Emperor Shiroi walked toward the man waiting at the gate.
The man had black hair and sapphire-blue eyes—eyes almost identical to Shiroi's.
Risa followed a few steps behind him, observing quietly.
Shiroi stopped in front of the man and crossed his arms casually.
"It's been a while," he said. "You've been hiding for so long I figured you were getting too comfortable in the Demon Realm."
The man smirked.
"I've just been busy," he replied calmly. "My people are quite happy working in the Arudi Dungeon."
Shiroi's expression grew more serious.
"Do your people still need work?"
The man tilted his head slightly.
"Why?"
Shiroi answered bluntly.
"I'm going to need a lot of monsters soon."
The man's smile turned challenging.
"How many do you need?"
Risa blinked in confusion as she listened to the exchange.
But suddenly—
Both Shiroi and the man burst into laughter.
A moment later they stepped forward and embraced each other like brothers.
Watching them, Risa immediately sensed how close they were.
Ashcroft, who had walked up behind her, spoke calmly.
"Prince Kurogami."
Risa looked at him in surprise.
"Kurogami?"
Shiroi turned toward her and gestured for her to come closer.
"Risa, come here."
She stepped forward.
Shiroi smiled.
"This is my twin brother."
"Kurogami."
Risa let out a small breath of relief and immediately gave a formal bow.
"My name is Risa En Swardberg. It's an honor to meet you."
Shiroi added casually,
"She's my future wife."
Kurogami raised an eyebrow, then laughed softly.
"Well then."
He gently patted Risa's shoulder.
"Welcome to the Kainaldia Empire… and to the Ragnaros family."
At that moment, Vergil and Freya arrived from behind the convoy.
"Perfect timing," Vergil said with a grin.
"Good to see you again," Freya added.
Kurogami nodded.
"Uncle Vergil. Aunt Freya."
Vergil glanced toward the forest gate.
"Two weeks until the Kainaldia Festival begins."
Shiroi turned toward him.
"Uncle Vergil, did the invitation reach King Edward XIV?"
Vergil nodded.
"He and the Alfana delegation will attend."
"Good."
Shiroi then looked toward the sealed forest gate.
"In that case… it's time we invite Spirit Queen Lumina as the festival's guest of honor."
Ashcroft and Axel both nodded in agreement.
The guards at the gate immediately opened the massive iron barrier.
Shiroi stepped forward until he stood directly before the entrance to the forest.
Then he raised his voice.
"Queen Lumina!"
"I, Emperor Shiroi of the Kainaldia Empire, request your presence!"
"I have matters to discuss… and an official invitation to deliver!"
For a moment, the forest was silent.
Then movement appeared among the trees.
A large deer stepped out from the forest.
Without hesitation, Shiroi dropped to one knee before it.
Risa watched in surprise.
The deer shimmered with faint light—and suddenly transformed into a man.
"Please stand, Your Majesty," the man said calmly.
Shiroi rose.
"The Spirit Queen wishes to know your purpose here."
Shiroi nodded respectfully.
"I came for two reasons."
"First, I want to confirm whether there have been any disturbances from outsiders beyond the guards protecting the Forbidden Forest."
He paused.
"Second, I would like to formally invite Queen Lumina to attend the Kainaldia Festival as our honored guest."
The man nodded slightly.
"Her Majesty will answer both matters personally."
A moment later, several spirits in the forms of animals emerged from the forest behind him.
Foxes made of shimmering light.
Birds glowing softly.
Small wolf-like creatures moving silently between the trees.
The Kainaldia guards didn't react at all.
They were clearly accustomed to this.
Risa quietly leaned toward Kurogami.
"…Are all of those spirits?"
Kurogami nodded calmly.
"Yes."
A brilliant light suddenly appeared in front of Shiroi.
From within the radiance emerged an elegant woman with long emerald-green hair and deep violet eyes. Her presence alone radiated an overwhelming aura of grace and authority.
Emperor Shiroi immediately dropped to one knee.
The woman raised a hand gently.
"You may stand, Emperor Shiroi."
Recognizing her instantly, Shiroi rose respectfully.
"Spirit Queen Lumina," he said. "I appreciate your appearance. I was hoping to hear your answer regarding the situation in the forest."
Queen Lumina smiled softly.
"The Kainaldia Empire has honored its promise," she said calmly. "You allowed the spirits to remain in the forest without interference. Not a single adventurer or citizen has disturbed them."
Shiroi nodded.
"I'm glad we can coexist peacefully with the spirits."
Lumina's smile widened slightly.
"And we are pleased to have such an understanding neighbor."
She paused for a moment before continuing with a teasing tone.
"I will attend your festival… but I must also remind you of a promise you made to me."
Risa, who had been listening quietly, suddenly stepped forward.
"Your Majesty… what promise?"
Lumina looked at her with gentle amusement.
"Long ago, Emperor Shiroi promised that when the time came, he would become the husband of Spirit Princess Yuna."
Risa froze for a moment.
Lumina continued calmly.
"It was decided long ago that Emperor Shiroi is destined to have three wives."
Kurogami, Vergil, Freya, Ashcroft, Axel, and even Vergil's children all nodded in agreement.
Lumina then clarified,
"Princess Yuna will become the Emperor's second wife. However, as promised by Emperor Shiroi himself… Risa will remain his first wife."
Risa looked slightly overwhelmed but remained silent.
Shiroi cleared his throat and shifted the discussion.
"Your Majesty, I would also like to request permission to construct a dungeon in the mountain range near the newly established western village."
Lumina considered the request briefly before nodding.
"That mountain is not volcanic. You may build as deep as you wish—it will remain stable."
She then added,
"If necessary, the leaders of the spirits will personally assist in the construction. Consider it our way of thanking you."
She looked directly at Shiroi.
"You kept your promise to protect the spirits and redeemed the sins of King Ventris, who once disturbed our people."
Shiroi spoke firmly.
"In the Kainaldia Empire, all races and creatures are welcome to coexist. The kingdom that existed before us simply became too greedy."
Lumina nodded approvingly.
"I am pleased to see that there are still rulers who wish to be good neighbors in this land."
She raised her hand, and a soft glow spread through the air.
"May all endeavors and celebrations during the Kainaldia Festival proceed smoothly. I grant my blessing."
Shiroi and Risa immediately knelt.
"Thank you for your blessing, Your Majesty," Shiroi said respectfully.
Lumina gave a gentle farewell.
"Until we meet again."
In the blink of an eye, she and the surrounding spirits vanished into particles of light.
Silence returned to the area.
The guards calmly closed the massive gate once more.
Ashcroft let out a relieved sigh and glanced at Axel.
"Everything went according to plan… just like always."
Axel didn't react much. He simply nodded slightly.
He already knew Shiroi's intentions were good, and everything that had happened was in accordance with the promises the Emperor had made.
At that moment, the commander of the Forbidden Forest guard stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty, Lord Ragnar and Lady Eva are waiting for you at the palace."
Shiroi raised an eyebrow.
"Grandfather and Grandmother are already looking for me? That's unusual."
Kurogami chuckled softly.
"Well… that's just how they are."
Vergil and Freya laughed quietly as well. They knew very well how much Lord Ragnar and Lady Eva missed their grandchildren.
Soon after, Emperor Shiroi's entourage returned to their horse-drawn carriages and resumed their journey toward Dark Village.
About an hour later, the convoy passed through the massive gates of Dark Village.
The city guards immediately shouted orders.
"Make way for His Majesty!"
"Clear the road!"
The residents quickly stepped aside without hesitation, forming lines along the streets as the Emperor's procession passed through.
Many of them waved enthusiastically.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty!"
"Long live Emperor Shiroi!"
Shiroi waved back warmly from the carriage.
