21 – 1st Floor (2)

—-

Territory of Lartania.

Territory Development: 94

Territory Citizens

[Human: 1424 people]

Owned Buildings

[Lord’s Castle LV1 >>> Upgrading 0%]

[City Wall LV1] >>> Upgrading 0%

[Residential Zone LV2]

[Blacksmith LV1 >>> Upgrading 73%]

[Barracks LV2]

[Tavern LV1] >>> Upgrading 0%

[Market LV0 [Under Construction] 0%]

Owned Military Forces

– Normal Soldiers: 100 people [See Details]

—-

During the span of about two weeks, the Lartania territory underwent another round of development.

The Residential Zone, previously at LV1, was upgraded to LV2, and now houses made of slightly larger logs appeared here and there, instead of the sparse small log houses.

The Barracks, where soldiers were recruited, was upgraded to LV2, and now not only recruits soldiers but also allows for the training of soldiers under the guidance of officers.

Furthermore, with the increased development level, the continuously increasing number of territory citizens had reached around 1,400, and the agricultural tools that began to be produced in earnest since yesterday, after fulfilling the production capacity, were about to be assigned to the residents with agricultural expertise.

“It seems that there are many refugees from the Hallancia territory, which is why there are many territory citizens with agricultural skills.”

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With that thought in mind, as he momentarily contemplated how to develop the farming industry, which was currently only operational to a limited extent on one side of the territory, he soon turned his gaze to Elena’s information window, which was lit up.

—–

Hero

Name: Elena

Nickname: X

Star Rating: 2 Stars ★★

Dear:

Ability Stats

Strength: 30↑ Agility: 39↑

Intelligence: 21↑ Luck: 18

Magic: 15

※The Hero trusts you.

—–

In truth, two weeks was quite a long time, but it couldn’t be considered a very long time to increase one’s ability stats.

However, as he watched her reach second grade in just two weeks, Kim Hyunwoo admired her effort and was satisfied.

“When I used to train others, it would take at least a month to advance from first to second grade.”

Kim Hyunwoo thought about how it used to take him over two months to raise a hero, the one who took the longest to train, and looked at Elena’s information window with satisfaction as he asked Loria.

“Is the preparation complete?”

[As you said, the soldiers have all finished their preparations, and the mercenary group has also finished their preparations.]

“The Droal Mercenary Group, right?”

[Yes, I have heard that the preparations are complete on the side of the mercenary group where the hero belongs. But…]

“Yes?”

[With so many soldiers, is there a reason why you have to take the mercenary group along?]

Kim Hyunwoo nodded without hesitation at Loria’s words.

“The reason we are sending the soldiers this time is not to send them to fight.”

One of the main reasons why Kim Hyunwoo decided to send the soldiers was to protect Elena’s trust, but there were many other reasons as well.

Among them, the two most important reasons were securing a resting place on the first floor of the dungeon and improving the overall proficiency of the soldiers.

Currently, most of the soldiers that can be operated in Larutania are just regular landowners, with only a few exceptions.

In other words, the soldiers that have been created so far are not much different from ordinary people, other than being armed with spears.

That’s why Kim Hyunwoo planned to secure a resting place in advance and hire mercenaries to protect the soldiers, minimizing losses and increasing their proficiency.

“Mazes may be dangerous, but there is a setting that says the proficiency increases 50% faster than on the surface.”

As Kim Hyunwoo remembered the time when the hero and the soldiers were sent to break through the maze when the hero wasn’t quite strong enough.

—-

[Type of Soldier] Normal Soldier.

Leader: Malon [Proficiency 31/100]

Number of Personnel: 100 [More details]

Combat Efficiency: Low

[No personnel available for upgrading to higher species.]

-Basic Equipment-

Head: Helmet

Body: Lightweight armor

Waist: None

Legs: None

Arms: Iron bars. Offense equipment: None

※ Untrained soldiers. Combat efficiency is reduced.

※ Equipment is shoddy.

He spoke while looking at the somewhat shabby unit spear.

“Tell Elena to start the assault on the 1st level.”

####

Labyrinth.

The labyrinth that appears in front of the territory with a Lord’s Seat has various negative effects on the territory.

Monsters flowing out of the labyrinth periodically attack the territory or create abnormal phenomena around it, bothering the territory. Moreover, monsters coming out of the labyrinth are generally stronger than surface monsters.

Not only that, but large-scale events like labyrinth breaks that occur every few months or layer bosses that occasionally pop up are quite burdensome for the territory.

Failing to properly handle such large-scale events meant that the territory, painstakingly developed, would be in ruins sooner or later.

Anyway, as a Lord, the labyrinth continuously creates inconvenient issues in managing the territory.

However, despite this, most Lords explore the labyrinth not so much to figure out how to block it but to ignite it, and the reason for this is the mana stones and artifacts that come out of the labyrinth.

In Arteil’s world, only Lords can produce mana stones in the labyrinth, giving them an advantage against various guilds, including the Demon’s Tower.

Artifacts obtained through exploration in the labyrinth or artifacts obtained by killing layer bosses are mostly rare and valuable.

Therefore, the labyrinth had both negative and positive aspects for the territory.

And Altar, the leader of the Droal Mercenary Corps hired for labyrinth exploration, who became a hero chosen by the world, was currently in a quite good mood.

The reason was the conditions set by the Lord of Larthania, who came looking for a good request when Altar visited the newly formed territory, along with a request for exploration of the 1st level of the labyrinth.

