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And this time…

The dungeon I’m in now is called “Forest and Stone.” As the name suggests, the environment is straightforward.

“It’s a forest with rocks. Just as it says.”

I looked around. To the left was a dense forest so thick that even the midday sun couldn’t penetrate it.

And to the right…

A vast, rocky area spread out. The sound of strong gusts could be heard, making it appear refreshing on sight. Beyond the horizon were rugged stone mountains where no plants seemed to grow for some reason.

“Everyone…”

Once inside a dungeon, securing our safety was the top priority. I nodded and opened my mouth.

“Come forth and stand in formation!”

With a rustle, the skeletons from Boney 1 to Boney 6 emerged from the ground at my command. Among these six subordinates, the one in charge was none other than the Sun Spear.

“My lord.”

“Yes.”

“By the way, why did you summon Boney 6?”

“…”

Boney 6 was a production-type skeleton, so there was no need for it to be in the dungeon. However…

“Look at that rocky area.” I confidently pointed toward the rocky terrain.

“…?” Sunny tilted its head in question.

“Take a good look. Doesn’t it look like a mineral zone?”

“…Hm, does it?”

“Production workers always wonder what materials will be waiting, and it brings athem joy when they see such magnificent scenery.”

“…”

I’ve developed this habit while exploring C-rank dungeons lately. Boney 6, true to its blacksmith profession, has a keen sense for minerals.

Though it doesn’t have a mining skill.

If I kept it nearby, it would create a bone pickaxe and dig around randomly.

Anyway, the advantage of my skeletons is their ability to grow.

Just as the Master of All Techniques created skills through teachings, Boney 6 might obtain the mining skill if it kept mining recklessly. That’s what I thought.

“I didn’t know you were a production worker, my lord.”

“Boney 6 is the production worker.”

“…Aren’t you favoring Boney 6 too much lately?”

I looked at Sunny as if surprised. “Wait, are you jealous right now?”

Lately, I’d been exploring dungeons alone. Having frequent conversations with Sunny as a companion, we seem to have grown closer than before, seeing how it felt comfortable saying such things to me now.

“Not at all, my lord.”

“Sure you are.” I smiled.

No matter what Sunny’s past was, its favorability with me was important. They say bonding with a summoned creature, especially one that can grow, further enhances its potential.

“Then I’ll proceed with patrolling and reconnaissance,” Sunny swung its spear and murmured heavily.

Sunny was so reliable. When I was busy, it commanded the skeletons for me. It also personally handled basic chores like this.

—Creak!

They each took their positions.

[‘Bonehead 3’ used the skill ‘Secure Vision’ (Lv.9).]

Boney 3’s skill conveyed the surrounding scenery to me through sensations.

“Hmm.”

I closed my eyes and felt it fully. This place had a dense forest and a barren rocky area. Apart from that, there was nothing else in the dungeon. I couldn’t figure out where this was or what stages might exist; it was overwhelming.

“My lord, it’s a very wide area just from what I can sense. It might not be as vast as the desert lands I controlled, but it seems nearly comparable.”

“Hmm…”

“Don’t you think we have to choose between the two?”

“Wait a minute.” I didn’t open my closed eyes.

—Vwoom!

I tried to find something through the arrows in the air that Boney 3 shot. In any dungeon, there were always clues to solve it.

“Hmm?”

Then I felt an unusual sensation from a very distant place, at the boundary between the forest and the rocks.

Is this ki?

It was clearly a wave of intense ki. I could only perceive the ki’s movement because I had learned the Great Blue Heart Technique.

“Alright,” I muttered.

Sunny seemed to have read my thoughts and stepped back with a nod.

“I’ve set my heading. We’ll be moving that way. But no need to hurry, take it slow.”

“As you command, my lord.”

We moved slowly, carefully preparing for any traps there might be. Extreme caution was necessary since this was my first attempt at an A-rank dungeon.

“It’s just as my lord said. I can sense living creatures there.”

Fortunately, nothing happened until we reached our destination. However, the sight of the destination wasn’t entirely reassuring.

“What are those?” Foggy breath came out of my mouth. “Long ears and short stature…?”

I’d never read fantasy novels, but I’d seen them in movies a few times. Actually, there wasn’t even any need to go that far. They were drawn in the monster encyclopedia for hunters.

“Are those elves and dwarves?”

Forest and stone and the roots of racial conflict. The identity of the races had now been revealed.

“Damn those elves! Kill them! Crush them with hammers!”

“Warriors of the solid ground! Do not retreat!”

“Arrows? Magic? They don’t even tickle me!”

The dwarves roared.

“Hmph, how laughable.”

“Do you think puny creatures like yourselves could ever face the scouts of the rugged forest?”

“You greedy metal-craving creatures! How dare you come here coveting the beauty of nature?!”

The elves hanging from trees fired back arrows.

It was a small-scale skirmish of about a dozen on each side. They were expressing their sincere emotions, shedding blood. In other words, they were clashing fiercely.

