《I Own A Dungeon》


 Chapter 1 - Enter the Dungeon

    ¡°So this is how it¡¯s going to end huh?¡± Alex sighed.


    This was entirely his father¡¯s fault. He was originally a lazy person who spent his whole day without moving from his unless he needed to. But now his father, Lord Archaeon, was very disappointed with him. So he sent him along with a few of his trusted subordinates to train in a beginner dungeon.


    But what he wouldn¡¯t have expected was that the beginner dungeon was evolving, and Alex and his other party members, were quite deep within the dungeon.


    When a dungeon evolves it¡¯s at the most vulnerable stage, all the mechanisms stop and the monsters retreat into their spawn zones, leaving the dungeon core completely unguarded. But even then, how can it be that easy to get the dungeon core? As the dungeon evolves it releases an incomparably powerful aura, which attracts all the monsters within a few tens of miles. If a monster is able to merge with the dungeon core, then the dungeon becomes race specific and the monster that merged with the dungeon core, gains a lot of power and becomes the boss monster of that dungeon.


    Due the enticement of such power all the monsters from the Blackrock Mountains rushed towards the dungeon. Alex and his party were sandwiched between the dungeon and the endless horde of monsters. They were originally a party of eleven. There were five F-ranked, four E-ranked knights and a D-rank magician aside from Alex.


    They were a group worthy of respect in Regalia City, Alex¡¯s hometown. But forced to fight more than a thousand monsters for three days without food or rest, they couldn¡¯t hold on. They had a duty to protect Alex and so they fought using their life force and barely managed to stall for three days. But the horde of monsters didn¡¯t seem to have an end.


    Looking at the huge crowd of monsters, Derek, the middle-aged D- rank magician cast an incredibly powerful barrier magic. It took all of his remaining mana, but he knew it wouldn¡¯t last for long. He turned to look around him. Behind him was his young master, whom he had sworn to protect. All of his comrades had lost their lives due to injuries or over- exhaustion; he was the only one left. He hadn¡¯t thought a mighty magus like him would fall in front of mere first and second rank monsters.


    He sighed, turned around and said ¡°Young master please forgive this servant for not being able to protect you.¡± He truly had a look of regret in his eyes.


    Alex looked haggard, those three days of violence and seeing all the people whom he grew up around die, took a toll on his weak body.


    ¡°Derek you have done your best, Father would never blame you¡± he said. He had was really grateful to this man. Ever since he was a child Derek was always shadowing him, ready to jump out at the slightest trace of danger. Now he was at the end of his life and was still thinking about his duty. With Derek¡¯s strength he could have escaped by charging through the horde, yet he chose to lay down his life to save Alex. Alex was lazy and carefree but he also treasured loyalty and honesty. He deeply respected people like Derek.


    ¡°Young master it has been three days since the evolution started. During the evolution Dungeon escape scrolls do not work but they will after it finishes evolving. I will clear a way for young master to get into the core of the dungeon and also make sure no monsters follow you. I hope young master waits for the evolution to end and uses the scroll to escape.¡± He said.


    ¡°Derek, don¡¯t do it! You can¡¯t die! We can stall them for a while and escape together.¡± Alex said, hastily.


    Derek smiled.¡± Young master also knows this is the only way, I know that young master is really intelligent but pretends to be stupid, even your lord father may not know but I have been at your side since you were a child how could I not know.¡± He said, reminiscing those times. ¡°If young master manages to escape this disaster, I hope that young master trains to become strong, stronger than anyone. Your father treated me like a brother and I care for you like I would for my own son. I don¡¯t have a family but I hope my knowledge can help young master.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    After saying so, he put his index finger on Alex¡¯s forehead and drew a rune. Immediately a huge dump of information about monsters, mana, spells and years of Derek¡¯s research entered Alex¡¯s mind, causing him to feel dizzy.


    ¡°The barrier won¡¯t hold for long. Now is the time. Please run towards the dungeon core I will stall these beasts¡± he said with a ferocious expression on his face.


    Alex was still having a feeling of vertigo, but he soon stabilised himself and said¡± Derek, I Alex Wolfton Archaeon will never forget your grace. If I survive, I will definitely become the strongest mage in the country, No! The whole world!¡± he said, with fierce determination.


    Seeing that expression, Derek looked satisfied. ¡±Be brave young master¡± he said and turned towards the barrier which was at the verge of breaking.


    Alex knew this was eternal parting, but he could only grit his teeth and run in the direction of the dungeon core. As he went a few hundred metres into the dungeon, a frightening explosion sounded. Alex had his skin singed from the heat that managed to reach him. He could do nothing but grit his teeth and run forward. Suddenly Alex heard a growling sound. He turned to see that there was a wind wolf baring its fangs and slowly closing in on him.


    ¡°The fuck! How did this damn mutt survive?¡± Alex was bewildered. Derek had used a forbidden spell and ignited his core flame to burn all the monsters. How could it survive? He thought. His luck really was rotten. First he got stuck in a dungeon evolution and then this happens.


