[Ding! Congratulations! You have successfully acquired your own territory.
Name: Blackleaf Town
Status: Ruined (So miserable that even dogs refuse to stay and birds won't land.)
Population: 2 (You and Ravenna)
Dungeons: 0
Please construct a Dungeon in this area immediately to attract more visitors.]
Alric stared at the notification window, then at the scene before him.
Blackleaf Town looked worse than he expected.
All around were crumbling houses, their walls barely standing. The dirt road was thick with mud; a single careless step might sink one's feet so deep that pulling them out would take real effort.
Cold winds blew through the empty streets, whistling past the hollow windows of abandoned houses.
The eerie sound of the wind made the place feel more like a ghost town than a human settlement.
"This place…"
"It seems there are no living people left." Ravenna spoke before Alric could finish his sentence.
He frowned. "No one at all?"
Ravenna didn't respond with words.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
From her sleeve, a crimson crow burst forth, its sharp cries echoing across the empty town as it ascended into the gray sky.
It circled the area several times while Alric stood quietly, waiting.
Moments later, the crow returned, landing on Ravenna's shoulder.
Caw! Caw!
It called twice, and Ravenna gave a small nod before turning to Alric. "Within a ten-kilometer radius, there are no signs of life. Not even animals."
Alric frowned, his gaze sweeping over the desolate town before shifting toward the distant mountain range.
"So… everyone ran away," he murmured.
"Ran away?" Ravenna asked, confused.
Alric didn't reply right away. He walked toward one of the dilapidated houses, brushed his fingers along its wall, then held them up for her to see.
"Dust."
"Dust? Isn't that… normal?" Ravenna tilted her head.
Alric shook his head. "It is. But black dust like this doesn't form just anywhere."
"This kind of residue only comes from large fires—but there are no burn marks here, no ash layers, no scorched beams. Which means there's only one possible explanation."
He pointed toward the mountain in the distance. "A volcano."
"A volcano?" Ravenna followed his finger, uncertainty clouding her tone. "So what now? Are we abandoning this place?"
"No." Alric shook his head. "I don't have enough money left to buy another property. Besides, this location is ideal for future development. Moving elsewhere would waste too much time."
Of course, there was another reason—one he didn't mention aloud.
The System's time bomb.
If he didn't build and activate a Dungeon soon, the countdown would reach zero—and no amount of magic could save him from the Self-Destruction sequence.
If the volcano erupted, he could use magic or other means to mitigate the damage. But if the System detonated itself, there would be nowhere to run.
Alric sighed.
Seeing that, Ravenna immediately said, "Don't worry. I'll be by your side and help you through everything."
He gave her a sharp look, his tone serious. "You still have the chance to leave."
"I told you before." Ravenna's voice matched his seriousness as she lifted her hand and slowly removed her mask.
Beneath it was a face marred by terrible burns—skin wrinkled and hardened like cooled magma, with one side of her lips melted away, revealing her teeth underneath.
Alric's eyes met the grotesque sight without flinching. His expression remained calm, detached, unreadable.
Ravenna studied his reaction for a long while before putting the mask back on. "Just as you accepted me, I will remain loyal to you—forever."
Alric scratched his head, his expression indifferent. "Alright, alright. But you don't have to use such a dramatic word like loyalty."
He then glanced at the System interface floating beside him and asked silently in his mind:
'System, I can place the Dungeon entrance anywhere I want, right?'
[Ding! Affirmative. The System will not interfere with your Dungeon construction process. However, please make wise decisions if you wish to complete your mission successfully.]
Alric turned his gaze toward the distant castle and said to Ravenna, "Come on. Let's check out that castle."
Then he climbed back into the carriage. Ravenna glanced around once, then lightly waved her hand.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
From her sleeve, three more crimson crows burst forth. Along with the one perched on her shoulder, they scattered in four different directions.
…
When Alric finally saw the castle up close, he let out a faint sigh of relief.
