A few days later, early in the morning, Emperor Shiroi set out from the Imperial Palace alongside Risa, Lucia, and Yuna. They were escorted by a small detachment of the 1st Imperial Force, followed closely by a large group of carpenters and heavily loaded material wagons.
As the procession moved through the capital, the city guards of Dark Village immediately took their positions, forming barricades to prevent the bustling crowd from rushing forward to catch a glimpse of the Emperor and his three fiancées.
The citizens began to whisper nervously among themselves. Many wondered if a sudden war had broken out in the western territories.
However, others quickly pointed out a flaw in that logic. "If we are going to war," one villager whispered, "why isn't Emperor Shiroi wearing his battle armor? And why is he only bringing such a small military escort?"
Mustering his courage, a large Orc in the crowd shouted over the murmurs, calling out to Emperor Shiroi to ask what was going on.
Hearing the shout, Shiroi immediately signaled for the procession to halt. He looked toward the crowd and politely asked the Orc to repeat his question.
Hesitantly, the Orc repeated his inquiry, expressing the crowd's worry and hoping that nothing terrible had happened to the newly established village east of the capital.
Shiroi gracefully dismounted his horse and walked right up to the barricade. He gently patted the Orc on the shoulder, thanking him for his concern. He admitted with a warm smile that it was his own fault for causing them to worry by not publicly announcing the expedition's purpose beforehand.
As the curious villagers leaned in, Shiroi explained that he and the 1st Imperial Force were simply heading to Zephyr Village to oversee the construction of essential public facilities, such as an official Adventurer Guild branch and a proper marketplace.
One of the citizens spoke up, asking if "Zephyr Village" was the name of the new settlement in the eastern territory. Shiroi confirmed that it was, officially revealing to the public that a brand-new dungeon had been discovered there just a week ago.
An innkeeper in the crowd gasped in realization. "That makes perfect sense! No wonder so many adventurers have been renting horses and rushing out through the eastern gates lately."
Several potion merchants nearby nodded in agreement. They noted that their adventurer customers had been incredibly excited about the new dungeon, especially since rumors claimed its difficulty and rewards were significantly higher than those of the Arudi Dungeon.
With the misunderstanding completely cleared up, Shiroi announced that his objective was strictly developmental and peaceful. He declared that he, his fiancées, the material convoys, and his escort would now resume their march.
Hearing this, the Orc and the rest of the citizens let out a collective, echoing sigh of relief. Shiroi remounted his horse with a confident smile, and the grand procession continued on its journey toward Zephyr Village.
The journey from Dark Village to Zephyr Village took exactly one hour. As soon as the convoy rolled to a halt, the entourage swiftly disembarked. They flagged down a passing resident—a towering Lizardman—and requested an immediate audience with Village Chief Shotta. The reptilian villager didn't waste a second, sprinting toward the chief's residence. Moments later, Shotta emerged, trailed closely by several Mountain Elf women.
"The Zephyr development project begins now," Shiroi declared, getting straight to the point. "And I will be taking full responsibility as the lead overseer of the construction."
Shotta's eyes widened in surprise. He immediately bowed low, a deep gesture of respect and gratitude. "I never expected the sovereign of the Kainaldia Empire to grace us and oversee the work directly."
Shiroi waved off the formality. "This is hardly my first time in the field. Besides, while we await the arrival of the 8th Chapter Grey Knights, I've brought the 1st Imperial Force to secure the perimeter."
Straightening up, Shotta gestured toward the village borders. "We are already preparing an expansion zone, My Lord. We plan to build houses that adventurers can rent, and the elves are currently handling the construction."
Shiroi raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. "Where exactly are these elves from? Usually, their kind would rather bury their noses in spellbooks and study magic than lay down bricks for a building."
"They hail from Halcoran Hill," Shotta replied.
Realization dawned on Shiroi. He remembered hearing that the elves of Halcoran Hill were an anomaly among their kin, possessing a far more rugged and industrious nature than other elven races. Letting out a soft sigh, Shiroi brought his focus back to the present. "Very well. Have the newly delivered building materials unloaded at once."
"Understood," Shotta nodded, before hesitating for a moment. "And what of the Adventurer's Guild?"
"Leave the Guild to Lord Draven," Shiroi answered firmly. "He leads them, so let it be his headache. For now, our focus must remain strictly on the infrastructure." Shiroi paused, considering the chief's earlier proposal. "I do agree with your initiative to build rental homes for the adventurers. However, I have one strict condition: the deeds to those properties must remain exclusively in the hands of the Zephyr Village residents."
