People don’t sleep because they want to, but they sleep because they need to.

Why I am blabbering so much about sleeping today?

The thing is, Minie is sleeping…again.

Why does she need to sleep? I don’t know. I don’t need something like it.

Why is she sleeping … because she hasn’t taken her beauty sleep in quite a while now?

Oops! Now, I just hope that she is really sleeping and didn’t hear what I just said, she gets really stingy after hearing my comments.

She really has nothing left to do anyways, all that she could teach me for now has been taught, and everything that we needed to discuss has been discussed.

All that is left is for; our great, powerful, mystical, bigger than most, stronger than least, out of the mundane, bizarre, sweet, childish, zombie like, work minded horrible workers to finish with all of the digging and complete the first floor of this dungeon.

“Heehee” (Minie)

…forgetting that, it is really taking a lot of time, third day is about to end, but even the first big tunnel corresponding to queen room is not ready yet.

Why is even the first big tunnel not ready yet? Because I moved my room to the very back, as far as I could with my power.

Well, why would I want to endanger my precious queen by making first room of the dungeon ‘the boss room’. That would definitely scare most people, but will also provide opportunities to some.

How long is the first floor?

Well, if I stretch my mana to the utmost then it covers a diameter of 800 meters around me; quite badass I’d say.

But because a diameter of 800 m means that after traveling for some 400 m’s anyone could reach me, I don’t think it is such a great range. I was a bit emotionally upset, thinking that after all the plans to create this and, that they would all be left hanging or will have to be constructed in a very tight space.

I consulted with Minie about this and she looked at me strangely. She said that I really am genius; controlling mana to a Dia. of 800m is not an easy feat for a newbie master.

Its well good and all, but it’s nothing great either. She said great, but only for a newbie and am nothing in front of old monsters.

She told me that, there have been cases of really overpowered dungeons, there each floor covered millions of miles of area and some even ruled over whole Empires.

I was so shocked hearing that I could not help but feel something leaking from my body again, just what is it this thing, and why does it always make my situation so embarrassing, I have no idea.

I couldn’t help but ask Minie, where such dungeons are?

And the answer left me dumbfounded.

She said,”oh! Those, they are just some fairy tales written by our fairy ancestors, nothing more”

What! I mean, just what!

So what, if I am not a heaven compassing, terror of overpowerness, bringer of shame, persona of talent, child of god, super saiy…

“Oh, shut up now!” (Minie)

*coughs* I’m being a little too presumptuous I’d say, but who’s there to stop me from sugar coating my…

I had to stop because I felt a very acute and sweet… stare of death checking me out, thinking on whether to burry itself deep within my body or not. What it was? It was my very own queen, my master, my light in the darkness, my…

“LET ME SLEEEEP!” Minie shouted, while her voice changed to one with a little deeper tone.

“OKAY!”

Some may think, that my voice was a little too loud than it should have been, responding to her in a way that I shouldn’t have. But she didn’t reply or got angry at me.

Why she uttered no word after hearing my reply?

It’s nothing special, because we talk through telepathy no one can hear what we talk about and no one could hear how timid and scared my voice really sounded. So no one needs to know.

Because no one could hear, therefore there is also no need for any shame.

Now, my workers are working, tunnel is being dug, our dungeon is taking shape. Slowly but surely my and Minie’s dream, well mostly her, is taking its step.

Now where these steps would take us?

Only time will tell.

Adventurers Guild, Town-Ragnarock:-

“This is taking too long my dear. Don’t you think I should go myself and get to the bottom of whatever is the reason for such an anomaly?” (Guild Master)

“No! Never. Just keep your ass on this chair, and don’t get up. You are not needed. Humph.”

“Now, now my child, are you not being a little too insensitive towards your grandpa? If you are not forgetting then I am still, the only ‘SS’ rank adventurer present here. So shoul…” (Guild Master)

“Humph, ‘SS’ rank my ass. You were an adventurer almost 50 years ago, but you still basking on your past glory. Don’t you think it’s time for you to forget it, just rest and let the youth of today handle, all that danger their life’s and the life’s of their families.”

