The following day, Shiroi and his three fiancées—Risa, Yuna, and Lucia—were deeply engrossed in coordinating with Village Chief Shotta, planning the construction of new facilities and securing the necessary provisions for the upcoming Adventurer's Guild outpost.
Nearby, Valerius was already dismantling the Avalon Clan's temporary encampment. The second search-and-rescue party had located their missing recruit late yesterday afternoon on Level 5.
Stepping away from the blueprints, Shiroi approached the paladin. "How did the search conclude?"
Valerius shook his head, a grim shadow crossing his face. "We found him. Or rather, we found what was left of his gear. I will be filing an official casualty report with the Adventurer's Guild."
"A tragic loss," Shiroi said smoothly. "He was entirely too reckless."
"Indeed," Valerius agreed. "However, the Yuta Dungeon has proven to be incredibly fascinating. The challenge here scales significantly harder than the Arudi Dungeon. I plan to organize a proper expedition soon, and I intend to bring Gideon along."
"You know Gideon Vanguard?" Shiroi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We used to be in the same adventuring party years ago," Valerius explained with a nostalgic smile. "Unfortunately, Gideon is heavily bound by his family duties these days. The Vanguard name carries a lot of weight in the Kainaldia Empire as the 'Guardians of the Capital City'."
Valerius paused, his expression shifting to one of sheer bewilderment. "Though, there was one incredibly strange detail my scouts reported."
"Oh? What was that?" Shiroi asked.
"When the rescue party found the recruit's discarded equipment, there was a slime sitting directly on top of it. It wasn't hostile; it just sat there, seemingly digesting its 'lunch'."
Shiroi, who knew exactly what that slime had been digesting, feigned a perfect look of shock. "A slime? On Level 5?"
Valerius nodded. "My best theory is that it was fleeing from the more dangerous predators on that floor and just happened to stumble upon the recruit's corpse. Still, it is bizarre. The mechanics of this dungeon are highly unusual. I've also heard rumors from other adventurers about a 'Safe Zone' where parties can rest without fear of being attacked."
Shiroi smiled and pulled back his sleeve, revealing a glowing, claw-shaped magical tattoo etched into his right forearm. "The rumors are true. This mark serves as both proof of clearing the boss and the access key to enter that very sanctuary."
Valerius's eyes widened at the sight of the magical sigil. "This new dungeon just gets more enticing by the minute. Just wait. I will return with the other major clans to conquer it properly."
With a respectful bow, Valerius returned to packing his camp. Shiroi simply nodded, seamlessly rejoining Risa, Yuna, and Lucia to focus back on the village's expansion.
Meanwhile, deep within the Yuta Dungeon, Creed was already hard at work in the back corridors of Level 3. Since several treasure chests had been looted early that morning, he utilized a magical dungeon map to coordinate with a crew of maintenance golems to efficiently restock the sector.
Back in the control room, Nova stepped in to relieve Fenrir and Camilla, taking over the magic mirrors to monitor the influx of solo adventurers and parties. Freed from surveillance duty, Fenrir turned to his twin sister.
"What if we turn that empty room into a test?" he suggested.
Camilla instantly caught on, sketching a prototype for a door and etching runic script onto a nearby stone tablet. Freya, having just finished washing the breakfast dishes, walked over and noticed her children deep in concentration.
"What are you two working on?" she asked.
"I want to mess with the adventurers a little more," Fenrir admitted.
"The trap itself isn't inherently dangerous," Camilla added, "but it will force the adventurers to make noise, giving the monsters on the other side time to prepare an ambush."
Freya smiled knowingly. "If you do that, you should ensure every adventurer is given a completely different riddle."
Fenrir blinked in surprise. "Did you already know what we were making?"
"A puzzle door," Freya replied. "But to unlock it, the adventurer must speak the answer by either shouting it at the top of their lungs or whispering it."
Mina, who had just entered the control room to take a break, chimed in with a laugh. "Mom and Dad actually ran into a trap exactly like that in the past. Dad had to throw a flashbang the second the door opened because a whole group of bandits was waiting on the other side, completely ready for them." Fenrir stared in awe, constantly amazed by the sheer depth of adventuring experience his older sister and parents possessed.
