When I Was Reincarnated into the World of an Ultra-Difficult Game, I Ended Up As the Sole Subordinate of the Ridiculously Strong yet Incompetent Demon Lord, Tasked with Creating a Dungeon
“If there really is a dungeon, and we aren’t even managing it, let alone conquering it, then it’s dangerous. Especially for us who live right next door—if monsters overflow from the dungeon and attack us, it would be unbearable.”
“Ah, that’s why we’re also prioritizing the conquest of the dungeon. Inside might be a different story, but at least there haven’t been any incidents outside, right?”
“But if progress continues to drag on like this, we’ll have no choice but to enter the dungeon ourselves. We have no intention of leaving things wild and inviting danger. Please understand.”
“So you’re saying that it’s unfair for Dark Elves to use the dungeon exclusively, and unless they let the Elves use it too, you’ll invade? That’s not very peaceful.”
“No, that’s not what we mean. We’re simply stating that, if necessary, we may need to use force solely to protect ourselves.”
“Haa… Well, our position here is weak, so fine. Do as you wish. But in return, don’t come asking for compensation if something happens to you inside the dungeon.”
“Of course. All we ask is permission to enter the dungeon. Everything after that is at your own risk—mutual responsibility, of course.”
It’s quite something, the outrageous demands they make.
But this is the reality of our power dynamic, so there’s nothing to be done.
Even without the Hero, we were already at a disadvantage.
The only reason they didn’t invade us before was either because their priority is fighting the Demon King and they didn’t want to waste resources on something like this, or because they didn’t want other races attacking while we resisted…
…That’s probably what these Elves are thinking.
“Well then, excuse us. Let’s continue building a good relationship moving forward.”
How brazenly they can say things they don’t mean.
Or perhaps, if by “good relationship” they mean we should just submit to everything they say, maybe that’s their honest opinion.
Our queen handled them, and though their representative wasn’t exactly a nobody, the fact that none of the High Council members showed up speaks volumes.
◇
“So, did you really give in to all their demands? Those old hags are as unreasonable as ever.”
Lopez listened to the Dark Elves’ report with exaggerated gestures. Lopez , an acquaintance of Zino, had worked in the Elf Kingdom before, so he happened to overhear—and seemed rather dissatisfied.
Well, I suppose being pushed around like this wouldn’t sit well with anyone. Especially someone as sharp as Lopez .
“Boss, if it were me, I could’ve negotiated better terms. Can’t you send me to the Dark Elves’ territory instead?”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but calm down for now, Lopez .”
“Ah, sorry… It’s just frustrating when people like them get away with everything.”
“By the way, what do you think about cheating at poker?”
“That? Tokito challenged us using the Goddess’s power, so we fought back with everything we had. Frankly, I’d like some praise for fighting without relying on her power.”
“You won, somehow…”
“It’s because I wasn’t used to cheating.”
We digressed a bit, but Lopez tends to side with the underdog despite his somewhat roguish nature. That’s likely why he was so upset by the Elves’ overbearing attitude. But unfortunately, I have to turn him down this time.
“Lopez . You can leave the Elves alone.”
“But Boss…”
“No, it’s fine, Lopez .”
The Dark Elves themselves said this to Lopez .
They speak politely to members of the Demon Army, but with reincarnated individuals like Lopez or employees, they seem more casual, closer to their true selves.
I don’t feel particularly excluded by this.
“Boss is someone who understands when you talk things through, right?”
“Lopez . Don’t you think we’re just a weak race that gets pushed around?”
“But in reality…”
“In the past, we handled accusations like this much better. Even if we lost in a fight, we still inflicted significant damage on them.”
After all, we’ve been in conflict with them for a long time.
If the Dark Elves were truly a weak race that gave in to everything, the Elves would’ve dominated them long ago.
“So, that’s why this time… Ah, I see.”
“Before we submitted to the Demon Army, we prioritized investigating the dungeon. But back then, we didn’t act in ways that drew attention like we do now.”
“And now, the Elves have noticed the existence of the dungeon.”
“Yeah, there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s an important dungeon, so we couldn’t afford to focus on anything else, and unintentionally gave them material to speculate on.”
Yes, the Dark Elves were once handling things well.
They explored the dungeon within their territory without letting anyone realize its existence.
“Was this your order, Boss?”
“I just told the Dark Elves to make it look like they weren’t doing anything except investigating the dungeon.”
And the Dark Elves followed my instructions perfectly.
“When the Elves saw the Dark Elves staying holed up in their territory, they must’ve thought something valuable had been discovered there.”
“Something impactful enough to affect all the races…”
“One possibility is reincarnators. The other is the dungeon.”
“But we Dark Elves don’t receive the Goddess’s blessing. A despised race like ours doesn’t get gifts like reincarnation.”
“So the old hags suspected the appearance of a dungeon.”
Of course, there’s always the possibility of high-quality items or equipment.
But apparently, those are whimsical gifts from the Goddess, and for the same reason as reincarnation, they wouldn’t end up in the hands of Dark Elves.
“The Elves must’ve guessed that the only thing the Dark Elves could possibly obtain, with both risks and rewards, was the dungeon.”
“This is the Demon King’s domain after all. The Goddess wouldn’t go out of her way to deny us something like this.”
“The Elves are cautious, wise, and arrogant. Once they deduced this much from the Dark Elves’ subtle movements, they probably got drunk on their own cleverness and assumed they weren’t being deceived.”
“It’s Lord Rey who’s deceiving them, though…”
True, but Clara went along with it too! Aren’t we accomplices!?
“Well, anyway, even though they’re cautious, since they believe their deductions outsmart everyone, the dungeon has likely shifted in their minds from a dangerous place to a resource-rich one.”
“And since the Queen reluctantly shared information with them, it’s even more convincing.”
