Chapter 4 - Exploration (1)

　　"It really is just a straight shot to the core," Taehyun remarked, his voice echoing slightly in the cavern. After a quick meal, he and Riel began their inspection of Balak. The dungeon was exactly as she’d described: a single, linear passage that offered a laughably easy route for any invader. He studied the intermittently glowing phosphorescent stones embedded in the walls, his mind racing.

　　At this rate, traps or other defenses would be useless. He either had to change the entire layout or devise an alternative plan. After examining all five rooms, Taehyun returned to his private chamber and checked the system message.

　　[System Directive]

　　[3. Use the crown-shaped icon to enter the Dungeon Master’s private chamber. Then, press the newly generated map icon to open the World Map.]

　　[Warning: Failure to comply within one hour will result in the destruction of the Crystal Sphere. The destruction of the Crystal Sphere will result in the death of the Dungeon Master.]

　　"The World Map, huh," Taehyun murmured, following the instructions. He tapped the map icon, and a vast chart of the Astral Continent unfolded before him. Most of it was shrouded in black, but he could make out the names of a few major landmarks, empires, and kingdoms.

　　[System Directive]

　　[You have cleared the third tutorial quest.]

　　[Reward: 30 Experience Points.]

　　[Reward: 600 Zen.]

　　As soon as the map opened, a notification confirmed he had cleared the quest. He was about to dismiss it when a triumphant fanfare echoed in his mind.

　　[Your level has increased!]

　　[The mana value of Dungeon Balak’s Crystal Sphere has increased by 1.]

　　It was a level-up notification. So the mana value increases every time I level up, he realized. This meant that nearly everything—skills, stats, special abilities, troops, even the dungeon itself—was tied to his level. Eager to see the changes, Taehyun opened his status window.

　　[Name: Taehyun Yoo]

　　[Age: 22]

　　[Nationality: Republic of Korea]

　　[Level: 2]

　　[Rank: D]

　　[Class: None]

　　[Title: None]

　　[Affiliation: Dungeon Master]

　　[Guild: None]

　　[Strength: 1] [Endurance: 1] [Agility: 1] [Stamina: 1]

　　[Mana: 1] [Affinity: 1] [Luck: 1]

　　What the hell? he thought, scanning the window again. Nothing changed. My level went up, but my stats and rank are exactly the same.

　　There were no stat points to distribute, either; the window was static. He scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed. He’d gotten his hopes up over reaching level two.

　　Of course, I’m just a low-level scrub. What did I expect?

　　Disappointed, he checked his skills, special abilities, and dungeon information, but everything remained unchanged. He finally turned his attention to the new system message that had appeared.

　　What now?

　　[System Directive]

　　[4. Attempt to explore the area near the dungeon with your summoned soldiers.]

　　[Warning: Failure to comply within one hour will result in the destruction of the Crystal Sphere. The destruction of the Crystal Sphere will result in the death of the Dungeon Master.]

　　"Are you proceeding with the exploration tutorial now?" Riel asked, returning to his side. She had gone to the kitchen and, having already mastered the modern appliances, returned with a freshly brewed cup of tea. Taehyun still found her rapid adaptation unsettling, but he managed an awkward nod.

　　"Yeah. It’s telling me to start exploring. Seriously, though, how did you get used to all this modern stuff in a single day? It’s baffling."

　　"I am a being created solely for the purpose of supporting my Master," she explained calmly. "From the moment a Dungeon Master is chosen, I am infused with a certain amount of information about them. That is how I knew your favorite dish on the first day."

　　"I see… But don’t you ever feel conflicted? About why you’re doing all this? You don’t feel any… resistance?"

　　"I have never had such a thought," Riel answered without a flicker of hesitation, her expression firm. "To assist my Master is the very definition of my happiness as a Supporter."

　　A wave of pity washed over Taehyun. She was born without freedom, her entire existence defined by a duty to serve him. It was a sad, hollow purpose. But whether she sensed his thoughts or not, she urged him to begin.

　　"Please, don’t worry about me. Proceed with the quest."

　　"Right, I was just about to."

　　"Yes. And please, have your tea."

　　"Uhh, okay."

　　Her parental tone made him break out in a cold sweat. He quickly pressed the glittering exploration button on the map interface.

　　[Please assemble the troops for the exploration.]

　　It’s not like I have much choice, he thought, assigning the goblins to the party. They hadn’t been given any specific roles yet, but exploration was the priority.

　　[Please purchase any necessary items and equipment before departure.]

　　"Huh? Do I have to buy items every time I send them out?" he asked.

　　"No, not necessarily," Riel explained. "Normally, it is standard practice to purchase supplies and equip your troops for each expedition, much like the Raiders do. However, since this is a tutorial quest, it shouldn’t be too difficult. You may proceed as you are."

　　"Alright. Then let’s add Blue Eye to the mix and get started."

　　With that, Taehyun launched his first exploration. Behind him, Riel watched the goblin icon appear on the world map, her expression laced with anxiety.

　　I wonder if he can handle this, she thought, the memory of his earlier weakness still fresh in her mind. She couldn’t shake the disappointment she’d felt, and she watched the expedition begin with a knot of unease in her stomach.

* * *

　　"Kieek!" The goblins screeched, finally free from the dungeon, leaped about with pent-up energy, chattering excitedly about where they should go play. Their fun, however, was short-lived.

