โMaybe we can create a fork in the road.โ
โAh, that sounds nice. Not too long ago, there were forks in the road and mazes here. But then, all the heroes came and turned it all into empty landโฆโ
Ah, Fiona-sama is back in negative mode againโฆ
โIโve lost my subordinates, and now Iโm all alone in an empty dungeonโฆ Perhaps itโs better to just sleep here for tens of thousands of yearsโฆโ
โN-No, thatโs not a good idea!โ
โBut, maybe if I do that, theyโll think Iโve sealed away the Demon Kingโฆโ
โAnd, youโre not alone, Iโm here too!โ
โโฆThatโs true. I have you, Rey.โ
Fiona-samaโฆ She seems really downโฆ
Well, itโs understandable. With everyone else wiped out and the base destroyed, itโs easy to feel depressed.
But if she sleeps for tens of thousands of years, Iโll probably die here alone.
I need to make sure sheโll keep going and not give up.
โUm, well, how about we make a room for now?โ
โSounds good. Otherwise, itโll just be a cave.โ
Wall Creation: Magic consumption 1
Floor Creation: Magic consumption 1
Ceiling Creation: Magic consumption 1
Door Creation: Magic consumption 1
Walls are needed on all four sides, and doors are required at the front and back, so the total magic consumption will be 8.
It would be hard with just my magic, but if I can use the dungeonโs magic, that changes things.
โฆHow do I use the dungeonโs magic though?
I fumble around and touch a number that seems to correspond to the dungeonโs magic.
Suddenly, the number glows white, just like the available menu options.
Looks like I can manage this.
When I select Wall Creation, a wall is generated, and the number drops to 49.
โWall Creation.โ
I touch the dungeonโs magic again and, using my words and intent, create a wall.
Both methods work, and Iโm able to create a wall using the dungeonโs magic.
Alright, Iโve figured it outโmaking rooms should be easy now.
โHmm, this is really amazing. A whole room in just a few seconds. If itโs just basic repairs, itโll be done faster than I expected.โ
โIโm flatteredโฆโ
It was done quickly, but this room has the same durability as the strongest beastmen were struggling to destroy.
To be able to create that with just 8 magic, the Dungeon Masterโs skill must be incredible.
โAhโฆ thereโs something written here.โ
New glowing text appeared in the menu.
It seems that creating the room unlocked new options.
Thereโs no description, but I understand it.
After all, I see new options like this:
Room Creation: Magic consumption 5
โDoes this mean I can create the same room I just made?โ
I want to try it.
So, I need to ask Fiona-sama where to make the next room.
โFiona-sama, Iโd like to create another room. Where should it go?โ
โYou seem motivated. Looks like a good subordinate has joined you.โ
Good, Fiona-samaโs evaluation of me is rising.
I can also test the skill, so this is a win-win situation.
โWell then, letโs place it here. But donโt overdo it, okay?โ
โYes.โ
I exit the previous room and head down the path to create another one.
I seeโsince the entrance isnโt that wide, the structure is like a string of connected rooms along a path.
The deeper areas must be where weโll use forks in the road and such.
Room Creation: Magic consumption 5
I consume the dungeonโs magic and create the room.
Just as expected, itโs exactly the same as the previous room.
Itโs even a bit more efficient than manually creating the parts, which is nice.
โI used to place my subordinates and monsters around here.โ
โSo, this is how you repelled intruders.โ
โWellโฆ they were all defeatedโฆโ
โBut Iโm here, so weโll be fine!โ
That doesnโt mean weโre really fine, but Iโll reassure her before she gets too depressed.
By the way, since the other side speaks the same language, is peaceful negotiation possible?
Why do they keep intruding into the dungeonโฆ Yeah, itโs probably to defeat the Demon King. Negotiation would be impossible.
โThe people who invade hereโฆ their goal is to defeat Fiona-sama, right?โ
โYes, their goal is to kill all the demons, including me.โ
โWhat about negotiationโฆ?โ
โLike those beastmen, in general, demons are considered enemies of all races and must be killed. It would be difficult.โ
Just like those guysโฆ They immediately tried to kill based on race.