Risa watched the scene with fascination.
She noticed that many different races lived within Dark Village—humans, demons, beastfolk, and others. The capital's atmosphere was lively and welcoming, completely opposite to what its name suggested.
Soon the procession entered the palace grounds.
Once inside, the carriages came to a stop.
Vergil and his family stepped down first, stretching their bodies after the long journey.
Shiroi exited the carriage shortly after and immediately offered his hand to help Risa down.
Meanwhile, Axel—who had been riding on top of the carriage since their return from the Alfana Kingdom—jumped down and released a long breath.
"Finally…"
Ashcroft had just stepped down when several palace staff suddenly rushed toward him, surrounding him excitedly.
Shiroi noticed the commotion and walked over.
"What's going on?"
One of the palace staff quickly bowed.
"Your Majesty, we have received excellent news. The Northern Kingdom has surrendered unconditionally. Our forces have successfully occupied their capital."
Shiroi nodded calmly, already thinking ahead.
"In that case, send additional troops to secure the area. Dispatch construction materials immediately. Reconstruction and administrative restructuring must begin as soon as possible."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The palace staff hurried away to deliver the orders.
Vergil crossed his arms and smirked.
"Shiroyuki can be quite terrifying on the battlefield… especially when he's acting as the supreme military commander."
Just then, another palace attendant approached and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Lord Ragnar and Lady Eva are waiting for you."
Shiroi nodded.
"Understood."
He then turned to Risa.
"Come with me."
Together, they began walking toward the palace's family chamber where his grandparents were waiting.
When they arrived at the family chamber, Shiroi immediately saw two figures waiting inside.
A silver-haired man and a silver-haired woman sat across the room.
The moment Shiroi met the man's gaze, his body tensed.
Lord Ragnar's expression was incredibly serious, almost intimidating.
Lady Eva noticed the tension immediately and gestured calmly.
"Shiroi, Risa… please, sit down."
Shiroi and Risa quickly took their seats, though the heavy atmosphere created by Lord Ragnar's stern expression made the moment feel uncomfortable.
After a few seconds of silence, Lord Ragnar finally spoke.
"So… this is Shiroi's future wife?"
Shiroi nodded respectfully.
"Yes, Grandfather."
Suddenly—
Lord Ragnar burst into laughter.
Lady Eva followed immediately, laughing warmly.
Their previously cold and serious expressions vanished completely, replaced by relaxed smiles.
Risa blinked in surprise.
Before she could react, the door opened again.
A silver-haired woman with a sharp, icy gaze walked into the room.
She looked at Lord Ragnar with mild disapproval.
"Father… your little act almost frightened the Emperor's future wife."
Shiroi immediately recognized the voice.
He stood slightly and bowed his head politely.
"Greetings, Aunt Kazumi."
Kazumi glanced at him briefly and gave a casual nod.
"Hello, Shiroi."
A moment later, another woman entered the room. Unlike Kazumi, her expression was far more lively and expressive.
She sighed dramatically.
"Father, Mother… you two went a little too far this time."
Shiroi smiled faintly.
"Aunt Aeka, it's good to see you."
Risa looked between them in confusion.
She hadn't expected the two women who had just arrived to be Emperor Shiroi's aunts.
Noticing her confusion, Shiroi introduced them.
"The one with the colder gaze is Aunt Kazumi," he explained. "And the one who just arrived is Aunt Aeka."
Kazumi crossed her arms.
"It's a shame Izumi and Takano aren't here. They're busy helping big brother Creed."
Risa looked puzzled.
"Who are they?"
Shiroi answered calmly.
"They're my other uncle and aunt. They're not here right now… they're out traveling."
Lord Ragnar leaned back slightly before explaining further.
"My first four children were quadruplets."
He gestured casually.
"Shiroi's father is the youngest among those four."
Risa blinked in surprise.
"So… that means Emperor Shiroi's father has three older siblings?"
Shiroi nodded.
