Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Becoming the Dungeon Master! #10
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"Kerruk! Kerruk!"
Terrified, the goblin began screeching like a madman. That was all it could do right now. Vines had wrapped around its legs, pinning it in place. It looked just like a deer caught in a trap.
"Shaaah!"
Sharan menaced it, ready to kill.
"Hold up!"
I barked the order to stop!
"Shaa?"
"Sharan! Don't kill it! Just scare it like I do! Like this! Raaargh!"
—Kraaaargh!
I rushed right up to the bound goblin and roared at the top of my lungs!
"Ke, keruk?!"
The goblin went pale!
Perfect! Let's push it into full panic and make it pass out! Then Monster Domination will land 100%!
"Kraaaargh! Kraaaargh! Sharan! Like this! Roar and just scare it!"
"Shaa?"
Sharan tilted her head for a moment.
"Shaa shaa!"
—Twinkle!
Her eyes lit up as she clasped her hands to her chest and nodded!
She got it!
And then!
—Whoosh!
Sharan thrust both hands savagely over her head, wiggling her fingers like a ghost as she started circling the goblin!
"Shaaaaah! Shaaaaah!"
She roared ferociously and menacingly!
"Keruuuuugh!"
The goblin, hit with that treatment, pissed itself and screamed like it had fallen into hell.
"Nice! That's perfect! But Buril... huh?"
"Kerruk...! Kerururung!"
But this damn Buril was cowering in the corner again, watching Sharan's threats, shaking like a leaf with his fist jammed in his mouth.
"Ugh! Come on, Buril! What kind of example are you setting?!"
"Shaa! Shaaaaah!"
"Kehuuuugh!"
Sharan hissing threats and Buril scared shitless.
Whatever!
"Kick it! Soccer!"
I pretended to soccer-kick the goblin's head, scaring the crap out of it.
"Keruk!"
"Kick it! Soccer!"
"Keeek!"
No one could stay calm with a demon twice their size swinging a foot right at their face.
"Shaaaaah! Shaaaaah!"
"Kick it! Soccer!"
That's how Sharan and I hammered the goblin's psyche to the breaking point.
And with that...
"Kek!"
Finally, the goblin passed out.
"Now! Sharan, stop! Yoshi! Demon Tribe Domination!"
—Gooooh!
I exploded my focus, unleashing black magic!
"Inject!"
I slammed it right into the back of the unconscious goblin's head. With a pzzt, my orb seeped into its body. A few seconds later...
"Ke, Kerruk...?"
The goblin stirred, coming to.
"Look at me! Goblin! Look at me!"
"Keruk...?"
"Good! You're looking! Now... raise your left arm!"
"Keruk."
—Whoosh.
The goblin raised its left arm.
"Success!"
A shiver ran through me.
Thrilling chills.
I'd acquired my second goblin. Realizing that sent waves of excitement surging from deep inside.
"Woo! Woooh! Wooaaah!"
I jumped for joy, circling the goblin.
"Shaaaaah! Shaaaaah!"
Sharan mimicked me, sticking behind and cheering along. We turned it into a victory lap train with Sharan.
"Keruk...?"
Leaving the baffled goblin in the center.
"Keruk! Kerruk keruk!"
But this one spotted Sharan and freaked out too. Guess it's just goblin instinct.
"Anyway, Buril! You've got a real junior now! Same goblin tribe!"
I went over to Buril, who was huddled in the corner sobbing with his fist in his mouth, and broke the news.
"Kerung...?"
"Yeah. Look over there. Your real junior. Dude, you've got a junior and you're showing this scared face? You gotta man up and lead him right. Can't show weakness from the start."
That pep talk worked.
"Ke, keruk!"
Buril jumped to his feet, getting it!
"Sharan, come here. Buril, go educate the newbie."
"Keruk!"
—Dash dash!
Buril charged off.
"Shaa shaa."
Sharan flapped her ears as she came over.
"Yeah. Good job, Sharan. Sit by me."
"Shaa."
And so.
"Keruk! Kerruk keruk!"
"Ke, keruluk..."
I sat side by side with Sharan, watching Buril train the goblin recruit. It was heartwarming as hell.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We went hunting with the new goblin recruit. With more hands, we bagged game quick and headed back to the dungeon with dinner.
"Keruk. Keruk keruk."
Buril, now strutting like a boss, lectured the newbie as he led the way.
"Ke, kerruk..."
The goblin—no, Buril's real junior, so let's call him Newbie. Anyway, Newbie was totally deflated. Scared of his senior, and fuck, there was a dryad behind him too.
Good thing getting a junior had toughened Buril up a bit. He'd guide him well from here.
"Anyway, Sharan, you did amazing. I really love you."
"Shaa."
God, Sharan was too cute. Pretty face, killer body, adorable everything. I should really make her my wife.
We returned to the dungeon.
"Grrrng!"
"Kyusat."
