Dungeon Maker

“I have the power to unite two different objects into one, even though it’s temporary. But it’s not possible for anything. After I first obtained this power, I tested many ways and concluded that combining magic was the most useful, and as a result, I’ve come to take the path of a wizard as I’m now.”

Combine two different things?

At that moment, Yong-ho momentarily recalled his own evolution of union.

“Excuse me, but can you show it to me?”

“No problem.”

Tigrius, who answered readily this time, opened both hands. Since the magic that he had memorized was almost exhausted, he activated a simple magic that did not require much preparation.

“Fire arrow in the right hand. Fire arrow in the left hand.”

An arrow of flames formed on his hands. Tigrius made eye contact with Yong-ho. Slowly, he brought his hands together in front of his chest, then clasped his hands finally.

He shouted, “Combination magic—Fire Ballista!” and opened his hands wide.

At that moment, a huge arrow of fire formed on his palms. It was huge enough to befit the name Ballista.

“I can combine the same magic to further strengthen it, or I can combine different magic to create a new one.”

After cancelling Fire Ballista, he activated the magic once again. This time, it was not the same magic.

“Strength in the right hand. Haste in the left hand. Combination magic—Booster!”

It didn’t have as much of a visual effect as the one a moment ago. However, Yong-ho could see the color and properties of the magic directly. He gulped, watching the miracle on Tigrius’s hands.

It was thanks to this magic combination that Tigrius could carry several auxiliary magic on his body, for two magic combinations brought about the same effect as using four auxiliary magics.

The more Yong-ho saw it, the more magnificent he felt about it. It was indeed an appropriate choice that Tigrius decided to use the power of magic combination.

A magic layman, Yong-ho could think of various magic combinations at that moment. So, it was needless to say how many magic combinations Tigrius, a real wizard, could think of.

What if Yong-ho could evolve Tigrius?

What kind of achievement could Tigrius show if he led the wizard to a higher place than now?

‘Ah, by the way…’

Such power was only possessed by the Demon King.

Tigrius was now Yong-ho’s subordinate. If he could unleash the power of evolution, Tigrius had to be “subjugated” to Yong-ho himself. In other words, he had to be Yong-ho’s subordinate spirit, not the head of the House of Randolt anymore.

What would happen to his power when Tigrius was not the Demon King anymore?

Could he lose it?

If that was the case, it would be regrettable. Yong-ho wanted to maintain Tigrius’s power while having him under his command.

“You don’t have to worry too much,” whispered Ophelia, noticing Yong-ho’s concern.

Yong-ho signaled to Tigrius appropriately then turned to Opelia.

She explained quickly and briefly, “As you know, the power of the Demon King is manifested from the soul of the Demon King. Ascending to the position of the Demon King can be said to be an opportunity to awaken.

“Then, does it mean that his power is still maintained even when he steps down from the position of the Demon King?”

“Not really. It is true that the position of “Demon King” itself exerts considerable power in maintaining power. To get straight to the point, anybody who has been in the position of the Demon King for a long time can still use his power even if he loses his position because power is the manifestation of the power of the soul. However, his power would be weaker than before. There is no way he can avoid it.”

According to her explanation, Tigrius would still be able to exert his power even if he lost his position as the Demon King.

Yong-ho was not sure about the duration of ‘for a long time’ when she mentioned it, but Tigrius reigned as the head of the House of Randolt longer than Foras. In fact, the duration of his reign itself would not be a problem.

When Yong-ho sighed as if he was relieved, Ophelia smiled brightly.

Then she continued, “And the results can vary, depending on how you can merge the House of Randolt because Tigrius can serve you while maintaining his position as the Demon King. And actually, this is more common. The six kings are also governing their “kingdom” in this way.”

Yong-ho nodded. The power of his evolution has not stopped growing. If Yong-ho himself became stronger, he could unleash the power of evolution even if he didn’t make Tigrius his subordinate spirit.

After a brief conversation with Ophelia, Yong-ho approached Tigrius again.

He told Tigrius what Ophelia reported, “I hear that the main force of the House of Mammon started. So, we are going to wait here to join them before heading for the House of Randolt, as I told you before.”

“Okay. I will inform the dungeon of the House of Randolt in advance.”

That was why Yong-ho stayed in the wilderness even though the duel was over.

He could not go and take over the House of Randolt with his current force. Of course, he didn’t suspect Tigrius, for Tigrius, whom Yong-ho met only briefly, would break his oath.

There were two reasons why he mobilized his main force.

First, he needed to put down the possible rebellion by the subordinate spirits of the House of Randolt without armed conflict, and secondly, he would need considerable manpower to rebuild the dungeon there.