Suddenly, Nova called out from the surveillance station. "A new adventuring party just breached the entrance."
Anastasya immediately checked the feed to identify the group's composition. Creed, having just returned from his restocking duties on Level 3, walked over to the monitors. "What is going on?"
Anastasya pointed to the magical mirror. The party consisted of one male Warrior and four female members—a Mage, a Dragon Warrior, a Cleric, and an Assassin.
"I did not know a party like that operated around here," Creed muttered.
Vergil, who had just stepped into the room to grab a drink, glanced at the screen and recognized them immediately. "They showed up a few years ago. That boy is a reincarnate from another world. From the looks of it, he is fated to become the Hero of the Kainaldia Empire."
Creed sighed, rubbing his temples. "It seems Magnacarta VII has a serious underlying problem if random office workers keep getting reincarnated to act as saviors." Nova let out a long sigh of her own, completely at a loss for words regarding the bizarre nature of this world.
Vergil pressed a quick kiss to Freya's cheek and looked over at the blueprints on the table. "Is that puzzle door a new project of Fenrir and Camilla?"
Freya smiled and nodded.
"Make sure you create a massive pool of riddles," Vergil suggested. "And randomize the trigger condition—make them shout, whisper, or sometimes force them to do both randomly." Fenrir nodded eagerly, rapidly jotting down his father's advice as Vergil turned and headed back to the workshop.
"Nova, keep a close eye on that Hero party's movements," Creed ordered, shifting into management mode.
Just then, Aeka and Takano sprinted past the control room doors in a blur of motion, fully geared up for the lower levels.
"I need to head out as well," Freya announced, swiftly gathering her equipment. "I am heading down to Level 4. A few adventuring parties are currently escorting a merchant caravan toward the Safe Zone."
"Why do you need to go down there personally?" Nova asked, confused.
"Normally, the maintenance golems restock the claimed chests by using a skill called 'Earth Swim' to phase directly through the ground," Anastasya explained. "However, while they are submerged and moving, they cannot coordinate with the control room. When things get chaotic and we have multiple groups pushing deep into the dungeon, the managers have to step in and fill the logistical gaps manually."
By midday, Shiroi spotted a convoy arriving from the Adventurer's Guild. Lord Draven rode at the front on horseback, accompanied by an older male wizard whose aura radiated immense magical mastery. Spotting their approach, Shiroi immediately sent a runner to summon Village Chief Shotta.
Lord Draven dismounted swiftly, approaching the Emperor. As the entourage gathered before Shiroi, they all dropped to one knee in a synchronized display of respect. Shiroi casually waved a hand, instructing them to rise.
"Wizard Malgus has decided to retire from active fieldwork," Lord Draven announced. "He has graciously agreed to step in as the new Branch Head of the Zephyr Village Adventurer's Guild."
Shiroi stepped forward, offering his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Wizard Malgus."
Malgus met the Emperor's firm handshake with equal respect. "The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty. I am ready to begin my duties."
Without delay, Shiroi led the group into the newly constructed Guild building. Inside, the core infrastructure was already in place. The main reception desk was fully set up, flanked by a magical databank synchronized directly with the Guild's central headquarters. Here, new adventurers could officially register, while veterans who had lost their identification tags could request replacements for a standard administrative fee. To the side, a designated merchant zone had been established. In this area, adventurers could exchange harvested magic crystals for gold, purchase high-capacity Holding Bags, and stock up on individual or party-wide Scrolls of Escape.
Malgus surveyed the bustling floor plan. "Everything looks absolutely perfect."
Lord Draven shook his head in genuine amazement. "I still can scarcely believe this branch office was completed so rapidly."
Instead of dwelling on the praise, Shiroi gestured for the two men to follow him. "Come with me. Let us head down to the underground meeting room."
Once they were sealed inside the secure, soundproofed basement chamber, Shiroi dropped all formalities. "Your responsibilities here, Malgus, will extend far beyond managing the Adventurer's Guild. You will be working directly with the managers of the Yuta Dungeon—and guarding all of its secrets."