Meanwhile, deep within the Yuta Dungeon, the atmosphere hummed with relentless activity. Over the past few days, adventurers had been frantically exchanging rumors about the dungeon's anomalous behavior. Suspicions grew that the layout of the rooms was actively shifting overnight. For the last three weeks, dedicated adventuring parties had meticulously mapped the grid of each level, comparing their daily charts to confirm the ever-changing architecture.
In the observation room, Fenrir and his twin sister, Camilla, focused entirely on assisting Anastasya with the dungeon's surveillance. They closely monitored every individual and party venturing through the first five levels. Progress for many had stalled; countless adventurers remained far too intimidated to face Kyumara or Inazumi in the boss rooms.
Elsewhere, Vergil was deeply engrossed in his work alongside Broomir in the forge. The sword they were currently crafting possessed a terrifying attribute: a cursed blade that stubbornly refused to return to its scabbard until it had claimed the life of a living creature, caring little whether the blood belonged to a human or a monster.
Vergil's wife, Freya, had her own hands full. She was busy restocking the treasure chests on Level 6A, preparing for the bolder adventuring parties that were finally pushing deeper into the labyrinth. Vergil and Freya's five adopted daughters were equally occupied with their respective duties.
Mina was meticulously filling chests with a highly unique drop: Pumpkin Spice Latte potions brewed by Lira. Lira herself was stationed at her alchemy desk, actively experimenting with new herbal mixtures to create more potent healing potions. Aria had teamed up with Broomir's daughter, Hilda, working together to craft crossbows and specialized magical weaponry tailored to support adventurers of varying classes. Finally, Chloe was carefully rigging golem-forged treasure chests with elemental rune traps, preparing them to be scattered randomly across the dungeon floors.
Down on Level 5A, Sylvy—Vergil's youngest adopted daughter—reported to the control room. An adventurer had recklessly engaged a pack of wolf monsters and paid the ultimate price.
"Are you certain he is dead?" Anastasya's voice echoed through the communication link.
"Check the feed and see for yourself," Sylvy replied.
In the control room, Anastasya shifted the focus of her magic mirror to Sylvy's coordinates. The image cleared to reveal a gruesome sight: an adventurer's lifeless body, drenched in blood, sprawled across the stone floor.
Back in the dungeon, Sylvy stepped aside as Aunt Aeka arrived at the scene. She carried a gelatinous slime in her arms, which she promptly dropped directly onto the corpse.
Aeka crouched down, her sharp eyes scanning the fatal lacerations. "From the looks of these wounds, he was completely surrounded by dire wolves. Worse, he didn't bring a single supply with him."
As she spoke, the slime expanded, fully engulfing the corpse. It immediately began its work, rapidly dissolving flesh and bone. Within moments, the body was liquidated, leaving behind only the adventurer's metal gear and his Adventurer's Guild identification tag.
Sylvy picked up the tag, wiping it clean to read the engraving. "His name was Miroku," she reported. "Bronze Rank."
Aeka shook her head in mild disbelief. "A lone Bronze Rank trying to take on dire wolves? He would have struggled immensely. To pull off a feat like that, a Bronze would need exceptional, top-tier equipment or a highly capable party backing him up. He had neither."
With the remains fully digested, Sylvy tossed the Guild tag back onto the ground. Beside it, the slime regurgitated the last of Miroku's indigestible armor and weapons, leaving them in a neat pile.
Her cleanup duty complete, Aeka turned to leave. "I am heading back to my post. Let me know if anything else turns up."
Anastasya immediately contacted Valkriea over the communication link, informing her that Aeka had finished her cleanup duties and was now free to restock the treasure chests on Level 5A.
Having finally finished his work at the forge, Vergil returned to the control room. The moment he stepped inside, a sudden shift in the magical atmosphere caught his attention.
"You felt it too, didn't you, Father?" Fenrir asked, glancing up from the surveillance mirrors. "I sensed cousin Shiroi's arrival in Zephyr Village a while ago."
Vergil rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a sheepish sigh. "It seems I was too focused on crafting with Broomir to notice the Shiroi present."
Their conversation was cut short by Camilla's report. "The treasure chests in sector 2B are almost entirely depleted."
Wasting no time, Vergil headed straight for the Level 2 maintenance hall. Upon arrival, he asked the stationed golems for the exact coordinates of the empty chests. One golem promptly projected the locations, while several others efficiently gathered and prepared the specific loot meant to restock them.
Suddenly, Camilla's voice crackled through the dungeon's internal communication network. "A clan party has just come in at dungeon entrance. They are currently advancing through Level 2A."
"Which clan?" Freya's voice chimed in through the comms, speaking over the sound of her own brisk footsteps.
"The Avalon Clan," Fenrir replied grimly.