"You've already met the eldest."
Risa fell silent for a moment as realization slowly dawned on her.
Her eyes widened.
"Wait… does that mean Prince Vergil is the eldest of the four siblings?"
Lord Ragnar smiled.
"That's correct."
Risa finally realized just how large Emperor Shiroi's family truly was.
She could only sigh quietly.
Lady Eva smiled gently at her.
"While Shiroi was away, I asked the palace staff to prepare a room for you."
Just then, a palace servant arrived and bowed politely.
"This way, Lady Risa."
Risa followed the servant through several elegant hallways until they reached a large room prepared for her.
The room was immaculate.
A neatly arranged desk stood near a wide window, accompanied by a chair that looked far more comfortable than any she had used before.
But what immediately captured Risa's attention was the view.
From her window, she could see Dark Village in its entirety.
She walked closer to the window.
Outside, members of the Titania race—beings who looked very similar to angels—were flying gracefully through the sky while carrying out their daily duties.
Not far away, dragonfolk were training in the palace courtyard. They looked mostly human, but each had dragon wings and tails. Below them, a military instructor barked commands as they practiced combat formations.
On the street below, an orc carrying an enormous load walked beside a dwarf. The two were chatting enthusiastically about a strange weapon the orc had seen in a weapons shop earlier that day.
Nearby, an elf and a wizard were deep in discussion over a complex magical spell, both trying to figure out how to properly use it.
Risa watched the lively city with fascination.
She remembered something else as well.
The servant who had escorted her here had been a wolf woman—standing on two legs and speaking fluent human language.
And earlier on the main road, she had seen residents who looked human but had animal ears and tails.
Risa smiled softly.
"So it's true…"
She whispered to herself.
"The Kainaldia Empire really is a place where every race can live together peacefully."
Knock. Knock.
The sudden sound at the door startled her.
Risa turned quickly.
Prince Kurogami stood at the doorway.
"You startled me," Risa admitted.
Kurogami smirked slightly.
"Your fiancé is waiting in the meeting room."
He leaned casually against the doorframe.
"And trust me… the discussion you're about to hear will be very interesting."
He straightened up.
"Come on. I'll take you there."
Risa nodded and followed him out of the room.
When Risa arrived at the meeting room, several people were already seated.
Vergil and Freya were there along with all of their children. Lord Draven had also arrived and was standing near the large central table.
Shiroi noticed Risa enter and gestured toward one of the seats.
"Risa, come in."
He then turned to her and began making introductions.
"This is Lord Draven, the head of the Adventurers' Guild."
Lord Draven gave a respectful nod.
Risa bowed politely.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
She then took her seat beside Freya.
A moment later, the door opened again.
A man wearing the robes of a high-ranking mage walked into the room. Beside him was a blonde-haired woman, followed by two dwarves.
From the way they walked together, Risa could immediately sense that one of the dwarves was likely the dwarf woman's father.
Shiroi stood up and greeted the arriving mage with a firm handshake.
"Good to see you again, Alexhandra."
The mage returned the handshake professionally. Shiroi then shook hands with the young woman beside him as well.
Vergil and Freya exchanged knowing glances. They were already familiar with Shiroi's professional manner.
Freya gently leaned toward Risa.
"Relax," she whispered softly. "Just focus on the meeting."
Once everyone was seated, Emperor Shiroi began the meeting.
"Thank you all for coming."
He gestured toward Risa.
"Before we begin, I would like to formally introduce someone. This is Risa—my fiancée—and she will be part of this discussion."
Lord Draven looked at Risa and lowered his head respectfully.
"Lady Risa."
Shiroi continued with the introductions.
"The mage you just saw is Arch Wizard Alexhandra. The woman beside him is Anastasya."
Risa glanced briefly at the blonde woman.
Before she could form the wrong impression, Shiroi spoke again calmly.
"And before anyone misunderstands—Anastasya and I are strictly colleagues."
