Dinner was rather an awkward silent affair. When it was done. The lord placed a small silver on the table.
“Consider it your severance, Sara.”
“Of course, my former Lord.” Red picks up the coin, a bow given, and we returned to the dungeon. It was bittersweet but repercussions were to be expected. Of course, we were still listening in through Delores…
“You were only paying her a small silver a week?” Jeremy exclaims.
“Actually, that would be double her pay because she was also Kalidia's [Attendant].” Delores chimes in.
“She literally was an instructor, bodyguard and personal servant to two mistresses and you were paying her only a small silver. I do not know what is more insane, that you had a literal dungeon on your payroll or that you thought to pay her so little.” Jeremy continues his rant.
The viscount bristles at that, “Her connection to the dungeon was not discovered till later and she never negotiated higher pay. I first hired her as a favor to [Countess] Magdeline. Were you not demanding she be fired when you first arrived?”
Jeremy makes a clicking noise in his mouth, “I admit I was wrong in that but that doesn't excuse this mockery.”
“The die has been cast, nephew. The dungeon has just declared hostilities against the Queendom. I can not both negotiate and employ her at the same time.”
Jeremy plops down into his seat. Kalidia asks the next question.
“Do you think this will resolve peacefully?”
“We had a near riot at the adventurer guild. It is expected to worsen as the knights have already confiscated the keys. Not that it matters, now that the interface is gone. This is not rational at all.”
Delores laughs, “You seem to forget that Sara is only eleven, father.”
He looks up at the ceiling, “And from what Sir Ujan says…incredibly stubborn.”
-----
“I'm just surprised they told us before the tournament.”
Mags interjects, “They weighed the pros and cons of telling you now. They decided the sooner the better. If they told you after, they fear your wrath would be deadly. Better to be upfront then make you think you were used.”
Violet speaks up, “You sound as if you already knew.”
Mags barks a laugh, “Of course I did, it was why I was standing next to you dear. Can't have you slaughtering the messengers now.”
We both look annoyed at her but she just gives another laugh. I let out a sigh.
“Pretty much guaranteed they will cancel the tournament now. I'll need to apologize to Qorth.”
“Oh they still plan to hold the tournament, even if you deny the dungeon to them, they will create an arena and set up a pavilion.”
Violet chuckles, “But they would deny Qorth entry, I assume.”
“Naturally, and of course demand their investment back.” Mags opines.
I just shake my head, “I am both trusted to hold a tournament and not trusted to manage a dungeon.”
“Different people, making different decisions, my dear.”
“Soooo, who made which decision?” Violet asks.
“[Marques] Zindinhar decided on seizing the keys while Sir Ujan decided to trust you with the tournament.”
I smile at that, Sir Ujan was rather straight forward.
“Is that the Brakear knight commander's name?” Violet asks again.
She nods then looks around, “I haven't seen Said in awhile.”
We both look away from her.
“Sara, where is your troublemaking piece of soul?”
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 48 unallocated stat points
Gregory stands behind Sir Ujan as the [Marques] reads the report. He takes a moment and taps the papers to the desk to realign them. He then places it gently down.
“So the dungeon is currently inaccessible?”
“As of this moment only the conference room and arena can be entered.”
“I want you to remove the furnishing we paid for. I do not wish to risk a further loss on the whims of a child.”
“I believe I wrote in my report that she could be trusted to hold the tournament.”
“I read it. You have your orders.”
Sir Ujan turns to leaves, stops and tries again, “I believe removing the furnishing will result in the entrance disappearing. If the knights consider her a threat, keeping her here is our best option.”
“I believe you already failed at keeping her here Sir Ujan, have you found this supposed permanent entrance to the south?”
“We have not.”
“I suspect a lie then, continue your search but I will need you to divert dirt knight trainees for setting up an outdoor arena.”
A knight burst into the room, “Sir Ujan, the dungeon is gone.”
