Intruders have appeared in Master Kanghyeon Lee’s territory!
Finally, the intruders entered the nearby forest.
I also made many preparations since receiving the declaration of war message.
‘Still, it seems they are not weak opponents.’
Arcanea, the master of the dungeon.
I didn’t know how strong their forces were, but one thing was certain.
‘To find one hidden goblin in an instant.’
Another Lamia killed one member of the goblin scout team.
You shouldn’t underestimate goblins just because they’re goblins.
The goblins belonging to my scout team are different from ordinary goblins.
Although goblins form the core, they are warriors who have undergone tremendous training under the Goblin Lord’s supervision.
And that’s not all.
How much attention did Chief Administrator Celia pay to the scout team’s equipment?
They killed one such goblin in an instant with a single blow.
This meant that the opponent’s skill was higher than expected.
‘It wasn’t a declaration of war for nothing.’
If they were at a level where even the goblin scout team could exploit them, they wouldn’t have thought of coming here.
I was flustered and dumbfounded when they declared war on my dungeon, but now it didn’t matter.
No, it was even welcome.
I needed to objectively check the current strength of my dungeon.
Various individuals have entered my dungeon so far.
However, there was regret that all of them were easily dealt with.
That doesn’t mean I wanted someone I couldn’t handle to come, but the focus was on grasping the dungeon’s strength.
‘In that sense, those guys are the perfect candidates.’
First, I wanted to praise them for realizing that the goblin scout team was ambushing and launching a preemptive strike.
However.
They are not the main force.
The unit name itself is scout team, not for combat.
Their mission is purely reconnaissance, not to annihilate the enemy.
After defeating the goblin scout team, the opponent was approaching the dungeon at high speed.
‘Shall we just watch to see what happens?’
I touched the screen of my smartphone, which was charging in a relaxed posture.
Seen like this, I look like someone doing nothing, but I was in a position that received a salary.
“Sip.”
By the way, I need to visit the Fire Bird Guild sometime…
I became an advisor to the team led by Yerin Jeong at the Fire Bird Guild.
I felt bad about just taking my salary while staying like this, so I intended to make time sometime.
“Well, this is more important right now.”
It’s not a big deal if I don’t go to the Fire Bird Guild right away.
However, if my dungeon collapses, it would be a big problem for me too, so what I do from now on is very important.
So, I had already strictly instructed Celia.
The areas within the dungeon can be restored, so I ordered her to fight boldly.
Instead, I ordered her to protect the Dungeon Core thoroughly.
In case of emergency, I have also dispatched the 5-star Gargoyle at home to the El Dorado Continent.
This was also a possible method because the system first told me to form troops to defend against the intruders.
Furthermore, I also instructed Celia to withdraw troops if the strength of each sector was measured.
It would be a shame to deal with the enemy from the first sector.
“Or is it? If they die right from the first sector, is there any point in measuring them in the first place?”
I decided not to think about that.
I just hoped she would do well as instructed.
Celia, who is on-site, will handle this well, so I just need to trust and leave it to her.
However, the two guests in Sector 3 were moved to the rear, where Celia was.
Sector 3 is an area where carnivorous tentacle plants and blood-sucking butterflies exist.
Also, according to Celia’s report, there was an elf named Nariel and a young vampire named Aren.
For some reason, they were not yet affiliated with the dungeon. If I had to say, they were more like guests.
“It’s right to move them back, as they might become affiliated with the dungeon someday.”
Strictly speaking, carnivorous tentacle plants and blood-sucking butterflies could be replenished through gacha at any time.
Not only that, but monsters also breed on their own, so the number of blood-sucking butterflies that were born was much larger than the number previously drawn.
However, the dungeon seemed to regulate the number of blood-sucking butterflies, keeping it at a certain level.
“Perhaps those plants are eating the butterflies.”
Nature is mysterious.
The carnivorous pitcher plants in Sector 3 have become even stronger.
According to Celia, she strengthened the plants by borrowing the power of an elf.
Coincidentally, an elf named Ciel also resides in my house.