"Yeah, bro's back. Light a fire and eat."
My minions welcomed me as I built the fire and chowed down. Im Sung handled the fire-starting, of course. The Kyu Ils gathered decent firewood too.
"Alright! Everyone done? Back to work!"
"Keruk!"
"Kyusat!"
After chow, work time.
We dove into dungeon expansion with my crew. Newbie's first day.
Honestly, making fresh recruits work right away marks a trash unit, but this was the front lines. No choice.
"Keruk keruk."
"Kerung."
Buril was showing Newbie how to shovel. Reliable as ever.
As we dug like mad...
"Shaa."
Sharan grabbed my shoulder.
She'd come over from watching me work.
"Heh heh, Sharan's here? What's up?"
"Shaa shaa."
—Point.
She pointed at the dungeon entrance.
"Something there?"
"Shaaa."
—Up.
Her hand rose upward.
"Cliff."
The dungeon mouth was at the base of this cliff. Not a huge one. Looking up, trees and plants grew along the top.
"Shaa. Shaa shaa. Shaa? Shaaa."
Like, look up. Sharan made me do that, then stroked and tapped the entrance wall, explaining animatedly.
"Uh... Sharan? I like you a ton, but I still can't understand your words."
"Shaa. Shaa shaa. Shaa."
This sucks.
Couldn't get it, so frustrating.
Then...
—Rustle.
"Shaa..."
Suddenly, Sharan pressed her hand to the dungeon wall and drew on her power. Green aura enveloped her.
"Keruk!"
"Gruk!"
The goblins freaked and bolted inside. I just watched what Sharan was up to.
"Sharan, you're about to do something."
"Shaa."
Hand on the wall, she nodded.
—Gooooh.
Mystical magic unfolded.
How long passed?
—Crack!
Suddenly, root-like things burst through the dungeon wall!
"Whoa?!"
The roots climbed the wall... reaching the ceiling. Like ivy overtaking stone.
Not that dramatic, though.
Limited control. The roots lightly covered the entrance wall and ceiling, then stopped growing.
"..."
Overall...
Thin roots blanketing wall and ceiling.
"This is..."
No way.
"Sharan... did you just reinforce the dungeon's durability?"
Durability boost.
"Shaa shaa."
Sharan smiled and nodded.
"Sharan!"
"Sh, shaat?!"
—Hug!
I pulled her into a bear hug!
"Reinforcing the dungeon too...! You're perfect! My Sharan!"
She'd toughened up the dungeon!
Those roots would support and brace my dungeon!
"Sharan!"
If reinforced right, no more ceiling dirt drops! And once done, it'd feel like a dungeon woven into plant roots!
That thought had me ecstatic!
"Sharan! Sharan...!"
"Sh, shaa..."
—Lick.
Sharan groomed my face.
"Too cute!!!"
As she groomed me, I thought.
Sharan needs smart energy management ahead. Tool-making takes power. Vine restraining too. Dungeon reinforcing too.
So, restoring her power is key... how?
"Demonic power injection?"
Sounds good.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Shaa!"
As expected, Sharan loved my demonic power injection. She was bursting with energy now. Overflowing power.
"Sharan happy?"
"Shaa!"
Good.
Mornings for my recovery, then long-term injections for her. Win-win: she thrives, and my regular use boosts my max capacity gradually.
Once capacity and spare power grow, I can crack open the black magic book for real study.
"Gotta grow my base, then myself."
I'll level up as a demon, inject more into Sharan.
Plus... her frequent magic use raises skill proficiency and levels.
Perfect!
"Awesome!"
Build dungeon, grow minions, power up—I'll repel any invaders!
"Time for another hunt! Sharan, just us two this time."
"Shaa shaa."
"Buril! Mind the crew and work! Bro's back soon!"
"Keruk!"
—Snap!
Buril saluted with his shovel like a pro.
"Too damn cute."
So reliable.
"Okay. Let's move! Sharan!"
"Shaa!"
Like heading on a date.
I set out with Sharan.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We were cruising along with Sharan when...
"Shaat? Shaa."
—Halt.
Sharan stopped dead.
Something's up.
"..."
I shut my mouth and pressed against her side. She was on alert too, glaring ahead.
If Sharan's wary...
Dangerous foes?
—Creep.
I dropped prone and crawled forward. Sharan hid behind a tree.
I parted the bushes ahead and peeked.
"Grak! Grik!"
"Grak! Grik!"
Chanting voices.
"Grak! Grik!"
"Grak! Grik!"
Bodies bigger than goblins.
Red, bumpy skin.
Noses so flat and upturned, nostrils faced front.
"Grak! Grik!"
"Grak! Grik!"
Those looks.
"Grak! Grik!"
"Grak! Grik!"
Wearing self-made stone axes and leather garb... marching in formation like an army.
"New species."
Instinct screamed.
Those fuckers look dangerous.