Though the decision was made impulsively, the preparation was thorough.
This time, to create a farm within the Dungeon of Gluttony, seeds of dungeon grains that tasted like bread, chili peppers, onions, garlic, lettuce, and finally rice seedlings had been prepared.
“Preparation complete!”
Ara shouted, holding up the mysterious hoe. She radiated an aura like a warrior heading to the battlefield. The rest of the mysterious tools, including the watering can, were entrusted to Bokkeum, and Gomgom was taken along.
There were four slimes in total: Mark2, Bokkeum, and two new Rookies.
“We’ll be back.”
This time, Poispois was left behind at the farm as the senior member. He wobbled significantly, as if to take on the responsibility of overseeing things.
For reference, both Mark2 and Poispois had reached level 4. Today’s synthesis was used to evolve them to level 4. There had been several level 3 slimes due to consistent creation and synthesis over time. Next time, Bokkeum would also be evolved to level 4.
The abilities of the level 4 evolved Mark2 and Poispois were as follows:
[Mark2 (Slime) LV.4]
[An extraordinary slime]
[The familiar of Lee Kyu-seong]
[Liquid Synthesis Capable]
[Ability: Farming LV.3]
[Poispois (Slime) LV.4]
[An extraordinary slime]
[The familiar of Lee Kyu-seong]
[Liquid Synthesis Capable]
[Ability: Poison LV.3]
Their names had changed to what I always called them. It felt similar to Ara’s case. Other than that, there weren’t any significant changes, but with their abilities leveled up, there was some expectation.
“Poispois has his poison… I’m ready too. Shall we go?”
Just in case, I collected poison from the level 4 evolved Poispois. The fairies had said they needed strong poison for growing Meluca flowers.
“Come to think of it, they said Meluca flowers bloom from the poison emitted when Starbear dies…”
As I glanced at Gomgom, who was holding Ara’s hand, he noticed something strange and trembled, looking at me.
-Grr, Grrow?
“Yeah. It’s nothing.”
Shouldn’t I quickly level up Poispois? Since strong poison is needed, Poispois seems to be the only option. I can’t just go into another dungeon to obtain poison from a powerful monster.
Let’s try using Poispois’s poison first. If it doesn’t work, Poispois will be prioritized for leveling up.
In the end, I win.
‘Though I’m not sure if the fairies will hold out until then.’
With everything ready, we went down the stairs. Gomgom, remembering the previous incident, clung to Ara, stiffly descending. The height of the stairs did seem a bit high.
After returning, I decided to set up some sort of structure, like a ladder, and stood in front of the door.
[Confirming the Dungeon Master, Ara (Gluttony)]
[Entrance permitted]
[Remaining mana: 0/10]
Click-
“Huh?”
The door didn’t open. Since this was the first time this had happened, I tilted my head in confusion as a message reappeared before me.
[There is no remaining mana]
[Please replenish mana at the altar]
“Oh…!”
I had always heard about the remaining mana, but I didn’t realize that it was the mana required to enter the Dungeon of Gluttony until now.
As we suddenly got stuck, Ara looked up at me.
“Why is that, Kyu-seong Kyu-seong ?”
“It won’t open. It says there’s not enough mana.”
“Gasp!”
Ara’s eyes widened in surprise, and she knocked on the door.
“Knock knock! Open up!”
“Yeah. It’s no use.”
It seemed like we needed to recharge the mana, but I didn’t know how. Didn’t it say to replenish the mana at the altar?
For now, we headed back upstairs with the others. I examined a structure that looked like the altar Ara had come from.
“Do I need to pour mana into it?”
But I’m only a level1.
Moreover, unlike combat Awakeners, I couldn’t use mana except when using my abilities.
“…Hold on a second.”
Looking closely at the altar, I saw a groove. Up until now, I had thought it was just decoration or a pattern, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
“A mana stone?”
It looked just like one.
Mana stones are energy sources found inside monsters or rarely in dungeons. They are all uniformly shaped like ores, and their grade is determined by their color.
“This looks exactly like a mana stone shape.”
And the groove in the altar was shaped like a mana stone. It seemed like it would fit perfectly.
Now that I had the idea, it was time to act. I immediately prepared to purchase mana stones.
I could probably buy them from the Ara Hongryeon Guild. This way, I could get them much cheaper than on the market.
‘I just got back yesterday, and now I have to go to Ara Hongryeon.’
They might tease me for visiting so often, but I needed them right away.
The problem was, I didn’t know what grade of mana stone the altar required.
As the grade of mana stones increases, their price rises exponentially. Recently, most energy sources have been replaced with mana stones, so even low-grade mana stones weren’t cheap.
“I might waste money if I buy them blindly…”
Isn’t this why I joined the guild? I’ll explain the situation and get mana stones of various grades. I can try them out and return the ones that don’t work.
* * *
“Hello, Awakened Lee Kyu-seong. We’re from the guild.”
“Hello there!”
I never imagined they would deliver the mana stones directly.
When I contacted the guild manager, they asked for my address, and soon someone arrived. Thanks to this, I could receive the mana stones comfortably at a café near the dungeon.
When Ara showed affection to the Ara Hongryeon staff she met for the first time, their expression melted.
“We have successfully delivered the mana stones. Thank you.”
