[You have thwarted the Eleonora Raid Party’s conquest.]

[You have captured A-rank top-tier Raider Eleonora.]

[You have captured A-rank high-grade Raider Chedor.]

[You have acquired 80 B-rank Raider corpses.]

[You have acquired all items and equipment from the raid party.]

The long defense was finally over. Inhye, who had cast the Mind Field, was captured, and Sihwan, who had fought alone to the bitter end, was also taken. It was safe to say that Balak had successfully annihilated its first A-rank raid party.

‘It was a relief that everyone except those two were B-rank. Still, to endure that high-grade poison even with his resistance at rock bottom… A-rank high-grades are just built differently.’

Sihwan had fought on alone until the poison’s duration ended. His stats were impressive, but his mental fortitude was a testament to his A-rank status. Taehyun checked Balak’s damage report and clicked his tongue. The losses sustained while he was trapped in the Mind Field were so severe that his current finances were stretched thin.

‘Still, at least we weren’t conquered. I guess Riel must have worked herself to the bone while I was gone.’

Apparently, Riel had fought the raid party for days without proper sleep. In a way, she, his chosen partner, had suffered the most.

“Taehyun-nim, what are you thinking about so deeply?” Riel asked.

“Nothing. Just that you went through a lot.”

“It is a supporter’s duty to hold the fort while you are away, Taehyun-nim. I was so worried, you know. You suddenly vanished, the units on standby were in chaos, and I was so flustered I didn’t know what to do. Then, just as I was about to go look for you, the raid party invaded. I was terrified.”

“The ‘duty’ part was fine, but you’re really laying it on thick after that, aren’t you?”

Realistically, for the Dungeon Master to suddenly disappear from his throne was more than enough cause for anxiety. But Riel was subtly hinting at her hardship, which was unlike her. She smiled contentedly and snuggled into his arm.

“So please grant my wish, just for one day.”

“Hmm. What is it? And just so you know, if it crosses the line, I…”

“I know, I know. You’re focused on the dungeon. Just let me stay like this for one day.”

“Haaah. Do as you please.”

Walking around with their arms linked wasn’t an unreasonable request. Taehyun checked on the imprisoned Inhye and Sihwan before contacting Dropin.

“Secured?”

“Just did. By the way, there were more than a few cursed ones here. Seems like they were guarding the lodge while those two were gone.”

“So, did you have to fight?”

“Their curses were so severe they could hardly be considered Raiders. One of them was a high-grade A-rank, but he was in the same state.”

Dropin explained in detail what had happened at the lodge. The former comrades of the Eleonora Raid Party, all cursed together in an S-rank dungeon a year ago. Since they were still alive, it seemed that, like Sihwan, only parts of their bodies had been afflicted.

‘So the ones who vanished all this time were guarding the lodge. Maybe Inhye attempted to raid Balak because she was counting on them.’

She wouldn’t have left Hendy all alone to come on a raid. She must have known they were there from the start.

“I’ll summon you right away.”

Taehyun ordered Rabiz to use her summon skill. Dropin was instantly transported to the Master Room, the Raider named Hendy visible on his back.

“Phew. The Dragonic Mountains are no place for people to live. Anyway, I brought her here as you asked.”

“Right. I’ll pay you later. Rest up in Balak for a bit.”

“That’s the plan. The thought of going back north is already annoying me.”

With that, Dropin set Hendy down on the sofa and left the Master Room. Taehyun ignored the clinging Riel and checked the girl’s information.

[Hendy]

[Rank: A (Top-tier)]

[Level: 63]

[Class: Mage]

[Title: Great Archmage of Explosions]

[Affiliation: Eleonora Raid Party]

[Stress: ?]

[Status: High-grade Curse (Persistent), Unconscious]

Just as Inhye had said, she was slowly dying from a curse. Given that she was unconscious, it made sense that they were looking after her in the lodge.

“This Raider is also a top-tier A-rank,” Riel noted. “It doesn’t look like we can break the curse right away. What are you planning to do?”

“For now, put her in a separate room. She’s unconscious, so she won’t wake up. I can use her later to make those two sign a contract.”

“I understand.”

Riel called some soldiers and had Hendy taken to another room. Left alone, Taehyun sat down and re-examined his main forces.

‘It was bound to be tough facing a top-tier Raider from the start, but the quality and rank of my units’ equipment is also a problem. Grai’s rank increased through evolution, but the others are still the same.’

The most likely candidate for the next evolution was Mederia. After Grai, she was the Guardian who had been with Balak the longest. It was crucial to prepare her equipment in advance and strengthen the other core units as well.

‘Should I try contacting that Lugo guy?’

Lugo of the Gronz Merchant Guild came to mind. The demon hadn’t visited much since the iron ore contract. Taehyun immediately took out his communication device and called him.

“My goodness, if it isn’t Taehyun-nim! I heard the news that you became an A-rank dungeon.”

“So the Demon Realm hears all the news about dungeons, huh?”

“Of course. The Demon Realm is a world unto itself. The races are different, but we have our own culture here.”

“Well, anyway, I was curious. Is there a place that specializes in selling equipment for Guardians or Keepers?”

If a merchant guild existed in the Demon Realm, there must also be a place that specialized in equipment. He had originally planned to buy through the Gronz Merchant Guild, but the items Lugo sold were all rather peculiar.

“Ah, could you perhaps be referring to… the Demon Realm Auction?”

“Demon Realm Auction? What’s that?”

