Chapter 95

This story is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are all fictitious and have no relation to any real entities.

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090 - The Sole Supreme Grisom

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I moved to the second floor of the dungeon using Dungeon Move. Today, I brought soldiers who plan to become Explorers and Priests into the dungeon.

"Once you become an Explorer, you can use the current Dungeon Move. The deeper the floor, the more effective Dungeon Move becomes; it's a great skill."

There are five candidates for Explorers, but I brought only two this time. To obtain the job of Explorer, you need to defeat 20 monsters alone on the first day of dungeon exploration, so bringing too many would make it impossible to defeat that many monsters.

I also brought two candidates for Priests. To change jobs to Priest, you need to defeat 10 monsters that are higher in level than yourself while having the job of Villager, so there's no time limit for this, and it can be done later.

Yamato has enhanced ordinary weapons, and I've enchanted them with magic to create magic swords and magic spears, which I've given to the four of them. I could lend them my mithril two-handed sword, but its effects are rather subtle. I decided to let them use magic weapons with flashy effects, thinking it would make them feel more confident.

If these two become Explorers here, they will be able to use Dungeon Move to the 9th floor once I move there. After that, if I leave it to Gandarban and these two, the other three should be able to become Explorers and move freely to the 9th floor.

Having five Explorers who can reach the 9th floor will make leveling up easier, and Gandarban and the others can take turns training soldiers in the dungeon. As a byproduct of leveling up, the amount of money from selling dropped items will also increase. Slaves receive 0.5% of the money from selling items obtained in the dungeon. It might seem like only 0.5%, but at the 8th floor, the profit can be in the billions, so it would mean millions of grils in their pockets. They should be able to buy their freedom soon.

At first, the two Explorer candidates and the two Priest candidates were hesitant when facing monsters, but they seemed to relax once they realized that the high-quality weapons and armor would prevent serious injuries. They smoothly obtained the jobs of Explorer and Priest.

"Getting it so easily makes the job seem less valuable..."

Anneleise was amazed at how smoothly and easily it went.

Back at the mansion, I reported to Gandarban and the others about the successful job changes.

"Now we can go to the 9th floor of the dungeon without relying on the lord."

Gandarban nodded in agreement.

"I want to level up myself, so I'll continue exploring the dungeon. I also plan to thin out 1,000 monsters on the 10th floor as promised to the princess."

"Having the lord around makes dungeon exploration much safer. However, as vassals, we can't rely on that. So, I plan to bring soldiers into the dungeon and train them strictly."

"Be strict, but be very careful. It's meaningless if they die after all the effort to train them."

"Understood."

Gandarban is very motivated. The soldiers might feel a bit sorry, but I can't afford to have them become soft with lenient training, so this is for the best.

"Our group has grown quite large. I think I'll make Bartz, Jojoku, Rin, Solida, and Rosalina knights."

"That sounds like a good time. I agree."

Gandarban agreed with me.

"Knights? It feels a bit too much for us..."

"A Swordmaster at level 48 isn't too much for a knight."

Not just Jojoku, but Gandarban, Bartz, Rin, Solida, and Rosalina are all level 48. They've already surpassed not just Balkan but even the kingdom's chief knight, Barbados.

"I'll make Bartz, Jojoku, Rin, Solida, and Rosalina knights and have them train four slaves each."

I decided to assign each of them 4-5 subordinates, but only after all the soldiers have obtained their desired jobs.

"Colon and Caron have also reached quite high levels, but I'll put them on hold for now. They'll be like chief retainers, though not official positions."

"We still have a lot to learn."

"The current treatment is more than enough."

Colon and Caron are level 42, on par with Balkan and Barbados. They've reached the level of the strongest in the country. They've done a great job.

"Finally, Gandarban will be the chief knight. Please continue to take care of everyone."

"It's an honor. I humbly accept."

"Gandarban, you're still so formal."

"It's in my nature."

Anneleise, the Sage of Love, is level 48.

I am a Reincarnated Hero at level 45 and a Heroic Sword King at level 35.

"Sir, a messenger from the castle has arrived."

Enrique suddenly informed me. A messenger from the castle? Why?

"Be ready to visit the castle tomorrow."

The messenger left after saying that.

I haven't done anything for the royal family recently, have I?

"Prepare for the visit to the castle tomorrow."

"Understood."

The castle... It's been a while since I last entered the castle while showing my face.

▽▽▽ Side: Grisom ▽▽▽

Grisom's party spent about 10 days on the 6th floor of the capital dungeon, hunting monsters. This time, they got a surprising number of rare drops, and they returned with satisfied faces.

