Chapter 94
Ack.
You worked hard.
I more or less finished the surveillance.
It was all thanks to Malangi's power.
As a reward, I gave it some nice scritches.
I had figured out Lorensia's aim.
Yeah, yeah.
You've come up with something very interesting.
People always find a way.
On the Earth I came from, humans even reached the moon.
Dungeon clearing seemed to be the same.
Use magic to leave information about the dungeon behind.
That was quite a perk for intruders.
If only it were that easy.
Because Ink Rat's manipulation ability wouldn't activate.
Memory manipulation is a very useful gimmick that lets you recycle anomalies.
If we could neutralize that.
A cleared anomaly would become as easy to exploit as an elevator.
Something like conquering Dreamland, which had been impossible,
would become much closer to possible.
"Interesting."
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Cowhead : Is that realistically possible????
Cowhead : A space that can't be physically interfered with
Cowhead : the idea of installing it inside the dungeon, I mean
ㄴMagic Hero : Hmmmm...
ㄴMagic Hero : I don't think it's impossible...
ㄴMagic Hero : If you pin it to the spawn point with fixed coordinates... well...
ㄴMagic Hero : But if you consider all the conditions...
ㄴMagic Hero : honestly, it'd be pretty difficult, right?
ㄴMagic Hero : Even if you made such a space with magic...
ㄴMagic Hero : Magic basically needs mana, right?
ㄴMagic Hero : Fire needs firewood to burn...
ㄴMagic Hero : and water to become ice...
ㄴMagic Hero : I figured the mana issue would be hard to solve in a dungeon...
ㄴMagic Hero : For good reason...
ㄴMagic Hero : Using magic consumes mana, after all.
ㄴMagic Hero : Sustained magic is the same...
ㄴMagic Hero : For magic to keep going...
ㄴMagic Hero : mana has to be supplied periodically...!
ㄴMagic Hero : That's the premise we have to start with...
ㄴMagic Hero : Like a car and gasoline...
ㄴMagic Hero : Usually, this part is handled by
ㄴMagic Hero : the mage personally refueling it with mana,
ㄴMagic Hero : or by using mana batteries for magical tools...
ㄴMagic Hero : But the dungeon keeps changing locations, right?
ㄴMagic Hero : It's not like the mage is some kind of Oblivion NPC, lol...
ㄴMagic Hero : Dreamland's location isn't even known to the Blessers...
ㄴMagic Hero : so finding it every cycle is realistically impossible.
ㄴMagic Hero : So the method of directly refilling mana is out.
ㄴMagic Hero : Then the only thing left is mana batteries...
ㄴMagic Hero : M-m-mana batteries, lol...
ㄴMagic Hero : The Dungeon Master can interfere, though...
ㄴMagic Hero : Newbie can just break it physically, so...
ㄴMagic Hero : Besides, the spawn point is only inaccessible during the wave...
ㄴMagic Hero : so yeah, you can't get near it...
ㄴMagic Hero : So the kind of space Lorensia wants...
ㄴMagic Hero : a space where the 'Dungeon Master' can't physically interfere...
ㄴMagic Hero : isn't suited for making one.
ㄴMagic Hero : In the end, when all the mana runs out,
ㄴMagic Hero : the vault disappears...
ㄴMagic Hero : and the things inside it...
ㄴMagic Hero : would come out...
ㄴMagic Hero : Then they'd just become Malangi's meal...
ㄴMagic Hero : B-b-b-but...
ㄴMagic Hero : Honestly, if they were elves I'd just laugh it off, but...
ㄴMagic Hero : with those bastards, honestly, you can't let your guard down...
ㄴMagic Hero : they might find a way someday, so be careful...
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The conclusion was this.
Intruders couldn't adopt that method right now.
But the future was another matter.
Advances in technology, huh.
Was this how the people of Joseon felt when those Japanese pirates came at them during the Imjin War with matchlock guns?
The way to counter it would be jamming, of course.
It was a means that could counter every kind of magic.
ㄴNewbie : Jamming device plz plz plz plz plz plz
ㄴNewbie : Anyone want to trade for an anomaly?
ㄴNewbie : Quick deals welcome, haggling okay, polite trades only!
ㄴNewbie : I'll even throw in a free TS potion as a bonus!
ㄴKongKong : Don't use the TS potion I gave you as a freebie. -_-
ㄴThe World Is Cold : So that's your type???
ㄴShibgan Love Dog : Not anomalies, kisses instead, plz plz plz plz
ㄴCowhead : Livestream it plz plz plz plz
ㄴNewbie : Where is everyone located, hehe?
ㄴShibgan Love Dog : I'm on the Blue Coast!
ㄴNewbie : I'll die.
It didn't seem like there was any way to get a jamming device right now.
Everyone was too far away.
