Chapter 69

-All enemies on the 10th underground floor have been annihilated.

-The 10th underground floor has been completely subdued.

-A perfect victory for humanity.

-You are ranked 1st in merit, your tremendous contributions have brought the best outcome for the humans of the 10th underground floor.

-Your reputation has increased.

-The human residents of the 10th underground floor feel a stronger affection for you and trust you immensely.

-They will willingly cooperate with you in the future.

A flood of information windows.

Basically, they indicated that I had done well and achieved the best outcome.

Anyway, the important thing was that the residents of the 10th underground floor had become perfect allies.

They would help me as if it were their own business if I asked for assistance.

Dozens of reliable allies in this dangerous place were a precious force.

And another thing I gained.

-You have earned the right to descend further.

Below.

That naturally meant the 11th underground floor.

Originally, it was impossible to go down.

However, if the condition of annihilating all enemies on the 10th floor was cleared, one would be granted the right to descend.

But.

‘There’s no need to go down right away.’

There was no rush.

The current state of the residents couldn’t be said to be good, even as an understatement.

It was due to long-term nutritional deficiencies.

First, their bellies had to be filled, and they needed to gain weight.

‘I can do it. If it’s me.’

When I was a poor protagonist, I had no choice but to go down.

Therefore, their strength couldn’t help as much as expected.

But now, I am different.

I am the heir to the wealthy Celtrine family.

I could supply as much food as needed to feed the residents.

And not just that.

I could provide them with proper steel armor, helmets, and shields, instead of just rags or leather armor.

I could replace their old, rusty weapons with sharp and sturdy ones.

I could supply them with enough bows and arrows, even though they didn’t have a single arrow to their name.

It meant transforming a skilled but poor and hungry unit into a force equipped with proper gear and in good nutritional status.

The power that such a unit could exert would naturally be worlds apart.

‘I’ll wait until everything is ripe.’

The plan was perfect.

All I had to do was wait leisurely.

“Phew, this drink is killer!”

“Hahaha, good. Very good. Now I can finally stretch out and sleep comfortably.”

Laughter bloomed on the 10th underground floor.

A feast unfolded.

Everyone joyfully tore into meat and drank.

There probably hadn’t been a happier day in their lives.

For them, who had lived each day in a struggle for survival, this was the first day they could be at ease.

However, this did not mean a fundamental solution.

They knew that too.

Of course, right now, it was natural to purely enjoy without worrying about such things.

“Aren’t you drinking?”

Gwen, who had approached at some point, spoke to me.

“I have more things to do outside.”

“Always busy, I see.”

Gwen nodded and sat down in front of me.

“You’re like a savior sent by God for us.”

Words I wouldn’t believe from someone who had blasphemed in front of a broken cross.

“I thought you hated God.”

“Haha, I did. But in such a situation, wouldn’t you start to believe? It’s because of you, like a miracle, that we’ve come to see this day.”

There was a hint of humor in Gwen’s expression.

An emotion that could not be found in his past filled with nothing but steely malice.

Indeed, the saying that the environment makes the person is not wrong.

“Thanks again. You are our benefactor.”

“It was a task accomplished by everyone risking their lives.”

“Haha, you’re something.”

Gwen chuckled and took a swig of his drink.

Then he opened his mouth again, his expression now serious.

“But the human hunter was not there.”

Even amidst joy, he made sure to check on important matters.

That’s why he could be a leader.

“Are you talking about that vampire who tried to kill us when we first fell here?”

“Yes. She’s the human hunter, Riel.”

“I see. But that woman probably wasn’t a resident here from the start.”

“Not a resident?”

Gwen cast a questioning look.

“Before that bone captain died, he mentioned that if Riel had come up, it would have been us who died.” I roughly paraphrased it for convenience. After all, it wasn’t information worth sharing with anyone at the moment. Especially concerning Riel’s master, who could become our greatest adversary in the future.

“Come up…? That means…”

“Obviously, it means there’s something below, doesn’t it?”

“Umm…”

Gwen groaned with a serious look on his face.

He must have guessed it.

Not just him, but most of the residents probably suspected it as well.

That this wasn’t the end.

But suspecting and having it confirmed as fact are entirely different things.

Now, we had to seriously consider how to deal with this unknown place.

“So it was true. There is something below. Then…”

“Ah, don’t rashly look for a way down.”

It was a good timing for me to bring up what needed to be said.

“Hm?”

“It means don’t recklessly go down when we don’t know what dangers lie ahead.”

“Indeed, that’s a valid point.”

Gwen nodded.

Even the 10th underground floor was this dangerous, so the 11th floor would likely be no less hazardous.

There was an overflowing probability that it would be even more dangerous.

He understood that.

“We’ll need to prepare thoroughly.”

“Sound advice. I’m willing to cooperate for that.”

I shared with Gwen the support items I had been thinking about earlier.

“That much? Can you really prepare all that? Is it even okay for us to accept such things?”

Gwen looked surprised.

It must have been an unexpectedly immense support.

“Of course.”

I immediately responded.

This wasn’t just beneficial for them.

It was also advantageous for me to gain their cooperation.

So, it was a choice that required no second thought.

“Ha, I don’t even know how to express my gratitude. It almost feels shameless.”

“Don’t feel burdened. You all said you would help us uncover the secrets of the underground space. It’s about helping each other.”

“Hmm, even so…”

I raised my hand to cut off Gwen’s words.

“That aside, there’s something more I’d like to ask.”

