Having delayed Noire’s immediate dilemma we headed back to our seats to watch the one on one matches play out. The whole way back I couldn’t help but reflect on the colosseum’s recovery rooms. Somehow the magic that teleported those who’d received too much damage to continue fighting had known which sick beds were open or full and dropped each of the injured into one of the empty beds with perfect accuracy. If such a thing could be replicated with the Withdraw Orbs my dungeon’s profitability would increase exponentially. I was already gaining a reputation as a “safer dungeon” amongst adventurers so adding free treatment seemed a logical next step.

As the orbs currently operate any injured are spat out at the dungeon entrance at risk of dying to their injuries should they be too extensive. It hadn’t taken long before the Shady Merchants operating the Withdraw Orb stand were approached by local healers and struck up a temporary arrangement. It was a simple system really, the healers would assist my merchants in promoting the Withdraw Orb’s, even helping out with crowd flow from time to time, by healing anyone teleported back up in critical condition. Just seeing that healers were around to help mitigate the only associated risk of the orbs was a great way to boost consumer confidence. In exchange the healers were allowed to charge their patients a small fee. Having lived in the 21st century I knew how controversial that could be so I limited their prices to no more than 500 Rhilos per heal. Given some of my weaker creatures in the Mangle Bog drop somewhere between 25-50 Rhilos each, not including the sale of harvested resources, I feel that’s an amount one could tangibly pay back with some extra effort or savings.

Early on I’d had The Reapers scare off some less than well-meaning healers to ensure no one would associate them with my dungeon. It was something I’d never considered, being that all the healers I’d met were adventurers in private parties up till then, but those in the healing practice seemed quite prone to greed, contrary to what I’d expected. Many couldn’t care less about their patients, only worried about lining their pockets with Rhilos. Unfortunately I couldn’t fault them for acting that way. In this world of instantaneous magic healing the medical field was remarkably stagnant. Potions of course exist to deal with extreme cases and expel curses but for most citizens a cold is cured simply by getting [Purify] cast on themselves by a healer. Medicine being what it is people have little choice but to pay whatever prices the healers demand. Thankfully I didn’t have to deal with those types of healers for long thanks to an old friend.

Alice had seemingly stuck around Brooksdam after receiving the reward from my first ever [Quest] for information. After receiving her 25,000 Rhilos prize she’d actually quit her life as an adventurer and used the unexpected sum to expedite the opening of her private practice. Land had been selling rapidly in Brooksdam at the time so she’d jumped at the chance to start her business within a new dungeon town. When she’d heard about the need for healers at the entrance she’d met with Shady Merchants and got in contact with me once again. We had a pleasant one on one chat without the need for Mary’s intervention where she not only offered her own services but recommended several down on their luck parties in need of employment. Healers are often in high demand for adventurers due to their utility but as such no party wants to hire a second rate healer. Those who lose limbs during battle, suffer from battle trauma, or otherwise can’t continue delving due to personal circumstances oftentimes have difficulty finding work other than with the large, and stigmatized, guilds.

Before long I’d privately hired Alice to serve as my Post Withdraw Orb Care Organizer, a title Noire insisted on for bookkeeping. For now we are keeping the healer’s direct involvement with us a secret if only as not to cause conflict with the major healing guilds. Making the arrangement public is something I plan on doing upon my return now that humans have been more widely introduced to the concept of dealing with monsters outside of wartime, thanks to my allies in N.A.S.A. and delegates efforts to secure smaller scale trades. If I could rework the Withdraw Orbs to teleport patients into a private hospital at the entrance where healers, both human and monster, were ready at all times my dungeon’s casualty rate should fall to almost zero. At that point I shouldn’t face anymore backlash for sapient deaths than my fellow dungeon masters receive.

“I also still need to build that concession stand for the teleporter line...”

Used to my constant ramblings Noire replied without missing a beat “Do you recall me mentioning Mr. Guare Chairman? He is an oni who has expressed interest in learning the culinary arts. Should I schedule a meeting with him about opening that venture?”

“I’d appreciate it.”

Making a memo with [Note Keeping] I reminded myself to create uniforms for any workers I hired. Would monsters and humans have different designs or the same? Do I pay them the same? Hourly or fixed? I know my monsters would work for free but that would be unfair. Do Unions or some equivalent exist here? I doubt it. If that’s the case I should have someone look into average pay rates for that sort of work. Same is true for the Cascade’s staff, should different positions be paid more or less than one another? Surely manning the reception should be different than running the gambling tables or providing entertainment. Speaking of entertainment I need to check in on the Nereids and Tempo Hares. Last I heard Iris had finished composing the live performance pieces but I can’t recall if they’ve started practicing yet... Wouldn’t want the Nereids to hypnotize their audience again.

Nereid: Enchanted lyrics without meaning flow from the lips of these aquatic vocalists. Taking the appearance of any number of aquatic species Nereid’s are symbols of untouched nature.

Tempo Hares: Ears curled back and crystalline constructs around their ears the Tempo Hares listen to an invisible beat as they dash around the battlefield. Using their hands these bipedal rabbits can even use magical weapons as they rock out.

“Chairman I believe that is Burgundy down there.” Noire said with some pride in her voice taking me out of my musings. I had a lot to work on when I returned home but for now my creatures deserved my utmost attention. Looking down at the field I likewise smiled as one of my Sidewinder Lamia slithered her way onto the field, pair of scimitars in hand.

Some excited buzzing from the crowd told me they were eager to witness the first of my monster’s duels. They’d already seen how they performed in group combat and could only wait with bated breath to witness their individual power. Thankfully I couldn’t sense any ill intent being hurled down at Burgundy, if anything there was an unexpected amount of cheering from those eliminated in the first round. Seemingly everyone who’d received more easily treated injuries had pulled themselves up into the stands to witness the outcome of the tournament, and perhaps even a few who shouldn’t have if the panicked healer’s expressions were anything to go by. Their excitement and positivity seemingly eclipsed any animosity held by the larger crowd.

“Think she’s nervous?” I asked feeling only a little like a parent watching their child’s sporting event.

“I wouldn’t doubt it.” Noire answered “She’s the first up to compete by herself so a lot of pressure is riding on her performance. Not that I’m worried for her. Burgundy is an exceptional swordswoman, one of Scarlet’s highest performing hunters in fact.”

As the crowd cheered with the arrival of her opponent I asked with a look of surprise “You keep track of everyone like that or just the most promising? I’ll admit even I forget names and faces sometimes.”

“Of course I look over them all.” She said, a loving gaze entering her eyes as she looked down at her kin “If I am to be their Queen I must be someone worthy of the title. My sisters aid in my efforts of course but I take great pride in each and every one of my subject’s accomplishments. Even if their contributions go unnoticed by the majority I want them to feel my appreciation, even if it’s as small as simply recalling their name a single time.”

“Sounds like I have some room to improve then.” I chuckled.

“I’d be happy to help however possible sir.”

Any tips she could have given me were pushed to the wayside however when the lone figure of Burgundy’s opponent emerged, eliciting even greater cheers from the crowd. He was an impressively built man, at least 300 pounds of expertly toned and scarred muscle. The fighter was a tad on the older side with long gray hair but that didn’t serve to diminish his presence. Even to my untrained eye it was obvious the man hadn’t survived so many battlefields on luck alone. Each of his proudly displayed scars told the story of a man who lived for battle.

From behind I managed to catch a spectator ask in a hushed tone “Isn’t that Orphin the Originator? Where’s his spear? He can’t be that cocky after the first battle right?”

Unfortunately I failed to hear the response of whomever he was asking as the stadium soon erupted in gasps. It was obvious as to why. Down on the field Orphin had suddenly begun charging Burgundy with reckless, almost ravenous desire clear on his face. Just as the announcer spoke up to disqualify Orphin for acting too early, the target of his words exploded in movement. Not in speed or power, but in sudden growth.

Like an unseen dam had been broken a seemingly endless number of wooden tendrils burst from his body, hungrily wrapping around his form and sinking partially into the ground beneath his feet. In mere moments the mercenary was fully enveloped in a wooden shell, increasing his size to match that of even Everest’s. Last to grow in was the immaculate headpiece adorning Orphin’s new form. A massive helmet with an open faceplate grew out from within the man’s own skin, expanding as it sucked his lifeforce until it was satiated. By the time the visor dropped down the helmet served to hold a pair of massive antlers similar in structure to that of a moose. Behind the visor a pair of glowing yellow orbs flashed to life from within, accentuated by the extending wooden pikes serving as makeshift fangs.

Maintaining his gate throughout his transformation Orphin let loose a mighty roar as he put forth his shoulder in an aim to charge Burgundy. Surprise flooded the lamia’s face but trained warrior that she was she understood the threat and rather than meeting Orphin head on raised a towering pillar of earth underneath her body sending her skyward. As the man who’d been overcome by nature plowed through the stone Burgundy leapt off the top, throwing twin balls of flame toward her opponent as she sailed towards the ground. Both flames kindled the bark surrounding Orphin’s body and soon he was wreathed in the glow of orange fire. In pure rage, and likely agony, the former mercenary turned and readied another charge towards my monster, rather than formulate a plan to douse himself or try another approach.

“Somethings wrong!” Noire cried from beside me scanning the field intently “That magic isn’t his! It’s being activated remotely somehow!”

“We captured them all though!?” I likewise screamed as Burgundy dodged another flaming charge so strong it sent ripples across the magic barrier.

“I-I’m not sure what-?” she began before a series of terrified screams erupted from the stands above us. Turning around I watched in horror as many of the wounded mercenaries who’d been cheering moments earlier were bursting with roots just like Orphin had moments prior. Though I couldn’t make sense of the responsible parties aim I could only watch in horror as the monsters made their own intentions clear by immediately slaughtering the healers who’d been treating their hosts as though they were an afterthought.

‘Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit...’ was all I could think as I watched one of the wooden abominations pop the head of a nurse with a single squeeze of their hand. I’d seen plenty of people die from my perspective as a dungeon core but that had always come with a sense of detachment. This... this time they were dying right in front of me. Not just that, I was in danger too.

Grabbing my shoulder Noire asked over the screams and quickly ensuing panic “Your orders sir?!”

Burgundy dodging yet another charge by only a hair’s breadth I yelled across the link I shared with all my creatures, not caring to limit my words to our mental connection this time. It hardly mattered when every second was another life lost. Lives I couldn’t stand by and watch be snuffed out when I had the power to help.

“DUNGEON OF SEASONS! DEFEND THE CITIZENS! LETHAL FORCE IS AUTHORIZED!”

No sooner had the words left my mouth had Noire practically teleported to where the former injured mercenaries were carrying out their slaughter and summoned a pair of whips formed entirely of liquid poison to combat the abominations. With every crack of her whips the limb of a wooden beast would fall to the ground, decaying in real time as the poison spread. However, Noire was one woman still reeling from the effects of sever skill strain fighting against dozens of the Wooden Brutes. Even with her power it wouldn’t be long until they overwhelmed her. So I ran forward, this time taking extreme caution to explicitly send an order over the link to a single monster. My oldest and most trusted.

“Mary! We’re doing it! Time for Operation Eclipse!”