“But…” (Guild Master)

“No buts, you are not going anywhere. Don’t think I forgot what happened at the fort of ‘Einstantbull’.”

“…..” (Guild Master)

“Yeah why don’t you speak now huh? Didn’t you also say at that time that you can hold the enemy at the gate and ordered the rest to move? What happened afterwards? Do I have to remind you of the carnage that those beasts unfolded because…because. Shh, I don’t even want to think about that incident.

“But…” (Guild Master)

“What but? At that time the attacking team had to come back to save your sorry ass, and that gave those bastards a way to escape. Don’t tell me you want to create such a disaster again.”

“But it was my back. It started acting at the wrong ti…” (Guild Master)

“You really don’t listen to me. I am going to tell mom if you don’t do what I tell you to”

“……”(Guild Master)

“Nono! Not her. I’ll do anything; we’ll leave this mission to the young and brave warriors of now, whose glory and bravery rings thro…”(Guild Master)

“Okay, okay! No need to bad mouth them. I know you are strong, but right now what our guild needs the most are not hot headed warriors, but a mentor. A figure that others could look upto, and work hard to become like. So please, just keep on doing your work as our guild master, because that is we need from you.”

“So, such are your reason for not letting me go to the battle field. I never knew my dear loves me so much. I am hono…” (Guild Master)

“Yeah, I don’t want our honorable, strong mentor to die getting ambushed by ants. I don’t think anybody will look up to you then.”

“…you are just like your mother. Always says things that hurt the most.” (Guild Master)

“And you are just a gorilla. Oh, I’m sorry for badmouthing such a holy being.”

“Oh! Don’t worry my dea..” (Guild Master)

“I’m talking about the gorilla here not you.”

“…..”

“Okay! Forget it. Do you want to go outside, and meet some people?”

“Yes, yes. Why not, why not” (Guild Master)

“Then get up, the B rankers who applied for the hunt have all gathered and are right now waiting for you in the meeting room. They are waiting for you to give them a speech, let them look at your persona, give them courage etc, etc. so get up, and go do your work”

“…”(Guild Master)

“What are you waiting for? Want me to ask you this in a loli voice with a ‘nya’ at the end, like you like it?”

“*Shudders* No, No madam; I am going, I am gone, no I’m already thereee.” (Guild Master)

“Haha, it always works. This weakness of his is a bit lewd but which strong person doesn’t have such habits. But such a shame, I also want to see him fighting…no obliterating monster, but then mom would get angry at me and she is scary.”

Guild Masters P.O.V:-

Oh, how difficult it is to take care of her, and how much I want that daughter of my, to stop being such an insensitive prick and at least come to meet her!

She really don’t know how a little child feels, when every other kid of their age is having fun with their friends, hunting monsters, killing bandits, and there is also dungeon exploring, but they have to look out for their…grandpa.

Okay, I have decided. I am going to talk to her about Eva, when that incompetent daughter of mine turns her ass back home.

Yosha..I can do it.

But, will my reprimanding her bring any change to her eccentric, swollen and cold attitude? It’s not like it has until now. Maybe I should try emotionally blackmailing her using Eva.

Joshua...I can do it yo.

But, still what if she gets mad at me for asking her t take Eva with her? What if she decides, that I am not need as a guardian anymore?

She will take my Dear away from me. I can’t let that happen.

Noooo...not possible, I can't live without my little darling Eva. No one can take my leisure life away from me. What will I do without her? Who will bring me things to eat? Who will wash my clothes? Who will tell me to not do anything and just keep on sitting?

I can’t let that disaster of a mother to take her away! If she really takes her away, then who would I even brag to!

So it's decided, no matter what happens, no matter how much of a devil she is, even if she hurts me enough to make by body ache, I WILL NOT TELL HER ANYTHING.

