NoveLight ™
Chapter 21: Dungeon Transformation
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With the arrival of spring, I had planned to start learning archery. However, with all the work on Horse King brewing, it kept getting postponed.
Now, I’m finally drawing the bow.
"Pull it harder."
"Yes, sir."
My arm quivers as I draw. Thanks to my level, I can manage to pull the bow, but holding it steady is a whole other challenge.
Whoosh.
The arrow flies off in a completely unintended direction.
"You moved while pulling the bow, that’s why."
"Understood."
I steady the bow, arm trembling. If I can't keep it still, there's no chance of aiming at the target.
Whoosh.
It seems it’ll still be some time before I can hit the mark consistently.
Every day, I train with both sword and bow, while also checking on the state of Horse King. Although it’s now summer, the old tunnel remains cool and stable. The temperature hasn’t risen, making it truly an ideal spot for brewing sake.
When I return to the mansion after checking on Horse King, my mother suddenly embraces me tightly.
Caught off guard, I wonder if something happened. Behind her, my father stands there, grinning.
What’s going on?
"Mother is expecting," she says.
"What?!"
"There’s a little brother or sister for you on the way."
I’m speechless.
I’m going to have a sibling?
Overwhelming joy fills me—this is incredible.
"Congratulations, Mother! Father!"
"Are you that happy?"
"Of course! When will the baby be born?"
"Sometime in September, I believe."
"I can’t wait!"
That night, we had a celebratory feast to mark the arrival of the new baby.
"Congratulations, Master, Madam, and young Master Toma."
"Congratulations!" we all chanted together.
The family and servants were all delighted, sharing in the joyous celebration. Whether a brother or sister, I just hope the baby arrives safely.
The next day, after checking on Horse King, I entered a different section of the old tunnels—not the one used for storing sake, but a more remote part. It’s a less frequented area, making it perfect.
"I need to level up faster."
With a sibling on the way, I want to secure some economic stability for the territory, so that when they grow up, they’ll have more resources at their disposal.
—Transformation!
"………"
There’s no visible change on the rough, rocky surface.
No mana consumption either. It seems transforming rock into gold isn’t possible.
I’ve tried many times, but converting anything into gold or silver has never succeeded.
I’m probably limited by my current mana levels, unable to transform into precious metals.
Perhaps because I’d been concentrating so hard in this dark tunnel, I start feeling drowsy. I’ll rest here for a bit.
Leaning against the wall, I drift into sleep.
"Ouch!"
Suddenly, I’m jolted awake by a sharp pain in my left leg.
There, biting into my leg, is a rabbit.
"Huh? How is there a beast here?!"
Who was it that said there were no monsters in the tunnels?!
I kick my left leg, shaking off the creature—a Long Rabbit. It’s a rabbit-type monster, about fifty centimeters in body length, with ears just as long.
But my weapon… I don’t have it! I didn’t bring my sword since I didn’t expect to encounter monsters here.
What am I going to do…?
Spotting a nearby torch, I grab it, holding it in a ready stance.
Pikik!
"C-come on!"
I’ve been training with the sword every day, so I should be able to handle something like a Long Rabbit.
Pikik!
The Long Rabbit lunges toward me.
"It’s… so fast!"
As if in slow motion, I can see the Long Rabbit’s movements. I swing the torch, smacking it down.
Pikiiii!
Then I kick it, delivering a direct hit to its face and sending it crashing into the rocky wall.
Piki…
The Long Rabbit stops moving.
I cautiously bring the torch closer; it doesn’t move. If it were alive, it would be squirming from the heat.
"Did I win? Just like that? Ow…"
As the fight ends, the wound on my left leg starts throbbing painfully.
My pants are torn, and blood is dripping from the bite. I wrap my handkerchief around the wound and press onward. It hurts a bit when I walk, but it’s bearable.
"Huh…?"
Next, I see a Slime—a jelly-like, light-blue creature.
It seems there’s a whole infestation of monsters in this part of the old tunnels. I carefully back away from the Slime and head out.
Once I return to the mansion, I’m spotted by our maid, Sala, who notices my injured leg.
"Young Master, what happened to your leg?!"
"A monster appeared in the old tunnels and bit me."
"What’s all the commotion about… Toma?! What happened to your leg?!"
Mother hurries over, clearly alarmed.
"It’s not serious, so please stay calm. Besides, you need to take care of yourself."
"There’s no way I can stay calm about this!"
"Madam, I’ll handle the treatment, so please stand back… I pray to the Great Water God Aqualire. Aqua Healing."
A cool sensation spreads over the wound.
Watching the flesh knit back together and the skin regenerate is somewhat grotesque, but it feels surprisingly soothing.
At that moment, Father arrives as well.
"What’s this I hear about monsters in the old tunnels? Which section?"
I explain where I encountered the monsters, and Father immediately grabs his sword and heads out.
He’s probably going to eliminate them before anyone else is endangered.
Later that evening, Father returns and brings shocking news.
"The tunnel has turned into a dungeon."
A dungeon—a place that spawns monsters. No one fully understands how dungeons form, or what triggers the process.
"It’s still new, so the monsters are all weak."
"What are you planning to do?"
"It’s perfect for training the new recruits."
Father’s remarkably positive attitude shines through.
Dungeons can potentially unleash hordes of monsters, causing massive disasters. But he plans to use it for training. It’s quite bold, to say the least.
For someone of Father’s level, perhaps a dungeon is nothing more than a minor threat.
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[Character Information]
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