‘They offer more than 30% of the mana stones from the 1st level. Isn’t that a total jackpot no matter how you think about it? Well, as long as…’

Of course, there was a condition that more than 10 soldiers should not die, but even considering that, the Lord’s offer was extraordinary.

She knew very well that the mana stones coming out of the 1st level were not of high quality, but what mattered to her was not the quality of the stones, but the fact that even low-quality stones sold for a very generous price.

Therefore, Altar smiled while looking at Elena walking ahead, with a smirk on her face.

“- It’s like he doesn’t know anything about the world.”

Alta knew Elena.

From the start, it was strange not to know.

She was not just an ordinary hero, but a hero who was known as the ‘Dropout Hero’ and was not like a hero in this area.

“I heard she’s going to deal with the 1st floor boss today-“

Alta thought with a touch of pity and irony mixed with a smile on his lips.

Of course, it was impossible for her, the dropout hero who was the subject of such rumors, to believe that she could handle the 1st floor boss alone.

Of course, there were rumors circulating recently that the dropout hero had changed, and Alta had heard those stories too.

However, Alta casually dismissed the rumors because of the way Elena had shown herself so far.

After all, when you work as a mercenary, you come across all sorts of things, and Alta had worked with her a few times.

And the Elena he saw then was so weak that the word “dropout hero” was a perfect fit.

He had not even seen that image just once or twice, so Alta treated the rumors about Elena as just rumors.

“Why on earth did they choose someone like him?”

Alta found himself thinking that as he looked at Elena, but he soon shrugged it off.

In fact, it didn’t matter who the Lord of Lartania chose.

From the start, the contract between the Lord of Lartania and her was only conditional on not losing more than 10 dead soldiers until they explored the 1st floor of the labyrinth.

She wasn’t even going to deal with the 1st floor boss with Elena.

“Even if she can’t kill the boss, she won’t really be in harm’s way as long as she’s outside the boss room.”

That’s why Alta, who was pitying and ridiculing Elena while thinking about the fact that she was confidently walking at the forefront without knowing what she was thinking, thought of the Lord who would lose one hero after today with a mixture of pity and mockery.

“!!”

Kieeek!

As they began to enter the labyrinth in earnest, they could see the monsters starting to appear.

Since it was still the 1st floor of the labyrinth, most of the monsters were goblins and trolls.

However, the goblins that were imbued with the labyrinth’s magic and the trolls that were taller than human beings looked much bigger and more threatening than the monsters on the surface.

But the reason why Alta had a surprised look on his face when these monsters appeared on the 1st floor of the labyrinth was because

“What is that…!?”

Amongst those monsters, there was a variant that looked completely abnormal for a goblin- no, it couldn’t even be called a goblin.

■■■■■■■■-!

“Eek-!”

“W-What is that!?”

The surroundings are in turmoil.

Soldiers were overwhelmed by the appearance of a monstrous figure that seemed to tower over 3 meters.

Mercenaries swallowed hard as they looked at the muscular body of the creature that seemed like a mutated goblin.

“I never heard of something like that coming out on the first floor!”

Altah, realizing that the only remaining face was indicating that it was a ‘thing’ that used to be a goblin, furrowed her brow with all her might.

“Prepare for battle!”

She shouted loudly, feeling tension coursing through her body.

Mercenaries and warriors instinctively raised their weapons in response to her thunderous command.

And then, just as the enormous mutant creature seemed about to charge.

Thunk!

An axe was thrust into the head of the giant mutant creature.

■■■■■■■■■■■■-!!!!

The mutant, losing control, began to thrash around in an attempt to leap.

However, Elena, who had already leaped over the mutant’s head, swung her hand axe down towards the axe embedded in the mutant’s head as if it had been waiting for her.

Thunk-!

With a sharp, fleshy sound.

Thud-!!!

The mutant’s body was slammed straight into the ground.

And then.

Squelch-squelch-squduduk! Thunk!

“…It’s not going well as the lord said.”

Quietly muttering, Elena nonchalantly twisted and pulled out the two axes stuck in the mutant’s head.

…”

Altah, staring wide-eyed, stood there in a daze.

####

Entrance to the underground grand hall in the Kalan Kingdom.

“Ruine.”

“Now he’s here.”

Kalan’s Five Swords, including Loryell, could see Ruine standing at the entrance to the underground grand hall where their mentor resided.

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“What’s going on?”

“I think she’s not feeling well, so I came to find her.”

Upon Ruriel’s words, Lorel let out a sigh and spoke.

“Just as I expected, she’s not in good condition.”

“…Did I tell you for no reason?”

“No, Master’s words are absolute. If Master told us to inform her, then we should inform her.”

“Ugh, why is Master…”

While Lorel was speaking, Ruriel nodded as if in agreement, but then closed her mouth, feeling that something was uncomfortable.

She knew that her words would be considered extremely rude to Master, and at the same time, she knew that Master would be extremely angry upon hearing this.

That’s why Lorel, who was looking at the silent Ruriel, spoke.

“So, have you found the last artifact?”

“I tried looking, but there is no information about it at all.”

“…Really? Could you have gotten the name wrong?”

“No, I’m sure. But strangely, I couldn’t find anything resembling this item for sale. The same goes for the information, it seems to exist, but…”

“What was the name of the artifact?”

Lorel’s question.

And Ruriel responded,

“It’s called the ‘Execution Sword’.”

That’s what she said.

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