“Keeeeeekkk! Stooop! Stoooooooooooooppp! Haaaaa… haa… haa…”

“You are pathetic.”

“Haaa… Shut up, keek! You’re no better than me!”

“I could withstand it one and half seconds longer than you, so I’m better.”

“How’s that make any different, keek?”

“It is different.”

“Both of you aaare pathetic,” said the third one, which invited a glare from the previous two. Not that they could retort back, considering their results compared to hers.

“Keek… Tell me your secret, Queen, how did you manage to hold that long? My head was almost explode from the pain, keek.”

“I’m simply a special being,” the previously commenting female demon, who looked completely like a human now, puffed her chest proudly. At least she was covering her important parts, well, barely.

“What a foolish. You are still the weakest among the three of us, though.”

Pouting, the queen gi-ant turned to me, who was relaxing on my stone throne. “Maaaaster, Haz is bullying me again,” she complained like a spoiled kid, using the chance to stick her gorgeous body on me.

I patted her head and said, “Now, now, get along, will you?”

“Master,” Hazard the dragonoid called. “We have been learning to resist your mind-attack for awhile now. Is there a purpose in this training?”

“Tch tch tch, you really don’t know a thing, do you, Mister Newcomer? That’s why you shouldn’t act all high and mighty all the time. It’s to prepare the fight against our arch-enemy, right, Master?” the queen said, still pressing her chest on my arm.

“Arch-enemy?” Hazard looked confused. “Who?”

"It’s my uncle, a mage named Jiwa,” I told. “He’s currently enslaving my father as a mindless puppet. His mind-attack is several times stronger than mine, though.”

“Keek, your father!? How dare him! Tell me where I can find this Jiwa, Master, I’ll kill him for you. In a very suffering way, keek!”

I smiled bitterly, “I do wish it would be that easy, Ken, but I’m afraid he’s more or less as troublesome as Maa’.”

“Eek, as the White Wizard?” his black fur turned pale. It was a funny thing to see, actually, and I couldn’t help but to make a genuine smile.

“The enemy has been on the move since this morning, Master,” Queen reported.

“I’m aware,” I replied, back in the sulking mood. “I was hoping it was just an errand trip to [Lontra], but it turns out he and father continue further eastward, towards wherever their destination is.”

“What do we do then? Should we send some monsters to stall them?”

“No, we’ll only waste the monsters’ lives that way,” I said. After thinking for a moment, I decided, “... I’ll go to [Firzoa], maybe I can find some hints on how to fight him.”

(Halili may be able to help.)

“[Firzoa]...,” Hazard muttered. “The place is very empty for a human den… Only a handful of armed humans could be seen…,” he said, checking on the s-flies’ visions that being shared through our link.

“Look at the northern part,” I told.

“Oh! Many people are gathering there… Are they… fighting?”

“People with the red uniform are most likely from [[Dragora]]. Although they’re doing nothing but besieging the wall for now, they may launch an attack anytime,” I explained.

“!! [[Dragora]]! Isn’t that where the buffon who started the mess is from? Has the heart been exposed, then? Maybe we should have killed that last woman, afterall?”

“Hmm. I don’t think we are found yet, Haz. Fantastica would have sent someone to check the dungeon in that case,” I said. “Besides, none of us were in condition to fight Alveria at the time, remember? No, the plan was the best choice we have, it gave Fantastica a face to hold while buying us the time we need to recover. Although I never thought it would go that smooth.”

“... Yes, if you say so.”

(... Still, it’s actually disappointing. How many days has it been? How come Alv still didn’t realize it’s a fake? She should know what my real heart looks like, shouldn’t she? For not able to recognize something as important as my dungeon heart, are you really my girl, Alv?

(... No, maybe she’s just busy, and couldn’t find a time to visit without casting suspicion.

(Oh well, it’s fine either way, I guess.)

“You guys, make sure this place stay safe while I’m away,” I said while tapping the throne’s armrest, implying the real dungeon heart that was hidden underneath. “Also, Ken, destroy the magic circle in the settlement ruins! We no longer need to risk Fantastica sudden appearance by keeping it there, even if doing so may alert them. They won’t be able to freely send their Executives now with the invading [[Dragora]] anyway.”

“Keek, yes.”

“And Queen, aside from the important task I’ve given to you, continue to monitor the newborn goblins in my place, okay? Unlike with their coreless parent generation, even you should be able to convey your thought to the kids through our link. I want you to start teaching them the basic of military arts, like your gi-ants, as soon as they can stand on their own feet.”

“You can count on me, Master,” the woman beside me replied. “But I may run out the energy to do all the tasks if you don’t fill it first,” she said, closing her eyes and advancing her lips.

