Chapter 43: The First Floor Is Done

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The First Floor Is Done

The system had clearly taken his size into consideration when creating it. The ceiling was high enough for his four-meter-tall body, and the bed itself was enormous, large enough for Ragnar to lie down without his legs hanging over the edge.

Ragnar stared at it for a moment.

"...Finally."

He walked over and sat down.

The bed sank slightly beneath his enormous weight.

Ragnar leaned backward.

"This is much better."

Veyra stood at the entrance, watching him with a faint smile.

"You really were sleeping on the throne this entire time?"

Ragnar closed his eyes.

"Yes."

"My Lord..."

"I told you, I’ve been busy."

Veyra giggled.

"I suppose even a Dungeon Master needs somewhere comfortable to sleep."

Ragnar opened his eyes.

"Exactly."

He looked around the room and decided not to add too many decorations. Unlike Veyra’s room, he didn’t need an elaborate demonic environment.

He simply wanted somewhere private and comfortable where he could rest without worrying about someone suddenly walking into the throne room.

After making a few adjustments, Ragnar returned to the throne room.

He looked around, there was one final problem. The dungeon was becoming larger, and more monsters had been added.

More rooms had been created, and more corridors needed to be maintained.

And yet there was nobody to clean the place.

Ragnar looked at the dusty corners of the throne room.

"...Who’s going to clean all of this?"

Veyra blinked.

"I can, but only your room, my lord."

Ragnar opened the system shop. He began scrolling through the available summons.

There were various monsters, magical creatures, warriors, beasts, and other strange beings.

Then he saw something unexpected.

[Monster Maid]

[Race: Lesser Demon Beast]

[Role: Dungeon Maid]

[Abilities: Cleaning, Cooking, Basic Maintenance, Monster Care]

[Level: 5]

[Cost: 2 Soul Points each]

Ragnar stared at the description. Veyra walked over and looked at the interface.

Her expression became amused.

Ragnar pointed toward the dungeon around them.

"I need someone to clean this place."

Veyra nodded thoughtfully.

Ragnar looked at the price. Five would cost ten Soul Points.

He currently had enough for them, but buying them would once again leave him with almost nothing.

He stared at the interface for a few moments.

Then he sighed.

"Whatever."

He selected five.

"Purchase five Monster Maids."

[Ding!]

[Ten Soul Points have been consumed.]

[Five Monster Maids have been summoned.]

A faint magical circle appeared in the middle of the throne room.

Five figures emerged from it one after another.

They were small compared to Ragnar, but each possessed obvious demonic characteristics. They had small horns, pointed ears, thin tails, and slightly unusual eyes that marked them as monsters.

They were dressed in simple maid uniforms, each carrying cleaning equipment.

The five immediately bowed toward Ragnar.

"Greetings, Master."

Their voices echoed softly through the throne room.

Ragnar stared at them.

"...That was fast."

One of the maids raised her head.

"We are ready to serve, Master."

Ragnar pointed toward the surrounding dungeon.

"Your main responsibility is keeping this dungeon clean and organized."

"Understood, Master."

"You can also help take care of the other monsters."

"Understood."

"Don’t interfere with the monsters when they’re fighting intruders."

"Understood."

Ragnar nodded.

"Good."

The five maids immediately separated. One began cleaning the throne room, and another headed toward the corridors.

A third went toward the monster areas, apparently intending to inspect them.

The remaining two began organizing the various objects scattered around the dungeon.

Ragnar watched them work for a moment.

"...This is actually useful."

The dungeon had changed considerably in only a short period of time.

It now contained more than eighty monsters scattered throughout the first floor. There were ordinary monsters, stronger creatures, mini-bosses, and the small demonic creatures inhabiting Veyra’s private room. Now there were also five Monster Maids maintaining the entire place.

Ragnar opened his status interface one final time.

[Dungeon Master: Ragnar Lindgren

Level: 20

Race: Demon

Dungeon Floor: 1

Monsters: 87

Subordinates: 1

Soul Points: 0]

Ragnar stared at the final number. He couldn’t help but laugh.

"Zero again."

All the Soul Points he had painstakingly collected from the thirteen adventurers were gone.

But when he looked around the throne room, he couldn’t say that he regretted spending them.

His dungeon was no longer the crude, nearly empty dungeon he had started with.

It had become a genuine stronghold.

There were more than fifty monsters throughout the first floor.

There were hidden passages and dangerous corridors. There were treasure rooms designed to tempt adventurers.

There were traps designed to punish careless explorers. There were monster territories and mini-boss chambers.

Veyra had her own room.

He had his own hidden bedroom behind the throne.

And five Monster Maids were already working throughout the dungeon, keeping everything clean and orderly.

Ragnar slowly sat down upon his throne.

His enormous body settled against the backrest while his huge greatsword remained strapped across his back.

He looked at the dungeon management screen one final time.

[Available Soul Points: 0]

Ragnar smiled.

"Alright."

He folded his arms.

"Now I just need someone to come in and give me more."

Veyra, standing beside him, covered her mouth as she laughed softly.

"My Lord really has become a proper Dungeon Master."

Ragnar’s grin widened.

"Of course."

He looked toward the distant entrance of his dungeon.

"Come on, adventurers."

His crimson eyes gleamed.

"Don’t keep me waiting."

----

The following day, Mayor Cedric’s office was unusually quiet.

The silence inside the room was so heavy that even the faint ticking of the clock mounted on the wall seemed unnaturally loud. Cedric sat behind his large wooden desk with a grim expression, one hand resting against his forehead as he stared at the reports scattered before him.

None of them contained the news he had been hoping for.

In fact, there was barely any news at all. That was precisely the problem, the expedition had not returned.

A full day had already passed since Darian and the other adventurers entered the dungeon hidden deep within the forest. They had gone in with twenty-three people, including members of Ironfang, several experienced adventurers, and a mage sent by the Adventurer’s Guild specifically to assist with the dungeon assessment.