Lord Draven nodded gravely, stepping in to explain. "Both the Arudi Dungeon and this new Yuta Dungeon were constructed by Emperor Shiroi's direct decree. The Imperial Family themselves operate the dungeons behind the scenes."
Malgus's eyes widened in profound shock.
Shiroi simply nodded in confirmation. "The Arudi Dungeon is already functioning perfectly under our established protocols," the Emperor stated. "Now, the Imperial Family's focus has shifted to the Yuta Dungeon, particularly concerning its internal security."
"What exactly do you mean by 'security'?" Malgus asked cautiously.
Shiroi's gaze hardened. "I will be blunt. We have already dealt with troubling incidents in the Arudi Dungeon. We know that certain clans and adventuring parties actively violate the internationally established adventurer's code of ethics. Your job, Malgus, will be to identify these criminals and document their transgressions. Once they are confirmed guilty, we will arrange for them to 'disappear' inside the dungeon." Shiroi's voice dropped to a chilling register. "And then, we will repurpose their souls to serve as our monsters."
Malgus swallowed hard, absorbing the terrifying weight of the Emperor's secret justice system. Recovering his composure, he nodded in understanding. "When will I be meeting with these dungeon managers?"
"They will be arriving momentarily," Shiroi replied.
A sudden flash of teleportation magic illuminated the underground meeting room. As the ambient light faded, Anastasya, Nova, and Freya stepped forward into the chamber.
"These women make up a portion of the Yuta Dungeon's management team," Shiroi introduced smoothly.
Malgus immediately recognized Freya and Anastasya, offering a respectful bow. However, his gaze lingered on the unfamiliar woman clad in modern tactical armor. "And who might the third lady be?" he inquired.
A faint, knowing smirk crossed Shiroi's face. "I have it on good authority that Aunt Nova here is Uncle Creed's future wife."
Malgus let out a hearty, joyous laugh. "It brings my heart great joy to hear that Prince Creed has finally chosen a life partner!"
Beside him, Nova's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and she quickly ducked her head, thoroughly embarrassed by the sudden attention.
"There are quite a few more of us on the management team," Freya added, smoothly redirecting the conversation to save Nova from the spotlight. "However, the others had to remain behind to ensure the dungeon continues running without interruption."
"Completely understandable," Malgus said, nodding warmly. "It is an absolute honor to collaborate with the Imperial Family. I will be ready to officially assume my duties by tomorrow."
Lord Draven stepped forward, eager to finalize the logistics. "I will make arrangements for the Guild staff's living quarters immediately."
"That will not be necessary," Shiroi countered. "I already discussed the matter with Chief Shotta last night. A fully furnished residence has already been secured specifically for the Zephyr Village Branch Master."
"Excellent," Draven replied. "On a related note, a few dwarves will be joining the village soon to open a new weapon and armor forge. They are currently packing their inventory in the capital."
"When exactly should we expect them?" Shiroi asked. "I will need to coordinate their arrival with the Chief."
"Sometime tomorrow," Draven estimated.
"Does this new shop belong to the Twin Dwarves?" Shiroi inquired.
"One of the twins, yes," Draven confirmed. "He and his apprentice are looking to expand their enterprise here."
"Very well. Chief Shotta will handle their zoning," Shiroi stated with finality.
The remainder of the briefing proceeded smoothly, outlining standard operational procedures. However, the calm was broken when Anastasya suddenly stepped forward, requesting immediate permission to depart.
"We must return to the dungeon at once," she explained, her tone urgent. "A self-proclaimed 'Hero' has entered the labyrinth. Vergil and Creed have already confirmed that this individual is a reincarnate from another world."
Shiroi's expression darkened instantly. "Keep a very close eye on him," the Emperor ordered strictly. "Imperial intelligence suggests there are roughly eighty suspected otherworldly reincarnates currently roaming our world, and we have only managed to identify half of them."
Anastasya nodded solemnly. With another brilliant flash of teleportation magic, she, Freya, and Nova vanished from the room, returning directly to the dungeon's control center to monitor the anomaly.
Meanwhile, deep within the dungeon's workshop, a magic mirror had been set up so Vergil could monitor the adventurers while he worked. His hammer fell in a steady, practiced rhythm, shaping a blade forged from a rare, volatile blend of Orichalcum and Frostalium alloys. Nearby, Broomir had just finished smelting a fresh batch of metal to forge a set of daggers.