I laughed, but lightly kissed the lips nevertheless. Obviously she didn’t expect me to really did it, judging from her surprised look. Her joyous smile widened, reflecting her high mood, which in turned made her somehow looked more beautiful. Glancing on her head, where a golden tiara was tucked on her long black hair, I couldn’t help but to think it really suited her.

The tiara was something I personally made, from some gold coins that I had reshaped using as an experiment. It was good to know I could manipulate minerals as well, albeit not as easy as rocks and soils, and this knowledge might one day come in handy. She was happy to receive the gift, despite knowing it was nothing but an experiment result.

“I need to go now,” I said, pushing the gi-ant boss aside and stood up, right when she had started licking her own lips and seducing me in a more aggressive manner.

“Boo, you’re no fun, Master,” she protested.

Although it was refreshing to see so many expressions she had been making - moreover because some days ago she still wore an expressionless face, and teasing her would definitely be fun, this wasn’t the right time to play around. Jiwa had been moving and I had done nothing in order to prepare our rematch. Thus, I climbed down the platform while pretending to ignore her.

"Haz, take me to [Firzoa],” I told.

“As you wish,” he replied and opened a portal to the forest outside, which both of us went through.

“Ah, wait, I just remember something. Wait here for a moment,” I said when we reached outside.

I opened another portal to the forest room. Since I was going to ask for help, it would be appropriate not to come empty handed, and I remembered I had something valuable for user like Halili. In the room, my consciousness went to the dungeon view mode and chose the biggest from the ceilings, had it dropped, and returned to my avatar to pick it up.

However, several monkeys found the shining stone before me and gathered around it. One of them even claimed its ownership and tried to monopolize by baring its teeth to the others. Only until I arrived, though. The said monkey reluctantly handed the when I asked.

After creating a small box to store the round stone using the earth and materializing a piece of cloth to wrap the box, I opened a new portal to where Hazard was waiting. “Sorry for the wait,” I said. “Let’s go now.”

Hazard then hold me from behind and we took a flight towards the town.

“Don’t fly too high, we don’t want to be spotted.”

“Understood.”

I estimated the trip would take one to two hours with Hazard’s current speed. Since there was nothing could be done in the meantime, I used it to look over the many things that had happened in the these days in case I missed something important.

(Let see… I guess keeping him alive was the right decision. It still took me two days before I could afford a new Dungeon Lord, though. Another two… Or was it three? To capture the forest animals and subjugate the goblin village in the southern part of the forest. Then several more days to complete the goblins’ migration and fast breed all the new creatures. Damn, I lost my track of time in my hurry to recover the dungeon defense, has it been a week yet?

(The new goblins addition should be more than enough to compensate most of the lost force with their fast learning. And as long as the demons stay on guard, it should be safe even if I leave the dungeon for days. However, Jiwa is moving faster than expected, has the new finished?

(Hmm. Fighting him will be disadvantageous no matter how I look it. Not only it’ll take place far from my dungeon, I can’t bring enough force without risking my dungeon safety either. Ah, if only I still have Fantastica to watch my back… Well, no use to fret, what happened is happened.

(At least I didn’t waste the time in the while I couldn’t leave the dungeon. I’ve managed to understand the limit of my dungeon skills better and develop several ideas to improve my fighting way. Right, I’ve to be creative, making use the knowledge from other world to the fullest. That, and the hint from Halili, assuming she can give me any, hopefully will be able to put me on a more equal ground against Jiwa.)

(Hmm… Come to think of it, I haven’t confirmed her position yet. She’s still in [Firzoa], isn’t she? It wouldn’t be funny if she isn’t.)

I then gave a specific order to the s-flies in [Firzoa] to find the mage girl. She should be standing out with the pair of glasses on her face, after all. And while the flying monsters were looking everywhere, I double-checked what they saw. However, before the search could give any result, Hazard notified that we were almost reaching the edge of the forest.

“Alright, drop me near the tree over there,” I pointed. Once we landed, I said, “I’ll go alone from here on, you can go back.”

“... Are you sure, Master?”

“I am. And it’ll put me more ease if you’re in the dungeon to protect my heart, you know.”

“... Very well, but please call if you ever need me. I will come as soon as possible,” the dragonoid said. After I nodded, he made a bow and turned around, flying back to where we had come from.

I turned my attention to the town’s wall from afar and observed it. Unlike my first time here weeks ago, the gate was closed and the bustle was nowhere to be seen. The guards also numbered many times more than before. From what could be seen from s-flies’ shared vision, there were almost no blind spots which I could sneak in from.

(Hmm. It’s tighter than I expect, doesn’t seem I can infiltrate easily. Should I wait until dark? Well, even if can pass the wall, since only town guards and hired adventurers are on the street, I’ll most likely draw the attention anyway. Alright, let’s wait here for now, until the s-flies find Halili.)

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Suddenly, the thickets behind me rustled and someone appeared.

“! Wha-,” I jumped forward while turning around in my surprise. Mana gathered in my palm, ready to strike the ambusher.

