It seems the first and last parts might only be necessary for changes, so I’ve tried that from this time on.
I may revert it if it feels off, but I’ll stick with this for now.
The world I know doesn’t have a pleasant waking after sleeping; it’s always morning when you wake up.
In Isal, even if you sleep during the day, you wake up during the day.
And in Anatalis, on the Demon Lord’s Army continent, if you sleep at night, you wake up at night.
As the carriage came to a stop, I felt the sensation and blinked awake, emerging from a light, shallow slumber.
The soundproofing in the carriage was excellent, so the outside commotion was inaudible, yet the destination’s liveliness and busy trade were palpable.
“This is it?”
Before I could ask if we had arrived, the two who had woken earlier greeted me with “Good morning,” to which I responded.
It felt a bit odd to say “Good morning” at night, but in this world, the distinction between day and night isn’t that important. If it’s morning by the clock, then it’s good morning.
“Were you able to sleep?”
“Yes.”
Despite sleeping in an awkward position, I slept better than expected, and my body didn’t ache. Thinking that my experience with sleeping outdoors in Isal might have helped, I folded my blanket while chatting with Mait.
“Have we arrived?”
“Yes, we’ve reached our destination. We’re still outside the gate, but once the inspection is done, we’ll be able to enter immediately.”
“Inspection?”
“The land around the Dungeon is directly managed by the country. Entering and exiting requires procedures, so it’s easy if you follow them, but conversely, you cannot enter without them.”
Mait replied with a wry smile, “It’s like bureaucratic work,” and I nodded in understanding.
“So, managing Dungeons includes that sort of thing?”
“In fact, that’s our main duty.”
“What do you mean?”
I had assumed that managing Dungeons and acquiring materials meant they had full control over the Dungeon’s levels, ensuring safe passage and easily obtainable materials after a fight.
“What the military handles is monitoring for Monsters emerging from the Dungeon and preventing smuggling. We have nothing to do with the Dungeon’s interior.”
“Huh?”
“Even the term ‘management’ is a bit misleading. When the Dungeon’s functionality is insufficient, we can’t control it. After all, without a Dungeon Master to control it, it’s not something that can be controlled.”
“…Is that alright?”
Isn’t that like leaving a nuclear power plant unattended while still drawing electricity from it? This isn’t just a matter of danger; if it were to go berserk and Monsters were to flood out, it could lead to a catastrophe.
“Yes, we use several Dungeons from hundreds of years ago, and they’ve been operating without issue. After all, our ancestors created the Dungeons, so even if we can’t control them, we have the know-how to use them safely.”
“Wouldn’t it be safer to manage them like a ranch, then?”
Instead of breeding dangerous Monsters in hazardous Dungeons and going on perilous hunts, I thought it would be more efficient and stable to run a ranch raising Monsters that are in demand.
“Jiro-, do you think you could safely raise a Black Dragon in a ranch for consumption or as material for weapons and armor? Sheep are raised for their wool, but can a Black Dragon, created to fight Heroes, be raised for its scales?”
“I don’t think so.”
“That’s right.”
I answered immediately without thinking, but thinking about it, Mait was right. I could easily imagine a scene where the ranch would be reduced to ashes in an instant. It would be so outlandish that I could almost picture an absurd battle between the rancher and the Black Dragon. So, this is the drawback of a Dungeon adjusted for fighting Heroes.
“So, does that mean the Monsters inside Dungeons are fundamentally untamable?”
“That’s how it is. They seem to be doing research, but it’s not going well. We know the reason, you see? The Monsters inside Dungeons are basically very sensitive to death. So, if you were to raise them for riding or as pack animals, they might become somewhat docile. But when it comes to food or materials…”
“They become violent when they sense danger to their lives.”
“Indeed. They were originally bred to repel Heroes. They seem genetically sensitive to such emotions.”
These Monsters were originally meant to repel external enemies. It would be pointless if they had a gentle disposition. They only have meaning when they fight. If they lacked survival instincts and wildness, they would be meaningless. There would be no point in creating the “prey” part of the food chain within the Dungeon. It might have been possible when there was a Dungeon Master, but there’s no one who can do that now. Even if they tried to appoint a successor, the functions for appointing one are damaged, so a handover isn’t possible. That makes sense. From a Hero’s perspective, the Dungeon Master is essentially a mid-boss, an enemy to be defeated. Leaving them alive in the first place is unthinkable.
“However, the country cannot abandon these materials simply because they are dangerous.”
“I imagine the economic value is significant.”
Furthermore, the quality of Monster materials is the crystallization of the Demon Lord’s Army’s efforts as living beings. Just as animals develop fur or tougher skin to adapt to their environment, these Monsters would undergo corresponding changes when adjusted for Dungeons. Their claws would sharpen and harden to tear through enemies, their eyes would become capable of magic to strike foes from afar, and their bones would become as strong as iron to survive attacks. The result of trying to inflict even a little damage on Heroes is the current strength of these Monsters. In a way, their materials have improved as a byproduct. The investment in them, combined with the years, must have amounted to an astronomical sum. Even if control is lost, they continue to produce these materials. The return justifies the risk. It’s understandable that it could be judged as profitable if treated as a natural resource. This is probably why “collectors” called Adventurers have become common within the Demon Lord’s Army.
