Chapter 10

10

My second dungeon, the Spider Cave, had a Giant Tarantula as its original inhabitant, which was more like a large spider than a monster.

Of course, a spider the size of an adult male's torso could already be considered a fine monster, but in terms of classification, that's what it was.

Despite that, it had much greater strength than animals of the same size, and a venom potent enough to paralyze prey, even if not deadly. It was a far more threatening presence than a goblin.

Moreover, there were over fifty Giant Tarantulas living in the Spider Cave.

The cave was spacious and had its own ecosystem, making it a dungeon that was closer to Level 2 compared to the current Goblin Cave.

Therefore, I invested all the points I earned, except for the dungeon maintenance costs, into the Spider Cave.

Even so, it had only been a few days since I acquired the Spider Cave. During this time, there were no intruders in either the Spider Cave or the Goblin Cave, so I could only invest the small amount of points that trickled in.

If it weren't for my brother, I wouldn't have had even those few points.

He seemed to be so worried about me that he would give me negative points every time we met, like a vending machine.

Anyway, thanks to Leon, who was like a negative point vending machine, and his active cooperation, I gradually upgraded the Spider Cave and finally saw the message that the dungeon level had risen to Level 2.

Remaining negative points: 500.

It was a meager amount, barely enough for a couple of days' worth of dungeon maintenance costs.

If I couldn't pay the maintenance costs, I wouldn't lose ownership, but controlling the monsters would become difficult, which wasn't a good situation.

When I could pay the negative points, the monsters didn't need separate food, but if the payments stopped, they would revert to their natural state.

However, since I had a point vending machine, I didn't need to worry about the maintenance costs.

I checked the new abilities to see the newly added effects.

I was amazed when I saw the new abilities.

In games, it's not uncommon for additional effects to be added to traits or skills when certain levels or conditions are met.

So, I had tried to level up quickly in case something like this might happen.

But the new effect was beyond my imagination.

I thought the new effect would be related to the dungeon since the dungeon level had increased, but the ability to summon dungeon monsters was unexpected.

Although it required three times the points to summon, it was undoubtedly a useful ability.

I closed the traits window and opened the most important Hell Shop.

The Level 2 category was now active, and I could purchase monsters and traps that matched this level.

Hmm, the prices are quite high.

The cheapest Level 2 monster, the Lunatic Rabbit, costs 3,000 points.

They come in sets of three, and the description says they are carnivorous rabbits with 1-meter-long sharp fangs.

"Amazing..."

After checking what the Lunatic Rabbit looked like, I couldn't help but be impressed.

It was like a rabbit version of Arnold Schwarzenegger and a pit bull terrier.

With its menacingly bulging muscles and red eyes filled with madness, it truly lived up to the name "Mad Rabbit."

I was disappointed that I couldn't experiment with the new additions due to the lack of points.

Then,

Knock knock.

A knock on the door and Roland's voice came from outside.

"Master, the Viscount has arrived."

"Huh?"

Suddenly, the Viscount? My first thought was, "This guy really does whatever he wants."

I had been in the capital for about a week, and during that time, he hadn't shown his face, using business trips as an excuse. I had completely stopped thinking about his existence, and now he suddenly appeared without any prior notice.

"Where's Mother?"

I asked Roland as I left the room.

"She's already downstairs."

"Hmm."

Eila probably didn't need to prepare anything.

Since I arrived, she had been waiting for the Viscount, who could appear at any time, and had been dressed up except when sleeping.

Every time I saw her, it made me feel bitter, and my image of the Viscount, whom I had never met, kept getting worse.

I sighed and started down the stairs.

Perhaps because I was going to see the Viscount, whom I rarely saw, I was suddenly curious, and despite my initial indifference, my heart was a bit complicated.

"Oh, Luke! My beloved son! Goodness, you look so healthy, even more vibrant than before. I'm so happy. I haven't been able to stop worrying about you."