“Wait, it’s me!” the person said, a woman’s voice. She lowered the hood that had been covering her face.

Pausing, I took a better look. A small stature girl at her late teens. Her brown hair was tied into two braids that fell over her shoulders. Although her face seemed familiar, I couldn’t tell who she was.

“It’s me,” she said, taking out a pair of glasses from her dark cloak and put it on her face. “See?”

“Ah, Halili?” I finally recognized. “Your hair color is different and you didn’t wear your glasses, so I wasn’t sure.”

“Uh-huh,” she smiled, pocketing her glasses back. “Most people look at my glasses and hair first, so I changed my appearance to slip away from the town guards,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

“Ah, right, the authority of [Firzoa] was suspecting you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she replied, grabbing my hand. “Let’s talk over there, Arz. You don’t know how much I’m happy to see you again,” she said and started to pull me behind the tickets.

“Really?” I asked, grabbing back and enjoying the soft hand while following her lead.

“Uh-huh. I learned Arz is the dungeon master everyone talking about. Imagine, the first human dungeon master right in front of me, and I let him go just like that! Soo disappointed to myself. But now Arz is back, I can’t wait to take your blood sample and dissect your body. My scholar’s blood is so tickling at the moment.”

“Uh-,” I reflexly tried to get away, but she wouldn’t let go my hand.

“Just kidding,” she giggled. “Come here.”

I reluctantly obeyed as she kept dragging me. In my head I played several scenarios on how to end my business with her as soon as possible, being dissected didn’t sounds pleasant after all. Walking fifty or so meters, to a well hidden small clearing surrounded by thick bushes, there were two men in similar hooded cloak like Halili’s and a big sack which they were guarding, whatever the content was.

“Halili, who is he?” one of the man asked in alert.

“My acquaintance, don’t worry,” she replied. “So, what’s Arz doing here?” she asked.

“Er… looking for you?”

“I’m flattered. No, seriously, what’re you doing here?”

I scratched my head. “I’m serious, I’m looking for you. Oh yeah, this is for you,” I gave the wrapped stone box.

“Humm? And this is…?” she received and checked the parcel, before started to unwrap the cloth. While doing so, she said, “I heard what happened between Arz and Fantastica, and the town is currently full of Fantastica Executives. So if Arz has a business in [Firzoa], I recommend you to come back at another time.”

“Fantastica Executives?! I didn’t know… Well, since I already find you, I don’t really need to enter the town,” I said. “Hmm, I suppose they’re gathering because of the [[Dragora]]’s army, right? Mind to tell me why the [[Dragora]] is here?”

“Isn’t it because Arz killed their prince? Oh! A ! And a big one at that. Isn’t this expensive? I’ve been saving up to get one myself but it’s still not enough. Thank you, Arz,” she exclaimed excitedly.

“You’re welcome.”

Creating a small distortion in the air next to her, she reached out her hand and it vanished into the distorted space. When she pulled her hand back, she was already holding a wooden staff with a petal-like tip, obviously missing a crystal of some sort.

(Oh, ?)

“But Halili, I faked my death and it should give Fantastica a good room to negotiate with [[Dragora]]. It doesn’t explain why their army are already here since days ago,” I tried to stir back our conversation.

“Humm, I don’t know the details,” she replied, still focusing on her staff. She placed the from me on the tip and chanted something, which made the petal to close, grabbing the round shining stone tightly. She inspected her work and began to channel her mana. The glowed, so did the previously-not-too-visible carvings on the handle. “Amazing, I can feel the difference already,” her eyes sparkled like a puppy.

“... That’s one good staff you have there.”

“Uh-huh. And thanks to Arz it’s even better now,” she replied, throwing the box and the wrapping cloth into her .

“So…,” she said, finished playing with her toy and returned her attention to me. “I don’t think Arz comes all the way here just to give me this, right? As I said, I don’t know the details, but they say it’s because [[Alishine]] let their prince died within their jurisdiction. They even go so far as saying it’s a scheme to weaken [[Dragora]]’s royalty line, that [[Alishine]] has been waiting for a chance to annex [[Dragora]] for a long time, and so on.”

I was dumbfounded. It was obviously a lie, there was nothing [[Alishine]] would gain from [[Dragora]]’s weakening. However, I then remembered that from the start most citizens didn’t even know about the potential war-break out, so people might be buying the lie.

“Is that all…?”

“Ah, actually, can you share some tips to fight a soul-mage?”

“Soul-mage? Humm, if I remember correctly, weren’t you looking for a soul-mage back then? Master Jiwa? Did something happen during your meeting?”

“Yeah, sort of,” I smiled wryly. “So, can you help?”

“Sure. It’s easy, at least in theory. Soul-mages specialized in attacking mind, so something without a mind can’t be attacked. Incidentally, we elemental-mages have mindless creature we can control.”