Risa nodded immediately, understanding.
Shiroi then shifted the discussion.
"The Spirit Queen has granted us permission to construct a second dungeon for adventurers."
Risa blinked in confusion.
"Construct a dungeon? What do you mean by that?"
Shiroi leaned back slightly.
"Have you heard of the Arudi Dungeon in the Alfana Kingdom?"
Risa nodded.
"Yes. It's located in the village south of Dark Village, right? I've heard it's extremely famous. Adventurers from every race travel there."
Shiroi nodded.
"That's correct. But the truth is… Arudi Dungeon was our first dungeon project."
He gestured toward Alexhandra.
"It was created through cooperation between Arch Wizard Alexhandra and the imperial family."
Vergil and Freya nodded.
Mina even added proudly,
"My siblings and I helped manage the place at one point."
Risa stared at them in shock.
"This is the first time I've ever heard something like that."
Then something suddenly clicked in her mind.
"Wait… is that why so many powerful adventurer parties have appeared recently?"
Shiroi nodded.
"Yes."
Kurogami spoke next.
"Recently, many residents of the Demon Realm have been seeing recruitment posters for dungeon work."
He glanced at Shiroi.
"So I investigated… and discovered that Shiroi and Arch Wizard Alexhandra were the ones recruiting them."
Kurogami suddenly stood up and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for giving demons proper jobs and treating them fairly."
Alexhandra smiled slightly and bowed his head as well.
"And I should thank you as well. The monsters you've provided have proven to be extremely capable staff."
He added politely,
"I look forward to continued cooperation in the future."
Vergil and Freya chuckled quietly, clearly proud. The cooperation between the realms had grown into something genuinely positive.
Shiroi then returned the room's focus to the meeting.
"Now then…"
He looked toward Vergil.
"How are the prospects for the new dungeon?"
Everyone immediately became serious again.
Vergil leaned forward slightly.
"For the dungeon layout… I decided to try something new this time."
Vergil turned toward Sylvy.
"Sylvy, did you bring that item with you?"
Sylvy raised her hand confidently.
"Of course I did."
She reached into her bag and placed a small object on the table.
Everyone leaned closer to look.
It was a wooden puzzle toy—a sliding puzzle arranged in a 3×3 grid, with one empty slot that allowed the pieces to be shifted around.
Shiroi frowned slightly in confusion.
"Uncle… what exactly is the point of this?"
Vergil smiled faintly.
"My idea is to design a dungeon where the layout can be rearranged manually every day."
The room grew quiet.
"All of the rooms would shift positions," Vergil continued, "but despite the random rearrangement, every chamber would still remain connected."
He then placed a large schematic on the table.
It showed a 4×4 grid containing fourteen dungeon rooms.
Vergil began sliding the room tiles across the diagram, simulating the movement.
Despite the rearrangement, the corridors still connected logically.
Arch Wizard Alexhandra's eyes widened with admiration.
"Remarkable…"
Shiroi and Risa quickly understood the concept.
"It works just like the sliding puzzle," Risa said.
Vergil nodded.
"Exactly."
He then added,
"It would be best to rearrange the layout when adventurers are resting—either in the inns outside the dungeon or inside the safe areas."
Alexhandra considered the idea carefully before nodding.
"That can be done. The magical infrastructure can shift the dungeon layout without affecting adventurers currently exploring."
He tapped the schematic.
"Even those camping in dungeon corridors would not be disturbed."
At that moment, the door opened and Axel walked in.
He spoke casually as he approached the table.
"Adventurers usually want something more than just treasure."
Shiroi smiled slightly.
"Perfect timing, Uncle Axel. Join us."
Axel placed a stack of documents on the table.
"These are survey results gathered from the Gunslinger Guild."
Ashcroft immediately stepped forward and began distributing the papers to everyone in the room.
Shiroi skimmed through the pages.
"So besides treasure… they also want the chance to become heroes who can defeat a Demon King."
