First Outer World Story Series: The Black Mist that Devours - Chapter 128
Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter
This is the 6th-level creation session.
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(Kurokiri POV)
It was time to develop the sixth level now that the new skill and equipment had been identified.
I had two directions to choose from. Either enhance the advantages or eliminate the disadvantages.
My dungeon’s inherent advantage lay in the high kill・capture rate of those who penetrated past the second level, which was largely attributable to the unexpected attack and the viciousness of the traps and structures.
But well, I still didn’t have the feeling that it can be breached beyond that. It was basically a foolproof means of keeping information from leaking out.
That being the case, I supposed I ought to destroy the drawbacks this time around.
Disadvantages… There is a simple lack of space.
There was a physical limit to the number of spaces in a dungeon, which meant that if you exceed the limit, you will be stuck in the dungeon, leaving you a sitting duck for intruders.
Nevertheless, with the existing number, despite the fact that we managed to handle the Octopus King’s invasion this time, it would have been a horrific situation due to the lack of strength.
Mmm. But the key question was: how can this disadvantage be resolved?
Simply create a large space… rejected. That was clearly not a viable choice.
Expand the dungeon above ground and let creatures loose… rejected. This would unnecessarily increase the current influx of just the proper number of invaders.
A connecting passageway designed to link the other levels… it was a tricky one. If I simply constructed it, once the intruders took advantage of it, it will be aggravating.
“I’ve finished the clean-up.”
“Phew… That was like a Monster House.”
And Ichiko and Ryo were back.
Hmm? Monster House? Well, forget it.
“Welcome back. How was the cleanup and takedown of the remnants?”
“Getting rid of the remnants was not a problem. The ‘Opening of the Mouth of the Mist Demon,’ virtually ruined the area around here, but I was able to trace the rest of them using the Thin Mist Wolf’s sense of smell,” Ichiko answered by lightly stretching her back and rotating her arms as if she was doing calisthenics.
Yeah. Even on the hill, it is emphasized…[i]
Thud!
“Kurokiri?”
“Sorry, Ichiko-san…”
Please don’t give me a body blow with ≪Enchanting Mist≫, because it hurts a lot…
“Well, putting aside both of your husband-and-wife comedic dialogue, the treatment and the funeral went off without a hitch. I was not responsible for the stripping, thus I am unaware of the specifics. But I heard that a lot of excellent materials were being taken away from their corpses, which were a cut above than usual since you employed ‘Opening of the Mouth of the Mist Demon’ to finish them off nearly untouched, Kurokiri.”
“Husband-and-wife comedic dialogue… ah, let’s just leave that part alone. Then can I have you collect some of the stripped materials and the weapons based on them as a sample when they start to flow in the market? I want to investigate whether or not they are affected by the ‘Opening of the Mouth of the Mist Demon’.”
“I understand.”
Ryo then went to confer with Aria about how they and Tori may use the wealth they had amassed.
“Then, I’ll stay between the second and first levels until our forces return.”
“Hmm. That would be great.”
And Ichiko also moved towards the place where she was supposed to be.
Yeah. Even so, what should I do about the sixth level?
Speaking of which, Ryo mentioned something about a Monster House earlier. Monster House is that thing, right? The sort you will frequently see in roguelike games.
But in reality, even if I build something like that in the real world, I can imagine that it would be quite disastrous if the monsters were repulsed one by one in the hallways, or if they were to be shot with ranged skills when they were stuck in the room.
Why were those things even in the game in the first place? Indeed, from the perspective of the invader, the relentless attack of foes was a challenging circumstance. But it was hard to believe that such a thing was there for that purpose only.
Um, is it for that? Perhaps Monster House is akin to a waiting area for monsters in a way? If that’s the case, having a vast range of monsters congregated in one place, let alone resting like in a conventional roguelike Monster House, may make sense.
Besides, if that was the idea behind it, it would be adequate to have it in reality.
To begin with, the entrance connecting the sixth level to the other levels should be a one-way door to keep intruders out as much as possible, right?
If it was completely impenetrable, it would be impossible to construct it in the first place, therefore it would be wiser to establish a link from the ruins’ basement to a suitable spot on the first level… where there were other ruins. In addition, perhaps an entrance could be built into the depths of the fifth level. Since the fifth level was randomized in terms of monsters and structure, things should be fine.
From the first to the fifth level, the sixth level’s range should be underground, and when the number of monsters in each level ran low, they can be relocated to replenish the number of monsters. Multiple exits should be developed and their positions should be adjusted on a regular basis to guarantee that the monsters were not attacked right after relocating.
Therefore, the actual structure of the sixth level should consist of narrow corridors like an ant’s nest (not as narrow as one might think since the corridors will be wide enough to allow even a Cuélebre or a Giant Mist Wolf to move around). It will, of course, not be two-dimensional, but three-dimensional with detailed level distinctions. On top of that, several medium-sized rooms will be created and designated as waiting areas for the monsters.
Furthermore, a black swamp would be set up in the corridors outside the waiting area to inflict damage on invaders over time, and Smoke and Thin Mist Wolves would be stationed at each room’s entrance as gate guards in the event of an intruder.
“Well, that settles it.”
After issuing instructions through the dungeon creation screen and paying the necessary costs, I closed it.
Now all I had to do was wait for my strength to recover, and then I can create as many monsters and magic source devices as I can.
In the meantime, why don’t I go make out with everyone to stimulate my recoveryー
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T/N:
[I]Talking about the size of her chest. Sorry, if it’s incomprehensible. The narrator is simply too unreliable and I can’t think of any words to make it sounds like a joke
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