Chapter 51: The Flourishing Ashud Territory

The Ashud territory bustled with activity, largely due to the shipment of various liquors and the production of Light-Collecting Lamps. Recently, merchants affiliated with temples had been frequenting the region, adding to the influx of people.

The development in Ashud was remarkable. The area surrounding the lord’s manor could no longer accommodate the growing population, leading to the creation of villages with shops, inns, and an entertainment district slightly to the north, on a plain. Since the ground there consisted of bedrock, unsuitable for agriculture, it seemed like the perfect location.

Father was building a port in that area to promote logistics along the Ryver River. The labor for this project included the soldiers from the Lightstar Marquisate who had previously ambushed me. The four who remained uninjured were enslaved and forced into hard labor.

Of course, their numbers alone weren’t sufficient. People seeking employment in Ashud were also hired to expedite the construction. Once the port was completed, logistics in the region would thrive even more.

I ventured into a dungeon alongside Ben, Sharmi, and three temple knights. I hadn’t had much time to explore dungeons recently due to my busy schedule, so I decided to focus on leveling up.

“One-two, three-four, alright, let’s do this!”

Ben warmed up with stretches reminiscent of morning exercises, a routine I had taught him. He seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.

“It’s been a while. I’m a little nervous,” Sharmi admitted as she stretched, showing off her impressive flexibility.

Both of them had become competent adventurers. With the money they earned from selling monster materials during past expeditions, they had managed to purchase proper equipment.

Ben was now equipped with an iron shield, a morning star, and a full set of iron armor, complete with reinforced gauntlets.

Sharmi wore a leather breastplate reinforced with iron, a headgear, gauntlets, boots, and a white cloak that perfectly suited her as a Light Mage.

As for me, my equipment had been upgraded as well, courtesy of my grandfather. Everything—from the headgear, breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves to the sword—was made of mithril, glowing with a silvery-white sheen. I couldn’t help but feel it was a bit excessive.

I also received a new bow named Raiju Bow, a magical artifact without strings or arrows. When I mimicked the action of drawing the string, an arrow would materialize.

These were undoubtedly expensive items, but my grandfather insisted that I use them. When I initially refused, his forlorn expression left me no choice but to comply.

“Your gear is always so flashy,” Ben remarked.

“You look more like a Light Mage than I do,” Sharmi teased.

“Please don’t,” I sighed.

Even in the dungeon, my equipment gleamed brightly, making it unsuitable for stealth missions.

“Well, at least it lights up the surroundings,” Ben offered.

“Haha, true,” Sharmi added.

“Not exactly a good thing to stand out, though…” I muttered. After all, it meant being the first to attract the monsters’ attention.

The first and second floors were filled with children hunting slimes, leaving none to be found—not even a Long Rabbit.

Long Rabbits were a good source of both meat and hide, making them valuable to children in need of money. The boys and girls of our village were impressively resourceful. Not that I had room to talk.

After progressing quickly through several floors and battling monsters along the way, we descended to the fifth floor. Near the staircase, we encountered soldiers of the Ashud territorial army resting in a safe zone, as monsters avoided these areas.

“Out exploring too, Master Toma?” one of the soldiers asked.

“Yes. Are you heading back?” I replied.

“We just returned from the eighth floor.”

The territorial army, once consisting of thirty soldiers, had grown to around sixty. They were an elite force, even if I said so myself.

The newer recruits, whose levels were relatively low, were using dungeon exploration for combat training and leveling up. Additionally, the army’s presence served as a deterrent against crime within the dungeon, as proving misconduct in such a setting was notoriously difficult.

Thankfully, no crimes had occurred in the Ashud Dungeon yet. I hoped it would stay that way.

“The fifth floor is manageable, but the sixth floor has significantly stronger monsters and traps, so be cautious,” the soldier advised.

“Understood!” we all replied in unison.

After taking a short break, we resumed our exploration of the fifth floor.

“A Little Buffalo!” Sharmi called out.

Ahead of us in the corridor stood a bull-like monster, pawing the ground as it prepared to charge. Though not as large as bulls from my previous life—closer in size to a pony—it had formidable horns that promised a painful impact if they struck.

“By the light of the Great Deity Lightrude, I offer this prayer. Light Javelin!”

Sharmi’s spell struck the Little Buffalo’s left shoulder, slowing its charge slightly.

“Wooooaah!” Ben roared as he collided with the monster. The clang of metal echoed through the corridor.

Ben successfully blocked the charge with his shield, the earlier spell’s effect giving him the upper hand.

I spotted an opening on the Little Buffalo’s flank. Drawing my bow, I mimicked pulling the string, and a magical arrow materialized.

“Go!” I released the arrow, which tore through the air and embedded itself deep into the monster’s abdomen.

“Bmooooh!”

The Little Buffalo let out a pained cry, rearing up on its hind legs.

“Break, damn you!” Ben shouted, smashing its front leg with his morning star. Though its body was robust, its legs were relatively thin. A sickening crack signaled the leg’s fracture.

“By the light of the Great Deity Lightrude, I offer this prayer. Light Javelin!”

Sharmi’s second spell struck the creature’s neck as it stumbled, delivering the final blow. The Little Buffalo collapsed to the ground.

“Alright, meat’s on the menu!” Ben cheered, ever the hearty eater.

And so, my eighth year drew to a close in much the same way.