Dungeon of Kaden Current Population: 3(4) Average Level: 2 Favor: 9 Edges: 3 Current Location: Kave Great Plains Evolution Stage: 2 Resources Daily Upkeep: 7.2 Ma. / 0 Lu. / 0 St. / 0 Me. 9 (12) Ma. / 0 Lu. / 2 St. / 0 Me. Generated Daily Mana Storage: 3 / 20 Lumber Storage: 0 / 20 Stone Storage: 0 / 20 Metal Storage: 0 / 20 [Summon] | [Dismiss] / [Expel] | [Trap] | [Main Menu]

I haven't looked at the Dungeon information panel in a while but since I'm still collecting my bearings in my new dungeon, I figured it wouldn't hurt. Although my generated Mana is only nine, I figured I'd add the 12 there to reflect how I normally have my trio of summons consuming grass. All three - even Ropert - technically have Herbivore... so it lets me still run my profit.

But more importantly, I had opened this hoping to find out what that random choice was. Based on my dungeon's looks, I'd feel inclined to think it was either a traditional style dungeon or some house-based evolution of it. The stone furniture out the dungeon actually got partially replaced, after all; my futon used to sit flat on the ground but now there is a wooden frame set-up beneath it. The entire dungeon got this treatment, too; wood to soften certain surfaces or to elevate pillows to create backless seats.

Honestly, it sorta feels like my dungeon might be based on inns or taverns now. That's not bad on its surface but it makes me realize just how unusually I've been living out here. Just the addition of lumber throughout the dungeon makes it feel like being indoors a proper building... and that makes the massive plains above all the more daunting.

Ignoring that feeling isn't easy but I have a good excuse given the situation. I may not have been able to see what my Dungeon evolved into but the rewards from the evolution are baffling.

First-up is the Personal Quests reward, accessible under Quests.

[Quests] - Personal Quests There are 0 available personal quests right now.

Check back tomorrow for more! [Back]

... Okay, so I don't have any. But isn't it just amazing that now I'll be able to get more quests without waiting for them? If the menu mentioning checking back in tomorrow implies that they're dailies, that will be a good way to help mix monotonous days up. But, if that is the case, that would mean that there isn't any possibility that these quests are high-rewarding. Most likely they'll revolve around minor tasks or easily solved problems.

The second reward on that list was Auto-Mode. But this is also a good point to show off my Main Menu since it also gave me Teleportation when I finished the Chamber.

Main Menu

Open with the key-thought "Menu" [Dungeon] [Manager] [Dungeon Manager] [Quests] [???] [Kaden] [???] [Inventory] [Auto-Mode] [Codex] [Teleportation] [HInt] - 1 of 1 use(s) available.

Auto-Mode.

[Notification] This feature has a tutorial; would you like to view it now?

Skipping it will-

Play Tutorial.

I'm pretty sure I get the gist of it but this might help. And if it has a reward, even if I learn nothing then at least I get the reward for viewing the damn thing.

[Notification] Tutorial selected.

Now playing... AUTO-MODE

Introduction Auto-Mode is a feature available to high-power mages and certain creatures within Brogdar like Dungeon Masters. While active, it detaches the user's perception from reality; this allows them to "fast-forward" or rapidly progress time without feeling the mental impact of it.

Auto-Mode has multiple states, starting from its lowest at 1 Week; each of these states reflects a period of time that scales up until fully unlocking True Auto-Mode.

So 1-Week is just the beginning? That's... good to know. It is a bit weird that you have to work your way up though; wouldn't it just be easier to spam it and-

AUTO-MODE

Basics Auto-Mode, when engaged, will allow the mental state of the user to relax and merely observe things. This out-of-body state takes control of them and acts based on how they normally would during that time. The user of Auto-Mode is able to give loose instruction or changes once per day.

After the use of Auto-Mode, Auto-Mode disables for the duration spent in Auto-Mode.

In a dangerous situation or interruption that isn't expected, Auto-Mode awakens its user's full control. When this happens, it is considered an Interrupt. Interrupts can occur from many sources but this is the most common. If Interrupted, Auto-Mode disables for one week, regardless of which is used.

Sounds like they thought of that idea when they made this awful system. So basically, if you make a deliberate or intended effort to interrupt yourself intentionally, you'd still suffer the cooldown.

Based on its description so far, this sounds like a pretty nice means to speed things up around here. Even if I omit the boring parts of my days, this is a means to avoid getting stuck in dealing with them in the first place. Or, at least, simply allowing me to make them much shorter and handled by the system.

AUTO-MODE

Warnings & Tips Warning: Auto-Mode is only usable in territory or locations you own. For high-power mages, this might be a library, home, or sanctuary. For Dungeon Masters, this is their Dungeon and any affiliated territory it covers.

It's recommended to use Auto-Mode sparingly; repeated uses have been known to dilate the user's sense of time, causing long-term "slowness" that wears off over a similar period to their longest available use. If time dilation occurs in a proactive user of 1-Week, not using the ability for 1-Week will alleviate symptoms.