“Oh, according to the instructions, you’re supposed to return all the mana stones except for the one you use, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll come back at the same time tomorrow. Or would you prefer to schedule another time?”
“No, this time is fine.”
The guild staff who delivered the mana stones said their goodbyes and left. This is why all the Awakeners join guilds.
‘It’s convenient.’
I examined the box the staff had given me. Inside the divided box, various colored mana stones were neatly arranged.
From the lowest-grade red mana stone to the 6th-grade navy blue mana stone.
Especially since the 6th-grade mana stones cost at least tens of millions of won, I was extra careful. I hoped the Dungeon of Gluttony didn’t require a 6th-grade mana stone.
“Is it for eating?”
“It’s called a mana stone.”
“Hmm?! I’ve seen this before! It’s delicious!”
Ara seemed to have eaten mana stones before. Well, knowing Ara, it made sense. If she could devour monsters, she probably tried the mana stones found inside them too. Actually, it seemed like there was nothing she hadn’t eaten. She must have tried almost everything.
‘Except for Earth’s food.’
Ara drooled at the sight of the mana stones, especially the most expensive 6th-grade navy blue stone. I cautiously closed the box’s lid, eyeing Ara warily.
“These are not for eating. I brought them to open the Dungeon of Gluttony.”
“Okay!”
She answered obediently but still eyed the box in my hand hungrily. I’d need to keep an eye on her.
With the mana stones packed, we returned to the dungeon. Everything was ready, so we just needed to open the Dungeon of Gluttony.
“Alright, let’s start with the 1st-grade…”
I fitted the lowest-grade mana stone into the groove on the altar. As expected, the stone fit perfectly.
Woom–
A strange vibrating sound echoed through the chamber. The red mana stone quickly turned white.
[Remaining mana 0/10]
A message appeared simultaneously, but the number was still 0.
“Seriously? It absorbed it all and still shows 0? Spit it back out.”
The 1st-grade mana stone cost less than 100,000 won. Typically, it was around 50,000 to 60,000 won, so it wasn’t a huge loss, but it felt like a waste.
‘Should I be more selective?’
I had planned to use them in ascending order, but at this rate, it seemed the mana would just be absorbed without increasing the count. If I started with a stone that could actually increase the remaining mana, I might avoid this loss.
“Alright. It’s better to figure this out now so I won’t be confused next time about which stone to buy.”
The remaining mana count was essentially consumable. Even if I charged it now, I’d need to recharge it again eventually. So, it was best to test them in ascending order and understand for sure.
“Next, the orange one.”
A 2nd-grade mana stone, priced around 200,000 won. As I inserted it, the vibration returned, and a message appeared.
-0
There was still no change in the count. It was clear that the altar absorbed mana, but it seemed to need a substantial amount.
“Phew. It’s okay. So far, so good.”
The yellow 3rd-grade mana stone cost around 800,000 to 1,000,000 won. Though I earned enough not to be too burdened, it still made me nervous, especially since I had been an ordinary citizen not too long ago.
But the value of the Dungeon of Gluttony was worth this expense.
-0!
“Are you kidding me?”
I scowled at the message, now with an exclamation mark. Just then, Ara, who had been watching, picked up the mana stone that had turned gray from mana depletion and asked,
“Can I eat this?”
“Huh? You want to eat that too? I guess you can.”
Ara smiled brightly at my permission and popped the stone into her mouth, chewing it.
“Mm~!”
Her reaction was like eating candy, and it piqued my curiosity a bit.
“Is it tasty?”
“It is delicious. Hmm, it also feels like ‘poof!’ and maybe like ‘slurp?’”
What on earth is she talking about? It seemed that Ara could sense flavors I couldn’t. Maybe her sense of taste was much more developed. Watching Ara happily munch on the remaining empty mana stones, I started to break out in a cold sweat.
“4th grade…!”
These mana stones come from capturing 4th-grade monsters. From 5th grade onwards, they are classified as higher tier, making 4th grade the pinnacle of the lower tier. They had an enchanting emerald-like appearance. The price ranged from 3 million to 10 million won depending on purity. I had acquired the lowest purity one for 3 million won.
“Please, let this one work!”
I tightly closed my eyes and fitted the stone into the groove. Seeing the mana stone turn white almost immediately made my face go pale as well.
Drum roll in my head.
An urgent drumbeat echoed in my mind… and soon a message appeared before me.
-1
“Wow! It worked!”
Finally, it increased! In my excitement, I lifted Ara and placed her on my shoulders. Ara, not knowing what was going on, held the empty mana stone and rejoiced.
“Ehehe! Hehe!”
“Phew! Thank goodness. If it had needed more, I would’ve been in big trouble!”
The price of 5th-grade mana stones started at 30 million won. No matter how well I earned, that would be a significant burden.
While celebrating with Ara on my shoulders, I suddenly became serious.
“…Wait a moment.”
I checked the message again.
[Remaining mana 1/10]
“One?”
I had spent nearly 4 million won, including the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-grade mana stones, just to increase it by one point?
“This thing is a money pit!”
Although I couldn’t be sure how the mana was consumed, I recalled that when I first entered, there were 7 points of mana. That means I had effectively used up 28 million won worth.
“Is it done now? Are we leaving, Kyu-seong Kyu-seong ?”
“….”
This Dungeon of Gluttony really lives up to its name.
Cliche Novel 