Chapter 227: Episode 227

Taehyun first checked Riashu’s information.

[Spirit Master Riashu]

[Rank: S]

[Level: 1]

[Class: Spirit Master]

[Title: Tragic Spirit Master]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 0]

[Favorability: 0]

[Obedience: 0]

[Skill: Aura of Fire]

[Special Ability: Spirit Summon]

[Strength: 1] [Endurance: 3] [Agility: 1] [Stamina: 10]

[Mana: 49] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 72] [Luck: 25]

[Status: Loathing]

As a Spirit Master, her Magic and Affinity were high, while her Stamina and Durability were low. Judging by her special ability, she was the type to fight by commanding spirits. She was a bit ambiguous, but she met the criteria for a Keeper.

’By the way, what’s with her favorability stats? And what’s this ’Loathing’ status?’

This summon wasn’t a forced contract or a forced summoning. Yet all her favorability stats had dropped to zero. Taehyun stared at Riashu, bewildered. She had just come to her senses and let out a deep sigh.

“Haaah. It would have been better if you were a woman. I’m Riashu, the Spirit Master.”

“I don’t know what you mean by that, but I’m Taehyun Yoo, the Dungeon Master of Balak.”

“I know. I will follow your orders faithfully, so I would prefer it if we didn’t cross paths often. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

As soon as they had introduced themselves, Riashu abruptly left the room. Unlike the other main forces, she was a Keeper who showed her displeasure from the very first meeting. Taehyun blankly stared at the spot where Riashu had disappeared. She had definitely looked at him with disgust.

“H-how could such a rude Keeper exist?!” Riel, who was beside him, looked ready to chase after her and give her a piece of her mind.

However, Taehyun had belatedly come to his senses and stopped her before she could.

“It’s fine. Leave her be for now. It looks like she hates men, so anything we say right now won’t get through to her. Summoning the rest of the main forces comes first.”

“If you say so, Master.”

“Besides, you were the one complaining about only women showing up. This is better, isn’t it? Since she hates men, I won’t have to worry about her.”

“B-but I can’t tolerate that attitude! You’re a Dungeon Master, Master! You were chosen as a candidate for Demon King! It’s a serious problem for a summoned Keeper to behave that way!”

It was true that with her favorability stats at rock bottom, giving her orders would be inconvenient. She had said with her own mouth that she would follow them faithfully, but he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. However, he shook his head again as he purchased a Random Guardian Card.

“Like I said before, it’ll be impossible to persuade her right now. I’ll have to deal with it later. Just leave her be for now.”

He was satisfied with just having secured a Keeper. Riashu was probably looking around the dungeon right now. As long as he didn’t provoke her first, there was no need to worry.

’Still, I should check her skills and special ability. I need to level her up too. I guess I’ll worry about it later.’

—

“Let’s hurry up and move this so we can go for a pint of dark beer!”

“Sounds good!”

“Heave-ho!”

Dwarves bustled about, carrying materials. Every one of them was an NPC belonging to Balak. They were diligently engrossed in their work with their short, stout bodies.

’There are other races here too?’

When she was summoned, she had confirmed that Balak’s rank was S. It was one of the few high-rank dungeons on the continent, so she assumed the other races were being held here as slaves. But the dwarves’ expressions were all bright. Riashu couldn’t understand it at all. Just then, she came face to face with a girl walking from the opposite direction.

“Who are you?”

“Ah, I’m Riashu, the Spirit Master Keeper who was just summoned. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I see. I’m Hyena, a slave raider affiliated with Balak. It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”

“A-a slave raider?!”

Not just any raider, but a slave raider, captured against her will. And yet, Hyena was revealing her status without a hint of hesitation. If she had been captured by a demon, she surely would have been subjected to terrible torture and forced to perform all sorts of acts. From Riashu’s perspective, this only made Taehyun all the more repulsive. She grabbed Hyena’s arm and asked, “W-were you tortured or threatened? Or are you bound by some kind of contract?!”

“I did come here through a contract, but I haven’t been subjected to the kind of things you’re imagining, Riashu. In any case, could you please let go of—”

“That’s a lie, isn’t it? Men are all the same! It’s only natural for them to make you do… ’those kinds of things’!”

Men were always like that. They used women to satisfy their own desires, then discarded them without a second thought. They were creatures who felt no guilt whatsoever. She had seen dozens of men like that. The idea that nothing had happened here… Riashu simply couldn’t believe it.

“Just tell me. I’ll find a way to fix this…”

“Let go of me.”

As Riashu clung to her relentlessly, Hyena flung her arm away. Her demeanor changed in an instant as she stared back with an icy gaze.

“Whatever you think is your business, Riashu. But I will not tolerate you insulting my master. And I’d appreciate it if you stopped pretending you know me.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?!”

Hyena spun on her heel and vanished into the dungeon, leaving Riashu flustered by the utterly unexpected reaction. It was common for slave raiders to carry wounds from their past, but Hyena had defended Taehyun. No, more than that, she had called him ‘Master’ and turned hostile.

“…What in the world.”

She had only been trying to be friendly, woman to woman, but their very first meeting had gone sour. With a bewildered expression, Riashu left the dungeon.

—

Meanwhile, Taehyun was inspecting his newly summoned guardian.

[Assassin Krodin]

[Rank: S (Named)]

[Level: 1]

[Class: Rogue]

[Title: King of Assassins]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 50]

[Favorability: 30]

[Obedience: 10]

[Skill: Bat Transformation]

[Special Ability: Stealth]

[Strength: 20] [Endurance: 5] [Agility: 62] [Stamina: 34]

[Mana: 9] [Divinity: 2] [Affinity: 15] [Luck: 57]

[Status: Narcissistic]

This time, he’d summoned a proper core unit. A Named S-rank, no less. His stats were easily on par with Kumakuma, the Keeper. He was also a Rogue, a class Taehyun had never summoned before. It was perfect timing; he was in dire need of an assassin.

