Chapter 14 Ruler
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Babellion, 92nd floor, “2nd city floor”.
Charles, sitting on a single sofa placed on the wooden deck of a North American-style log house built on a small hill, quietly sipped his coffee while being enveloped in the warmth of the morning sun. Since Satsuki wasn’t there, he could truly return to his natural state, and the aroma of the coffee, accompanied by a “huh” that escaped from Charles’ mouth, blended into the air.
After waking up, he relieved his morning wood with three ej***ion each from Reshia and Seshia, took a light morning bath to wash away the dirt from his body, and enjoy the morning coffee in the 92nd floor.
Or rather, the coffee was delicious. He didn’t know where the beans came from, but he ground the beans he found in the log house’s shelf and brewed it himself. The taste had a deep flavor, with the bitterness of coffee mixed with a tropical fruity sweetness. It was as delicious as last night’s brandy, if not more, and it was perfect for celebrating the start of a new day.
However, the breathtaking view from the simple log house’s wooden deck, which cannot be called luxurious by any means, even pushes the taste of the coffee into a supporting role.
There was a contrast between the clear blue sky without a single cloud and the golden carpet that stretches to the horizon. The shimmer of the wheat looked like a golden sea that had seeped from the towering World Tree in the distance.
Yes, this is the 92nd floor, the food production area. Although it is named “city,” it does not have a large city. It is one of the important floors where about 90% of all food consumed in Babellion is produced, ranging from crops such as wheat, vegetables, and fruits to livestock such as cows and pigs.
As an aside, although the 92nd floor appears to be just a food production area, there is a hidden treasure chest containing a map with hints for high-difficulty gimmicks, which is an important item for conquering Babellion, at the foot of the World Tree towering in the center of the floor. However, since no one has ever invaded this city floor, it has not yet seen the light of day.
Dungeons, not just Babellion, cost a huge amount of money to maintain.
First of all, systems such as the automatic generation of traps and monsters (Mamono) installed on defense floors require a monthly maintenance fee determined for each type. Charles doesn’t understand the reason for this, but it makes the game of dungeon content interesting. This is probably the system for.
In addition, reviving dead subordinate monsters, that is, monsters created individually rather than automatically, such as soldiers of the four major armies, basically requires money. The amount required is proportional to the level, It’s a reasonable amount of money for a single soldier of the four major armies who is over level 100, but if he wanted to revive a subordinate who was level 200, he would have to pay as much as a small pile of gold coins.
Also, the monsters under his command also receive monthly maintenance fees. This was called a “salary” among dungeon masters, but now that it’s in the real world, it’s probably really a salary.
The salary is set in the amount of gold coins per month for each monster, and it is a realistic system where the salary is deducted uniformly every 25 days in the real world. However, this salary is set per monster, not by level. Even the same monsters have different numbers of gold coins, making it difficult to choose monsters with low wages.
There is also a tax collection system by the people to collect the gold coins needed to maintain the dungeon. This is a system that collects taxes by designating a specific floor within a dungeon as a city and placing monsters there as citizen units. Usually, he will keep low-rank or outdated monsters in the warehouse.
These civilian units participate in the city’s economy as civilians rather than soldiers, so they do not need to be paid a monthly stipend. However, more is not necessarily better.
The monsters under his command also require food to sustain themselves. This is also true for his citizen units. The more he create, the more mouths he has to feed. Therefore, it is essential to produce enough food to meet their needs.
Food can be produced in designated food production areas within the dungeon. If the consumption exceeds the production, his storage will run out, and his soldiers will starve. This system is highly demanding and requires careful management. As such, food is a crucial aspect directly linked to the strategic elements of the game.
Hence, the 92nd floor, which produces 90% of Babellion’s food, is one of the most important floors for the operation of Babellion.
Back when it was a game, he often visited this place. When he left the game idle, he would choose to view the wheat fields from this wooden deck as the waiting screen. Haruto, born and raised in the city, had a longing for the countryside. It was like a pastoral dream, where time flowed slowly, and a self-sufficient lifestyle… he had a desire to experience the ideal rural life that amateurs like him envision.
However, if someone ask him if he can abandon the city and live in the countryside with just one passion, that is not the case.
Considering the convenience of holding APOCALYPSE SAGA tournaments and events, setting up merchandise shops, and delivering takeout in the game, it was impossible to move to such a rural area.
That’s why he’s moved by the fact that he can at least see the ideal countryside created in the game with his own eyes, as a reality. However, the sight of wheat fields stretching beyond the horizon, protected by the World Tree, can only be seen in Babellion.
The rustling wheat seems to be gossiping, and birds sing as they dance across the sky. Charles’s heart is naturally soothed.
However, the extraordinary sense of security is not only due to the pastoral scene. The reason for visiting the 92nd floor alone was not just to see the favorite scenery. The moment he ordered Satsuki to step aside, he had already decided to do it the next morning.
So, Charles visited this 92nd floor alone some time ago and completed what could be called an experiment.
It was an experiment on the subordinates’ Monsters.
Charles understood that in this world, things like the inventory screen could be used as they were. He had also confirmed, albeit in a simplified manner, that the warehouse where the items and equipment he owned during the time it was a game were stored, as well as the monitors for intruders in the dungeons, could be used.
The presence or absence of the items and equipment Charles owned was also an important factor. However, they were sleeping in abundance in Babellion’s warehouse and treasure vault, so even if they couldn’t be used, there were plenty of substitutes.
More importantly… or rather, if it was impossible, no matter how many items and equipment he possessed, they would become useless. This fact had been stuck in the back of his mind, refusing to let go, even while he held Reshia and Seshia.
And about the experiment on his subordinates’ Monsters.
