Dungeon Monster Strengthening System.
Maru obtained the system as he gained enlightenment.
Thanks to that, I, who now knew how to open the system, gave Celia an order.
“Let everyone attain enlightenment.”
Even to myself, it was a truly cryptic command.
So I didn’t expect much.
– Skeleton Archer has attained enlightenment through training.
– Skeleton Archer’s [Dungeon Monster Strengthening System] has been unlocked.
– Skeleton Magic Trainee has attained enlightenment through training.
– Skeleton Magic Trainee’s [Dungeon Monster Strengthening System] has been unlocked.
Before long, alarms popped up saying monsters were attaining enlightenment one by one.
The alarms didn’t just ring once but continuously.
– Banshee has attained enlightenment through training.
– Banshee’s [Dungeon Monster Strengthening System] has been unlocked.
– Skeleton Knight has attained enlightenment.
– Skeleton Knight’s [Dungeon Monster Strengthening System] has been unlocked.
Occasionally, 3-star monsters also attained enlightenment and unlocked the system.
“Celia is indeed competent.”
To resolve the order to attain enlightenment so easily…
“By the way, what kind of training are they doing for that?”
I don’t know how Skoll attained enlightenment, but Maru attained it through battle.
And the ones currently triggering alarms are all said to have attained enlightenment through training.
“Is Celia pushing them hard?”
No, is it even possible to attain enlightenment through training in the first place?
This easily?
Maybe this strengthening system is just a free event.
Come to think of it, there were two systems that came to mind when I gained traits.
One was the current strengthening system, and the other was the level system.
“If it continues like this, the strengthening system will be resolved quickly.”
The alarms kept ringing.
At first, I thought it was going smoothly, but soon I noticed something strange.
“…Why are only the undead triggering alarms?”
The alarms indicating they had attained enlightenment only appeared for the undead.
– Denver has attained enlightenment through training.
– Denver’s [Dungeon Monster Strengthening System] has been unlocked.
Even named unique monsters attained enlightenment, and they were also undead.
[Dungeon Monster Strengthening System]
– Dungeon Master ‘Kanghyeon Lee’ (Unlocked)
– Maru (****) (Unlocked)
– Skoll (***) (Unlocked)
– Denver (***) (Unlocked)
– Banshee (***) x 4 (Unlocked)
– Skeleton Knight (***) x 6 (Unlocked)
– Skeleton Swordsman (**) x 21 (Unlocked)
– Skeleton Mage (**) x 7 (Unlocked)
– Skeleton Archer (**) x 13 (Unlocked)
– Skeleton Soldier (*) x 43 (Unlocked)
– Skeleton Archer Trainee (*) x 27 (Unlocked)
– Skeleton Magic Trainee (*) x 18 (Unlocked)
“Hmph…”
As a result, a large number of monsters attained enlightenment, but I couldn’t be entirely happy.
Because everyone except me and Skoll was undead.
Moreover, the rank was also a problem.
Even now, the monster with the highest rank was Maru at 4-star.
The rest were a mixture of 3-star, with a majority of 1 and 2-star monsters.
However, I felt it was a waste to strengthen 1 and 2-star monsters.
The abilities that can be strengthened can only be obtained through sacrifices, and I would use them to strengthen mere 1-star monsters?
It didn’t make sense in terms of cost-effectiveness.
“It’s a shame. It would have been better if Celia or Death Knight had obtained it…”
If even just Celia’s strengthening system had been opened, it would have been a profitable venture.
“Indeed, attaining enlightenment is not easy.”
Even among the undead, the number that had their strengthening system opened was small compared to the total number.
Despite feeling regret, this was not something I could do anything about.
I couldn’t exactly threaten the monsters with a sword and tell them to hurry up and enlighten themselves.
Instead, I decided to focus on another problem.
“What is the problem?”
Why is it that only undead monsters are attaining enlightenment?
I immediately touched the screen of Sector 1 where the undead were gathered.
“?”
Contrary to my expectation that some intense training was taking place, Sector 1 was peaceful.
An Arch Lich stood at the front, and the other monsters were training according to the Arch Lich’s orders.
“The Arch Lich seems to control his subordinates well.”
Everyone followed the Arch Lich’s words well.
Through this incident, I felt like I had discovered the Arch Lich’s true nature.
“Is that a true leader?”
Wouldn’t it have been better to give the Arch Lich a title like leader instead of Inspector?
“Let’s check other places too.”
After checking Sector 1, I immediately touched the screen and moved to the next sector.
It was Sector 2.
Goblins lived in Sector 2, and most of the places were packed tightly with huts.
And in a corner without huts, training goblins could be seen.
It’s not like they were training half-heartedly.
They were truly training with all their might, doing their best.
In a way, they seemed to be training even harder than the undead in Sector 1.
“No, they’re really training hard!”
Despite training so diligently, not a single goblin had attained enlightenment.
I caught that point.
Why are only the undead attaining enlightenment?
Why can’t other races do it?
What is the difference between the undead and other races?
I pondered what differences led to these results.
I moved back and forth between Sector 1 and Sector 2, observing the dungeon.
Then, a possibility suddenly occurred to me.
“The difference in facilities?”
Perhaps it had something to do with the dungeon’s facilities?
That thought suddenly struck me.
“Facilities…”
It made sense.
And if we use facilities as a comparison, it could explain why only the undead attained enlightenment.
“…Indeed, the undead are not a race that is particularly bound by location.”
Undead are beings who are already dead.
Therefore, they mainly appear in gloomy places like cemeteries or battlefields. In other words, if there was a dark place, they would appear regardless of time or location.
Even if it were a filthy sewer, undead monsters could survive.
Location is not that important to the undead.
Even now, their numbers filled Sector 1, but it didn’t matter to them.
Undead were a race that did not need to rest and did not need to consume anything.
They could simply stand all day.
Ultimately, this was a significant difference from other monsters.
Therefore, perhaps this is why only the undead are attaining enlightenment?
The goblins in Sector 2, on the other hand, were training next to their huts because they had no separate places.
What’s more, some were training outside the dungeon, making their situation even more difficult.
In the first place, to attain enlightenment in such an environment?
That was too much to ask.
“At least there should be a training ground.”
Still, it’s fortunate that I realized it now.
“We need to develop the dungeon facilities.”
Most importantly, I am connected to this dungeon.
If the dungeon is subjugated, my life is also in danger.
The time has come to upgrade the dungeon for the efficiency of the monsters.
I immediately touched the screen and looked around the dungeon.
This time, I wasn’t observing the training but looking for necessary facilities.
“Hmm.”
The current dungeon was divided into five major areas.
Four areas from Sector 1 to Sector 4.
And the central part where the Dungeon Core exists, totaling five locations.
It didn’t have much meaning.
Except for the central part, it was just a simple design that grouped similar races.
This design could be described in one word.
“Residential Dungeon.”
It was merely a living space for monsters.
It wasn’t a place where they could do anything special.
Of course, for monsters, a dungeon is likely a place with only such simple purposes.
However, from my perspective as someone living in modern society, the current dungeon was too desolate.
Even if it wasn’t modern, there was a need to develop the dungeon’s infrastructure.
Dungeon development was an unavoidable choice.
“But maybe high-rank dungeons are different?”
All the dungeons I’ve entered so far have been of low rank.
Without a status window, the highest I could access was a D-class dungeon.
Even after living on the El Dorado Continent for two years, the highest rank I entered as a porter was a Silver Rank dungeon.
Therefore, I didn’t know in detail how high-rank dungeons were structured.
“If I knew even roughly, it would be helpful.”
I could use it for my dungeon’s development.
Just in case, I immediately searched for related data.
But unfortunately, there wasn’t much information about dungeons.
The information that did exist was all about low-rank dungeons, and for high-rank dungeons, it might as well have been non-existent.
I searched for data about dungeons, but all I found was unreliable information.
[Another Murder Case in Dungeon, Hunter Corpses Discovered…]
“Tsk.”
Among them, I noticed a news article that was not pleasing to my mood.
“Villains are increasing these days.”
Seeing such news, I was reminded that strength is ultimately important.
“I must continue to get stronger.”
