Novels2Search

Chapter 36: Building the Plant Room.

In the secluded heart of his dungeon, Eddie stood before the shimmering screen of the dungeon core, a thoughtful expression etched into his skeletal visage. The soft glow of the screen cast dancing shadows across the room, giving life to the stillness of the surrounding stone.

Argenti, his demonic form a stark contrast to the dimly lit chamber, waited silently, his eyes fixed on Eddie.

"I've been thinking, Argenti," Eddie began, his voice echoing slightly off the walls. "Our recent visit to the apothecary opened my eyes. There's potential in potion making – not just for the doppelganger's dealings but for the dungeon's growth as well."

Argenti tilted his head, a silent gesture urging Eddie to continue.

"Potions are a lucrative business, and we have resources right here that we can use," Eddie continued, gesturing towards the dungeon core. "I plan to expand our operations into herbalism. Growing magical herbs right here in the dungeon and creating potions can be a steady source of income. As you know the gold we earn can be converted into credits for upgrades."

He paused, looking at the dungeon core's screen, where the layout of their domain was displayed. "Plus, improving my Potioncraft skill will be a valuable asset. It'll enhance our capabilities and offer more to the adventurers who dare to venture into our depths."

Argenti nodded, the glow from his eyes reflecting a sense of approval and intrigue.

Eddie paced back and forth, his enthusiasm growing with each step. "Imagine it, Argenti. It won’t be long before this dungeon becomes one where each group of adventurers that enter aren’t even able to think of fighting us. Or even better if we can expand our dungeon more, making it into a city or a kingdom where there is no simple ‘Conquer the dungeon’."

He stopped and turned towards Argenti, his skeletal fingers drumming excitedly against the console. "Of course, starting small, we'll need to set up a proper growing area – a plant room with the right conditions for magical herbs. We can start with our Waterwheat and expand from there. We can turn that room into an official ‘Growing Room’."

Eddie navigated the interface of the dungeon core, happy with his decisions. The layout of the dungeon was fully displayed before him as he began swiping here and there, the dungeon shaking as each corridor closes itself off as the dungeon changes shape.

The final dungeon being one where, of his 7 rooms, 4 of them were used in a zig-zag pattern leading to the dungeon core room. While the mystical beach and then the chamber he had planted the waterwheat, now renamed to the ‘Planting’ room were flanking the last chamber before the dungeon core, setting the potion room to connect directly to the dungeon core as well.

From previous experimenting during his free time he found some conditions to moving around the rooms of the dungeon. The limitations of moving his dungeon were as follows:

1 - There must be a clear pathway to the dungeon core room. In theory there could be a million rooms that all lead to dead-ends as long as one path connected to the dungeon core room.

2 - Every room had the same conditions as the dungeon core room, where there had to be a path for adventurers to make their way there. He couldn’t make a theoretically impossible to reach treasure vault or anything like that.

3 - After a room is moved, there's a cooldown period before it can be moved again. This prevents rapid, disorienting changes and forces the dungeon core to plan moves more carefully.

4 - Rooms cannot be moved if there are adventurers or any living entity inside them. This rule is to ensure fairness and prevent instant defeats or disorientation of adventurers.

5 - The rearrangement of rooms must not compromise the structural integrity of the dungeon. This means the core cannot create unsupported structures or configurations that would realistically collapse.

Eddie's eyes gleamed with a newfound determination. "This is more than just a new venture, Argenti. It's a step towards self-sufficiency, towards making our dungeon a self-sustaining entity. And who knows what new potions we might discover along the way?"

The chamber that Eddie had chosen for his new venture was spacious, with high ceilings and rough stone walls. It already housed the thriving waterwheat, its leaves shimmering in the dim light. The automated systems Eddie had previously installed hummed quietly in the background, taking care of the plant's basic needs.

[Status Screen: Waterwheat]

Type: Common

Description: A versatile plant used in various potions. Thrives near water sources.

Properties: Mildly enhances liquid-based concoctions. Primary ingredient in ‘Potion of Healing’

Automatic Care: Automatic Watering, Temperature Regulation

Eddie surveyed the room, estimating its dimensions and potential. The space was large enough, but it would need significant modifications to become a fully functional plant room.

He turned to his skeletal crew, who were idly assembled in a corner of the room. "Alright, boneheads. Uhh, not you specifically bonehead. Time to put those hollow skulls to use. We need wood – lots of it. Start clearing the nearby woods. We're going to build raised garden beds for our new botanical venture."

