The Fugitives (3)
The soldier’s cheerful report made it clear that the surprise operation through the Green Dungeon’s cave passage had been a complete success. “The flanking maneuver worked! The front line has pushed far forward. This area is no longer a contested border zone.”
“Then people can travel back and forth freely now?”
“Ah, I’m afraid I can’t say for certain. The brigade commander and the Count have already crossed the Numero Mountains into Redecup territory. You’ll need to head that way if you want confirmation.”
It seemed the Ranger command post and headquarters had already moved beyond the mountains. As we followed the ranger’s guidance, it became obvious that everyone expected the Undead Dungeon to develop just like the Aiparak Dungeon. After all, it produced high-quality magic stones and was connected to Aiparak. They were convinced that building a village in front of it would bring prosperity.
In contrast, whenever we passed the Green Dungeon, the same people shook their heads and said it had no future. No magic stones came from it, and the only thing Ents dropped was ordinary charcoal. There was simply no reason for people to gather there. Even dungeons, it seemed, suffered from polarization.
It took three full days of crossing the Numero Mountains before we finally reached Count Shulman. The place was called Eport Castle.
“This used to be the main stronghold of Baron Eport of Redecup,” Priest Pelani explained. He had visited the castle before and gave us a detailed account. “For Count Shulman to have taken this fortress is an incredible achievement. Look at the gates—they’re completely intact.”
“There isn’t even any soot from fire. That means they captured the castle without a proper siege.”
“Exactly. It hasn’t even been a month since we entered the dungeon, yet the Count has seized all this territory with virtually no losses. It’s a tremendous feat.”
When we arrived at the lord’s residence, Brigade Commander Baron Mitchel greeted us personally. Just as Pelani had said, the entire place radiated ease and confidence.
“It’s good to see you’ve returned safely after exploring the dungeon. Hahaha. So this is the map of the Undead Dungeon? Hmm. There’s a Bone Dragon on the fourth floor?”
“Yes. We didn’t confirm it ourselves, but we verified it through the last survivor and compiled the map using information from several other explorers.”
I deliberately left out anything about the Blatian Church. That had nothing to do with the exploration request.
“It’s a shame that everyone who went in first ended up dead, even though we now have a map.”
Baron Mitchel handled the formalities for the exploration request, after which the priests and rangers bid us farewell. Even as we parted, I once again emphasized that I would be crossing over to the Arean Continent.
“Ah, you should stay behind for a moment. The Count wishes to speak with you.”
After waiting so long I was beginning to grow tired, Count Shulman finally entered the room. He looked positively delighted.
“Well now, Wizard Jinwoo. This is all thanks to you. Kha ha ha ha!”
The Count clapped me on the shoulder several times, praising me for finding the hidden passage in the Green Dungeon that had allowed him to achieve such an easy victory.
“We weren’t the only ones. Everyone on both sides of the Numero Mountains had been staring straight ahead, focused only on the border. Who would have imagined there was an underground route through the mountains? Hahaha!”
He proudly recounted how the rear infiltration operation had unfolded and how effortlessly they had won. Capturing six tax-paying villages, two fortresses, and two cities had left him overjoyed.
“My territory has doubled in size. Who in recent years has achieved a victory like mine? Ha ha ha ha!”
“Congratulations on your victory, my lord.”
“Hahaha. That’s why I intend to grant you a knighthood. Of course, the path you found wasn’t the one connected to the other dungeon as specified in the request, but the benefits it brought far exceeded that. You’ve earned this title. Bring the sword!”
As if it had all been prepared in advance, a servant immediately brought forth a blade. Before I could even protest, Count Shulman drew the sword and spoke.
“As a token of our oath, will you accept this sword and swear to serve me?”
The blade practically hummed with killing intent. It felt as though refusing would result in my head being separated from my shoulders on the spot. Yet looking at the Count’s broad smile, it was clear he was simply in an excellent mood after his great success and was handing out titles on a whim. It reminded me of a drunk uncle happily tossing money from his wallet to his nieces and nephews without a second thought.
Receiving a knighthood meant rising in social status. It also meant gaining the backing of a noble’s power. However, it would tie me to Count Shulman. I couldn’t immediately tell whether this was a gain or a loss. I wanted time to consider it carefully, but with the Count standing right in front of me holding a sword and clearly expecting an immediate answer, deep thought was impossible.
Not wanting to insult him, I dropped to one knee first.
“As a token of our oath, I accept this sword and swear to serve Count Shulman.”
“Hahaha. Very good. I hereby appoint you as my thirty-second knight. And I shall always reserve a seat for you by my side. You may discuss the details with Baron Mitchel.”
The Count tapped my shoulders twice with the flat of the drawn blade, then sheathed it and handed the sword to me. I accepted it with both hands and stood. Looking thoroughly satisfied, as if he had just checked off one more item on his to-do list, the Count left the room.
The whole encounter left me with the distinct feeling that I had been played.
“Did you know this was coming, Baron?”
When Baron Mitchel had asked me to remain, he must have already known the Count intended to grant me a title.
“Hahaha. It would have been better if I had warned you in advance, but this isn’t exactly bad news, is it? Allow me to congratulate you on becoming a knight of the Shulman family. Calm yourself and set the sword down.”
Still smiling, Baron Mitchel produced a map.
“With the addition of Eport Castle, a similarly sized Amber Castle, and the strategically vital Grame Fortress, our territory has doubled. We have many more places to defend, yet far too few people.”