“And given how arrogant they are, even if they suffer losses in the dungeon, admitting their mistakes will be difficult. They’ll see it as a beneficial place for the Dark Elves, making it harder to admit fault.”
“And thus, the Elves set themselves up to walk straight into the dungeon’s jaws… Scary, isn’t it?”
Because otherwise, they’d never come to us!
Unless they convince themselves the dungeon offers more benefits than risks, we’d never be able to lure them in!
I was shocked to hear that even with such a safe dungeon created for the Dark Elves, no one visited!
Well, thanks to Clara and the others, the Elves will now come to us with slightly lowered guard.
They’ll invade the Dark Elves’ territory in droves, suffering losses and sending more elite forces to claim resources.
“Now that we’ve gone this far, it seems fine to raise the difficulty a little.”
“Yes, that sounds reasonable.”
“Oi… You just want to increase the Elves’ suffering out of spite, don’t you, Your Majesty?”
Later, I ended up receiving a strange lecture from Ananta, who scolded me while trembling in fear.
“I think it’s a good idea, though~”
“I don’t think it’s bad either…”
“You guys… You guys! Seriously, ugh!”
Aren’t I, Ipiletis, and Dikitis becoming problem children in Ananta’s eyes?
I’m starting to feel a little uneasy…
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How to Invest in Index Funds for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide
Investing can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re just starting out. With so many options available, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. But there’s one investment strategy that stands out for its simplicity, low cost, and proven track record: index fund investing. If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly way to grow your wealth over time, index funds are a great place to start.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about index funds—what they are, why they’re ideal for beginners, and how to get started. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to begin your investment journey.
What Are Index Funds?
An index fund is a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the performance of a specific market index, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Instead of trying to pick individual stocks, index funds aim to replicate the performance of the entire market or a specific sector.
For example, if you invest in an S&P 500 index fund, your money is spread across the 500 largest companies in the U.S. This means you’re not betting on a single stock but on the overall growth of the market.
Why Index Funds Are Perfect for Beginners
Index funds are often recommended for beginners because they offer several key advantages:
- Diversification: With one investment, you gain exposure to hundreds of companies, reducing the risk of losing money if one stock performs poorly.
- Low Costs: Index funds typically have lower fees than actively managed funds because they don’t require a team of analysts to pick stocks.
- Simplicity: You don’t need to be a stock market expert to invest in index funds. They’re a “set it and forget it” strategy that works well for long-term investors.
- Proven Performance: Over time, index funds have consistently outperformed many actively managed funds, making them a reliable choice for building wealth.
How to Start Investing in Index Funds: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to get started? Follow these simple steps to begin investing in index funds.
Step 1: Choose a Brokerage Account
To invest in index funds, you’ll need a brokerage account. A brokerage is a platform that allows you to buy and sell investments. Some popular options for beginners include:
- Vanguard: Known for its low-cost index funds and user-friendly platform.
- Fidelity: Offers a wide range of index funds with no minimum investment requirements.
- Charles Schwab: Provides excellent customer service and a variety of investment options.
When choosing a brokerage, look for one with low fees, a good selection of index funds, and an easy-to-use interface.
Step 2: Select the Right Index Fund
Once you have a brokerage account, it’s time to choose an index fund. Here are a few popular options:
- S&P 500 Index Funds: Tracks the 500 largest U.S. companies. Great for broad market exposure.
- Total Stock Market Index Funds: Includes small, mid, and large-cap stocks for even more diversification.
- International Index Funds: Invests in companies outside the U.S., helping you diversify globally.
For beginners, an S&P 500 or total stock market index fund is often the best starting point.
Step 3: Make Your First Investment
After selecting your index fund, it’s time to invest. Decide how much you want to start with—many brokerages allow you to begin with as little as $100. You can also set up automatic contributions to invest a fixed amount each month, which is a great way to build wealth over time.
Benefits of Index Fund Investing
Index funds offer several benefits that make them an attractive option for both new and experienced investors:
- Lower Risk: By diversifying across many companies, you reduce the risk of losing money on a single stock.
- Tax Efficiency: Index funds tend to have lower turnover, meaning fewer taxable events compared to actively managed funds.
- Long-Term Growth: Historically, the stock market has returned about 7-10% annually over the long term, making index funds a solid choice for retirement or other long-term goals.
Risks to Consider
While index funds are generally considered low-risk compared to individual stocks, they’re not without their downsides:
- Market Volatility: Index funds follow the market, so if the market drops, so does your investment. However, history shows that markets recover over time.
- No Chance to Beat the Market: Since index funds track the market, you won’t outperform it. But for most investors, matching the market is a solid strategy.
Tips for Long-Term Success with Index Funds
To make the most of your index fund investments, keep these tips in mind:
- Stay Consistent: Invest regularly, even if it’s a small amount. This strategy, known as dollar-cost averaging, helps smooth out market fluctuations.
- Diversify: Consider adding international or bond index funds to your portfolio as you grow your investments.
- Avoid Panic Selling: Market dips are normal. Stay the course and avoid selling during downturns.
Real-Life Success Story: The Power of Index Funds
Take the story of Sarah, a 30-year-old teacher who started investing $200 a month in an S&P 500 index fund. Over 30 years, with an average annual return of 7%, her investment grew to over $240,000. This simple, consistent approach allowed her to build a substantial nest egg without needing to pick individual stocks or time the market.
Conclusion: Start Your Investment Journey Today
Index funds offer a simple, low-cost way to start investing and build long-term wealth. By following the steps outlined in this guide—choosing a brokerage, selecting the right fund, and investing consistently—you can take control of your financial future.
Ready to take the next step? Open a brokerage account today and make your first investment in an index fund. Your future self will thank you!
