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090 Grissom
the Egocentric
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Translator : PolterGlast
I used Dungeon Move to
teleport to the 2nd floor. Today, I was in the dungeon with soldiers who were
planning to change jobs to Explorer and Priest.
"When you become
an Explorer, you'll be able to use the current Dungeon Move. The deeper the
floor, the more effective Dungeon Move becomes—it's a great skill," I
explained.
There were five
Explorer candidates, but I brought only two this time. To acquire the Explorer
job, one needed to defeat 20 monsters alone on the first day of dungeon
exploration, so bringing too many would make it impossible to achieve the
subjugation count.
Similarly, I brought
two Priest candidates. The job change condition was to defeat 10 monsters
higher than one's own level as a Villager bare-handed, and since there was no
time limit for this, we could do it later.
Yamato had
strengthened ordinary weapons, and I had them carry demonic swords and demonic
spears that I had enchanted. I could lend them my Mithril Two-Handed Sword, but
its effect was rather plain. So, I had them use demonic swords with flashy
effects instead. I thought that would make them less self-conscious.
If these two became
Explorers here, then I could use Dungeon Move to teleport to the 9th floor, and
these two would also be able to travel there. After that, if I left it to
Gandarvan and these two, the other three would also be able to change jobs to
Explorer and travel freely to the 9th floor.
Having five Explorers
would make leveling up easier once we reached the 9th floor, and Gandarvan and
his team could take turns training the soldiers in the dungeon. As a byproduct
of leveling up, the exchange value of drop items would also increase. Slaves
would receive 0.5 percent of the exchange value of items obtained in the
dungeon. One might think 0.5 percent is tiny, but on the 8th floor, profits are
in the hundreds of millions, so that alone would put millions of Grill in their
pockets. They should be able to acquire funds to buy back their freedom
quickly.
The two Explorer
candidates and two Priest candidates were initially hesitant when facing
monsters, but once they realized that their weapons and armor were good enough
to prevent serious injury even if they took hits, they seemed relieved and
smoothly acquired their Explorer and Priest jobs. "When it's that easy to
acquire, the value of the job diminishes..." Anneliese murmured, almost
exasperated by how smooth and effortless it was.
***
Upon returning to the
mansion, I reported the acquisition of the Explorer and Priest jobs to
Gandarvan and the others.
"With this, we
can now reach the 9th floor of the dungeon without relying on Master,"
Gandarvan affirmed, nodding.
"I also want to
raise my own level, so I'll continue dungeon exploration. And since I promised
the Princess, I intend to thin out 1,000 monsters on the 10th floor," I
stated.
"With Master
present, dungeon exploration can be conducted quite safely. However, as your
retainers, we cannot take advantage of that. Therefore, I intend to take the
soldiers into the dungeon and train them rigorously," Gandarvan replied.
"Being rigorous
is good, but please exercise extreme caution. Even if you raise them well, it's
meaningless if they die," I warned.
"Understood,"
Gandarvan affirmed, looking very motivated. I felt a little sorry for the
soldiers, but I couldn't have them become lazy from lax training, so this was
fine.
"Our household
has grown quite large. So, I'm thinking of making Bath, Jojok, Lin, Solidia,
and Rosalina into Knights," I announced.
"That would be a
good time. I approve," Gandarvan readily agreed.
"We, knights? I
feel like that's above our reach..." Jojok began.
"There's no talk
of a Level 48 Sword Master being above his station as a Knight," I
retorted. Not just Jojok, but Gandarvan, Bath, Lin, Solidia, and Rosalina were
all Level 48. They already surpassed not only Barukan but even Royal Knight
Order Commander Barbados.
"Bath, Jojok,
Lin, Solidia, and Rosalina will become Knights, and I'll have them train the
slaves as their subordinates, four or five each," I decided. I would
assign them four or five subordinates each, but only after all the soldiers
acquired their intended jobs.
"Colon and Karon
have also reached quite high levels, but they will be held in reserve this
time. They won't have a specific post, but they'll be like
squires-in-chief," I explained.
"We are still far
from sufficient," Colon said.
"Even our current
treatment is more than we deserve," Karon added.
Colon and Karon were
Level 42. They were on par with Barukan and Barbados. That meant they were on
par with the strongest individuals in this country. They had worked hard.
"Finally,
Gandarvan will be the Knight Commander. Please continue to look after
everyone," I stated.
"It is an honor
beyond my reach. I humbly accept," Gandarvan replied.
"Gandarvan,
you're as stiff as ever," I commented.
"It is my
nature," he replied. That's what makes you stiff.
Anneliese's Sage of
Love was also Level 48. My Reincarnated Hero was Level 45, and my Heroic Sword
Master was Level 35.
"Master, an envoy
from the castle has arrived," Enrique announced unexpectedly. An envoy
from the castle? Why?
"You are to
ascend to the castle tomorrow," the envoy simply stated, then left. I
haven't done anything to the royal family recently, have I?
"I'll be
ascending to the castle tomorrow, so please make preparations," I
instructed.
"Understood,"
Mondark replied. The castle, huh? How long had it been since I entered the
castle without hiding my presence?
