Lair

Chapter 005 - Inside the Settlement

By Skalsar

"Hivemind" scolded me.

After my little experience with the human, I wasted magic power in experiments with the "cores".

I don't think I'm wrong through.

Oh, he doesn't mean it that way?

I see.

It's just that I have to be careful with my timing.

We never know if strong prey enters.

The humans also get stronger by fighting creatures.

So we have to be careful.

I nod.

For future experiments, I will only use small amounts of magic power.

If possible, I do it while there is no human inside the hive.

The big group is already at it again.

Fighting off small creatures.

Somehow they seem even more vigilant.

"Hivemind" told me, it's because of me.

Because I let the human live, he returned to the settlement late at night.

He most likely told them about me and the [Blazing Hellhound].

A [Blazing Hellhound] on the lowest level would be a terrible danger to them.

But the big group didn't find anything that hints to that.

Thats why they are acting vigilant, but still continue.

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

>Please believe me brother! I tell you! It was a giant burning dog, with blue flames and a weird big .. thing! With the lower body resembling a spider and the upper body resembling something like a weird snake, but with hands!<, Lant was nearly crying.

>Just calm down already.

The scouting group didn't find anything.

Couldn't it be.. that you just fainted after fighting a monster and made that up in your mind?<

It was Mardo that tried to calm his brother down.

But the old man Rego looked worried.

>You know..

He could be right..<

>Oh please, don't encourage him, Rego.<

>Well, look at his drawing.

Do you know how a [Queen] looks like?<

Rego looked at Mardo worried.

>Well, no. So what?<

>Neither does Lant, or the scouts, or most people in this settlement.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

But he just drew one!<, Rego explained.

>This is nothing we should just ignore.<

>Yeah, finally someone..<, Lant was cut off.

>Oh, you be silent, boy! Didn't I tell you to leave the dungeon alone!?<

>Yeah, but..<

>No BUT! You nearly died!

If there really was a [Blazing Hellhound] and on top of that a [Queen], you should have run!

No, you should be dead! I just don't get it! We are missing something!<

>Well..<, Lant slowly spoke, looking down.

>There was something else..<

He showed a green gem that he managed to hold onto with all his might.

Then he started explaining the whole situation, how he was offered treasure.

How he had the feeling that the [Queen] was trying to test something.

And how she traded some treasure for his axe.

>Are you out of your f*****g mind, you stupid son of a b***h?!

I will get you sorted right now, you little f***!<, Mardo was completly raging.

Even Rego was red with anger, but held Mardo back.

>You are telling me, that you gave your only weapon (inside a dungeon), to a creature (a [Queen]) that had a [Blazing Hellhound] with her, in order to get some minerals and a gem?<

If his wife wasn't behind him on the other side of the room, speechless at that, Rego would have let go of Mardo.

But his eyes fell onto the gem again.

He just threw Mardo a few steps back and took the gem.

>That..?<

>Impossible.<

Mardo and Lant looked at Rego with worried eyes.

>This is a [Magic Orb].<

>Huh?<, Mardo and Lant tilted their heads.

>If processed, this stone can absorb magic power from the fallen monsters inside a dungeon.

That's how the [Adventurer Guild] weakens a dungeon.

This thing is worth a fortune.<

The brothers were grinning like crazy on this explanation.

According to Rego, this could buy them a house in a city for at least three years, if sold in the [Capital].