He continued reading.
"Many of them also want access to better materials for crafting advanced weapons."
Another response stood out.
"They want to rank up to higher adventurer tiers so they can unlock more advanced combat skills."
Risa read one of the survey answers carefully.
"This one says they want to challenge themselves—to see how far they can push their limits."
Shiroi walked over to a whiteboard he had prepared earlier and began writing down the feedback.
Treasure
Heroic challenges
Rare materials
Rank advancement
Personal limits
Once finished, he turned toward Lord Draven.
"Does the Adventurers' Guild receive similar complaints?"
Lord Draven nodded calmly.
"Yes."
He folded his arms.
"It's not just the Gunslinger classes. Adventurers of all classes—warriors, mages, scouts, assassins—have expressed the same concerns."
He looked around the table.
"They want something more meaningful than simple dungeon clearing."
Freya leaned forward slightly.
"If that's the case, we should also include traps inside the dungeon," she suggested. "They would provide an additional layer of challenge."
She glanced toward Shiroi.
"Arudi Dungeon doesn't really have traps, does it? Adding them would help adventurers sharpen their instincts."
Lord Draven nodded thoughtfully.
"What kind of traps are you thinking about?"
Freya rested her chin on her hand as she recalled her experiences.
"I once explored a dungeon that contained an entire forest ecosystem. The traps weren't mechanical at all—the danger came from the forest's insects."
She smiled faintly.
"Swarms of aggressive insects would attack anyone who disturbed certain areas."
Vergil added his own experience.
"Classic traps still work well too. I've seen plenty of dungeons that use spike pits or arrow traps fired from hidden slots in the walls."
Anastasya spoke next.
"Those traps can be installed after the dungeon layout is finalized," she explained. "Once the floor plan is complete, we can distribute the dungeon map to the monsters so they know where the traps are located."
Cloe raised her hand slightly.
"I'd like to try something different," she said. "Poison gas traps."
The room turned toward her.
"The difference from Arudi Dungeon," Cloe continued, "is that the gas there only triggers if someone opens a treasure chest carelessly."
She tapped the table.
"In the new dungeon, the gas trap would activate through floor triggers—pressure plates hidden beneath the tiles."
Vergil nodded in approval.
"That's a good concept."
He added,
"Most traps should activate when adventurers behave carelessly—stepping on pressure plates, triggering hidden mechanisms buried in the floor or walls… or even thin tripwires stretched across narrow corridors."
Shiroi continued writing everything on the whiteboard as the discussion progressed.
Spike pits
Arrow traps
Poison gas traps
Environmental hazards
Pressure plates
Hidden triggers
Tripwires
He stepped back for a moment, scanning the list carefully to make sure nothing had been missed.
"Anything else?" he asked the room.
Cloe raised her hand again.
"Your Majesty, are you aware of the newest trend among adventurers?"
Shiroi turned toward her with interest.
"What trend are you referring to?"
Cloe leaned forward slightly.
"Sub-Classes. Recently, it's become extremely popular for adventurers to take one."
Lord Draven nodded and began explaining.
"A Sub-Class is essentially a secondary class chosen by an adventurer," he said. "On paper, it's less efficient than focusing on a single class. However, it can significantly enhance a fighter's combat style."
He folded his arms.
"The effects are often indirect—but they can dramatically expand a person's tactical options."
Vergil added,
"According to recent reports, ever since Arudi Dungeon opened a few year ago, a large number of adventurers have started adopting Sub-Classes."
Freya nodded in agreement.
"I read those reports as well."
Risa thought about it for a moment before speaking.
"Maybe something happened inside the dungeon that pushed them to make that decision."
Suddenly, Vergil and Anastasya stood up at the same time.
They both said a single name.
"Dullahan."
Freya looked surprised.
"Isn't that the boss monster that appears between the fifth and tenth floors of Arudi Dungeon?"
Vergil nodded.
"Correct. But before that, there was another turning point."
