RD | Chapter 42

While eating, the people reported matters to Ian that needed his attention. Reporting during meal time was something Ian had set, as it had become difficult to meet with each person individually with the growing number of dungeon residents. More than anything, the main reason was Ian’s laziness to set aside time for it.

Of course, Ian knew that mealtime meetings was a bad idea. Isn’t mealtime supposed to be a time for rest?

But this was a pre-modern society, and people’s sense of rights wasn’t developed. They couldn’t even think of claiming their rights as employees.

“Long live pre-modern times.”

The owner of the seemingly exploitative company, Ian, listened to the report from Contacca.

“The number of monsters in the forest is increasing. They’re not a direct threat yet, but there are signs that a group of monsters from the north is moving south.”

“They’re invading our hunting grounds, fleeing from the monsters that are coming down from the north,” added Louise.

“A group of monsters from the north? How many are there?”

“At least a few hundred.”

“We can’t stop them from coming, right? But if we lure them into the dungeon, can we handle them?”

At Ian’s words, Louise smiled confidently.

“Of course. Those brainless monsters? I can take on thousands, not just hundreds.”

After all, hadn’t they already captured the Demon Archduke in the dungeon?

Contacca nodded along.

Ian, eating his strawberry salad, spoke again.

“Alright, let’s do that. We’ll bring the people working outside back inside for now. Tell them to stay in the living quarters. Let’s clear the forest. We’ll lure the fleeing monsters into here and deal with them. It’s not like they have anything else to do, so let’s let them know the joy of guarding the dungeon.”

Everyone knew that Ian had a special taming ability.

The idea was to turn the monsters that survived being cleared into dungeon guardians. Who wouldn’t want that when the dungeon’s strength would grow?

‘It’s almost like he’s creating a magic kingdom.’

Contacca thought absentmindedly.

The dungeon’s defenses were already exceptional. The soldiers themselves weren’t particularly skilled, but with Ian and several other extraordinary individuals, they had enough power to intimidate even demons. After all, hadn’t they captured the Demon Archduke?

Not long ago, Sir Keith had also joined their ranks. Their pure strength might be weaker than the Vatican’s, but if they fought inside the dungeon, they were confident they could wipe out any crusading forces sent by the Vatican.

‘I wonder what Lord Ian wants to create…’

He pondered while trying to feed Momisia some vegetables.

“Lord Ian, you should eat too. Salad is delicious!”

“Eiiiing…”

Of course, Ian didn’t really have any particular desire to create something.

He just wanted to survive.

And the most important person to help him with that plan was sitting right across from him.

‘If I raise Keith, he can be the one to kill the Demon King.’

It was a perfect plan.

Since Ian had gotten Keith so quickly, he had the freedom to choose how to grow him.

He would customize Keith as he wished!

‘He’ll have to face the Demon King alone, so I need to make him a balanced fighter.’

Ian had no intention of following Keith’s lead, of course…

Lost in his own thoughts, he smiled to himself and looked at Keith. Keith briefly met his gaze and then spoke.

“Lord Ian, don’t just eat salad. You should eat monster meat too. If you keep being picky, you’ll get thin.”

“…?!”

“…!”

Ian looked at the monster meat on his plate with a disgusted expression.

The others, including Louise, watched Keith with admiration for speaking the words they could never bring themselves to say.

“Is he actually a good person?”

Louise slightly revised his evaluation of Keith.

Once mealtime ended, everyone moved in perfect harmony. Those who had been working outside, training, gathering, or doing forestry now moved into the living quarters.

While they continued their work inside, the combatants were assigned positions within the dungeon. They checked their bows and weapons, stretched, and prepared for battle.

Next came the baiting team. The dragon, exhausted from the battle and injuries, had fallen asleep. Although it was a small dragon now, its vast mana was enough to scare low-intelligence monsters into fleeing. It would act more like a driving force than a bait.

The rest of the team, including the agile Louise, Contacca, who could turn into a werewolf at any time, and Sema, who looked like he could devour someone, made up the bait team.

Sema grumbled, lamenting his fate for learning the ability to fly.

‘I shouldn’t have learned it.’

Of course, at the time, he hadn’t had much of a choice.

“If anything happens, I’ll bite and run, so don’t worry.”

Contacca said reassuringly.

“I’ll trust you, Lord Contacca! Please don’t abandon me!”

“Of course not. You’re one of the people Lord Ian would personally come to rescue, right? Would Lord Ian send you on a dangerous mission?”

‘He did send me…’

Sema didn’t voice his thoughts but simply replied cheerfully.

“Right?!”

“Exactly.”

Louise glanced at Sema, who was having fun, and continued to check his bowstring.

He wondered why Ian cared so much for a magic user with no sense. Though, anyone would have a wide heart and show kindness to a person like that.

The Miryam, a monster from the dark forest, appeared to be a fluffy species resembling a mix of a goat and a sheep.

Its white fur covered its entire body, from its head to its tail, and its cry sounded like “Meee.”

When someone mistook them for sheep and approached, the Miryam would calmly move closer, nudge their head against the person’s hand, and then suddenly open its mouth to swallow them whole.

Miryams were capable of swallowing creatures ten times their own size and digesting them. Their body wasn’t supported by bones but by a powerful digestive system. That was the real reason they were often seen sitting down.

Though they seemed harmless at first glance, this herd of monsters was currently fleeing from their natural enemies.

They were peaceful creatures, feeding on weak prey, but now their beautiful habitat had fallen into enemy hands, forcing them to flee.

Meeee!

The Miryam let out a mournful cry as they ran. Their short legs, which were hidden beneath their fur, were actually quite short. They moved by almost dragging their bodies along the ground.

Sasa! Sasa!

The movement of the Miryam herd was a spectacle. It looked like clouds were moving along the ground. Watching them from the air, Sema opened his mouth in awe.

He signaled to Contacca and Louise below.

If they kept running like this, the Miryam herd would just circle the dungeon and pass by.

It seemed time to begin the lure.

Grrr!

Contacca, now transformed into a werewolf, carried Louise on his back. With powerful muscles, he raced after the Miryam herd. Louise aimed his arrow at the lead Miryam and shot.

Swaack!

The arrow pierced the unprotected forehead of the Miryam, cutting through the trees.

Meeee!

The lead Miryam collapsed, and the rest of the herd froze, confused, unable to decide where to run.

Where should they go? Where? Where is the enemy?

Then Louise pulled another arrow from his quiver and deliberately missed, lodging it into the soft fur of a Miryam.

Though it looked soft, the arrow bounced off, much to their surprise.

At that moment, the Miryam herd’s docile eyes changed into those of wild monsters, and they charged at Louise with a loud cry.

Meeeeeee!

‘It worked.’

“Run, Sema!”

Contacca shouted at Sema, who had been staring dumbfounded. Then he dashed toward the dungeon at full speed.

“AAAHH!”

They passed through all the dungeon’s trap rooms without triggering any traps. By the time they reached the World Tree’s communal area, Ian was waiting with a large bronze bowl.

“Sema. Show me the situation.”

“Yes, Lord Ian! !”

Sema swung his large staff, creating ripples in the water filling the bronze bowl. Moments later, the water cleared, reflecting the situation of the Miryam herd on the surface.

Half of the Miryam herd had been pierced by traps and couldn’t pass the first room. They were impaled on sticks and scattered like clouds on the shattered floor.