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140 Important
People
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Translator : PolterGlast
I'm a little late in
doing this, but I've named the dungeon with an entrance in the back of the
abandoned mine in the Suzuka Mountains the "Suzuka Dungeon."
Since then, the
exploration of the Suzuka Dungeon has been progressing. I'm not happy about it,
but I only get to go in one day a week because I have a lot of work to do as a
lord. I want to go in more to clear my head... ahem... I mean, for the sake of
the territory.
"Master. Mr.
Packard from the Explorer's Guild has arrived."
Mondark guided the
bigwig from the Explorer's Guild in. I gave him permission to enter the office
and moved from my desk to the sofa.
"My name is
Packard, the Deputy Commander of the Explorer's Guild, Oda Kingdom Integrated
Headquarters. I would like to offer my congratulations on your discovery of a
dungeon."
Since dungeons bring
wealth, it seems it's a cause for celebration when one is discovered. On the
other hand, if you leave it alone, it'll spew out monsters. And the fact that
it was already spewing out monsters is an afterthought.
Deputy Commander of
the Explorer's Guild, Oda Kingdom Integrated Headquarters. It's a long job
title, but he's apparently the number two in the Explorer's Guild, at least
within the Oda Kingdom. He's quite a big shot.
Packard is 243 years
old. He's quite old because he's an elf. But what a handsome man!
He has silky blond
hair, blue eyes, and long ears.
My Anneliese is more
beautiful!
"Is something
wrong?"
"Oh, no, it's
nothing. I'm Toi Footscythel. I'm a viscount, by the way."
"Hehehe."
What's so funny?
"My apologies. I
was just thinking that you are exactly as the rumors say."
"The rumors?
They're probably nothing good, are they?"
Apparently, the nobles
are saying whatever they want, calling me an upstart and a commoner who came
out of nowhere.
"No, no. I heard
that His Excellency Viscount Footscythel, who is now a force to be reckoned
with, didn't want to become a noble. They say that even now, when you say
you're a viscount, you make a pained expression."
"Ah, that.
Hahaha. I reluctantly became a noble with a territory. That's the truth."
I'd switch back in a
heartbeat if I could.
"There's no need
to stand. Please have a seat."
"Yes. Thank
you."
The conversation was
simple. The Explorer's Guild would manage the Suzuka Dungeon. The details would
be discussed at the working level, but he gave me a rough overview. The
management would be basically the same as other dungeons, so I agreed. The
ownership belongs to us, but the management rights belong to the Explorer's
Guild. It's a relationship similar to an owner and a store manager.
Packard said he wanted
to see the dungeon himself, so I decided to guide him. I'm not doing this to
clear my head, of course. I explained that the Suzuka Dungeon has Level 10
monsters right at the entrance, so it's very dangerous. I told him I wouldn't
stop him from entering, but I wouldn't guarantee his life. I had to say that.
"I also brought
high-level explorers as my guards. Please rest assured that they won't cause
any trouble for the Footscythel viscount family in case something
happens."
He brought seven
guards. Six of them were in their 30s, and one was at Level 29. They are
generally considered high-level and would probably be able to easily handle the
Rock Eaters near the entrance. In addition to that, Packard's level is high.
He's an Explorer at Level 42. I've never seen a job called Explorer. It seems
to be a very rare job, like a combination of an explorer and an adventurer. I
feel like the world is a big place.
To be honest, the
first floor of the Suzuka Dungeon is incredibly vast. There's a narrow path
through a rock mountain for 3 kilometers, and then there's a vast wasteland.
Even if you jog the shortest route to the boss room, it would take you 10
hours. And there are not only Rock Eaters but also Kobold monsters. If you try
to take the shortest route, you'll run into a mob of about 100 Kobolds. It's
unbelievably annoying.
Our elite unit is
currently exploring the third floor, but they're having a hard time. The area
is several times larger than the first floor, and the monsters are at least
Level 48. It's so difficult that only the elite unit can proceed, and it feels
like harassment. By the way, the maximum level on the first floor is 30, which
is a ridiculous setting.
"This is quite a
magnificent view."
Packard looked out
over the dungeon from the cliff. If I pushed him, he'd fall straight down. I'm
not going to do that, of course, but I slowly moved away.
"Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no, it's
nothing."
