demonkin proposed pooling their power.
Demonkin weren't ones to band together easily, but the old trauma drove them to it. In the end, three dungeons plus numerous unaffiliated demonkin formed a massive 'Southern Alliance.'
"Hmm... and?"
"Then, just two days ago, that alliance suddenly made a proposal to our dungeon."
Two days ago... that was the day Fallen died and the heroes retreated to Delron.
"They demanded we join their alliance and started pressuring nearby dungeons aggressively."
The Southern Alliance had formed to brace against the disaster named 'Fallen.' But now that Fallen was dead and even the heroes gone, the alliance—originally united for survival—began harboring other ambitions.
"They called it 'joining the alliance,' but it was really a demand to come under their command."
They'd approached weaker dungeons like the elves' 'Cradle of the Forest' with heavy-handed offers. It was a proposal not worth accepting, yet they openly threatened dungeons that refused.
As if they intended to become the rulers of the south.
"And to make matters worse, our queen wasn't in good health..."
"...So that's why Lil ran away?"
"Yes. Thinking her majesty's health needed to recover quickly..."
With their queen wasting away and dying, they couldn't stand against the alliance's power alone. In desperation, Lil had come to these ruins seeking the sacred tree.
"Since they moved after news of Fallen's death spread, they probably haven't absorbed other dungeons yet... but it's only a matter of time."
"And you're bringing this up now because..."
"...Yes."
Alfred swallowed dryly and got to the point.
"Once they learn Jin's dungeon still stands, they'll make some move. Whether to win you over... or eliminate you."