“What?”
-----
Gregory was running after Sir Ujan and the Marques. By the time he got to the wall all that could be seen was the noble furnishings the knights had requisitioned.
Another knight was running to Sir Ujan. He had a familiar piece of paper. The [Marques] snatches it before handing it to Sir Ujan, who then hands the note to Gregory.
You could have just asked.
“Find her.” The [Marques] returns to his office.
-----
“It almost seems comical. With them running about. Surprised they haven't just asked you.”
“The [Marques] and I do not get along. It is rather a notorious known fact among the knights. I suspect he had not been informed of my being here.”
I scrunch my face, “That is abs—”
I return to my dungeon. Tug when it is clear mother. I wave at Violet. She is luxuriating near our door to our quarters in the estate. In case someone wanted to talk. It's not necessary, what with Delores carrying a seed but the estate knows the door exists and not the seed. I feel a tug and return to chatting with Mags.
“So is this likely to escalate?”
She shrugs, “I'm not sure, anyone reading into the request is going to laugh at the idea of both a sentient dungeon and it being an eleven year old girl. Frankly it's just absurd on many levels.”
We arrive at the adventurer guild. As we walk in, I shake the bell Peter gave me. He pops out of his office and sees us. I wave and he hurrys us back into his office.
“Are you insane, the knights have placed a monster capture request out for you and your sister.”
“Thats just rude, why would you agree to placing a request up for a permanent member?”
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
He just grips his head.
“What am I supposed to do? Admit that the dungeon is a member of the adventurer guild?”
“Yes.” I earned another laugh from Mags.
He looks annoyed at me. A moment passed and he asked a question, “So what's the end game here? What's your goal? The opening of your dungeon to adventurers?”
“Huh, what? No, I have none.”
Mags laughs again, he looks at me exasperated, “Then why have you riled up everyone. If you had no plan or demands why have you done this?”
I sigh, “The [Marques] knows my stance on imprisonment. Fundamentally, I don't want to capitulate to decisions made without talking to me. I always told you, Peter. This is a relationship of trust. The knights decided on dominance instead.”
“And so what? Do you now plan to fight the Queendom?”
“That just sounds dumb.”
“But isn't that what you did?”
I shrug.
“Oh before I forget, I need to withdraw my savings.” I hand over my card.
-----
“Oh my system, you actually got him to rent you a room at the adventurer guild?”
Lea is rather incredulous.
I just shrug. Red was busy showing up in random places to cause the knights to tire themselves out. I just relax and watch the door. My form shifts to the attendant.
“Sorry your mercantile empire never really got going. We were so close to getting the coveted better to appease then displease, status.”
She gives me a wry look, “Is that really a thing?”
I shrug, “The [Viscount] seems upset that mana potions were taken off the table.”
I fiddle with my status screen some more. Lea just looks around, a bit aimless.
“We have a great store of blood but at some point we will begin to run low.” I say in a murmur.
“Huh oh, if I get peckish, I'll bite one of your hydras.”
I look at her annoyed which just causes her to laugh.
“I don't feel my thirst grow unless I use the core your sister gave me. I will abstain until this comes to a resolution.”
My sister and I had grown used to our meals. Perhaps if I relinquish my monster title I could move the door. Or would it just fade away. Not quite there yet I think. I continue to fiddle with my status screen. Once more as myself, all eight legs.
[Mental Magic] becomes [Mental Magic 2] Basic 1
Mental Magic 2 - the ability to manipulate mental mana but more
Basic - you made the cover program, nerd
Gain 10 exp … in binary … super nerd
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 110000 unallocated stat points
I roll my eyes at the system. Enough with the binary, nerd. I am quite certain I set my status screen to [Common]. I mentally willed it to also show all numbers in base ten.
-Why not base nine?
I give a mental eye roll, my future count of tails has no bearing on my ease of counting. I simply feel her mirth at my exasperation. I go back to working on my clothing. I become lost in it till there is a commotion down stairs.
“What ya mean there are no keys to rent? Some bastard best not be filtchin’ my group's work.”
“‘Grows, kills, profit’, all the keys have been confiscated by the knights. They deemed the dungeon too dangerous.”
“Dangerous? There yet to be one death.”
A rising chorus of grumbling can be heard. Peter steps in.
“Stop harassing ‘Lance and Lance’, we ain't got keys. Go check the board or complain at the knights.”
An aura of intimidation washes over me. Peters? Amusing. I put on my new robe. It's rather bulky, it hides my four tails. But the wind is getting colder so it should be fine. I make my ghost invisible and head down. No one notices me. Just an anonymous half Pimar girl. I reach the board and take a gander. Rather nostalgic. The silk demands seem to be drowning out the mithril ones. Rather curious. Didn't the viscount say the mithril was too tough to work. Should have asked me. Eh, not my problem.
I head out, various people running around. Looking for someone…for me. They seem to be questioning every young girl they see. I flick my status screen open and execute cover 1.0. The mana draws from my arcane currently but it's manageable. Silly to require arcane and then convert it but can't control my parameters yet. I walk by a blacksmith…I turn and see the posted prices…
Son of a bitch. Their prices are a quarter of mine. That bastard had me overcharging. No wonder my business dried up. I have a mind to drain the bastard on the spot.
-Sister…
I know, I know. Best not to think about it. I came across the tailoring guild. There is some argument over how to price the latest amount of silk.
“We should raise prices now, we don't know when there will be more.”
“And if the next day a glut comes in ‘cause the issue is resolved, what then? I have a mind to sell this lot and forget it existed. We should not have switched solely to this.”
“Like we knew the knights were going to seize the dungeon.”
I enter the guild with my mental tail engaged and my cover off.
“Excuse me, you spoke of selling the lot?”
“Ma'am, apologies but I can't actually just sell you our guild entire stockpile. The city would be without textiles for weeks.”
I smile, “A hundred large gold for it all.”
“Did you not hear what I said, my Lady?”
“I did, and since I know the knights will demand your wares for a lot cheaper to set up a pavilion, I would implore you to sell to me instead.”
The tailoring guild master pales at my words.
“Is there any reason you wish to draw the ire of the knights, miss?” His companion asks.
I just smile.
-----
Perhaps if I make the spell based on my own senses.
I execute it and everything ceases to exist…Lea are you still there?
A pause, nothing. Before I was about to cancel the spell, a thought reached me.
Can you not hear me Violet, I came to where I feel our connection but I can not see nor hear you. I've wandered the couture but I have yet to cross your cover spell.
Curious, I am in the center of the room Lea.
As am I.
I ended the spell which resulted in me colliding with Lea. We both fall down.
Sorry.
“I have never seen a cover that removed a person so fully.”
I based it off my senses which actually placed me in a void like state. I can't hear, see, feel, smell, or anything.
“Thus you could not be detected by those things either. Could you still perceive through the dungeon?”
I disappear again, and yes the dungeon senses still work. I return.
“Not exactly practical, you already had the ability to be anywhere in the dungeon and see what was going on.”
True but being able to just perfectly hide can have its uses.
-----
“Report.”
Gregory looks at the dirt instructor gnome from behind Sir Ujan. “The arena comin’ along. We been rangin’ out to find suitable stone to shape an’ place.”
“Will it be done in time, Dame Hacnae?”
She shrugs, “I be more worried about the accommodations, the carpenters already charged us a ransom for the furnishin’ we ain’ usin’. Makin’ stands and stalls seem beneath a lot of ‘em now.”
The anger of the marques grows.
“Stands for the common folk is secondary to setting up pavilions for the arriving nobility.”
The gnome grows nervous. The marques notices it.
“Out with it.”
“Ah ye’, well the tailor guild supply of textiles was purchased this mornin’ and we are havin’ to send runners to neighboring towns to try to get enough.”
“Exactly why are city textiles in such a state to be able to be purchased in its entirety.”
“Apparently, they were in tha’ middle of switchin’ to a pure silk trade. The dungeon was providing a steady supply and all.”
“Any idea of who decided to buy the entire stock?”
The gnome pales, “All reports make us think it was the dungeon, sir.”
“The same dungeon that eludes our knights, Sir Ujan.”
The Drakenoid steps up, “The knights have not been able to locate either of the dungeon core bosses. We have been questioning every young woman we come across but there is no telling if she is still in the area.”
“Well clearly she is in the area if she can buy out the city's supply of cloth.”
“Ah right. To be honest sir, she is capable of [Body Morphic Magic 2]. Tracking her down seems futile.”
“I believe we have already equipped our knights with life magic detection gear. I do not understand how she can be both using life magic and still be undetectable.”
Sir Ujan looks at Isabella. She doesn't look happy with the buck being passed but she slithers forward.
“I do not believe she is using life mana anymore. Whatever she is doing, it no longer follows conventional knowledge.”
The marques looked annoyed, “Anything else to report?” He looks at the Lamia.
“The blood I have failed at making a tracking charm. It pulls in at least five different directions.” She had the charm out. It slowly pulled towards one person in the room then to another. After that it pulled toward the capital.
“What of the potions she left?”
The knights all look annoyed at Mags.
“[Countess], I do not understand why you decided to intrude on this conversation.”
“I am enjoying you failing at trying to control an eleven year old girl, Zind. I gave you a clear report on the dungeons abilities and why you should try to be accommodating. That you ignored me and are barreling towards a rather dismal showing just feeds my delight.”
The marques bristles at that, “I will not be dictated to by a child.”
“No one said you had to be, but no one said the child would listen to you either. You wish to control her and she decided to take her ball and go home.”
“Do you know what she wants?”
“From what I can tell, nothing. She knows she doesn't wish to be contained. That's about it. I suspect she will stay for the tournament and then leave. She might be the only noble delighted at what will be a giant embarrassment for the knights. But I digress, Bell, do tell us about those potions.”
Isabella looks annoyed at Mags.
“Out with it, best to know what she just proliferated across the adventurers.” The marques growls.
“It is capable of restoring grievous wounds, mana restoration can not be measured, add—.”
“Cannot be measured?”
“Lord Ericnae, no one has been able to lower their mana enough to not be fully restored by her potion. It does not appear to restore a dirt core though. Additionally, it will restore a person's blood in a one to one ratio.”
The knights pale, except for Sir Ujan, “That's a relief, a potion with a sustainer drawback will limit demand.”
Isabella shakes her head, “The potion is replacing blood not forcing the imbiber to make new blood.”
Sir Ujan grows pale now too. The silence that permeates the room grows oppressive. Mags turns to leave. The marques beckons to her.
“Mags…in your experience with the dungeon. What can we do to convince her to stay in the Queendom?”
She thinks on that, “I'm not sure. My daughter saw this setup as I quote ‘a relationship of trust’. So long as she thought you trusted her, she would trust you. I suspect the knights will need to offer something she can not easily ask another country for.”
With that she left. But we continue to listen.
“Why are you not keeping tabs on her if the dungeon is her fucking daughter?” His ire directed at Sir Ujan.
“There are times the dungeon is seen walking with the [Countess] but any movement towards the girl results in her disappearing. Additionally, accosting the [Countess] was considered ill advised.”
“And who told you that?”
Ericnae speaks up, “I did, she is your only connection to the girl at the moment, my Lord. If she should return to her own lands, what good would that serve?”
He fumes at that, “This is quickly getting out of hand. We have a roaming dungeon, capable of making potions that could change the tide of battle, and is currently antagonistic to us. I will be sending a requisition for a core slayer to her Majesty.”
