#1170 The Dragon’s First Shift

I, the Proto-Geyser Dragon, Typhon, have become a dungeon manager! Guhahahaha!

From now on, I’m the ruler of my very own dungeon!
I’m like the king of a castle! Gwahahahaha!!!

Huh? That’s not it?
You say that I’m just a mere manager of a tiny dungeon that I borrowed from Alexander?

Shut up!
That may be true for now, but as the Primordial Emperor Dragon, I am brimming with potential in all sorts of ways!!!

Even if this dungeon is currently under Alexander’s rule, I’ll grow my influence and make it completely my dungeon one day!

It’s like when you let someone borrow the roof but they end up taking the whole house(?)! Wahaha!

But for now, I’ve got to focus on my duties as dungeon manager.

At first, I thought it was a hassle, but after learning from Veil, I’ve come to realize this could actually be pretty fun.

Hmm, so this is the troublesome dungeon, huh?
I’ve moved a bit away from the main site where the humans gather, and there’s a small mountain formed here.

Just yesterday, this was nothing but a regular forest.
Yet, Alexander just casually infused some mana, and this weird, space-bending vibe appeared. Ugh, that guy’s really something.

“Now, Typhon, I leave this dungeon to you. Raise it up as you see fit, and make it your own.”

Hmph, of course!
I’ll do it my way and no one else’s!

“I’m returning to my own dungeon, but from here on, you’ll be living here and managing the dungeon. You must handle it all by yourself, so do it with care.”

O-Okay...!

“Just because you’re on your own doesn’t mean you can slack off. Keep a regular schedule for sleeping and waking, and remember to wash your face and brush your teeth. Don’t be picky with food, eat your veggies. If you need help, the Saint and Veil nearby, so don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll try to check in on you as much as I can…!”

Ugh, fine, fine, I get it!!!

What’s with all this worrying and nagging?! I’m Typhon, the Proto-Geyser Dragon!
Managing a dungeon is a piece of cake for me!!!

Now, hurry up and go home already!
Soon, everyone across the world will hear of my reputation!!

…Phew.
Finally, that overbearing guy’s gone.

Now, I can finally start living my independent dungeon life.
If I manage this place and get it thriving, I’ll probably gain enough strength to surpass even Alexander!

That pseudo-corpse from the Farm Kingdom said something like that, so it must be true!

All right, time to start being a dungeon master!
This is the first step toward my glorious rise!!!

***

…Ugh, I’m so bored.
I’ve finished setting up all the items for display, and I’ve already done the face-up thing, so there’s nothing left to do.

Maybe I’ll do another round of inspections… Wait, someone’s coming!
It’s finally happening: my first visitors to my dungeon!!!

Let’s see what we have here. I’ll use my magic to spy on them!
This is a clairvoyance spell!

Hmm, looks like a group of men.
Around ten of them.

Pfft, they’re done for.
But right now, I’m a dungeon manager, so I won’t rely on brute strength. I’ll beat them with the power of the dungeon itself!

Welcome, ten visitors!
Let’s see how you handle the wonders of my dungeon!

I quietly observe the intruders as they make their way deeper into the dungeon.
Although since I’m watching them through magic, it’s not like I really need to be stealthy.

“Whoa, this place feels a lot like Alexander’s dungeon.”
“Well, this is probably just the demo version of his dungeon, right? It’s gotta be similar.”
“If it weren’t, it wouldn’t be a demo!”

Ugh…!
They’re bringing up things I’d rather forget, on purpose...?!

That’s right, the setup of this dungeon was all thanks to Alexander.
He infused it with mana to create the dungeon, then his butler and those guys fine-tuned it to match their home.

Now, I’m just maintaining it with the mana I supply.

I could change the interior if I wanted, but I’m not allowed to do that for now.

— “At least keep the original concept for the first year of operation,” his butler had told me.

Dammit! But someday, I’ll change it all to suit my style and make it my dungeon for real!!!

But none of these intruders know any of that, and they’re marching deeper into the dungeon.

