Chapter 14: Netrose dungeon training corps advance!

Not even full week later the questioner arrived alongside brother Gavin and his wife, Mia.

„Why did you also came brother Gavin?“

„Dad didn’t tell you? I’m to became lord of this city.“

„Really? Well, dad probably have a plan in head,“ I winked and Mia turned bright red. And Gavin didn't pick up the meaning of my words.

„Yeah, I think so too. By the way, those Dragonfolk over there…“ Gavin pointed at corner of garden where Taru was playing with kids little younger then us. All of them were Sea dragonfolk.

„That guy was holding them hostige while hunting their kin in surroundings of the city. Thanks to that, the crab attacked. Now that the kids were set free, they take all free time they have to play with Taru, who was once their guardian in the temple.“

„In temple?“

„The temple where Taru was priestess had an orphanage. She was something of a director there, so a guardian is fitting position.“

„And what about the rest of them?“

„There is around two hundread of them to south from here. The five who’ve been caught went to meet with them. They should be back tommorow. Some of them expressed their wish to become knights.“ I shrugged.

„So they want to serve you right? What’s with that little brother? Are you building your own army now?“ Gavin teased me.

„You really are simmilar to your sister aren’t you dear,“ Big sis Mia smiled teasingly.

„M-Mia! I’m not like that one,“ Gavin pouted.

„Well, you are twins after all, it woudn’t be suprising if you were simmilar,“ I smiled at my brother.

„Like you are the one to speak!“ Gavin turned away cutely, which didn’t check with his ever so serious atitude.

After that we left to do our things separately. I helped Kiira and Ruzu looking for the missing gold and we actually found it before lunch. It was hidden iside one barrel for wine in cellar.

The next morning, the two hundread Sea dragonfolk was lined before the mansion’s gate. After we welcomed them, they instantly took a knee. I ignored how Taru was looking at them for now, becouse I knew that she would be forced into becoming the prim and proper priestess, if I wasn’t around. She used that I was her ‚destined one‘ to leave that part behind her and became proper member of our party as a healer and mage. Hearing that the Sea dragonfolk decided to become my knights, so they could protect me and the priestess' future, or so they said. It seemed like Kiira and Taru had thing or two to say to them and now they followed that first is Kiira and Taru is right behind her.

After that we returned to our home and the Dragonfolk guys started training everyday with Goli, Tifaana and other knights.

„Oh my, such a splendid knights you have dear,“ mom smiled.

This was few months after we returned from the city that Gavin is governing now. I was with mom on terrace drinking tea. The summer was ending soon and I was already eleven years old. Alette was here with us too and she was happily eating biscuits next to me. Kiira was helping Taru and Goli train and Ruzu was my main attendant for the time being.

The spring festival was called off becouse of the investigations that prologed after finding out that the captain of knights was taking bribes from Count Melhave. Sadly for the captain, his wife and young child were caught when they were trying to cross borders to Beastmen kingdom.

„They sure are strong. Well that is to be expected from race that is said to came from Sea dragon steed of the Water goddess.“

„They grow like grass after rain,“ Taru smiled.

Taru, even though she was a slave, had position of great responsibility. She was put in charge of purifying water sources for the city. Main source was a pond inside of our garden. (Although I call it garden, it’s actually 7 acres wide). And the rest of the sources are mostly wells in lower town.

The pond is formed near base of small waterfall and have a tree on island in the middle. The tree is called Purification mist tree. Aparently it was planted by passing elves to mark our friendship. The Purification mist tree looked like a willow and from time to time, a leaf fell into water, purifying it.

Like all kids my age, even I had secret base near that place. I used earth magic to mold the rocks and earth, and made a path for one person at most to get behind the waterfall. There I made doors with magic circle that allowed only me, Kiira, Taru and Ruzu to enter. Here was my secret training base. I had large table here with marble desk (made with earth magic and alchemy) and few wooden chairs in first room. In room behind it was engraving studio of sorts. I used this place for engraving magic circles and making magic tools. Sadly, most I was able to do was put one spell in one item. Puting in more then one, caused the item to explode.

To put it simply, I needed someone, who could make the items for me. But looking for someone like that would take a lot of time so I decided to continue making my first living doll.

I decided to make the doll from the materials I got from the labyrinth in Grubera city. That being said, the living doll makers are only few as the materials are really pricey even for high ranking nobles.

The parts don’t drop always the same and you need to beat at least ten dolls of the same type to make one battle doll arm with fingers and all. Next you need core from monster above Bronze rank, which means that the cockatrice, which is Blood red rank, can’t be used. Also, I sold the Water measurer core to grandpa’s guild so I don’t have any useful core. The core of the giant Blue moss crab was smashed when I used the space magic enhanced bullet.

Speaking of the Blue moss crab, the shell it had can make amazing armor so I gave it to dad so he would request cration of armor from his dwarven friends for me.

As for the meat… one small crab, could feed our family and servants for three days so we decided to get rid of it during harvest festival by handing it to people for free. I also send a lot of it to city’s orphanage secretly. Which resulted in two hour talk with mom, who, without my previous knowledge of the facts, was the headmaster of the orphanage.

But back to the doll. The core is needed becouse it works as a heart when comined with soul shards we got from purified undead monsters in Grubera dungeon. I managed to fuse the parts of the body together so it now lied on table before me.

„Just the core huh?“ Kiira said looking at the battle doll with six arms.

„Yeah, it’s shame that I smashed the core when I destroyed that crab,“ I sighted.

„Then all we need is to go and defeat some strong monster right? Well, you could do that alone right?“ Ruzu smiled at me.

