Free Web NovelAs they ate, everyone reported matters that required Ian’s attention.
Reporting during meals was a rule Ian had established after the number of dungeon residents increased and meeting with each person individually became difficult.
More than anything, though, the main reason was that Ian was too lazy to set aside a separate time for it.
Of course, Ian knew that holding meetings during meals was a bad idea.
Wasn’t mealtime supposed to be a time to rest?
But this was a pre-modern society, and people’s awareness of rights was underdeveloped.
They did not even think to claim their rights as employees.
“Long live pre-modern times.”
Ian, owner of what was beginning to look suspiciously like an exploitative company, listened to Contacca’s report.
“The number of monsters in the forest is increasing. They are not a direct threat yet, but there are signs that a group of monsters from the north is moving south.”
“They are invading our hunting grounds because they are fleeing from the monsters coming down from the north,” Louise added.
“A group of monsters from the north? How many?”
“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 handle thousands, not just hundreds.”
After all, hadn’t they already captured the Demon Archduke inside the dungeon?
Contacca nodded as well.
Ian, who was eating strawberry salad, spoke again.
“All right. Let’s do that. For now, bring everyone working outside back inside. Tell them to stay in the living quarters. We’ll clear the forest, lure the fleeing monsters in here, and deal with them. It’s not as if they have anything better to do, so let’s teach them the joy of guarding the dungeon.”
Everyone knew Ian possessed a special taming ability.
The idea was to turn any monsters that survived the purge into dungeon guardians.
Who would object when the dungeon’s strength would only grow?
It’s almost like he’s building a magic kingdom.
Contacca thought absently.
The dungeon’s defenses were already exceptional.
The soldiers themselves were not especially skilled, but with Ian and several other extraordinary individuals present, they had enough power to intimidate even demons.
After all, had they not captured the Demon Archduke?
Not long ago, Sir Keith had also joined their ranks.
In terms of pure strength, they might still be weaker than the Vatican, but if they fought inside the dungeon, Contacca was confident they could wipe out any crusading force the ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Vatican sent against them.
I wonder what Lord Ian is trying to create...
Contacca pondered this while trying to feed Momisia some vegetables.
“Lord Ian, you should eat too. Salad is delicious!”
“Eiiiing...”
Of course, Ian did not have any particular desire to create anything.
He simply wanted to survive.
And the most important person for that plan was sitting right across from him.
If I raise Keith properly, he can be the one to kill the Demon King.
It was a perfect plan.
Since Ian had obtained Keith so early, he had room to choose how to develop him.
He would customize Keith exactly the way he wanted!
He’ll have to face the Demon King alone, so I need to make him a balanced fighter.
Naturally, Ian had no intention of following Keith himself.
Lost in thought, Ian smiled to himself and looked at Keith.
Keith briefly met his gaze, then spoke.
“Lord Ian, don’t eat only salad. You should eat monster meat as well. If you keep being picky, you’ll grow thin.”
“...?!”
“...!”
Ian looked down at the monster meat on his plate with disgust.
Everyone else, including Louise, watched Keith with admiration.
He had said the words they had never dared to say.
“Is he actually a good person?”
Louise slightly revised his opinion of Keith.
Once mealtime ended, everyone moved in perfect coordination.
Those who had been working outside, training, gathering materials, or doing forestry work moved into the living quarters.
While they continued their work indoors, the combatants were assigned positions throughout the dungeon.
They checked their bows and weapons, stretched, and prepared for battle.
Next came the bait team.
The dragon, exhausted from battle and injuries, had fallen asleep.
Although it was now a small dragon, its vast mana was enough to frighten low-intelligence monsters into fleeing. It would serve less as bait and more as a driving force.
The rest of the team consisted of the nimble Louise, Contacca, who could turn into a werewolf at any time, and Sema, who looked as though he could devour someone.
Together, they formed the bait team.
Sema grumbled, lamenting the fate that had led him to learn how to fly.
I should never have learned it.
Of course, at the time, he had not had much of a choice.
“If anything happens, I’ll bite you and run, so don’t worry.”
Contacca spoke reassuringly.
“I’ll trust you, Lord Contacca! Please don’t abandon me!”
“Of course I won’t. You’re one of the people Lord Ian would personally come to rescue, aren’t you? Would Lord Ian ever send you on a dangerous mission?”
He did send me...
Sema did not voice that thought.
Instead, he replied cheerfully.
“Right?!”
“Exactly.”
Louise glanced at Sema, who seemed to be having a wonderful time, and continued checking his bowstring.
He wondered why Ian cared so much about a senseless magic user like him.
Though, anyone would probably show kindness to someone like that if they had a generous heart.
The Miryam was a monster from the dark forest.
At first glance, it appeared to be a fluffy species resembling a cross between a goat and a sheep.
White fur covered its entire body, from head to tail, and its cry sounded like, “Meee.”
If someone mistook it for a sheep and approached, the Miryam would calmly move closer, nudge its head against that person’s hand, and then suddenly open its mouth and swallow them whole.
Miryams could swallow creatures ten times their own size and digest them.
Their bodies were not supported by bones, but by an incredibly powerful digestive system.
That was the true reason they were so 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 that fed on weak prey.
But now their beautiful habitat had fallen into enemy hands, forcing them to run.
Meeee!
The Miryam let out mournful cries as they fled.
Their short legs, hidden beneath their fur, were indeed quite stubby.
They moved by almost dragging their bodies along the ground.
SHFF! SHFF!
The movement of the Miryam herd was a spectacle.
It looked like clouds rolling across the earth.
Watching them from the air, Sema opened his mouth in awe.
Then he signaled to Contacca and Louise below.
If they kept running like this, the Miryam herd would simply circle around the dungeon and pass it by.
It seemed time to begin the lure.
Grrrr!
Contacca, now transformed into a werewolf, carried Louise on his back.
His powerful muscles bunched as he raced after the Miryam herd.
Louise aimed his bow at the lead Miryam and fired.
SWISH!
The arrow shot between the trees and pierced the unprotected forehead of the leading Miryam.
Meeee!
The lead Miryam collapsed.
The rest of the herd froze in confusion, unable to decide where to flee.
Where should they go?
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Where was the enemy?
Then Louise drew another arrow from his quiver and deliberately missed, lodging it in the soft fur of a Miryam.
Although the fur looked soft, the arrow bounced off, much to their surprise.
At that moment, the docile eyes of the Miryam herd changed into the eyes of wild monsters.
With a deafening cry, they charged at Louise.
Meeeeeee!
It worked.
“Run, Sema!”
Contacca shouted to Sema, who had been staring in a daze.
Then he sprinted toward the dungeon at full speed.
“AAAHH!”
They passed through all the dungeon’s trap rooms without triggering a single trap.
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.
A moment later, the water cleared, and the situation of the Miryam herd appeared on its surface.
Half of the Miryam herd had been pierced by traps and failed to make it past the first room.
They were impaled on stakes, scattered like clouds across the shattered floor.