“This feels nostalgic. Back when we were adventurers, we used to explore dungeons like this.”
“Yeah, but we never got anywhere with it.”
“True. We learned the hard way that hunting monsters and dealing with humans are completely different. Some of us adapted, though.”
“Yeah, in the end, we’re cut out to be mercenaries, not adventurers.”

What are these guys talking about?
Oh, right, I’ve heard something like this before.

Apparently, these humans around here used to be adventurers who didn’t make the cut.

Some were mercenaries, but after the war ended and they couldn’t find work, they switched to adventuring but failed at that, too. So, they ended up in the development site to settle down.

Heh, what a bunch of losers.
To me, Typhon, the Proto-Geyser Dragon, they’re as pitiful as it gets.

“Well, even if it’s just a demo dungeon, it’s still nice that there’s loot to be found.”
“For sure! We’re getting fur, fabric, minerals… all sorts of things, it’s really helping out! And meat, too!”
“We couldn’t get stuff like this by just chopping wood, so having a dungeon nearby is a real lifesaver.”

O-Oh...!
They’re actually thankful for this? I didn’t expect that...

Heh, I see. Humans need all sorts of things to survive, huh? How inconvenient and pitiful they are.

As for me, a dragon—just one body is all I need. I could live anywhere, whether in freezing cold, burning heat, underwater, or even in space.
I bet they’re jealous of my kind.

“I never imagined I’d be stepping into a dungeon again. Once I decided to become a pioneer, I figured my life would be dungeon-free forever…”
“Seriously, though, this development is full of surprises. …What about you? Happy you get to revisit the dungeon you thought you’d never set foot in again?”
“Eh, not really.”

Huh?
What’s wrong with this guy? He should be honored to be in my dungeon, right?

“I already learned the hard way that I don’t have the talent for dungeon exploration. I’m just happy living a peaceful life cutting down trees and leveling the land.”
“Same here. I’d rather live a steady life than take risks in a dungeon.”
“I guess that’s just who we are, huh?”

What are these idiots talking about?
Who cares about steady lives?
You’re supposed to crush everything, take it all for yourself. That’s the way of life! Humans are so confusing.

“And besides, after living like this, I’ve got no desire to risk my life anymore.”
“You only feel that way because you got yourself a wife! Wait, are you getting a wife soon?”
“You mean the woman who came to comfort me was my childhood friend? What kind of ridiculous fate is that? This isn’t some kind of play!”

They started poking fun at one of their group members.
A wife?
They must mean a mate. Yeah, that’s been trending among dragons lately.

“Knowing she’s waiting for me at home… I can’t do anything dangerous now. I don’t know how I was so reckless when I was a mercenary.”
“You could only do that because you were young.”
“Yeah, we’re getting old. Let’s just finish collecting materials from the dungeon and get back to work. The others are probably waiting for us.”
“Steady and persistent, that’s the best way to live.”

…
Hmph. Pathetic losers defending themselves.

But just then, a monster was sneaking up on them from behind.

A stealthy, beast-like one.
Only I noticed it because I’m watching with magic.

“Huh?!”

By the time they noticed, the monster had already pounced.

Its fangs were right in front of them. At that speed and distance, there was no way they could dodge or block it.
Its target: the throat.
That guy who kept talking about his childhood friend is done for.

…

Yelp!
The beast was sent flying!
Only then did the group realize what was going on and quickly drew their weapons.

Too slow.
No wonder they couldn’t cut it as adventurers. They’re too slow and clumsy.

“Huh? What happened? Why is the monster… why’s it flying through the air?!”
“Don’t just stand there, fight! We’ll think about the rest once it’s safe!”
“Man, we’ve really gotten soft! We need to warn the others.”

…Tch, I’m the dungeon manager, but I’ve got to save these idiots myself? This is ridiculous.
But I guess this dungeon’s true purpose is for advertising, not to be some hardcore challenge.

If someone dies here, the reputation hit will be enormous.
Alexander would totally chew me out.

For now, I’ll just play along and act as a responsible dungeon manager.