Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Solidifying the Foundation #13
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Those energetic days passed by just like that.
"Hua!"
In the mornings, I'd wake up, wash my face and hands with the clear well water that Lumika had prepared, do some light exercise and spear training, then properly kick off the day.
The day always started with everyone gathering together for a meal. After eating delicious food, I'd prepare for the day's work, gather all my subordinates, and assign their tasks.
Then it was time to get to work.
The work consisted of training, hunting, dungeon construction, and the like. It was just like running an army—heading out on missions, drilling in training, standing guard, or doing labor around the base. All of it was more or less the same.
"Hoo."
But right now was a period focused on personal maintenance and conditioning.
After absorbing Bargest's power, I'd tasted some pretty satisfying growth. So, it was time for training. Having grown stronger meant I needed the skills to match.
I'd felt it desperately during my fight with Bargest.
I had to get stronger.
—Shruk.
I immediately spread out the black magic tome and dove into my studies.
"Kartiya."
I missed Kartiya.
What was she up to right now? I had no idea, but I imagined her in the library reading books. She was such a pure girl who loved them.
Anyway, this black magic stuff was incredibly difficult. Self-studying it was no joke.
The lower-tier black magic spell I wanted to learn this time was Dark Spear. It was a ranged attack spell that shaped demonic power into the form of a spear and fired it off.
It seemed like it would have greater range and power than Demon Breath, right? But damn, it was insanely hard.
"Dark Spear!"
—Tszzt!
As I chanted, flames flickered in my palm, starting to take on a shape. What emerged was something like a wooden log.
—Boom!
"Ow."
Of course, it couldn't hold the form for even a few seconds before exploding. As expected of a failed black magic spell, the destructive power was practically zero.
And so, I kept burning through my precious demonic power, challenging Dark Spear over and over and over.
"Aigoo, fuck."
True to self-study form, I just kept repeating the same trial and error.
"Haa."
I leaned back against the wooden chair with a sigh.
"Maaang-nim. Failed again?"
Sharan had arrived.
No matter what, just seeing Sharan's face and body instantly reignited my sunken mood.
"Yeah. Failed again. This one's a real bitch."
"It's okay-yo. Maaang-nim can do it-yo."
"Really? You think I can?"
"Sharan's cheering you on-yo."
With that, Sharan struck a pose in front of me as I sat in the chair—hands behind her head, chest thrust forward.
And then.
—Jiggle jiggle.
Sharan started shaking her breasts in an encouraging dance!
"Ooh!"
"Feeling pumped, Maaang-nim?"
"Yeah! Thanks to Sharan, I'm overflowing with energy!"
Here was this pretty, cute Sharan shaking her tits right in front of me as her way of cheering me up! If that didn't get your blood pumping, you weren't a man!
"Alright! Back at it with full power! Thanks, Sharan!"
"Yes, Maaang-nim. Then Sharan will head back to the dungeon root work-yo."
"Yeah, go for it!"
With that, Sharan headed back into the depths of the dungeon.
Dungeon root work.
It was the construction of covering the dungeon walls and ceiling with tree roots. It had been progressing slowly at first, so I'd planned to do it later, but with Lumika joining, the efficiency had skyrocketed.
With a massive supply of good water, the roots were growing like crazy. No more worries about dirt falling from the ceiling or walls.
Sharan and Lumika got along pretty well. Sharan was plant-type, Lumika water-type, after all. Perfect synergy.
"Dark Spear!"
—Fwoosh!
Maybe thanks to Sharan's cheer, the shape was better than before. I needed to maintain the form according to the incantation, then add piercing and explosive power, but for today, I'd focus on just shaping it.
As I was at it.
"Demon King. You're working hard."
This time, Lumika showed up.
"Hey, Lumika."
"Here. Cold water."
Lumika handed me a cup. Sure enough, it was filled with refreshingly cold water.
"Heh heh heh, thanks."
Lumika was currently wearing the leaf bra and panties that Sharan had made for her. I liked that look. Anyway, I drank the water right away.
—Gulp.
"Kya. This is tasty."
"...Tasty?"
"Yeah. Nice and cool."
"..."
What?
Why was she blushing?
"What's up? Why's your face red?"
"N-no reason. But Demon King?"
"Yeah."
"You want to make a big water source around the dungeon, right?"
That's right.
"Yeah. But you said you need to visit the lake first to gather power or something. What's that exactly?"
"Just what it sounds like. If I gather the lake's power, I can use it to create a large water vein."
"Hmm... Magic, huh."
"It'll take some time. But if you want it faster, we should start soon, right?"
"Yeah. I'll take you to the lake soon."
I had an idea brewing.
Creating an underground level in the dungeon with an underground river flowing through... or even an underground lake. Wouldn't that be convenient?
Gathering that lake power seemed like it could make it happen.
Anyway.
After studying the black magic tome until around one or two in the afternoon.
"Keruk!"
I heard Buril's voice from over there!
"Hey! Buril's back!"
"Kerrung!"
The rushing Buril hugged my thigh.
"You little rascal!"
I patted his head, then looked behind him.
"Keruk! Keruk!"
"Kerrruk!"
My goblin soldiers were returning with grins on their faces.
And behind them.
"Krrruk!"
"Gyusat!"
A line of bound imps and kobolds were being dragged along.
"Good job! Mission accomplished!"
"Kerrruk!"
Buril had grown to hobgoblin size, so I'd tested sending him out on a mission without me. The task was capturing imp and kobold prisoners. I'd also told them to bring back some game as a bonus.
And they'd succeeded brilliantly.
Two imps and three kobolds captured. What cute little guys. They'd all grown up and were handling things on their own now.
"Well done! My goblin legion!"
"Keruk!"
"Keruk!"
It was all thanks to Buril's growth.
"Keruk!"
Buril, now hobgoblin-sized! And even cuter for it! Look at those sparkling eyes!
"Buril did great too! Good command work! Mission success!"
"Kerurung!"
Mission success meant it was time for a break.
"Everyone. Great work on today's mission—take it easy! Bath time and personal maintenance starting now! At ease!"
"Kerrruk!"
"Kerung!"
"Kaerrung!"
At ease, and the goblins cheered. These guys loved chasing bugs or just lying around napping.
"Buril."
"Keruk?"
"Rest when you rest, but maintain rest discipline, got it? Don't wander far, keep the kids in line and make sure they relax properly."
"Keruk!"
—Snap!
Buril saluted and shouted as if to say, Trust me!
"Heh heh heh, yeah. I trust you. Now, Im Sung! Kyu Il! Prep some food!"
"Kruk!"
"Ah! And the new recruits are here—come check 'em out!"
"Gyusasat?!"
At the mention of newbies, Im Sung and Kyu Il burst out from inside the dungeon.
"Kruk!"
"Gyusasat!"
The pair came out, spotted the prisoners, and started jumping around excitedly.
"Yeah. These are your new underlings now. Take good care of 'em."
Time to try the domination skill.
"Kruk...!"
"Gyusat!"
I stepped up to the bound prisoners and extended my hand. Using domination today meant I'd have to infuse their demonic power tomorrow. It'd delay my black magic training a bit, but that was fine.
My forces were growing.
"Monster Domination!"
—Fwoosh!
I injected the skill into each one, one by one.
"Kruk?!"
If things went smoothly like this—increasing numbers and training them up—I could wipe out any Bargest wannabes who came knocking without breaking a sweat.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Two days later.
We took Lumika back to the lake. She'd said gathering the lake's power would take some time. She didn't know the exact duration herself, so what could we do?
Guess we'd have to visit often.
"Alright, Mika. I'll come by a lot, so don't get too lonely."
"L-lonely! I've always been alone anyway, why would I..."
That sounded exactly like something a lonely person would say.
"Still. I'll keep visiting."
"...Bring white stuff next time."
What, I'm not some Melona ice cream.
"Got it."
After chatting a bit more with Lumika, we turned to leave.
"Maaang-nim. Once Lumika gathers the lake power, life gets way easier for us-yo."
"Heh heh heh, you bet."
No more water worries.
"Living without water problems is the best. Anyway, Sharan. Since we're out, wanna do some scouting?"
"Yes, Maaang-nim."
The predator Bargest that had prowled this area was dead. There might be some changes.
I headed with Sharan toward a section we hadn't explored yet.
As we went.
"Ah! Maaang-nim! Imp spotted-yo!"
"Where!"
"Kruk?!"
"There?!"
—Pew!
I charged like a hurled Poké Ball, caught the imp, and slammed it with a body check to capture it!
"Krrruk!"
"Yeah, you're joining Im Sung's crew now. Monster Domination infusion!"
"Kruk...?!"
Smooth taming.
The imp shuddered as the demonic power infused it, then calmed down. It blinked up at me.
"Krrruk!"
And so the imp ruckus began.
"Ruckus is just your species trait, huh. Anyway, follow me. You're my subordinate now."
"Krrruk."
"Maaang-nim. One more subordinate-yo."
—Clap clap clap.
Sharan applauded.
"This is what they call pure profit. But Sharan, no other dryads around?"
"Other dryads-yo?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm... Haven't seen any-yo. Ah. Saw some long ago-yo."
"Long ago?"
"Yes. We fought, chased 'em off-yo. Don't know after that-yo."
Just territory dispute, huh.
Not weird if more dryads were around.
"Maaang-nim. Want more dryads-yo?"
"Wouldn't hurt. Sharan could command them as subordinates."
"Shaa... Then if we meet some next time, capture 'em-yo."
"Heh heh heh, sure."
Sharan would like some minions too.
Oh, hadn't seen a fairy lately. Planned to catch one if I did.
—Rustle rustle.
I continued scouting with Sharan. Plenty of time left, and Buril was guarding the dungeon, so no worries. We could go far.
How long had we walked?
—Meeeel! Meeeeeh!
—Shwaaa! Shwaaa!
"What the hell's that noise?"
Sounds I'd never heard before.
"Sharan. Any idea?"
"Other species? Maybe-yo?"
"Let's check it out."
—Swoosh.
I readied my spear, stepped as quietly as possible, and crept slowly toward the source.
—Rustle.
I parted the bushes slightly and peered ahead.
"Mweeeeh! Bwaaaah!"
"Shwaaaak! Shwaaaak!"
An astonishing sight!
"Holy shit!"
Some bipedal monster with a goat or yak lower body! Its upper body was humanoid, but the face was a grotesque mashup of ape and mountain goat!
Such monsters!
"Shwaaaak!"
Were at war with limb-legged lizard bastards!