A Fortress in the City

After a deep, restorative sleep, Bennett woke late and stepped out into the daylight with a noticeably refreshed expression. Bella walked closely by his side, while Pungsan, who usually shadowed her every move, rested securely inside his subspace pocket.

"While you were away, I actually rode it around the yard a few times," Bella said, looking up at him.

"And?"

"It was surprisingly manageable. Kind of fun, honestly."

Bennett recalled the ear-splitting shriek she had let out the very first time she climbed aboard, and he had to press his lips together to stifle a laugh.

"Where did you say this place was again?" she asked.

"About ten minutes on foot from the Pioneers' Hall."

"Right in the city center, then. A property like that must cost a fortune. What came over those stingy dwarves to just hand it over?"

If Balduin had been there to hear that, he would have roared about people unfairly generalizing his entire race. Deep down, however, Bennett could not help but agree with his sister.

People often imagined dwarves as rugged and broad-minded, but those who were genuinely both were exceedingly rare. In truth, most merely put on a gruff exterior while pinching every copper till it screamed. That was precisely why Bennett's previous ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠encounter with Oldrock had caught him off guard. No matter how many valuable artifacts Bennett salvaged, receiving that level of unconditional goodwill from the Dwarf Kingdom was extraordinary.

"This is it, right?"

They came to a halt before an imposing estate.

It was situated in the center of a tidy, subtly upscale neighborhood where the prosperous middle class and wealthy merchants lived. Yet it did not appear to be an exclusively residential enclave. A muted undercurrent of commotion drifted from nearby estates, and as they walked past, Bennett spotted fully armed figures moving in and out of several gates. The neighboring compounds were likely serving as headquarters for scavenger clans, exploration teams, or mercenary outfits.

Bennett was more than satisfied with the arrangement. In an excessively tranquil neighborhood, the slightest disturbance invited unwanted attention. In an area that was already naturally bustling, a bit of noise would blend seamlessly into the background.

Clack!

He pushed the wrought-iron gate open to reveal a sprawling courtyard. Aside from a narrow stone path cutting through the center, weeds had grown knee-high across the grounds. It was practically begging to be seeded with lethal traps to welcome unexpected intruders.

The interior of the mansion was equally impressive. Dwarven residences were typically plastered with heavy stonework and distinctive racial motifs, but this estate had been arranged with a clean, comfortable, and welcoming ambiance. There was ample communal space for a gathering, along with a modest parlor set aside for guests, and plenty of individual bedchambers.

Stepping past the living quarters toward the rear grounds, they found an outdoor training area. The expansive yard had been partitioned into several medium and smaller practice rings, all in condition to be used immediately. Even the smaller sections offered more than enough room for a warrior to swing a heavy weapon without restraint.

"All we need now is to shore up the security, right? What do you think, Bennett?"

By ordinary standards, the estate was already well-protected, but for a pair of siblings whose survival instincts bordered on paranoia, ordinary was never enough. Bennett set to work on reinforcements without delay, purchasing reinforced heavy-duty locks and calling on Erika to help lay intricate magical wards.

"Oh! Is this our new hideout?"

"It is."

"...It looks really expensive. You didn't push yourself too hard to get this, did you?"

Bella, who was busy playing with the mechanical hound, chimed in before Bennett could answer. "Don't worry, Erika! The Dwarf Kingdom gave it to him completely free of charge!"

Though Erika and Bella had only met that day, any lingering awkwardness between them had evaporated within minutes. Bella had taken the initiative, warmly calling her "big sister" and striking up an effortless conversation.

"Bennett-nim," Erika said, turning back to him with a slight blush. "Would it be all right if I moved in here permanently?"

"Did something happen at your place?"

"Not really. My lease is about to expire, but when I asked to renew it, the landlord demanded an utterly absurd sum."

When Erika quoted the landlord's figure, Bennett frowned.

"That is excessive."

"Right?!"

Yet Bennett could not help wondering. Given the substantial coin Erika had pulled from their recent ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dungeon dives, the rent hike—steep as it was—should not have been beyond her means. Instead of beating around the bush, he asked her directly.

"Ah, well... that's..."

Hesitating for a moment, Erika finally confided the deeper reason. In the end, it came down to a crushing debt that had burdened her family for generations.

"If things had gone as usual, I would have had to spend years taking on odd spellcasting commissions for the guild just to keep up with the interest... But after diving into the dungeons with you, Bennett-nim, I realized I could pay it down in no time, even after setting aside my living expenses. I think I can finally settle the entire principal this time."

"I see."

Bennett gently patted her back in silent comfort. Tears welled in Erika's eyes, and she leaned in instinctively to bury her face in his chest, only to catch herself at the last second when she remembered Bella was watching.

"Move in whenever you like," Bennett told her softly. "There's plenty of room."

"Thank you so much..."

After spending the remainder of the day completing their security upgrades, Bennett summoned Kyle and Edgar to the mansion.

"Whoa..."

Both men took one look at the estate and broke into broad grins.

"You're welcome here at any time," Bennett said. "You can use the training grounds, or you can take a room and live here full-time. Just make sure you keep your own quarters clean."

"Haha! Understood, sir!"

"Before you settle in, there are several things you need to memorize."

Bennett proceeded to give them a detailed walkthrough of the new defenses he had installed throughout the estate.

Along the perimeter walls flanking the front gate, he had set detection-light wards. The moment any living creature over a certain size scaled the barrier, the magic would flash violently, exposing the intruder's silhouette whether they were climbing or dropping into the yard. From there, anyone advancing across the front courtyard had to navigate a minefield of mechanical traps concealed beneath the overgrown grass, ranging from simple foot-snapping snares to vicious bear traps engineered to mangle an ankle down to the bone.

The ground-floor windows facing the courtyard had been reinforced with iron bars rigged to discharge a paralyzing electric shock upon contact. Similar hidden tripwires, deadfalls, and obstruction measures lined the mansion's entrances, the interior hallways, and the approaches to the training ground.

The party members, who had begun the tour smiling, gradually listened in stunned silence. By the time Bennett finished, their jaws were slack.

"B-Bennett-nim... is all of this really necessary?"

"H-He's right. Isn't this a little overkill?"

"This isn't an estate. It's practically a military fortress."

"That is precisely the point."

"Pardon?"

"A fortress," Bennett repeated, his tone entirely calm and deliberate. "I am building a miniature fortress."

"..."

"We have fought countless life-and-death battles inside the dungeons, have we not?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then what makes you think those battles cannot follow us out here?"

The three froze mid-breath. They had been on the verge of arguing that their home city was far safer than the depths of a dungeon, but the harsh reality of their profession quickly silenced them. The city was not safe either. If a powerful faction took an interest in them or a single deal went sour, an ambush could strike at their doorstep at any moment.

"Measures like these exist to ensure our casualties remain at zero," Bennett said evenly. "We might only trigger these defenses once in our lives, but that single instance could save a comrade from dying. Do you still believe they are unnecessary?"

Shaking off their lingering doubts, Kyle and Edgar vigorously shook their heads.

"Not at all, Bennett-nim."

"Good. Then that settles it."

Having driven the lesson home, Bennett decided this was the right time to distribute the Superpower Development Drug.

"Gather round."

He laid out everything he knew about the capsules—their origins in the underground Earth laboratory, their intended function, and the dangerous factions that had been hunting for them.

"...After evaluating our options, I determined that distributing them among the three of you is the best course of action."

"What about you, Bennett-nim?" Kyle asked. "Are you not taking one?"

Bennett shook his head. "The medicinal formula clashes with the nature of the energy I cultivate."

"That's a shame..."

"We will administer them one by one. Kyle, you're up first."

"Yes, sir."

"Go change into light clothing. Edgar, Erika, do the same and wait for your turn."

When Kyle returned, he had stripped off his armor and scabbard, wearing only a thin linen shirt and trousers. Bennett had set up a cot in the training area and directed him to lie down.

"Relax. Don't tense up."

"Y-Yes, understood."

Kyle took a deep breath, squeezed his eyes shut, and swallowed the capsule whole.

At that exact moment, Bennett channeled his sensory skills simultaneously.

Kyle's internal anatomy unraveled clearly before Bennett's sight. A sudden rush of biological data made his temples throb, but once he filtered out the nonessential noise, he was able to track the internal changes with stable precision.

So this is how it functions.

The process was difficult to put into simple words, but in essence, an entirely new strand of mana coalesced around the dissolved capsule and permeated the tissue of Kyle's body. On the surface, the mechanism resembled the assimilation of an elixir, yet Kyle's total mana pool did not expand significantly.

The true transformation revealed itself the moment Kyle stood up and gripped his longsword.

Wuuush!

As Kyle slashed through the empty air, the steel blade elongated in an instant. A shimmering trail of azure light traced its extended arc across the courtyard.

"Wait... what just happened?"

"I saw it," Bennett said.

Including the hilt, Kyle's blade measured roughly 120 centimeters. Yet the strike he had just executed extended a staggering three hundred centimeters—a full three meters.

"It appears to extend your weapon's reach. Test it with other arms."

"Right away, sir."

Kyle experimented with a spear and a wooden bludgeon, but the elongation phenomenon refused to trigger. The mutation was bound strictly to swords. While the limitation was slightly disappointing, the utility remained exceptional. It was not merely stretching the metal; it was actively projecting the attack trajectory itself. When Kyle infused his sword with mana, the aura expanded in tandem with the elongated blade.

"I've acquired an ability normally reserved for Masters..." Kyle murmured, staring at his blade in disbelief.

"A remarkable gain," Bennett agreed.

Next was Edgar's turn.

Unlike Kyle, who had assimilated the compound smoothly, Edgar winced and clenched his jaw as an acute ache gripped his muscles. When the process ran its course, Edgar inspected his hands as a dull sheen swept over his skin.

Clang!

"Hmm?"

It was skin metallization. When Bennett tested it with a weapon strike, the kinetic shock was absorbed and blunted drastically. When Edgar layered his own mana over it, his defensive resilience multiplied even further. His skin could outright deflect mana-infused steel, and it was tough enough to withstand several direct slashes from pure aura blades.

"As your realm advances and your mana reserve grows, the durability will likely scale higher," Bennett noted.

Finally, it was Erika's turn.

She experienced no noticeable pain, but her assimilation required the longest duration by far. Yet the outcome proved well worth the wait.

"Magic Missile. Fireball."

Simultaneous casting. She had manifested two distinct spells at the exact same moment—a technical feat usually attainable only by 7th-Circle archmages. While it did not cut down the preparation time—charging two spells simultaneously actually took slightly longer than weaving one—it was barely a drawback when prepared in advance. It allowed her to unleash rapid-fire barrages or maintain a barrier while casting an offensive spell at the same time.

Perhaps because he had intently observed such rapid biological shifts inside three different bodies, his Insight skill ticked upward by a level.

A crisp tingle coursed through Bennett's veins, and he took a slow breath to steady himself. Erika, noticing the subtle change in his posture, tilted her head with a curious look. Seeing her like that, Bennett felt an unexpected surge of attraction.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"That will do for today," Bennett said, clearing his throat. "Head back for now, and start moving your personal belongings in tomorrow. From now on, this estate will be our staging ground before every dungeon expedition."

"Understood!"

Erika stepped out the front gate alongside Kyle and Edgar, but only a few minutes passed before she slipped quietly back into the courtyard. Bennett had been waiting near the foyer, and the moment she arrived, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he guided her back inside.

The latch had barely clicked shut before their bodies collided.

"Mmh..."

What started as a brief kiss rapidly unraveled into breathless urgency, and within seconds, clothes were scattered across the floor. Standing bare before him, Erika took a hesitant step toward him, then flushed.

"Ah... wait, I haven't showered yet..."

"We can wash together."

Stepping into the shower room, they began gently lathering each other's skin, but the restraint could not last. In no time, their wet bodies pressed flush together.

"Ah..."

Gentle caresses turned firm and demanding under the warm spray, and soon they were moving as one. Long after their passion had spilled from the bath into the bedroom, Bennett and Erika finally sat opposite each other at the kitchen table, sharing a simple meal.

"There weren't many ingredients in the pantry, so I couldn't make much..."

"It's plenty."

Erika took a few bites, glancing at him with a hesitant look before speaking up softly. "Um... would it be all right if I took tomorrow off?"

"You don't need my permission to manage your own time."

She pouted playfully, then continued. "I want to settle my debt once and for all."

Bennett was about to nod and let it pass, but caution tugged at him. "Who holds the contract?"

"A moneylending outfit called Happy Money. It shouldn't be an issue, though. Their boss was an old acquaintance of my grandfather, and our family has never missed a payment. We're actually on relatively decent terms."

After finishing her plate, Erika smiled, promised to return as soon as the paperwork was settled, and left the safehouse.

Two days passed.

She never returned.