novelraw Chapter 124 : Chapter 124
Chapter 124 : Chapter 124
Chapter 124. Dungeon’s Aftermath (2)
The ‘One-eyed one’ system that allowed for real-time monitoring of the dungeon was convenient, but it also showed horrifying scenes without any filter.
Just a few days after the system’s implementation, warning alarms began to sound simultaneously from all over the dungeon.
“Damn it! Why did the monsters suddenly get so strong!”
“Kaaargh! It’s a trap! D-dodge!”
“Mr. Guide! Please help! We can’t go on any longer!”
The scene reflected in the magic crystal balls was sheer pandemonium.
Parties that had been progressing smoothly just a few hours ago were collapsing helplessly against the suddenly ramped-up aggression of the monsters and unpredictable trap patterns.
It wasn't just the area where Douglas Junior was.
The difficulty was running rampant simultaneously throughout the entire dungeon.
‘That bastard Mammon!!’
I immediately identified the cause.
The stupid demon must have mistakenly applied the difficulty increase command, which I had told him to apply only to Douglas Junior, to the entire dungeon system.
“Damn it!”
I immediately sent out an emergency notice to the entire dungeon.
Fortunately, the transition magic circles installed by Noemi worked perfectly.
With pillars of light, numerous adventurers were forcibly summoned to the dungeon entrance square.
There were no fatalities yet, but most were groaning with serious injuries.
There were many seriously injured people who would take a considerable amount of time to recover, even with the healing abilities of the hot spring.
I entrusted the injured to the healers and medical staff and immediately summoned Mammon.
He appeared before me with a terrified face, as if he had sensed my murderous aura.
“What is the meaning of this! I clearly told you to apply it only to Douglas Junior, that guy!”
At my roar, Mammon just trembled without daring to utter a word.
But now was not the time to reprimand him.
I urgently checked the list of returnees.
‘Please… please be safe.’
Douglas Junior was not on the list, and neither was Adel.
She was currently conquering the 53rd floor.
What if the rampaging difficulty had affected a place that deep?
If something happened to Adel, I…
‘I could never forgive myself.’
As I waited anxiously, feeling my heart grow cold, a familiar figure finally appeared through the transition circle.
“Father!”
It was Adel.
She was with Number 1, and fortunately, she didn’t seem to be seriously injured.
I let out a sigh of relief and approached her.
Adel opened her mouth with a puzzled expression.
“What in the world is going on? The monsters suddenly became insanely strong, and there was even a warning alarm.”
I couldn't bring myself to say it was because of Mammon’s mistake and my order.
I tried my best to act nonchalant, placing a hand on my forehead as I explained.
“It seems there was some kind of error in the dungeon system. We’re currently identifying the cause, so don’t worry too much.”
“What? An error?”
Adel sent a suspicious glance, but I didn’t explain further and decided to take matters into my own hands.
“I think I need to go to the 30th floor myself. I need to check where the problem started.”
However, it was still morning with the sun high in the sky.
My strength had not yet returned.
Noemi, Anonymous, and even Adel, who were nearby, stepped up to stop me.
“Dad! It’s dangerous right now!”
“Master, I’ll go instead……”
But I shook my head.
One must tie up the loose ends oneself.
All this chaos was, in the end, because of me.
If it weren’t for my order, Mammon would never have made such a mistake.
Therefore, I had to be the one to end it.
Using the administrator’s authority, I immediately activated the transition magic to the 30th floor.
“Father! No!”
Adel belatedly reached out to grab me, but my body was already engulfed in a pillar of light and had disappeared.
I arrived on the 30th floor in an instant.
The familiar habitat of the ogres, and the place where Douglas Junior should have been fighting for his life against the Hydra by now.
But what unfolded before my eyes was a completely unexpected and astonishing sight.
***
The transition magic activated with my administrator authority brought me to my destination, the 30th floor, in an instant.
Before I confirmed the scene before my eyes, I had been imagining the worst-case scenario.
Douglas Junior being helplessly beaten by the Hydra that the bastard Mammon had mistakenly released.
Or perhaps even his cold, lifeless body.
But that was just my groundless apprehension.
“……”
I couldn't feel the presence of any demonic beasts.
The ferocious monsters that should have filled the 30th floor were nowhere to be seen, and only traces of what looked like a massive bombardment remained on the ground.
And in the center of it lay the corpse of the Hydra, all nine of its heads severed, leaving only its massive body.
Next to it stood Douglas Junior, covered in blood and sweat, panting heavily.
Beside him, Number 9, who had been his guide, stood stiffly, not knowing what to do.
‘No way. He took down the Hydra by himself?’
It was unbelievable.
A mere rookie adventurer had defeated the Hydra, the Floor Master of the 50th floor that even Adel and Iris had struggled with.