Vergil frowned, tapping his earpiece. "It is incredibly rare for a 1-Star Rank Clan to venture all the way out here."
"They probably heard the recent rumors circulating at the Adventurer's Guild," Lira suggested. "Or perhaps they crossed paths with Gideon."
"I agree with Lira," Mina added. "The Vanguard family holds noble status, and they have eyes and ears everywhere. Their connections are vast enough to get wind of our dungeon's shifting architecture."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Vergil immediately issued an order. "Camilla, contact Shiroi at once. Ask him to confirm if there is a Magical Airship hovering anywhere above Zephyr Village. If the Avalon Clan has arrived in full force, we need Kurogami to rotate Kyumara and Inazumi immediately." Vergil's eyes narrowed at the surveillance feed. "Avalon members are notoriously powerful. Even their lowest-ranking recruits sit at a minimum of Platinum B Rank. Our standard boss rotation won't be enough to handle them."
Back in Zephyr Village, construction had just begun. High Elves and Mountain Elves worked alongside one another, laying the foundations for what would soon become the official outpost for the Adventurer's Guild staff.
Shiroi, accompanied by Yuna, Risa, and Lucia, gazed up at the sky. Above them, the imposing silhouette of a Magical Airship had become quite the spectacle, drawing the eyes of the bustling village below.
"What exactly is that flying thing?" Risa asked, squinting against the sunlight.
"It is a Magical Airship," Shiroi explained. "Only the Imperial Force and the highest-tier Adventurer Clans have access to them. They are exorbitantly expensive to build and maintain."
Yuna studied the vessel critically. "If that clan is affiliated with the Kainaldia Empire, shouldn't they be flying the imperial flag? I thought there was a strict rule mandating the empire's colors on their mainmast."
"It is mandatory for the mainmast," Shiroi clarified. "However, the hull itself is a different matter. Star Rank clans are permitted to decorate the body of their airships with their own clan insignia."
Yuna and Lucia nodded in understanding. Moments later, smaller, sleeker transports shot out from the airship's deployment bay, descending rapidly toward the village.
"And what are they riding down on?" Lucia asked, watching the strange vehicles approach.
"Those are Magical Flybikes," Shiroi said. "They have a unique design and can only carry a maximum of two people, but their high speed makes them an excellent replacement for horses. That being said, only official Clans are permitted to own them. While a clan can field a large fleet, Flybikes are far more expensive to purchase and maintain than traditional mounts."
One of the Magical Flybikes touched down nearby. A figure dismounted, clad in heavy, thick paladin armor, yet moving with surprising grace and fluidity. The armored man approached Shiroi swiftly and immediately dropped to one knee.
"I did not expect to find Emperor Shiroi here," the paladin said respectfully.
Shiroi gestured for him to rise. "Stand, Valerius."
Risa leaned in, whispering. "You know this man?"
"Of course," Shiroi replied mildly. "Valerius is the Guildmaster of the Avalon Clan." He turned his attention back to the paladin. "What brings you to Zephyr Village? The Avalon Clan's territory is based in White Dahlia City."
Valerius sighed heavily. "An adventurer attempting to join our ranks sought to prove his worth. He claimed he would single-handedly defeat the Nine-Tailed Fox boss within this dungeon."
"It is true that a Nine-Tailed Fox guards the threshold after the first five levels," Shiroi noted. "But what does this fool's errand have to do with the Avalon Clan?"
"We received intelligence that this dungeon demands a full party to clear," Valerius explained. "This recruit insisted on running it solo. Because of that, the Clan grew concerned for his safety. We have mobilized a search party within the dungeon."
"Do you have any leads on his last known location?" Shiroi asked.
"His last reported position was on Level Five. The Avalon scout team has already pushed ahead to find him."
Shiroi crossed his arms. "What is this adventurer's name?"
Valerius looked at the Emperor. "His name is Miroku Kinoshima."
Suddenly, four more individuals descended upon the village on their own Magical Flybikes. One bore the striking motif of twin white dragons, while another gleamed in a sleek, metallic black.
Valerius immediately stood at attention, offering a crisp, formal salute. Shiroi stepped forward, warmly greeting his Uncle Creed, who had arrived alongside Aunt Izumi, Aunt Takano, and Nova.
Creed surveyed the surroundings with a keen eye. "Is this the location?" he asked.
Beside him, Nova—fully clad in her formidable Ghost Special Force Armor—tilted her head. "So, this is Zephyr Village?"
"Indeed, it is," Creed confirmed, checking the coordinates.
Noticing the high-ranking new arrivals, Valerius immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head deeply. "It is an absolute honor to meet you, Prince Creed, Princess Izumi, and Princess Takano."
