Chapter 88

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

Translator: penny

Chapter: 88

Chapter Title: Count

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

"Hey, Malang."

"Yep."

"Shall we get started on expanding the dungeon?"

I'd been saving up points without spending them for a while.

And I'd earned some from the recent dispatch mission too.

It was about time to create the fifth zone.

These days, the intruders were making heavy use of 'communication magic'.

Count Wolphausen had introduced a new strategy this time.

The details went like this.

The entrance elevator to Dreamland was a safe zone.

They stationed 'recorders' there to log information.

The 'scouts' would enter the elevator and investigate Dreamland's zones.

Then, the scouts would relay what they'd learned via communication magic for the recorders to note down.

Everywhere except the first zone, that is.

They each carried a means to neutralize 'escape scrolls'.

So, raiding parties dying without any gains had become routine.

But with this method, they could at least bring back minimal intel.

Ink Rat's manipulated info could be sorted by discarding items to separate truth from lies.

Plus, intruders would know what anomalies existed in the dungeon before entering.

There were two main ways to counter this strategy.

Either take out the recorders waiting at the entrance or neutralize communication magic.

Unfortunately, the former was impossible.

I couldn't keep deploying new anomalies at the entrance every time (efficiency issues), and if I could deal with them myself, conquering Dreamland wouldn't even be on the table to begin with.

So the answer was simple.

I had to focus on disrupting communication magic as much as possible.

"It's a real shame my dungeon doesn't have any jamming devices."

"Yep."

I petted Malang while manipulating the system window.

I'd bought the Haunted Mansion first not just for the trap.

It was the only facility that boosted point multipliers.

But now things had changed.

"Gotta go with something that'll really make them suffer."

There was no way to outright block communication magic.

But imposing restrictions on communication?

For example, creating a situation like the Haunted Mansion's torture where they couldn't speak?

Even if they maintained the spell, that should block it effectively.

Luckily, there were some usable ★5 traps for it.

These should do the trick.

Still, better check with the veterans before buying.

It's not that I'm unsure right now.

Last time I bought without asking, they all got upset.

Good reviews again.

Time to start construction then.

I grabbed my hard hat and shovel.

"Agent Malang."

"Yep."

"I've got a mission for you. Head to the County of Wolphausen and check out the situation?"

The most likely intruder right now was probably Count Wolphausen.

Of course, he didn't know Dreamland was in Frostfang Mountains.

But if Dreamland got spotted by someone.

And word spread far and wide.

There was a high chance it'd reach the Count's ears.

I was curious how much intel he'd leaked last time too.

For now, I sent Malang on recon and started building the fifth zone.

I checked the ledger.

Elevator – 50,000P.

Traps & Minions – 245,000P.

Zone Expansion Cost – 35,000P.

Trap and minion prices keep climbing the deeper we go—my back's breaking.

Good thing I installed anomalies in Sister Kongkong's dungeon this time.

The Dungeon Master of that ero-trap dungeon will rake in big points for me.

Alright.

No issues.

Expansion complete successfully.

All that's left is observing the world through Malang's eyes.

I returned to the core room.

And sat in my chair, staring at the monitor.

County of Wolphausen, Count's Mansion.

Loud voices echoed through the Count's study.

"Absolutely not."

"Why."

"Didn't I explain earlier?"

Two people were in the study.

One was Count Wolphausen.

The other was Belluga, captain of the Winter Wolf Knights.

"I'm not convinced. That's why I'm asking again."

"Why aren't you convinced?"

"Unlike you, I see Dreamland as conquerable."

The captain and the Count shared a special bond.

They were siblings before vassal and lord.

That's why they could argue like this.

They were fighting over conquering Dreamland.

Even after all those sacrifices last time.

Her brother was gearing up for another attempt.

Belluga was losing her mind.

"Conquerable?"

Belluga snapped, after losing Dragred and so many knights.

Was he seriously saying that now?