Although there were apprentice knights, rangers, and local nobles, the Baron lamented that they lacked the manpower to properly administer a territory that had suddenly grown twice as large.
“Especially since the Redecup Kingdom, having suffered such a heavy blow, will not sit idle. That means we must station our elite knights and vassals at the front lines, so we cannot simply scatter them across the new lands.”
“But I am an outsider.”
“We have already confirmed that you are a mage from another continent. Moreover, one who serves a god—what better talent could there be? On top of that, I hear you even have a mage serving in your mercenary company. It would be a waste to let you go. That is why I am pondering where to grant you your fief. Take a look at the map and choose.”
Almost involuntarily, I stepped forward as Baron Mitchel spread the map before me. The romantic fantasy ideal of owning even a small estate had suddenly become reality, so I pushed aside my unease about receiving a knighthood without warning.
My eyes immediately landed on one particular spot.
“Is the area with the dungeon still unclaimed?”
“The Numero Mountains were a disputed zone with Redecup, so they were under direct royal control. You wish to have that as your fief?”
“Yes. I would like that area, if possible.”
“Hmm. The Undead Dungeon is out of the question. It could become a vital transportation hub, and like Aiparak, it has the potential to grow into a prosperous dungeon town. Therefore it must remain under direct control. However, I can grant you the Green Dungeon beside it, along with the mountain foothills containing the hidden passage.”
Baron Mitchel clearly viewed the Green Dungeon as unprofitable since it produced no magic stones. But for me right now, it was perfect.
“Even if the byproducts from the dungeon are modest, I believe building a village in front of it will allow the estate to function properly. Please grant me that land as my fief.”
“So be it.”
The Baron also concluded that a dungeon village would be more beneficial than some half-developed farmland, even if the dungeon itself yielded little. But Jinwoo had an entirely different idea in mind.
The Green Dungeon only had plant-type monsters on the first and second floors. From the third floor down, the only monsters were slimes. And true to its name, it was a dungeon bathed in constant light. If the Blatian followers who served Carol were allowed to live on the third floor, it would be ideal. Unlike other dungeons, it had enough light for grass to grow and abundant water. It even had an exit leading elsewhere. The conditions were perfect. They wouldn’t even need to travel all the way to Hool Lake.
“The front line has stabilized for now, but negotiations between the kingdoms are still underway, so I cannot provide manpower or other support immediately. Once a truce is finalized, I will send whatever personnel remain.”
“Understood. Until then, I will gather refugees and develop the land myself.”
“Master, what will happen to us now? Are we settling in the dungeon village?”
“It looks like we’ll have to stay here for the time being. First, I need to move the people from the Undead Dungeon to the Green Dungeon.”
“I don’t mind not crossing over to the Arean Continent, but… will those people like it? It’s still a dungeon, after all.”
Listening to Sezanne’s words, I began to worry. They had finally left the Undead Dungeon, only to be told they would now live inside another one. There was a real possibility they might resist.
“After some time passes inside the dungeon, we can let them live in the village outside. If they still complain, we’ll find another way. For now, let’s go talk to them.”
“Another dungeon…”
Just as Sezanne had predicted, Harhil did not look pleased at the prospect of moving to yet another dungeon.
“That dungeon is under Count Shulman’s direct control. It will soon be opened to the public. Mercenaries will be entering it, so we must leave the Undead Dungeon no matter what.”
“Then will they not enter this new one?”
“Since it will be my fief, I can block the passage leading down to the third floor entirely, allowing mercenaries to enter only up to the second floor. Once the war stabilizes and merchants and mercenaries begin traveling through the region, you can blend in with them and head south.”
With no other choice, everyone packed their belongings and traveled through the night to the Green Dungeon. When they arrived, they were all astonished.
“This is really a dungeon? There’s light coming from inside?”
Carol cautiously exposed himself to the light pouring out of the dungeon. He confirmed that although it was bright, it contained no ultraviolet rays, so it was safe for him.
When they descended to the third floor, the shrubs had grown up to waist height again. Once more, everyone was amazed.
“Trees growing inside a dungeon? And it’s not even a maze. It’s a completely open plain.”
“Unlike the first and second floors, the third floor has no monsters, so we can farm here. We’ll build a village, grow crops, and have some people live in the village outside the dungeon. That should solve our problems with material exchange and food supply.”
“D-don’t tell me this dungeon was also created by God Sadalla?”
“Hahaha. No, it wasn’t. While I was worrying about where to take you all and help you settle down, this place became my fief as if the god himself had pointed it out to me.”
Upon hearing those words, both Yanne and Sezanne felt an inexplicable sense of unease. When they had first arrived at the Aiparak Dungeon and explored the Green Dungeon, they could never have imagined things would turn out this way. Yet now they were responsible for these people, and Jinwoo had somehow obtained the perfect dungeon for them to live in. It no longer felt like mere coincidence.
And somehow, their conversation reached the ears of the Blatian believers as well.
“Since we have food for now, let’s first build houses to live in and dredge the bones out of the pond. We should also block the passage coming down from the second floor—using large boulders, stone walls, or a gate—so that mercenaries cannot enter.”
Ding! You have been connected for 7 hours and 21 minutes. Vital signs and other metrics are normal.
As soon as Jinwoo woke up, he began unpacking the items he had received by express delivery. Although the Blatian believers’ immediate tasks were mostly finished, he would still need to supply them with food until they could become self-sufficient by farming inside the dungeon.
“Let’s start by melting down the gold coins.”