“Hey, doesn’t it feel like magic stones have been popping up a lot more lately?”
“You think so too? They’ve definitely increased compared to before.”
“Could it be that us entering these dormant dungeons has somehow reactivated them?”
Up until now, they had just been in the preparation phase. They would first investigate the dungeons, identify the veins of resources, and then begin mining. Without this careful approach, mining in dungeons—always fraught with danger—simply wouldn’t be worth it.
However, if those efforts promised clear profits, the situation changed. They already had data from prior investigations. For reasons unknown, magic stones and ores were being generated at an increasing rate.
The dwarves decided it would be a mistake to miss out on this opportunity.
“It’s unusual to see beastfolk and humans working together, isn’t it?”
“Indeed, we’re part of a large organization.”
“No matter how many people we have, it’s never enough.”
“Is that so? Sounds like business is booming!”
The dwarves invited more races than ever to join their efforts, accelerating the mining operations in the dungeon. As more people ventured into the dungeons, it became clear that the existing inns and shops couldn’t accommodate the growing numbers. Soon enough, both inns and shops expanded significantly.
Some sharp-witted entrepreneurs quickly seized the chance, and their swift actions left the dwarves both astonished and impressed. But with the influx of adventurers, better-equipped facilities were welcomed, ensuring everyone was well-prepared to challenge the dungeons.
“You’re about to head down there, right? Why not grab a meal first?”
“Here’s anti-decay powder not found in regular shops! Guaranteed by the spirits’ power!”
“If you’ve got injuries that potions won’t heal, enduring them will only make it worse. Leave it to us—your traveling clinic!”
Beyond the inns and general stores, makeshift stalls and pop-up shops began appearing around the dungeon entrance. Seeing that business near dungeons was lucrative, vendors sprang up one after another. These ventures drew a steady crowd, and the area grew more lively.
It wasn’t just the dungeon; even the nearby town seemed to be flourishing. The dwarves chuckled wryly at the sight.
“It’s starting to look like a little tourist destination.”
“Not just that—it’s continuously generating resources. The Demon King left us quite a treasure.”
“It’s great to see all these new shops popping up, but I hope they’re reliable. Rushed constructions, especially inns, could be disastrous.”
“It should be fine. That inn from the early days never had any issues. Maybe it was built using construction magic blessed by spirits.”
The dwarves, who had once stayed at one of these inns, noted its superior build compared to their homes and workplaces. Though it must have cost a fortune in both magic power and money, they marveled at the bold investment.
Not that they were truly worried—it was excitement over what felt like a guaranteed success. They even joked about wanting a tavern to open nearby, something they might have said half-seriously.
“Who would’ve thought good rewards could lead to something like this?”
“If things keep going this way, this place might turn into a full-fledged town.”
Indeed, facilities unrelated to their own operations had already started moving in. The entrepreneurial spirit here was incredible. At the same time, having all these necessary facilities was convenient.
“What do we do about the store? Some stalls are selling goods we don’t carry. Should we shut them down?”
“No, let them be. We could stock those goods ourselves, but I don’t want to dampen the current excitement.”
Although the store’s sales might take a hit, there was a lot to learn from this bustling dungeon. Besides, with the increased influx of adventurers, profits were still rolling in.
“Fufufu… This is my territory. In other words, those people are unknowingly helping me build my kingdom.”
Ah, Lady Fiona seemed to be showing interest in the dungeon for the first time—and was starting to think like a proper Demon King.
Since her subordinates had been revived, maybe we could build a town for them as well. I bet they’d be thrilled.
“But giving away so many magic stones and ores… Are you sure your magic power is enough to sustain it, Rey?”
“For now, it’s fine. With the increased traffic, the Heat Energy Conversion Chamber has been generating more dungeon magic. We’re using that magic to create new mining sites, so it’s still profitable.”
“I don’t quite understand, but if you say it’s fine, then I’m relieved!”
Was there really something confusing about that? Well, as long as Ripianem was satisfied, it wasn’t a problem.
My only concern was whether giving away too many magic stones might backfire, but it didn’t seem to be an issue for now.
“Even if the heroes use equipment made from these magic ores to strengthen themselves, it won’t be a problem, will it?”
“Of course not. I’m the Demon King, after all. No matter how fine the materials, it won’t give them an advantage over me.”
So, no matter how much equipment was produced from the ores I made, it was all inconsequential. Our Demon King was truly reliable.
“Still, this feels more like town-building than dungeon management.”
“Strangely enough, this has turned out to be the most efficient approach…”
We used to think dungeon magic would increase by defeating intruders. Then we believed we could stabilize the supply by exhausting them without outright killing them.
But now? All it took was inviting people into the dungeon, and everything worked out. This was starting to feel more like a business strategy than dungeon management.
“I’d like to replicate this in other dungeons, but a sudden shift might not go over well.”
“If we increased the rewards for treasure chests and items from cleared dungeons, it might attract even more intruders, but… it might also raise suspicions.”
Primilla was right. Offering more enticing rewards would undoubtedly bring in more people, but implementing such changes in existing dungeons required caution.
“The Beastfolk Dungeon might be fine, but the Goblin Dungeon for humans would definitely seem suspicious if high-value items suddenly appeared.”
Well, even the existing dungeons were profitable, so there was no need to meddle unnecessarily. We’d simply apply what we learned here to future endeavors.
“Lady Fiona, didn’t you originally create living spaces for demons in the Underworld?”
“Yes, of course. I am the Demon King!”
“What kind of towns did you build?”
“I provided whatever was requested, though it took a lot of time, money, and magic power.”
That sounded like her. A town built around the wishes of her subordinates must have been well-loved by the demons.
“By accommodating everyone’s requests without much planning, it ended up confusing even those with maps.”
“The buildings were so interconnected that the town itself felt like a dungeon!”
“Many areas were practically lawless zones. We had to let Ripianem handle those situations…”
“I wouldn’t allow anyone to cause trouble in my town!”
…Was the town not as well-received as I thought? And Ripianem , you’re probably the biggest troublemaker of all. You’re letting Rigma manipulate you into acting like a violent enforcer.
“Ugh… But it’s hard! Leaving out just one person’s request feels unfair, and running out of space made it like a giant puzzle game!”
A large-scale puzzle game, huh? I could empathize with that to some extent now. If I placed traps, monsters, and facilities at random, it’d definitely become chaotic.
“And that town, after all that effort, was destroyed in a battle with the heroes…”
“It did collapse, didn’t it? Maybe it was just too chaotic from the start.”
“But as a trap using an entire town, it was impressive enough to force the heroes to retreat!”
“…”
For a moment, I thought Lady Fiona might become negative while reminiscing, but Pilkaya and Ripianem ’s comments left her speechless.
Lady Fiona… It seems town-building and dungeon management aren’t your strong suits.
“Rey.”
“Yes?”
“Comfort me, so I don’t wallow in these feelings.”
I’ll make sure not to repeat her mistakes. With that resolve in mind, I spent my time consoling Lady Fiona.