Deborah, a subordinate spirit of the House of Randolt, acted at Tigrius’s order and contacted the dungeon through telepathy. As a special spirit, she could exchange telepathy with her twin sister, no matter how far they were from each other.

Now that Yong-ho settled almost everything with Tigrius, all he had to do was wait for the main force led by Rikum.

‘The new power of Brigada.’

Yong-ho looked back at the ring on his hand then turned to Catalina and Skull.

It wasn’t just Catalina and Skull alone that felt connected to Yong-ho. Yong-ho also felt a strong bond when using their magic power.

He didn’t make any calculated thinking that he would use those spirits with higher utility value as his subordinates. For that reason, the moment he felt connected to these subordinate spirits, their feelings were so pure.

Skull laughed at Yong-ho’s gaze, and Catalina fluttered her ears and tail needlessly.

Yong-ho gently touched the ring then turned back and looked west.

Two days later, he arrived at the dungeon of the House of Randolt.

He immediately started renovating the dungeon.

***

The renovation started from the heart of the dungeon.

After pondering for the past two days, Yong-ho made a decision on how to merge the House of Randolt with his.

Tigrius Randolt would retain his Demon King status. First of all, Yong-ho would maintain a simple master-slave relationship instead of having him as his subordinate spirit.

Of course, Yong-ho would have him go back to his original status as a subordinate spirit but not now.

The dungeon of the Randolt House was the first “expanded base” that Yong-ho acquired, and at the same time, it was a shield to block the forces from the western region.

Yong-ho could not afford to stay at the Randolt House for that long. Even before the attack on the west began, he had to break through one more arena first, and if possible, he had to explore the Labyrinth of Greed.

That was why it was better to keep the position of the head of the House of Randolt for now.

Moreover, Tigrius’s power was very useful. Since it was certain that his power would be weakened if Yong-ho made him his subordinate spirit, he could not weaken the strength of the friendly force recklessly.

‘Of course… this rests on the assumption that Tigrius won’t betray me.’

So, it took two days for Yong-ho to make the decision.

Yong-ho already trusted Tigrius wholeheartedly for he was moved by Tigrius’s attitude before and after the duel.

However, he needed a little more time for more reasonable judgment.

It was a very important issue. If Tigrius betrayed him during the battle, an irreversible situation would occur.

So, Yong-ho had to arrange a safety device. And the first safeguard was the control of the heart of the dungeon.

[Master!]

[Can you hear my voice?]

Lucia’s voice was heard from the heart of the dungeon in the deepest part of the House of Randolt.

Her voice wasn’t very clear.

He felt like Lucia’s voice was distant as if he picked up a phone with poor reception, and there were also noises that interfered with their conversation when she spoke.

Yong-ho slightly tweaked the position of the remote communication unit attached to the heart of the dungeon. Next to him, Tigrius improved his connection with Lucia by controlling the letters of light that floated in the air.

Lucia’s voice flowing from the dungeon’s soul became more and more clear.

[Aiuheho]

[Can you hear me?]

[If you hear me, please answer me!]

[Tubitubi Bopbop]

[My master is a fool]

Yong-ho blushed when Lucia’s voice continued. He could have smiled at her if he had been in the House of Mammon, but this place was the House of Randolt with Tigrius standing beside him.

Yong-ho said in a soft voice after clearing his throat several times as if to hide his embarrassment.

“Lucia?”

[Hicuuk!]

[Master? This time I can’t hear you well. I think the communication status is bad.]

It was a white lie.

Yong-ho grinned when he thought of this girl with blue hair, who was desperately pretending otherwise.

“It seems you and I are well connected.”

[Hehe, you know I love you, my master?]

Instead of answering, Yong-ho pretended to hit her forehead in the air.

As the communication status improved, Lucia, who was connected to Yong-ho via the heart of the dungeon of the House of Randolt, responded with a laugh.

Watching all this, Tigrius said, “She’s very peculiar.”

Only

“Huh?”

“She has a lot of emotion. I didn’t see a lot of dungeon souls… But I have never seen a dungeon soul like her.”

It didn’t sound like he mentioned it without any reason. There was a little curiosity in Tigrius’s eyes like a wizard.

“Really?”

Blurring a bit, Yong-ho looked back at the heart of the dungeon then he said while touching the remote communications device, “Lucia, can you feel your friend here? I’m going to subjugate some of the dungeon functions of the Randolt House to the dungeon of the Mammon House. The dungeon soul here will guide you, so finish the work.”

[Okay!]

[Hi, I’m Lucia!]