“Heh heh heh. Are you the one who summoned me, Dungeon Master?” Krodin chuckled.

“That’s right. I’m Taehyun Yoo. And you are?”

“I am the great Krodin, the King of Assassins, renowned for my flawless work. I will serve under you for now, but don’t think I’ll follow your every command. I answer to no one but myself. Heh heh heh.”

“…This one’s got issues, too.”

First a man-hater, now a narcissist. Krodin’s Obedience was a paltry 10. His attitude alone made it clear he wouldn’t follow orders properly.

“Whatever. Just show me your skill.”

“Hah! Behold! The skill of the great Krodin!”

Krodin’s body slowly began to shrink.

[S-Rank Named Guardian, King of Assassins Krodin, has cast Bat Transformation.]

[He will transform into the S-rank familiar, the Vampire Bat, for a set duration.]

His once-human body morphed into a tiny bat. Krodin zipped around the room. “What do you think, Dungeon Master? Aren’t my dazzling movements a sight to behold?!”

“…Oh.”

“Heh heh heh. I see you’re too stunned to speak. Nothing but a gasp of admiration can escape your lips. Now, for an aerial rotation—’Gack!”

Just as he was about to spin, a stone shot through the air. Krodin slammed headfirst into the floor and collapsed—a pitiful end for the self-proclaimed King of Assassins. Taehyun applauded Hyena, who had appeared moments later.

“Out of all the guardians I’ve summoned, I think I like you the most. You didn’t kill him, did you?”

“Even at level one, my strength isn’t enough for that. Besides, it was just a pebble. He’s probably just knocked out.”

“Good work. He was getting on my nerves, so I was about to smack him myself. You beat me to it.”

“Then you have to pat my head, Master.” Pleased by the praise, Hyena nestled against his arm. Riel, standing nearby, looked thoroughly displeased, but Taehyun simply stroked Hyena’s hair.

“By the way, did you happen to see the Keeper on your way in?”

“Ah, that Riashu person.” Hyena’s expression hardened. She must have run into her, because the mere mention of her name brought a look of disgust to her face.

“Did she say something to you?”

“No. It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it, Master.”

“Hmm. Alright, then.” Taehyun didn’t press the issue and moved on to summoning soldiers. Riel, watching from a distance, eyed them suspiciously.

’Master Taehyun’s attitude, his tone… it’s all become so gentle,’ she thought. ’How does he keep changing like this? It’s frustrating. So frustrating… but they look so comfortable together.’

Personal feelings aside, the two of them conversed with an ease that suggested they had known each other for a lifetime, deepening the mystery for Riel.

—

“It’s true we were summoned by force. I still don’t care for that demon, but it’s tolerable. My only concern is for the World Tree.”

“We haven’t been tortured at all. Oh, I think we performed some kind of ritual once. It was a series of movements… did it go like this?”

“Though we’re bound to this dungeon, it’s a relief to finally kill those slave hunters to our hearts’ content. A slave raider? I don’t know the details. Only that the demon treats us well.”

From the dungeon to the forest, and from the forest to the Revived Plains, the High Elves Riashu saw as she wandered the territory showed less animosity than she had expected. They moved with purpose, as if they had already adapted.

’Is this really a dungeon?’

Everything defied her expectations. Even on the plains, the dungeon’s residents seemed happy.

“This year’s harvest is incredible.”

“Master Taehyun will be so pleased. Say, I heard Myol has developed even more. I’ve been cooped up here for so long, I didn’t even realize things had changed.”

“It’s only natural for the whole territory to grow. Come on, let’s get this to the granary.”

The residents were in the middle of harvesting crops, their movements full of life, completely free of any sign of oppression. Riashu cautiously approached them.

“Excuse me.”

“Huh? And who might you be, lass? Haven’t seen your face around here. Are you from inside the dungeon?”

“Yes, that’s right. My name is Riashu.”

“Oh, my apologies, ma’am. I’ve been so out of touch with the news lately, I didn’t recognize you.” The residents even put down their crops and bowed deeply. Flustered, Riashu quickly helped them up.

“Ah, I only just arrived. There’s no need to be so formal. By the way, have you always lived like this?”

“Yes, ma’am, we have. This is our life, isn’t it? Master Taehyun himself revived these plains, so we have to tend to them with care.”

“Are there any inconveniences? Anything at all?”

“Tsk. Of course, there are.”

“What is it?” The resident’s expression darkened. Finally, Taehyun’s hidden wickedness was about to be revealed. Riashu leaned in, waiting.

But the man’s answer was completely unexpected.

“Well, for one, Master Taehyun has no interest in women. He seems sharp enough, but he never makes the first move.”

“That’s right! It’s frustrating for us to watch. Just looking at him makes me feel a chill down my spine. Sigh. Makes me miss my dear departed wife.”

“Goodness. When I was young, I couldn’t have imagined such a thing. If it were me, I would’ve snatched them all up and started a family by now!”

“That’s why you and I made that bet, remember? Whether Master Taehyun gets married first or we kick the bucket first. ’Gahaha!”

Soon, the two were laughing heartily and trading jokes. Riashu, completely dazed, turned away.

“This place is definitely strange.”

“Hey, you cheer up too, Lady Riashu! Just pounce on him!”

“That’s right! Master Taehyun is a tough nut to crack. If you wait around, you’ll get nowhere. You have to devour him first!”

The dungeon residents were absolutely bonkers, right to the very end.

—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep