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59 – Preparing for Dungeon Strategy

59 – Preparing for Dungeon Strategy

Even the Magicians of the Magic Tower and renowned knights found “Dungeon Raids” daunting.

Why was that?

The reason was simple: you never knew what might happen inside a dungeon.

Dungeons were filled with various monsters and countless traps.

Among them could be traps or monsters that were the bane of Magicians and knights alike.

For example, there might be rooms where Magic itself couldn’t be used, or where Magic of a specific attribute was nullified. Special monsters like King Slimes, completely immune to physical attacks like swords, could also appear.

If these monsters and traps were identified outside the dungeon beforehand, they could be tackled with sufficient preparation. However, if they suddenly ambushed you inside, even a company commander-level knight or a Magic Tower Lord-level Magician could be rendered helpless.

Therefore, adventurers who raided these dungeons thoroughly investigated and prepared before entering.

They meticulously prepared for expected traps based on the information recorded at the dungeon gate and the detected Magical Power, and even brought Magical Tools called “Third Eye” to prepare for unforeseen situations.

This “Third Eye” Magical Tool broadcasted the adventurer’s view inside the dungeon, allowing comrades outside to watch and gather information about the dungeon.

If the first adventurer to enter died, the adventurers outside, watching through the Third Eye, would analyze the situation and then begin the next challenge.

Even with such preparation, Dungeon Raids required accepting considerable sacrifices.

In the case of a Grade 1 dungeon, even renowned adventurers from the capital had to be prepared for death.

The fact that a young lord was going to raid such a dungeon alone, without the help of other adventurers, left everyone speechless.

Some couldn’t understand it, and others found it absurd.

Even Calix’s closest aides, Sharen, Lana, and Azel, were at a loss for words.

“…Our lord seems to be very tired. Would it be alright for him to take a break?”

Sharen, the first to regain her composure, spoke politely to everyone.

From the Platinum Council’s administrator to Magic Tower Lord Laer, all nodded, and Sharen, Lana, and Azel took Calix to a nearby tent.

After confirming that no one was around, Lana immediately lashed out.

“Lord… have you gone mad?”

Lana had learned about the dangers of Dungeon Raids very systematically at the Academy.

To her, Calix’s actions were beyond the pale, no matter how much she liked him.

“Lana… that’s too harsh.”

“…I apologize. I was too flustered. Let me rephrase.”

Lana cleared her throat lightly.

Then, composing herself, she spoke again.

“Lord… have you lost your mind?”

I was a little hurt by Lana’s words.

What was the difference from before?

Starting with Lana’s words, everyone began to nag.

“We acknowledge your abilities, Lord, but even so, Dungeon Raids seem too dangerous. Please reconsider.”

“Azel is right. We know your concern for the people of the West and South, Lord, but your life is more important to us.”

Even Azel and Sharen, who usually followed my words almost without question, each had something to say.

I understood their concerns.

I had died countless times when I first raided dungeons.

But to me, who had become a Dungeon Master through hundreds of deaths, their worries were meaningless.

“Don’t you all trust me?”

“It’s not that we don’t trust you. We’re talking about the possibility of unforeseen circumstances.”

“That’s right, Lord. The Crones Family has no heir, does it?”

One of the biggest problems with the Crones Family was this.

I was the only direct descendant of the Crones Family right now.

“If you absolutely insist on going, you must give us an heir before you go.”

“Lana…”

“…”

I didn’t know what Hart and Princess Lily had told her, but Lana was trying to pounce on me at every opportunity.

Listening to Lana’s usual nonsense, I spoke to everyone with the confidence of a Dungeon Master.

“Let me make it clear, this isn’t an adventure or a display of bravado. It’s a conclusion I’ve reached after calmly analyzing and thinking.”

Apart from the investigator’s investigation, I had also investigated the dungeon gate.

And thanks to my experience as a Dungeon Master, I knew almost everything about the dungeon.

The dungeon that had descended here was the “Goddess of the Bow ‘Mer’ Dungeon 3-12 Stage.”

It was the most memorable dungeon among the many because there was a great event here.

“If you don’t trust me that much, just watch me for now. If everyone still doesn’t trust me, I’ll give up the raid.”

I spoke confidently to everyone.

I could see that everyone was taken aback by my confident words.

It couldn’t be helped.

I vividly remembered all the traps, monsters, and even random events that could appear in Dungeon 3-12.

The title of Dungeon Master wasn’t earned for nothing.

After settling the matter, I returned to the tent where the core of the dungeon management was gathered.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s continue the discussion about the Dungeon Raid.”

I shared the data I had investigated with everyone.

It was data about the dungeon that I had investigated separately from the investigator.

“First, I’d like you to look at what I’ve investigated separately.”

“This is…”

“It’s information about the dungeon that I’ve investigated.”

The data about the dungeon that I had investigated separately from the dungeon investigator contained much more information than what Investigator Ham had investigated.

The list of appearing monsters and expected traps was written in great detail.

“What do you think, Investigator Ham? Does what I’ve investigated seem correct?”

“This is… How on earth… Has Lord Calix ever learned dungeon investigation from someone?”

“No, it’s self-taught.”

“That’s impossible… This is more detailed than the dungeon report written by ‘Otillia,’ the best adventurer in the Empire.”

‘Otillia’ was a dwarf adventurer who had raided the most dungeons among the existing adventurers.

I remembered that she was definitely an SSR character as well.

I was very pleased to be compared to her, but maintaining a poker face as a lord, I spoke calmly.

“As you can see from this, my decision to raid the dungeon is not a reckless challenge. It’s because there’s a definite chance of success, and that’s the way to go for everyone.”

I could feel everyone in the room calculating in their heads at my words.

They were probably all wondering how best to proceed here.

But the result was already decided.

Who would object to a young lord stepping up to take on a difficult task?

If it went well, it would be good, and if it failed, they could blame me and just deal with the Dungeon Wave as planned.

“We will follow your will, Lord.”

“I will follow as well.”

The investigator and the Platinum Council administrator said that they would follow my will, and it was decided that I would raid the dungeon.

However, my retainers and Laer, the Magic Tower Lord, still looked at me with worried eyes.

* * *

After the decision was made, preparations for the Dungeon Raid proceeded quickly.

This was because what I was saying was verified by the investigator to be true, and there wasn’t much time.

“This dungeon is suitable for two people to enter.”

I gathered the people involved in the Dungeon Raid and said.

At my words, Lana asked.

“Two people seem too few. It would be better to have more people to protect you, Lord.”

“No, this dungeon becomes more dangerous the more people enter, so two people is appropriate.”

There were several types of dungeons.

Among them, this dungeon type was a challenger-proportional dungeon.

The more challengers there were, the stronger the traps and appearing monsters became, so it could be more dangerous to have more people enter.

It was appropriate for two people to enter.

“Then who’s going in?”

One of the two is me, the Dungeon Master.

Who would be the one to go with me, Lana asked.

Then Azel stepped forward and said.

“I will protect you, Lord. I will be of help to you even inside the dungeon.”

Logically, Azel was the most suitable companion.

However, in the case of this dungeon, there was a room where gelatinous monsters, which were not compatible with knights like Azel, appeared in large numbers.

I said who I had in mind as a companion.

“In the case of this dungeon, there are monsters that are not compatible with Azel.”

“Then, who is going with you, Lord?”

“The person who will go to the dungeon with me is ‘Sharen’.”

Sharen, as if she really didn’t expect it, answered in surprise.

I looked at Sharen and said.

“Me?”

“Yes, Sharen’s Magic is needed for this Dungeon Raid. Can you go with me?”

Considering the characteristics of the dungeon, the traps, and my abilities, the most suitable person was Sharen.

At my words, Sharen seemed surprised for a moment.

But she quickly smiled happily and answered.

“Of course. Crimson Sorcerer Sharen, I will protect you with the flames of the Fire Dragon.”

“Thank you, Sharen.”

With that, the people and equipment to go to the dungeon were prepared.

We discussed starting the Dungeon Raid early tomorrow morning, and we rested in our respective tents.

Then someone came to my tent.

“Lord Calix, are you there?”

“Magic Tower Lord Laer?”

It was Magic Tower Lord Laer.

She entered the tent, fluttering her platinum blonde hair and red cloak.

“Is it alright if I talk to you for a moment?”

“Yes, of course.”

She sat down in front of me.

The aura and gaze she exuded were fitting for an elf Magic Tower Lord over 300 years old.

But her beautiful girl appearance, which looked like she was in her 20s, made her look like a cute beautiful girl.

I felt it from Sharen, but the existence of elves was mysterious in many ways.

She said to me with a serious look.

“There’s something I want to ask you, Lord Calix.”

“Please ask anything.”

She lightly drank the tea I had prepared.

Then, glaring at me with incredibly sharp eyes, she said.

“What is your purpose in raiding the dungeon?”

“Yes?”

The day before the Dungeon Raid, an interrogation suddenly began.

Author’s words

Thank you for reading today as well!!

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