"The party has reached Level 5B," Creed reported, keeping his eyes glued to the glowing glass. "They are currently advancing toward the chamber guarded by the Vagabond Wolf."
Vergil struck the blade again, meticulously refining the edge. "How are they holding up?"
"They are safe for now," Creed replied, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Though one of the party members just loudly complained that the healing potion she drank tasted incredibly strange."
Vergil chuckled, raising his voice so it would carry over the dungeon's internal communication link. "Lira! It seems your experimental healing potion has claimed its very first victim."
From the alchemy lab, Lira's voice crackled back. She was currently busy whisking a chocolate marshmallow mixture into a bubbling cauldron. "That is excellent news! Aunt Izumi just helped me perfectly stabilize the formula for the Latte Potion."
"That is a catchy name," Creed noted approvingly. "You should probably start labeling the bottles, though." His gaze snapped back to the mirror as the scenery shifted. "The party is breaching the boss room. Kyumara is ready to receive them."
"What are their names?" Vergil asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Let's see... the women are Laila, Rumi, Mina, and Alcia. The male Warrior goes by the name Hydra."
Vergil's hammer stopped mid-swing. The workshop fell completely silent for a fraction of a second before he brought the hammer down again, the ringing of metal filling the room once more.
Creed, with his centuries of combat experience, immediately caught the micro-hesitation. "You know the boy?"
"I do," Vergil said, his tone casual as he continued to strike the glowing steel. "He is the reigning Hero of the Camaroch Contingent. Specifically, from the Sandamura Kingdom."
"Ah," Creed nodded in understanding. "So he is indeed one of the reincarnates brought to Magnacarta VII."
Vergil shoved the blade back into the blazing forge. "Correct. He earned his grand Hero title in Sandamura by 'defeating' a Sand Dragon. Or rather, he drove it away and presented its severed tail to the king as definitive proof of his victory."
Creed scoffed softly. "A Sand Dragon? That severed tail will fully regenerate in a few years."
"Exactly," Vergil agreed. He tapped his earpiece, addressing his children across the dungeon. "Listen closely, all of you. What your Uncle Creed and I are discussing right now is vital information. Add it to your studies on Dragonology."
"Already taking notes, Dad!" Lira chimed in.
Fenrir and Camilla, still busy at the design desk, spoke up next. "Could we use that specific fact for a puzzle door riddle?"
"Absolutely," Vergil replied. "Dragonology is an incredibly obscure and difficult field of study. Unless a party has a Dragonoid member or a dedicated scholar, they will struggle immensely to answer a riddle about draconic regeneration."
Mina, having just returned from restocking her quota of treasure chests—walked into the control room and leaned toward the comms. "Is the Dragon language really that hard to learn?"
"It is more than just difficult," Creed answered her. "When you learn the Draconic tongue, the language fundamentally binds itself to your very soul."
"He is right," Vergil confirmed, pulling the glowing Orichalcum blade from the flames. "It is not just a language you memorize; it becomes a literal part of your existence."
"The battle against Kyumara has officially begun, right on schedule," Creed announced, his eyes locked onto the magic mirror.
On the screen, Kyumara was a blur of lethal motion. The boss monster seamlessly vanished into the shadows, launching a series of brutal, unpredictable surprise attacks before springing out for aggressive open strikes. Overwhelmed by the sheer speed, Hydra was forced to adapt. He quickly unequipped his massive two-handed sword, pulling out a one-handed blade and a heavy shield. Bashing the flat of his blade against the metal shield, Hydra created a deafening, rhythmic clang that echoed through the boss room.
"Now that is an interesting tactic," Creed noted, crossing his arms.
Vergil, who was currently quenching his newly forged blade in a barrel of cooling oil, glanced over at the mirror. "Drawing the monster's aggro to himself. A classic, but effective maneuver."
"He just swapped his weapon loadout mid-combat," Creed observed. "He went from a two-handed stance to a sword-and-board setup."