Thereโs no way peaceful negotiation would work. Besides, someone like me canโt even choose that option. My only choices are to fight or escape.
Now, creating the room has unlocked even more menu options.
Hall Creation: Magic consumption 10
Maze Creation: Magic consumption 20
โHmmโฆ I donโt want to use that much magic without thinking it through.โ
โDid you unlock more things? Youโre quite capable, Rey.โ
โThank you. I can now create halls and mazes, but the magic cost is pretty highโฆโ
โYou can create those tooโฆ But donโt push yourself. Thereโs no rush. You can wait until you have more magic.โ
Her reassurance helps a lot.
I donโt have enough magic to consume 10 or 20 yet.
Plus, thereโs something else I want to try.
There are three more menu options unlocked by creating the room.
Treasure Chest Creation: Magic consumption 5
Trap Creation: Magic consumption 5
Monster Creation: Magic consumption 5
The treasure chest is one thing, but the other two seem perfect for repelling intruders.
Iโd rather spend my magic trying these out instead of just creating more rooms.
Also, all of them cost 5 magic, which is nice.
Since I have a way to recover magic, I can just about afford it.
โIโm going to try creating a treasure chest.โ
โA treasure chestโฆ? A treasure chest?โ
Iโll save traps and monsters for later.
Since the magic cost is 5, Iโll faint as soon as I create it.
If the trap activates or the monsters become uncontrollable while Iโm unconscious, Iโd be dead.
So, Iโll just pour all my magic into creating the treasure chest, which should be safer.
And so, I consume my magic againโฆ
โWhat are you doing!? Youโre trying to faint again, arenโt you!? You are, arenโt you!โ
Sorryโฆ
Iโve already selected the menuโฆ
Ahhโฆ my consciousness is fadingโฆ
โI told you not to push yourselfโฆโ
โ
โSo, the hero is dead?โ
โYes, the response has disappeared. It seems they advanced all the way to the Underworld Demon Realm and were making good progress, but likely due to the Demon Kingโs interventionโฆโ
โAs expected, the Demon King is on a different levelโฆโ
โIt seems so. Even the strongest warriors of the Beast Kingdom tried to take advantage of the situation and challenge them, but the result was the same as with our heroes.โ
โTypical of those beasts. They must have tried to take credit by having the hero and the Demon King clash, planning to fight the one who was exhausted.โ
The human king, with a scowl on his face, spoke.
He saw not only the Demon King but even the other racesโ nations as enemies.
Because there was a common enemy in the Demon King, they had not openly fought, but without that common enemy, the other races would become enemies.
Such a future was easily predictable, and because of that, the king did not trust other races. And it was clear that other races felt the same way about humans.
โWhat about recovering the heroes?โ
โUnfortunately, according to the knightsโ investigation, the entrance to the Underworld Demon Realm has been sealed off by a sturdy wall. Therefore, only their souls have returned.โ
โโฆSo, recovering their equipment is impossible?โ
โYesโฆ However, preparations for the resurrection of the heroes are underway. It would be best not to make any moves against the Underworld Demon Realm until they regain their strength.โ
โThat seems to be the case.โ
The king was not incompetent. He had not made the foolish mistake of sending the heroes to fight the Demon King without their equipment.
Thatโs why, while it was regrettable to lose the equipment, if the heroes could be resurrected, the loss would eventually be recovered.
And at this point, the king realized that it would be better to consider this period as a time for preparation rather than acting recklessly.
โAs expected, the reincarnated ones may be the key to defeating the Demon Kingโฆโ
โItโs been ten years since the Great Reincarnation. Soon, reincarnated individuals should appear in various lands.โ
โYes. I want to secure as many as possible for our country. We will mobilize the knights as much as possible and have them watch every corner of the nation.โ
โUnderstood. I will inform the captain of the knights immediately.โ
Most of the knights would be sent out to search for the reincarnated.
For the purpose of defeating the Demon King, and with the thought that they could not afford to fall behind other nations.
Fortunately, no matter the reason, the ultimate goal was the same: to protect the kingdom.
Even if the reincarnated ones ended up fighting the Demon King and then later battling other races, that would still be in service of protecting the human kingdom.