[Balak’s Crystal Core]

[Rank: A]

[Level: 8]

[Mana: 1350/1350]

[Upgrade Level: 8]

Clearing the advanced difficulty of the Ice Palace had yielded a massive number of mana stones, especially from Badon. As a result, the Crystal Core had jumped to level 8, its mana capacity increasing with it.

‘It needs to reach level 9 to rank up to S-class. I’m still a little short.’ A-rank mana stones weren’t easy to come by. He could get them from A-rank raid parties, but the quantity was pitiful. He’d have to kill dozens of top-tier A-rank Raiders to get enough.

After checking the core, Taehyun pulled up his own status.

[Name: Taehyun Yoo]

[Age: 22]

[Nationality: Republic of Korea]

[Level: 65]

[Rank: A]

[Class: Conductor]

[Title: He Who Stands at the Center of the West]

[Affiliation: Dungeon Master]

[Guild: Resistance]

[Strength: 4] [Endurance: 2] [Agility: 4] [Stamina: 5]

[Mana: 3] [Affinity: 61] [Luck: 48]

‘My damn Affinity and Luck are the only stats going up.’ It had been a while since he’d checked, but there wasn’t much to see. He was a proper A-rank Dungeon Master now, but his personal stats were still laughably low. He sighed and opened his skill window.

[Command]

[Skill Level: 8]

[Description: Allows for direct command of subordinates and soldiers on the battlefield.]

[Affinity]

[Skill Level: 8]

[Description: As a Conductor, you leave a strong impression on subordinates and soldiers. Acts as an additional effect when giving orders.] [Value: 8]

Befitting his class, his skills were optimized for leading an army. The only problem was that he only had two of them. Recalling a conversation from a previous meeting, Taehyun contacted Lugo.

<Lugo> “What can I do for you, Mr. Taehyun?”

“Find me some Conductor-exclusive skill books. I’ll buy every single one you can get.”

<Lugo> “Understood.”

“Oh, and I heard the Gronz Merchant Guild is making a name for itself in the Demon Realm. Congratulations.”

<Lugo> “Kilk-kil. This is merely the beginning. You have much to look forward to.”

The call ended with his unsettling laugh. The Gronz Merchant Guild was already a topic of discussion among Dungeon Masters; with Balak’s backing, its influence was sure to grow.

“Taehyun, are you finally buying skill books?” Riel asked.

“Ah, I’ve put it off since I rarely command directly, but I have a feeling I’ll need them soon.”

“That’s wonderful. Oh, by the way, I was told that Hyena has made a full recovery.”

“Hmm. Has she?” Hyena had been bedridden since the battle with Badon. It was about time she recovered. Taehyun headed to her room to check on her.

Left alone, Riel stared at the monitor, a worried frown on her face. “I just hope that Raider doesn’t cause any problems for the dungeon.”

—

‘M-Master, I’m sorry.’

‘It’s fine. Don’t talk. Just be quiet.’

When that monster had injured her, he had come running. She didn’t know why, but she remembered the profound sadness in his eyes.

‘Swallow it slowly.’

‘…But.’

‘That’s an order. Drink.’

‘I understand.’

A medium-grade potion. She knew Balak had plenty, but she was just a slave Raider. Yet he hadn’t hesitated, gently stroking her hair as if he was genuinely worried. In that moment, she couldn’t refuse his touch. No, she hadn’t wanted to. The warmth she felt as her consciousness faded… it wasn’t a dream.

‘I don’t understand why.’

For three days, she had lain in her room, turning it over in her mind, but she still couldn’t find an answer. Suppressing her turbulent emotions, Hyena rose from her bed just as someone entered the room.

“Hye… Ah, sorry. You were changing.”

Hyena was speechless.

It was Taehyun Yoo, the Master of Balak.

—

[Hera]

[Rank: A (Intermediate)]

[Level: 68]

[Class: Trapper]

[Title: Balak’s Slave Raider]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 71]

[Favorability: 57]

[Obedience: 67]

[Skills: Explosive Trap, Binding Trap, Electric Current Trap (Special), Illusion Trap (Special)]

[Special Ability: Trap Control]

[Strength: 9] [Endurance: 5] [Agility: 42] [Stamina: 9]

[Mana: 15] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 17] [Luck: 10]

[Status: Amnesia, Confusion]

Her relationship stats had climbed significantly. The problem was her Favorability, which was far higher than he’d expected.

‘What is this? It was around 35, and it just jumped by 22?’ The ordeal in the Ice Palace had erased her Despair and Resignation, but it had sent her Favorability skyrocketing.

A cold sweat broke out on Taehyun’s brow. He looked at Hyena, who, unlike before, couldn’t meet his gaze.

“Ahem. Are you feeling better?”

“…I can move without any issues now.”

“Still, you should probably rest more. For now, I’ll take you off raid party duty…”

“Um, Master.”

“Y-Yeah?”

The Dungeon Master flinched at the slave Raider’s words. Something was very wrong here, and Hyena seemed to have realized it first.

“I am nothing more than a slave Raider,” she said softly. “I don’t understand why you take such good care of me.”

The brainwashing she’d received at the slave auction would have been brutally effective on someone with amnesia. She had completely accepted her status as a slave.

An inexplicable irritation rose in Taehyun. “Forget everything that demon bastard told you. I don’t care if you’re a slave Raider or not; you belong to Balak now. All you have to do is follow my orders. So don’t question them.”

“…But.”

“No buts. I saved you because you’re one of Balak’s Raiders. It would be a problem for me if you died. I wasn’t trying to take special care of you, so don’t get the wrong idea. It was just a coincidence.”

“…I understand, Master.”