If you ever succumb to this condition, however, it is not entirely bad; although it can be mentally taxing, some have been known to utilize this state as a means to have increased time for planning.

Huh.

That... reminds me of how people say things slowdown in a moment of great importance, but more casual or less restrictive. It also doesn't grant me superhuman powers like an emergency might. That bonus hint at the end there definitely betrays the strengths of the trade-off: making things take forever might suck but you could have more time to react in the heat of a moment.

Tutorial completed.

Granting reward... User Kaden must select one Dungeon or Dungeon Town resident to grant a new skill. Support Skill - Slowstep

The reward this time wasn't Favor but a skill!?

... Although I did kinda guess that Auto-Mode functions similarly to other games I played, the tutorial's shortness might be the standard for all of them. It also taught me about the dangers of using it, which ultimately makes it at least worth hearing them all out from now on.

But if it grants skills and not just Favor, that's all the more reason to just trust Brogdar with tutorials going forward. But who should-

Choice detected. Randomly assigning skill...

Skill assigned to Summon Bomber.

... Right. Random choices.

Well, I guess that's not that bad, though.

Bomber: Manager. Skills. Search: Slowstep

Slowstep Rewarded Support-type A Support-skill; a skill used for dodging or closing the gap with a target. Upon activation, it allows the user to accelerate to double-speed.

Lasts 3 seconds.

Costs 15 SP.

This skill isn't that bad for him. Compared to Ropert, Ivy, or myself, Bomber's high-damage skills are far better suited to a speed-oriented skill. Kicks take time to prepare but if he moves twice as fast, he could probably turn his High-Kick into a stronger one. It's a lot like comparing early firearms to later models; even if the bullets or ammunition were bigger, their slower speed makes a lot of larger primitive firearms completely outclassed by a modern firearm's cartridge.

It might also be useful in its own way; the system can detect and learn skills for them just as easily as it can for me, so maybe he can combine the skill with High-Kick and evolve a new skill into existence. A bunch of fast kicks is commonly seen in anime and isekai but the legitimacy of it even permeates in real martial arts.

Now that the tutorial is done for Auto-Mode...

Back to Main Menu. Teleportation.

Teleportation

Locations Known: 1

Teleports until a new random location: 1 Location's Name Description Available? Dungeon of Kaden

[Select] Your home dungeon. Y Unexplored Location #1

[Select] ??? Y Recall - Available [Back] | [Teleport]

This one is simple enough that I don't need a tutorial. The recall is probably something like an ability to teleport back to my base in an emergency, while the other bit is... self-explained. Unexplored Location #1 must be my first free location to teleport to that Grey Man mentioned, while the Teleports until a new one is probably reliant on me using the chamber to acquire new locations to go to.

It doesn't mention if I can take others with me, though. Bringing along one of the others is probably a dangerous idea though if the recall doesn't bring anyone else back.

Testing it will require me to be a brave bushguy.

...

The changes to my dungeon were fairly simple below, but I have to admit I'm impressed now. Not too happy that I spent a good few hours down below but that's fine in the grand scheme of my boring life in the middle of nowhere.

My stairs aren't just open or exposed anymore; there's new slanted roofing that leads up to an empty doorway.

I can finally move the traps to purely defending the entrances of the walled-off perimeter and house roof-ramps. My dungeon actually feels settled. This is definitely pride I'm feeling even though it's just a few upgrades; this dungeon and I came a long way from a simple hole in the wall.

Returning to my body at the top of the stairs, I look at the worried trio of summons with resolve. It's not like they can see any of it since I have no eyes but I'd like to think Ropert at least understands me.

Everyone, sorry about all the noise. I finally gathered everything for Teleportation and-

You wish to go alone?

Ropert is definitely too smart for his own good.

... Yes, Ropert. I wish to go on my own. It'll be safest if I experiment with Teleportation alone. One of my rewards was earning Experience-on-kills... and there is plenty of low-level ranbi to slaughter here in your case, Ropert, but I need to find us a more consistent way to level up Bomber, Ivy, and myself since we might get one or two levels at best without more Omega or something.

Ivy squeaks. I don't understand her but I appreciate her input since it sounds like it's not guessing what I'm going to say next.

Ropert, focus on kills and let's see if the Dungeon's evolution matters to you. Bomber and Ivy, both of you make sure you keep eating grass and maintaining our border. I might not come back to the surface for the next few days... but if you ever feel endangered, retreat inside the dungeon.

I turn, looking down the flight of stairs. The trio let me walk away without any other questions, no doubt ready to follow that basic order and leave me be.

All of the crystals are full of MP and I feel pretty good in my ability to fight. It's time to see what lies beyond Kave.

Teleportation: Select Unexplored Location #1.

Deep breaths, Kaden. This is part of an isekai, too; opening up one's world comes for everyone. When I died, I never could have imagined this is how my life would turn. But now that it has, it's time to embrace it all: I'm a Dungeon Master plant person... and I have to get stronger by taking risks.

Teleport.