Alric pointed toward the cliff face, where dense vegetation covered everything, making it impossible to see the rock wall beneath.
At that moment, a three-dimensional holographic map appeared before him. Alric blinked in surprise, realizing that he could control it with his thoughts alone.
He rubbed his chin and muttered, "Convenient. It doesn't just show terrain—it even displays the geological layers around the area."
"The structure's solid… perfect for building the Dungeon entrance."
He dragged a miniature 3D model of a gate and placed it against the cliffside on the map.
[Ding! Are you certain of this decision?]
"Certain!"
Whoosh!
A gust of wind swept through the overgrown forest. The trees and vines slithered aside like snakes, revealing a narrow path leading directly to the mountain wall.
And there, embedded in the cliff, a circular stone gate slowly emerged.
It wasn't large—about three meters tall and one and a half meters wide—but its surface was carved with countless runic symbols that glowed with a faint, mysterious violet light.
[Ding! Congratulations! You have successfully installed the Dungeon Entrance.
Reward: Newbie Gift Pack. Would you like to open it now?]
"Newbie Gift Pack?" Alric frowned. "Fine, open it."
[Ding! Gift Pack opened successfully. You have obtained:
E.P (Energy Points): 100,000Level 1 Protection TokenDungeon Core – Level 1Storage Space: 10 × 10 × 10 meters
All items have been placed into your Dungeon Inventory. Please check your status to confirm.]
Immediately, Alric sensed the presence of a vast space within his consciousness—a cubic pocket of still, suspended reality roughly ten meters on each side.
He issued a command mentally: "System, display details of the items I just received."
A translucent window appeared before his eyes.
Energy Points (E.P): Used to design and construct Dungeon structures. Level 1 Protection Token: Protects your Dungeon from destruction caused by Level 1 Awakened individuals. Dungeon Core: Functions as a virtual assistant (A.I.) capable of managing Dungeon operations according to your directives. Storage Space: A time-stopped dimensional vault. Anything stored inside remains in its exact state regardless of how much time passes.
Note: Living beings cannot be stored inside.
Alric read through the list and nodded approvingly.
[Ding! Would you like to begin Dungeon construction immediately?]
"No."
System: […]
Alric stretched his arms, yawning. "That's enough for today. I'm going to sleep. We'll continue tomorrow."
[You're unbelievably lazy.]
"You forgot to say 'Ding!' before that," Alric teased with a smirk.
[Too lazy to bother using that sound with you.]
"Hahahaha…"
And with that, the would-be Creator God of the Dungeon turned away, his laughter echoing softly as the violet runes on the stone gate pulsed faintly in the twilight.
Inside a grand hall decorated in the ornate style of old European nobility, the air was heavy with tension.
A fat, middle-aged man sat on a gilded chair, sweat rolling down his flushed face. He bowed his head slightly, hands trembling on his knees, the look of a man who knew his life hung by a thread.
Across from him sat a woman in light armor, her platinum hair shimmering beneath the candlelight. One arm rested on the armrest, her chin propped against her hand, eyes cold and indifferent as she looked at him.
If Alric were here, he would have immediately recognized the man—Baron Bruk.
Before the youngest son of the Demon King, Bruk had acted calm and even condescending. But now, facing this white-haired woman, he looked more like a frightened rabbit cornered by a starving wolf.
The woman frowned, her gaze briefly flicking toward the small chest of gold coins sitting on the table before shifting back to Bruk.
"So… you sold an entire town—and two thousand innocent souls—to a Demon King for a chest of gold?" Her tone was detached, but within that calm voice lurked a chilling killing intent that made Bruk's body quiver.
He hurriedly raised his hands, voice trembling. "Lord Catrina, please—let me explain!"
"Ah." Catrina arched an eyebrow. "I'm listening, Baron Bruk."
Bruk took a deep breath. His stomach churned, but he forced himself to speak. "Lord Catrina, I… I am not a fool. I thought carefully before making that sale."
"Hm?" Her eyes narrowed like blades. She didn't need to speak—the threat in her gaze was enough.
Bruk wiped the sweat from his face, his words spilling out in a rush. "The buyer may be a Demon King, but he's Alric—the useless one, the outcast from the Demon Realm. I figured he only wanted to feel powerful, or maybe start his own tiny army. That's all."
"In truth, five years ago, the volcano near Blackleaf awakened. It didn't erupt, but the ash covered everything within a hundred-mile radius. The town was abandoned long ago—it's basically a wasteland now."