The experiment was to see if the Dungeon Master’s authority over the Monster, such as summoning, flooring up, resurrecting, and eliminating them, which was taken for granted during the game era, could still be done in reality.
Charles conducted this experiment using the lowest rarity [Viscous Substance (Slime)].
He summoned a new [Viscous Substance (Slime)], raised it to level 5 using synthesis materials, killed it with his own hands, resurrected it using gold coins, and then removed it from the list of subordinates.
Through this, Charles confirmed the absolute power he possessed over his subordinates and the existence of a last resort. It is like a foundation that allows him to act as a ruler without fear, even against the strongest subordinates who could possibly kill him in one minute if confronted alone.
He confirmed the existence of absolute power that can erase the very existence without fighting, thanks to the authority of the Dungeon Master.
However, on the other hand, he had no intention to establish a reign of fear. To put it more precisely, he had no intention to reveal the existence of that power. This is because the fear that one can be erased at any time may eventually become resistance to fear and turn its fangs towards him.
And this is the reason why Charles visited the 92nd floor without anyone accompanying him. It was because he didn’t want to show his children the sight of manipulating the lives of monsters, killing and resurrecting them, and at the same time, he didn’t want them to have the possibility of facing the same fate as the “Slime.”
Eliminating subordinates is the ultimate trump card, but at the same time, it is also a cursed card, the final means that cannot be undone once used. So, it’s not about his feeling relieved because it exists, but rather, striving for the day when it won’t be necessary to use it is the right thing to do.
”…This is not good. I keep thinking about various things.”
With these murmured words, Charles once again empties his mind and only envisions a blue sky and a wheat field in his eyes.
However, when faced with such a breathtaking view that steals both his eyes and his heart, he can’t help but have impure thoughts like how exhilarating it would be to engage in outdoor activities… Maybe it’s because his body is in turmoil, or perhaps it’s because the setting of being expelled from the seat of God due to the sin of adultery is coming to life.
Feeling a slight sense of self-disgust, he stood up from the sofa to search the log house shelves for chocolate to accompany his coffee, while gazing at the golden sea that sways gently in the wind, creating ripples.
”As expected of you, my lord. One see that you have noticed.”
A seductive voice whispered, as if it were licking his ears. Charles turned around gracefully, hiding his surprise, and there stood Esmeralda, the source of the voice, right next to Charles.
”I have been admiring the foundation of Babellion all by hisself. Do not disturb.”
Charles replied to Esmeralda, returning her words. He then leaned back on the sofa and crossed his legs… It was at that moment that he finally noticed something off about Esmeralda’s words. She didn’t just speak to him, she actually praised him. Of course, Charles hadn’t done anything worthy of admiration.
When he looked at Esmeralda again to ask her what she said and what surprised her, she cleared her throat and before Charles could ask her,
”Truly, this one is but a lowly being compared to your exalted presence. This one is aware of her own wisdom, but in the presence of my lord, this one lose confidence.”
What was he being praised for, Charles had no idea. However, he had learned through experience in his life that pretending or feigning knowledge would lead to trouble later on.
”Minister of the Right, why have you come to this floor?”
So Charles asked straightforwardly.
”This one have been summoned by Vasquez. One has heard that a significant anomaly has occurred on the 92nd floor.”
”Is that so…”
In response to Esmeralda’s words, Charles glanced at the wheat field, wearing a meaningful smile. However, internally, Charles’ expression was akin to a gag manga, with eyeballs, snot, and tongue all flying out, as he tumbled from his chair.
There was a mention of a game tournament and events, so this is a side note. It probably won’t be discussed in the story and won’t affect the main plot, so if you’re not interested, you can skip this part.
The reason why the shut-in NEET Haruto spends a lot of money is because of this tournament and events. Well, to put it simply, he uses the prize money from the tournament to cover his living expenses.
In Apocalypse Saga, tournaments are held mainly for PVP and raid time attacks, just like in FPS tournaments. Apocalypse Saga is a global game, so there are still Japanese tournaments and world tournaments being held. And there is also a separate tournament for dungeon contents held on a different day.
Dungeon content is difficult to tackle easily because it requires time, money, and effort to become stronger. However, these dungeons are open to the public, and most players on the same server have attempted them at least once. They can watch the dungeon master’s subordinates conquering each other’s dungeons at the same time, so although dungeon content does not have many players, it is very popular and interesting content.
In the world tournament, dungeon masters who have advanced to the top from servers around the world will compete. Tickets at the local venue sold out immediately, and more than 1 million tickets were sold for the live broadcast. The prize for winning this once-a-year world tournament is $1 million, and the total prize money is approximately $5 million, making it a huge event. The festival is sponsored by many large companies from all over the world.
”Charles” has participated in all 10 official world championships, winning two of them. He has won numerous championships in other company-sponsored tournaments, and is a well-known player that almost everyone knows about. It is no exaggeration to call him a professional gamer. Well, it’s a strange cycle in that his winnings are also returned to the operating company as in-game charges, but it’s a funny story.
By the way, at the Monster Contest held on the same day, there are many players who post and distribute videos in order to earn the money to pay for it. One of them is Satsuki. She gathered votes from around the world as a Samurai Girl.
Furthermore, the dungeon content is a highly anticipated content, so there are many players who post videos and do live streams in order to raise funds for in-game purchases. Haruto also occasionally uploads character introduction videos. The creator of Sarikir one of the “Twelve” Pillars of the Saint Tower,” who only had his name mentioned in the story, was slowly dragged in and before he knew it, he became a popular streamer who shows his face. However, the skills of the monsters and the gimmicks of the dungeons are trade secrets, so he sometimes complains that they are unexpectedly difficult.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.