My father, Viscount Eslante, who was hugging Eila, noticed me and said brightly.

Ah, that's my father.

Even if the real Luke had amnesia, he would have immediately recognized this man as family.

As Leon said, Viscount Eslante, Leon, and I were identical.

The only difference was the subtle color of our hair and eyes.

While Leon and I had golden hair like melted gold, the Viscount had slightly ash-colored blonde hair.

And he looked incredibly young.

Despite being well over 40, he didn't look out of place standing next to Eila.

Even Eila, who looked younger than her age, didn't seem out of place.

"Father..."

"Haha, yes, I'm your father. Even with amnesia, family is family. You recognized me right away. I can see in your eyes that you understand I'm your father."

The Viscount chuckled.

"I heard you've changed a lot, but you seem more mature now."

Not knowing what to say, I remained silent.

I had only heard about my past self from others.

"And our Lucia, you've become such a lady in my absence."

"A, Father, I missed you."

Lucia, who was unfamiliar with the Viscount despite him being her father, stammered.

The Viscount picked her up.

"Wow, you're too big to carry now?"

The Viscount, who was always chuckling, seemed like a father who was fond of his long-lost daughter.

He hugged the teary-eyed Lucia and then patted her head, making it messy, before coming to me.

"Honestly, I don't know how to comfort you. I don't really understand how hard it is to lose your memory. But even without your memory, you are still my son. I called you to the academy to help, not to burden you. If it's too hard, you can quit."

The Viscount patted my shoulder affectionately.

"Our family doesn't only have you. Your brother is an excellent candidate. You can enjoy your life and school without stress. Our family has plenty of money, after all."

Then he smiled.

It was a different kind of charm, but as attractive as Lucifer's.

"Thank you."

The Viscount, hearing my response, hugged me and patted my back before going up the stairs.

"Eila, let's catch up on the things we missed."

"Yes, Viscount."

Eila, who seemed a bit flustered, followed the Viscount, who turned and said playfully.

Her face was slightly flushed.

"Lucia, come up too."

"Yes, Father."

Lucia, hearing this, hurried to follow but tripped on her dress and fell.

The maids nearby were about to rush over, but I was the closest.

I helped Lucia up and brushed off her dress.

"Be careful. Go on up."

"Thank you, Brother."

Lucia, seemingly flustered, bit her lip and said in a choked voice before going up the stairs.

The waiting Viscount picked her up and carried her up the stairs like a horse.

"Unbelievable."

That was my first impression of the Viscount.

I could understand my reaction, but he had neglected his wife and daughter for five years.

Yet, he could treat them so kindly, as if he had only been on a short business trip, without any sense of guilt.

Moreover, his seemingly caring words about my well-being, when analyzed, implied that if I didn't perform better than my brother at the academy, or at least make up for being the second son, I wouldn't have a chance to inherit the family.

These were the words of a son with amnesia, after all.

He seemed like a lucky nouveau riche, but now he looked like someone who could have achieved something if born into a proper family.

Conversely, if he had been born into poverty, he could have charmed a noble lady and lived well.

When I looked upstairs, Leon, who had a sour expression, was watching us.

He turned his head away with a displeased look and returned to his room, radiating coldness.

I didn't care much about being the heir of a family that only had the Ruby Mine to its name, but his constant vigilance was annoying.

It's like when you don't care about something, but you don't want to give it to someone else.

Hmm, is it just me?

That's why I hear the vending machine sound. Tsk tsk.

I shook my head at Leon's direction and returned to my room.

As I opened the door, a message I had become somewhat familiar with appeared.

I opened the dungeon window out of habit to check the dungeon's status, and my expression stiffened.

Unlike the previous intruders, who were at most five adventurers, this time, nearly twenty people entered the dungeon, including properly armored soldiers, relatively light leather-armored thieves, and a figure in a robe that looked like a mage.

This was not the kind of group that would come to a cave known to be inhabited only by goblins.

They were a well-informed extermination team.