"And since there are no valuable resources left, I thought—"
"You thought that selling it to a Demon King wouldn't cause any harm?" Catrina cut him off coldly.
Bruk froze, then forced out a shaky laugh. "Y-Yes, that's right! Hahaha… Lord Catrina, please, you worry too much. He's just a useless fool. If he dares attack humanity, the Church will wipe him out easily."
"And if he builds a Dungeon, even better! We'll have a steady source of resources."
BAM!
"Ack!"
Catrina slammed her fist on the table. The sound echoed through the room like a thunderclap.
Bruk yelped and nearly fell off his chair. He bent forward at once, trembling. "I-I'm sorry, Lord Catrina! Please forgive me! I—"
"You disappoint me, Baron Bruk." Her voice was calm, but her words cut colder than steel. "Even if he's useless, he's still a Demon King. He has the power to rally the Demon Race and start a war."
"When that happens, countless people will die. Families will be torn apart. Tell me, Baron Bruk—who will bear that responsibility?"
Bruk felt his blood turn to ice. His knees shook uncontrollably, and for a moment he thought he might collapse entirely.
Catrina exhaled through her nose, her eyes hard. "I know you love gold, Baron Bruk. But that doesn't justify selling the lives of thousands to a Demon King. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Bruk nodded frantically, his voice quivering. "I-I understand, my Lady. But… but the contract has already been sealed with magic. I can't revoke the sale."
"You're right," Catrina said, folding her arms. Her tone softened slightly but remained stern. "We are human. Breaking an oath—especially a magical one—would make us no better than demons."
Her gaze lingered on the trembling Baron, filled with both contempt and disappointment.
And in that suffocating silence, the flickering light of the candles made the gold coins in the chest gleam mockingly—like the laughter of sin itself.
"Alright, you may leave now. Tomorrow, I'll bring my forces there myself—to see what he intends to do."
Catrina picked up a gold coin from the table, her tone icy. "If he's only planning to build a Dungeon, I'll let him live a little longer. But if he's gathering an army of demons, then…"
She didn't finish her sentence. Instead, her hand clenched tightly.
Crack!
The sharp sound echoed in the silent room. Catrina slowly opened her palm, revealing the gold coin bent out of shape by sheer pressure.
Bruk trembled, his voice quivering. "L-Lord Catrina, I… I can…"
"What could you possibly do with that pig-like body of yours?" Catrina frowned.
Bruk: "…"
…
Morning came.
Alric woke up inside the carriage. Since the castle lacked any furniture—and was far too dirty besides—he had decided to sleep in the carriage instead.
He rubbed his neck, yawning lazily. "Ah… I really don't want to work today. I just want to sleep."
"Alric!" Ravenna's voice called from outside.
He sighed, still in his sleepwear, and stepped out of the carriage.
"Ah?" Alric blinked in surprise. Before him was a clean table and two chairs. On the table lay a plate of cooked meat and salad.
He sat down, curious. "Where did you find all this?"
Ravenna took a seat across from him, placing her hands neatly on the table. "In the town. I just had to wash them thoroughly with clean water, and they're still usable."
"Uhm." Alric speared a piece of meat with his fork and tasted it. It was surprisingly good. "And this food?"
"There are still plenty of wild animals in the nearby forest," Ravenna replied. "But there's something I don't understand… You don't need to eat to survive. As long as you absorb energy, that's enough. So why do you still eat so much?"
Alric used his fork to pick up a piece of salad and chewed slowly. Then he sliced off a small piece of meat, dipped it in sauce, and held it out toward her.
Ravenna looked at him, her voice quiet. "I don't want to spoil your appetite."
Alric didn't answer, simply holding his fork steady.
With a soft sigh, Ravenna removed her mask, revealing her horribly scarred face once more.
But Alric's expression didn't change. He looked at her as if her face were the most natural thing in the world.
Ravenna leaned forward and took the piece of meat into her mouth.
Alric smiled. "Good?"
She nodded lightly before putting her mask back on.
"That's what I want to feel," Alric said with a gentle grin. "If you live without ever truly feeling the world around you, then that life is meaningless."
Ravenna looked up at him. For a brief moment, her clear eyes shimmered with emotions she herself couldn't name. Then she quickly lowered her gaze to hide them.
Alric chuckled softly. "Hahaha… Next time, let's eat together."
Ravenna bit her lip, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Alright."