Dark Warlock in the Apocalypse

Chapter 98 Dungeon

The direction pointed by the brass compass did not change unless the dungeon itself started running away. However, if the needle began to point elsewhere, there could only be one reason: someone had already begun to explore the location it indicated.

It wasn't a coincidence. Dungeons were cleverly hidden, but whoever had the same type of compass as him must have been led to the same place. It was an outcome he had half-expected. After all, the needle only pointed to the nearest dungeon, not one allocated to a specific person. This meant that, as long as the dungeon was close, it could attract multiple people simultaneously.

Justin realized that what had happened wasn't surprising. For him, the dungeon may have been a considerable distance, but for someone else, it might have been much closer. It was understandable that the dungeon had been conquered by someone else. After all, while this was his third dungeon, it could have been someone else's first or second.

With that understanding, everything made sense. The surrounding dungeons had all been cleared, and now, the compass had begun to point to a dungeon that could be sitting right in someone's front yard. Clicking his tongue in mild irritation, Justin tucked the brass compass back into his pocket.

"The dungeon explorations are almost over," he muttered.

It was now certain that dungeons were becoming too far to conquer within a single day. Though he had considered staying overnight at a dungeon as a strategy for the distance issue, it was no longer a viable option.

What might be a far dungeon for him could be someone's backyard, and the risk of encountering another explorer, potentially leading to a dangerous confrontation inside the dungeon, was too great.

"The chance of being ambushed by another explorer is too risky, especially if it leads to a fight," he thought.

Even dealing with the discomfort of camping was manageable, but the prospect of a battle made the risk too high. It seemed wiser to spend the remaining time until the quest ended without taking any unnecessary risks. Still, that didn't mean he would waste time idly. Several people had recently arrived, making it the perfect opportunity to strengthen his foundation.

Justin's lips curved into a smile as he glanced at the anxious artisans trailing behind him.

"Oh my god! What is this place?"

"This house is so beautiful...!" " there's even a fountain..!"

The artisans who had arrived at the estate were awestruck by the clean houses and plaza before them. Their reactions were no different from those of the previous settlers. In the midst of their amazement, Eugene gently held the hand of one artisan, a woman who seemed to be his lover.

"It's safe now. You can start over here."

"Are you sure? What if..."

"It's fine. Just stop worrying and rest," Eugene cut her off before she could finish, knowing full well what she was about to say. Justin also had a good idea of what she wanted to ask.

"She's probably wondering if I'm a competent leader," Justin thought with a slight smile.

While the concern made him laugh inwardly, he could also understand the anxiety. The fate of the artisans depended on the type of leader they served. Of course, as long as they worked properly, Justin intended to treat them well. But that was the condition: they had to work.

"Everyone, you've worked hard! Even though you didn't fight, the journey must have been exhausting. Go home and rest well! The artisans should wait for now until your homes are ready."

"Yes, sir!"

The explorers responded with loud enthusiasm before dispersing toward their own homes. The artisans, who had been standing awkwardly, were quickly gathered by Derek, who directed a servant to take them to his house temporarily.

Meanwhile, Justin gathered his companions, including Derek, to discuss the status of the artisans.

"Regarding the artisans' status, we can't just appoint them as nobles immediately," Ethan pointed out.

"That's true," Justin agreed. "But calling them commoners doesn't sit well either."

"Exactly. Since they're explorers, even if we treat them as commoners, the NPCs will treat them differently," Ethan added.

The group reached unanimous agreement on this point. Artisans couldn't receive higher status than warriors or mages. It wouldn't make sense to treat someone who risked their life equally with someone who stayed safely behind. If that were the case, anyone would choose to become an artisan rather than fight. However, the fact that the artisans were also technically explorers complicated things.

"Even though they've just arrived, they're still not ordinary citizens. They should be treated with more respect than commoners," Derek remarked.

"The problem is the status itself. Right now, our estate only has nobles and commoners. There's also the slave status, but..."

"D-Don't worry!" one of the artisans stammered. "We have crafting skills! We can handle any task you give us!"

Another chimed in, "Just give us a chance, and we'll prove our worth!"

As the artisans clambered to assure Justin of their value, he hid a satisfied smile. His goal of establishing authority had been achieved.

"Words are cheap," Justin replied coolly. "Show results. I'll give you tasks over the next few days, and I'll judge based on the outcomes. If I'm not satisfied, you can expect to be demoted to commoners. Keep that in mind."

Leaving them with that final warning, Justin turned and walked away, their anxious murmurs echoing behind him. He knew they wouldn't dare slack off now. He would watch closely to see just how hard they would work.

After the artisans settled in, Justin declared a temporary break for his companions, giving them some time off after the intense rush of recent events. The next quest wouldn't come immediately, so he advised everyone to rest until then.

While most of his companions were thrilled at the prospect of a break, one person, Rachel, looked a little uneasy.

"Is it really okay to just take a break like this?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Are you worried?" Justin smiled, noticing her anxious expression.

"Just a little. We've worked hard to get ahead of the other territories, and I don't want us to fall behind while we're resting."

Justin chuckled and shrugged his shoulders at her worry.

"That won't happen. Even if they try to conquer more dungeons than us, they won't be able to catch up in terms of level."

"What do you mean?" she asked, puzzled.

"In other territories, at least ten people are required to explore a single dungeon. The more people there are, the more the experience points get divided. So, even if they manage to clear more dungeons, they'll still lag behind us in level."

Justin wasn't only referring to experience points. Large groups made long expeditions more difficult, especially as the dungeons got further away. Currently, it took nearly half a day to travel to the next dungeon after conquering the first two. And now, with those dungeons cleared, even reaching the next one in a single day was impossible.

"Besides, to clear a dungeon, you need one of two things: either a disposable group of commoners to throw into traps or patrols at level 20 or higher. Neither is easy to come by."

The first option was only viable for those ruthless enough to sacrifice lives, but no one could estimate how many traps were in a dungeon. People would have to be brought in large numbers, and after the third dungeon, moving such a large group was no longer feasible. The second option—raising a patrol to level 20—was even harder.

"The level jump from 19 to 20 is brutal. Even if someone grinds endlessly, it's tough to hit level 20. So good luck finding anyone who can do it in a reasonable time frame."

Even the most experienced leaders, those who earned the most experience points, rarely reached level 20.

"So, for now, relax. We've practically conquered three dungeons already, and no matter how hard they try, they won't catch up to us," Justin concluded.

Finally reassured, Rachel smiled, her anxiety easing.

Over the next few days, Justin's companions enjoyed their time off, spending the mana stones they had earned and taking a much-needed break. Justin himself spent most of his days in relaxation, indulging in long baths and catching up on sleep. By the fifth day, he felt fully rested.

It was then that Eugene appeared before him, his face pale with worry.

"L-Lord Justin , I swear this isn't something I wanted to tell you, but..."

"What's going on? Just say it."

"One of the artisans has... declared a strike."

Justin blinked, stunned.

"...Is he out of his mind?"