The sight of the free city had not changed much. Many had been killed or injured, walls needed to be repaired, but that didn’t change the color of the free city itself.
Yong-Ho had recently registered the mad Oros as a dungeon spirit and was now facing Ophelia in the pub. He wanted to receive not only the status of the free city but also information regarding the movements of the neighboring dungeons. Of course, he also needed to share what he had personally seen and heard, and especially what he had received in his travels.
“The Free City is quickly being cleaned up. Not that Oros has registered as one of your spirits, it’s no exaggeration to say that the Free City is now the territory of the House of Mammon. However, not everyone knows this yet, and I don’t think that it’s necessary to publish this information right now either.”
“Isn’t it really important?”
“Yes, I suppose it will be okay if we announce it later.”
Ophelia smiled and offered Yong-Ho a cocktail.
There were many reasons why the mad Oros joined them.
Ophelia was the leader of one of the three factions. To take complete control of the city, she needed the help of Oros, the leader of one of the other three factions.
Furthermore, Oros was a competent man. He was a doctor, an alchemist and an outstanding pharmacist.
One more reason was that Ophelia didn’t wish to kill Oros.
What would happen if she let Oros live and he left the free city?
There would be members of the guild who would inevitably want to follow him. After letting people leave one by one, the free city would end up as a shell of its former self. The guild was a vital part of the free city, especially at a time when the outlaws were expected to leave following Dargon’s death.
Of course, it wouldn’t matter if they had time on their side.
There were enough people travelling to the free city to allow them to eventually rebuild the city’s power.
But there simply wasn’t enough time. Like water rising from underfoot, an inevitable danger was quickly approaching.
“It seems that battle has begun in the west of the region.”
The Wolf Demon, Embrio, has clashed with the Western Owner’s Alliance.
“A long war would typically be expected, but this is Embrio, who we know has been making aggressive moves. We don’t know what variables are in play.”
While listening to Ophelia’s explanation, Yong-Ho carefully looked at the map of the Southern Region.
Unlike the other forces that had clashed with Embrio, the Western Owner’s Alliance wasn’t just fighting in a single field. They understood that their strength lay in numbers, and had expanded out their front.
It was impossible for Embrio to appear in every battle.
Even if they lost to Embrio in one battle, they could win in another.
In a way, this was a war of attrition. And if it truly was a war of attrition, then Embrio, who had fought repeatedly in recent battles, couldn’t help but be at a disadvantage.
“Is there any chance that Embrio will lose?”
“It exists. And that would be a much better outcome for us. But I’m not sure. With all due respect… Embrio’s actions somewhat resemble your own.
Yong-Ho tilted his head in confusion. Ophelia laughed bitterly.
“Because, despite the odds, he’s winning every fight with overwhelming power.”
Yong-Ho didn’t immediately respond to Ophelia’s sudden flattery. Ophelia liked that Yong-Ho would sometimes show a soft side. She felt that it was a sign of his humanity.
“Considering the length of time that you’ve been the owner of Mammon’s dungeon, and what you’ve accomplished… then I’m not wrong. And we always have to assume the worst. The worst scenario I can imagine is that Embrio defeats the Western Owner’s Alliance and still has the power to hit the south.”
Yong-Ho nodded
It was an inhumane thought, but the longer the war, the better. The greater the damage between the two sides, the better it was for Yong-Ho.
“Now, let’s talk about the threats nearby. Some of the outlaws have noticed a change in the free city. And some are even trying to stage armed protests without prior notice.
“Is it serious?”
“If Oros hadn’t joined use, then it would have been quite a problem… but not anymore. I should be able to handle it on my own.”
Ophelia smiled with fierce eyes. However, Yong-Ho liked how she looked.
Yong-Ho pleasantly replied.
“You’re also outstanding.”
“Thank-you.”
Skull, who was standing in the background, suddenly let out a laugh at the warm atmosphere and Catalina smiled softly.
Ophelia only had one item left to report.
“Jungceros’s daughter seems to be extremely anxious. Although she doesn’t yet know that the free city is in the hands of the House of Mammon, however the results of the battle with Agares are enough to scare her. If we just leave her be, then there’s a high likelihood that she’ll surrender to whoever comes down south, whether its the Western Owner’s Alliance or Embrio.
“Didn’t you say that she wasn’t the type to surrender?”
“She can’t just die. Moreover, the divisions within her household are accelerating.”
Yong-Ho nodded. The dungeon of the House of Jungceros was quite far from the House of Mammon, but not the free city. Yong-Ho had been so active in the battle of the free city, that she was right to be afraid.
“I think it’s time to consider staging a dungeon attack.”
Of course not immediately. But that didn’t mean that it wouldn’t be soon.
So far, Yong-Ho had experience several dungeon battles, but he had never actually attacked a properly guarded dungeon. The fight against Jungceros’s daughter would be the first.
When Ophelia’s report was over, Yong-Ho briefly told her what happened during his journey to the east. Ophelia had already confirmed the evolution of Salami, Bucephalas and Skull’s squad and was now envious of Catalina’s development.
She wanted to evolve, too.
She also wanted to become stronger.
Yong-Ho wasn’t sure if it was because she was mistress of the pub, but Ophelia seemed to have many different faces. One moment she was a dignified woman, now she looked like a little girl. He recalled an image he had seen on the internet once of a boy staring at a trumpet through a glass window.
“Shall we? Ophelia?”
“Can I? Are you able to evolve me?”
Ophelia asked like a little girl.
Yong-Ho nodded Ophelia had fought two battles after joining the House of Mammon, and had trained with Eligor dozens of times, which one could interpret as picking on the elderly.