Shiroi turned back to the clanmaster, his tone dismissive but polite. "You may return to your search, Valerius. I have other pressing matters to attend to." Valerius bowed his head in obedience and swiftly departed, heading back to the staging area where the rest of the Avalon Clan had gathered.
With the paladin gone, Shiroi led Creed, Izumi, Takano, and Nova away from the bustling village and deep into the dense forest. After a brisk, few-minute walk, they arrived at a hidden entrance concealed by the foliage. Several large, silent golems were already waiting for them as guides.
"I contacted Uncle Vergil and Aunt Freya while you were en route," Shiroi explained to the group. "They have cleared your passage straight to the dungeon's control room."
A confident grin spread across Creed's face. "It feels good to be back in Kainaldia. I am looking forward to finally assisting with the Imperial Project."
Nova, however, shifted nervously in her heavy armor. "I just hope nothing goes terribly wrong," she muttered, her anxiety palpable.
Creed placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Nothing will go wrong, Nova. Have a little faith. Both Takano and I have extensive experience as dungeon managers; we know exactly how to handle this."
Stepping forward, Creed reached out and grasped the massive stone hand of the lead golem. A pulse of transportive magic activated, and together with Izumi, Takano, and Nova, he descended into the hidden depths, heading straight for the dungeon's control room.
Creed, alongside Nova, Takano, and Izumi, was immediately welcomed by Anastasya and Freya as they stepped into the control room. Nova's gaze lingered on Vergil; she clearly remembered the golden-haired beastkind with his distinct wolf ears and tail.
Creed pulled Freya into a warm embrace. "It is good to be back on management duty," he said with a smile.
Freya hugged him back tightly. "Vergil will be returning shortly," she assured him.
Creed's attention turned to his twin niece, who were intently watching the magic mirrors. "Anything interesting happening?" he asked.
Fenrir looked up from the glowing screens. "The Avalon Clan members are currently descending to Level 5, Uncle Creed. They are heading straight for the sector where Aunt Aeka just cleaned up that casualty."
"So that is why the Avalon Clan is here," Creed mused.
Nova stepped closer, watching Fenrir and Camilla at work. Seeing her curiosity, Fenrir explained, "These magic mirrors function like surveillance monitors. They allow us to track every adventurer exploring the Yuta Dungeon."
Camilla chimed in without taking her eyes off the feed. "The Distopi Contingent is an area where dungeons cannot form naturally, even though the ambient mana density there is more than high enough to trigger one."
"Shiroi needed assistance," Creed explained to the room, "and I just wrapped up my duties acting as an Evil Genius."
Just then, Vergil—having finished restocking his latest batch of treasure chests—entered the control room. He immediately pulled Creed into a fierce, brotherly hug. "I have missed sparring with you, Creed!"
"I will be here to help out as much as I can," Creed replied, clapping his twin brother on the back. He paused, sniffing the air. "You smell like scorched iron."
Vergil laughed heartily. "Broomir and I have been locked in the forge lately. We are crafting Rare-tier weapons and above to stock the deeper treasure chests."
The reunion was interrupted as Kurogami materialized in the room. "It is good to see you again, Uncle," he greeted.
"Shiroi is quite tied up over in Zephyr Village," Creed told him.
Kurogami smirked. "I am not surprised. My twin brother takes his position as Emperor of the Kainaldia Empire very seriously."
Anastasya, who had been assisting Kurogami with monster management, smiled warmly. "We are thrilled to have you and Takano back to help run the dungeon."
"Rumor has it you have an outsider assisting you as well?" Takano inquired, leaning forward.
"The rumors are true," Vergil confirmed. "Valkriea has been lending us a hand, though she is currently busy out in the field."
"I am ready to head out and assist as well, if permitted," Takano offered eagerly.
"The Yuta Dungeon operates on a rather unique system," Anastasya replied gently. "I will brief you on the mechanics shortly."
Meanwhile, Nova stood off to the side, utterly mesmerized by the bustling control room. She was amazed that the Kainaldia Empire, despite possessing highly modern military units like the Special Forces, had so flawlessly preserved and integrated these ancient elements of magic.
"The dungeon we are currently running operates on a very different system," Vergil explained to the group.
Creed raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile forming. "Let me guess. You have been experimenting with the data we acquired from that kingdom?"
Vergil nodded. "Exactly. Their Slime King was more than happy to share a few tips and tricks regarding their dungeon mechanics."
Nova, who was still trying to process her surroundings, chimed in. "Are there actual monsters here? Back in my world, in RPG games, dungeons are always filled with them."