“If it’s useful, I should ask for one too.”
Growing one carnivorous pitcher plant would be worth it.
Of course, carnivorous pitcher plants are 3-star rank, so they cannot be summoned to Earth.
Instead, I intended to get seeds by using a trick.
As I thought about it, the next alarm rang.
– Caution! Intruders have appeared in Master Kanghyeon Lee’s dungeon!
– Subjugate the Lamia, the dungeon master ‘Arcanea,’ who invaded the dungeon.
The intruders finally entered the dungeon.
“Good. Now, shall I just watch the situation?”
I called Maru, sat him down, and handed him a notebook.
“Here, evaluate their performance while watching this screen.”
“Just?”
“Yes, yes. Just record who is handling the situation well and fighting well. Their promotion depends on your hands, Maru.”
I thought it would be more accurate to view it from a monster’s perspective.
I had the responsibility to oversee the overall flow.
***
As they entered the dungeon, a cool air greeted them.
The passage was not very wide, but it was not enough to cause problems in combat.
“The humidity is maintained at an appropriate level, so it seems there is water flowing inside.”
Stia was right.
This dungeon maintained a suitable humidity for Lamia to live in, except for the cool temperature.
“Once we take over this dungeon, we will immediately call the Merchant Guild representative to remodel it.”
“That would be good.”
Even if the temperature was low, the environment could be changed as desired by requesting the Merchant Guild.
But that wasn’t important right now.
“……”
Arcanea looked at the dungeon walls.
It seemed well-maintained, as the interior was clean.
Unfortunately, it was too monotonous.
There were no patterns on the walls, and only torches hung at regular intervals.
Arcanea felt an artificial feeling for some reason.
‘Strange.’
As if a displeasurable feeling, she shivered.
But she quickly calmed herself down and moved forward.
And a moment later.
They reached the end of the passage.
Before their eyes were three paths.
“Hmm.”
Arcanea took a deep breath, looking at the three paths.
From the leftmost path, a strong smell of death emanated.
It was a place where fear, screams, and emptiness could be felt all at once.
In such cases, there was only one thing.
“It seems that place is where the undead are.”
But it felt different from the aura of an Arch Lich.
It was highly likely that there was no Arch Lich there.
From the central path, a smell similar to the goblin scout team they met earlier wafted.
“It seems the goblins are gathered in the center.”
And the rightmost path.
‘Nature, blood, fear…?’
What is there to be afraid of?
There are many beings who feel fear.
Numerous people are feeling fear.
‘Blood?’
Are they afraid of vampires?
But even so, there was no direct smell of a vampire.
“Hmm.”
It seems that place cannot be gauged.
Usually, the range is narrowed down to one race, but the possibilities are too many.
“Lady Arcanea.”
Subordinate Officer Stia approached the distressed dungeon master.
“Will you divide your forces, or will you break through one area?”
As Stia said, the time to make a decision had come.
Whichever decision they made, there were pros and cons. If they all went to one place, it could lead to being isolated front and back.
If they withdrew forces from the other two paths and attacked from behind, it would be that much more difficult.
Dividing the forces would offset the disadvantages, but at the risk of great consequences.
“There’s no other way. Stia, you take charge of the leftmost path.”
From the first path, a strong smell of death emanated.
Even so, the Arch Lich, the master of this dungeon, was not felt.
That alone was enough for Stia to win.
And Arcanea herself chose the rightmost path.
Because it was a place with many possibilities and variables, she planned to advance with some subordinates.
“And for the central path, Ficha, you take charge.”
At her words, a slender Lamia appeared.
Ficha was skilled in magic among Lamia.
Therefore, she thought it would be suitable to fight against the goblins.
Ficha also agreed with that point.
“Understood, Master. I, Ficha, will subjugate the center.”
Arcanea quickly divided and deployed her forces.
The leftmost path was taken by twenty Lamia led by Stia, and the central path by thirty-six Lamia commanded by Ficha.
Arcanea herself chose the rightmost path with twelve Lamia.
With this, full preparations were complete.
Each of them completed their preparations and departed in their given directions.
Stia watched until Arcanea disappeared down the rightmost path.
As soon as Arcanea disappeared from Stia’s sight, she slowly got up.
“Then we will also depart.”
Twenty Lamia followed behind Stia.
As they walked forward, a strong deathly aura pierced the air.
A putrid smell stung their noses, and the falling temperature made the Lamia struggle.
“We need to hurry.”
Stia frowned at the continuously dropping temperature.
What was fatal to Lamia was the cold.
Stia, concerned for Arcanea’s safety, stepped into the first sector.
A moment later, Stia gasped at the sight that unfolded before her eyes.
An undead legion lined up in the space awaited her.
“Kkeuk…!”
A gloomy aura struck her head.
She felt like she could lose consciousness at any moment.
“M-everyone, stay alert!”
Subordinate Officer Stia, barely holding onto her reason, shouted to her subordinates.
‘How can such a powerful aura…!’
While comforting her subordinates, Stia was also bewildered by the current situation.
And then her gaze fell on a figure standing behind the undead legion.
“D-Death Knight!”
An unexpected being was there.
It was definitely stated that this dungeon belonged to an Arch Lich.
So why a Death Knight all of a sudden!
‘Could the information from the Merchant Guild be wrong!’
Only then did she realize that the situation was not good and turned around sharply.
She had to get out of here immediately and inform Arcanea.
“Lady Arcanea is in danger! We need to get out of here now!”
However, the undead legion would not let them leave easily.
The moment they arrived here, the Lamia had no choice.
Skeletons and zombies made of bones and pale flesh.
And Banshees crying out monstrously.
An undead legion composed of various monsters rushed towards Stia.
***
While the intruders were moving through the various sectors of the dungeon.
“Is this really the right thing to do?”
Baalcherit said in a dejected voice.
“Of course. Richel. This is the will of our great Master. Are you perhaps saying that you will defy the Master’s will?”
Celia smiled sweetly and chased Baalcherit out to Sector 4.
“Uh… Administrator. Can I, ‘Left,’ go in too?”
Unlike Baalcherit, who was chased out to Sector 4, the Ogre brothers were summoned to the center of the dungeon.
“I want to go in too, ‘Right’!”
“Of course. Everyone except Richel, please come in.”
Celia said, emphasizing specific names.
Following the Chief Administrator’s orders, the Ogre brothers, as well as the Water Spirit and the nobles captured from the Sail Kingdom, were moved to the center of the dungeon.
‘As expected of the Master. It’s still too early to trust that mosquito-like woman.’
The current situation must be the will of the Great Ones.
Even before the Lamias attacked, the Master ordered them to investigate the connection between Baalcherit and them.
The easiest way was to make them fight each other.
The cleanup was now complete.
Furthermore, since the Great Ones provided support with a Gargoyle, all variables were blocked at the source.
Celia moved on to the next agenda.
“Mr. Kazel, please think about how to utilize those Lamia to satisfy the Master.”
Kazel von Rosenberg was now acting as the dungeon’s adjutant.
He was the first human to be in charge of such important dungeon tasks.
Not only was his work ability excellent, but he also provided satisfactory answers to Celia’s questions immediately.
The same was true now.
“Chief Administrator, there is a liquor that some nobles enjoy drinking.”
“What is it?”
“It is a liquor made by steeping snakes. Lamia are similar to snakes from the waist down. Perhaps they may have even greater efficacy than ordinary snakes.”
Kazel, being a baron from the Sail Kingdom, had credibility in his words.
“Indeed… Snake liquor?”
Celia thought seriously about Kazel’s words.
Come to think of it, didn’t Maru, the Master’s bodyguard, say something?
He said the Master liked the taste of hands.
So, he had also cut off the hands of Nol and offered them as a sacrifice.
“Then, let’s capture one Lamia and make snake liquor.”
She was sure the Master would also like snake liquor made from Lamia.
Celia smiled and immediately started making snake liquor.