He continued,
"If I remember correctly, Garm was first defeated about a month after Arudi Dungeon officially opened. And even then, the adventurers barely managed to survive that fight."
Risa looked confused.
"Who is Garm?"
Freya answered calmly.
"Garm is an Ice Wolf monster—a Hidden Boss that appears between the first and fifth floors of Arudi Dungeon."
She added,
"He was personally trained by Takano."
Anastasya continued the explanation.
"During the early months, however, the monster everyone was hunting for was Dullahan."
She glanced around the room.
"One well-known adventurer parties—lead by noble families—encountered the Dullahan multiple times. But every time, they were forced to retreat. None of party member were strong enough to defeat the Headless Horseman."
Shiroi nodded slowly.
"I remember reading those reports."
He continued,
"The Dullahan wasn't defeated until eleven months after Arudi Dungeon began full operations."
He tapped the table thoughtfully.
"That might have been the moment when the Sub-Class trend truly began."
He thought for a moment before adding another detail.
"If I recall correctly, the first party to encounter the Headless Horseman was Gideon Vanguard. They nearly defeated it several times."
Lord Draven suddenly snapped his fingers in recognition.
"That's right! Gideon even visited the Assassin Guild afterward."
Everyone looked at him.
"He tried to register as a member—even if only as a part-time assassin."
Vergil chuckled slightly.
"Now that you mention it… I once traveled to a world where having a Sub-Class was mandatory."
Shiroi walked toward the whiteboard again.
He wrote a new heading:
Sub-Class Trend
Then, using a red marker, he began connecting the term to several notes already written on the board:
Dullahan/rare strong boss monster
High-level Boss Encounters
Combat Adaptability
Adventurer Rank Progression
Finally, he drew a red line connecting everything to the large title written in the center of the board:
New Dungeon Project.
Shiroi stepped back and looked at the board thoughtfully.
"Interesting…"
Shiroi stepped back and looked at the whiteboard filled with notes.
"All of the progress we've recorded here is extremely interesting," he said with satisfaction.
At that moment, two hands went up.
Aria and Lira.
Shiroi noticed immediately.
"Yes? Aria, Lira—do either of you want to add something? Perhaps another trend we should consider?"
Lira gestured politely.
"Aria, you can go first."
Aria nodded and asked,
"For the treasure chests inside the dungeon… will we still be using the tier system?"
Shiroi folded his arms thoughtfully.
"That is the current plan. However, I'm considering expanding it to four tiers."
Everyone listened carefully.
"The most common chests will be wooden treasure chests," Shiroi explained. "The equipment inside them will be mass-produced weapons and armor. Nothing particularly rare."
Aria nodded as she processed the idea.
"So that means starting from Tier 3, the weapons and armor will begin to have better quality… while Tier 1 will contain the highest-grade items."
Shiroi confirmed with a nod.
"Exactly."
He gestured toward two dwarves seated nearby.
"And that's precisely why Bromir and Hilda are here today."
Bromir crossed his arms confidently.
"I'll train the golems to mine minerals and produce weapons suitable for mass production."
Vergil added with a grin,
"Bromir and I have collaborated before. We once forged a weapon for a Tier 1 treasure chest."
He leaned back slightly.
"The result was an Artifact-grade sword."
Several people in the room looked impressed.
Vergil continued,
"And I'm more than willing to collaborate with Bromir again to produce more weapons of that caliber."
Bromir laughed loudly.
"Then I'll make sure we produce our very best work."
Vergil nodded.
"Once the designs are finalized, I'll give you the schematics for weapons suitable for Tier 3 and above treasure chests."
Aria raised another point.
"Not all adventurers specialize in melee combat."
Shiroi nodded.
"Good point."
He turned to her.
"Aria, you can assist Hilda in creating robe armor and other equipment that isn't metal-based."
Hilda nodded immediately.
"I can produce magic staves and bows."
Aria smiled.
