Val City — territory of the Val Family.
Wade had absolutely zero interest in whatever industry the Val relied on to survive. He only knew one thing for sure: it definitely wasn't their dungeon.
Because no one had ever mentioned a "Val Dungeon" before.
If he hadn't received the message himself, he wouldn't have even known such a place existed nearby.
Peers are natural enemies—especially peers running the same business so close to each other. If the Val Dungeon really existed all this time, they must have been grinding their teeth watching Sein shine brightly and siphon away all the traffic.
Even street vendors selling breakfast can end up in turf wars—so what about dungeons?
Returning his consciousness to the Dungeon, Wade carefully checked what this "rescue request" actually contained.
After a few moments, he raised his eyebrows, his expression complicated.
Simply put:
If he agreed to the Val Dungeon's request for aid, he could send his own monsters inside to help drive away the invaders. What he'd receive afterward depended entirely on the sincerity of the other dungeon master.
If the other side permitted it, Wade could even station his monsters there long-term under the banner of "assistance."
"So basically… military assistance."
He didn't accept immediately. He first wanted to understand what kind of crisis would force a dungeon master to beg for help. It couldn't possibly be demons… right?
Demons didn't produce Mana, didn't empower dungeons, and could kill dungeon monsters with ease. For any dungeon, they were toxic.
The rescue request came with a video showing the Val Dungeon.
Ancient bronze ruins, black miasma drifting through the air, twisted demon silhouettes roaming freely…
Sure enough—demons. They had invaded the Val Dungeon… and judging by the footage, they had completely settled in.
So the Val Dungeon wants me to purge demons for them?
Wade closed the video and tried to contact the other side, but—
After searching the colorful world map for a long while, he couldn't find Val Dungeon anywhere.
Bedford City, Val City, nearby towns—everything was dyed a pure, untainted Miyagi color. Not even a speck of foreign influence.
Local residents: "We'd just like to say… we're HUGE fans of Sein Dungeon."
"No color at all… so either it doesn't have enough Authority to open its world map, or no one remembers it exists."
"But without an active world map, it shouldn't be able to message me or any other dungeon."
"So…"
"How did it accumulate enough Mana and still stay invisible?"
Wade's expression grew strange.
This world really has a lot I don't understand.
Speaking of things he didn't understand, something else caught his eye. He opened the video again—and the more he watched, the more questions he had.
"One, two, three… twenty-four, twenty-five…"
Just the visible demons numbered over twenty. And that was only what the camera captured—there were definitely more.
Wasn't the rule that only ten people could explore a dungeon at once?
Why did this look like a full raid dungeon!?
Too many rules were being broken. Wade now very much wanted to speak with the Val Dungeon Master directly.
At that moment, a bronze-colored envelope appeared on the altar. On it was a short line:
"Awaiting your reply — Val Dungeon."
Wade thought for a moment and sent back a small magical "ding" response. That was enough to establish communication.
He wasn't worried about traps. Once a rescue request was sent, it couldn't be withdrawn. If Wade accepted, he could teleport his monsters into the other dungeon anytime.
Requests came in different levels, and Val Dungeon had sent the highest tier. If Wade accepted, he could temporarily take control of Val Dungeon with near-master-level authority.
Was the other dungeon master extremely sincere, or simply desperate?
Thankfully, Wade considered himself a good person. If Val had sent this to that loser Hive Dungeon instead… Val would be doomed.
He expected a follow-up message, but instead—
[You have received a gift from the Val Dungeon Master: Memory Crystal. Accept?]
Of course he accepted.
When the crystal touched the altar, a holographic figure emerged—presumably the Val Dungeon Master.
"Hello. Thank you for hearing my request."
The speaker was… a robot?
A bronze-bodied construct with mechanical joints, barely a meter tall—somewhere between a primitive automaton and a magical doll. Its shell gleamed with an aged metallic sheen.
Wade blinked in surprise. Technology was this advanced in another region?
…No. Even hunters from Yharnam scared adventurers with a simple gun. That wasn't the level of a robot-using civilization.
A closer look told the truth.
This "robot" wasn't technological at all.
Its structure was made of crude gears and simple joints powered by a magic crystal. The mechanical parts were literally glued together—magically.
Magic, not science.
A magical construct—not a true robot.
Wade shook his head and continued watching.
"My name is Kid. I am the acting master of the Val Dungeon. I was created by the previous master, Mr. Kirich, through alchemy. He granted me consciousness and transferred dungeon authority to me.
"Mr. Kirich disliked conflict. He implanted a command deep into my consciousness that forbids me from fighting. Before transferring authority, he shut down the Val Dungeon, intending for it to fade away.
"He left enough Mana for me to survive two hundred years. That is the only reason I can speak to you now.
"My Mana reserves will run out in thirty-five years. When that happens, the Val Dungeon will fall silent as Mr. Kirich wished. But twenty-seven days ago, demons reactivated the teleportation gate and turned the Val Dungeon into their nest.
"Mr. Kirich hated demons more than anything. But due to my restriction, I cannot fight them. So I beg of you—please help me purge the demons.
"In return, whatever you desire, I will offer. Even if it means submitting to you."
Wade unconsciously tightened his grip on the envelope.
He couldn't understand Kirich's intentions—transferring authority, shutting down the dungeon, forbidding combat… everything felt like an intense resentment toward the dungeon system.
But then why leave enough energy for this construct to survive two hundred years?
Wade didn't get it. But one thing was clear:
He was about to face one hell of a battle.
As for the reward—he'd inspect Val Dungeon first, then decide.
Just as he finished the recording and was still processing everything, another notification appeared:
[The Val Dungeon Master requests entry into your dungeon.]
Efficient little robot.
When dungeon masters visited one another, they appeared as spiritual projections—able to touch objects but unable to use magic or combat skills. Their movement and perception were controlled by the host.
You could even restrict them to the master chamber.
Wade was about to accept when—
[You received a gift from the Val Dungeon Master: 1,000 Mana.]
…Oh?
[You received a gift from the Val Dungeon Master: 3,000 mental energy.]
…Huh!?
"So generous?"
The gifts stopped there, so Wade pressed "accept."
Kid's round body materialized on the altar. Wade straightened his posture, trying to look a little more dignified.
It was his first time meeting another dungeon master—he felt a mix of curiosity and nervousness.
Kid's bronze shell gave off a faint glow, the patches of rust giving him a sense of age. In the recording he looked silly, but in person… the atmosphere was completely different.
"Hello," Kid said, voice hollow and mechanical. The wheels beneath him whirred softly. "I am here to—"
Clunk! Thunk! Bam!
Kid suddenly toppled off the altar.
His heavy metal body slammed into the floor, cracking the tiles.
"…He fell?"
Kid wriggled weakly, gears grinding. But with a cylindrical body, wheels instead of legs, and tiny arms—standing up was physically impossible.
"…Need help?"
Kid froze for a moment. "Yes."
And just like that, the solemn meeting between dungeon masters collapsed into absurdity. Wade lifted Kid upright and asked:
"Did Kirich not think about this design flaw?"
"The wheels were my idea. Mr. Kirich did not intend for me to move."
"Want me to replace them with treads?"
"What are treads?"
"It's—ugh, too much trouble to explain." Wade crouched to eye level. "So why come in person?"
The crystal on Kid's head flickered.
"I believed visiting personally would show sincerity. Also… I wished to confirm your qualifications."
Qualifications? Are you looking down on me?
"No. I did not mean to belittle you. I only wish to understand what type of monsters you specialize in.
"If your specialty is countered by demons, that would be… unfortunate."
Kid raised a small metal arm.
"I brought intelligence on the demon leader. He possesses a unique ability that will likely require your special attention.
"Due to my restrictions, I cannot assist in combat. Please forgive me."
"What unique ability?" Wade asked.
"He can amplify negative emotions. Anyone who makes eye contact with him enters an uncontrollable frenzy."
Ah. Psychosis.
Wade nodded. "So as long as we don't let him see anyone, we're fine?"
"No, he can also forcibly—"
"What if there's zero contact? None of my monsters will appear in his or any demon's line of sight. They'll die without ever seeing the enemy."
Kid's voice trembled faintly with confusion.
"Zero contact…? Will you be using a spell beyond the King Tier?"
Wade shook his head.
"Something far more useful than magic."
He accepted the rescue request.