Fenrir

A few hours later

After spending a few hours awkwardly comforting Dawn with a combination of silence, small fens, the newly respawned Fang, and a few comforting words, I glance at the party of intruders who are finally leaving my dungeon.

They certainly had a long run. Fortunately, I should have my portals soon enough!

And then I’ll be able to stop the higher-Tier intruders from rampaging through my first floor and wasting my mana in the process!

With that thought in mind, I turn my attention back to my lab, only for my thoughts to freeze the instant I see the void element World Energy floating around in the room.

Uh…

Did I somehow succeed and not realize it?

I try to think back to the last experiment I did, only to remember the odd warping of the metal arc that had occurred right before I focused my attention on the intruders.

Hmm. So I accidentally succeeded? Well, sort of.

Considering that the arc warped at all, and isn’t here right now, it obviously didn’t go as I want it to. Not to mention that there’s no portal here right now, so it looks like it was just a repeat of the first time and nothing more.

Which also means that I’m back at square one-point-five – seeing as I don’t know much more about it than I did after that first initial success.

I focus on the lab for several seconds before glancing at Dawn to find her happily playing with Fang.

At least she’s happy again.

I then turn back to the lab again, cultivate the void element World Energy, and quickly get back to work on the portal project.

No matter how long this damn thing takes, I will get my portals!

Leon

A few weeks after the first Tier 2 dungeon dive

The people walking down the path leading from the dungeon begin to clear out of the way as they see the glare on my face.

Why the hell isn’t the dungeon core responding?

It’s bad enough that he’s so rude to me, but it’s been weeks already, and he still hasn’t done anything about the recent increase in mercenaries!

I don’t know what the hell he’s up to, but if he’s busy with something, then he could at least tell me that!

My fists clench in my anger, only to unclench again as I let out a sigh.

Then again, there’s not exactly much if anything I can do to force him to treat me better.

Actually harming him would be a completely stupid idea and would likely ruin my life. Blocking mercenaries from entering would do nothing but get everyone in the city to hate me. And from what Ari has been telling me, I’m not the only one who the dungeon has contacted, so telling people that he can talk isn’t gonna do shit either.

I groan in defeat right as I’m reaching the guild building for the Mercenary’s Guild.

What’s worse is that the dungeon was only just starting to call me by my name instead of ‘Hybrid’ right before he stopped communicating.

My thoughts are interrupted as the conversation of one of the mercenary groups enters my ear.

“-ave you heard? Apparently the war should be drawing to a close in the next couple of weeks,” a deep, male voice says before pausing for a second, “From what I’ve heard, the Orcs are finally preparing to retreat. I’m just wondering if the Orc’s Lord’ll be killed or not as recompense.”

I glance over towards the source of the voice to find the group of mercenaries. But what I find actually surprises me, since the group actually consists of a both Orcs and Humans.

That’s not common. Although now that I think about it, there have been a couple of other groups mixing with the Orcs lately.

I guess the Humans are finally lightening up a bit towards the Orcs.

That’s certainly good news.

Anyways, one of the Orcs in the party shakes his head and says, “He won’t be harmed. The Elven Emperor stipulated that he not be harmed in exchange for his assistance.”

My eyebrows raise in surprise.

I knew about the war drawing to a close, but I didn’t know about that.

Did dad do that for me? Since he knows I’m working with said Lord?

The same Human from before frowns and mutters, “What? But weren’t they fighting to kill the other in the first place?”

A different Orc – a female one this time – answers the question, “Yes, they were. But thanks to Lord Xurek having gotten into contact with the City Lord before Lord Frost, he ended up having a much stronger position in the war, forcing Lord Frost to accept the Emperor’s assistance when it was offered.”

Deciding that they’re not gonna mention anything else at this point that I don’t already know, I turn around and continue making my way through the building towards Damien’s office.

I’m honestly a little conflicted about the quick ending to this conflict.

It’s a war, and war – while common – isn’t a very good thing.

But it’s very profitable for me.

Although I’m kind of curious as to-

My thoughts are driven to a halt as I reach the top of the stairs and damn near walk right into Ari, who has a bright smile on her face as if she had been expecting me.

Why’s she here?

I frown before crossing my arms and asking the question out loud, “Why’re you here, Ari?”

“Leon! It’s great to see you again!” she says, completely ignoring my displeasure as she continues as if she hadn’t been expecting to see me once I reached the top of the stairs, “I happened to have some business with that Guildmaster and just finished it up.”

Her act isn’t very convincing. She probably sensed me enter the building and waited, but it doesn’t really matter.

“Okay,” I respond back before walking around her to head through the hallway towards Damien’s office.

Unsurprisingly, she begins following me while speaking, “The guy was rather strange for a Guildmaster, if you ask me.”

I didn’t, but…

“Why do you say that?” I can’t help but ask, seeing as he’s the only Guildmaster I’ve ever actually seen.

A much more serious look covers her face before she says, “Most of the other Guildmasters I’ve met all practically try to smother me with praises and the like.”

My eyebrows raise at her answer, only to lower again after I really think about it.

Yeah, that makes sense. She is a Princess after all.

And Damien certainly isn’t the type of person to suck up to someone.

Actually…

I glance at Ari and ask, “Has the dungeon spoken to you recently?”

She frowns at my question before shaking her head and saying, “No, but we usually only speak when he needs something.”

Hmm, so at least he’s not just ignoring me.

Guess he’s probably just really busy with something right now.

But I wonder what he might be busy with?

I hope it’s a new floor or something interesting like that.