"Necessary sacrifices."

"Sacrifices? More like pointless deaths."

"The guide has new info now. We've sorted some of the true and false manipulations. There were definite gains."

But the Count wouldn't budge, even with her earnest advice.

He kept pushing to conquer Dreamland somehow.

Belluga slammed the desk.

"Brother, they're valuable assets. But they're dead—all of them. I'm not talking morals. This is from the calculating angle you like. Irreplaceable resources vanished in an instant, all for a few lines added to that guide. Don't you get what that means?"

"For the greater good..."

"Speak plainly. It's not the greater good—it's for magic stones."

"......"

The Count fell silent.

"Location shift cycle's coming up anyway. Need new escape scrolls too. It's impossible."

"......"

"We're not blessed ones. No way we can conquer a dungeon. Just forget it."

"...What if Dreamland stays near the North Kingdom?"

Belluga left the study without a word, deeming it unworthy of reply.

The door slammed shut in irritation.

Despite the knight captain's rudeness.

The Count just sighed.

Magic stones.

Dreamland.

Those two words lingered in his mind.

Location shift cycle.

When dungeons relocate.

From the Count's experience.

Dreamland's difficulty was devastating.

But other dungeons were the same.

Dungeons had personnel limits to begin with.

The others weren't newbies.

Barring special cases, with his current forces.

They'd all wipe at the entrance.

A slim chance.

At least Dreamland offered that.

So he hoped it'd be nearby.

"My lord Count. We've acquired info from a Golden Carriage merchant: Dreamland is located in Frostfang Mountains."

And soon after.

Opportunity knocked again.

Count Wolphausen had an only daughter.

Her name was Ei.

The sole child from his late wife.

"Daddy."

"Yes."

"I feel a bit ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠better today."

"That's a relief."

In front of his daughter, the Count became an ordinary dad.

He stroked Ei's hair as she lay in bed.

"Play with me."

"Daddy's busy today."

"Why don't you spend time with me anymore..."

"Because you're figuring out how to get better."

Ei's lips pouted.

Her puffed cheeks recalled a fond face.

A beloved being bearing traces of his wife and himself.

The reason Count Wolphausen lived.

"That again."

"Sorry it's that again."

"I can handle it myself. So play with me today."

"No. You need bed rest until you're fully better."

He'd fetch the moon if she asked.

But only if it didn't harm her.

"Still, I'll stay with you till bedtime today."

"Then I won't sleep."

"You say that, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you'll be out in an hour, my princess."

"I really won't sleep today!"

"With eyes that sleepy already... Shall Daddy look forward to it then?"

I'm staying with Daddy today.

So no sleeping.

Such resolve faded in an hour as Ei drifted to dreamland.

Just as the Count said.

Gazing at his soundly sleeping daughter.

Count Wolphausen felt relieved.

At least no groans of pain tonight.

If she could sleep this peacefully always, how wonderful.

The Count rose.

Ei suffered from an unknown rare disease.

Occasional high fevers.

Vomiting blood, hyperventilation.

Eyes bloodshot red.

Same as her late mother.

No—even worse, perhaps.

His wife hadn't shown symptoms until adulthood, at least.

Countess Wolphausen passed three years ago.

After long torment by illness, leaving him and their daughter.

She'd gone far away alone.

Her dying words: Protect Ei.

The only wish from a woman who'd wanted nothing in life.

The Count had to keep his promise to his wife.

She was the one he loved most in this world.

And Ei was everything to him.

He couldn't send his daughter to join her mother.

That's why he had to go to Dreamland.

Even if it was a nightmare no different from hell.

He had reason to go.

Magic stones were philosopher's stones.

Managed at the national level.

Not even a count could obtain them easily.

Not in the past, maybe.

Supply was nonexistent now.

Conquering Dreamland.

That was the Count's only way to get magic stones.

If he could obtain that substance.

Everything would surely be resolved.

```