The skeletons, despite their lack of expression, seemed to understand and shuffled out of the room in a clattering procession.

Eddie then addressed Argenti, his tone serious yet tinged with excitement. "Argenti, we need to think strategically. Different herbs require different conditions but do keep in mind we don’t need to worry about that yet, we will keep our attention on growing waterwheat until we get a recipe for a petrification potion." Argenti nodded, his demonic form casting a contemplative shadow.

Argenti watched the skeletons move out of the room, his voice echoing in the chamber. "Indeed, Eddie. It's remarkable how you've transformed this dungeon. From a mere lair of traps and corridors to something... more alive, more purposeful."

Eddie chuckled, a hollow sound that resonated off the stone walls. "Alive might not be the right word in a dungeon full of skeletons, but I get your point."

Eddie and Argenti stepped out into the fresh air of the woods surrounding the dungeon. The makeshift wooden door creaked loudly as they exited, prompting a quip from Eddie. "You know, Argenti, our next big upgrade might just have to be a grand dungeon door. Something that says, 'Welcome to your doom... or your enlightenment,' depending on how their day goes."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Argenti smirked at the comment, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any unwanted onlookers. "Indeed, Eddie. Perhaps something with a bit more... menace?"

The skeletons were already at work, carefully felling trees under Eddie's watchful eye. They moved with a surprising efficiency, their bony hands wielding axes and saws with a skill born from repetitive tasking.

Eddie, meanwhile, was busy sketching designs on a piece of parchment. "These raised beds will be the talk of the underground gardening world, if there is such a thing. And with the 13 gold we have, we can turn it into 1300 credits, giving us a total of 2000. That's more than enough to expand our waterwheat operation and set up additional automated systems."

Argenti, watching the skeletons, couldn't help but comment, "Their efficiency is almost unnerving. Always the same expression, whether they're chopping wood or... well, doing less savory tasks."

Eddie chuckled, his gaze following a particularly enthusiastic skeleton. "Their poker faces are unbeatable, that's for sure. Though I think they will enjoy the gardening more than the... other stuff."

Just then, Big Guy, the bone giant, lumbered over to a tree. With a show of strength, he ripped a moderately sized tree straight out of the ground, roots and all. Eddie burst into laughter. "Look at Big Guy go! He's a natural at this, though he could have picked a bigger tree."

The mood in the woods was busy yet lighthearted, a stark contrast to the usual dark and ominous atmosphere of the dungeon. Eddie and his crew worked well into the afternoon, collecting a sizable pile of wood.

As the sun began to set, Eddie looked over their progress, satisfaction evident in his voice. "With this much wood, we'll have those garden beds up in no time. And then, it's potion-making time!"

Argenti nodded, a sense of accomplishment in his stance. "You've done well, Eddie. This dungeon is progressing very well."

Eddie grinned, rolling up his design sketches. "All because of a bit of good old-fashioned skeletal labor," he added with a wink. "Let's head back. We've got a lot of work ahead to do."

Back in the plant room, the atmosphere was buzzing with activity. The skeletons, each carrying their share of the freshly collected wood, began the task of constructing raised garden beds under Eddie's supervision. The spacious chamber was now a hub of productive energy, with Eddie at the helm orchestrating the entire operation.

Eddie, examining the wood, decided to set up a makeshift kiln. "Got to dry this wood properly," he mused aloud. "Back in my less-than-legal days, I learned the hard way. Used wet wood for a project, and it shrunk after some time, letting all sorts of mean bugs invade the soil. Not making that mistake again."

Argenti watched with amusement as Eddie skillfully used his fire magic to heat the kiln, the flames dancing under his command. "I never took you for a craftsman, Eddie. Your past life continues to surprise me."

Eddie chuckled, carefully monitoring the temperature. "Yeah, I picked up a few tricks here and there. Not all of them were strictly legal, but hey, they come in handy now."

Once the wood was sufficiently dried, Eddie and the skeletons began the final construction of the garden beds. They measured and cut with precision, creating a series of beds that could accommodate 10-20 waterwheat plants.

As they worked, Eddie explained each step to Argenti, who seemed humorously intrigued by the process. "You see, the height of these beds will keep our waterwheat safe from any dungeon critters. Plus, it allows for better soil control and drainage."

Argenti nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "I never imagined when I joined you in this dungeon that I'd become an apprentice gardener. I guess you can learn things anywhere, right?"

Eddie's enthusiasm for this new venture was infectious, and even the skeletons seemed to work with a bit more... well, not exactly vigor, but something close.

By the time they finished, the plant room had transformed. The raised garden beds, neatly lined up, were a testament to their hard work and Eddie's vision.

Argenti chuckled, looking around the room. "Only you, Eddie. Only you could turn a dungeon into a herb garden and make it seem like the most natural thing in the world."

Eddie laughed as he nodded, “One day I’ll teach you my tricks, until then Argenti, keep working hard with me. We’ll build this place up.”

In the newly upgraded plant room, Eddie bustled around with purposeful energy. The skeletons, in a well-organized chain, diligently carried buckets of soil, filling the newly constructed raised garden beds. The beds were a blank canvas, ready for planting, and Eddie was eager to get started.

Before planting, Eddie meticulously adjusted the settings on the automated systems, fine-tuning the temperature and moisture levels. “Optimal growing conditions are key,” he mumbled to himself, his fingers deftly navigating the control panel. “Let’s try a bit more humidity than usual, see how that goes.”

Having set the environment, Eddie made his way to the dungeon core. He navigated through the system interface and found the option to convert their gold into credits. With a prompt asking for confirmation to turn the 13 gold into 1300 credits, Eddie didn’t hesitate. “Yes, absolutely,” he affirmed, watching the credit tally whirl to a total of 2000.

“Time to expand our waterwheat collection,” Eddie announced as he accessed the dungeon core shop. He used 600 of the newly acquired credits to purchase several waterwheat plants, their details popping up on the screen as he selected them.

With the plants acquired, Eddie, Argenti, and the skeletons got to work. They planted the waterwheat carefully in the prepared beds, Eddie handling each plant with an almost reverent care.

The planting session was filled with a light-hearted, experimental spirit. Eddie seemed to be in his element, discussing growth patterns and potential potion ingredients as he worked. “Imagine the potions we can concoct,” he mused. “These waterwheat plants are just the beginning.”

Argenti nodded in agreement, watching Eddie and the skeletons work in harmony. “I never thought I’d see the day when our dungeon became a full greenhouse,” he remarked.

Eddie looked around the thriving plant room, a sense of pride evident in his posture. “This is more than just a greenhouse, Argenti. It’s the start of something big. Our very own potion factory.”

----------------------------------------

After a few hours.

In the various corners of the bustling plant room, Eddie could be found leaning in close to the newly planted waterwheat, murmuring words of encouragement. He moved from plant to plant, his tone varying from motivational coach to caring gardener.

Argenti, happening upon this peculiar scene, couldn't help but tease Eddie. "Do you really expect them to talk back, Eddie? They're plants, not dungeon advisors."

Eddie straightened up, defending his approach with a smirk. "It's not about them talking back, Argenti. It's about giving them some positive energy. Besides, if Big Guy can give me philosophical insights in his silence, who's to say these plants can't do the same in their own way?"

He turned back to a particularly lush waterwheat, continuing their one-sided conversation. "Don't mind him. He doesn't understand our connection. Now, how about you grow a couple more inches by tomorrow, huh?"

Argenti shook his head, amused yet bewildered by Eddie's antics. "You truly are one of a kind, Eddie. Talking to plants in a dungeon. What will you think of next?"

Eddie chuckled, moving to the next plant. "You'll be surprised, Argenti. Now, you," he addressed the plant, "are you getting enough sunlight here? You look a bit peaky."

The plant room was alive with the sound of Eddie's ongoing dialogues with his leafy companions. He responded to each plant's silent demeanor as if they were imparting great wisdom or sharing humorous anecdotes.

After making his rounds and ensuring each plant was 'happy' with its living conditions, Eddie returned to the dungeon core. With a satisfied nod, he spent the remaining credits on enhancing the automated watering and temperature control systems for the plants.

"There," Eddie declared, stepping back from the dungeon core. "That should keep our green friends thriving. We'll have the skeletons harvest them when the time comes. No need for automation there. They need something to do, after all."

The mood in the plant room was a blend of comical absurdity and genuine care. Eddie's unconventional methods added a unique charm to the dungeon, transforming it from a place of doom to a bizarrely nurturing environment.

As Eddie looked over the plant room, now fully equipped and flourishing, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. "This is just the start," he mused, "of our dungeon's green era. Last time we started with one plant, now this is an operation."

Argenti, standing beside him, nodded. "Indeed, Eddie. This is certainly one for the books. A dungeon master who talks to his plants and expects them to grow from sheer encouragement."

Eddie laughed, the sound echoing through the room filled with silent, yet somehow now seemingly attentive, plants. "You never know, Argenti. They might just surprise us."