ㄴKongKong : But didn't you guys buy the jamming traps with points?
ㄴShibgan Love Dog : Well, that's true!
ㄴCowhead : Did they say traps bought with points can't be shared...
And.
There were far too few veterans who could provide jamming devices.
ㄴMagic Hero : I can make one myself...
ㄴMagic Hero : Pray that I'm beside you when the location changes next time, hehe...
ㄴNewbie : I guess that's all I can do ㅠㅠ
ㄴShibgan Love Dog : I need to pray you're beside me too.
ㄴNewbie : Hehe.
ㄴShibgan Love Dog : Answer me.
It'd probably be best to just give up on the jamming device.
It was unfortunate, but there was nothing to be done.
All I could do was hope Mahiro would be beside me next time the location shifted.
Well, they couldn't use that method right away either.
Still, you never knew.
Lorensia could suddenly go, 'I've finally figured it out. The core of magic and anomalies!' and freak out.
I couldn't say the chance was 0%.
Even if an intruder made something like that, Dreamland wouldn't be helplessly breached.
Still, it'd be better to prepare.
Crushing hope is my specialty.
Losing record manipulation would be such a shame.
I drummed my fingers on the table.
They're a thinking being too, but so am I.
There had to be a way.
'A way to break magic without jamming....'
Now that I think about it,
this part might actually be solved pretty easily.
Newbie : Mahiro, would something like this be possible?
I asked the gallery.
Then.
ㄴMagic Hero : Uuuh...
ㄴMagic Hero : Newbie, are you some kind of demon...?
ㄴKongKong : Sometimes...
ㄴKongKong : whenever I look at Newbie, I get chills...
ㄴKongKong : so it's kind of thrilling...
ㄴAnonymous Butcher : Good idea.
ㄴAnonymous Butcher : I knew you'd find a way.
ㄴOrange★ : Hahahahahaha
ㄴOrange★ : That's true lol
ㄴOrange★ : There was a method like that?
ㄴWhaleWhaleYeah : Hahahahahaha
ㄴWhaleWhaleYeah : Hahahahahaha, damn
ㄴPsych Ward Chief Patient : My Season 51,235 despair-to-the-Underworld Express is now running
ㄴPsych Ward Chief Patient : Choo-choo~~
ㄴKing Slayer : If that guy were a Blesser,
ㄴKing Slayer : our dungeon would seriously be doomed, lol...
ㄴShibgan Love Dog : Sometimes, Newbie's
ㄴShibgan Love Dog : bad-boy, brainy-man moments are so sexy ㅠㅠ
ㄴGolem King : Hahahahahahah
ㄴGolem King : Just be the boss already.
ㄴDIP : From today on, if we play Mafia, let's kill Newbie first, yeah.
ㄴDIP : This guy is way too busted.
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I worried for nothing.
Ack.
It seemed it was possible after all.
Because the other side's a bastard, so I should be careful?
Sorry, but
I'm a bastard too, so that part's fine.
I hugged Malangi in relief.
***
A's condition worsened even further.
The count's grief deepened at the sight of his daughter's condition.
…….
He stood at a crossroads.
Whether to let his daughter go like this, or to attempt the dungeon once more.
He still hadn't thrown away the Dreamland strategy guide.
Because he still couldn't let go of it.
No matter how he thought about it, there was no other way.
As things stood, mana stones were something money alone couldn't buy.
And he didn't have enough money to buy them even if he could.
…….
Even if A died, the world would keep turning.
Just like when Anemone died.
He would still be the Count of Wolfhaupen.
He would tend to his duties, talk with the domain's people and vassals, and live his peaceful daily life.
Only,
a piece would be missing.
The sun would rise, the moon would rise, and the clouds would drift by.
He'd still be living his busy life under that sky.
'The world won't change one bit.'
That much was certain.
And yet,
the world without A, in the count's eyes,
was a meaningless space, utterly hollow.
That child's absence would strangle him.
So,
he had to do it.
If he had no arms,
then with his legs.
If he had no legs,
then even with his teeth.
He had to bring back mana stones from Dreamland.
Because that was what a father should do.
Because it was his promise to his wife.
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The Count of Wolfhaupen made up his mind.
It was all or nothing.
It was an irresponsible decision as a lord,
but he decided to fulfill his responsibility as a father.
He drafted his will.
If he died in Dreamland,
he would leave the head of the house to Belluga.
And after his death,
he wrote down everything Wolfhaupen would need,
then tucked the will into the drawer.
"If I don't come back,"
Show this to everyone.
He left those words with a servant he trusted.
He had no intention of dying.
He intended to come back alive.
He couldn't leave irresponsibly.
There was no helping it.
The count made his way to A's room one last time.
A was sleeping soundly.
Her fever had gone down for a while.