“Speak your mind.”

“You all have certainly gained tremendous experience in combat. But there’s something lacking.”

“Of course, there would be something lacking. What is it? Please, enlighten me.”

Gwen wasn’t offended by my words that were almost like a critique.

He recognized my skills and judgment from what we had been through.

That’s why he was willing to seriously consider what I had to say.

“It’s the strength adapted to your poor equipment. You had to fight without proper armor, shields, or weapons, so you adapted to that.”

“Umm, indeed. But we had no choice.”

“Of course. But things need to change from now on. You need to get used to a new way of fighting. I’ll ensure each of you is fully armed to the level of knights.”

“Knights?”

“Didn’t I mention it earlier? Full body armor, helmets, shields, spears and swords, bows and arrows, and all other necessary military equipment. Isn’t that enough to arm you to the level of knights?”

“My goodness… You’re going to supply each of us with all that? I had no idea you were talking about that much…”

Gwen’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t expected the items I mentioned to be of such quantity.

But I dislike half-measures.

If we’re doing it, it has to be done properly.

What I wanted was for each of them to be a strong soldier, fully armed.

If things go as I plan, their power will be a tremendous force when we descend to the lower floors.

I could already imagine the surprised faces of the creatures on the 11th floor, which almost made me laugh.

“So, please train them anew to suit that. I believe you’re fully capable.”

Of course, it was possible.

Gwen wasn’t just anybody; he was a former knight of the kingdom.

He knew proper training methods.

“Leave it to me. I’ll make them into the elite of the elite.”

A flame of determination ignited in Gwen’s eyes.

He knew better than anyone that strength here was directly linked to survival.

“Then prepare thoroughly. And when you judge that the preparations are complete, come down with us. Wouldn’t that be the best course of action?”

“I agree.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you. We’ve said all we need to, so we’ll be going now.”

The elevator ascended.

“Did you really say you’d help them get armed to the level of knights?”

Camian asked.

It seems he overheard my conversation with Gwen.

“Of course, it’s true. Do I look like someone who speaks lightly?”

“That’s not it. But I thought it might be a burden for you, senior, considering the extent of it.”

“What’s this? You’re worrying about me?”

I chuckled.

Indeed, properly arming dozens of people wouldn’t be a light expense, even for me.

But I’ve always had a principle since the real world.

Never skimp on spending where it’s truly needed.

I knew from experience that it was the wise choice.

Besides,

‘I managed to get 100,000 gold from the family home, so what’s the problem?’

The bold 100,000 gold I obtained from my father.

I still had more than enough money to spend.

“It’s not worry, just common sense…”

“Ah, don’t worry about it. Do I look like someone who would make a losing choice?”

The elevator arrived with a jolt.

“I understand. You’re definitely not that kind of person, senior.”

“You know it well.”

I grinned and opened the door to the elevator.

The familiar forest scenery greeted us, but the armored Giant was nowhere to be seen.

He wasn’t absent, just choosing not to show himself.

He probably didn’t feel the need to pay attention to a visitor he had already seen.

“He’s not here.”

Annette murmured, seemingly relieved.

“He’s definitely around somewhere.”

“Really?”

Annette’s eyes wavered.

“Don’t worry unnecessarily. That human said he’d kill us if we revealed anything. As long as we don’t blab, we’re safe.”

“But still…”

“Don’t fret, let’s head back. And you all did great today.”

“Senior, you were really amazing today. Really, really.”

Annette seemed deeply impressed by my actions, repeating ‘really’ three times.

I smirked.

“And you, junior Annette, were incredibly amazing. Could we have dealt with the undead so easily without your Song of Healing?”

“That’s because you taught me…”

“Ah, that’s just talk. You’re the one who made it happen.”

“Me? But I didn’t…”

“You did well.”

I lightly patted Annette’s shoulder, praising her.

She blushed, perhaps embarrassed.

“But, senior.”

Camian , who had been watching, spoke up.

“Hm? What is it?”

“You used a sword technique I haven’t seen before.”

“Oh, that. I learned something new.”

“You’re getting stronger.”

Camian’s voice carried a mix of emotions as he spoke.

“Of course. There’s nothing worse than stagnation, right?”

“You’ve become stronger than when you first started, too.”

“Really…?”

Camian looked unsure, his confidence likely shaken by his past performance.

“I don’t give empty praise. You’ve definitely become stronger, thanks to real combat experience.”

“Combat experience?”

“Think about it. Could you have fought like you did today a few months ago?”

“That would have been impossible.”

Camian seemed to start acknowledging his own growth.

After all, he would be the one to feel it most clearly.

“Yes, you’ve become stronger. But it’s not all about experience. You need to rebuild your basics.”

“I felt that myself. Right there on the spot.”

The last duel with Turk at the swordsmanship hall.

He had felt something from it and immediately asked Turk for instruction.

The guy had thoughts befitting a protagonist.

“Good, that’s the way. Are you practicing the Imperial style 8 every day?”

“Every day, diligently.”

“Keep at it, and you’ll find something. I guarantee it.”

“I’ll take your advice to heart.”

Camian responded earnestly.

By now, he must trust me completely when it comes to becoming stronger.

After all, I’ve been showing him exactly what it looks like to grow in strength.

“Do well. Don’t hold me back.”

“Ha, there’s no way I will…”

Provocation always worked better on him than encouragement.

It was fun, though.

“Let’s stop chatting and go. It’s getting dark.”