Chapter 72

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 72

Chapter Title: Ghost Mansion (2)

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I'm monitoring the situation through the surveillance cameras.

The intruders are currently split up like this.

Four at the entrance elevator, four at the school, and seven at the mansion.

The reason for splitting them up is simple.

From the previous example with the mercenary group, I figured it was more efficient to break up teams with good synergy rather than letting them stick together.

Of course, there were sacrifices.

Even so, they conquered the goblin cave at a rapid pace.

If it hadn't been for Chase's troll antics, they could've easily pushed into the next zone.

The more bullets they have, the worse it is for anomalies.

The reason I made the zones so large was mostly to drown them in exploration time, but the more people there are, the shorter the scouting time gets, and the faster they figure out countermeasures.

So, unless there's no sign of them splitting on their own...

I think handling it this way is a bit more rational.

Why, even Sun Tzu's Art of War mentions something like that.

Dispersing your forces is the worst strategy and something you should never do.

Not that this situation is exactly what he had in mind.

But with so few people already, if they start dying one by one around the edges, doesn't it ramp up the horror?

Anyway.

High-end resources like knights don't have bottomless ammo like regular soldiers.

No matter how much of a count he is, there are limits.

Even buying escape scrolls costs a fortune.

It was good news all around.

If I set a risk of "no entry below knight level."

It limits the number of people who can even attempt a raid.

And you'd need several knights like that.

Most folks wouldn't even dream of it.

Business requires capital.

Dungeon raids are the same.

Up until now, all sorts have been coming in—betrayed allies, branded elves, barons, dwarves, you name it—but things will change from here on out.

That said, it means the caliber of intruders will go up from now on.

guides can be shared too.

In other words, later intruders can pick up where previous ones left off in scouting.

Time to stay on my toes.

Still, from the intruders' perspective, it won't be an easy clear.

"I knew it. Your level..."

Not quite bored enough to die, but close.

Wonder how far they'll figure things out this time. Gotta watch.

Ah, splitting up the intruders makes live updates kinda annoying.

Still, the vets want mansion updates more than school ones.

Everyone's curious about Dragred's situation.

Maybe focus this live stream on the mansion side.

"Eh."

"Probably no need to move for now, but I'll let you know if something comes up later."

I plopped the shrunken Malangi on my lap and stroked him vigorously.

He's extra enthusiastic today.

With my eyes on the monitors,

I uploaded the backlog of photos, videos, and posts to the gallery.

Dreamland Zone 3.

Mansion entrance, 16:00.

-Ignore the school side and focus on Zone 3 scouting.

"Understood."

The group gathered at the mansion entrance totals seven.

Dragred, Hector, Comfort, Bitters, Olivia, Leo, Crock.

Dragred needs no introduction—he's Wolfhaufer's famous retainer.

The rest are knights from the Winter Wolf Order.

"Always dreamed of living in a palace-like mansion, but damn, this thing's mountain-sized. Dreamland's making dreams come true today."

Hector cracked a joke.

He's the oldest knight, known for his cheerful demeanor and foul mouth.

Beyond that, he's a veteran with a solid track record in monster hunts.

"What a shame. If I'd transferred to the academy like the first group, I'd have realized my dream just like you, Sir Hector."

Comfort picked up the gag.

Seemed like he was trying to lighten the stiff atmosphere with some banter.

Not quite Hector's level of veteran, but still ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a senior among the knights.

"......"

"I'm nervous."

Unlike the lighthearted pair, the other four looked a bit tense.

Makes sense—they're fresh-faced new recruits who just joined the order.

"Phew. Finally, the real raid begins. I just hope we this disaster without any losses."

Even so.

The rookies were fired up.

They had the courage to press forward. That alone was enough.

The knights looked to Dragred.

His reputation precedes him.

Even prideful nobles yielded to him.

"Right."

The leader was decided naturally.

"As the guide shows, stay sharp. Beyond this point lies death. We're here for the world, but we must return alive. The territory needs our protection, and dying would dishonor our people and kingdom. Everyone understand?"

All nodded.

Preparations to advance were complete.

They stepped toward the massive mansion.

The mansion interior was bright.

Light fixtures lined the walls and ceiling.

"It's cleaner inside than I thought."

It felt like someone maintained it—no dust, unlike the aged exterior.

The group seemed a tad disappointed.

They'd expected a grand central hall,

but instead faced an endlessly long corridor.

"This is more maze than mansion..."

Dragred nodded at Volaris's words. Wait, no—probably one of them, but text has ? Wait, earlier mistake; it's narrative.

Actually, " " – Bolarris? But context, perhaps Olivia or someone. Translate as is.

He cast detection magic.

To map the overall structure.

"Looks like the academy—floors from 1 to 80. Long vertical corridors, narrow horizontally, dozens of them, with sporadic rooms in between. Not sure what they're for. Weirdly, no stairs to upper floors?"

If Wolfhaufer Manor was built like this,

the architect would've been buried alive.

"Entrance too—does the Dreamland Dungeon Master have no sense of aesthetics?"