„Thanks Ruzu for reminding me, but I have other ideas,“ I smiled reasuringly.

„So, is there some strong monster that we could use nearby?“ Kiira asked.

„Nope, the strongest monster in forest was that Cockatrice, we defeated years ago. There are rumors about Forest dragon living there, but that thing is too strong for us right now.“

„Yeah, it’s said, that dragons are the strongest species and the weakest amongst them, those Forest dragons, are Mithril green rank,“ Kiira added.

„So, will we go to labyrinth to train again?“ Ruzu asked.

„That would be for the best, I think,“ I said and thought about what group I should take with me.

„So for our forces, Leo, me, Ruzu, Taru and Goli are probably the main force. But I would like to take some Dragonfolk with us,“ Kiira said.

„We could also take all of them and form smaler groups and raid the dungeon in smaller intervals.“

„Netrose Dungeon training corps,“ Kiira said with smile and added: „That way, we can hide our purpose of looking for strong monster‘s core.“

„Good idea, I will ask father if we can do that,“ I said and left our hidden base, taking the finished doll in my Item box.

*

„So a training you say?“

„Yes, I belive that our knights, especially the Dragonfolk knights can only rise their levels so little that I belive that they will need to go to dungeon to rise their levels.“

„Is that really all you want to do?“ dad asked me.

„Yes, father,“ I said resolutely.

„I see, then… if you go to west, you should go to Altera dungeon. It’s a drop dungeon like Grubera, but it have different structure, I think it will help you understand how harsh the outside world really is. But anyway, I will allow you and the Netrose Dungeon training corps to go there under few conditions.“

„What will those be?“ I asked.

„First, I want you to report to me everything. The growth of our soldiers, what rare items you found and number of boss sized cores. Second condition is that you have to return when your new sibling is born, that is especially important, as it will help your mother as well.“

„I see, understood. I will make it happen,“ I nodded.

„Third condition is to take Alette with you,“ father said straitforwardly.

„Huh?! Why?“ I got startled.

„It’s simple reason enough, I want her to get stronger before entering the Royal academy. I already told you, but there will be events with other schools, from our kingdom and outside world alike. As you are son of princess of Sorcery kingdom and son of Netrose family as well, eyes will be on you and people around you.“

„So if it’s found out that I’m majin, they could try attacking those close to me in order to use me.“

„Exactly, you catch on quick. Well, the best thing would probably be to make you bethroed with the princess, but I will leave that desicion to you.“

„Thank you father. So what is your last condition?“

„That you return safely of course!“ Father smiled broadly.

„Understood father,“ I smiled back and left the room.

One month later the harvest festival started, there I had the Dragonfolk distribute the crab meat and it was huge hit with the townsfolk. Truth to be told, I still had more then half of the crab spawns and I didn't even touch the big crab itself.

„Young lord! Would you join us for some skewer meat?“ few dragonfolk called me out.

„Maybe later Hayato,“ I smiled at the Dragonfolk captain.

He was one of the leaders of our dungeon training group. Out of the two hundread dragonfolk, there were twenty five children, ninety woman and eighty five male.

The total number that was going to train in dungeon was 90 dragonfolk, 10 dogfolk, 60 humans and my group with Alette.

Three days after the end of harvest festival we were ready to depart. Unlike any time before, I was going horseback instead of carriage. The reason was that I had to lead the expedition, of course this mission couldn’t be given to child alone, so I had ten advisors, dad personaly picked. The advisors had their own two carriages and girls had their own carriage as well.

„All right everyone! Let’s head for Altera dungeon city!“

„OH!“ cheers rose from the men and we get on our way.

The time we were supposed to go was two weeks as the Altera dungeon was on the other side of Marquis Tarnis territory, which was our neighbouring territory.

In past there was war over this dungeon. After all riches of dungeons show one’s status. Our kingdom have five dungeons and all of them are drop dungeons. Yet only two of them were there when the kingdom was founded. The other three were taken in after wars with smaler kingdom which formed around us.

„Sir! There is a problem!“ dogfolk scout, Tignis, came with a report, when we were about halfway there.

„What is it? A monster?“

„Yes, it’s Frenzied armadillo,“ the scout said with trembeling voice.

„I see, it’s Bronze rank if I’m correct right?“ I asked calmly.

„Y-yes! I know that you are strong young master, but that monster… I couldn’t forgive myself—“

„No need to worry, if it’s just some overgrown armadillo, then it will be no problem, show me the way.“

We made our way to the armadillo and I had one of the officers use provocation skill. The armadillo started rolling to us.

Name: none
Race: Frenzied armadillo
Level: 47
Skills: Roll (6), Physical attack nulification (6), Charge (6), Shock absorbtion (6)

„I see, it’s really strong, «Pit»“ I chanted earth magic spell and created a pit in armadillo’s way, deep enought to trap it completly.

I jumped down from my horse and went to the pit. The armadillo traped there tried to climb up. I waited until it got to reach my hand and I stole it’s Physical attack nulification, Charge and Shock absorbtion. Then I used «Enveloping Flames» to burn the armadillo. When that was done and armadillo died, I stored it in my Item box whole.

„Aaaaand it’s done! Can we continue now?“ I said as I filled the hole after the armadillo.

„Wow, young lord is so strong!“ one soldier was suprised.

„I heard that it was him who sugested to lord Flik this training,“ other soldier said.

„Yeah and I heard that he also devised that Sword magic everyone is talking about,“ another soldier replied.

I got back on my horse and we continued to the Dungeon city, where we arrived in a week.