Deep within the dungeon, the battle between Kyumara and the combined raid party was broadcast live in the Monster Hall—the main hub where the dungeon denizens gathered and socialized. The monsters were in an absolute uproar, cheering wildly because Kyumara had fought with such incredible ferocity and bravery.
When Kyumara finally returned to the hall, he was met with a thunderous, triumphant reception from his fellow monsters.
Kurogami immediately approached the giant fox, swelling with pride. "You worked incredibly hard out there," Kurogami praised him, patting the beast. "Thanks to you, the promotion for the Safe Area was a complete success!" The surrounding monsters echoed the sentiment, howling their praises and calling Kyumara the coolest boss around.
"Now, it's best for you to get some rest," Kurogami continued. "The second nine-tailed fox will be taking your place and prepping in the boss room."
Hearing this, Kyumara's ears instantly drooped. He let out a low, sorrowful whine, acting as if he were being permanently banished from the dungeon.
Kurogami quickly waved his hands to reassure the beast. "No, no, it's just a rotation! The floor bosses for the first five levels take turns. Since you were just defeated, you need to rest. Once your replacement is defeated by the adventurers, you will be tagged back in to fight again."
Kyumara immediately perked up. He let out a sharp, excited yip, as if asking if that was really true.
"It is completely true," Kurogami nodded with a smile. "This rotation system gives the boss monster respawn cooldown a chance to reset. Plus, it buys time for uncle Vergil and the girls to restock the treasure chests and reset the hidden chambers."
Right on cue, an automated announcement echoed through the hall, requesting Sylvy to head to the boss room for a restock. A moment later, Sylvy sprinted past them at full speed. Her arms were heavily loaded with loot: a Unique-tier sword and shield, a fresh batch of potions, and a Rare-tier bow.
Kurogami pointed at the sprinting girl. "See? Exactly what I just said," he told Kyumara. Satisfied and completely reassured, the giant fox finally relaxed and went to rest.
Meanwhile, Vergil had already headed down to Broomir's forge. He needed to coordinate with the blacksmith to decide what high-tier weapons they would craft next to serve as the loot drop for the second nine-tailed fox's boss room.
Anastasya's voice then chimed over the hall's intercom, officially announcing that Kyumara was on break and advising him to rest up for his next turn.
Suddenly, Chloe hurried past the group, lugging a massive supply bag over her shoulder. She was making a beeline for the Level 4 maintenance tunnels, rushing to refill several item drops that the adventurers had just cleared out.
Watching the frantic, coordinated chaos of the dungeon management in motion, Kurogami chuckled. "I'd better get back to the control room," he said, turning away. "It looks like I am going to be very busy today."
Meanwhile, in the dungeon control room, Freya kept her eyes glued to the magic mirror. "A party of adventurers just entered Level 4," she announced.
Anastasya quickly pulled up their guild data. "They are a solid Rank B party, so they should be more than capable of handling the wolves down there." She pointed at the monitor. "They call themselves 'Thunder Claw.' Word around the guild is that they are hardcore treasure hunters, always aiming for high-tier loot."
"Well, they are in for a surprise," Anastasya commented with a smirk. "The new nine-tailed fox is just as brutal as Kyumara."
Freya blinked in surprise. "The new nine-tailed fox?"
"Yes," Anastasya explained. "Kurogami and I managed to hire a second nine-tailed fox to serve as a rotational boss alongside Kyumara."
"That is a brilliant idea," Freya said. "Kyumara definitely needs the rest."
Anastasya checked the camera feed for the floor-five boss room. On the screen, Sylvy was just snapping the lid of the final silver treasure chest shut. The second nine-tailed fox was already in position, looming menacingly in the shadows. Sylvy flashed a quick thumbs-up to the surveillance crystal before slipping out through a hidden maintenance door.
"I am ready to help out, too," Freya offered, turning away from the screens.
"Perfect," Anastasya replied. "Head down to Level 5. We have several empty treasure chests that need to be restocked immediately."
Freya nodded and swiftly left the control room. Moving quickly through the backstage corridors, she passed by Broomir's workshop. The rhythmic, echoing ring of a heavy hammer striking metal caught her attention.
She peeked inside the forge and smiled. Vergil was shirtless, his skin glistening with heavy sweat as he relentlessly hammered a glowing, red-hot ingot into the shape of a blade. Beside him, Broomir manned the forge, carefully regulating the heat to ensure the metal remained at the absolute perfect temperature. Still smiling at the sight of her hardworking husband, Freya quietly stepped away to finish her assigned task.
Inside the forge, Vergil paused to wipe his brow. "Judging by the smelted materials, the base quality of this sword should easily hit the Legendary tier," he commented, eyeing the glowing steel. "But with the forging techniques we are applying to it... the final result is going to be something truly interesting."
Broomir let out a booming laugh. "I couldn't agree more! I am incredibly curious to see how this one turns out."
Gripping his own hammer, the blacksmith joined in, and the two of them went back to rhythmically striking the fiery metal.
Meanwhile, Emperor Shiroi and his three fiancées made their way from the dungeon entrance toward the center of Zephyr Village. Escorted by their two Custodes Guards, they asked the locals for directions to the village head's residence. The villagers quickly pointed them toward a large, sturdily built wooden house.
Shiroi approached and knocked on the door. A young man promptly opened it, offering them a polite welcome. As Shiroi and his fiancées stepped inside, the Emperor glanced back at his Custodes Guards.
"Stand guard at the door," he ordered. The towering warriors immediately took their posts, flanking the entrance like immovable statues.
The young village head, Shotta, gestured for Shiroi, Risa, Yuna, and Lucia to take a seat.
"Zephyr Village lies within the borders of the Kainaldia Empire," Shiroi began, observing the home's interior. "However, it seems this settlement was established fairly recently. According to our scout reports, the forest where this village now stands is supposed to be an incredibly dangerous territory."
Shotta nodded. "That is true. Originally, I lived in this forest all by myself. But then I met my wife, and over time, we began taking in people of other races who needed a safe place to live."
Shiroi leaned forward, his curiosity genuinely piqued. "Please, go on."
"We welcomed the Titania, then High Elves, and Lizardmen," Shotta explained. "We even have a giant spider monster living in the massive tree at the center of the village, though it is quite friendly. I also keep Infernal Wolves as pets. At first, I had no idea they were supposed to be dangerous creatures. I started with just two, but now I have a pack of one hundred and twenty-five. Every mating season, they head out into the forest to find partners and bring them back."
"The Kainaldia Empire is built on a similar foundation of diversity," Shiroi noted. He fixed Shotta with a measured gaze. "Do you not find it strange? Adventurers arriving here from the Goblin race, Elves, Dark Elves, and so many others?"
"Not really," Shotta replied, shrugging lightly. "Ever since news of the dungeon's discovery spread, I have grown quite used to meeting different races. In fact, some of them have even decided to retire from adventuring entirely and settle down here in Zephyr."
As Shiroi stared at the young village head, his blue-brown eyes flashed a brilliant, dangerous crimson for a fraction of a second. He blinked, and his eyes returned to their normal color so quickly that Shotta didn't even notice the shift.
Suddenly, Shotta's wife, Ariana, stepped forward, her voice laced with tension. "What is your true purpose here, Emperor Shiroi? Did you come to seize our village? Or destroy it?"
Hearing this, Shiroi chuckled softly and held up a reassuring hand. "Please, calm yourself, Ariana. There is no need for such hostility. Zephyr Village is located quite close to the capital. I am simply here to help your husband organize and manage the settlement."
"Are you sure that isn't a problem?" Shotta asked, still slightly guarded. "We are just a newly established village, after all."
"On the contrary, your efforts here have already helped the Empire immensely," Shiroi assured him. "We only need to prepare the necessary infrastructure and buildings to accommodate the influx of people. I have absolutely no intention of altering your village's leadership structure. You will remain in charge."
Shotta let out a heavy sigh of relief.
"Furthermore," Shiroi declared, his tone shifting to one of official authority, "I will assign an official garrison of guards to protect the area. I am formally elevating this settlement's status. From this day forward, it will no longer be known as Zephyr Village. It is now Zephyr Town."
Shiroi turned to his group and politely asked his three fiancées and Ariana to leave him and Shotta to speak privately. Catching the hint immediately, Risa turned to the village head's wife with a warm smile. She asked Ariana to show her, Yuna, and Lucia around the village. Happy to oblige, Ariana stood up and guided the three women outside for a tour.