And he had done it in a situation where I had ordered Mammon to increase the difficulty?
I could only stare at the scene, dumbfounded.
Just then, Douglas Junior spotted me and stuttered in surprise.
“Uh, uh? H-how did His Excellency the Margrave get here?”
The moment I heard his voice, I had to change my mind.
I had to discard all the prejudices and worries I had before.
‘This guy is the real deal. He’s an incredibly skilled person, far beyond what I thought, and a being with infinite potential.’
To think I had tried to chase away a guy like that just because I was afraid he would get involved with my daughters.
I was blinded by jealousy and almost lost a great talent.
I reflected deeply for a brief moment, and then approached him in a single stride.
And without hesitation, I offered him my hand.
He tilted his head as if he didn't understand, but he took my hand.
I gripped his hand firmly and said with sincerity.
“I’m sorry.”
“What? What do you mean.”
“It’s nothing. Anyway, you must have suffered a lot. I didn’t realize you were such a skilled person.”
I patted his shoulder and said.
“Let’s get out of here right away. You seem to be in urgent need of treatment.”
Without any further explanation, I immediately activated the return magic.
In the blink of an eye, we were back at the dungeon entrance square.
And there, numerous adventurers who had been forcibly returned due to the dungeon’s abnormal phenomenon, as well as my daughters and Mammon who had rushed over after hearing the news, were waiting for us with worried faces.
They were momentarily bewildered to see me suddenly appear, and next to me, Douglas Junior standing in a battered state.
But they soon grasped the situation and began to cheer enthusiastically.
“Oh! His Excellency the Margrave brought Junior out himself!”
“Amazing, Douglas Junior! Did you clear the 30th floor by yourself!”
“Wow! Long live the Margrave! Long live Douglas Junior!”
Douglas Junior was still blinking his eyes with a face that said he still didn’t understand what was going on.
Adel, Iris, and Noemi also showed smiles mixed with surprise and relief.
I raised Douglas Junior’s hand high and shouted to the crowd.
And at the same time, I shattered my own prejudices and stubbornness.
‘My thinking was short-sighted.’
I clenched my fists.
I decided not to see him as a rival or someone to be kept away from my daughters anymore.
On the contrary.
‘This guy is another key to defeating Primus, along with my daughters!’
With his infinite potential and righteous heart, he would surely be a great asset to our great journey.
I gripped Douglas Junior’s shoulder tightly and gave him a sincere smile.
Our true adventure would begin from now on.
***
A few days later.
Douglas Junior, who had woken up in a special hospital room in the hot spring bath, couldn’t hide his surprise after hearing the full story of what he had been through.
‘I didn’t know. I had no idea such a thing had happened.’
While he was fighting for his life against the Hydra, an inexplicable abnormal phenomenon had occurred throughout the dungeon, causing the difficulty to skyrocket, and numerous adventurers had been injured and had to make an emergency escape.
‘No wonder the Hydra, which should have been on the 50th floor, was on the 30th. Was it a dungeon system error?’
He then vaguely guessed the identity of the being he had fought.
But his heart was filled with a different emotion than fear of the dungeon’s abnormal phenomenon or the powerful monster.
‘The Margrave came to save me himself.’
That fact alone made his heart swell.
In the midst of all that chaos, he had personally jumped into danger to save him, a mere adventurer.
He was the one who had even offered him funds for the reconstruction of his hometown out of concern.
‘He truly is a real hero and a benevolent person.’
Douglas Junior felt his whole body grow hot with respect and gratitude for Frank.
He quietly clenched his fist on the bed.
‘To bestow such grace upon someone like me. From now on, I will devote my life to His Excellency the Margrave!’
At the same time, he recalled his fight with the Hydra.
He had certainly won miraculously, but the process was by no means smooth.
‘I’m still not good enough.’
A single misjudgment, a moment of carelessness, and it would have been him, not the Hydra, who died.
He still had a long way to go.
To meet Margrave Frank’s expectations and to avenge his parents, he had to become much stronger than he was now.
Having made up his mind, he slowly raised his bandaged body.
His muscles all over his body were still screaming, but this much pain was nothing.
“You shouldn’t move yet!”
Just then, a nurse who had entered the hospital room shrieked and tried to stop him.
But Douglas just grinned at her as if to say he was fine.
“I’m perfectly fine with this much. Don’t worry.”
He grabbed his old sword that was leaning against the wall and went outside the hospital room.
Under the stinging sunlight, he staggered but began to swing his sword with familiarity.
It wasn't perfect yet, but his eyes held a much stronger and firmer will than before.
‘I will definitely repay His Excellency Frank’s grace!’
That resolve was carried on the tip of his sword as it cut through the air.
The young hero’s new growth was just beginning again.
Along with the changed thoughts of the former hero he admired so much.