SWNOVELXO Chapter 107
– 1 –
The name of the mountain range where my dungeon is located is Eisenlight.
This place is the border separating the Kaisen Kingdom and the Arilite Principality, and at the same time, it serves as a natural wall protecting the aquatic trade route flowing through the eastern marshes.
“It’s common sense that monsters hide in high mountain ranges or deep forests, so troops can’t pass through.”
Therefore, such places are often avoided for scouting and extermination due to the substantial resources required, but at the same time, they are sufficient natural facilities to prevent bandits or pirates from invading.
“However, the situation has changed now.”
“Though no one seems to know it.”
A Dungeon Lord has infiltrated such a vital trade point.
Of course, that’s me.
“My existence will be perceived as a great threat to both Kaisen and Arilite.”
The moment it is revealed that a high-level Dungeon Lord is here, both nations will gather their internal forces as quickly as possible to send them to exterminate all the monsters in this mountain.
Looking at the power from the previous Copgerin War, even if a high-level Dungeon Lord goes on a rampage, it will be overwhelmingly beyond their capability to handle it.
“If that happens…”
The queens will once again have to hide at the cost of their forces, and all the Dungeon Lords being raised by humans here will die as well.
The problem is.
“I’ve felt this since the Orea incident, but the queens are quite lazy overall. Even though I’ve already shared a certain fate with them, they first think about cutting off parts of themselves.”
“The danger of adaptation.”
“You’re right… They are exceedingly complacent.”
According to what Kamaya told me, the queens here have become too accustomed to “cutting off parts of themselves and hiding.”
It’s been far too long that they’ve lived as hermits, after all.
A decade at the very least, so it’s understandable, but an attitude I cannot tolerate.
So, what I need to do now is two things.
“I need to let them know that it’s already too late to turn back.”
One is to awaken their psyche, which has developed to such complacency.
Fortunately, that method isn’t very difficult.
“Will you use humans?”
“Yes, I must.”
It’s just a matter of using a little trick in the middle of what I plan to do this time.
The groundwork for that is already laid out.
I, the initiator of the event, just need to casually take a trip.
“What will happen to the humans…?”
The other is to make this place function entirely as my territory by doing the “final housekeeping.”
Otherwise, I’ll end up with a chief with the potential for betrayal and an enemy’s territory right in the middle of my magical realm.
Of course, the chiefs refer to the queens.
The territory in question…
“Don’t you think we need to tidy up?”
“It’s going to be a bit of a lengthy outing…”
“But it’s going to be much calmer than previous outings.”
“Is that so…?”
The city of Solemio and the nearby villages where you can quickly gather information about that city.
– 2 –
Naturally, not all the humans in this world live solely in cities.
There is simply too much land left.
It’s dotted with satellite villages that share functions and living areas, much like how Gwacheon or Uijeongbu serves in Seoul.
Solux Village, the hometown of Sonia and Maria, was one of those satellite villages of Solemio as well.
“Oh dear, have you arrived, Mage?”
“It’s been a while.”
“You’ve been scarce! Sonia! How have you been?”
“Ah, yes… Hello, Mayor.”
“You still look weak! Make sure to eat well!”
“Haha… Thanks.”
This place is already under my control.
It is the lumberjack village where I transport ironwood from the Mistheim Plateau to Solemio, and there’s no way I would leave a location deeper into my territory than Solemio unclaimed.
“When the time comes, I’ll have to let everyone except those ‘who need to be protected or will resourcefully stay’ out of this village.”
Those who need protection will be anyone who might have an inkling about Sonia or Maria’s matters.
Those who will stay out of resourcefulness will be those who have nowhere else to go besides this village.
Until then, I plan to remain in this village as a reclusive mage, taking care of the town’s pride, Mage Sonia.
At the same time, I will be here as a researcher interested in the ironwood of this place.
“Here. This is the amount of ironwood harvested this time, and this… oh, it’s a report on the rewards to be given to the mercenaries and adventurers.”
“Thank you.”
I’m also taking on the duties of the administrative officer dispatched from Solemio.
This person was originally a manager?
His body is likely waiting for the next victim to arrive in my dungeon by now.
That knowledge has been extracted and used by one of my dungeon’s slaves.
I immediately handed over the document received from the mayor to that slave and promptly instructed him on one thing.
“Since I have business in Solemio today, gather those who will accompany us in advance.”
I needed a number of people on the way to the city.
This was to hide the presence of the monster I have from people.
It’s said that even sensitive adventurers or monster hunters can immediately recognize a monster resembling a human.
Ordinary people are also somewhat useful in that sense.
At least until I learn the truth about that story.
“I understand, Mage. I’ll gather the appropriate individuals.”
The mayor bent deeply at the waist until it nearly touched the ground.
This was a more profound gesture than I had seen before. It was as if he were treating a real noble rather than an ordinary mage.