Once the door clicked shut behind them, Shiroi dropped his polite facade. "I know who you really are, Shotta. Or rather, what you are. You are a reincarnated soul brought into the world of Magnacarta VII."
Shotta flinched, his eyes darting away in nervous hesitation. "I... I don't know what you are talking about."
Shiroi leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered. "I know that you were originally a modern Japanese man. An ordinary office worker who passed away."
"Let me guess," the Emperor continued smoothly, "you died in a traffic accident—perhaps hit by a cargo truck—or maybe from a sudden, fatal illness?"
Shotta swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly. "How... how do you know that, Emperor Shiroi?"
"You aren't the only one," Shiroi revealed. "I have tracked down roughly eighteen reincarnators from the modern world currently living on the Distopi Continent. All eighteen of them have become adventurers, each possessing unique abilities."
Shocked but still defensive, Shotta demanded proof. "If you really know I'm from Japan, prove it!"
Without missing a beat, Shiroi reached into his coat, pulled out a sleek, modern handgun, and placed it firmly on the wooden table between them.
Shotta's jaw dropped. He stared at the weapon in utter disbelief, his modern memories flooding back. "Where did you get an M9 from?!"
Shiroi smirked. He calmly picked the handgun back up and slipped it into a concealed holster beneath his cloak. "Actually, the better question is: how does a simple fantasy village head know that this is a Beretta M9?"
Shotta instantly clamped his hands over his mouth, realizing he had just completely exposed himself.
Shiroi let out a light chuckle. "You do not need to hide it. The Kainaldia Empire is not native to this world, either. We are an Empire hailing from another universe, possessing a blend of Eastern Immortal arts and advanced Western Technology."
He tapped his temple, referencing his briefly glowing eyes from earlier. "Furthermore, the Ragnaros bloodline carries a unique trait—a curse that is also a blessing. We possess the innate ability to look past a person's physical body and see their true soul."
His defenses completely shattered, Shotta sighed in defeat, his shoulders slumping. "Those other eighteen people... what are they like?"
"A highly varied group," Shiroi answered, crossing his arms. "One was a hikikomori who died getting hit by a truck while trying to save a girl. Another was a brilliant professor who worked himself to death researching new medicine. There is even an assassin who was betrayed by their own organization. A few of these souls didn't even reincarnate as humans, ending up as other fantasy races instead. But rest assured, any complications stemming from their presence can be managed quite easily."
"The total number of reincarnated humans in this world is forty," Shiroi explained. "I have only managed to locate twenty of them so far. The whereabouts of the remaining twenty are still a complete mystery."
Shotta let out a long, heavy sigh, digesting the massive revelation.
"Regardless of your origins," the Emperor continued, standing up from his chair, "I still intend to develop Zephyr Village. I assume you have heard of Apple Gate Town?"
Shotta nodded.
"Good. I want to personally survey the area to determine the best locations to construct several essential facilities."
"I will guide you, Your Majesty," Shotta offered, quickly rising to his feet.
Shiroi and Shotta stepped outside, reuniting with Risa, Yuna, Lucia, and Ariana, who were waiting nearby. With a map of the settlement in hand, Shotta and Ariana led the Emperor and his fiancées on a thorough tour of the village. As they walked, they marked down specific plots of land that would be perfect for the new infrastructure. They designated zones for an Adventurer Guild branch, a church, a commercial trading district, a medical clinic, and—crucially—a designated command base for the 8th Chapter of the Grey Knights.
Reviewing the freshly annotated map, Shiroi was highly pleased. All the chosen locations offered excellent strategic advantages for both commerce and defense.
"I will return to the Imperial Palace to negotiate with the relevant parties," Shiroi announced, rolling up the map. "That includes the leadership of the Adventurer Guild, the Church authorities, and the Merchant Guild."
"Why involve the Merchant Guild so heavily?" Shotta asked, slightly concerned about outside interference.
"Because they hold the authority to grant official permits for your villagers to open storefronts," Shiroi explained. "Moreover, they possess a massive network of connections. They will ensure your local agricultural products, as well as artisan crafts like sculptures and high-quality textiles, reach the most profitable markets."
"If that is the case, I will leave the broader economic arrangements in your hands, Emperor Shiroi," Shotta said with a respectful bow.
"There is one caveat," Shiroi added firmly. "Certain local businesses must remain completely untouched by the Merchant Guild's monopoly. Establishments like inns, public bathhouses, and the local market for daily necessities must be managed and taxed entirely by the town itself."
"Understood. We can easily arrange that," Shotta agreed, grateful for the Emperor's foresight in protecting the local economy.
With the town planning settled, Shiroi turned to his Custodes Guards and ordered them to prepare for departure. Leaving the newly minted Zephyr Town in capable hands, the Emperor and his party set out toward the Dark Village to make their next set of preparations.
Deep within the Yuta Dungeon, Aria and Hilda successfully finished crafting a Magic Staff and a Magic Wand. As the magical energy settled, both items radiated the distinct, powerful aura of the Unique tier.
"I never expected it to turn out this well," Hilda murmured, admiring the craftsmanship. "Combining elder wood with a core made of unicorn hair or phoenix feather produces an absolutely incredible magic wand."
"I am still quite new to the techniques of crafting magical tools," Aria admitted with a proud smile, "but even I didn't think the results would be this magnificent."
Over in the forge, Vergil stood beside Broomir, staring down at the jet-black sword they had just finished creating. The dark blade hummed, radiating a terrifying, overwhelming power that filled the entire workshop.
Back in the control room, Anastasya was busy uploading Fenrir and Camilla's newly designed traps directly into the Dungeon Core. At the surveillance station, the two designers were closely monitoring the adventurers still wandering between Levels 1 and 4. Most of the explorers were too terrified to step foot on Level 5, knowing it was an active, highly dangerous wolf monster den. Only a few brave, highly motivated parties were actively searching for the boss room, desperate to find the nine-tailed fox so they could unlock the rumored Safe Zone.
Anastasya returned from the Core Room to find Fenrir and Camilla coordinating the installation of the fake pressure plate traps.
"Anything interesting happening out there?" Anastasya asked, walking up behind them.
"A few parties are currently prepping," Camilla replied, pointing at one of the monitors. "They are actively discussing strategies to take down the new nine-tailed fox."
Fenrir pulled up a schematic showing the freshly trapped zones. "I have also programmed a grid reshuffle for the maps. The rooms will remain logically connected, but the layout will randomize tonight once all the individual adventurers and parties exit the dungeon."
Anastasya grinned, thoroughly approving of the map-shifting mechanic. "Perfect. That will completely disorient anyone trying to rely on today's maps tomorrow."
"Hold on," Camilla interrupted, her eyes suddenly locking onto a specific magic mirror. "A party just entered the boss room. The fight is starting."
Fenrir crossed his arms, watching the feed critically. "I give them a few minutes, tops. This new fox doesn't fight with straightforward brute force like Kyumara. It fights smart. It is going to completely confuse them."
Anastasya watched the broadcast intently. Fenrir was absolutely right. Instead of a frontal assault, the massive nine-tailed fox was seamlessly melting into the shadows to launch swift, unpredictable attacks. It used its enormous size not just for power, but to execute terrifying, disorienting ambush tactics, leaving the adventurer party completely overwhelmed and scrambling in panic.
Vergil strode back into the control room, his skin still shining with sweat from his time at the forge. He grabbed a towel to wipe his brow. "Did I miss anything interesting?"
Fenrir looked up from the surveillance monitors. "An adventurer party just decided to cut their losses, Father. They bolted straight out of the boss room."
Vergil chuckled lightly. "Well, not every party is built the same. If they were willing to share information with each other, they could figure out a solid strategy to get through it. Besides, the dungeon rules allow up to two parties to face the floor boss simultaneously. They could easily team up if they wanted to."
"Unfortunately, greed tends to blind people," Anastasya remarked from her terminal, her eyes fixed on the screens.
"True enough," Vergil agreed. He leaned over the console, his tone shifting to a more serious, managerial focus. "How are the overall casualty rates? Has anyone died out there today?"
"Valkrieya is still on standby, but so far, we have zero fatalities," Anastasya reported.
Vergil nodded thoughtfully. "It seems the adventurers are becoming much more cautious about their timing and progression. They are probably playing it safe after hearing the rumors about raid parties getting completely wiped out in other dungeons."