And what I needed right now was the development of my dungeon, so I returned to my smartphone.
I scanned the dungeon one by one, starting from Sector 1.
[Layer 1, Sector 1]
– Sub-boss: Death Knight (*****)
This is Sector 1, mainly inhabited by the undead, with Death Knight as the sub-boss.
However, there seemed to be no immediate reason to develop this place.
“Well, they don’t sleep or anything…”
So they don’t seem to need huts like the goblins.
It would be fine to think about it last, after examining other sectors.
Next was Sector 2.
[Layer 1, Sector 2 Sub-boss]
– Goblin Lord (*****)
A place where many goblins live under the control of the Goblin Lord.
“Hmm.”
Indeed, this place was too cramped.
Moreover, since there was a need for separate living spaces, building huts made it look even more cramped.
“I wish I could resolve it right away…”
There was still a penalty remaining after resolving the Monster Wave.
Most content related to monster summoning and dungeon expansion was currently unavailable.
It was disappointing.
For now, with regret, I decided to give Celia an order as a temporary measure.
“Expand Sector 2 a bit more.”
If I say it like this, Celia will start working on it.
Since I couldn’t use the game system at the moment, I decided to take an analog approach.
That is, to expand the dungeon’s size by mobilizing manpower.
In a situation where I don’t know when the penalty will be lifted, doing something like this seems better.
When the penalty is lifted, I can then develop it properly using the system.
In addition to expansion, I plan to build a training ground in Sector 2 so that goblins can train at any time.
“For now, I need to keep in mind roughly Dungeon Expansion and a training ground for Sector 2.”
If I have enough leeway, I’ll upgrade the huts as well.
I immediately touched the screen.
“Aren is doing well.”
Next is Sector 3.
There was no separate sub-boss in Sector 3.
In the center of a wide field were carnivorous plants, and only blood-sucking butterflies flew through the air.
Spiders occupied a corner, and it looked peaceful.
And the child darting between them was Aren.
Aren was not yet affiliated with my dungeon, so I couldn’t check detailed information.
I could only get the information that she was a vampire.
However, Aren was moving around more diligently than anyone else.
Even now, Aren was going back and forth to the lake in Sector 4 to fetch water.
She was watering the plants with the fetched water, managing Sector 3 in her own way.
“But who is that guy next to her?”
Besides Aren, another presence caught my eye.
I clicked on it, but like Aren, it was not affiliated with my dungeon.
“Naririel…?”
At least her name appeared.
However, no further information was displayed.
“That’s strange.”
I zoomed in on the screen, but she was wearing a hat pulled down low, so her appearance was not clearly visible.
There were already two outsiders not affiliated with the dungeon.
“Hmm. Is everything alright?”
Perhaps Celia brought Naririel into the dungeon as well, so she must have her own thoughts.
Still, I realized that entrusting everything is not good.
I decided to ask Celia for a report soon and fell into thought.
Sector 3 didn’t really have anything to worry about.
In the first place, its concept was nature.
The inhabitants were mainly plant-type monsters and insects, so enlightenment or anything else didn’t seem very meaningful.
“If there’s anything to worry about, it’s that they are too vulnerable to fire.”
Sector 3 consists of fields and plants, so it has the disadvantage of being too vulnerable to fire.
“I’ll have to form a separate unit for this.”
If an intruder were to start a fire in Sector 3, there would be a need for beings to suppress it.
“I can make them from goblins, right?”
After all, goblins were in surplus.
Therefore, I decided to form a fire brigade composed of goblins.
* * *
“Death Knight.”
Death Knight raised its head at Celia’s question.
Death Knight had been tidying up the lake in Sector 4 until now.
“Master has given an order.”
At Celia’s words, Death Knight’s eyes lit up. Master’s order?
Will I finally be able to go outside the dungeon?
Death Knight waited for Celia to say the next words quickly.
“First, take this.”
As soon as Celia finished speaking, a Skeleton Knight next to her handed Death Knight a pickaxe.
?
What am I supposed to do with this pickaxe?
“From now on, we will expand Sector 2 according to Master’s orders.”
“…”
Death Knight’s punishment continued.