“Your wisdom is remarkable.”
“…”
The mayor flinched and shook his body at my words.
While the administrative officer from the city is of a higher rank than the mayor, those who come to such villages are more often just commoners with positions rather than nobles.
There’s no reason for him to receive such an example.
In this world, quite a few people have developed a keen sense of survival.
As I took a moment to observe his demeanor and presence, I spoke to Sonia.
“You have things to discuss, don’t you? Go ahead.”
“Yes? Sure!”
“Maria, you too, go talk to the person you need to meet.”
“Thank you.”
“Both of you. Make sure to convey that well.”
“Yes.”
I asked them to pick out people they were familiar with in this village.
If they were to stay, they need to be summoned to the dungeon, and if they were to leave, they needed to be ‘carefully’ tended to.
Watching the two of them scatter into the village, I turned my back towards my destination.
“Are you planning to take them in?”
“I have to. After all, you said there are those who cared for the two of them when they were young.”
On the way to the lumber yard.
In response to Evangeline’s question, I replied like so.
“Cared for them… It seems that mayor is the guardian of Lady Sonia.”
“I’ve heard so.”
As my affection for Sonia and Maria deepens, it becomes necessary to keep a close eye on those around them.
At the very least, I should prevent monsters passing by from smashing their hometown out of annoyance.
Revenge is a given.
“Then I’ll increase the soldiers…”
“Hmm. Go ahead.”
I briefly pondered at Xue’s question but nodded as if meaning for her to do as she wishes.
Though it weighs on my mind, it’s not something I need to place significant importance on.
Even if a common skeleton guards it, who would attack the village where I’ve stationed soldiers in this area?
Unless they are monsters from outside.
However, those monsters will be identified before they even reach this village, and the remaining forces from Axes, Mire, or the dungeon will handle it or create delays.
“Is that the end?”
“Yes! Everything has been loaded!”
“Then, let’s depart.”
After my slave assessed the amount of ironwood and reported to me, we set off for Solemio that very day.
Having dealt with all the nearby monsters, there were no hindrances on the road to the city.
“I’ve noticed the goblins and orcs have been very quiet lately.”
“Isn’t that all thanks to you, Mage?”
“Keep it down. Aren’t you reading a book?”
Even ordinary humans must have sensed the ‘natural presence of monsters’ to some extent, but that was simply it.
“Sonia.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Did you discuss everything well?”
“Yes… I reassured them…”
“You did well. Tell me everything later. It will happen as you said.”
“Ah, yes… Thank you.”
Sonia, who seemed somewhat anxious, became more relaxed as I patted her head and talked to her comfortably.
“I can see it.”
“Oh, you have good eyesight, Mage.”
After traveling for about half a day, we arrived at the city of Solemio, which still maintained its tranquil fortress appearance.
Starting from the Lake of the Lamia Queen, it flows down a small tributary surrounding the fortress that surrounds the northern side of Solemio, leading to a large river used as a trade route.
“Is that the ironwood overseer? You may pass!”
The signs of magical transformation tied to a high-level Dungeon Lord were masked by an artifact purchased from the guild, so passing through the entrance was no problem at all.
Though it was costly to custom order it due to a complete lack of inventory, I was satisfied.
Thus, I entered the fortress as if I were coming home.
“It’s still the same here.”
As I entered inside, the stillness of the streets caught my eye due to the low population—especially since it was evening.
While a few pubs still had sounds of joy and light spilling out, the other houses on the street seemed to have already sunk into sleep with no lively presence.
“Indeed… We’ve changed a lot.”
“The world is always like that. Anyway, from now on, it’s going to change even more.”
I felt Sonia’s worried gaze on me but merely surveyed the city.
Even when considering the previous Solemio, the current city felt even more tranquil, probably because it had once been buzzing with activity during the time of supporting Copgerin.
Conversely, that means that barring such issues, this city isn’t likely to get noisy.
“Is that…?”
“It seems to be a guest of the lord. Don’t mind it.”
“Let’s do that.”
People still standing in the street seemed curious about a somewhat upscale carriage arriving in the evening, yet soon redirected their gazes towards the lord’s inner castle.
“Welcome. Charlie. Long time no see… huh?”
This was my first time coming to this city as the overseer.
It was only natural for the administrative officer from the city to freeze upon seeing my face.
“Has the lord retired for the night?”
It was likewise not difficult at all to exploit this psychological gap.
Especially since the individual in question has no real power, being just an ordinary officer comfortably residing in the countryside.
“Yes… I must… present my greetings in the morning…”
“Understood. Please guide me to my accommodation.”
“Yes, of course, Overseer.”
Thus, I permeated into the inner castle of Solemio.
“So you are the administrative officer of Solux…?”
And the next day, in the afternoon.
I finally met the lord of this city.