Although Ophelia’s evolution rate had slowly increased, it was now full.
“What do you want to specialize in?”
“Uh, wait for a moment. Let me think about it.”
Skull laughed as Ophelia visibly became excited. However Catalina looked a little strange. She alternated her gaze between Yong-Ho’s and Ophelia’s hands with widened eyes. Her lips clenched.
Yong-Ho felt her gaze. But why? Perhaps she found it exciting watching from an outside perspective. Yong-ho bit his lip and endured his laughter. He looked at Ophelia, who had only just made her decision.
‘It would be fun to ask if I could touch her tail.’
Yong-Ho shook his head. He spoke to Ophelia, whose head was tilted in confusion, and Catalina, who was focusing on them with outstretched ears,
“Let’s begin. Close your eyes.”
Ophelia closed her eyes, and Catalina focused even more. Yong-Ho looked at Ophelia’s tail for a moment and reached out his hands. He placed his hands on her shoulders and injected his mana.
He invoked Ophelia’s evolution.
***
“Give my regards to brother Eligor.”
Ophelia had evolved with mana specialization and was now seeing Yong-Ho off. Yong-Ho smiled at her affectionate eyes and voice.
He wanted to stay in the free city for a few more days, but he couldn’t.
He had to go back to the House of Mammon.
He had to reassure Eligor, who was waiting for his return, and also evolve Lucia.
Furthermore if Yong-Ho continued to stay in the free city, there was the possibility that Jungceros’s daughter would die of a nervous breakdown or make an extreme decision. The former didn’t matter, but the latter did.
The mad Oros had already made up his mind, and didn’t have an uneasy attitude in front of Yong-Ho. Yong-Ho let go of his worries about Oros because he knew that the talented Ophelia would remain at his side.
Yong-Ho left the free city and headed back to the House of Mammon.
Perhaps because of the thought of going back ‘home’, he seemed rather light footed.
***
The Dungeon Meerkats, which had evolved into High Meerkats, were now able to observe from longer distances than before.
After earlier finding out of Yong-Ho’s return, Eligor came out to meet him with the rest of the spirits.
Yong-Ho was pleased to see all of the spirits greeting him. Yong-Ho felt that he really had returned while facing Eligor, who now resembled more of a middle age man rather than an elderly butler.
The Goblin Rangers and Spot admired Salami, who had evolved once again, with widened eyes. While the Princess Ant, who was always accompanied by Spot, stared at Bucephalas with glistening eyes. She looked just like a cute girl, perhaps because of the dress she was wearing that Catalina had worn as a child.
Meanwhile Rikum and the Orcs eagerly inquired about the battle in the free city. However, Skull’s squad couldn’t talk, and all Skull could say was Skull. Yong-Ho and Catalina were the only ones that could satiate their curiosity, so they sent pleading eyes to Catalina, who was quite easy going.
Yong-Ho allowed Catalina a short break to reunite with the other spirits, however that was exactly was she didn’t want as she was dragged away by the Orcs, led by Rikum.
Yong-Ho, instead brought along Skull as he headed to the heart of the dungeon. On the way, Lucia made repeated coos and cheers.
[I’ve missed you so much! Master!]
Lucia cried out, as soon as Yong-Ho entered the Heart of the Dungeon. He couldn’t see her, but her voice was enough. Yong-Ho stroked the Dungeon’s Heart as if he was patting her head and then took out the mana from both Ailee’s and Yubing’s dungeons.
Lucia, as always, expressed her feelings with onomatopoeias.
[Gulp gulp. I’m salivating.]
Yong-Ho understood why the expression ‘spoilt daughter’ existed. While laughing, Yong-Ho injected the mana into the Dungeon’s Heart, the body of Lucia.
Lucia shuddered with excitement. Yong-Ho could feel her soul tremble.
[The mana of the dungeon has rapidly increased.]
[The dungeon’s control is now much stronger. A larger area can now be controlled.]
[A new area has been detected. I only know that it exist, but the area is… underground. I can feel the presence of an underground floor. There is even more space on the underground floor than the first floor!]
[Ahhhhhhhhh! It’s so delicious!]
[It’s now possible to upgrade existing facilities.]
[I think we can start building a Space Door now.]
[Master is the best.]
There was some mixed personal feeling in Lucia’s report, but it really was great news.
In particular, the last piece of news shook Yong-Ho’s heart.
“Are you saying that we can start construction of the Space Door now?”
[Yes, Master. Enough mana has been gathered. We don’t have the right materials yet, and construction will take a while, but it’s still possible!]
Yong-Ho’s happiness was also Lucia’s happiness.
He tightly clenched his fist. After that pleasant surprise, he once again stroked the Dungeon’s Heart.
“Well done. You’ve done really well, Lucia.”
[Hehehe.]
[Let’s get started right away. I’ll transfer some of the spirits involved in other construction work. Please give me permission.]
While acting a little silly, Lucia projected a window of light in front of Yong-Ho’s eyes. It was a list of the spirits in construction and a report on what they were currently doing.
Yong-Ho quickly reviewed the information, and signed the permission.
Lucia spoke again.
[Since you’ve been away for such a long time, I recommended that you should take a really long rest.]
“Only for today.”
Only
[Are you going right back to work tomorrow? You should rest for a little longer.]
[Are you planning on visiting the Arena or exploring the second floor? If it’s the latter, I can prepare some of the spirits to accompany you.]
At Lucia’s question, Yong-Ho shook his head. He wasn’t planning on doing either.
“There’s a place I have to go.”
When Yong-Ho spoke, Lucia immediately understood where that place was.
***
“My valuable customer, how can I help you today?”
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