“…Indeed, they are unfamiliar races.” Sunny clicked its jaw in fascination. Hiding its presence nearby, it observed the scene and said, “Thanks to my lord, I could witness such a precious sight with my own eyes. But it doesn’t seem like we need to worry.”

“Why is that?”

“They are weaker than I expected. We can easily subdue both sides with my lord’s current forces.”

I furrowed my brow. “Weaker than expected, you say…”

“Hmm.” Sunny stroked its chin. “I understand your concern. By the standards of this world, this is an A-rank dungeon. Do you believe there might be additional traps?”

“…”

No, that wasn’t the problem. Clearly, the dungeon’s size was vast. No fool would judge the entire dungeon’s difficulty by seeing only a part of it.

However.

—Ring!

[Stage: Race Selection]

[‘Forest Elves’ and ‘Rock Dwarves’]

[Forest Elves are a noble race with long, pointed ears like leaves. As fae of the forest, they excel in archery and spirit magic.]

[Rock Dwarves are short but very strong and sturdy. As fae of the stony mountains, they are interested in metals and possess great craftsmanship.]

[You have discovered the bloody battle of the two races.]

[Assist one of the races to resolve the conflict.]

“…”

Seeing the message before my eyes, I had to ponder.

Choose between the two?

Choosing is important, especially in a dungeon where every choice is a gamble with your life on the line.

“Hmm, Sun Spear.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Which of the two races do you prefer?”

“…A profound question.”

Huh? It’s not that deep at all.

“Geographically, both are good. My body, which lived in the hot desert, considers both the forest and the rocky area paradise. The abundant trees, cool wind, and damp ground are precious things not seen in the desert.”

“And next?”

“Those with the power of the forest move very nimbly. Moreover, they use ranged attacks as their main weapon, just like Boney 3… Huh?”

“Huh?”

“Hm?”

Sunny looked up in surprise. Its gaze was now fixed on Boney 3.

—Creak?

Boney 3 tilted its head in response.

“Wait…” I frowned too.

Originally, skeletons didn’t have ears or noses. Since ears are cartilage, they usually decompose quickly.

However.

Boney 3’s ears clearly had bones. They weren’t conspicuously large, just about the length of a thumb.

“My lord, by any chance…”

“…Huh, could Boney 3 be an elf?”

The medium dungeon showed the past lives of my skeletons, just like Boney 2’s past in the Ancient Desert was the Sun Spear.

“Come to think of it, using a bow is just like an elf.”

Now that I thought about it, its body shape was also slender. It was different from the other skeletons in several ways.

“My lord, Boney 6 too…”

“Yes. We already knew that Boney 6 was originally a dwarf.”

In fact, even though I’d asked Sunny, my choice was already leaning toward the rocky area. With their short stature and hammers, they were clearly Boney 6’s race.

However.

That story would change if Boney 3 were an elf. Both Boney 3 and Boney 6 were my children. Choosing between the two was a painful problem.

—Crash! Boom!

The two races continued to fight. If I didn’t choose quickly, the stage would pass. I wondered if I could choose both at that moment.

[Assist one of the two races to resolve the conflict.]

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]

[If you fail to decide in time, a penalty will be imposed.]

[Penalty = Death.]

“What the f…”

I was just curious about what would happen if I didn’t choose, then the message kindly informed me that I’d die.

Dammit.

I got anxious. I had to choose something.

If I chose the elves, Boney 3 would grow. Living with and training with the elves would allow Boney 3 tremendous growth speed.

On the other hand, what would happen if I chose the dwarves?

Okay, wow.

I couldn’t help but be excited. What if they were all natural blacksmiths? That would be invaluable. It was hard to gain such proficiency, even with billions of money in reality. Here, there might be a chance to accumulate it for free.

“…”

The number of elves and dwarves was slowly decreasing.

“Ugh!”

“Ahh!”

Casualties occurred during the clash between the two races. I could see the hatred and conflict in their eyes.

“Alright, I’ve decided.” I nodded. I loved Boney 3, and I loved Boney 6.

But money…

Between the two I loved, what swayed me more was ‘money.’ And blacksmithing brought money.

For now, Sunny is enough for combat.

“Alright.”

—Whoosh!

I swung my staff.

—Clack!

Then the skeletons glowed and raised their weapons. They released their suppressed energy.

“I will choose the rocky side.”

[You have chosen the ‘Rock Dwarves.’]

[Favorability has changed.]

[Rock Tribe: 70]

[Forest Tribe: 30]

[Help the ‘Rock Dwarves’ drive out the ‘Forest Elves’!]

A system message popped up as I spoke.

Favorability?

It was a concept I was seeing for the first time.

“What? Who are they?”

“Who are you?”

There was no time to worry about that now. Both races recognized me as I appeared.

“Haah, my lord.” Sun Spear sighed lightly beside me.

“My lord, you really favor Boney 6, don’t you?”

“…”

It wasn’t that… Let’s just say the youngest is always the cutest.