“It is a place that sells and auctions items and equipment exclusively for demons and Dungeon Masters. Anyone with Zen can enter. Violence is strictly forbidden. Within the auction house, everyone is an equal customer. What do you think? Isn’t this the kind of place you were looking for?”

“Hmm. Tell me how to get there. I’ll check it out later.”

“Understood.”

—

The Eleonora Raid Party, which had been sweeping through the A-rank dungeons of the north, set out to conquer Balak. Raiders across the continent predicted the outcome with eager anticipation. Most sided with Eleonora, and even the few who didn’t still expected Balak to fall. A top-tier and a high-grade A-rank Raider—they couldn’t imagine for a moment that the two legends of the north would fail. However, the raid party, which had entered the territory on a request from the Dukedom of Peyton, did not return, even after a week.

“Don’t tell me they were wiped out?”

“Nah, no way. Even for Balak, taking on the Eleonora Raid Party is impossible. Didn’t they conquer over fifty A-rank dungeons in the north?”

“But they still haven’t come back. Something must have happened.”

Suspicion began to spread among the Raiders. Considering their past conquests, they should have returned by now. Yet, there was no communication, let alone any sign of them. Rudin, waiting outside the territory, avoided the eyes of Count Dinen’s men and made a call.

“It seems they have failed.”

—”Didn’t you say Balak had only recently become an A-rank dungeon?” Count Dinen’s voice came through the device. “To think it could stop even a top-tier A-rank Raider. I find it hard to believe.”

“Balak is no simple A-rank dungeon, my lord. It appears to hold something more.”

—”This will surely tarnish the Dukedom of Peyton’s reputation. I understand. Return for now.”

The request from the Dukedom of Peyton had been known throughout the continent. Since the Eleonora Raid Party, hired for a promised fifty million Zen, had failed, unsavory rumors were bound to spread. Rudin put down the communication device and observed Count Dinen’s subordinates. They also seemed busy, each making their own calls to the Count.

‘Sabastan. Did you struggle so desperately to conquer a dungeon like this?’

He suddenly thought of Sabastan. During his one-year contract, he had achieved tremendous results and risen to the top-tier of B-rank, only to lose his life in Balak. Rudin smiled bitterly and tore a return scroll.

—

Meanwhile, in the Haven Territory, Count Dinen was wrestling with the problem of Balak.

“A raid party including a top-tier A-rank Raider was stopped by Balak, which just became A-rank?”

He had been using Balak to methodically turn the west into a land for Raiders. But unexpectedly, Balak had wiped out even the Eleonora Raid Party, expanding its influence. While this wasn’t entirely unwelcome, it also meant Balak was slowly exceeding the limits of what he could control. Gellix, standing beside him, seemed to share his thoughts.

“Count Dinen,” he began cautiously, “using a dungeon is only feasible as long as it remains manageable. By thwarting this raid, Balak has proven it can handle even top-tier Raiders. If left unchecked, it could one day extend its influence over the entire west. You must take measures in advance.”

“I am aware of that. But not yet. Interfering with Balak now would disrupt my plans.”

“Count Dinen, Balak’s Dungeon Master is no ordinary man. He could bare his fangs at us at any moment—”

“Enough,” the Count cut him off. “Balak is indeed exceeding my expectations, but it is still manageable for now. And if you think about it, aside from the top-tier and high-grade A-rank Raiders, the rest were only B-rank. It’s fundamentally different from when they swept through the dungeons of the north. It’s plausible enough that they would fail.”

He didn’t know how they had conquered the northern dungeons, but there was a clear difference in the raid party’s composition between then and now. This wasn’t the same party that had earned its fame in the north. Count Dinen thought of the Raiders who remained in the association and decided to move on from the matter of Balak.

“For now, as you suggested, I have settled the matter by pressuring the Derk Empire. That Duke Peyton fellow won’t be able to hire Raiders so carelessly anymore. You may leave, Gellix.”

“…Understood.”

Gellix bowed and exited the office.

—

The sound of dripping water echoed somewhere nearby, likely seeping from the ceiling. How long had she been in this underground prison? She had lost all sense of time. Eclat leaned against the wall, her head bowed, her vacant eyes seeing nothing but the dark floor. Then, she heard footsteps. Eclat slowly lifted her head. A little girl stood before her cell, having entered the prison at some point.

“…Who are you?”

“Vera. My name is Vera. What’s yours, big sister?”

“…Eclat.”

“Wow! Big sister Eclat! Are the wings on your back real? Are you an angel?”

Vera’s eyes sparkled as she approached the cell. As a child, it was surely her first time seeing a winged angel. Eclat smiled bitterly and moved closer. The iron bars blocked her path, but she could at least close some of the distance.

“Vera, you’re human, right? How did you end up in a place like this?”

“Uhm. My mommy and daddy came to live here, so I came too. This place is called a dungeon, and it’s super fun. Even the ugly monsters play with me every day.”

“V-Vera, this place is dangerous. Especially demons. They’re the most evil beings in the world…”

“No! The Master here is super nice! He protects us from the bad Raiders every day, and he’s really good to all the neighbors who live here!” Vera waved her arms in protest. It was as if she thought of the Dungeon Master as a friendly older brother.

Flustered, Eclat argued back. “N-No way. A demon not killing the humans he captures? I heard that demons are incredibly evil.”

“No! Big sister Eclat, you don’t know anything! The Master is nice to everyone!”

Eclat hesitated.

“Ugh. Vera is right. Vera’s right! I’m right!”

Vera was on the verge of tears. Eclat quickly calmed her down and began to listen to her story.

“The Master, you see… last time, he…”

—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep