The New Home is a Dungeon (1)
"That wrapped up quicker than expected."
"Yeah, it wasn't all that tough."
"Hmmm."
Eunhyeon said it casually, as if it were no big deal, but Illyana snorted at the incredulous looks from everyone around them.
"Judging by everyone else's reactions, it seems like you pulled off something crazy again, didn't you, Hyun?"
"Time was gold on this plan, so I just moved fast and efficient."
"Hmmm."
Yuria, who'd been listening to their exchange, finally couldn't hold back and jumped in to ask Eunhyeon directly.
"But seriously, how did the Black Witch suddenly appear here?"
This was, after all, a space deep inside a dungeon.
So when Illyana suddenly teleported in right on top of the device Eunhyeon had placed on the floor, it was no wonder the others were shocked.
"Even a high-rank digit magic mage shouldn't be able to teleport directly into a dungeon like this. What kind of trick did you pull?"
"Trick? That's a heartbreaking way to put it."
"Honestly, I didn't even know this was possible myself."
Eunhyeon gave a wry smile, while Illyana looked a bit awkward. Yuria, watching their reactions, kept her serious expression.
Erin, who still didn't fully grasp the situation, was just confused by Yuria's sudden grilling of Eunhyeon. But to the Cracir knights and Yuria, who knew the world's common sense well, this was a big deal.
There were basic rules in this world.
On this continent, dungeons and the outside world were independent spaces that couldn't interfere with each other.
"Even teleporting to the dungeon entrance and walking in would be one thing, but directly designating this spot from outside? That's impossible. It's a settled fact in magical academia. So how did you interfere with the inside of a dungeon?"
"That's because I used this artifact to interfere from inside the dungeon. It can block outside interference, but interference from within is possible. If mages couldn't cast spells inside, dungeons would be their natural predator."
"Interference from inside, not outside...?"
"Alex, remember when you and Erin got trapped in the succubus's dream magic, the 'Dream World'?"
"How could I forget?"
"And how Illyana got there too?"
"...I see. So she opened a direct pathway?"
Alex knew nothing about magic theory, but recalling Illyana's explanation from back then, he nodded in understanding.
"Pathway...?"
"Alex and Erin were once mentally kidnapped by a succubus—the culprit behind the noble serial assaults—into the 'Dream World', a unique space only succubi could access."
Everyone listened breathlessly to Eunhyeon's words.
"It was a realm only spirits could enter; no living flesh could pass. But it was still a real space, just existing in another world, not this one. Princess, doesn't that sound familiar?"
A place that existed in reality, but not in this world.
"...A dungeon."
"Correct. Illyana once traced the path Alex and Erin's spirits took when they were kidnapped, found the pathway into the Dream World, and forcibly shoved her own spirit through it to infiltrate."
Alex remembered Illyana's face back then—how she'd looked nonchalant, as if breaking into the lair of the succubus who'd toyed with them one-sidedly was no big feat.
"I want to say it's impossible, but... since Alex and the girl came back alive, it must have been real."
Their gazes held a reverence and admiration that went beyond mere awe, treating her like some otherworldly being.
"So? You used the same method here, creating a pathway into this dungeon?"
"Exactly. But sadly, there was no succubus here to make a pathway like in the Dream World. So I made this artifact instead."
When Eunhyeon channeled mana into the artifact on the floor, it emitted power that formed a massive, pure white door. He grabbed the handle, flung it open, and Erin gasped at the familiar sight inside.
"Ah! This is Illyana's living room!"
Yuria stared at Eunhyeon in disbelief at the house's interior.
"Install and activate two artifacts in their respective places, and they connect via a door that transcends location and dimension. Since no such magic existed before, Illyana and I named it 'Gate'."
"Ha...!"
It was so absurd she could barely speak.
Did Eunhyeon even realize what he'd created?
"Do you even know what you've made? This needs to be reported to the magical academia right away. This isn't something to reveal casually here. No way. We have to go to the kingdom immediately and—"
"No."
"What?"
"We won't disclose this theory or artifact to academia."
"Why not? Announcing it would bring you immense honor and wealth—"
"If I installed one here in the dungeon and another somewhere in Fernin, then activated them, what would happen to Fernin?"
"Ah...!"
A direct path linking the dungeon and the city would mean monsters flooding Fernin in no time.
The 'Warp Gate' artifact developed by Eunhyeon and Illyana was revolutionary, overturning existing theories—but it was also terrifyingly easy to use for mass slaughter and national crises.
"Dungeons are just an example. It'd be a problem in wars between nations too. This is a truly dangerous tool."
If warring countries secretly installed gates to rapidly deploy troops undetected, conquering a nation would be trivial.
Right now, this artifact was ripe for abuse.
Like dynamite on Earth—used to blast mountains for railroads and reservoirs, but later weaponized in wars to take lives.
"Tools aren't guilty. It depends on who's using them."
"......"
"I have no intention of revealing this to the world. I made it for my own use anyway."
"Then why tell us?"
"Well, no one but Illyana and me could recreate it anyway. I trusted you and the knights wouldn't blab. And like it or not, we're in a symbiotic relationship, right?"
"......"
Just as Eunhyeon and Abros had built some cooperative alliance despite their differences, Eunhyeon and Yuria shared a common link to Earth.
"Fine. I heard your explanation and side of things. Everyone understands, right? Not a word about what happened here to the outside."
"Of course."
"Duh."
Alex and Elenoa, as Abros's children and ducal heirs, were already in on the plan with Eunhyeon—no need to reiterate secrecy. Same for Eira, Riod's daughter and Eunhyeon's acquaintance.
After confirming with Merdin and Aisha, Yuria turned back to Eunhyeon.
"So? What now? You didn't drag us here to build your house and provide manual labor, did you? You wouldn't."
"As if. Why would I make such esteemed guests do menial work? Illyana and I can handle construction."
"Just you two...?"
"Hey, Administrator. Come out."
> Command accepted.
Hiss...
"Wh-what?!"
The black pod to the right of the massive white door leading to the Palace of Trials spewed white steam, and a small girl rose from within.
Yuria frowned, peering closely in surprise, and muttered.
"...Another doll?"
"Arkys, the former master here, was a doll too. Her creations would naturally be dolls."
Everything in this dungeon was either monsters or dolls.
Different from Arkys's design, this one wore a gothic black dress and approached her new master, Eunhyeon, with light steps. The magical lights dotted around the depths made her silver hair gleam even brighter.
Her braided hair was tied up in an updo, giving the impression of artwork crafted by someone with exquisite aesthetic sense.
"Arrived before Master. Reporting completion of orders."
Her voice was clear and pure, but stiff and emotionless.
"No last words from Arkys?"
"Previous master's final words were as given."
"I can use this dungeon freely, right?"
"Affirmative."
"Good. What's your name?"
"This unit's designation is Emilia. Emilia."
"Too long. You're female-type, so Lia it is."
"Command accepted. Updating this unit's designation to apply 'Emilia' and 'Lia' in duplicate."
"What was your role in the labyrinth?"
"Preventing impure non-human entities from entering the Palace of Trials. Otherwise, overall labyrinth management, including trap installation and repairs."
"Ah! So you set those vicious traps!"
Spears dropping from ceilings, entire areas flash-frozen by ice magic, poison mists, collapsing floors—
Aisha, who'd suffered dismantling dozens of such traps just to enter, fumed.
Alex quickly restrained her outburst.
"Senior! Let me go! Just one punch at that brat! Please, just one!"
"Calm down."
Eunhyeon ignored them and continued questioning Lia.
"What's your combat power?"
"This unit, Lia's combat power estimated at approximately 58,000 via calculation."
"What kind of number is that?"
Illyana tilted her head at the random figure.
"This unit measures combat power based on target's mana reserves and physical specs."
"...So you can gauge strength just by looking?"
"Affirming new individual's query."
"Speech is stiff, but impressive analysis. Can you measure mine?"
"...What is this, a scouter?"
"...Princess. Watched some cartoons as a kid, huh?"
"S-so what? Got a problem?!"
"Nah. I liked them too. Son Goku."
"...Tch."
Yuria bristled at Eunhyeon's teasing tone, but he was just pleased to casually reference Earth stuff.
Starting with Illyana's question, the party prompted Emilia, who turned to her.
"New individual confirmed. Analysis commencing. Mana reserves exceed measurement parameters. Estimated value: 77,000."
"Ha! What?! That doll's weaker than the Black Witch?!"
Aisha snarked, now knowing Emilia managed the traps.
Emilia whipped around to Aisha and analyzed her.
"Analyzing new individual who mocked this unit. Estimated value: 8,000. Insufficient to withstand a single punch from this unit."
"What? You know me? Let's go right now! Come on!"
"Aisha! Calm yourself!"
Merdin restrained the fired-up Aisha, and laughter bloomed among the expedition.
"Arghhh!"
Aisha bellowed, furious at being dissed by a mere doll.
"Take her and hunt the remaining monsters on the upper floors. Not many left, so it should be fine. If any real threats appear, Lia, step in and handle them."
"Command unclear. Shouldn't this unit simply eliminate the monsters?"
"Don't intervene. Watch, and only help if someone's in danger."
"......Command accepted."
She looked dissatisfied but accepted. Eunhyeon turned to Yuria.
"Hunt monsters, butcher them for food."
"......"
Having dodged manual labor for house-building, now it was foraging duty. Yuria glared and sighed.
On the way up, Erin curiously called to Emilia.
"Um, Doll Lady?"
"Requesting address as Emilia."
"Emilia. About that combat power scan earlier... Did you do Hyun's?"
"Affirmative."
"Uh... h-how much?"
Unable to contain her curiosity, Erin asked, and everyone held their breath for Emilia's answer.
"Master's combat power... 'immeasurable'."