The pain had also eased.
She hadn't been groaning in pain tonight.
But.
there was no telling when her condition might worsen again.
'Dad'll be right back.'
…….
'Sleep well. I'll definitely come back with mana stones.'
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As he came out of A's room,
Belluga was standing in front of him, arms crossed.
'You're going?'
'Yeah.'
'What about an escape scroll? The knights? You said this was a dungeon where multiple clears are mandatory. Have you lost your damn mind, do you want to die?'
'I'm not planning to clear it alone. There are definitely people who need mana stones just as badly as I do, so I'm planning to go with them.'
From start to finish,
her older brother never listened to a word she said.
'Please, oppa, come to your senses.'
…….
'A and your older sister weren't your fault either. It couldn't be helped. Quit it already. It's no different from dying for nothing.'
The count had nothing to say.
So he put a hand on Belluga's shoulder.
'I've always felt sorry for you.'
….
'I'll apologize again. I'm sorry. Please take care of the domain.'
Belluga parted her lips.
She watched her brother's back recede.
She wanted to stop him, but
her hand wouldn't reach out.
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The Count of Wolfhaupen thought.
Dreamland's conquest was no longer the domain's affair.
It was his own matter.
Then from now on, he had to set aside his title and stand alone.
He couldn't drag the people of his domain into this anymore.
What he had now boiled down to two things.
combat ability comparable to knights and a fair amount of wealth he could use personally.
An escape scroll was still worth bringing.
He couldn't distribute them to the whole expedition like before,
but he could buy at least one.
It would be best to clear it in one go if possible,
but honestly, that would be impossible.
The Gray Tower, the stronghold of the Spatial School,
was the first place the count visited.
'One escape scroll, please.'
'Yes.'
'Didn't you buy a large quantity last time?'
'I had a reason.'
'I see. Well, good luck.'
The spatial-school mage clicked his tongue as he watched the departing count's back.
'Tsk tsk. Dwarves, too. What a dungeon with devilish allure.'
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The most important thing in a raid was, as expected, the personnel.
If he didn't want to be beaten by the Dungeon Master,
he needed to bring at least someone skilled enough to easily subdue ordinary soldiers.
And skill was one thing, but the most important thing was the will to explore.
I will conquer this dungeon no matter what.
Without that determination, Dreamland would eventually break you.
The count contacted an information broker he knew well.
When he asked around for skilled people who would desperately need mana stones,
a retired knight suffering from PTSD, a black mage, a noble killer, a half-ogre born from forced crossbreeding between ogres and humans, and other people you'd never see in broad daylight appeared before the count.
Under normal circumstances, they were the sort of people he'd never associate with.
No, he would have tossed them straight into a cell.
But right now, they were the people he needed more desperately than anyone.
'Pleased to meet you.'
He mustered his courage.
He reached out first to the people of the underworld.
However,
their reaction was cold.
Naturally,
because the person in front of them was the lord of Wolfhaupen.
People in the underworld usually didn't get along with nobles.
To those who governed their domains properly, they were like malignant tumors.
If not for a trustworthy information broker,
they would never have come to this meeting.
'I heard all of you desperately need mana stones.'
…….
'I am no different. I won't beat around the bush. I need companions to gather mana stones with me. I want your assistance.'
'And the distribution of rewards...? '
The half-ogre asked cautiously.
'Five equal shares.'
'We can trust that, right?'
The black mage asked.
'Is there anyone here we can trust?'
The retired knight answered flatly.
'Nope.'
The noble killer agreed.
The atmosphere was a mess.
It was a scene the Wolfhaupen raid party couldn't even imagine.
But what could he do?
He thought this was the best he could do.
The count told them,
that Dreamland was a place filled with inexplicable anomalies.
As he explained it in detail, everyone's faces soured.
However,
'A place where one mistake gets your head chopped off...'
'Still, unlike other dungeons, the chance of getting mana stones isn't zero.'
'They're full of guys I don't like, but if we're going to clear it, cooperation is essential.'
'A shared goal is proof of trust.'
As if they too, like the count, desperately wanted mana stones.
They showed no signs of reluctance.
They were probably ready to die.
It didn't feel all that bad.
'I've prepared the supplies. I'll explain Dreamland on the way.'
And so, the party was formed.
***
I thought the next intruder would be Lorensia.
At least before the location shift began.
I figured she'd come in at least once, but...
【The wave is starting.】
An unexpected person came in.
Sealed Conqueror : Breaking news, Count of Wolfhaupen
ㄴSealed Philosopher : Dreamland entered, damn
ㄴAnt Queen : The count's final last dance of his life, damn lol
ㄴAnt Queen : Look at this lineup lol
ㄴTV Head : This is truly catastrophic
The count's tenacity was greater than I'd thought.