***
Grissom's party had
spent about 10 days hunting monsters on the 6th floor of the royal capital
dungeon. This time, they had an unexpectedly large number of rare drops, and
they were returning home with beaming faces. They smoothly advanced through the
5th and 4th floors and, when they could easily defeat the appearing monsters,
they decided to camp for the night.
"Hey, prepare the
camp. Hurry up!" Grissom ordered his party members—who were like personal
servants to him—to prepare the camp. Among them, Totonas, the lowest-ranking
male explorer, hastily prepared the camp.
Even though it was
camping, there was no fire, and they had only hard bread, salty dried meat, and
water for meals. Totonas's job was to set up the sleeping mats and blankets
while his comrades ate.
"Damn it, this
tastes awful!" Grissom complained, biting into the hard bread. In this
party, Grissom was king. A king no one could defy. So the five said nothing.
Grissom had his father's backing, and he himself had the unpleasant job of
Debuff Sorcerer. Moreover, knowing the misdeeds Grissom committed, his comrades
found it strange and frightening why Grissom's job never changed to Bandit.
They were his subordinates, unaware of the existence of Chief Priest Dandelie,
who could change jobs back to their original ones even after they became
Bandits. And it was also a big factor that staying with Grissom allowed them to
live a relatively good life.
After getting enough
sleep and recovering their stamina, they proceeded towards the dungeon exit
again. And then, Grissom, now on the 3rd floor, took a different path from the
one leading to the exit.
"This place is as
dreary as ever," Grissom muttered.
As far as the eye
could see, there was a poisonous swamp. About 30 meters ahead, a treasure chest
sat. He had heard that this treasure chest in the poisonous swamp had once
disappeared, but it had recently reappeared. He had never heard of a treasure
chest appearing in the same location.
In the past,
bird-beastmen capable of flight had attempted to reach the treasure chest here.
However, those bird-beastmen inhaled the toxins in the air, lost consciousness,
fell into the poisonous swamp, and never returned. Some individuals wore
poison-resistant items and entered the poisonous swamp, but the toxins,
surpassing their resistance, immobilized them, and they sank into the poisonous
swamp. From such experiences, that treasure chest could not be easily obtained.
"Hey, go!"
Grissom commanded. It was Totonas again.
However, Grissom
wasn't just trying to kill Totonas. He had acquired a poison-resistant item
through his father's connections. It wasn't for minor or weak poisons like
those commonly found, but one that could withstand strong poisons.
Totonas, wearing a
mask-type item with strong poison resistance, hesitantly entered the poisonous
swamp.
"Oh... it's
alright," he murmured.
"That was
expensive. Of course it is!" Grissom retorted, cursing Totonas to hurry
up.
Totonas was angered by
Grissom's attitude, but defying him would mean annihilation. Many comrades had
been killed before, or falsely accused by Count Erbasil and reduced to slavery.
This poison-resistant
item protected Totonas completely. Totonas stood before the treasure chest and
reached out to its lid.
---Thump! The treasure
chest's trap activated, and Totonas was blown away by an explosion. His
consciousness flew away, and his magic anti-poison item was destroyed. Totonas
sank into the poisonous swamp.
Grissom and his group
had foolishly thought that since it was so heavily protected by poison, the
treasure chest wouldn't have any traps. When Toi's party touched this treasure
chest, there was no trap. Perhaps because it was taken so easily, a trap was
added.
"Tch, that
treasure chest has a trap too!?" Grissom cursed the trap, without worrying
about Totonas.
It was then that the poisonous
swamp receded like a tidal flat.
"Oh!? We can go
now! Hey, Zacker. You go!" Grissom commanded Zacker, a party member, to
go. He had the caution not to enter himself until it was confirmed safe.
However, Grissom's casual treatment of his comrades' (whom he didn't consider
comrades) lives made his party members look displeased.
Zacker, knowing it was
not wise to defy Grissom, entered the area where the poison had receded. He
braced himself, knowing it was the difference between dying here or being killed
by Grissom.
He checked Totonas,
who lay fallen midway, but he had already passed away. He shook his head and
conveyed this to his comrades. His comrades felt a certain sadness at Totonas's
death. But Grissom felt no such emotion.
"That guy doesn't
matter. Hurry up and get to the treasure chest!" Grissom ordered.
Sighing, Zacker stood
up and walked towards the treasure chest. The treasure chest's lid was open,
and inside was something that looked like an old staff. He hesitated to reach
for the eerie, seemingly cursed staff, but he picked it up and returned to
where Grissom and the others were waiting.
"Is this the
treasure chest item!?"
Grissom intently gazed
at the staff, which had a rounded tip and looked like a withered branch.
Depending on the appraisal results, since it was a staff, it would likely
become Grissom's equipment. Since it was an item so heavily guarded, it must be
a very good magic item. Expectation swelled in his chest.
Grissom took 80% of
the loot. The remaining 20% was divided among the others, which was still a
decent income. However, if it wasn't exchanged for money, his comrades wouldn't
get a share, so they had hoped the treasure chest would be filled with 100,000
black gold coins, and they were disappointed by the item that seemed difficult
to exchange for money.
"Hey, don't
dally! Let's go home quickly!" Grissom, in high spirits, started walking.
The members shared the luggage Totonas had been carrying. Of course, Grissom
carried nothing. It was frustrating, but they couldn't defy Grissom.
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