I'm not too concerned with what happens to the world outside my dungeon. What I am however concerned about is the potential for delvers stronger than what I'm currently ready for. Fortunately, they're still relatively weak as far as soldiers go. Which is exactly why they're being sent to me to train. The one bit of good news is I shouldn't need to worry about getting shattered. The Ulgai soldiers won't do it because even a small kingdom with a dungeon is better off than a large kingdom without one. Likewise, the enemy won't do it because the few that don't have one want to claim me for themselves and the ones that do are eager to add another one to their collection.
It's a good thing then that I only plan to make two more rooms before the boss room. I go ahead and purchase the room before placing it, but I don't do anything else to it at the moment. For now, I just want to watch Clyde's party delve. Surely, this time they will leave the forest. I'm almost tempted to hint that they should take a different path, but I refrain from interfering. There are enough people farming the first two floors that they don't even bother doing a full clear anymore.
The third floor was also rather easy for them. They did do a full clear of the third floor though because apparently, they still needed some loot. The fourth floor is when they actually had to start paying attention. At their current level it still wasn't too difficult. However, 'not too difficult' doesn't mean easy. So now finally here they are back on the fifth floor. I'm excited to see if they will finally venture beyond the forest. Clyde however Immediately orders them to set up camp and rest for a bit. A sensible precaution, even if it does mean I'll need to wait a few hours before seeing them tackle the fifth floor.
As I wait, I decide to go through the list of skills available for purchase. Not really planning to purchase any but a little window shopping, so to speak, never hurt anyone. I'm mainly looking at different ways to defend myself in the event that Someone actually tries to attack me. Honestly though, it's not looking great. So far, the only thing I've found to help with threats inside the dungeon are skills that allow me to hide and/or camouflage my core. Though the fact that it specifies threats inside the dungeon is not exactly comforting. I mean I exist within my own little pocket dimension so there should be no way for anyone to attack me from outside the dungeon.
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Perhaps those skills are meant for other types of dungeons. Are there other types of dungeons? It suddenly occurs to me that I still don't actually know much about dungeons despite having been one for years now. Not that there are other dungeons to ask. Well, technically there are but it's not like I can actually talk to them in order to ask. Clyde for his part has only heard of the other dungeons and doesn't really know much about them. Even that information is primarily focused on what mobs spawn in each dungeon as well as entry fees and the percentage of loot delvers are allowed to keep, if they are allowed to keep any.
One thing I did notice, and frankly I'm not sure why I didn't notice it sooner, is that some skills unlock, or become available to purchase, once I reach certain floors. There is a skill I plan on getting that unlocks at floor 10. The skill would allow me to summon mobs while delvers are on the same floor as long as they are not in the same room. This skill probably has something to do with the size of the rooms, specifically the fact that I'm compelled to make at least ten rooms with an ever-greater minimum volume on each floor. Though judging by the difference in feel between the fourth and fifth floors I should avoid having some of those ten just barely reaching the bare minimum volume.
I'm pulled from my thoughts by the sliver of my consciousness that I left monitoring Clyde's party. It seems that a few hours was plenty of rest. After gathering up their gear they head for the next room. Having been here before their weapons are ready before they even go through the hallway. Instantly they're attacked by the golem nearest the door. Over the next few hours, I watch them fight their way through room after room, while I fight the urge to ask them directly to pick another direction. I have no idea why I thought today would be the day they finally leave the forest area. Honestly, it's not all bad news Clyde and Darrel both reached level 25.
Once they are able to make it to the mini boss which is just in front of the actual boss, then maybe they will explore the rest of the floor. Surely, they won't skip the castle and town completely. Of course, Something else that just now occurs to me is that they may not even be aware there is another direction. The sides of the room are nearly a twelfth of a kilometer in length after all. Not exactly huge but plenty big enough for a hallway to another room to go unnoticed. Maybe instead of trying to hide them I should have been highlighting the hallways.
For now though, Clyde's delve has ended without any surprises and it's time for me to get back to work. Not that I didn't enjoy my day off.