“The elemental guardians!” I realized. “Of course, come to think of it, he didn’t let me summon a golem last time, so that’s why…”

The girl smiled, “It’s funny how Arz comes all the way for tips, when you’re a soul-mage yourself.”

“Uh, I didn’t properly finish my soul-mage training,” I replied in honesty. “Anyway, thanks, I’m glad I have you as my friend.”

“Uh-huh, same here,” she replied while caressing her staff’s tip.

“Okay, I think I’ll go now. Once again, thanks for the ti-.”

“Mmmmmmmm… mmmmm…”

“Oy, shut up!”

I turned to the voice, which was coming from the big sack. It was struggling hard and the two hooded men were restraining its movement.

(Since it didn’t move before, I didn’t realize there’s a person inside. Was the person just awake?)

“Mmmmmmm… Mmmmmmmmmmm….”

“Shut up, I said,” one of the men hit the sack and it struggled less.

“Hey, don’t hit too hard,” Halili told.

“Halili, that sack is…”

“None of Arz’s business, I believe. Didn’t you say you’re going?”

“Well…,” I considered if I should leave.

“Ahmmmm, Hemmmmpppp… Hemmmmppp…”

“If you don’t shut up, I’ll cut you with this knife!” One of the men threathened, sticking a knife to the part of sack that I thought was the person’s face.

“... *Sob* *Sob*...”

“That’s better. Don’t test our patience, your live is in our mercy.”

“Ahmmm hemppp…”

“You!”

“Hmmmpppp!!!”

“... Halili, I believe the person was asking for my help,” I said.

“Humm, you must be mistaken,” she replied.

“No, I’m not. Please take off the sack,” I asked, staring straight at her eyes.

…

…

“... Take off the sack,” she told the men.

“Are you sure…? We don’t need to listen to this man, even if he’s your acquaintance.”

“Yes, just take it off. I’ll take the responsibility.”

“... If you say so,” replied one of the men.

They released the sack, and revealed the person inside. A beautiful woman in her middle age with flaming red hair, her long dress was in a mess and she was being tied roughly. No words came from her gagged mouth, but her watery eyes pleaded me to rescue her.

“Aunt Ehrisya?” I said in shock. “What’s the meaning of this, Halili?”

“Arz doesn’t know? Ehrisya is the sister of Master Dava, guildmaster of Fantastica. We’re going to use her as a hostage.”

“Wait... What did you say?” my head was spinning, unable to process the news. “She, who?”

“Sister of Dava the Elementalist, Arz’s enemy.”

At the word enemy, Ehrisya’s eyes widened. She looked at Halili, who was facing my way. Then, our eyes met.

“Is that true, Aunt?” I seeked confirmation.

Her eyes hesitated, not sure how to answer. However, from her body language which tried to stay away from me, I confirmed what Halili had said.

“They’re coming, Arz should really go now,” Halili said, looking up to the sky.

The cloud was gathering and a rumbling sound was heard, the clear weather suddenly turned windy.

“Who’re coming…?”

*BLAST*

Before anyone answered me, a blinding flash illuminated the sky for a brief moment.

“Let’s go,” Halili told the other two.

One of them then put Ehrisya on his shoulder and followed his friends through the tickets, towards the edge of the forest. Once again my eyes met Ehrisya’s, which reflected a fear and pleaded for my help. Not sure on what to do, I found myself was already walking towards the same direction the others had gone.

The wind suddenly blew stronger. Following the gaze of everyone in front of me, a man was standing in the mid-air. No, he was riding the wind. My guess, the principle would be like a helicopter, perhaps, therefore there was a strong wind from his direction.

I protected my eyes with a hand to get a better look. The man was in his mid twenties, according to my estimation, and had the same flaming red hair as Ehrisya. Their face quite resembled each other, actually. And I had to admit that, even from a point of view of a man like me, he had quite a good look.

“That’s Dava…? Isn’t he a bit too young for his reputation?”

“You’re still here, Arz? Don’t be fooled by his appearance, he’s much older than he looks,” Halili replied.

…

“Are you done playing tag, Ethoria?” Dava spoke. Even without yelling his voice was clear in the midst of the strong blowing wind. “What’re you trying to accomplish by baiting me here? Fantastica headquarter won’t fall easily even without me there,” he said.

“Hah! Who cares about rundown headquarter?!” a woman standing in the open answered. She was probably at her middle age, but just like Ehrisya her looks was younger than her real age. And she was hot too. I wondered why I hadn’t met any ugly woman in this world.

Although she, Ethoria the Lightning, should be a mage, her outfit didn’t match. Her full set of golden armors made her looked more like a knight or a defender. A shining one, that is. Pointing her rapier-like weapon, she declared, “Here will be forever remembered as the place of your fall, Dava.”