Vergil chuckled, while Creed gave her a reassuring nod. "There certainly are," Creed said. "But the difference here is that we work with them. We even teach them combat tactics."
Realizing that the reality of Magnacarta VII was nothing more than fantasy fiction in Nova's home world, Vergil decided a proper introduction was in order. "I should give you a tour," he offered. "It will keep you from getting lost and help you get accustomed to seeing the monsters up close."
Vergil led Creed, Nova, Izumi, and Takano out of the control room and straight into the Monster Hall. The massive cavern served as a breakroom; monsters of various species were lounging about, either resting from their previous shifts or waiting for their turn to spawn on the dungeon floors. The moment the group entered, the monsters noticed them and eagerly gathered around.
"Who are they, Boss?" a large monster asked Vergil.
"These are your new co-managers," Vergil announced. "Creed, Nova, Izumi, and Takano will be helping run the dungeon so I can focus on crafting weapons and armor with Broomir."
Excited by the news, the monsters immediately swarmed the four newcomers, bombarding them with curious questions. Vergil had to step in, gently but firmly asking the monsters to give them some space so they could finish the tour first. The monsters respectfully backed away, though they promised to chat and get to know the new managers better later.
Next, Vergil guided them to a massive, artificially constructed open space.
"What is this room for?" Nova asked, gazing at the sprawling landscape.
"Monsters are living creatures, too," Creed explained before Vergil could answer. "They need to return to their natural habitats to decompress. This space was designed to help keep them calm and reduce their stress." Nova nodded in quiet amazement.
The tour continued into the alchemy laboratory, where they found Lira busy at her workstation, carefully mixing cola syrup into a batch of healing potions.
Izumi leaned over her niece's shoulder. "What exactly are you brewing, Lira?"
"Flavored healing potions for the adventurers," Lira replied proudly.
Izumi inspected the formula on the desk and sighed. "With these ratios, the resulting mixture is going to taste absolutely dreadful."
"That is exactly the point," Lira stated, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Izumi looked over at Vergil and Creed. "I am staying right here to help her brew these." Vergil and Creed exchanged a long, weary sigh, leaving their sister to her chaotic alchemy as they moved on to the sparring room.
Inside the training hall, Valkriea was barking orders, drilling a squad of Orcs on unit formations and coordinated combat tactics so they could properly balance their fights against invading adventurers.
"This is certainly different from the Arudi Dungeon," Creed observed, watching the disciplined Orcs.
"Only on the surface map and the localized dungeon system," Vergil clarified. "Behind the scenes, the management structure is exactly the same." Seeing her finish the drill, Vergil called out to Valkriea, instructing her to prepare to restock the treasure chests on a rapidly depleting floor.
Finally, Vergil led Creed, Nova, and Takano to the agricultural sector: the Goblin Farm. Heavy golems were systematically tilling the soil, carefully planting what looked like seeds.
"It has been a long time since I have seen disposable Goblins being cultivated," Creed remarked. Takano nodded in agreement.
"What do you mean by 'disposable' Goblins?" Nova asked, her brow furrowing.
"They are a specific, lab-grown variant," Takano explained. "They are planted and grown rapidly, but their DNA is strictly locked so they cannot evolve past their basic state."
"Wait, so are they different from the goblins we saw walking around outside in Dark Village?" Nova asked.
"Completely different," Vergil answered firmly. "Any Goblin born outside this dungeon is a recognized citizen of the Kainaldia Empire, and they are, at the very least, Hobgoblins. These ones in the dirt are simply dungeon mobs."
Creed nodded thoughtfully. "So the core system is indeed identical to the Arudi Dungeon."
"The only real difference lies in the dungeon's map layout," Vergil elaborated. "Here, every fifth level invariably houses a boss room. Immediately following that encounter, there is an empty sanctuary designated as a Safe Room."
"Is that a place where the adventurers can safely rest?" Nova asked, trying to piece together the rules of this dungeon.
"It is a bit more nuanced than that," Takano replied.
Vergil smoothly took over the explanation. "Based on my observations, pushing through five consecutive floors culminating in a high-stress boss fight leaves the adventurers completely physically and mentally exhausted. That is precisely why we provide the Safe Room—it acts as a necessary reprieve so they do not simply die from fatigue."
"And if they choose to exit the dungeon from that Safe Room?" Creed asked. "Does it warp them directly back to the surface?"
Vergil nodded in confirmation.
A satisfied grin spread across Creed's face. He rolled his shoulders, ready for action. "Alright then. When do we start?"
"For the finer details of your shifts, it is best we head back to the control room," Vergil said, gesturing for the group to follow him out of the agricultural sector.