novelraw Chapter 119 : Chapter 119
Chapter 119 : Chapter 119
Chapter 119. Dungeon (4)
The air on the 100th and lowest floor of the dungeon was heavy and silent.
More than two months had already passed since I had set up my own space here, sat on the throne, and waited for the challengers to reach this place.
‘This is boring.’
For the first few days, it was quite interesting to watch the adventurers’ challenges through the ‘One-eyed one’ magic crystal balls that illuminated various parts of the dungeon.
The sight of various parties screaming as they fell for the bizarre traps designed by Mammon, or running away after getting a scolding from the vampire gatekeepers, made me want to get some popcorn.
But that was only for a day or two.
It was agonizing to be cooped up in this small, dark space for two months, waiting endlessly.
Of course, it wasn’t as if there had been no progress at all during that time.
The current record holder for the dungeon was, surprisingly, my second daughter, Iris.
Accompanied by her guide, Number 3, she single-handedly conquered the dungeon and reached an impressive 31st floor.
Following closely behind her, Adel was at the 29th floor.
It must have been the result of steadily honing her skills with Alvarez.
While I felt proud of my two daughters’ dazzling growth, I also felt bored.
‘I thought someone would have broken through to around the 50th floor by now.’
Well, even to my eyes, this dungeon was created to be too vicious.
That Mammon guy, he really went all out designing it…
“This won’t do. If I stay here any longer, I might go crazy from boredom.”
I got up from the throne and stretched my stiff body.
It was time to go up.
Since it wasn't night, my strength hadn't returned, but it wasn't a big problem.
‘Because that Mammon fellow gave me something good.’
He had given me a special necklace imbued with magic, assuring me that as long as I wore it, the monsters in the dungeon wouldn't dare to think of attacking.
Was it something like the authority of a dungeon manager?
Anyway, thanks to it, the way up would be easy.
I put the necklace Mammon gave me around my neck and started walking diligently towards the upper floors.
The journey from the 100th floor to the 1st floor was quite a tedious one, but it was a good change of pace to move my body after a long time.
It was when I reached around the 33rd floor.
I felt a familiar presence from a safe shelter set up on one side of the corridor.
“Huh?”
Inside the shelter, Iris was taking a short break with Number 3.
She was surprised by my sudden appearance and shot up from her seat.
“Father? How did you get here?”
I smiled happily and approached her.
“Oh, so you were here, Iris. You’re truly amazing! To think you’d beat all those competitors and set the dungeon’s highest record. Haha.”
At my praise, Iris didn't know what to do and averted her gaze.
She was still very shy.
“What brings you here? Surely you didn’t come all this way just for me.”
I replied with a mischievous smile.
“What do you mean, what brings me here? I just left my post for a moment to do a patrol. Because I am the final boss of this dungeon.”
“What?”
Iris' eyes widened like a surprised rabbit.
“Wasn’t Mammon the final boss?”
“No way. That guy is just the gatekeeper of the 99th floor. He’s not even a Floor Master. The Floor Master of the 100th floor is me, Frank Pendragon.”
I declared triumphantly and patted Iris' head.
She flinched and avoided my touch.
Whatever.
I finished what I had to say.
“I’m really proud of you, Iris.”
I said with sincerity.
“Adel was born with a natural talent for swordsmanship, and Noemi for magic, but honestly, neither of them suited your aptitude. But you didn’t give up and constantly strived, and the result of that is you, right now. This event has clearly proven how much training you’ve undergone.”
My praise made Iris' face turn even redder.
Number 3, standing behind her, remained expressionless, but his eyes were filled with curiosity.
I looked at the two of them alternately and said.
“Haven’t you two been in here for quite some time? How about going outside for a rest? Pushing yourselves too hard could harm your bodies.”
Even though food and water were provided in the shelter, staying inside the dungeon
continuously would be mentally taxing.
But Iris firmly shook her head.
“No. I’m going to leave after I conquer the 100th floor.”
“Hoho, at this rate, it might take months, or even years. Don’t be like that, let’s go out together for now.”
“No. It would be so hard to come all the way back here after going out. I’d rather just keep challenging from here.”
At Iris' stubbornness, I made a troubled face but was laughing inwardly.
I gave her a meaningful smile and said.
“No. I have a plan, so don’t worry.”
At my words, Iris tilted her head as if in confusion.
That expression was quite cute.
Now, shall I start executing the next plan.
***
With the opening of the dungeon, Lumen Fortis was crowded with people, but I was taking a short break and preparing for the next step.
The establishment of a system absolutely necessary for the successful operation of the dungeon.
I sat facing Noemi in my office and explained the new plan.
“So you want to install a special transition magic circle on each floor of the dungeon, Dad?”
“Yes. So that adventurers can register the last floor or shelter they reached, and then they can move directly to that point the next time they enter the dungeon, without having to struggle from the first floor again.”
A kind of save point, perhaps?
Noemi’s eyes sparkled as she listened to my explanation.
She tilted her head for a moment, as if quickly calculating something, and then nodded with a bright smile.
“Yes! I think it’s definitely possible! By reading the flow of magic on each floor to set stable coordinates, and then creating and installing several small transition magic circles linked to those coordinates……. Ah! Of course, each magic circle would have to be given a unique identification code so that only the registered person can use it, right? Security is important too!”
As expected of Noemi.
She grasped and proposed a solution to a part I hadn’t even thought of in an instant.
‘This will be a more important turning point than anything else in the operation of the dungeon.’
Once this system was complete, adventurers would be able to conquer the dungeon much more efficiently.
Since they could save time and money, more challengers would flock in, and Lumen Fortis would become the continent’s best city for adventurers, both in name and in reality.
Of course, it would take Noemi quite a long time to complete this complex system.
‘In Iris' case, I’ll have to use my dad-privilege a bit.’
This time, I had brought her out, so until the system was completed, I thought I would have to personally take her back to the 32nd-floor shelter.
I should at least go through that much trouble. Of course. She’s my daughter, after all.
While I was thinking that.
Suddenly, the office door burst open and Anonymous entered with a pouting face.
She came up next to me in no time and crossed her arms, grumbling.
“Master! Give me a role too! It’s so boring to just guard the mansion alone without you, Master. Please?”
She dragged out the end of her sentence and put on a cute, affectionate expression.
Her true form as the queen of dragons was nowhere to be seen, and she was like a giant cat begging its owner to play.
I looked at her for a moment, contemplating.
Bored, give me a role.
Her words sounded like a simple complaint, but maybe this was a good opportunity.
The thought that she might be the right person for ‘that role’ I had been worrying about just flashed through my mind.
“Is that so?”
I stared at her with a meaningful smile.
Unable to read the meaning of my gaze, she just tilted her head with an innocent face.
Completely unaware of what role would be given to her.
***
The deepest part of the dungeon, the 100th floor.
In the center of the vast, empty space, on the throne that Frank was supposed to occupy, Anonymous sat with her chin propped up, her face full of dissatisfaction.
Her red eyes were filled with boredom and annoyance, and she was meaninglessly scanning the several magic crystal balls that monitored the surroundings.
‘Damn it. What in the world is this.’
She grumbled inwardly.
She had only wanted to be by Frank’s side just a little bit more.
When he said he would be staying on the lowest floor of the dungeon, she had volunteered to be with him.
But what was this?
Frank had suddenly asked her to take on the role of ‘Acting Floor Master’ of the 100th floor, and then he himself had gone outside under the pretext of being busy with preparations for the
dungeon's operation and welcoming guests.
After that, there had been no news.
“Tsk. This isn’t what I wanted!”
Anonymous shouted for no reason in the empty throne room.
She was going crazy from boredom, having to guard this wide, chilly place all by herself.
But she couldn’t just leave her post recklessly.
‘It’s an important role Master entrusted to me, so I can’t act as I please.’
She sighed and looked at the magic crystal balls again.
The adventurers were still dawdling around the 10th floor, and it seemed like a long way to go before they reached her on the 100th floor.
As she was looking at the balls showing other floors to relieve her boredom, her brow suddenly furrowed.
The screen showed the 90th-floor area.
It was the place Mammon and his demon brothers were supposed to be guarding.
But their behavior was a sight to behold.
Some were lying on the floor, snoring and sleeping, while others were gathered in groups of three and five, chatting idly or aimlessly wandering the corridors.
There wasn't a hint of tension, just pure negligence of duty.
‘Those damn demons!’
Anonymous' anger gauge, which was already on edge, shot up in an instant.
She wanted to run over there right away and smack the backs of those lazy bums, but she couldn’t leave this place.
Instead, she grabbed a nearby communication magic crystal ball and roared.
Her angry voice was amplified by magic and delivered directly to the demons on the 90th floor.
“Hey! You guys over there! Who are the ones napping during work hours! Get up right now, won’t you?!”
Through the magic crystal ball, she could see the demons startling awake or stopping their loitering.
“And you there! What are you loitering around for! From now on, don't ever lie down or laze around in the dungeon! You'd be better off diligently roaming the dungeon and cleaning the floors! Got it?!”
At Anonymous' roar, the demons made crying faces and hastily straightened their posture.
Someone even pretended to be hurriedly looking for a broom.
Seeing that made her feel a little better, but her boredom still hadn't subsided.
Anonymous let out a deep sigh and leaned back on the throne.
Earnestly wishing for someone to come here quickly.
***
Meanwhile, at that time.
Noctavira quietly tidied Frank’s office, unable to hide the smile playing on her lips.
Lately, she had been spending very satisfying days.
The reason was just one thing.
She was able to serve Frank by his side.
Anonymous, who had become the temporary Floor Master of the 100th floor of the dungeon, was tied down there and rarely came out.
Thanks to that, Noctavira was able to enjoy the honor of serving Frank as his sole dedicated maid.
Of course, in her human body, she couldn’t wield the powerful strength she had before, but just watching him filled her with an overwhelming sense of happiness.
‘How wonderful he is, working so hard every day to develop this place even further.’
She thought as she stole a glance at Frank’s side profile, who was concentrating on his documents.
His gaze was always directed towards the future, and his plans were always beyond imagination.
His dream of making Lumen Fortis a utopia where all races could live in harmony resembled that of the first king, which many, including herself, had once ridiculed, yet it felt much more realistic and powerful.
‘I wish this time could last forever.’
Noctavira sincerely wished.
She hoped that Anonymous would never come out from the depths of the dungeon, and that Frank would continue to stay here, so that only she could fully assist him.
It was a pure heart that wanted to devote herself solely to him, a little different from jealousy or possessiveness.
It was when she was lost in such happy thoughts.
“……!”
Frank, who was reviewing the documents, suddenly held his breath.
His eyes widened as if in disbelief, and the report he was holding fell powerlessly to the floor.
He cried out with a pale face, as if he had just had a nightmare.
“No way. He’s already here?”
His voice contained not just simple surprise, but also shock and deep concern.
Who on earth had come that her master would be so agitated?
Noctavira, without knowing the reason, tensed up along with his sudden reaction and swallowed dryly.
It was a moment when the peaceful air of the office instantly froze.