    No I cannot give up. I can¡¯t let Derek and the others die for nothing. I need to escape.


    It was a mature Wind Wolf, it stood at the peak among F-rank monsters. Only adventurers can deal with it, it won¡¯t be easy too. Alex wanted to dash into the dungeon, but how could he outrun a Wind Wolf? He had to fight. He steeled his heart and took out a dagger he kept with him for protection. Since the age of ten he secretly practiced with a dagger. Although sword had a better reach, it wasn¡¯t easy to learn and it couldn¡¯t be hidden in ones robes. Alex had to be careful of assassinations and so he used a dagger.


    He could feel his heart palpitating. Adrenaline charged through him as he ran towards the Wind Wolf. This was the only way he could have an advantage. The Wind Wolf seemed surprised, but it quickly reacted. It dodged to the side and dug its claws into Alex¡¯s back. To Alex, who practically never experienced pain in his entire life, this was unbearable.


    He tried to side-step and stab but the wolf pounced on him. His head hit a huge rock and he lost consciousness. When he opened his eyes again he saw he was being carried by green people. He probably had a concussion as he soon fainted.


    When he woke up again, he was in a spacious room. After looking carefully he understood that it was actually a cave. The cave was spacious but empty. There was only a magic ball in the middle of the room which illuminated the room. While he was looking around the room, out of nowhere he heard a voice ¡°You finally woke up, are really lazy huh. You¡¯ve been sleeping for two days!¡± it said.


    The voice sounded feminine and graceful, turning around Alex noticed that there was a pretty girl standing behind him. She seemed to be sixteen and had crimson red hair, which flowed down her shoulders and reached her waist. She was beaming at him. Alex was originally on guard against her, seeing that she could jump out on him without him even knowing it.


    But after he saw her ¡®bishoujo¡¯ appearance and that smile, he felt that th


    ¡± ere was no way she would harm him. Alex stared at her dumbly for a while. It could even be that she was the one who saved him. So he directly asked


    ¡°Did you save me?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡± she nodded her head.


    Hearing the expected reply, Alex was still shocked. He, who turned seventeen last fall, was unable to hold off a rank one Wind Wolf, even with his years of training with the dagger. Now this girl who looked like she was from a noble family was saying she saved him, what was the point of him even living?


    ¡°Did you defeat the Wind Wolf yourself?¡± Alex was still doubtful, so he asked


    ¡°No¡± the girl shook her head ¡°It was my subordinates¡± she replied honestly.


    ¡°Thank God¡± Alex sighed. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Where do you come from?¡± he questioned. A girl with a temperament like hers would be very famous in Regalia City, and there were no other cities in a hundred mile radius, so he was curious as to where this girl came from.


    The girl gave a shocking reply while smiling ¡°My name is Lucy; I am this beginner dungeon¡¯s dungeon core¡±

 Chapter 2 - The Dungeon core, Lucy

    Alex was dumbstruck. He looked at the pretty girl, Lucy, with his mouth gaping open.


    What¡¯s happening? Does this girl love to play ticks or is it that I look like an easy target to bully.......


    Even children knew that dungeon cores were not human, no, they were not even alive! They looked like big bright floatin-......


    ¡°Oh God, the floating ball...... dungeon core.....¡±


    Alex turned to glance at the floating sphere. He had never seen a dungeon core before, but only heard about them from his father, now confronting it for the first time, he naturally couldn¡¯t recognise it.


    ¡°This- this.... Is this the core room?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, this is my home, the core room.¡± She nodded.


    Alex didn¡¯t know what was what anymore. He couldn¡¯t believe that this girl was the dungeon core.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s say that you are the dungeon core, but then what¡¯s that.¡± Alex said pointing to the floating core.


    ¡°Oh, that? That¡¯s the dungeon core.¡± Lucy simply replied.


    ¡°Then what are you?¡± Alex was losing it.


    ¡°I¡¯m the dungeon core, but that¡¯s also me. It¡¯s my source, when God created us he gave us these dungeon cores. They are the source of our power, if our core is destroyed, we would lose our existence and fade away.¡± Lucy nonchalantly said.


    Now Alex was feeling dizzy from all of that info dump.


    Holy sons and daughters...what the fuck is she talking about? God? Humanoid dungeon cores? Don¡¯t fuck with me!


    Alex took a deep breath. What he heard was enough to make him doubt that he was going crazy.


    Ok Alex, calm down, you are definitely not crazy. You will understand everything once you calm down.


    Alex chanted this mantra and composed himself.


    ¡°Ms. Lucy¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes?¡± the girl replied.


    ¡°I find it hard to believe that you are the dungeon core. Can you please demonstrate something that will help me believe it?¡±


    Alex asked politely. He was completely composed now and acted with the mannerisms of a nobleman.