"Agreed. If you're into art, I could teach you a thing or two. Hey, Dungeon Master. If you're hearing this, come down to the mansion first floor."

"Kek, crazy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bastard."

Hector and Comfort started chatting among themselves.

Watching the stiff rookies,

Dragred got a feel for team assignments.

"Hector with Olivia, Comfort with Bitters. Leo and Crock, pair up in twos and scout the first floor of the mansion from now on."

Too light or too heavy an atmosphere isn't good.

Moderation is key.

Pairing the lax ones with the tense ones should create decent synergy.

This dungeon shouldn't require swords except against the Dungeon Master anyway.

"Oh ho, scouting with the lady rookie? Starting off lucky."

"Please swap with me. I can't stand drab men."

"...Wh-where do I look drab?"

"Bright and cheery man, then?"

Dragred shrugged.

"Hector likes men more than women anyway. You'll like going with Comfort."

"Haha, too much joking, sir."

"You all know detection magic, so no worries about getting lost. Meet back here in an hour. Like I said, this is a dungeon where you can die easily. Keep your wits about you."

Dragred reported what they'd learned so far to the count.

-No path to upper floors...? Any windows on the outer walls?

"Yes. But they don't seem connected to the interior. I think there's definitely a way up. I'll investigate and report back."

-Good. Don't die.

"Yes."

He walked the mansion alone.

The corridors were empty.

High chance clues are in the rooms, then.

"Hector's team went north, Comfort and Leo's east."

Avoiding overlap, closest room.

Dragred headed south.

Click click.

The handle wouldn't turn. Locked.

'This door looks like it could be smashed...'

Should I...?

Nah.

Too obvious a trap.

Everything unbreakable so far,

and now a door I can force open?

'Trap for sure.'

Unless he finds a key later,

opening it now would be reckless.

Dragred turned away.

South had one more room.

Dragred approached it.

"Not locked this time."

He turned the smooth handle,

opened the door, and entered.

It was a bedroom.

Luxurious bed, chair and table, suspiciously large wardrobe, full-length mirror at the wall's end.

Dragred searched the room.

From under the bed to inside the wardrobe—nothing useful.

"Hm."

Another bust.

He sighed softly.

"Hope the others find something..."

It was coincidence.

Staring at the mirror he'd ignored since entering—pure chance.

Dragred's face hardened.

Mirrors reflect images.

Should show him normally, but...

The figure in the mirror wasn't him.

A form that shouldn't exist.

"......"

Dragred's breathing grew ragged.

A dead soul stared back from the mirror.

Uncannily like Dragred.

Human yet draconic with horns, tail, wings.

Her deeply bloodshot eyes wept bloody tears.

The Red Dragon Queen, Dragred's creator.

"Ah..."

She reached out.

Her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arm pierced the mirror, grabbing Dragred's cheek.

No time to scream—he was sucked inside.

"Fuck, fuck!"

Dragred screamed upon regaining senses.

Trapped in a cramped mirror.

Couldn't lie down or stretch comfortably.

Like solitary confinement.

Communication magic cut off, naturally.

No way to explain his situation.

He stared blankly at his arm.

Should be dark, scaly skin,

but why so pale?

Voice thin and reedy too.

Don't tell me...

"Possessed the master's body...?"

Lucky? Unlucky?

At least not dead.

And he could see outside through the mirror.

"........."

His body collapsed before the mirror.

It slowly rose, regaining senses.

That's not me.

My body, but not me.

I'm trapped in here.

Dragred had possessed the Red Dragon Queen's body.

Meaning the original mirror dweller likely possessed Dragred's.

"......"

The thing in his body smirked.

Dragred never knew a smile could chill him so.

Makes sense.

"Sir Dragred, you alright!?"

"The count said comms with you cut out, so we rushed here... Glad you're safe anyway. What happened in the room?"

They don't know.

Clueless about what occurred.

Feels like a nightmare.

"You idiots. That's a fake. Fake! Can't you see me!? Look at the mirror! Look! I'm trapped in here!"

He seemed to hesitate.

Chose words carefully,

shrugged, and replied.

"I was startled too when comms with the count cut out. Probably some interference device or Dungeon Master trick."

They left the room.

Alone, Dragred ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit his lip.

I betrayed the Red Dragon Queen.

Stabbed her myself.

If that was really her in the mirror, she wouldn't let the knights be.

"Different vibe from the copycat in Zone 1... Gotta be sloppy spots."

But.

Dragred's expression soured further.

Even if they notice it's fake,

and team up to take it down, no guarantee he'd return to his body.

If that thing dies, do I?

What happens to me in here?

"Uwaaaaaagh!"

Dragred roared.

Bashed his head—but an intangible wall blocked him.

Nothing he could do here.

That truth sank in deep.

Shouldn't have looked at the mirror.

No matter what, avoid it.

Should've looked away immediately.

That mirror shouldn't exist.

Dragred slumped there.

Fog crept into the mirror.

The more he breathed, the dumber his brain felt.

Give me my body back.

Give me my body back.

Give me my body back.

With lifeless, glazed eyes,

he began staring outside.