"Then I'd like to collaborate with Hilda to create the best magical equipment possible."
Shiroi then looked toward Lira.
"And what about you? Any suggestions?"
Lira spoke calmly.
"Recently, adventurers have started using more than just healing potions."
Risa tilted her head slightly.
"What's wrong with healing potions?"
Lira explained,
"Healing potions only treat wounds. But adventurers nowadays are relying on buff potions as well."
Lord Draven nodded.
"Those types of potions have become extremely popular recently. They grant temporary enhancements—strength, speed, magical resistance—without any side effects."
Lira then asked,
"Could those potions also be used as rewards inside treasure chests?"
Shiroi nodded immediately.
"Of course. In fact, I want you to experiment with mass production inside the dungeon system."
Lira's eyes lit up.
"In that case, I don't want to produce only healing potions."
She continued,
"I'd also like to create Magic Potions that can restore an adventurer's magical energy."
Shiroi approved the idea without hesitation.
"That's a good addition. Adventurers often run out of mana during long dungeon expeditions."
He returned to the whiteboard and wrote several new notes.
Buff PotionsMagic Recovery PotionsPotion Rewards in Treasure Chests
Then, once again, he drew red lines connecting the new ideas to the central title on the board:
NEW DUNGEON PROJECT.
Shiroi capped the marker and looked around the room.
Shiroi and everyone present looked at the whiteboard filled with notes and connections.
Vergil studied it carefully before nodding.
"I think everything important has already been covered."
Freya raised another idea.
"In that case, each set of five dungeon levels should have its own theme."
Everyone turned their attention to her.
"For example," she continued, "the first five floors could focus on wild beasts. The boss would be the 'king' of those beasts—the creature that commands the others."
She paused before adding,
"Then starting from floor six and below, adventurers would begin encountering monsters with more humanoid features, such as kobolds or similar creatures."
Kurogami immediately spoke up.
"That part can be handled by me."
He crossed his arms confidently.
"The Demon Realm is full of monsters and demons looking for work. All I have to do is post the recruitment notices."
He added with a slight shrug,
"Some specific monsters—like the Headless Horseman—might take longer to find. But it's not impossible. It just happens very rarely."
Shiroi nodded.
"That should complete the core concept."
He looked around the room.
"Now the only thing left is deciding who will assist Anastasya in managing the dungeon."
Anastasya spoke first.
"Prince Vergil and his family have already proven themselves very capable of managing dungeon operations. I would be glad if they could assist again."
Vergil and Freya exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement.
Vergil leaned forward slightly.
"With everything Shiroi has written here, my family and I can certainly help."
He then added thoughtfully,
"But with a dungeon of this scale… I'm certain we'll need additional staff."
Anastasya nodded in agreement.
"I was thinking the same thing."
At that moment, the door opened.
Aeka entered the meeting room.
"My apologies," she said. "I'm late. There's been far too much work lately."
Shiroi waved it off.
"That's understandable, Aunt Aeka. The preparations for the Kainaldia Festival are enormous—especially with the annual martial arts tournament approaching."
Anastasya added,
"Your Aunt is also quite skilled in administrative work. She could assist with dungeon management."
Shiroi nodded.
"That's a good idea."
He then turned to Ashcroft.
"What about the core dungeon staff?"
Ashcroft answered immediately.
"I recommend involving the Chapter Master of the 8th Grey Knight Chapter along with his unit. That way they'll already be familiar with the dungeon operations."
He thought for a moment before adding,
"And if I'm not mistaken, Captain Van Hoismen's daughter—Valkrieya—is also an adventurer."
Shiroi nodded again while writing the suggestions into his personal meeting notes.
Once finished, he closed the notebook.
"We'll resume the dungeon project discussions after the Kainaldia Festival is over."
He looked around the room one final time.
"That concludes today's meeting."
One by one, the participants began to stand and leave the room, the plans for the new dungeon project now firmly set in motion.