    ¡°Hmm? Alright¡± Lucy nodded. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± she asked naively.


    Alex thought for a while and said ¡°The dungeon core has full control of the dungeon. This includes control over monsters, traps and various other functions of the dungeon. If you are able to demonstrate one such ability, then I would naturally believe you¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°Oh! Oh! I can summon Tory and the others!¡± Lucy said excitedly, while jumping up and down.


    ¡°No miss, I meant monste-¡°


    Just when he was about to say something, a light flashed in the room and after a second he noticed that they had company.


    Three green colored, children sized creatures appeared beside Lucy.


    Alex was startled to see them suddenly; he jumped back and shouted, losing all of his graceful demeanour.


    ¡°Goblin fuckers! Hey you girl what are you doing standing there, ru-¡°Alex stopped and his face grew grim.


    ¡°You ..... summoned them?¡± Alex asked, shocked.


    ¡°Yes, meet my goblin subordinates; this is Toby, that¡¯s Tory and the last one¡¯s Toly¡± Lucy carefully pointed them out.


    ¡°Toly? What kind of name is that? You should¡¯ve tried something like Tony or- wait a second why the fuck have you given names to goblins? No, how did you even summon them?¡±


    Alex had already lost his composure. You couldn¡¯t blame him. Anyone who found a girl saying she was a dungeon core would feel the same way. But with such evidence, Alex had no choice but to believe Lucy.


    ¡°Oh that? It¡¯s really easy, I used the dungeon overview panel¡± Lucy said


    ¡°The dungeon overview panel?¡±Alex said. ¡°Can you show it to me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Mmhmm¡± Lucy nodded. ¡°Here¡± she said and waved her hands in the air.


    Immediately, out of nowhere, a blue screen appeared in front of him. After being shocked for a moment, Alex noticed that there were various categories in that catalogue; it ranged from food to furniture, from clothes to armour, from metals to armoured knights, it also had a variety of other functions that Alex didn¡¯t understand. Almost everything had a place in that catalogue, they needed something called ¡®DP¡¯ to buy, but Alex noticed that at the bottom of the screen it was written,


    Dungeon owner: Dungeon core Lucy


    Dungeon Points (DP): 20


    ¡°What in the world? How come you have only 20 DP left?¡±


    ¡°I originally had about a thousand, I was saving it for the ¡®Wheel of Fortuna¡± Lucy dejectedly said.


    ¡°You were saving up to buy tuna?¡±


    Alex asked. He had already started to believe that all of what Lucy said was real, because if it wasn¡¯t, then it¡¯d mean he was crazy. No one wants to be called crazy, so he just had no choice other than to believe Lucy. Anyway, the goblins and the panel thingy were proof enough.


    ¡°Not for tuna! I was saving it up for the Wheel of Fortuna! Fortuna is the goddess of fortune!¡± Lucy exclaimed.


    ¡°Alright, then why did you spend them? Don¡¯t tell me you are a spendthrift? Alex asked disdainfully.


    Lucy answered while pouting ¡°Humph! Says the person whom I had to use almost all of my DP to heal¡±


    Alex wasn¡¯t expecting such a reply. He kept staring at the pretty dungeon core. Only after a long time did he manage to get some words out.


    ¡°You used it to- to save me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course, you were badly hurt in the fight with that puppy, so I had Goliath go and scare the puppy, and got you here with the help of Toby and the others.¡± Lucy said, still sulking.


    ¡°Ah, forgive me; I didn¡¯t know you had to lose so much to save me. I¡¯ll definitely repay you.¡± Alex said sincerely.


    ¡°Of course you¡¯ll pay me back, why else do you think I took the trouble of saving you?¡± Lucy said with a smile. ¡°You can start by becoming my slave¡±.


    Alex couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. The previously fairy like image of her turned into that of a devil.


    It¡¯s true. No action in this world is done purely with good intentions. But I have sworn an oath to my mother that I¡¯ll never go back on my promises. Since I have already made a promise I can¡¯t renege.


    Looking at her Alex thought, ¡°It might not be that bad to be her slave, anyway.¡± As Alex was sighing he saw that there was a new message displayed on the panel. It now said


    Lucy wants to establish a master/servant contract. Do you wish to accept? Y/N


    Alex sighed and gently pressed the ¡®YES¡¯. After he did so another message appeared, after reading the message his expression turned into one of ecstasy. As for Lucy, she was shocked and had her mouth hanging open.


    ¡°Ha-ha, the heavens do favour the good! Looks like life will be interesting from now on.¡± Alex grinned foolishly.


    ¡°No... How could such a thing happen?¡± Lucy was muttering to herself.


    When she saved this human, she thought that she¡¯d have a helper to take care of her dungeon, but the message on the panel gave her the biggest shock of her life.


    Master/servant relationship established. Dungeon core Lucy and Dungeon no. 1765 have changed ownership. Henceforth they are both the property of The Dungeon Master, Alex Wolfton Archaeon.