"Usually, a pure Warrior class commits entirely to Greatswords or two-handed weapons," Vergil explained, pulling the hissing blade from the oil. "To wield a shield effectively like that, he must have invested in a sub-class. Most likely Paladin or Fighter."
Down in the dungeon, Hydra's party was beginning to panic under Kyumara's relentless pressure. Hydra barked a harsh order, demanding they calm down. "Cleric, cast Holy Light now! Everyone else, shield your eyes!"
The Cleric immediately raised her staff. A blinding, radiant flash of holy energy erupted through the chamber. Kyumara, adapted to the shadows, shrieked and froze, completely stunned by the intense illumination.
Seeing the perfect opening, Hydra ordered the counterattack. The party's Mage swiftly began an incantation, dual-casting to manifest four magical arrows simultaneously, each pulsing with a different elemental affinity. Simultaneously, the Assassin unslung her crossbow, took aim, and fired. The bolt, coated in a high-tier paralyzing toxin, embedded itself deep into Kyumara's leg.
Without missing a beat, Hydra and the Assassin charged forward to close the distance. From the backline, the Cleric cast a rapid succession of buffing spells, significantly boosting the physical strength and agility of both vanguards.
Between the blinding aftereffects of the Holy Light and the debilitating spread of the paralyzing poison, Kyumara's defenses crumbled. Hydra and the Assassin descended upon the boss, unleashing a flurry of devastating slashes. As Kyumara staggered backward from the melee onslaught, the Mage released her spell. The four elemental arrows streaked across the room, slamming directly into Kyumara's torso in a catastrophic final explosion.
With a final, digitized roar, Kyumara's physical form dissolved into glowing particles, vanishing entirely from the boss room. A moment later, the grinding sound of stone echoed through the chamber as four secret walls slid upward, revealing the hidden alcoves that housed the boss-tier treasure chests.
Hydra and his party immediately rushed forward to claim their hard-earned loot.
The moment Kyumara was defeated, Sylvy and Inazumi immediately headed down to the boss room to take over the next shift. To maintain the illusion of a grueling dungeon, the massive gates to the chamber were locked shut, and the control room began broadcasting pre-recorded sounds of clashing swords and monstrous roars, perfectly tricking any approaching adventurers into thinking a battle was still raging inside.
Meanwhile, Kurogami sprinted into the Monster Hall, tightly gripping a medical kit marked with a bright green cross. He found Kyumara lying on the floor, still completely paralyzed from the Assassin's toxin. Wasting no time, Kurogami pulled out a specialized magical stethoscope and quickly assessed the monster's vitals.
The surrounding monsters murmured in concern, anxiously asking what had happened to their comrade.
Ignoring the chatter to maintain his focus, Kurogami swiftly prepared a syringe and a vial of universal antidote. Carefully measuring the precise dosage, he administered the injection directly into Kyumara.
Within seconds, the paralysis faded. Kyumara sprang back to his feet, fully rejuvenated. "That party used some truly terrifying tactics," the monster muttered, shaking off the lingering numbness in his limbs.
Kurogami let out a heavy sigh, packing up his medical supplies. "It is completely normal. Assassins rely heavily on dirty tactics, and debilitating poisons are incredibly common in their line of work."
Just then, Vergil burst into the hall, carrying his own heavy medical kit. "Has he been treated?" he asked urgently.
Kurogami nodded.
Vergil breathed a visible sigh of relief, his tense shoulders dropping. "Thank goodness you were here, Kurogami. If I had been the only one responding, I might have been too late, and the lingering effects of that poison could have become incredibly dangerous."
"I will be much more careful next time, Boss," Kyumara promised, bowing his head respectfully.
"I am going to schedule an advanced combat education class for all of you later to counter these strategies," Kurogami announced to the gathered monsters. "Though, it is worth noting that for the guards stationed on Levels 6 through 10, poisons like this will be entirely ineffective."
"Why is that?" a skeleton monster asked from the back of the crowd, tilting its bony head in confusion.
Vergil chuckled, answering for his nephew. "Because skeletal-class monsters do not have muscles, veins, or flesh. Biological toxins and debilitating poisons simply have nothing to attack."
Kurogami nodded in agreement. "Exactly. From Level 6 onward, those Assassins are in for a rude awakening."