Right on cue, Valkrieya's voice crackled over the communication line. "Control room, this is Valkrieya. Since there haven't been any casualties for me to handle yet, is there anything else I can help with?"
Vergil glanced at Anastasya. "Tell her she can help with the treasure chest restocks."
Anastasya keyed her microphone. "Valkrieya, we have several empty chests down on Level 4. Head there and begin restocking procedures."
"Understood, I am on my way," Valkrieya replied, immediately shifting to her new task.
With the upper floors sorted, Vergil turned back toward the door. "I will head down to the Level 1 maintenance tunnels and prep the beginner chests."
Just as Vergil had suspected, the first floor was absolutely bustling. Through the one-way observation mirrors, he could see a massive influx of novice adventurers actively grinding and training throughout the 1A and 1B zones. There was a wide variety of classes, some working in newly formed parties, while others fought solo.
As soon as Vergil slipped into the quiet, hidden maintenance tunnel, a waiting management golem immediately handed him a detailed ledger, pointing out the exact grid coordinates of every low-tier treasure chest that needed to be refilled.
Shortly after Vergil left, a sealed letter suddenly materialized out of thin air. Fenrir reached out and quickly snatched it before it could hit the floor. He tore it open, scanned the contents, and immediately opened a broadcast on the communication line.
"Father, Mother, Anastasya," Fenrir announced. "You three have just received an official summons for a meeting tomorrow. It says here there is something important to discuss."
Down in the dungeon, Freya had just finished snapping the lid shut on a newly restocked, randomized treasure chest. She tapped her earpiece. "What kind of problem are we dealing with, Fenrir?"
"It is regarding the future development of the Dungeon and the official elevation of Zephyr Village into a Town," Fenrir replied.
Moving silently through the maintenance corridors under full cloaking, Vergil chimed in over the radio. "It seems Emperor Shiroi wants to solidify his plans for constructing the town's essential infrastructure."
"Do you think he means building it up to the scale of Apple Gate Town?" Anastasya asked from her terminal in the control room.
"More likely, it will just be a planned expansion rather than building a brand-new city from scratch," Freya reasoned. "Technically, Zephyr Village is already well-established. They just need to construct the official facilities now, like an Adventurer Guild branch or headquarters for the other Class Guilds."
Suddenly, Lira's voice cracked over the comm line from her laboratory. "It is also highly probable that the Merchant Guild will step in. They hold the exclusive rights to open certain storefronts, like official Potion Shops or designated marketplaces for adventurers."
"By 'designated marketplaces,' are you referring to an Auction House, Lira?" Vergil asked.
"Exactly," Lira confirmed.
This made Freya pause and think about the dungeon's economy. "Speaking of which... how much do you think the weapons Gideon's party acquired are actually worth?"
Vergil calculated for a moment as he navigated the hidden tunnels. "If we are talking about the Elder Elemental Staff and the Onyx Bow? I estimate they would easily fetch around 5,000 rubies each."
"Are they really that expensive?!" Freya gasped.
"The forging and enchanting methods we use to make them are incredibly difficult," Vergil explained simply. "It is only natural that the price reflects the craftsmanship."
"Well, if an Auction House is built in Zephyr Town," Lira noted, "it means that any adventurer who manages to score a high-tier legacy weapon from our dungeon could literally sell it and retire on the spot."
"That is true," Freya agreed with a smile. "With that kind of money, they could buy a farm, live comfortably, or become professional combat instructors for their respective classes."
Anastasya brought the team back to the task at hand. "Are everyone's restocking assignments complete down there?"
"I'm done," Lira announced brightly. "In fact, I just finished experimenting. I managed to brew a Pumpkin Spice Latte out of a standard Healing Potion!"
Instantly, both Vergil and Freya burst into loud laughter over the comms.
Anastasya blinked at the surveillance monitors in total confusion. "Why are you two laughing?"
"I will let Freya explain that one," Vergil chuckled, catching his breath.
Freya sighed, still giggling as she stood up from the treasure chest. "Because, Anastasya, mixing the base alchemical ingredients of a healing potion with a pumpkin spice flavor profile... is going to taste absolutely repulsive."