I just hope, she won’t come back home anytime soon.

Yosha....it's been decided. I am going to keep playing with my dear, until she is a bit more mature and then...and then…let’s go back to the empire.

That is all, Ok! But what am I doing here? I know my dear little precious sent me out of my heaven to do something, but what is it!

Should I go back and ask her? No, No, she already sees me as nothing more than an old man, I don't want give to her anymore ideas than she already has or else m safe heaven might get ruined.

Well, she also loves her grandpa, so she won't do much. Maybe she will stop talking to me, won't let me get out of the house, chain me to bed. What if she tried to enchant me again? Ah, why do I keep forgetting about my control resistance?

Sheesh! On one side it's her, and on other side it's her. Who is who and who is who? What am I and what are you? This is really profound, so profound that even I don't understand what I just said.

Well, where was I?

No, the question should be, what am I doing here?

At least I know I'm in the guild right no...

"Sir! Arnold-san, please come this way the party has been waiting for you for quite a while now."(???)

"Party, What party?! Simply tell me what I am here for." (Guild Master)

'Looks like its getting worse by the second I should inform miss about this' (???)

"Sir, the job posted for ant subjugation/elimination has been accepted, and the B Frank party that accepted it, is waiting floor you right now inside the meeting room." (???)

"It’s okay, but why are you saying everything so slowly? I never knew you were dyslexic." (Guild Master)

'Why, Sir, why? Please, don’t tell me you even forgot about your illness.' (???)

"Sir please, don't say such things. There are such people in the world and only they know how they are living their life."

"What shifty way of saying things. Come on, be a man and say to my face what you really want to say." (Guild Master)

"But if I did such a thing in front of my esteem, great master, then you will start beating me up” (???)

"I promise you no matter what you say, everything depends on... my mood *smiles*" (Guild Master)

"Sir, look it's miss Eva!" (???)

"Huh, where is my dear. I'm just goi..." (Guild Master)

Nothing.

That little one, he made fun of me ...Rufus.

Great, just great! This is what I want; this is just what I want. An excuse to make them understand, who is the actual boss around here...don't worry it's not me; I am talking about the devil that’s on ‘tour de destructo’ right now…

Then after my thoughts ended I went inside the room. Even though, I have been here many times before, but every time feels a bit different. Is this cause of my inapt memory? Atmosphere of this room or because of all my memories, I don’t know.

All I know is that, I feel nostalgic, remembering all the missions that we accepted, all the praises that we received, the gifts, money, fame, reputation, that me and my friends gained and lost with the passage of time.

*Sigh!*

This room is not suitable for an old man like me.

Huh, I think I really am old now. There’s nothing left for others to say, maybe it’s time for the young to show their talents.

I looked around the room, it still looks the same. Same paint, it is still bright red like someone had a slaughter party here.

Even the scenery outside the room looks the same, still no window. The curtains are same too, their holes are still intact, and the hole in the floor that I made is even bigger, heck! I can even see the ground now.

So nothing inside this room changed, huh. Well, forget about change, I think this is the first time that it is being used after me and my party last came here.

The floor creaks from some places, water is leaking in *sigh* even this building has gotten old. It was already quite old at the time when I was young; it’s even older now that I am also old.

I looked around after the flashing of my memories and feeling of Déjà vu stopped. only then could I fathom the presence of another five individuals with me here. What should I say…Ah,

“So, you are the excellent individuals, who decided to risk their lives against the horrible and disastrous Dragon race...” (Guild Master)

“…..”

“…..”

“Wh-what?”

“DRA-DRAGONSS??”

“KILLL?”

What! What sort of reactions are these young men and women giving me? Why does it seem like the job I am here to advice them about is something else?

“Why are you all so surprised? Don’t tell me your courage is disappearing and your resolve is wavering, after listening about dragons.

