Chapter 79

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: penny

Chapter: 79

Chapter Title: Hobby

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Lately, I've picked up a new hobby on top of lurking in the Dungeon Gallery and playing with Mallang-i.

That is...

TRPG.

Short for Tabletop Role-Playing Game.

My one and only hobby before becoming a Dungeon Master.

A recruitment post for what I consider the ultimate entertainment in this world.

Ever since becoming a Dungeon Master, my days have been packed with all sorts of tasks.

Dungeon reinforcements, wave defenses, live broadcasts, playing with Mallang-i, and so on.

It's not like I never had time to even mention the 'T' in TRPG...

Just that whenever I tried to bring it up, some incident would happen, and I never got a proper chance.

I'm not some dungeon-reinforcing machine, after all.

Honestly, since becoming a Dungeon Master, I barely sleep, but I still have plenty of downtime.

So I thought it might be fun to play with the veterans and gave it a mention.

The reactions are kinda sad.

It hurts seeing the usual commenters vanish one by one.

If it was about love, they'd jump in the second I mentioned it.

Unfortunately, TRPG requires four players by the rules, so better wait for another chance.

There are 1:1 Game Master-player TRPGs, sure.

But they feel different from standard ones.

Most demand high magic resistance, so not recommended for newbies.

Anyway.

Position shift in a week.

Finally escaping this damn Fire Forge.

Monitoring outside via Mallang-i,

the temporary camp near the dungeon's been dismantled.

Fire Forge looks quiet too.

Guess they gave up as a lost cause and bailed.

So much has happened so far.

From dwarves to elves in Dino World (not my dungeon),

humans from Wolfhaufen, and Dragred.

Looking back, this position shift had a record number of intruders.

"I miss the goblins and trolls..."

Dumb but honest guys.

They challenge you head-on if pissed, no sneaky backstabs.

In my book, you're 500 times better than intelligent beings.

Please let the next position shift take me home.

That's the moment I started missing the Low Jinrat Great Mountain Range, where I've never encountered soulless humans.

What.

For real?

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

What can I even say.

Veteran dungeons each have their own genre.

They see it as a real dungeon.

A mini battlefield where minions, traps, and final boss Dungeon Master take on intruders.

Of course, the Dungeon Master roaming inside and crushing intruders personally was different from my games.

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

Anyway.

Watching swordplay and magic explode in flashy glory swelled my chest with awe.

I glance at the minions stationed in the core room.

Jumbol-sized slime.

Doppelganger twice that size.

Cat and rat statues that'd be hell if they appeared in my dreams.

"Tsk..."

Yeah.

Thanks to you guys, I'm keeping my life intact right now.

So what if they're goofy or scary-looking.

Whether human or anomaly, it's the heart that matters.

I think our anomalies outshine and top the Vampire Dragon.

"I'm happy to be your Dungeon Master!"

Just grow up healthy, please.

Minus Mallang-i, you're all grown and can't get bigger, but still.

Oh, right.

Got so absorbed I forgot to comment.

Gasp.

I accidentally manufactured a menthal case.

Fuck.

Why you, again.

Why you gotta do this to me.

Is this a real anomaly?

Way too scary.

...

...

...

Anyway.

Managed to defuse the menthal issue with my patented headpats.

What I felt watching Love's stream:

Can I get that strong too?

Even now, anomalies handle it themselves,

but I'm mostly just spectating.

Honestly, I get a bit nervous going outside,

and it's a relief when I one-shot intruders cleanly.

The reason veterans like Love are so strong?

A hefty chunk from 'traits,' and yeah, I have some too.

Might look impressive,

but aside from Fatal Wound Nullification from eating 3M Hamster's gifted Drake Heart, they're just standard Dungeon Master traits.

Like minions and traps, Dungeon Masters can buy traits from the shop too.

Variety changes by theme, same as traits.

For example, Love's brainwashing Evil Eye,

3M Hamster's T-Rex evolution, etc.

All purchasable after picking a theme.

Anomalies can buy traits too.

But get this.

The best cost-performance trait is this nonsense,

how the hell do you buy it?

Better spend on hordes of minions and traps.

Maybe later, but not now.

"Wish I had at least one way to protect my body..."

Felt it clashing with intruders this time.

I'm never gonna be a warrior, seems like.

Even with Mental Resistance and Pain Tolerance support,

I personally think I suck at fighting.

No talent whatsoever.

Stats high or not, body skills still potato.

When fighting, is it excitement or fear?

Peripheral vision blanks, so against real knights, I'd probably die.

It's weird, like,

I have grit, but innate limits mean

I can never reach the heights I want.

Realizing now wasn't the time for TRPG recruiting.

Guess I should start training from today.

Wait, no.

TRPG recruiting's still important.

Can't train all day.

Magic, huh.

Wonder if I can use it.

Oh.

True that.

Shall I give it a shot?

```