It was built of solid stone, still structurally sound despite being covered in a layer of volcanic ash. Thick vines and overgrown plants clung to the walls, showing it had been abandoned for years—but not beyond use.
"This place isn't as bad as I thought," Alric murmured.
Indeed, compared to the state of the town, the castle looked practically pristine.
He started toward the heavy front doors, but Ravenna suddenly called out, "Wait."
"Hm?" Alric turned, puzzled.
Ravenna didn't answer immediately. She closed her eyes, as if sensing something unseen.
A moment later, she opened them again and said softly, "Let me go first."
"Ah, okay." Alric nodded and crossed his arms, waiting.
Ravenna pushed the doors open.
Krrriiick!
The hinges groaned loudly, the sound echoing through the silent air.
She stepped inside. After a while, she returned and nodded once.
Alric understood—it was safe. He entered the castle.
"Son of a—!" His voice echoed through the empty halls. "Seriously? That bastard took everything! Even the carpets?!"
Indeed, the interior was stripped bare. No furniture, no paintings, not even a vase or curtain remained. Only the cold stone walls were left behind.
Even the window frames had been removed, allowing the wind to whistle through the open gaps, filling the empty halls with a hollow, lonely sound.
That sound wasn't frightening—it was humiliating. The kind of sound that reminded you of how poor you were.
"Would you like me to clean up this place?" Ravenna asked gently.
Alric frowned, ready to agree—then paused. "No need. I'll build the Dungeon here."
"Heh?!" Ravenna blinked. "Here? Inside this castle?"
"That's right. Is there a problem?"
"Not a problem… but are you sure about this?" she asked cautiously. "Even though you're the Demon King's son, opening a Dungeon will draw attention—humans, other races, even the Church and the Imperial Armies."
"You're far too weak right now. If you expose yourself by activating a Dungeon, you'll be destroyed before it even grows."
Alric looked at her and smiled—a lazy, confident smile that carried a hint of mischief. He patted her shoulder. "Everyone else uses Dungeons to wage war against humans. I'm going to run mine as a business."
Yes—while most Demon Lords used Dungeons as breeding grounds for armies or traps to weaken humanity over time, humans saw them differently.
To humans, a Dungeon was a treasure vault. Slaying monsters meant loot—energy crystals, valuable materials, and rare resources.
For millennia, Dungeons had been both the weapon of the Demon Realm and the hunting grounds of mankind—a strange symbiosis that had lasted over two thousand years and would likely continue far into the future.
Ravenna stared at him, eyes filled with endless curiosity. She wanted to understand his plan but knew better than to interrupt.
"Alright then!" Alric waved dismissively. "You don't need to worry about the details. Once the Dungeon's built, you'll understand. Just do what I tell you for now."
Ravenna nodded. "At least let me clean one room for you to rest in."
"Ah, you're right," Alric smiled. "Thank you."
Seeing his smile—and hearing his sincere tone—Ravenna's heart skipped a beat. Her fingers tightened slightly as she murmured shyly, "You… you don't need to thank me. I'm your wife. It's my duty to take care of you."
"Hahahaha…" Alric laughed cheerfully before walking away.
Ravenna watched his retreating back, her hand pressed against her chest. Quietly, she whispered to herself, "Do I… even deserve to stay by your side?"
Unaware of her thoughts, Alric walked deeper into the castle until he reached a wide open courtyard at its center.
The castle wasn't fully enclosed—it formed a U-shape against the cliffside.
Behind it lay a vast garden bordering the mountain wall, spanning nearly a thousand square meters. Overgrown trees and vines had transformed it into something resembling a miniature forest.
Alric surveyed the area and nodded to himself. "This place will do nicely."
'System,' he said inwardly, 'I want to begin installing the Dungeon gate here.'
[Ding! Please select the exact location for Dungeon Gate installation.]
"That spot," Alric said, pointing toward the center of the courtyard.