I don’t know what kind of information you have, that you are attempting Dragons subjugation at such young age, but let me tell you that they are not enemies that you lot can face. Well, not with your kind of determination.” (Guild Master)

“But…” (Party Leader)

“What but? You think I’m joking with you? You lot of pesky little insects, you really think that you’re your levels and weak little power you can hunt DRAGONS? HUH! Tell me!” (Guild Master)

“But, we are n…” (Party Leader)

“*Sigh* if you really don’t want to die than go back to your dungeon hunting and the like there is no place for cowards in this group.” (Guild Master)

“Senior, please stop. In the name of god, please stop. It’s not what you are thinking.” (???)

Who dared to interrupt me?

I wanted to yell out loud to put some pressure, but my mood changed after looking at him.

It’s Russ, the one who came to bring me to this room and then escap…*coughs*.

He came running towards me. I wanted to rebuke him for his lack of etiquettes, but the way he was sweating made me change my decision. I don’t know what kind of heavy activity or actions he performed after he ran away from me, but even his shirt was completely drenched with sweat.

He came and whispered something in my ear, and after saying what he had to say, he quickly went outside the room. Quite some professional he is for thinking so deeply and even going out of the room to make some space for me to think what to do.

But, which idiot posted a job for Ant subjugation as a ‘B Rank’ threat. Why in the world would anybody do such a thing?

It is like giving free money to anyone who chooses the job. But opportunities only present themselves to those who are brave, have courage with balls of steel or those with profound luck.

Well, what’s done is done. There is no need to dig up the dead over such small matters, and if someone thinks that I’m deliberately changing subjects, by not talking about the dragon quest, then let me clearly tell you that, it was my mistake.

“Ah, no, sorry, my bad, I thought you people were going to eliminate a rampaging dragon near the boundary of ‘Dragon’s feet’.

Don’t take it to heart; it will only do you bad and also me. Well, let’s not get stressed over small matters. Let me say my sorry and once again, please don’t take what I said to heart, but if....” (Guild Master)

“Don’t worry teacher its ok it’s, please don’t do that. Wit….” (Leader)

“But if you do take it by heart then, you might become someone great in the future.” (Guild Master)

“Kill???”

“oKay..”

“yes”

“Teacher please, could you tell us what we need to do in this mission and how we could get that extra in reward?” (Leader)

This white knight he’s…not bad I guess. If he could still retain his composure, even when some was reprimanding him, then he might have a chance to grow a bit stronger.

“You Knight! Are you the leader of this party?” (Leader)

After looking at his companions he nodded and with a firm and resolute voice he said

“Yes I am.”(Knight)

“Good, then their life is in your hand. Whether they live or die will be decided by how you see the situation you are in. well, we could do all the informalities and teachings at some other time, right now let’s concentrate on the job at hand.” (Guild Master)

“HAI!” they shouted collectively.

“Okay then, as all of you know this job is simple ant subjugation with a minor intricacy to it. But the thing is, we don’t know how many ants there are, they could be in the tens, hundreds, thousands or even in the millions.” (Guild Master)

“How could this be? How can five B rankers possibly fight with a million monsters on their own?”

“yes, yes. This is not possible why was there no information regarding lack of information o the job description.”

“KIILL! KILL!! Kill.”

“Like he said we don’t want this assignment anymore.”(Knight)

“Oh, don’t worry, don’t worry. There is nothing to be afraid of although this is a high risk job, but the reward is also good. Think about it; if there are only 10 or so ants inside then you will get instantly rich, but if there are more than you could handle then…” (Guild Master)

“Then what! Don’t tell me we will have to fight till death. Just because we accepted this assignment doesn’t mean that you have any right...” (Knight)

“Then you could always come back and you would get rewards, according to the information you bring back.” (Guild Master)

“…..”

“…..”

“Killl?”

“Haha, young chicks are always impulsive. No matter how much time passes they don’t learn to have patience and never listen. Good, good, just about the right mindset to...” (Guild Master)

“Really he said it’s the right mindset”

“yeah I was like really afraid right there”

“Kill.”

“Phew atleast we won’t be considered green horns after teacher pra…” (Knight)

“Ha-ha, Just the right mindset…to get killed. Like I said, they never listen.” (Guild Master)

“This much is enough for now let get down to business. All that you lot need to do is to go inside the cave, defeat any and everything that comes out, get to the very last end of it, salvage every bit of information that you could from the cave, come back and receive your reward.” (Guild Master)

“So, should we also kill the queen? Won’t it be a great asset to nurture f-d rank adventures?”(Knight)

“Oh! good, good. You lot are not bad. Especially you white knight. Yeah, if the place is not too dangerous then let the queen live, but if you think that there is no other way than to destroy the infection from its roots, then..” (Guild Master)

*Silence*

This time no one spoke anything, all of them waited for the old man to finish his sentence.

Seeing this Guild master couldn’t help but smile and that smile slowly turned into a laugh.

Now like all the other times, Arnolds’ laugh shook the whole building. Things broke, people got injured, and all of those who were trying to create commotion in the guild… they died.

This laugh is not old man Arnold’s innate skill or anything else, but a curse called ‘Demons Laugh’. It has no his life but greatly influence the lives of al around him.

You could call it a divine misfortune or twist of fate, but after he was cursed his laughter changed into this abomination, now whenever he laughs the laugh ends up haunting even the Emperor and the passerby alike.

“That is all and well, but I have something I want to ask you.” (Guild Master)

“Yes, sir?”

“Well, before you go tell me...” (Guild Master)

*Silence*

“What were your names again?”

Rock’s P.O.V:-

Something interesting happened while I was waiting for the ant workers to finish remodeling the dungeon, the egg hatched.

What came out from it was not some common monster, but a very big ant, bigger than even the queen. It had white skin, 100m long mandibles, wings bigger than the room itself, multiples of its legs were fully engulfed in fire, it came out breathing fire, its antennae-more like cannons, its hair-more like spikes. You think I am joking…then listen well, because actually, I am joking.

What really came out of the egg was not a worker ant, but a fucking larva. Lowest of the low, the ones who can do nothing; forget about working, the only thing they are good at is wriggling.

I was disgusted by it, this slimy little piece pus filled demon prodigy, yuck.

While I was thinking of how bad this larva is I completely forgot about Minie.

I have no fear of insects and I am behaving in a detestable way, but Minie literally has a phobia of insects. I just hope she is not unconscious right now.

When I looked at the place where she was standing before, I saw no one.

Did she run away?

It was the first thought that came to my mind.

While I was searching for Minie, the larva started screaming at something, but all of my attention then now was at finding Minie. so I had no two thoughts about my priority.

I looked around every corner of the cave, but I found nothing.

After looking about everywhere, just when I was going to do a mana burst, I found her… poking our newest defenseless member to death with a stick.

Did I do anything to stop her? No, I was too dumbfounded to do anything at that moment. I don’t know how she got over her insect fear but she was happily poking at the larva. How happy? Well, she had a smile on her face while her torture continued.

I had no thoughts to stop her at all. Why? Because I still had to think, what I needed to do with that.

I mean, how am I supposed to make do with a larva? I was going mad, thinking about the time that these maggots need to grow up.

Why I am saying Maggots because our queen laid another egg after the first one hatched. So queen lays another egg only after the first one hatches. Well, not bad actually, but now we can’t amass them.

Here I was rubbing salt on my own wounds and there Minie was laughing out loud. Hearing her laughter I was first mad at her, but then I though why would she be happy for my bad luck, when it was going to affect us both.

So I asked her…

“Minie why are you so happy when we can’t even use this slimy think at all. Can’t use it for construction, can’t use it for fighting, so tell me, why are you so happy?”

“Haha, you don’t understand. If you remember then tell me, what did the egg facts said the odds were for an ant warrior or soldier to be born?” (Minie)

“Umm” (Rock)

“Let me answer, it…doesn’t…matter.

Why?

Because after taking birth these workers are going to turn special, and even without evolution they will be much stronger than their normal counterparts.” (Minie)

“Special! How so?” (Rock)

“Remember monsters eat mana to grow. Now these ant larvae are going to eat the special characteristic mana that you release and are going to grow because of it.” (Minie)

“???”(Rock)

“Idiot! think about ant workers with fire element attack and other skills. This is going to make new evolution in the road of insect monsters.” (Minie)

“But, didn’t we already know this?” (Rock)

“Yes I know, I know, but at that time I said that, only the evolved monsters would have some chance of gaining your elemental powers, but now with a stage between of transition between an ant egg and worker, there will be much more chances for the worker to have your affinities.” (Minie)

“This is super news, now we would have no fear of a fire mage burning all of my ants or a massive surge of invader coming to kill my minions, because we would be able to fight back.” (Rock)

“But there is still something that we need to buy from the store before our workers could start evolving. Do you know what that thing is?” (Minie)

“Evolution pack?” (Rock)

“Yes, you really do remember everything. Anyways, without using evolution pack and upgrading our dungeon to a stronger version, your minions won’t evolve.” (Minie)

“So let’s buy that evolution pack and upgrade our dungeon” (Rock)

“Hah, you are forgetting something and that just after I said that don’t forget anything.” (Minie)

“What is it now?” rocky said it with a depressed mood.

“Well, nothing much but I think we are short on money to buy it.” (Minie)

“Oh yes, Money! We need to buy everything from the store first. So, how much does it cost? Can we buy it with the amount that we have?” (Rock)

“I think we are short some…” (Minie)

“How much are we short? Tell me now!” (Rock)

“I think it’s near about 9 or 10 something.”

“90?”

Minie bobs her head left to right, responding in denial.

“900??”

She repeats the same motion again.

*Gulps*

“90-9000???”

Nods head.

*crash* *thud**break*

“Heehee..Haahaa”

Those sounds were not of other things exploding and breaking, but of my heart. I just experienced my first heart skipping beat. I unconsciously stopped breathing after hearing that.

Can I really experience such thing of course I…can’t. Just to tell how big a setback I just felt.

I am not going to think about it, and am also not going to yell or get angry at Minie. It doesn’t matter. One day or another I would have opened the store to buy upgrades and the shock at that time probably would have killed me.

“Don’t worry unless the adventurers who will invade our home turn out to be too strong we would probably be able to survive this crisis and if we do then there will be nobody who would dare contend against us. So, for now, there is no need to think about the upgrades and such, because we don’t need them right now, and by the time we really do, we’ll have enough money to buy them.” (Minie)

Well, the matter of the story is that; Eggs are hatching, moods are forming, dungeon is changing, and workers are working.

Ah, from workers I remembered…

‘How long are my brave warriors going to take to complete initial changes to the first floor.’ I thought.

I wanted to gloat but all of my anticipations were flooded with head deep water.

Why?

Because of this message…

Dungeon ConstructionConstruction in progress1st FloorManpower4Work Completed22.04%Time Taken8 hoursEstimated Time Left30h: 25Min

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Author’s Note:-

Please accept my apologies for this haphazardly written chapter.

It took me quite a while to write this one as it has almost no story progression…almost.

Now, I was going to release this on Monday, but one way or another, it is releasing today.

At first it was going to be a short chapter of about 1000 words, but…

Then it turned in a regular chapter of 2300 words.

Then just as I was going to release it on Tuesday I remembered something and its length grew to 3500 words.

But, because it was already such a big chapter, I decided to not release it just yet and made a double chapter out of it.

So this is a very long chapter, almost nearing 5000 words.

Now without wasting more of your time please read away.

Ah, one more thing…everything above is a lie. I was just binge reading ‘IARS’.