Well, let's move on
and have our first fight with the Rock Eaters. Packard's guards easily
dispatched them. They didn't have a chance to use their petrification breath,
but it was still a precarious fight.
"So this is a
magic stone."
Packard has the Item
Appraisal skill. He must have used it to look at the stone because his eyes
were wide with surprise.
"Your Excellency
Footscythel. This is an amazing item!"
"It seems
so."
The Rock Eaters drop
magic stones at a rate of about 30 percent. The normal drop is Rock Eater hide,
and the rare drop is the magic stone. You can get a magic effect if you use it,
and you can also use it as a material for a magic item.
The Work Ants that
appear on the 4th floor of the Kerniffi dungeon are around Level 10. Their
drops are: ant shell at 110 Grille, G-rank magic stones at 250 Grille, and a
rare drop of an acid pouch at 1,800 Grille. On the other hand, the Rock Eater's
magic stone is appraised by the guild to be at least 4,000 Grille. Since it
drops once every three times, it's not that rare, but the purchase price is
quite high. He added that the price might be high now because it's rare, and it
could get even higher if the supply can't keep up with the demand.
"I'd like to
build a guild inside the abandoned mine. Would you grant me permission?"
Building a guild
inside an abandoned mine is quite a novel idea. But we also built our
facilities inside the abandoned mine. Thanks to that, the mages who can use
earth magic are busy reinforcing the walls and ceilings of the abandoned mine.
We're also putting up pillars in various places, and the concrete blocks are
very useful for that.
"I want to place
guards in front of the entrance and build the building in a large space. What
do you think?"
"There's no
problem in general, but let's discuss the location later."
While I was talking to
Packard, a Rock Eater approached, but the guards quickly dealt with it.
After exploring the
rock mountain for a bit and bringing back some magic stones dropped by Rock
Eaters, Packard immediately returned to the royal capital. We decided to build
the guild in a prime location in front of the middle finger passage entrance.
It's on the opposite side of our facility, which is currently under
construction. It looks like an underground city, which is interesting.
I've been inspecting
the cultivation site since this morning. It's a vast area where we can't grow
crops because of the salt damage. We're currently clearing the land and turning
the soil. Most of the people working here are dominant slaves. Many have a
sentence of several decades, but some will be freed in a few years. It seems
that those who are scheduled for early release are working more seriously.
Those who were deeply involved in crime don't seem to have any motivation. They
probably think they'll be worked to death anyway. But they should really think
about it. Those who don't work seriously at the cultivation site will be sent
to a harsher place. They must know that. But they still don't work seriously.
Is it because of the laziness that has been ingrained in them for a long time,
or do they just think they're going to die anyway? I can't be bothered to deal
with the problems of those prisoners.
"Hey,
Yamato."
"What is
it?"
"We've made an
automatic loom, but how are we going to make thread from the cotton?"
"...Ah?!"
"You didn't think
about that, did you?"
"Hahaha. I'll
think about it."
We haven't even
planted the cotton yet, and there's no guarantee that it will grow. Even if it
does, it'll be a while before we can harvest it. He needs to figure out what to
do by then. I'm just leaving it to him, but I believe he can do it!
"Hey,
Yamato."
"What is
it?"
"Don't you think
you're having a hard time working alone? You can hire an assistant if you want."
"Hmm. I think I'm
fine for now."
"Why? You're
busy, aren't you?"
"Well, you know,
I'm kind of an introvert."
"Huh? An
introvert? Who are you talking about?"
"Me, I'm talking
about me."
Yamato pointed to his
own dumbfounded face.
"This is the first
time I'm hearing this."
"I'm shocked that
you didn't know."
"But you were
talking to the soldiers just now."
"That's not true.
I feel more at ease when I'm alone. Of course, I'll say what needs to be said,
but still."
Well, if he says he's
an introvert, then he's an introvert. It's not my decision to make, so he's
free to claim that.
▽▽▽ Side: ??? ▽▽▽
There were four
figures in the darkness. They huddled together, speaking in hushed tones.
"Is tomorrow the
day?"
"Are you
ready?"
"We'll do it once
we enter the dungeon, right?"
"We're all set.
But please, don't let them notice our plan. If we can't enter the dungeon, this
plan will be postponed or canceled."
" " "We
know!" " "
After saying that, the
four of them vanished into the darkness as if they had melted away.
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