CH 4

“Okay, break’s over. I’ll address the detailed maintenance of the dungeon later, but first, ≪Monster Creation≫!”

After activating the skill, a translucent screen and keyboard emerge before my eyes, the same way it did during ≪Dungeon Creation≫. On the screen is something in the shape of a black fog…or to put it another way, it is myself.

Thus, from an impartial standpoint, let me explain my appearance and outline.

・King of the Devouring Black Fog

The ≪Untitled≫ Demon King of the Dungeon.

He assumes two forms: a fog version and a human version.

In his foggy appearance, he is merely a conglomeration of black mist. When presented in human form, he bears black hair, black eyes, and dons a black attire with skin that reminded one of a summer tan in a sandpit.

Due to a lack of information, no further data about this figure can be ascertained at this time.

“…Ah, yes. Well, that’s reasonable. It hasn’t even hit a day yet, so there’s no way a detailed description can be found here.”

Although I feel slightly disappointed, I’ll let it slide here.

“So, for the time being, let’s start with the ones I can create.”

With my keyboard, I draw up a screen where I could select the monsters to be summoned.

A monster is displayed on the screen. Apparently, the only way ahead would be to summon this monster first.

“Well, I’ll verify all the information available to me before creating it.”

I open the description of the monster before reading it.

・Fog

A mischievous spirit-like humanoid demon with a height of roughly 30 cm.

The body is composed of a thin haze of magical power.

Despite its meagre potency, it can proliferate indefinitely provided there is enough magical power in the air.

Summoning cost: 1 MP per unit.

This seems to be an existence like a blue amorphous creature in a certain national RPG.

Well, fog. In other words, this one is a fog, so I suppose it could be labeled as a demon that matches my characteristics. After all, I myself was composed of fog.

“At any rate… if it expends nothing but MP, I’ll spawn a hundred or so of them.”

With the sensation of magic power slipping out of my body, a magic circle arises around me, from which 100 fogs are born along with the light.

“Kyahahaha”, “Wahy wahy”, “Booom booom!”

They are very pestiferous.

Anyway, I am clueless if they can follow my instructions, but I order them to either be quiet or leave the place.

Well, then, as expected, they all wander off. In any case, it’s reassuring to know that they can listen to what I instructed them to do.

“Now, as for the demon that is produced by this… yes. The number is increasing.”

・Thin Mist Wolf

Approximately 1 meter in length, beast-like wolf-type magical demon.

They are constantly enveloped by a thin mist that rendered them difficult to be perceived under the proper circumstances.

Summoning cost: 5 each for HP, MP, and SP per unit.

・Swamp Flying Fish

About 0.7m long, fish-like flying fish-type magical demon.

This demonic creature lurks in swamps and when this demonic creature spots a target, it either strikes it with its body or lashes out with its sharp, sword-like fins. The speed of their strikes can exceed 100 km/h.

Summoning cost: 3 HP and 3 SP each per unit.

Prerequisite for creation: the existence of a swamp or a similar environment.

・Disarray Dragonfly

About 1 meter in length, insect-like, jagged, and a demonic creature.

Once it discovers a prey concealing in the water, it shoots water bullets at the prey to deprive them of their sense of balance and then devours the prey’s flesh. Upon growth, it evolves into a devil’s darning needle[i].

Summoning cost: 7 each for HP, MP, and SP per unit.

Prerequisite for creation: existence of a watering place or a similar environment.

Now, how to produce it? It seems I wouldn’t know all the details until I actually have a look at it anyway…. Since it is a hassle, shall I generate 30 of each type?

“So, let’s proceed.”

With those words, a magic circle is conjured around me, just like before, and from there, demonic spirits are cast into existence along with the light. So, what did I think of each of them?

Thin Mist Wolf: The mist obscures the intricacies of the wolf’s appearance, but it looks like something I’d like to stroke. When it first surfaced, I involuntarily stroked it in a single motion. I mean, they have such soft fur and cute eyes. Not to mention the way it coos and rubs up against me when I approach it! Cuteness is justice, indeed!

Swamp Flying Fish: I tested it out and their flight is incredibly swift. It would have been quite frightening if it had suddenly burst out of the fog at that speed.

Disarray Dragonfly: Gross. I mean, it was shockingly gruesome. I used to believe that insects are bearable solely because of their size, but I’ve now revised my view. Regardless, after seeing it, I stroke the Thin Mist Wolf and let it soothe my soul.

So, now that I’ve shared my impressions, I release these guys into the dungeon randomly, just as I did with the fogs.

Hmm? The sustenance of these guys? Apparently, as long as it is just a matter of living, all that is required is possessing magical power, just like me. Though it appears that they need to ingest meat for their multiplication and growth. But of course, cannibalism shall be prohibited. It is said that cannibalism will only reduce the number of them, and it will be of no benefit.

“With this, I have summoned all of them, and my HP is still sufficient, so let’s move on with the dungeon.”

Over the subsequent period of time, I had to keep the fog from escaping by utilizing the entrance as a rest area and construct an airlock-like structure to facilitate restriction of the number of people. I decided to adopt the name Kurokiri[ii] externally and installed trees and ivy that would grow in the swamp. While I’ll refrain from elaborating, I devoted my time to implementing several traps appropriate to some of the enemies, stroking the thin haze wolves, increasing their numbers, holding a festival of stroking the wolves, and upgrading the number of demonic creatures and terrain effects.

And by the time I am aware of it, a year has passed since I was transformed into a Demon King.

T/N:

[i] The word in Japanese is actually translated as dragonfly also but since this is the evolution of it, I changed it into devil’s darning needle

[ii] Kurokiri means black fog