Though his explanation was completely unconvincing, Hyena nodded. With the awkward conversation over, Taehyun stood to leave. “Anyway, rest for a few more days. Feel free to walk around the dungeon. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Ahem. I’m leaving.”

He quickly exited the room. Left alone, Hyena blushed as she replayed his words in her mind. ‘All you have to do is follow my orders.’

Somehow, the chaos in her head began to settle.

—

Meanwhile, Taehyun was tearing his hair out in the hallway.

[A-rank Raider Hera is developing feelings through her conversation with the Dungeon Master.]

[Favorability increases by 3.]

[Hera’s Favorability has surpassed 60.]

[Hera’s Confusion status has changed.]

[An Affection status has been created.]

The unexpected messages flooded his vision. Just as his anxiety was peaking, her Favorability had crossed the 60-point threshold. Worse, her Confusion had morphed into Affection. He had made a colossal mistake.

“Argh! What the hell am I doing? This wasn’t my intention at all!”

A strange guilt pierced through him. Cursing himself, Taehyun smacked his own head as he stalked back to the Master Room.

—

After that day, he started running into Hyena more and more. It wasn’t intentional; their rooms were simply close to each other. As a result, he began to notice subtle changes in her behavior.

“Master. I have eliminated another raid party.”

“Master, I’ve retrieved the report in advance.”

“Master, my skill level has increased.”

She began reporting every little thing to him. At first, he thought she was just being more diligent, but it was more than that.

“Master, the durability of my bow has dropped below thirty percent.”

Her tone had changed, too. That, combined with the way she would occasionally lean against him, confirmed it was a Favorability issue. He tried avoiding her, but it was useless.

[Favorability increases by 1.]

[Favorability increases by 1.]

[Favorability increases by 1.]

Her Favorability was going to rise no matter what he did. He resigned himself to ignoring it, but he couldn’t stop the worry from gnawing at him.

[Ninth Faction War Final Rankings]

[1. Blood Lion (33 points)]

[2. Secret (28 points)]

[3. Tarantula (26 points)]

[4. Black Alliance (24 points)]

[5. Rodria (21 points)]

[6. Nider (19 points)]

[7. Foxy (18 points)]

The ninth Faction War had just concluded. The Resistance, once again, had suffered a defeat, dropping them into the lower ranks.

<Duke Nikunbel> “This concludes the ninth Faction War. For your information, final rankings will be tallied after the tenth and final war. I expect you all to give it your best.”

“What?! The final war, without any warning? Is he serious?!”

“You’ve got to be kidding me! How are we supposed to climb to third place from here? I don’t want to die, you bastard!”

“A loser’s bracket! At least give us a loser’s bracket!”

The Faction War system was ending. The factions outside the top three were in an uproar, but their protests were futile. Duke Nikunbel had already vanished from the arena.

“Noob,” Seonghwi said, “only one war left. Do you really think the points will be that high for the next one?”

“Of course. Even in this last war, a mission victory was worth up to ten points. The factions matched against the top ranks couldn’t pull off a win, but if they had, they would have shot straight to the top.”

“Hmm. Then I suppose we should pray to be matched with a top-ranking faction next time?”

“We don’t need to pray. Duke Nikunbel will match the lower ranks against the upper ranks regardless. It’s nothing to worry about.”

Without a loser’s bracket, the Duke would have to give the lower-ranking factions one last chance to fight their way up. Seonghwi nodded, then glanced at Songyi, who had been listless ever since the sixth Faction War.

“Songyi’s like this again today. What’s wrong?”

“…Badon isn’t coming back,” she mumbled.

“Hmm. That is a problem. Taehyun, you should try to comfort her.” Seonghwi gave his shoulder a light pat before leaving the arena.

Taehyun looked down at the tearful Songyi. Badon had been Antelos’s A-rank Hero Guardian, a faithful subordinate who had always defended her final room. Her depression was understandable. He’d heard she summoned a new guardian, but apparently, she wasn’t fond of it.

“Taehyun,” she whimpered, her voice hitching as she hugged him tighter.

“It’s okay. He’ll come back someday. Don’t cry.” He stroked her hair, offering what comfort he could. It was only right to console an ally who had lost her guardian.

‘He’s never coming back,’ he thought grimly. ‘Because I’m the one who killed him.’

It had been three months since Badon disappeared. The guardian who had died on the tenth floor of the Ice Palace was gone for good.

—

<Momonte> “It seems the meeting is finally over. What am I supposed to do, Taehyun Yoo!”

The moment he returned to Balak, a call came from Momonte. Leon and Count Dinen were now in open opposition. The Kingdom of Ernes had effectively fractured into two warring factions.

“He’ll be coming for your territory soon,” Taehyun said calmly. “You should just side with the royal family.”

<Momonte> “Y-You want me to betray Count Dinen right now?!”

“You don’t have to tell Dinen that. Just go to Leon. Offer to provide him with all the intelligence he needs. In return, demand the right to absorb Count Dinen’s personal influence and assets for yourself.”

<Momonte> “You want me to be a double agent. Do you really think that tyrant will agree?”

“A tyrant, you say. Well, he’ll have no choice. The longer this civil war drags on, the more he stands to lose. Even with two superhumans on his side, he can’t fight all of Dinen’s Raiders alone. He’ll welcome an offer like yours. Go to him and be as groveling and pathetic as possible. That will make him want to use you.”

<Momonte> “Hmm. I will try.”

“What do you mean, try? Don’t try. Succeed.”

The more servile he acted, the more it would seem like he was only begging to save his own skin. After the war, Leon would undoubtedly eliminate all the nobles who had defected from Dinen’s side. A man like him would never leave loose ends.

Taehyun ended the call, his thoughts turning to Leon. ‘The moment the Faction War is over, I will reach S-rank. You brought this all on yourself. I will make you regret everything.’

—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep