Chapter 7

The number of female knights who rushed to the dungeon the next day had drastically decreased to around fifty.

From what I overheard, the brawl among the female knights from the previous day had become a major issue at the palace, and today they decided to conduct the investigation with only a carefully selected elite team.

Even so, sending fifty elite members to a newly born dungeon was clearly excessive, if not meaningless. It was certain that these fifty carefully selected members were just as eager to soak in the hot springs as the others.

"Is it true that the size of the bath has expanded from the previous day? Clearly."

"Yes, there's no mistake. The bath that could barely fit a hundred people yesterday could accommodate two hundred out of two hundred and fifty people today. This dungeon... is growing."

"You brought two hundred and fifty people to a bath that could only fit a hundred?"

"Originally, we planned to divide them into three groups and take turns... but the bath had unexpectedly expanded, so everyone rushed to get in..."

"That's how the brawl started... What a terrible story."

"I am ashamed."

"Hmph... Well, since this is now under the jurisdiction of the Queen's direct command, the Sephans Female Knights, there will be plenty of opportunities to enter without rushing."

"Will it not be open to the public?"

"It's by the Queen's order. We don't want to be disturbed by a crowd of men. After all, this is just a newly born dungeon. It should take at least a year to grow to the second level. As long as we keep the hot spring's benefits a secret, there won't be much complaint even if we monopolize it for a while."

"Um... Captain..."

A female knight who had been exploring the inner areas came to report.

"What is it?"

"There's... a basement. A second level..."

"Really?"

It was impossible to think that a dungeon could have a second level after just a week of existence. Not to mention, a dungeon that only had hot springs was unheard of.

"What do you think, Captain?"

"Fifty elites... That's more than enough to thoroughly investigate a second level. We'll explore every corner of the second level."

"Ha!"

Everyone responded with great enthusiasm. Not as knights, but with the anticipation that there might be even better hot springs.

Typically, dungeons become more complex and the monsters stronger as you go deeper, and the rewards become greater. They stimulate people's desires, drawing in more and stronger individuals, only to kill them and feed on them. That's what dungeons are. The female knights were already deeply ensnared by the demonic desires generated by the dungeon.

All of them were experienced in surviving alone in the eighth level of a dungeon for a week without food. A mere second level was easily manageable for any of them. They effortlessly defeated the enemies on the second level and, upon finding the hot spring, they stripped off their clothes and dove in without any safety checks.

"What kind of bath did you put on the second floor, Master?"

"A more powerful beauty bath than the first floor... It seems the second floor has even better effects on the skin and hair."

The same bath made with the miasma from the second floor had enhanced effects. This wasn't a shortcut; it wasn't a shortcut at all! If the rough, heat-damaged hair under their helmets could be transformed into lustrous, healthy hair, the beauty benefits would be even more pronounced, and the bathing scenes would be even more beautiful.

"Peta, Peta, when do you think we should create the third level?"

"Maybe when we've earned about fifty thousand."

"Then, we might be able to create the third level next week."

"It might be possible... Master, you're amazing."

Peta had completely acknowledged Master.

This person is incredible. This Master will undoubtedly surpass the eight levels I created in a hundred years, and do so in a blink of an eye.

The difference was too great. With such a clear disparity, there was no room for jealousy. Only astonishment and respect.

...And the long-awaited anticipation of growth beyond the eighth level. Ten levels... No... Twenty levels or more. This person might just take me to the heights of a supermassive dungeon.

And the hot spring dungeon reached its eighth level just two months later.