“Want to test it.”
“What’s with the sudden enthusiasm?”
“Remember the bird-type monsters we created yesterday?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“I want to test how effective they are.”
“You’re creating a whole new crisis for humanity out of sheer curiosity, huh?”
Pilkaya says that, but it’s not like this is an actual crisis.
I’m not releasing them into the wild to attack humanity or anything.
I’m simply placing them in the dungeon and observing their aerial combat capabilities.
“But wait, doesn’t the current dungeon lack areas with high ceilings or open spaces for that kind of thing?”
Rigma’s point is valid, but I’m not saying this just because I want to see those monsters in action.
Grand Hall Creation: Magic Cost 20
While casually creating wide spaces for storage, my Dungeon Master skills took the liberty of unlocking something interesting.
It’d be rude not to give it a try.
“Actually, I’ve gained the ability to create something called a Grand Hall. I want to test that out too.”
“But where would you create it? If it’s a place where monsters fight, it’d be meaningless if intruders couldn’t access it. On the other hand, if you expand the current dungeon, a Grand Hall would likely cause too much of a shift, wouldn’t it?”
“The day has come when Repianem makes a valid point…”
“Re-Rey! What do you mean by that?”
I mean, weren’t you the one who suggested placing yourself as one of the Four Heavenly Kings in the starter dungeon?
And now, you’re giving such reasonable advice—Repianem might actually be growing smarter day by day.
“Why not just create the Grand Hall near the entrance?”
Primilla suggests this, but is that really a good idea…?
“A separate area from the inn and shops? If such a large space suddenly appeared at the entrance, wouldn’t that raise suspicion among intruders?”
“I mean creating a place with just the Grand Hall, not connected to the existing dungeon.”
“So, basically, a new dungeon entirely?”
Hmm…
Well, maybe it’s about time.
Managing intruders, running the inn, the shop, and the mining area—everything is going smoothly now without any issues.
Perhaps it’s the right time to invest in creating a fourth dungeon.
“No, just a dungeon with only the Grand Hall.”
“…Can you even call that a dungeon?”
“To be frank, I want more farmland.”
It’s rare for Primilla to ask for something for her own needs.
…Actually, when it comes to farmland and orchards, she’s never one to compromise. Maybe it’s not so unusual after all.
“If it’s just that, you could’ve asked anytime. Wouldn’t expanding the usual farming area suffice?”
“There are herbs and fruits that are highly sensitive to magic, and having someone like the Demon Lord nearby could cause issues…”
She glances at Lady Fiona, who pouts in annoyance at the implication.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I have a negative influence on crops?”
“If they grow well, we might be able to create potions that restore even more magic power.”
“Good luck, Primilla!”
How fickle.
And judging by the expectant look she’s giving me, this has effectively turned into an order from the Demon Lord.
“So, it’s not a dungeon per se, just a Grand Hall for farmland, right?”
“Yes. Is that difficult?”
“No, creating it would be quick and easy.”
Grand Hall Creation: Magic Cost 20
Farmland Creation: Magic Cost 10
Orchard Creation: Magic Cost 10
If I’m creating multiple farmlands or orchards, I’d need to do it in stages, but it wouldn’t take long to complete.
However, leaving a vast hollow space for farmland alone raises one concern.
“I’d be worried about intruders vandalizing it.”
“That’s why I was hoping we could use the griffins to guard it.”
“I see. That way, the griffins can protect Primilla’s farmland while also showing off their abilities in the Grand Hall. They won’t go unused after all.”
Yeah, that works out nicely.
And since it’s essentially an order from Lady Fiona, there’s no reason to refuse.
“If we’re building it, these locations seem ideal. They’re areas that might attract some intruders.”
“Thanks, Pilkaya. Are these lands inhabited by humans, beastfolk, or…?”
“Oh, that place? It’s where the halflings live.”
Halflings, huh…
While I haven’t created a dungeon there yet, I’m familiar with their kind from repeated encounters in the dwarves’ dungeon. We’ve even captured some and made them employees.
They’re an excellent race when it comes to disarming traps and detecting hidden mechanisms—great explorers, really.
On the other hand, their combat abilities aren’t particularly strong.
Unlike beastfolk, who repeatedly challenge the dungeon out of pride, or humans, who greedily seek its treasures, halflings are more pragmatic.
While they can be quite shrewd, they’re unlikely to take reckless risks.
“Let’s build it here. If halflings encounter the birds and retreat after being attacked, they probably won’t pursue further.”
Lady Fiona nods.
With the Demon Lord’s approval, it’s time to begin building—not a dungeon, but a farmland.
◇
Today, I handled the traps in the dungeon at the dwarves’ request.
It’s great that there’s a steady demand, and it’s a good opportunity to earn money, but it also means the dungeon is just that difficult to get through.
Seriously, what’s up with that place? For an abandoned dungeon, it’s more trap-filled and bloodthirsty than any other dungeon I’ve ever seen.
Because of that, we have a ton of work coming our way, but I wonder if there will ever come a day when we can disarm all the traps there…
What’s really frustrating is how the traps we disarm sometimes reset themselves if we let our guard down.
For the Demon Lord to go to such lengths to keep intruders out, that dungeon must have some important history behind it.
“What is this place?”
Speaking of which, us halflings—including myself—always weigh the risks against the rewards. It’s how we operate to make a living.
So today, I was on my way home alone when I stumbled across an unfamiliar cave.
“A farm…?”
Well, it’s more of a farm than a cave.
It’s quite large, and from the looks of it, someone’s been growing crops here—green and red leaves sprout from the soil.
“Are they growing medicinal herbs?”
Judging by the growth, it seems to be going well.
There are signs of human activity here, so this must be a secluded spot where someone secretly cultivates herbs.
“The quality… Well, I wouldn’t know. It’s not my area of expertise.”
If I were a merchant, maybe I could assess the quality of these herbs, but I’m just your average halfling, skilled at lockpicking and disarming traps.
Still, messing with these herbs or, worse, taking them without permission is not a good idea.
Angering the eccentric person cultivating these here would be more trouble than it’s worth.
“Strange folks out there.”
Oh, right. Maybe I should mention this to that guy.
The man who calls himself an apothecary. He’s always talking about opportunities to sell stuff to the beastfolk and said something about buying herb materials at high prices.
“This might just be a goldmine for him.”
Muttering to myself, I started heading back when I heard something like a cry from behind me.
“…Must’ve been my imagination.”
It was a faint sound, so maybe there’s a monster far off in the distance.
I’ll head home before I run into it.
◇
“This place is so spacious. It’ll be great for growing crops.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Primilla, while expressionless, seems to be positively glowing with delight.
The Grand Hall—it was massive.
With a space this large, I feel tempted to place a powerful boss monster here.
But instead of a boss, I installed a large farm. Just as she told Lady Fiona, Primilla is growing medicinal herbs to aid with magic recovery.
Even Forest Fairies and Plant Golems occasionally stop by to help with the work.
“That halfling from earlier turned back right away, didn’t he?”
“The griffins didn’t even need to chase him off.”
A bit of a letdown.
I wanted to see the griffins in action…
Oh well, the opportunity will come eventually.
