Leon’s boots crunched through the snow as he ran through the firld, leaving deep impressions in the white blanket of snow behind him.
“Master,” Dusk said, keeping pace beside him. “Forgive me for asking, but… what is your goal in life? Do you seek riches? Power? A knighthood or perhaps something even greater ?”
Leon smiled.
“Right now, all I want is to live peacefully with the women I like, Dusk. And I was doing that—until some assholes came along and started disturbing me. Why would you ask that ?” Leon asked with a confused expression.
“I’ve watched humans for many years,” Dusk said. “Most of them wander through life confused, chasing dreams they can’t reach—or worse, achieving them only to be consumed by greed and then run again for more riches.”
Leon chuckled softly. “And ?”
“You’re different, Master. You’re not chasing anything… You’re just running because you like it. That’s why I choose to serve you.” Dusk spoke with a smile.
Leon glanced over his shoulder.
“He’s still behind us, isn’t he ?”
Dusk flicked his tail and looked back. “Barely. He’s so far, I doubt he can even see us, Master.”
Leon’s smile faded. ’I’ll deal with that bitch tonight. Time to settle this matter once and for all.
I can’t take anymore of her supid nonsense.’
With that, he turned left and entered the Vinceral Forest. Snow clung to the trees like frost-bitten webs. Near a huge oak tree, the Dungeon loomed—its entrance now buried under snow.
Leon stomped once over the entrance and his leg immediately touched the stairs of the dungeon.
He looked at Dusk. “Come.”
“Yes, Master.” Dusk padded over and placed a paw on Leon’s foot.
“Take me to the first floor.” Leon ordered and suddenly, both of them disappeared.
*Swish*
—
Dungeon – First Floor
They reappeared in the warm interior of the dungeon. Unlike the snow-covered surface, the inside was really warm and quiet.
Right in the middle of the room, Kai was snoring softly inside a grand, luxurious bathtub. Carvings of serpentine beasts adorned the edges of the tub, and in bold letters across one side, the words read, Mr. Leon’s Sextub.
“…Fucking hell, Kai,” Leon muttered, torn between amusement and disappointment.
“Sextube ? What’s a sextube master ?” Dusk read aloud, puzzled.
“It’s Sextub. And forget it, let’s go,” Leon sighed, shaking his head as they walked toward the stairs to the second floor.
’At least the heat down here is stable. It’s good that Elis can control it or half of the beings living here would’ve been frozen to death.’ Leon thought with a neutral expression as he descended down to the second floor.
—
Second Floor
The moment they entered, Leon noticed slimes bouncing everywhere. They were more numerous than ever.
“Whoa… their numbers are exploding,” Dusk said, blinking in surprise.
“If this keeps up, I’ll have to give them their own floor and I’m not trying to run a slime daycare.” Leon muttered in a low voice.
“Oi, slimes! Where is your leader?” he asked with a confused expression.
Every single slime froze and turned toward him.
A slightly larger slime bounced forward.
“If you’re the boss, bounce once.” Leon spoke as he looked at the slime.
Boing!
The slime immediately bounced once.
“Good. Look, your numbers are growing way too fast. It’s getting crowded. Can you… guys stop for a bit ?” Leon asked with a neutral expression.
The leader slime jiggled and let out some wobbly sounds.
“Prrr… Prrr… Prrrr…”
Leon blinked. “…Yeah, I didn’t catch that. I will have to call Eli-”
“They said they won’t reproduce unless the Dungeon Master desires it,” Dusk translated calmly.
“…You speak slime language as well ?” Leon asked with a confused expression.
“I speak many languages, Master.” dusk replied with a smile.
“Alright then.” Leon addressed the slime again. “You can start multiplying again when the room expands. Okay ?”
“Prrr! Prrr!”
“They accept, master. They are saying that they will never upset the dungeon master.” Dusk translated immediately.
“Alright. Do whatever you want till then.” Leon waved his hand and moved toward the stairs. “Let’s check the other floors.”
“Yes master.”
“You don’t have to stay in that cat form inside the dungeon, y’know,” Leon added as he looked at dusk.
“Thank you, Master.”
*Fwoom*
Dusk transformed into his full Shadow Velmora form—sleek, feline, and massive.
“Third and fourth floors are still empty,” Leon muttered. “Let’s head to the fifth floor.”
He touched Dusk’s side.
“Take us to the fifth floor.” Leon spoke as both of them disappeared immediately.
*Swish*
—
Fifth Floor
They reappeared among sleeping Dark Elves—women and children curled up together on stone beds, peacefully sleeping.
’The children must still be scared… since they were separated from their mothers by that slave trader,’ Leon thought in his mind with a neutral expression.
A familiar voice greeted him immediately.
“Good morning, Master.”
Fruela appeared from the shadows, kneeling before him.
“You’re up early.”
“I always rise at this time, Master.” Fruela replied with a neutral expression.
“Mm. Makes sense.”
She looked toward one of the beds. “What should we do with that girl—Jennifer, Master ?”
Leon followed her gaze. Jennifer was sprawled out like a corpse, snoring loudly.
“I’ll deal with her later.”
“Is there anything you’d like me to do in the meantime, master ?” Fruela asked dutifully.
“You can rest. Or take a walk outside. Just don’t bring anyone near the dungeon entrance.”
“As you command.” She bowed again and disappeared toward the stairs.
Leon descended.
—
Sixth Floor
There, he found Rees, lying dramatically on a stone slab with arms folded over his chest like a corpse.
“When the hell did skeletons start sleeping?” Leon mocked.
Rees sat up immediately. “Ah, Mr. Leon! Perfect timing. Could you bring me some equipment for experiments and research? Preferably sharp ones, and maybe some mana stones. Oh! And if you could find any dismembered limbs—”
“Calm down, Calm down… Just make a list of the item you need, I will see what I can get. It’s not like I am very rich.” Leon spoke with a neutral expression as he looked at Rees.
“Oh, I can give you all the money you want. I am very Rich.”