Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Those Human Bastards #1
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"Alright! Gyu-il! You lot, dig this place the hell out!"
"Gyu-sas!"
Ever since Lumika came back, we'd been focusing on dungeon construction.
"Buril. This is gonna be your sleeping quarters from now on. Make yourselves at home. And dig those walls nice and neat while you're at it."
"Keruk!"
Led by Gyu-il, the kobold engineering corps got to work excavating new passages in the dungeon. Meanwhile, squad leader Buril and his goblins were building their own barracks.
Our dungeon had kind of an ant colony vibe to it. Just like ants burrowing underground, constantly expanding rooms and tunnels—we'd do the same.
We had to grow our forces and keep extending the dungeon. Make an underground level, then a second floor, and so on.
"Mama-nim. Chair's done."
"Lemme see."
I headed straight to the master bedroom to check out Sharan's handiwork.
"Whoa! This is perfect!"
There sat a flawless wooden chair made from logs!
"As expected from my Sharan—you've got a real knack for this stuff! You nailed it! You're a master craftsman, a true artisan!"
"Sha-sha."
I showered her with praise and stroked her head. Sharan's ears fluttered happily as she beamed. It was a bit hard on the butt when I sat down, but damn, we finally had a proper chair.
This made me so happy.
Sharan had already whipped up a ton of tools, a bed, and more chairs. Reinforcing the dungeon walls and ceiling with logs was just icing on the cake. How could it look this good? She was a one-woman supply corps, cranking out whatever we needed.
"Lumika!"
I went looking for Lumika at the far end of the dungeon.
>—Splash!
Lumika burst out from what had become a makeshift well in the temporary underground passage.
"Demon King? You called?"
"Yeah. Just checking how it's going. Holy shit, this tunnel's completely flooded."
"We're tapping into the groundwater, so it'll drain out once the path's clear."
"Gotcha."
It was pretty amazing. She was using water manipulation magic to carve a path downward and handle the underground stream below. If Lumika pulled this off, we'd have our own underground lake on the first sublevel—a constantly flowing one.
"Seriously, Lumika, thank you. This is tough work, and you're killing it."
I was so proud that I stroked her head and praised her just like I had with Sharan earlier. Weirdly, Lumika's hair never got soaked, no matter what. It always looked glossy and soft—even fresh out of the water.
"I-It's nothing. I'm not really trying that hard..."
As I petted her, she got all shy and denied it.
"I'm just doing it 'cause I want more hwayang."
"Heh heh heh. Your motives are crystal clear. Fine, I'll give you plenty."
"Oh, and... Demon King."
"Yeah?"
"Um... that thing you did to Sharan yesterday."
"What thing?"
Lumika brought her fist to her mouth, hiding it as she blushed even harder.
"That... touching her here."
"Here?"
I glanced downward.
At the pristine, pretty shell-like swimsuit covering Lumika's privates.
"I'd like it if you did it to me too..."
"Hold that thought."
>—Splash!
The moment I agreed, Lumika dove back into the well. What a girl. She really loved our physical closeness. Not that I minded.
"Alright."
I headed back to the master bedroom.
"Sharan. Watch the kids here at home for a bit. I'm heading out to forage."
"Yes, Mama-nim. B-But you're going alone? It's dangerous."
Sharan reached out worriedly and touched my face.
Of course I wasn't going alone.
"I'll take the Im-sungs with me. That'll be plenty."
"Oh. Then it's fine. Come back safe, Mama-nim."
"Heh heh heh. Will do."
I went straight to where the imps were gathered.
"Krrruk!"
"Kruk!"
"Kkururung!"
No joke, the second I showed up, it was pure chaos. Imps were these hyperactive little shits who couldn't stop with the pointless antics—screeching nonsense, doing somersaults, you name it. Except when they slept.
>—Hop!
>—Hop!
"Hey, hey. Im-sungs. Your big bro's here."
"Kruk?!"
Im-sung, who had been dancing with his minions, hopped over to me in a flash.
"These punks are overflowing with energy, huh?"
"Krrruk."
"Time to burn some off. Im-sung. Take the boys and come outside with me."
"Kruk?"
"Gotta get food."
"Kruk!"
Im-sung got it right away and lined up his crew. He managed all the imps perfectly. What a loyal heart-minion.
Me, Buril, Im-sung, and Gyu-il—we were the dungeon's F4.
Anyway.
Imps sucked at manual labor compared to kobolds or goblins. Out of the three races, they had the worst work ethic. But their combat was on par with kobolds, plus they had magic utility.
Overall? Goblins for combat. Kobolds for construction. Imps were hybrids—which is a nice way of saying mediocre at both, or bluntly, useless at everything. Time to give these rascals some jobs.
"Let's go, boys!"
"Kruk!"
"Krrruk!"
And so I led the rowdy imps out of the dungeon.
"Man. Even this place feels like home now."
Walking the forest path with the imps trailing me felt downright refreshing.
"Kruk kruk!"
Im-sung was thrilled to be out with me, zipping around like a maniac. What a wild little bastard. We moved to a good spot.
"Im-sung. Have the boys forage around here."
"Kruk!"
Im-sung saluted like Buril.
"Heh heh heh. Good. Let's roll!"
"Kruk!"
Im-sung rounded up the darting imps, gesturing wildly and barking orders.
Then...
"Kruk!"
"Kkururung!"
>—Whoosh!
The imps scattered in every direction, foraging like pros. Some climbed trees for fruit, others dug for grubs. Hell, even mushroom pickers over there.
These guys had great task division?
"Damn, Im-sung. You're the boss for a reason—you keep 'em in line!"