“But aren’t Monsters created in research labs? Couldn’t they create Monsters for ranching and materials there?”
“That doesn’t seem to be going well either.”
“What do you mean?”
“Monsters suitable for ranching can be created if you try. We have the technology for that. Delicious meat, shiny hides—it’s possible to produce them. But when it comes to weapons and magical mediums, the story changes. What’s the use of soft Dragon scales? Can inferior fangs pierce armor?”
“In other words, the materials obtained from weaker individuals are…”
“Yes, they are basically weak materials. While it’s not impossible to create them by paying an exorbitant price, they are still inferior to the materials from stronger individuals. And besides, if you ask if it’s profitable…”
“It’s not.”
“Yes, that’s right. Moreover, weaker individuals tend to have lower Magic Aptitude, so such individuals are also less valuable as decorative items, and won’t fetch a price above a certain value.”
So, they’re not suitable for mass production, only for unique items? There would certainly be demand for those too, and perhaps something surpassing Dungeon Monsters might eventually emerge. Technology advances by leaps and bounds, after all. However, that technology doesn’t exist now, and thus, I’ve discovered that I cannot easily obtain materials for marriage. This means I must gird myself and tackle this matter seriously.
“The procedures are complete. You may look outside. Son-in-law, you should see the outside.”
“Outside?”
While we were talking, Gray had finished the procedures. After interacting with the coachman, he told me to look outside. Following his instruction, I gently pulled back the curtain, and the carriage proceeded down a main street, about two lanes wide on each side. Various shops lined the street, with occasional stalls. They seemed to be selling Monster materials. However, this in itself wasn’t a particularly unusual sight. I might have to look around later if I can’t find the materials I need…
“Look at where we’re going.”
“Where we’re going… is that a dome?”
Gray wasn’t telling me to look at the side of the street, but ahead. Even in the dim light, a clear illumination shone, perfectly displaying what was in front. It was a hemispherical structure covered in white walls. Its size, from what I could see, was comparable to or larger than the Tokyo Dome.
“Could that be…”
“Yes. That is the Dungeon.”
“It’s nostalgic. It seems to have been repaired, but it’s the same as it was long ago.”
The identity of the colossal structure, visible even from a distance, was indeed the Dungeon. And the flow of traffic was heading towards it. On the sidewalks, I could see figures clad in equipment.
“Ho, so that’s it… Wait!? Are we going straight to the Dungeon!? What about registration, or accommodation arrangements!?”
Thinking calmly, I realized I had completely skipped numerous procedures. Even with my equipment, can one just enter a Dungeon immediately?
“Don’t worry about accommodation. I have my別邸 here. I plan to stay there for a while.”
Ah, as expected of a great merchant. Having a vacation home is impressive. And I wouldn’t be trespassing, of course.
“Entering the Dungeon is also not a problem. There’s a military facility right next to the entrance. You can register there without any issues.”
“So, it’s like an Adventurer’s Guild?”
“No. It’s a military facility. The Adventurer’s Guild is that building over there.”
I don’t know the specifics of this place, but if it’s not a problem, then it’s fine. The emblem of a crossed shield, sword, and bow, displayed on the building that coincidentally appeared outside the carriage window, identified itself. People in what looked like Adventurer attire were coming and going.
“But why are there two organizations, the Adventurer’s Guild and the military facility, separated? Wouldn’t separating them lead to inefficiency and trouble?”
“They are deliberately separated. Originally, the country managed the Dungeons. But from the perspective of the citizens, especially merchants, Dungeons were a goldmine, so it’s natural to be dissatisfied with the country monopolizing the source of income. However, it wasn’t easy to get involved in state-run industries. Only a select few wealthy merchants could participate. Both the goods distributed by the country and the Dungeon items purchased from those wealthy merchants were exorbitantly priced. Consequently, the prices of weapons, armor, and accessories produced from them became unaffordable. General merchants naturally accumulated grievances.”
Gray spoke calmly. His gaze was directed at me but also seemed to be looking at something else.
“The Adventurer’s Guild was established with investments from those merchants. When they amassed enough numbers and influence, the country had no choice but to act. In this way, they formed a connection with the country. The country was reluctant to allow them into the industry, but negotiations aren’t solely the domain of politicians. If merchants can drag government officials to the table, then opening their mouths is a merchant’s primary business. They created a situation where the country had to acknowledge them.”
I understood the origin of the Adventurer’s Guild, as told by Gray, who seemed like the epitome of a stoic merchant. In essence, the Adventurer’s Guild is a meeting place for small and medium-sized merchants. It was a tactic taken to counter the larger powers. Clever.
“As a result, individuals associated with the military are distinguished as Explorers, and those belonging to the Guild as Adventurers.”
Hmm? Why does Gray say that with a hint of self-deprecation? And why is Mait’s gaze looking somewhere far off? Sensing a clear premonition of trouble, the carriage finally arrived at the Dungeon.
A word for today: OK, it’s trouble!! Trouble is coming!!
That’s all for this time. If you enjoyed it, please leave your thoughts, ratings, and bookmarks. Please continue to support this work.