　　Blue Eye, their appointed overseer, glared at them with its enormous single eye, and the threat was clear.

　　The goblins flinched, sensing their master’s aura emanating from the tiny familiar. As soldiers of the Dungeon Master, Taehyun’s commands were absolute. Resigned, they fell into line and began their exploration in earnest, following the will conveyed through Blue Eye.

* * *

　　"They’re actually following my orders," Taehyun marveled.

　　On the screen generated by Blue Eye’s shared vision, the goblins moved with purpose. They were only five low-grade monsters, but for now, they were his loyal subordinates. He switched between the icon-based map and the first-person view from Blue Eye, confirming they had just cleared the valley.

　　"The blacked-out areas are being revealed."

　　As they advanced, the fog of war on the map began to recede, unveiling the surrounding landscape.

　　[Balak’s exploration party has entered the Forest of Silence.]

　　[A swamp, the habitat of Imps, has been discovered.]

　　Soon, a dense forest filled his view. Through Blue Eye’s vision, Taehyun spotted small, hunched creatures loitering in a murky swamp.

　　They look like Gollum, he thought.

　　Demonic imps, drawn to the swamp’s foul energy. They were winged, dwarf-like monsters, the first of their kind he had ever seen.

　　[The Imps of the Forest of Silence are wary of the lowest-grade goblins.]

　　[Warning!]

　　[The Imps are displaying hostility toward the lowest-grade goblins.]

　　What the hell? Are they going to fight? Do my goblins even have weapons?

　　The imps were already crawling out of the swamp, their eyes fixed on his goblins. In response, his troops brandished their crude clubs, preparing for a fight.

　　[The battle has begun.]

　　[Information on the Swamp Imps has been updated.]

　　[Imp of the Forest of Silence]

　　[Rank: D]

　　[Level: 1]

　　[Class: None]

　　[Title: None]

　　[Affiliation: None]

　　[Skills: None]

　　[Special Abilities: None]

　　[Strength: 1] [Endurance: 1] [Agility: 1] [Stamina: 1]

　　[Mana: 2] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 1] [Luck: 1]

　　Their stats are similar, but my goblins have 2 Agility while the imps have 2 Mana. Are they spellcasters?

　　As if to answer his question, the imps created some distance and began hurling small fireballs. The goblins panicked, getting picked off by the relentless barrage of fire.

　　What are you doing? Taehyun mentally screamed, issuing commands through Blue Eye. Close the distance! Use the terrain!

　　"Kieek!" The goblins screeched and nodded frantically and scrambled for cover behind the trees. Their desire to live outweighed their fear, and they followed his orders instantly.

　　Taehyun then split their forces.

　　Two to the left, three to the right. Flank them! Disperse their attacks!

　　He drew on years of gaming experience, using the environment to his advantage. Splitting his troops would force the imps to divide their fire and lose focus.

　　The effect was immediate.

　　"Kieek!" The screeches began.

　　The imps grew confused, unsure which group to target. Seizing the opening, Taehyun ordered the charge.

　　The goblins shrilly shrieked with glee, rushing forward and mercilessly clubbing the imps. A moment later, the battle was over.

　　Balak’s first expedition was a success.

　　[You have won the battle against the Imps of the Swamp in the Forest of Silence.]

　　[Balak’s exploration party gains 10 EXP.]

　　[The goblins’ combat experience has increased slightly.]

　　[The goblins’ morale has increased from their first victory.]

　　[Acquired: 3 Lowest-Grade Swamp Imp Corpses.]

　　[Acquired: 1 Lowest-Grade Mana Stone.]

　　Taehyun reviewed the results, an unexpected thrill coursing through him. He was risking his life to build this dungeon, but the feeling of playing a high-stakes game was exhilarating.

　　This is surprisingly fun!

　　Better yet, sitting in his room and issuing commands through a screen wasn’t difficult at all. In fact, it was almost comfortable.

　　[System Directive]

　　[You have cleared the fourth tutorial quest.]

　　[Reward: 40 Experience Points.]

　　[Reward: 700 Zen.]

　　With the objective met, the fourth tutorial quest was complete. Taehyun recalled the goblins to the dungeon and ended the connection with Blue Eye.

　　He has the basics down, at least, Riel thought, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. Taehyun possessed the fundamental skills of a Dungeon Master. It was too early to trust him completely, but she could afford to wait and see.

　　"You’ve successfully completed your first exploration and battle. Congratulations," she said. "If you distribute some food to the returning goblins, their loyalty will increase."

　　"Right. They worked hard, so they deserve a meal. I assume I’ll have to feed them every day from now on?"

　　"That is correct. All troops, except for you and me, require sustenance. You can purchase food from the Soldier-Exclusive Shop, the second icon."

　　"Got it. Well, I have more Zen now. I’ll buy them enough to fill their bellies."

　　"Oh, and you can sell the monster corpses to the shop," Riel added. "A lowest-grade Swamp Imp corpse should fetch about 20 Zen."

　　Spoils of war could be sold directly to the system shop or to traveling merchants, though it was too early to worry about the latter. Following Riel’s advice, Taehyun opened the soldier-exclusive shop. He felt a slight revulsion at the sight of animal carcasses for sale, but since they were just icons, it wasn’t too unsettling. He purchased a supply of food for his victorious troops.

　　That day, the goblins feasted, and Taehyun, feeling a renewed sense of purpose, moved on to the next tutorial, focusing all his attention on exploration.

* * *