A surge of affection hit me, and I ruffled Im-sung's head like crazy.
"Kruk!"
Im-sung loved it.
This little guy's a true boss—he gets shit done.
"Can't wait to see you shine in combat."
Anyway, I supervised while the imps worked, scanning the area. I was the lion here—overseeing, protecting, and smashing any threats.
That was my role.
Right then.
"Kruk!"
Im-sung came bounding back!
"Whoa! Im-sung! What is it!"
"Krrruk!"
>—Bounce bounce!
Im-sung hopped frantically, grabbing my wrist and pointing. No need to think.
>—Shing.
I drew my sword and headed that way.
There...
"Krrruk!"
"Kwaaak!"
The fifth guy in? Anyway, an imp was wrestling a land dodo.
"Ah! You found prey! Good job, kid! Big bro's here—step aside!"
"Kruk!"
The imp jumped off the dodo!
>—Slash!
>—Shing!
"Qlus Chain Slash!"
I unleashed two lightning-fast strikes, cleaving the dodo.
"Guk!"
The dodo, victim of my swordsmanship, crumpled in a gruesome heap!
"Krrruk!"
"Kruk!"
The imps gathered, cheering me on!
"Hahaha! This is the power of Demon King Kim Qlus! Hey, Im-sung. Have the boys gut it and bleed it. Share the innards among yourselves."
"Krrruk!"
The imps swarmed the carcass and got to work.
That's teamwork.
"Whew."
Innards spoil fast, so best eat 'em on-site. Monsters love raw guts anyway. Working together means sharing the feast, right?
"Krrruk!"
"Kkurung!"
The imps tore into the guts with gleeful shrieks. Im-sung suddenly offered me a chunk of meat.
"Eat plenty yourself."
"Kruk?"
I don't do raw innards.
"Appreciate the thought."
* * *
Hunting like this, we'd occasionally run into wild goblins or imps. Like now.
"Uooooh!"
"Keruk!"
I kicked off the ground hard, slamming a body-check into the goblin!
>—Boom!
"Keruk!"
With the steel armor I'd looted from humans, I didn't worry about bites or scratches. I went all-in on the tackle, sending the goblin flying for an easy takedown.
"Monster Domination!"
"Keruk?!"
Easy domination.
"Keruk...?"
The newly reborn goblin stared up at me blankly. Wish Buril were here.
"Im-sung. You manage this one... Huh?"
"Krrruk!"
"Kruk!"
Im-sung and his crew were over there ganging up on a wild goblin.
"Kerruk!"
The goblin clutched its head, screaming under their kicks.
Time to nab that one too.
"Im-sung. Hold up. Big bro's here."
"Kruk!"
"Monster Domination!"
>—Pok!
Domination deployed!
"Keruk...?"
Two more minions acquired!
"Whew, good haul today."
Mobs like goblins respawned now and then, like this. Probably wanderers from elsewhere.
"Im-sung, boys. Great work today. Sacks are over half full—fill 'em up and head home!"
"Kruk!"
So Im-sung and I looped the forest, foraging and hunting. Tons of fruit and meat. Even snagged another imp on the way back—population up by three.
"Wanna expand the kobold engineers."
More kobolds meant handing off all construction. Then drill the goblins purely for combat.
Anyway, home sweet home.
"Buril! New recruits!"
"Keruk!"
"Hey. Obey Buril from now on."
"Keruyong..."
"Kaereng..."
The rookies whimpered, cowed by tough-guy Buril. He grinned like a mask and scooped them up. Back in my army days, newbies were fun too. Same for him, huh.
"Heh heh heh."
Used to train every goblin myself. Now the squad was big enough—no need. What progress.
"Mama-nim's back."
"Yeah, Sharan. Held down the fort?"
"Yes. Just like you said. No enemies came."
"Good."
I wrapped an arm around Sharan's waist and headed inside.
"Gyu-sas!"
Gyu-il spotted me and came hopping over. I rubbed his snout.
"Good work today, Gyu-il. Rest up. Tell the crew to stand down."
"Gyu-sat!"
Sounds good.
Work's done for the day.
"Lumika!"
Deeper in, I called Lumika. She appeared right away.
"Call it quits for today. Rest."
"Huh? I can do more."
Even if she could, rest was key.
"You're gonna wear yourself out. Great job, Lumika. Thanks again."
>—Stroke stroke.
I patted her shoulder. She nodded.
"Not really tired... but okay."
Alright then.
Bit till dinner, so...
"Lumika. Wanna do that thing before dinner?"
"What?"
"Teach me human words. Been a while."
"Oh. Yeah, it's been a bit. Sure, I'll teach you."
"Sweet. Master bedroom. Sharan, join us."
"Yes, Mama-nim."
Sharan and Lumika followed me to the bedroom for human language lessons.
"Repeat what I say in human tongue. I'll mimic the pronunciation, and you explain. Got it?"
"Yeah, got it."
"Let's start."
I learned human speech with Sharan.
Lumika was super patient, explaining everything I didn't get, teaching so sweetly. Her care made it stick right in my brain.
Reminded me of learning Demon Realm tongue. No proper teachers back then, no friends for a reject like me—learning was a nightmare.
"This is way better."
Lesson over, dinnertime.
"Eat, wash up, and crash."
"Yes, Mama-nim."
"Im-sung! Have the boys prep dinner!"
Lemme check. How much mana left?
I meditated briefly to gauge my reserves. Infused Buril, Im-sung, and Gyu-il today. Split the rest evenly among the others.
Of course, my officers get topped off with hwayang instead.