They smoothly progressed to the 5th and 4th floors, easily defeating the monsters that appeared, and decided to camp for the night.

"Hey, get ready for camping. Hurry up!"

Grisom ordered the party members, who were like his servants, to prepare the camp. Among them, the weakest male Explorer, Totanus, hurriedly set up the camp.

Camping meant no fire, just hard bread, salty dried meat, and water for food. While the others ate, Totanus's job was to set up the sleeping area with blankets.

"Damn, this is tasteless!"

Grisom complained while gnawing on the hard bread.

In this party, Grisom is the king. No one can defy him.

So, the five others said nothing. Grisom has his father's backing and the job of a debuffing sorcerer.

Moreover, the others were both puzzled and terrified as to why Grisom's job wasn't a thief, given the evil deeds he committed. They didn't know about the existence of High Priest Dandely, who could change his job back to the original one if it became a thief.

Being with Grisom also meant a decent life, which was a significant factor.

After getting enough sleep and recovering their strength, they headed back toward the dungeon's exit.

When they reached the 3rd floor, Grisom took a different path from the one leading to the exit.

"Still a gloomy place."

An endless sea of poison. About 30 meters ahead, a treasure chest sat.

He had heard that this treasure chest in the poison swamp had disappeared once but had reappeared recently.

It was unheard of for a treasure chest to reappear in the same place.

In the past, a flying bird-type beastman had aimed for the treasure chest. However, the beastman lost consciousness from inhaling the poisonous air and fell into the poison swamp, never to return.

Another person had entered the poison swamp with a poison resistance item but was immobilized by the overwhelming poison and sank into the swamp.

Thus, it was believed that the treasure chest could not be obtained easily.

"Go."

It was Totanus again.

However, Grisom wasn't just trying to kill Totanus. He had obtained a poison resistance item through his father's connections. It wasn't a weak poison resistance item but one that could withstand strong poison.

Totanus, wearing a mask-type item that provided strong poison resistance, cautiously entered the poison swamp.

"It... It's okay."

"That was expensive. Of course, it is!"

Grisom urged Totanus to hurry, cursing at him.

Grisom's attitude was infuriating, but defying him meant death.

Many party members had been killed or turned into slaves by the Earl of Elbasil on false charges.

This time, the poison resistance item protected Totanus.

Totanus stood before the treasure chest and reached for the lid.

—Bang.

The trap on the treasure chest activated, and Totanus was blown away by the explosion. Losing consciousness, Totanus sank into the poison swamp as the anti-poison item was destroyed.

Grisom, who didn't care about Totanus, cursed the trap.

When Toy and the others had tried to get this treasure chest, there were no traps. It seemed that the trap had been added after it was easily taken.

"Damn, there's a trap on that treasure chest!?"

Grisom cursed the trap without a care for Totanus.

At that moment, the poison swamp disappeared like a receding tide.

"Hey! This way! Zacker, you go!"

Grisom ordered Zacker, a party member, to go. He was cautious enough not to enter himself until it was confirmed to be safe, but he treated the lives of his party members (whom he didn't consider as such) lightly, and the party members didn't look pleased.

Zacker, knowing that defying Grisom would mean death, entered the area where the poison had receded. He had resolved that it was a matter of dying here or being killed by Grisom.

There was no thought of working together to defeat Grisom. If the Earl of Elbasil found out that Grisom didn't return, he would retaliate against Zacker and his family, as well as the families of the other party members.

If only Zacker and the others survived, they would still be targets of retaliation, no matter how they tried to explain.

On the way, he checked on Totanus, who was lying on the ground, but he was already dead. Zacker shook his head and informed the others.

The party members felt a certain amount of sorrow at Totanus's death, but Grisom had no such feelings.

"Who cares about that guy. Get to the treasure chest quickly!"

Sighing, Zacker stood up and approached the treasure chest.

The lid was open, and inside was an old, withered-looking staff.

Hesitating to touch the eerie, cursed-looking staff, Zacker picked it up and returned to where Grisom and the others were waiting.

"Is this the item from the treasure chest!"

The staff, with a rounded tip and resembling a withered branch, was closely examined by Grisom.

Depending on the appraisal, it would likely become Grisom's equipment since it was a staff. Given how well-protected it was, it was sure to be a great magic item. Grisom's expectations swelled.

Grisom would take 80% of the loot, and the remaining 20% would be divided among the others, but it would still be a decent income. However, the members were disappointed as the item didn't seem to be worth much, and they hoped it would contain 100,000 black gold coins.

"Stop dawdling! Let's go back!"

In a good mood, Grisom started walking.

The members carried Totanus's belongings, but Grisom carried nothing. They were angry but couldn't defy him.

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