For the second time in the past year and change, since this had all started, I was able to get a full, undisturbed, night of sleep. By night of course I mean closer to three months of sleep, but undisturbed nonetheless.

“What's new in the world?” I asked Daisy as I sat up stretching. I felt good, my muscles were all rested and in top shape and my mind was clear as day.

“The repairs to the desert room entrance have been completed.” The map popped up in my mind and I saw the small room I had asked for as well as the clear narrowing of the path leading out into the desert room.

“That's what I like to hear. How's Elton been since we locked him in?”

“There are no issues.” Which meant that he was still swimming and eating to his heart's content.

“And Ella?”

“Her garden has grown significantly, she has also been training her archery skills.”

“Nice!” The screen of the surveillance spider who was stationed in the tree room opened in my mind. The garden had gotten much bigger and taller with some plants well over 3 feet tall. There were some tomato-like vegetables on a section of them. The camera panned a little to the left and I saw a shooting range of sorts where a wooden target had been placed on a tree through the cleared-out stretch. I had pretty much fully accepted Ella as part of my fighting force after the goblin raid. She did well and I would not mind if she ended up staying in the dungeon, a range dealer would definitely be useful. “Anything else happen?”

“No.”

“So what does everyone else do when I sleep?”

“Stand watch.”

“That's it?”

“Sleep.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes.” for some reason I felt bad about that. It's not like I could do much about it, but I am a pretty bad boss. The biggest problem I faced was the fact that they didn't have thumbs. Like even if I could make a game room or break room, what can I make that their tool arms can use? “I don't believe that they mind. This is what they are made for.” Daisy must have noticed my pensive thoughts.

“Thanks.” I was shocked by her concern, but again, it was a nice change. “So we are due for an attack soon right?”

“There is no schedule on connections.”

“Yeah, but come on, it's been a while. One should be happening soon.” She didn't answer. I was well-rested and craving a good fight. Maybe something bigger this time since we kind of moved up a rank, ish.

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I jumped up and stretched before climbing down the throne. I spent the next few hours walking every inch of the dungeon, except the desert room and looked for anything I could do. I decided to order two of the miners to start carving up the tunnel walls to make them smoother and nice and sent the third to start digging a new path. I chose to have the spider curve the room in the top right and make a few rooms in the open expanse. While it did make it more possible for enemy forces to hold up there, I felt the chance to get a few more stones was worth it.

Next, I visited Ella. She was doing well and had put on some weight now that she was eating regularly. She no longer looked like the bag of bones like when she first got thrown into the dungeon.

“How are you doing with all of this?” I asked, gesturing around. I realized that I hadn't actually sat down and had a real conversation with her.

“I'm doing well. I have been putting a lot of work into the garden.”

“I can see that.” I looked over at it. It was even more impressive now than when I was looking at it on the screen. I walked over to it as Ella explained about the type of plants she was growing. She was clearly overjoyed to have it. I listened politely as she talked, I didn't need to eat and had no real interest in the plants but there was no point disheartening the poor girl. “Hey, Ella. What was your world like?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Well, I didn't pay much attention to everything before, but when you came in here you were undernourished, and let's be honest, your village did not look that great.” She lowered her head at my words. It was probably a sore subject for more than one reason.

“The world I came from was called Urbest, it's a nice place with many elves and few monsters. However, the new king decided to attack the dark elves leading to a large-scale war that increased the food tax from all the villages to feed the army. For many years now smaller villages like ours have been left with little to no food for the majority of the year. Honestly speaking, this is the best I have eaten in a very long time.” Her voice was sad. I understood where she was coming from, throughout history there have been wars, and in most of those wars, it is the people who suffer the most.

“And your family? Why didn't they try and stop you from being thrown in?”

“My mother died years ago from disease, and I think my father was happy to have one less mouth to feed.” Alright, I was hitting all of the deep traumatizing wounds today wasn't I?

“Why is it that you don’t venture into the caves more? You’d be able to stretch your legs and wander around.” I was desperately trying to change the subject.

“You told me not to go in case I set off the traps.” Ah, I do vaguely remember that.

“Well I’ll show them to you and then you'll be fine to wander around. No reason to stay in one single room.” That seemed to bring up her mood a little. I showed her the trip wire for the ceiling poison and allowed her to wander the hallways.

“That was beyond exhausting,” I said to Daisy after Ella was out of earshot. “I am not used to socializing.” I was mentally drained and made my way back to my throne. See this is nice. It's dark and quiet, and I can just breathe.

“Shit I'm turning into a hermit.” I sat up immediately as the intrusive thought hit my mind. “I mean I wasn't the most outgoing person as a human but I went out. I’m still doing something with my life right?”

“You are growing the dungeon.” That answer was in no way helpful. The room started to shake with a familiar feeling.

“Thanks, I feel much better now. And please tell me that's someone coming to start a fight?”

“Dungeon connection imminent.”